South Wales Daily News

I BIRTHS. MARRIAGES. DEATHS MARRIAGES. ALLEN—ALLEN.—August 15th, at St. Mellons Church, by the Rev. J. AV. Evans. Walter, third son of the 'ate William Allen, Vaindre Hall, St. Mellons, Cardiff, to Margaret Adelaide, youngest daughter of John Allen. Nelson, New Zealand J ONES—TOVEY .—On Tuesday, 15th inst., at St. Margarets>, Roath, D. W. Jones, son of J. W. Jones, Architect, Llandilo, to Clara, second daughter of Rev. A. Tovey, Beaufort. 573 RICHAKDS—JENKINS—August 14th, at Bethania Chapel, Aberdare, by Rev. William James, T. H. Richards, Llantrisant, late of Hirwain, to Winifred Alary (V, mine), only daughter of Mr W. M. Jenkins, The Garth, Hirwain. 583 DEATHS. BUOWN.—On the 12th inst.. killed in the Taff Vale Railway disaster, near Treforest, James Brown Funeral from 41. Scott."treet, Friday. leaving house at 4 o clock for New Cemetery. Friends please accept tnis only intimation. 543 LLEWELY.N.-Tues(iay, 5 a.m., at her residence, New- town, Llantwitfardre, Catherine, the beloved uaughter of William and Susannah Llewelvn, from injuries received at late railway disast,er at Treforest. Buried Friday at, 2 p.m., at Bryntiron. Friends please accept this intimation. 603 SHAPLAND.—On the ]2th instant, killed in the Taft Vale Railway Accident at Trefoiest, Thos. William: Shaplaud second son of the lace Mr Henry Shap- MI i Llandaff, in his 27th year. Funeral ■Will leave Hazlehurst at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1893. íