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MM Comspntal
MM Comspntal LWe deem it right to state that we do not at identify ourselves with our Correspondent's opiniaj m The influence of the moon as a powerful agent in controlling the weather upon the surface of the earth h as once more been exemplified. It may be remem- bered that on the 3rd of September, 1876, there was an eclipse of the moon. The previous summer, H > especially the months of July and August, had been warm and fine but within twelve hours of the lunar eclipse referred to, the weather entirely altered, a r tierce gale swept the Atlantic and the English Channel, and until the close of the year there was a succession of storms and rain. On the 27th of February last, a total eclipse of the moon took place, an 1 we all remember the cold and boisterous spring which followed. Sunday, the 15th July, was St. Swithin's Day. It was everywhere very wet, and the Saint's traditional influence over the next forty days received full confirmation. These forty days terminated ou the 23rd of August, on which day, singularly enough, there was another total eclipse of the moon. Meteorologists who hoped that this would mean the clearing away of twelve months of rain and/cold and tempest have not found their expectations realised. Both before and after the eclipse thunderstorms swept over the land, the downpour deluging the lowlands, and laying low the standing corn. Now, astronomers tell us that these visitations are merely acts of retribu- tive justice. The earth, by her superior bulk has drawn off from the moon all the water which was once upon the surface of that satellite so the moon, in order to avenge herself, upsets our ataMwpheric conditions in a very disturbing way. When there has been a con- siderable quantity of rain, people often look at the almanack for thaf next change in the phases of the moon, fully convinced that the passing of the new into the first quarter or of the full into the last quarter will afford at least a chance of better weather. Upon the coast you are frequently promised an improvement with the next tide, and as the tides are regulated by the moon, here it is seen again to what an extent our attendant affects the atmosphere here, although she is 240,000 miles away from us. If our one moon gives us so much trouble, how must Jupiter fare with four of tkese orbs in eternal revolution around him ? There are, however, no people there to be worried over the weather. Science has conclusively established the fact that this huge planet—the greatest in all our solar system—is in the condition of the earth as described in the first chapter of Genesis, without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep." Jupiter is gradually eooling; and physical scientists anticipate a time when in that vast sphere the spirit of God shall move upon the face of the waters, and a race of human beings will be called into existence, capable of living in a place nearly six times as far from the sun as we are. Autumn proverbially begins with the month of September, when in the country districts all among the barley is the order of the day. The fall of the leaf has often been made to teach the lesson of the close of life, and the fading day has been called upon to tell-the story of the passing of the meridian of man's existence. At such a time exclaims Longfellow :— "0 what a glory doth this world put on, For hiDI who with a fervent heart goes forth Under the bright and glorious sky, and looks On duties well-performed and days well spent!" Autumn is, indeed, to many, the most interesting sea- son of the year, when the land, having passed through the scorching heats of summer, is covered with the scattered leaves from the trees, destined in the dreary winter to wring their long gaunt arms in the pitiless wind. Tenaciously d > the leaves cling to the branches until on some stormy night a fierce equinoctial gale sweeps in from the sea and repeats in mimic form ashore the destruction which it has already wrought upon the-waves. For many years past, and during successive Ad ministrations, political economists have enforced the high and imperative duty of our making efforts to reduce the National Debt. The taxpayers generally were under the impression that something subst intial had been done in this direction yet the Debt is still the enormous sum of seven hundred and seventy millions sterling. The interest upon it adds £28,000,000 every year to our national expenditure, that is to say whereas the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer has now to provide for £78,000,000 he would, were there no debt, have to provide for only £50,000,000. That wouldmake an immense difference and would bring back our spendings to the figure at which ihey stood seven-and-twenty years ago. It is a curious fact that from 1850 to the present time, the growth of our expendi- ture has been on an average a million sterling every year. They manage things differently in the United States. Since March last, when President Hayes entered upon office a sum of £700,000 has been saved in annual inte- rest alone by operations in funding and by the practice of strict economy. This has been done notwithstand- ing the dulness pf trade, which indeed shows some signs of revival. The farming interests more especially look prosperous. The truth is that, even in the worst times, the file of an American agriculturist is but rarely affected by the element of anxie ty. A bad year may bring with it a passing feeling of hard times; but Nature with him even at the worst is bountiful, and there is everywhere an abundance of land yielding an ample return for a comparatively slight outlay of labour and capital. Even in those States upon the Atlantic sea-board, where population has of late been pressing rather heavily upon the means of subsistence, the prospects of the country are brightening, and this it is hoped will have a sympathetic influence on this side of the ocean. The Telephone, an instrument for the conveyance of sound, which has for some time occupied attention in the United States, now that it has been made the great sensation at the annual congress of the British Association, will in all probability be put to some practical use. Professor Graham Bell's experiments with the instrument both surprised and delighted his audience. A telegraph operator fifty miles away was asked to sing the first line of a song by the telephone, and the request was immediately complied with. Questions were asked and answered with the greatest clearness and facility, and we have it on the authority of Sir William Thompson that vocal telegraphy is already an accomplished fact. Boston merchants already use it every day—a tribute to the readiness with which the intellect of Massachusetts adapts itself to the practical application of new ideas. It is said that it will not be long before two business men, one in London and the other in New York, will be able to hold a long convers ition together without a sound being heard by a companion standing in the very same room. The present struggle between Russia and Turkey throws us curiously back upon the origin of States. The question has of late become more and more a prominent one as to what Greece is likely to do in the crisis and when people are inclined to look upon the little kingdom as a mere humble pawn upon a chess- board, it may well be remembered that, by the side of Greece, England is but an infant in point of historic traditions and in all that makes up the antique great- ness of a nation. We are proud of our architecture, our arts, and our literature, but centuries before the landing of Julius Caesar, and long anterior to the time when the ancient Britons were driven into Wales and Cornwall, the archite ture of Athens was the glory of the city, and its arts and its literature were justly its pride. The Turks, who so long oppressed the Greeks, came upon the scene only when the Greek empire was in its decadence. The foundations of the kingdom of Greece were laid more than 2,000 years before the Christian era, and it was not until five and thirty centuries afterwards that it became subject to the yoke of the Turks. With naval commanders like Themistocles, generals like Xenophon, lawgivers like Lycurgus, poets like Homer, sages like Solon, philoso- phers like Socrates, architects like Phidias, just men like Aristides, no wonder that Lord Byron was so en- husiastic in the cause of Greece—a cause in which, although he did not survive to witness its triumph, he wore out his life. The appeal of the Lord Mayor of London on behalf of the starving population of a portion of India has been well responded to, although it is doubtful whether the total amount of subscriptions will reach that of the last famine, when £120,000 was sent out from the Mansion House. India seems to be amongst the most unfortunate of lands. In 1862, 1866, 1873 and again now starvation has swept over it, and last October, in one of the most terrible cyclones on record a quarter of a million of the unhappy inhabitants were suddenly swept into eternity. It is difficult to believe that the people of India are worse than their neighbours but such awful visitations are not known in China or in Japan; in Egypt or in Asia Minor; in the United States or in Australia. The Hindoo would appear indeed to be a very helpless person in the midst of mis- fortune or distress. Natives of Japan come over to this country, surprise us by their ingenuity, and set to work intellectually with such a will as to beat English- men in the race for honours at the University of London. The Chinaman issues forth from his native land, and competes successfully in the labour markets of the world. Acute and hardworking, he has esta- blished himself in the flourishing cities of California, colonising the slopes of the Pacific, and taking up his quarters in our Australian possessions. The Hindoo manifests no such enterprise; he is mentally, if not conatitutionally-unable to leave the soil on which he was born; and if trouble overtakes him he takes the fatalist view of life, and makes no effort to avert that which he clearly regards as the inevitable decrees of Fate, sent out by a Higher Power. This country has seen the dealing of many a blow at the slave trade, and the latest is that contained in the Treaty between the Queen of England and the King of Dahomey. People here have had neither time nor inclination to take much interest in the merits of our dispute with that sablemonarch; but it is nevcrthei -&s satisfactory to know that he has give way en all points, and that the dominion of Dahomey is likely to reap the benefit of his tardy wisdom. Liberty of commerce is to be established, and the subjects of the Queen are guaranteed against molestation and annoy- ance. The export of slaves to foreign lands is for ever abolished in the territories of the King of Dahomey. We have had some trouble before now with barbarian sovereigns, notably with Theodore of Abyssinia, and Koffce of Ashantee, both of whom we were compelled to chastise. Gelele, of Dahomey, has come to terms without extreme measures having to be resorted to, and he has not only agreed to abolish the slave trade, but to assent to our demand that no British subject is henceforth to be com- pulsorily present at any of the customs of Dahomey which involve human sacrifice. This is a concession no doubt, but if we could have insisted upon the cessation of the custom altogether, it would have been a great gain to the cause of humanity. Now that her Majesty is in Scotland, and that the King of Denmark has left us, London will settle down into the traditional dulness of the recess, a time which does not seem likely to present the excitement of last year, when public meetings were being held all over the kingdom to demand an autumn session of Parlia- ment. It is indeed a step which is taken only in a very grave emergency, such as the passing of an Act to indemnify the Government for having suspended the Bank Charter Act without the authority of the legis- lature, as in 1857, for the granting of supplies for a warlike expedition as in 1867, when our troops went out to Abyssinia. It looks as though the present recess would be a quiet one, at all events for some little time. Those members who are not doing the Alps or the Rhine, or the battle-field of 1870, or the Italian lakes, and have remained at home have for the most part had enough of politics for a while. The incidents of the past Session are too fresh in their memories, and they would rather have a Httle leisure before attempting to review it. This explains the bill which always immediately follows the prorogation. The present Prime Minister once declared that he was not up to politics in Sep- tember, and there can be no doubt that many of his fellow-legislators resemble him in this respect. A few weeks hence the lassitude induced by a wearisome and harassing session will have passed away, and from Caithness to Cornwall the representatives of the people will be reviewing the past, and attempting to forecast the future. The desire to penetrate the secrets of* the Arctic regions has been an absorbing one for centuries as well with scientific as with the adventurous. The subject is without doubt a fascinating one, and no surprise is therefore felt that the Austrian Polar Expedition of 1874, whose discoveries stimu- lated our own Government to send out one in the following year, has determined upon another venture-into the land of eternal ice and snow. It pro- poses to be away about twelve months, and to establish stations of observation at several points easily acces- sible, and in as high a latitude as possible, for the nearer the stations are to the Pole, the more important would the results of the search likely to be. There are a few questions on which the opinions of practical men are ao divided as upon the possi- bility of reaching the North Pole. Sir George Nares, who has been nearer to it than any other navigator— nearly the distance which separates London from Edin- burgh excluded him from it—declares that it is shut off from the rest of the world by an impassable barrier of ice, which no human power or skill can ever hope to penetrate. Other enthusiastic spirits contend that between this barrier of ice and the Pole itself, there is an open sea, and perhaps land as well. It is scarcely probable that thi3 great mystery will be more capable of solution in the future than in the past; the 400 miles of thick-ribbed ice must be penetrated by human agency and the difficulties overcome by man's endur- ance and the human frame is now no more capable of enduring the fierce and bitter cold of those frightful latitudes, than in the days when the first Arctic navigator set out on his voyage of exploration over those far-off frozen seas.
DEAN STANLEY ON THE WAR AND…
DEAN STANLEY ON THE WAR AND THE INDIAN FAMINE. On Sunday afternoon the Dean of Westminster preached a sermon in Westminster Abbey from the text, "And who is my neighbour?" He went through the parable of the good Samaritan, and after pointing out numerous positions at home and abroad in which Christian kindnesses might be rendered to others, said that the great Egyptian obelisk now coming over to England might preach us a lesson, for it had once stood at the door of the great Roman Temple of Alexandria, which had become the cathedral, and it was close to the foot of the obelisk that the wise, gifted, and beautiful Hypatia had been torn to pieces with the shells and potsherds of the shore by a bigoted people, with the sanction, and probably at the instigation of a so-called Christian archbishop. The war now raiging in the East suggested another lesson from this parable, that without arguing or discussing the merits or demerits of either of the belligerents, it was our Christian duty to do all that was in our power to diminish and to shorten the period of the sufferings engendered by a strffe which was desolating one of the fairest territories in Europe. There was a horrible old proverb, "Homo homini lupus," which might almost now be altered into "Homohomini Daemon," but which on our parts we should endeavour to change into "Homo homini Deus, by conveying to those in dire need Christian, God-like aid, and remission from suffering. Again, there was the famine in India, afflicting those who, though very far off, were our neighbours, for they were the subjects of that wonderful Empire which was entrusted to us when, "by chance," we passed that way. Whoever, instead of passing by another way, turned and gave relief to the suffering, was acting like the good Samaritan, aad like otfr master, Christ.
A NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT'S…
A NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT'S TROUBLES. The following is an extract from the letter of one of the Special Correspondents of the Daily News, who writes from Tirnova:— Never buy a horse for mountain work that is not accustomed to mountains. My horse, a Wallachian one, bred on the plains of Roumania, had never seen a mountain nor even a hill until he crossed the Danube, and his astonishment upon being given to understand that he was expected to climb the first hill he came to was very great. He would as soon have thought of climbing a tree. But when he found that I was really in earnest about it, and that I positively meant to go up, he went at it with a run and a jump, and tried to do it at a bound. Finding this impossible, he went sprawling about with his legs spread out in every direction in the most awkward and ungainly manner, quite incapable of bending his knees, sticking in his toea, and going' at it calmly and leisurely as a horse bred to the mountains would have done. I managed to get on with him, however, until we got into the defiles of the Balkans, and here one day, when we were just getting over the pass at a point where the road was very narrow and very rough, he got frightened at the looks of it, began to rear, plunge and back, and as a natural consequence we both went down over a steep bank strewed with rocks and stones, to the very bottom. I managed te keep on top, otherwise my neck would have been broken instead of my leg, but to have escaped without injury would have been a miracle. My horse did escape, however, with a few scratches, and getting up and shaking himself, was ready to continue the jour- ney. For my part, after lying some hours by the wayside under the shade of a tree, hoping I should be again able to mount, I was at last glad to get into a baggage-waggon, and take my chances of being jolted to death over the stones. Misfortunes never come singly, and there is nothing like having a good run of bad luck while you are abeut it. The road, which I have already described in pre- vious letters, was very bad in some places, and about dark we came to a spot probably the most dangerous an artillery carriage ever went over. The road, had it been level, was just wide enough to allow the passage of the wheels but it was not level; it was inclined a.t an angle of ten or fifteen degrees a hard smooth rock over which the high, light, springy wheels of the waggons went bouncing like an india- rubber ball, while beneath was a perpendicular precipice a hundred feet deep, with a shallow stream at the bottom running over a rocky bed. The two off wheels went over, and I was obliged, as I thought, to jump to the ground to avoid being dashed to pieces on the rocks below, giving my leg, of course, another fearful twist, and making it ten times worse than before. As if this were not enough, two days after I was obliged, when we were breaking up camp in the night, to mount my horse for an hour before I could get into a waggon. During a halt he quietly began backing in the darkness, and went over back- wards into a ravine, nearly breaking my neck and my leg a second time. For a horse that really means well, and is not at all vicious, he is decidedly the most per- verse brute I ever saw. Lying on my back, with the war raging all round me, my only consolation is in the belief that I have exhausted my share of bad luck for the next two years, and that I may now brave any danger with impunity as soon as I get well enough to do so. I made the whole distance from the Khaini Pass to Kezanlik in a waggon drawn by a pair of cows, and I was in the rear of the detachment, among the baggage that is in the train. I had a wide field here for obser- vation, study, and amusement, and should never have supposed there was so much to be seen and heard among the baggage of an army. There is probably nothing more unmilitary in the world than an army train. It is composed, in the first place, of every imaginable animal nearly that ever ran on four or two legs, and of every imaginable vehicle that ever rolled on two or four wheels. High. wheeled military baggage waggofts, two-wheeled carts, the great, lumbering, heavy wooden-wheeled waggons of the country, with not an ounce of iron about them, and drawn by oxen; britckas, or light spring waggons, with leather or canvas top. much used by the people here Hungarian waggons with wicker workboxes phaetons, peraklodnois, and tarantasses and jolekas. Then as to animals, there are horses, oxen, bullocks, cows, calves, colts, donkeys, pigs, sheep, chickens, geese, and ducks and dogs, all neighing, bawling, braying, grunting, bleating, cackling, quack- I ing, and barking at once, and forming an essential and important part of the train. The first thing that strikes one is the utter indifference manifested by the people here. military as well as civil, and the civil are, perhaps, in the majority, as to what is going on at the front. A battle may be raging, the roar of artillery may come rolling back, mingled with the rattling fire of sharp- shooters, and the heavy, plunging reports of volleys that to the knowing are more fearful than the shrieks and thunder of shells and these people pay no more attention to it, and show no more interests in what is going on, than if they were deaf, I was on a baggage waggon of one of the infantry companies, driven by a soldier, and he kept my attention continually on th4 alert by his movements. It did not seem to make the slightest difference to him whether we were moving or halting, whether there was a battle going on or not. But when we did halt, as we always did when there was a fight going on at the front, he calmly looked about to assure himself, first, of the nature of the country and its productions, and, second, as to whether there was any officer near. The first time we happened to be near a hayfield, and as there was no officer in the way, he instantly had his hand on a reaping hook which he had in the waggon, and in five minutes returned with as much hay as he could carry. The operation was repeated when we came to an oatfield, and again to one of green Indian corn. Then there was a long halt, preceded by a scattering fire from the skirmish line, and followed by the deep strong voices of the cannon, which engaged all my attention for a few minutes. Presently I missed my driver, and upon looking about me I soon perceived him coming with a pail nearly full of potatoes, which he had just un- earthed from an adjoining field. Another time he disappeared and returned with the pail nearly full of green beans, and still another time he came back with his cap full of apricots and plums. Everything was grist that came to his mill, and before evening he had a specimen of all the productions of the country through which we were passing. I ob- served that the driver of the waggon before me, how- ever, seemed to have a weakness for the animal rather than the vegetable kingdom, and woe unto the chicken, goose, turkey, duck, or sucking pig that on our course we met. They were instantly made pri- soners and put into a large hen-coop, which had like- wise been captured, probably, somewhere on the way
A SANDSTORM AT ADEN.
A SANDSTORM AT ADEN. A Correspondent writing from Aden on the 7th says :— About 5.30 p.m., the sky being overcast, a mist or cloud of smoke, as it were, rose from the opposite shore of the creek, which for some minutes I was un- able to account for, until growing denser and expand- ing more and more, I concluded it must be the com- mencement of a sandstorm. With an experience of more than five years of those in Egypt, I had never beheld anything so remarkable and grand. The mass, taking the shape of the surround- ing hills, and growing larger and larger, till lost in the clouds began to move seawards, enveloping everything in its course in a thick black cloud. The reflection from the crescent side caused the shipping and every surrounding object to assume an unnatural hue, the sea changing to a dull green and brown. Whilst gazing on this moving panorama a slight breeze and wavering of the immense mass made me think of the open windows and doors, and not a moment too soon. Scarcely had I with difficulty put the last bolt in position, when the whole mass was scattered over the crescent and bazaar. For a period of eight to ten minutes the place was in total darkness, and the sand flying in all directions, and penetrating the minutest crevice. The scampering of natives for a placp of shelter, their shouting and general excitement, together with the noise of bolting windows and doors, jn<i. the immense force with which the sand was dashed against windows and shutters, caused no little alarm. As the air gradually grew clearer, surrounding objects could once more be distinguished. Towards six p.m. the air became much cooler, and the sky clear again. Then followed the usual sheet lightning, peculiar to and at times very grand in Aden."
STARTLING NEWS
STARTLING NEWS The Times of Monday thus commences a leader :— Paris was startled yesterday with news which will to-day startle Europe. The Council of Ministers have decided to prosecute M. Gambetta for his speech at Lille, and at the same time, the papers which pub- lished it. This statement will naturally at first be re- ceived with incredulity. Unfortunately, it seems impossible to doubt its accuracy. The announce- ment was made through the Havas Agency, which cannot be suspected of manufacturing sensational new; and it is also published and made the subject of comment in the Franqais, the organ of the Due de Broglie. The Havas note was, in fact, sent out yesterday morning, and there was ample time to contradict it in the evening papers had it not been accurate. As no contradiction has ap- peared, the conclusion is inevitable that the state- ment is true. But if we end by being convinced that the story is genuine, we remain lobtin wonder at the reckless impolicy of the resolution which has been taken. We know not what may be the result at law of the prosecution of M. Gambetta. In the worst times of English history it would, we believe, have been impossible to obtain a conviction upon such words as he is reported to have spoken at Lille. We can hardly think the prosecution will be other than a failure in France. But the administration of the law on the other side of the Channel, especially ÍIl political trials, is obscure, and a conviction may be secured, though we find a difficulty in imagining it. A legal victory may thu- be won, but at what a cost in the campaign of politics? The votes of the electors will avenge the attempt to strike at M. Gambetta. This last decision of the Marshal's Government fills Us with alarm, not for it, but for the country which is subject for the time to its rule. The reaction will too probably bring about the election of an Assembly with so strong a Liberal majority that there will be need of the greatest discretion on the part of the victors in restraining their adherents from an ungenerous use of their victory. The Ministry are thus in danger of producing the very evils they dread. The prophetic words of Dupin recur to the memory as too appropriate to the present crisis. Malheureuse France J Mai- heureux Marechah
THE AMERICAN LABOUR RIOTS.
THE AMERICAN LABOUR RIOTS. The recent disastrous strikes on the American rail- roads are just now beinj* discussed by some of the leading journals of the United States, with the view of arriving at some sort of estimate as to the monetary loss they have caused (remarks the Engineer). The Iron Age, New York, of August 9th, has a series of calculations, which make the total much more serious than anything hitherto supposed in,this country. In dealing with the losses of the different lines of railway, it is estimated that the several sum" be- longing to each are as follows:—Baltimore and Ohio, 3,250.000 dols. Pennsylvania Central, 4,500,000 dols. Chicago and Fort Wayne, 1,200,000 dols.; New York Central, 2,600,000 dols.; Erie, 2,000,000 dols.; Lake Shore, 2,750,000dols.; Michigan Central, 1,500,000 dols.; Canada Southern, 750,000 daIs. Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western, 2,000.000 dols.; Delaware and Hudson, 1,200,000 dols. Jersey Central, 900,000 dols.; and Rock Island, 3,000,000 dols. These losses did not include those for which the muni- cipal governments are responsible, nor does the total include 25,000,000 dols. for rolling stock, freight, &c., burned, and 12,000,000 dols. more for losses to business men in different cities affected by the disputes. The total thus arrived at by the Iron Age is not less than 65,000,000 dols. in round numbers—a total which takes no cognisance of the serious strike still in progress in the caal regions. What the losses of the municipalities may be is not known, or even estimated, but in one way or the other we should suppose that they will be little less than those of the companies, so that these senseless and most deplorable riots will have caused a loss to the country of very little, if anything, less than the truly appalling total of 100,000,000 dols. or a sum equivalent to £20,000,000. In the Lehigh Valley and other great mining districts of the States, the miners are still causing troublesome agitation by their demand for an advance of 12 per cent. on present wages, but, on the whole, the strikes have died out, leaving behind them nothing but sorrowful memories, vain regrets, and very heavy bills to pay.
THE SENSATION OF THE SEASON.
THE SENSATION OF THE SEASON. The Colorado beetle is, undoubtedly, the sensation of "the season of sour cucumbers," as Prince V on Bismarck is in the habit of calling the dull time of the year, when gentlemen take their ease at their country houses (remarks the Buening Standard). The interest felt in the vicissitudes of battle in the Balkans grows faint by comparison with that excited by the threatened approach of the pestilent insect. He has been photographed and engraved; he has been de- scribed and lectured upon he has been impaled and preserved in spirits of wine; a large model of him was served up as a dish at the annual dinner of those merry savans, yclept the "Red Lions" of the British Asso- ciation there has been Orders in Council anent him; Punch has wedded his fame to verse, and an enter- prising jeweller is advertising ear-pendants made in his exact image and likeness. Possibly, at this moment, the writers of pantomimes are cudgelling their brains to devise the most effective means of introducing a monster, striped alternate yellow and black, with beady eyes and slender tentacles, behind the foot-lights next Boxing-night. The inoffensi ve lady-bird, it is to be feared, has been too frequently sacrificed through mistaken identity, amateur entomologists having con- founded her with the dreaded foreigner. However, this excess of precaution is a failing on the right side for the Colorado beetle is a source of genuine danger, and its introduction into these islands would be noting short of a national calamity.
THE INDIAN FAMINE.
THE INDIAN FAMINE. A special telegram to the Pall Mall Gazette, under date "The Famine Districts in Bombay, Saturday evening," says ■ Of the official return of 500,000 deaths in Madras since the 1st of January, 200,000 are due to ordinary mortality, 300,000 to accelerated death-rate from the famine. The doctors report the people in the Bombay famine districts to be in good condition on the original subsistence wages. The Madras doctor reports the insufficiency of the wages in Madras even at the enhanced rates. The supervision in Madras is here believed to be bad, as there are new 2,250,000 on gratuitous relief in that Presidency. This is supposed to indicate a necessity for establish- ing the relief works in Madras under proper supervision by the Public Works Department. At the present rate the famine expenditure will amount before the end of the financial year to two-thirds of the cost of the mutiny in 1857. Madras has spent up to date at the ratio of four-fifths of this outlay, as compared to one-fifth expended by Bombay. At these rates the famine will have cost'fourteen millions sterling before the olose of the financial year, and will necessitate heavy additional taxation, with the probable re-imposition of the income tax,
AMERICAN HUMOUR.
AMERICAN HUMOUR. "There are some drawbacks to business success in this State,"said aFloridian to a visitor. "Such as what?" asked the stranger. "Well, petit larceny, and such," was the reply. "What is the matter with you? inquired a gen- tleman who had called to see his neighbour, a German of Chicago.—" Yell, I don't know—it ish de gout; but vy should I have him ?" Perhaps," suggested his friend it is here- ditary." "I think it is hereditary; I remember my vife's uncle have him." One test of a great mind is its instantaneous avail- ability in an emergency. The boy who can drop a paper bag of eggs on the side walk and pass on without changing his gait, interrupting his whistle, or looking at what be has dropped, has a future before him, and, perhaps, something unpleasant behind him. How do you do, Aunt Maria?" said a Georgiana lady to an old coloured lady. I ain't yer a'nt, misses," loftily replied the aged female, "and I ain't yer uncle, 1'se yer ekal Silence in the court!" thundered a Kentucky judge the other morning, a half-dozen men bave been convicted already without the court's having been able to hear one word of the testimony A Washington paper advocates the me of lager beer as a temperance measure. A more temperance paper replies by advocating smaller beer. Doctor Allen, a popular preacher of Philadelphia, tells a good story of liimsalf. He was preaching one day away clown Tennessee, when an old Methodist brother, of the' African persuasion, came to him after the se11non, and said, I like to hear you preach, for 1 understand your preaching." Dr. Allen replied. "I am glad of it." "But, I understand every word you say." "I hope so," said the doctor, I try to make myself understood*" Again-the old man came to the charge. Yes, I understood you jes' as well as if you was a nigger." The kind of verses that are read in a Kentucky school exhibition :— my son, and shut the shutter "— This I heard a mother utter. Shutter's shut," the boy did mutter I can't shut it any shutter." FOURTH OF JULY.—"What do we have Fourth of July for?" asked a Broadway boy of his ijaa. "Fourth gi July ? Why, Freddy, I'm ashamed of you. We have fourtn of July to, celebrate the—husband, I declare I can't think for the moment, what is it?" "Why, don't you know why we celebrate the fourth ? Who it discovered -America" "Christopher Columbus!" exclaimed the mother and boy simultaneously. ".Rignt, and when drd he discover it?" Why, on the fourth of Jtûý. of course," replied the mdthef, "but I've got the worst meinory about these historical facts." "That's it," said tM wise father encouragingly, Columbus discovered America on t,11fJ fourth of July, and the nation celebrates the day in. honour, of the event. Freddy, I want you to study up, I should feel awfully mor- tified had yom. asked me such a question before company."
|Uistell:uuous Intelligence.
|Uistell:uuous Intelligence. HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. RAT DESTROYING.—An old gamekeeper told me that mixing plenty of very finely powdered loaf-sugar with the arsenic or other prisons was the right way to outwit the cunning rats. The sweet neutralises the bitter. I consider this important. No doubt powdered loaf sugar, meal, and poison form the correct card.—J. J. MECUI. ENGLAND'S CHARITIES.—Mayfair remarks:—" The list of associations appealing to the benevolence of partisan spirit of the British public on account of the belligerents in the East is really growing quite for- midable. I may mention off-hand the Stafford House Committee,' the Turkish Defence Fund,' the Adrianople British Committee for Fugitives from the Seat of War,' the Sick and Wounded Russian Soldiers' Relief Fund,' Viscountess Strangford's British Hospital and Ambulance Fund,' the Turkish Compassionate Fund,' and the British Relief Fund for Aid to the Sick and Wounded of both the Russian and Turkish Armies.' In addition to the above, which I am aware is by no means exhaustive, several religious societies are making a special appeal for donations to place at the disposal of their agents for distribution amongst the war victims, so that in the aggregate the sums leaving England for the East must be something fabulous." THE LAST 10V.E ON THE COAST.—The removal/of the Eddystone Lighthouse.—Ju,dy. THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF SWIMMING. — A Correspon- dent writes to a Londv a contemporary, from Dover as follows:—"In reading your interesting leading article on Cavill's Channel swim, it struck me that you somewhat under-estimated the influence which the Channel feats have had an exciting a desire to master the useful art of swimming. I don't brow how it is at other places, but at Dover the number of proficient swimmers has more than doubled since public attention was roused to the subject by Captain .Webb's solution of the Channel question. At the present time, in addition to the ordinary bathers from machines, about 500 per- sons bathe here every morning before seven o'clock from the beach, and a bather who cannot swim is an exception. We have races here, for ohort distances, two or three times a week, and occasionally aquatic breakfasts on the water, in a fashion that probably Byron would have found disagreeable to his digestive organs. The Dover College has its tent up on the beach every morning, and so has the Dover Swimming Club. This revival of the love for swimming I think is in a great degree due to the exploits of Webb, Cavill, and Johnson, and now that the popular feel- ing sets in that direction, heads of families and schools may do a useful work in encouraging the acquire- ment of a useful physical accomplishment." MAKCHING FOKWAKD. — An enterprising young teacher in Pennyslvania has introduced a new and brilliant feature in her school exercises. It consists of a discussion of the news of the day between the pupils and teacher, the first half-hour of the morning being devoted to that exercise. The words The Bulletin," are drawn on the Black boards in large German text- letters, and immediately below, in newspaper style, are head-lines similar to those employed by daily papers in giving the points of the most important news, and then each head-line is taken up by the school, and a general interchange of views takes place between the teacher and pupils. Every month the editorship of the paper is assumed by different scholr rs. It is the editor's duties to examine the daily papers every morning, and to write down on the black-board, before school hours, the points for discussion, to give a head- line resumtS of the news of the day, as it were, and if the editor, exhibits capacity for the work entrusted to him, he is often re-elected to his high position. The exercise is regarded as a part of the regular exercises, and. its value is beyond description. A SINGULAR DEATH.—Mr. Carter has held an in- quiry at the "Half Moon Tavern," Putney, touching the death of a journeyman baker, 29 years of age, named Franks. Deceased was in the employ of Mr. Newens, a confectioner, of Putney. On the after- noon of the 7th inst. a man named Grey was in a passage of Mr. Newens' shop, when he heard an explo- sion, accompanied with the sound of breaking glasp. Deceased then came to him and said, "Oh, a bottle has burst and cut my hand," at the same time holding up bis right hand, which was bleeding.—Mr, Walford, surgeon, said deceased told him a bottle of preserved frait had burst, and that the glass had cut his hand. There was a punctured wound between the second and third finger of the right hand. Tetanus set in, which resulted in deceased's death on the night of the 22nd inst.—A verdict of Accidental Death was returned. AXE AND DEEDS.—Mr. Gladstone evidently be- lieves in the old proverb concerning deeds and words. Visitors to Hawarden find him as ready with his axe as his speeches.—Fun. A STEP IN THE RiGHT DIRECTION.—The Commis- sioner of Agriculture at Washington is about to establish a system of inquiry in various sections of the country, with a view to the propagation of plants adapted to certain districts but hitherto not culti- vated in them. He also proposes to adopt measures for the encouragement as far as practicable, through the agency of his department, of the cultivation of those agricultural products for which the United States are now largely dependent on foreign countries. It appears by reports already received that the climate and soil of the Pacific coast are admirably adopted for the cultivation of teas. It is also found that sugar, though now cultivated in the South only, might be produced elsewhere by proper management. It is proposed to make extensive experiments, through the co-operation of agriculturists, with the object of pro- ducing articles which are of commercial value and are now largely imported. CARTE BLANCHE — Mayfair says :— When Hobart Pacha was at last entrusted with the chief command of the Turkish Fleet, he saw the Sultan, and explained that he could not leave for his post until he had received orders from the Superior Council of War, as otherwise he might again be thwarted by fresh intrigues. The Sultan listened with great atten- tion, and then said, But if I give you your instruc- tions, I suppose you will consider them as valuable as those of the Superior Council of War?' 'Naturally, your majesty!' 'Well,'said Abdul Hamid, drawing a sheet of paper from his pocket, 'here are my iu- structions, and I wish that you never follow others.' Hobart Pacha, upon reaching the ante-room, opened the paper. It_was perfectly blank. The Anglo-Turkish admiral, in telling this story, laughingly adds, 'My instructions are carte blanche. SHOOTING .^RIGHTS.—Before the Saffron Walden County magistrates an important case has been argued and decided affecting sporting rights. The defendant, a gamekeeper, in the employ of Captain Elliott, was summoned for trespassing upon land in the occupation of Mr. Alfred Burleigh, of Little Chesterford, Essex. For the defence it was submitted that the prosecutor had no right of shooting over the land, sucfi right having been granted by the landlord, Lord Charles Hervey, to Captain Elliott, who had exercised his right for the last ten or 12 years. On the other hand, counsel for the prosecution contended that as there was no contract granting the shooting rights to Captain Elliott, and as no such right could be conferred except by deed, the defendant had no right to trespass on the land for the purpose of shooting. The Bench held this argument to be good, and fined the defendant, notwithstanding his counsel produced a letter written by Lord Charles Hervey to the effect that Captain Elliott had right of shooting in virtue of a verbal agree- ment and that Mr. Burleigh had no right of shooting over the land. WHO WAS CAXTON?—Who was Caxton? is a mono- graph suggested by the unique collection of early printed books now being exhibited at South Kensing- ton. Mr. Blade's famous work The Biography and Typography of William Caxton., is the authority on all matters connected with the first English printer, but as that book is too expensive to find its way into the hands of the general public, the appearance of the present handbook is most opportune. Caxton was a native of the Weald of Kent, but found his way to London at an early age, as he was bound apprentice in the City of London, the record of the fact, in the archives of the Mercers' Company, being dated June 24, 1438. He was successively merchant, ambassador; historian, author, translator, and printer. In the latter capacity he brought out, at the sign of the "Reed Pale," in the Almonry, Westminster, in November, 1477, the first undoubted book printed in England, its title being the Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers. Caxton had previously printed English works at Bruges, and he may have printed books in England prior to the above- mentioned work. But of this there is no proof, and as the Dictes and Sayings is dated, it is generally acknowledged to be the first book printed in England. Who was Caxton ? is here satisfactorily answered, the principal events and incidents of the life of the immortal printer being recorded in the manner best adapted for the popular taste. The work is published by Hard- wickie and Bogue, Piccadilly. A CENTENARIAN.—Ms, John Hutton, an employe in Thomas Hoyle and Sons' print works, Manchester, has just attained'the age of 100 years. He has been in the service of the above firm for the last seventy- nine years. RUSSIAN CORN AND RAILWAYS,—The average ex- port of grain from Russia has, according to the St. Petersburgh Gazette, risen within the last three years about 143 million of bushels. The exports in previous years from the Black Sea and the Sea of Azof Were about 62 millions, this year consequent on the war only twelve millions were exported; therefore it is presumed, 50 millions remain in the Southern Provinces for railway transport to northern ports or frontier towns. How to get this corn into circulation has been a matter of anxious consideration with the government; and at a conference of delegates from the chief railway companies, the conclusion come to was, that the train service on the principal lines must be increased from 130 to 190 per day. It was con- sidered doubtful at the conference whether, consider- ing the war traffic, the companies could undertake the task. A LADY'S SURPRISE !—The Whitehall Review gives the following :—"When the Emperor William was at Ischl the other day, a Brunswick lady wished to pre- sent him with a bouquet on his departure. She had been waiting for him on the staircase of the Elizabeth Hotel. His Majesty, whom she did not know, at last descended the stairs. Being apprised that it was the Kaiser, she asked a Prussian officer who stood near her to present the bouquet in her name. The officer fulfilled her request, and conveyed to the donor the Emperor's thanks. The young lady was, however, greatly disconcerted upon seeing the officer step into the Emperor's carriage and seat himself by his Majesty's side, and you may conceive her horror when she was subsequently told that the supposed gallant Prussian officer was the Emperor Francis Joseph." NARROW ESCAPE OF LORD AND LADY DUFFERIN. —The Quebec Moming Chronicle of the 10th of August, publishes a special edition announcing a diabolical attempt to upset and wreck a special train containing the Governor-General of Canada and Lady Dufferin, witH their family and suite. It appears that the train was going west, and" when about a mile and a half from Rudd's Mills, on the West Wisconsin Railway Company's line, the driver observed a woman ahead signalling to him to stop. -The train was pulled up as quickry as possible* but only within a very short dis- tance of a large barØ railroad iron, which had been placed acress the track by some unknown miscreants. They had braced it in itef place with other bars in such a manner that had the-epgine struck it the whole train would inevitably have been upset and great loss of life probably caused. The highest credit is due to, the woman for her energy and presence of mind. As soon as she discovered the obstacle she ran some way down, the line in order to warn the advancing train. BORING FOR WATER.—An interesting experiment is being made bv the Stafford Town Council, in order to obtain a good water supply for the town. By boring to a depth of about 600 feet by means of the Diamond Rock boring process they hope to penetrate the water- bearing rocks of the new red standstone formation, which exists widely in Staffordshire, and in many places lies at an elevated level. A depth of 300 feet has already been bored. It was asserted by many eminent geologists that extensive beds of rock salt existed in the variegated marls above the bunter rocks. This opihion has been found to be correct, for a bed of rock salt, 40 feet in thickness, has been perforated, as well as various smaller veins; but the engineers find that the brine can be effectually" tubbed out" by means of iron lining tubes. A considerable length of time.must necessarily elapse before the water-bearing rocks are entered. KILLED ON THE RAILWAY. —On Saturday evening a fatal accident occurred to Mrs. Farrance, a laundress, at the Mill-road crossing, on the Great Eastern line at Cambridge. The deceased was on her way with her husband to the village of Cherry Hinton. Upon reaching the crossing, which is a level one, the signal was up and the Norwich express train very near to the spot. Her husband called out to her to stop, but she proceeded, and when she had half crossed the metals the buffer of the engine knocked her down, her head was fractured, and her right legarushed. Death was instantaneous. ALL BUT.—Our obituary column on Friday, says The Times, contained the name of a venerable lady, Mrs. Eunice Bagster, the widow of Mr. Samuel Bag. ster, so well known to the last generation as the pub- lisher of the Polyglot Bibles, and the founder of a leading firm in Paternoster row. Mrs Bagster died on the 22nd inst. after a very short illness, aged 100 years all but a day, at her residence at Old Windsor, which, if not the place of her birth, was the spot where she spent her childhood. Her maiden name was Birch, and as her eldest surviving child is 75 we must go back to the year when Henry Addington was Prime Minister for the date of her marriage. She retained her health nearly to the last, and died after a very short illness. Her Majesty, with her usual kindness, drove over to Old Windsor early in July in order to pay a visit to one of her oldest subjects and continued to inquire after her health te the very last. Mr. F. T. Hall, noticing the above, writes to The Times:—" In your reference to the death of my late great aunt, Mrs. Eunice Bagster, although her age is stated according to the popular method of computation, yet, in strict- ness, she had completed her 100th year. She was born on the 23rd of August, 1777, and as she lived into the 22nd of August, 1877, the last day of her 100th year, and the law does not recognize any division of a day, she had 'in law' completed her 100th year. Had she lived into the 23rd she would have commenced her 101st year." CONSCIENCE MONEY."—The amount remitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as Conscience Money" in the year ended March 31 was 4s. 3d., and to the Paymaster-General in Ireland JE12 making £14,8Ø5 4s. 3d. HERRINGS INNUMERABLE.—The Fishing Gazette says that it is calculated that the solan geese of St. Kilda alone require an annual supply of 214,000,000 herrings. This is equal to 305,714 barrefs much more than the total average of herrings branded at all the north- east stations. If we add to this what the cod and dog-fish and other fowls and fhhes, devour, how in- numerable must the quantity of herrings be. The fruitfulness of the herring to balance this dire destruc- tion by man, fish, and fowl is correspondingly great, as they generally contain between 60,000 and 70,000 eggs. DEATH OF A DESCENDANT OF CLAVERHOUSE.—Miss Stirling Graham, of Duntrune, a collateral descendant of Claverhouse, died recently at her residence, a few miles from Dundee, in her 96th year. It is not neces- sary to trace the relationship, but, among the many interesting objects in Duntrune House are the marriage contract of Claverhouse, his commissions as colonel of horse and major general of all the forces in Scotland, his patent of nobility, and many other documents referring to the hero of Killecrankie. Miss Graham was well-known in Edinburgh society in the palmy days of Lord Jeffereys. THE BULGARIAN PEASANT.—A few words about the Bulgarian peasant (says a correspondent of The Times). He lives in a whitewashed mud hut. wliich is always kept extremely clean. Hr wears a white shirt, a short coat, wide Turkish trousers, and a fur cap generally he wears a moustache, but shaves his chin. He is very sympathetic, frank, naJj, timid, and very hospitable. His relations with the Russian soldiers are of the most friendly kind. Troops of Bulgarians everywhere accompany our columns. When the Orel Regiment crossed the Balkans, hundreds of men, women, and children repaired the roads and helped the soldiers to drag the field-guns. As a mark of gratitude, the Russian soldier lets the Bulgarians help themselves to the property of the Turkish fugitives. As soon as the Orel Regiment entered the abandoned Turkish camp the Bulgarians were seen carrying off cushions, carpets, and everything that had been left in the tents. Carry off, carry off, little brother," said the soldiers encouragingly, and the" little brothers" were not slow to follow the advice. Arming them- selves with Turkish rifles, they wander about the country and bring lurlush prisoners into the Russian camp. A TASK FOR CONVICTS.—The Whitehall Review says :—" A Paris author called the other day for the tenth time upon the impressario of a theatre on the Boulevards to inquire what had become of his play which he had left at the theatre some months ago. The director felt rather embarrassed at first, but finally replied I can't give you any answer yet; the piece has not yet been returned from Mazas.' 'From Mazas!' asked the bewildered author. 'Yes, yes,' repeated the director, adding in explanation that in view of the many manuscripts which he received be had asked the authorities to allow the prisoners at Mazas to read them for him. The convict, after read- ing a work, always furnishes an exhaustive report upon the play, which is sent to the manager. I sup- pose many of the convicts consider this kind of work a greater punishment than picking oakum or breaking stones. To read all the rubbish that is often presented to theatrical directors must indeed be hard labour of the most severe kind." PETER'S PENCE.—An interesting return has just been issued, according to which the Peter's pence offered to the Pope by the whole Catholic world on his Jubilee amounted to 16,476,281 francs, of which 9,190,000 francs consisted of gold, and the rest of bank notes. The Pope has ordered that four millions should be devoted to the permanent fund of the Apostolic See, four millions to a fund for the officials, ex-officials, and ex-military military men who re- mained true to the Pope, four millions for renovating the monumental churches and the carrying out of use- ful works, which would form at the same time an incitement for art and industry while the remainder, amounting to 4,476,381 francs, is to be distributed among hospitals, inns for pilgrims, and asylums for the poor. SLIGHTLY LUDICROUS.—The Paris Figaro tells an amusing story of two young Parisians who, having quarrelled, determined to wash outtheir mutual wrongs in each other's blood, but, feeling distrustful of their skill in fence, went to take alesson before the day of meet ing. The master to whom the first had recourse gave him the following advice :—"Put yourself on guard, out of the reach of your adversary, and at the least move- ment which he makes step quickly back; it may be a feint." The second bloodthirsty combatant had im- pressed upon him the following directions:—"Above all beware of feints and surprises. At the least move- ment of your adversary, even if he makes a step to the rear, retire quickly, and be sure and take up your guard out of his reach." The two young gentlemen arrive on the ground, and followed their instructions to the letter. At the end of a quarter of an hour of extreme prudence on both sides, the seconds interpose, and exclaim, "No, enough; stop. You are both too strong; it would be butchery." PUBLIC HOUSES WITHOUT ALCOHOL.—On Friday night a public'meeting was held at John Pouna s Memorial School-room, Portsmouth, for the purpose of estab- lishing a limited liability company for building public- houses which shall not supply strong drinks. The meeting was addressed by the Mayor, Mr. Cowper- Temple, M.P., Sir Frederick Fitzwygram, Mr. W. B. Robinson, and other gentlemen and by Miss Robinson of the Soldiers' institute. Resolutions were carried in favour of forming the proposed company; and pro- visional directors were approved by the meeting, among whom were the names of the gentlemen above- mentioned. A large public meeting will be shortly convened to further promote the establishment of this company, GOLD OF VICTORIA.—Sandhurst, which has been for some years the leading gold-field, so far as yields are concerned, renders a poor account for June this year, and Ballarat nd Stawell make a better return. The Ballarat Star has the following encouraging state- ment :— "A little girl, daughter of Mr. Watson, of Sebastopol, struck a patch somewhere on the Sebastopol road. Seeing a sparkle, she picked up a piece of muddy quartz, one end of which was a mass of gold. Carrying it to her father, it was found that the quarts, weighing about 12oz., contained over 2oz. of gold. The quartz seemed inlaid with gold, and, as we have said before, one end of it was thick with the precious metal." The exact locality of the find has not been divulged. The Government Mining Department estimate the quantity of gold obtained in the Colony of Victoria in the year 1876 at 963,760oz. The return of mining accidents in that year shows a total of 225 miners killed or injured. Of thia. total 55 were killed—42 Europeans and 13 Chinamen. The persons employed get fewer, and were little more than 41,000 in 1876, but the accidents have decreased faster than the miners. REVENUE ITEMS.—In the year ended the 31st of March the stamp duties on legacies and successions produced a net sum of £ 3,(!75,802. The net amount realized frem stamps on companies registration was The stamp duty on marine insurances amounted in gross to £119;982. The amount of stamp duty on patents for inventions was in gross £16£1,042. On the probate of wills and letters of administration, the allowances and repayments were in one year as much as £153,558, the gross stamp duty being £2.339,914. and the net The amount of interest derived by the revenue as interest on public loans was last year AN OLD SAW EXPLODED.—" A wet harvest never hurt a farmer is one of those old saws which had a groundwork of truth about them once, but are no longer to be trusted. In the days of Protection it was no doubt the consumer rather than the farmer who suffered from a wet harvest, as he had to pay as much for injured corn as he would have had to give for sound grain but in these Free Trade times, for home- grown corn to be bad in quality or condition means that Foreign grain will be at a premium and British at a discount. If the present stormy weather continues I fear it will be so this year.—Mark Lane Express. THE CROWS AND THE PIGEONS. — The Russian reverses remind me of the fable of the crows and the pigeons (says Mayfair). Crows, as you know, do not walk, but jump. However, they used to walk formerly. One day they took it into their heads to ■ imitate the more graceful walk of the. pigeons. They did not succeed and in their efforts at imitation they had forgotten their former mode of walking, and, the oonsequence was that ever since they jump. The Russians might have thought of this fable when endeavouring to follow German tactics in campaign- ing THE HERRING FISHERY.—Another extraordinary catch of herrings was landed at Fraserburgh on Satur- day, the average per boat being 30 crans. In two consecutive days 36,000 crans, or an average of 50 crans per boat, have been caught, the total value being estimated at £50,000. At Peterhead a moderately good fishing was got, and the average take there is above that at the same date last year. The Wick fishermen, on the other hand, are having very poor success. The Eyemouth boats had remarkably large takes on Saturday, the average being as much as 40 crans.—Scotsman. HOPE FOR THE FARMER.—The foreign papers have a paragraph announcing that English scientific men have discovered the Colorado beetle to be none other than the Coccinella Septempunctata. Agricultural persons whose potatoes are in danger will doubtless reap great comfort from this.—Judy. "TORPEDO REMOVER." Some experiments were made in the Mersey on Monday with the Torpedo Remover," invented by Colonel Sholl, of the American Army, and used by him in fishing up torpedoes during the War of Secession. Some successful experiments with dum my torpedoes were made recently in the Mersey and were noticed in the papers. The trials on Monday were made in the presence of Admiral Boys, Director of Land Ordnance, Colonel Govan, R.A., Commandant of the Northern Division, Captain Lawsley, and Lieu- tenant Lutyers, of the Royal Engineers, besides Colonel Sholl and others interested in the work. The party, with the needful apparatus, left the landing-stage, Liverpool, in a steamtug, and proceeded to the neigh- bourhood of the Eastham, where the experiments were made. The invention consists of a simple means of grappling over a wide area without incurring danger. Two 5Jjin. mortars were used with a charge of 101b. of powder for each. These propelled two peculiarly- shaped 561b. shot, to which were attached tow-lines of 150 yards, the tow-lines being connected close to the shots with a breast rope 50 yards long, having grapples at regular intervals. The mortars were fired simul- taneously by electricity by Captain Young, of the Southport Battery, and directed so that a triangle was formed by the tow-lines and breast rope, and with this latter the bed of the Mersey was dragged. There were no dummy torpedoes to bring' up, but the princi- ple was effectively illustrated. With the first shots there was some fouling of the ropes, but two subse- quent shots were successful. The weight of shots and lines was 2121b.
EPITOME OF NEWS.
EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. Clairvoyantes are driving a roaring trade in Paris. Many of them are earning enormous incomes, and there is no opposition to their pursuits. There will probably be no dissolution till Septem- ber, 1879; but the most highly-skilled and best-informed among the Conservative wire-pullers are of opinion that were a dissolution to take place without any great question being put before the country, Gfovernment would be in a minority but the Liberal party would not have a majority, the balance of power being in the hands of the Home Rulers. A loss of twenty-six seats would put Government in a minority, and they could not hope to lose less than from thirty-five to tovty."—The World. A novel decoration was worn the other day by a recruit in the AUiitrian servije. When passing-muster the sergeant asked what order he was wearing. The recruit blushed deeply and stammered, The mMal which was given to our cow at the late agricultural exhibition."—Whitehall Review. We understand that the Law Officers of the Crown, having given their opinion that the course taken by Admiral de Horsey in engaging the Peruvian ironclad was justifiable on grounds of International law the Admiralty and Lord Derby, as Foreign Secretary, have signified to Admiral de Horsey their approval of his conduct behaving put a stop to the lawless proceedings of the Huascar. limes. The Manchester* School Board have sanctioned the establishment of penny banks in connection with their schools, and one was opened on Monday in Every-street. There are already upwards of 400 depositors. A singular death happened to a boy named Watson at Mansfield 011 Monday. The lad, who is employed at the Midland Hotel, was playing with a piece of cord suspended from a beam, when it became twisted over Ms head, aud being caught he was strangled. M. Thiers made a. speech at St. Germain, in reply to a Republican deputation, in the course of which he ex- pressed his conviction that the Republic is the only possible Government for France, and assured them that they might rely on his constant efforts to support it. He had no doubt of the success of Republicanism in France, and he had no hesitation in assuring the deputation of it. At a meeting at Wolverhampton of the Midland Counties Veterinary Association, a discussion took place on the subject of vivisection. The practice was condemned as unnecessary for the piupose of ordinary surgical education, £ ? practised for the purpose of scientific knowledge the meeting was of opinion that the operation should be performed only by experienced professors, and that no animal should be operated on except under the influence of an anajsthetic. On Saturday afternoon Mr. Briggs, M.P., laid the foundation-stone of new day and Sunday schools at Black- burn, which will be erected at a cost of £4,000. DIr. Briggs remarked that education was no longer the monopoly of the few at the expense of the many. Grammar schools had been remodelled so as to supersede sectarian bigotry and abolish sinecures. Facilities and opportunities for acquiring educa- tion were within the reaeh of all, and there was no excuse for persons being unable to write their names on being mar- ried. A verdict of suicide while in an unsound state of mind was returned at the coroner's inquest held on Monday respecting the death of a private in the 21st Hussars, who shot himself on Sunday morning at Hounslow Barracks. It was stated that the deceased man had obtained leave of absence, which he overstayed by two days, and that he was depressed by the fear of punishment "The latest otion with regard to Mr. Albert Grant's mansion at Kensington is by no means a bad one. It is to convert it into a hospital for the affluent. The idea ot such an establishment was mooted sometime ago, but for want of a suitable site it has never been carried out. A better situation could not be found than Mr. Grant's man- ion, and if the necessary funds are forthcoming for the endowment of such an institution, it will he undoubtedly a great boon to those who, though they can afford well to pay for it, can seldom during illness get the medical care, the watchful nursing, and the discipline of the hospital, which are so conducive to a speedy and a satisfactory recovery."— The World. Of 312 reports of the current wheat harvest—sent to us (Agricultural Gazette) during the past few days by cones- pondents all over this island, all of whom are engaged ill either cutting their own corn, or watching it ripening or spoiling as the cabe may he-no few than 224 declare it to be belojv an average. This is a poorer account than has ever befoi-e appeared of the wheat crop in the Agricultural Gazette, which is uow 34 years old. In only eleven cases out of the whole of these returns have we had the crop reported as being over average—about a quarter of them pronounce it average, and nearly three-quarters put it under average. Cardinal Cullen has issued a pastoral, exhorting the faithful to pray for fine weather. He attributes war, famine, and pestilence to the anger of Gúd at abounding sin and iniquity, at the preaching of atheism, at attempts to bring up children without religion, and at the proclamation by some statesmen and politicians that Providence takes no part in the management of the world; and he fears that still more dreadful scourges will be sent to punish mndels and sinners. Mr. Alfred Brown, veterinary surgeon, of Ongar, Essex, has died a painful death, the result of a bite from a rabid dog so far back as three years ago.-—Orders requiring dogs to be kept under control have now been marie by the magistrates of several petty sessional divisions in Essex, in- cluding Brentwood, Chelmsford, and the liberty of Havering- atte-Bower. A rumour reaches me from Germany that Her Majesty the Queen inteiids paying a visit to Berlin on the occasion of the celebration of the nuptials of her grand- daughter, Princess Charlotte, with the Prince of Meiningen." -Mayfair. It appears from Mr. Calcraft's general report to the Board of Trade upon the accidents which occurred on the railways of the United Kingdom during 1876, that the total number of persons returned to the Board of Trade as having neen killed on all railways during the year was 1,245, and the number of injured was 4,724. Of these 139 persons killed and 1,883 persons injured were passengers. Of the remainder, 673 killed and :.1,600 injured were officers or servants of the railway companies or contractors and 433 killed and 241 injured were trespassers or suicides, or others who had met with accidents at level crossings, or from mis- cellaneous causes. Of the passengers, according to the returns made to the Board of Trade, 38 were killed and 1,297 were injured from causes beyond their own control. A man named Prescett, a clerk, residing at Eccles, has just met with a fearful death. Being in the neighbour- hood of the Manguall Field Pit near Bolton, with a friend, he obtained permission to accompany the engine-tender down the pit. When they had descended the shaft about sixty yards the kibble was stopped, and Prescott, thinking it had reached the bottom, at once stepped out. He was mediately precipitated a depth of forty-five yards, and then fell into a disused shaft which was full of water, making his tetal fall 270 feet. The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs has tele- graphed to M. Musurus that the Sultan has been much touched by the kindness and generosity displayed by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts towards the innocent victims of the Russian atrocities, and directs the Ambassador to expresa his sincere thanks, not only to that noble lady, but to the other members of the committee instituted through her initiative. A friend who was painting in Scotland last week writfEi to say that he was glad to wear his overcoat in the day-time, and enjoyed a pipe over a blazing fire in the even- ing. Men engaged in harvest work have certainly incurred more danger from rheumatism than from sunstroke this year ."—Mark Lane Express. According to The Daily Telegraph a living Colorado beetle has been discovered at Brecon in a sack of maize. Reports from the hop districts are to the effect that the crop has sufiered very considerably from the recent high winds and rain. In most quarters picking will commence till s weeK. Midhat Pasha is perhaps the most prominent stranger in Paris at the present time, and has been making himself agreeable by visiting the public places. On Monday he inspected the works of the Exhibition at the Champ do Mars and the Trocadéro. Lord Derby has received from Mr. Layard a tele- gram reporting that he has been informed by the Grand Vizier that orders have been given for the distribution of a Turkish translation of the Geneva Convention among the Ottoman troops, in order to guard against the violation ol its clauses through ignorance. ftfr. Layard has been further assured that instructions will be issued for every possible measure to be taken to nrevent excesses on the part of the Circassians and other irregular troops. An inquest on the body of a lad named Chaywood, a chorister, of Trinity Church, Chelsea, was held on Mon- day. The evidence showed that the deceased had been on a visit to Mr. John Joel, of Chalvey. He got on the line of the Great Western Railway in pursuit 8if a dog, and was knocked down and killed by a train. A verdict of Acci- dental death was returned. At a Friendly Society gathering held in the neigh- bourhood of Barnsley on Monday, a resolution was passed that all reasonable and just means should be used to prevail upon the Government to repeal the 23rd clause of the Poor Law Amendment Act, which clause was considered to press with considerable hardship upon Friendly Societies. Australian papers state that advicss by the Ly-ee. moon, from Fiji, contradict the report of the massaere of the mission at Duke of York Island, but say that there had been a disturbance between some trading vessels and the natives. The latter had poisoned a Samoan woman, the wife of a German trader, and the crews of the vessels fired upon the natives, who then killed a trader who was ashore. General Dorojinsky, who has been killed at Shipka, was an officer engaged in the defence of Sebastopol. In Paris, a deputation from the Positivist Society has presented an address to Midhat Pacha expressing sympathy for Turkey and assuring him of their esteem* Midhat Pacha, in replying to the deputation, alluded to the prejudice existing in Europe against the Mussulmanreligion, which he affirmed to be as consonant as Christianity with modern civilization. He protested against the policy of those European statesmen who allowed religious sentiment to obscure their reason, and who, forgetting all the acts of Russia during the last two years, can. only feel indignation against Turkey. Midhat Pacha concluded by asking his hearers what was the object of religion if it did not conduce to justice. ■ v A meeting-of the. Society, for the Protection of British Interests against Russian Xggression in the East was held in London, on Monday, in the Westminster Palace Hotel, uuder the presidency of Lord'Strathedeir: It was announced that it was in contemplation to hold a largo public demonstration to popularise the views of the society. A resolution was passed thanking Hungary^or its sympathy with Turkey, and a deputation was appointed to wait upon Lord Derby to lay before him the aims of the organisation. A meeting of the South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire coal-masters has been held at Dudley, to consider the reports from the men in the various districts. On the men being called in Mr. Thomas Halliday said if the masters would withdraw the question of hours and per- quisites the men would consider what was best to be done. The masters stated that they would not make their proposal absolute with respect to hours and wages, and the men then retired to discuss the question, and Anally decided to accept; a reduction of sixpence per day on thick and threepence per day on thin coal. A strike is thus averted. Mr. Sclater-Booth, M.P., has directed amemorandum to be prepared and circulated explaining fully the manner in which out-door relief, should, in his opinion, be administered in order to diminish pauperism, and promote thrifty and saving habits among the working classes of the community. One of the Paris papers publishes a, telegram from St. Petersburg, stating that the Russian-newspapers have received the mot d'ordre not to speak of anything but the future victories and the definitive triumph of Russia, and to treat all adverse foreign news as mere malevolent rumours. Meanwhile, adds the telegram, public opinion is a prey to the most lively anxiety. Among the patents for which application has been made at the German Patent Offioe is one worthy of special notice. The object is a "Lenkbares Fltlgel-Luftschiff" (steering-winged aerial ship). Its inventor is George Baumgarten, Royal Chief Ranger at the forest-house Grttna, near Chemnitz, in Saxony.—Trade Marks. D. R. is lovingly entreated to return or communi- cate immediately. No reason for absence."—Advertisement in The Times. Many instances have been given from time to time of improvement in the value of City properties in London, but one of the most remarkable is that of a house in Lom- bard-street, the property of the Drapers' Company, which in 1668 was let for £25 a year. In 1877 the site lets for £2,600 a year ground rent, and the lessee having expended £10,000 on the building covering it, gets a return of £7,000 a year rent. City Press. A return of all fatal boiler explosions on board steamships in the years 1861 and 1862, in 1864 and IS65, and in 1875 and 1876, has been issued from the Board of Trade. During the period embraced by the return there were ten fatal casualties, 18 lives being lost. Prince Bismarck tells qjl who ask his opinion, that the war will be localised."—Mayfair. Mr. John Bright, M.P. (according to Coming Events), will not deliver his usual vacation address this year at Birmingham, as the right honourable gentleman contem- plates a prolonged tour on the Continent. Large sums of money are being silently withdrawn from the Parisian banks by many of the French families of distinction, who are in dread of another revolution or coup d'etat before the winter sets in. The money is, for the most part, being sent to En¡dand.-CQurt Journal. Mr. Lowe, M.P., president of the West Kent Bicycle Club, has undertaken to distribute the prizes at the races which are arranged to be run at the Crystal Palace on September 15. There is so to speak a civil scientific war raging. No sooner is an impenetrble target constructed than a gun is made to render it useless. The m*st important invention of modern times, and more especially affecting us, is that of torpedoes; yet an ingenious device of fishing them up has been hit upon by meaus of hooks attached to a shot fired from a mortar while recent experiments have proved that; the electric light renders a surprise at night impossible.— Whitehall Review. The Chinese Minister and suite visited Messrs. Minton's porcelain and earthenware works, Stoke-on-Trent, on Saturday. They were accompanied by Ir. Robert Heath, M.P., and Mr. C. D.Addeiley; Mr. C. M. CampbeU, M.P., head of the firm, conducted the party over the works and showed the various processes. The visitors afterwards went to the Campbell Brick and Tile Company's Works and inspected the making of encaustic tiles. They returned to London in the afternoon. I have reason to believe that there is a distinct understanding between England and Russia regarding an eventual temporary occupation of Constantinople. It is said in diplomatic circles that it is owing to this that the speech or statement of Lord Beaconsfield on the eve of the breaking up of Parliament was couched in conciliatory terms.—Mayfair. It is said that an American sewing machine firm has written from New York offering £5,000 a year for the right of advertising round Cleopatra's needle when it is fixed up. The New York World states that the strikes in America and the riots have cost the country £4,000,000 sterling, which is equivalent to the total failure in tho tobacco crop throughout the year. A "11,evised English Bible" has just been issued from the Queen's Printers, the chief peculiarities of which are a revision of the authorised version and an improved version of the text, which is divided into sections and para- graphs according to the sense, the poetical portions being arranged in parallelisms in accordance with the rhythmical construction of Hebrew poetry. The United States mail steamer Wyoming, which arrived in the Mersey on Sunday morning from New York, landed in good condition 18 valuable Canadian horses. The Wyoming had also on board 2,000 quarters of American beef. The Corporation of Glasgow have agreed to fit up 13 electric clocks, m" order to remove a grievance regarding the disparity of time indicated by the present public clocks. Cardinal Bizzarri died at half-pa st six o'clock on Sunday evening. He was born of poor parents, at Pagliano, in 1802", and first came into notice as Secrstary to Pius VIII. In 1856 Pius IX. sent him on a special mission to the King of Naples, and in 1863 created him a Cardinal. Though he had been an invalid for some time, his death was unex- pected. Sixty men are daily employed in quarrying the Grmdelwald glacier, cutting out blocks of about 1501b. each. A tramway takes the ice to Interlaken, the descending trucks forming the motive power for the return of empty ones, and the export extends te the Bulgarian hospitals. The new" deferred action fuse should be a great success. As a rule, a shell, on bursting in the vicinity of an earthwork, makes a noise, and that is all, being tired by con- cussion. The intention of this newly invented fuse is to make the shell, as a solid shot, penetrate the earthwork, and then, in bursting, shatter the work in all directions.—. Whits- hall Revievx Prince Bismarck, according to the Leipsic Corre- spondent of the Standard, has, in a conversation with the burgomaster of that town, stated that he is no longer able to work, that his health is exhausted, and that he noW desires nothing more than quietude and retirement. A return procured hy Sir Thomas Bazley to the House of Commons has been issued of capital in shares and by loans respectively proposed t-i be raised by the railway and other bills brought before Parliament in the late Ses- sion, and the aggregate amount of sueh capital and loans, with the gross aggregate return fer the previous ten years. The proposed capital in the recent session hy 2ô8 bills, of which £ 27,448,930 was by shares and £14,008,199 by loans. Intense excitement prevails among the MahomedaO population in India on account of the Turkish victory at Plevna. An extensive subscription is being set on foot tot the succour of the Turkish wounded, and the native papers teem with war telegrams morll or less tJ be relied upon.- Whitehall Repiew. The Emperor of China supports the temperance j movement, and has therefore issued an edict prohibiting opium smoking throughout the country, particularly among llitlicials, scholars, and the soldiery. The edict was issued a6 the instance of his Excellency Kwoh Sung Tao and his j co.lleague, Envoys to Great Britain. It commands generals, governors-general, and governors in the various provinces, to draw up regulations, adapted to local circumstances for J] carrying out this prohibition, which is to take effect three j years hence; meantime the smokers are, we suppose, ex- | pected to give up the bad habit. What practical effect this 1 measure may have remains to be seen. | A correspondent, writing from Bordeaux, says:- j "Paris is not the only city in France which can boast of J hansom cabs, for within the last fortnight three or four have { made their appearance here, and if they take it is the inten- | tion of the jobmasters who have-imported them to have a large number sent out from England." | The passenger steamer Carisbrooke, belonging to the Southampton Steam Packet Company, came into collision with a barge on Saturday, while leaving Ports- mouth Harbour. The baige sank immediately, but, fortunately, no one was on board. The bow of the Caris- brooke was stove in, and the vessel would probably have sunk but for the fact that she had a water-tight bulkhead. As it was, the steamer's bow was considerably depressed by the quantity of water in it. The Special Correspondent of the Scotsman with General Gourko's army records a striking incident that occurred to himself. Entering the village of Egliani, he had passed the second or third house when a shot wasfireo from a pistol." I felt a sharp touch on the breast, and look- ing down there was decidedly a hole in nlY vest. Further examination showed me that the bullet had struck a button, glanced upwards, and entered my pocket-book in a breast pocket. The bullet drove half-way throutrfc the pncket-book and rested right in the middle of some cartes de visite, the point grazing my passport. If we may credit the San Francisc• Bulletin, there is no country 1Il the world ftt to be compared with CalÜOrDla in regard to money-making This favoured State absolutely < teems with millionares who have made their fortunes during the last twenty years. At the head of the list we have the famous mining firm of Flood, O'Brien, Mackey, and Fair. The value of their property can scarcely be accurately esti- mated, but it may be imagined from the fact that the net re- ceipts are set down at £4,000,000 per annum, or a year for each partner. Next to this plutocratic firm are the four enterprising gentlemen who between them have managed to obtain the chief ownership.of the Cental Pacing Railroad and other lines in California. Their income i= I about a third of that possessed by Messrs. Flood and Co. After that quartette of milllonaries we have no less than tW"1,ty-three firms, each with a capital of and up- wards.. t i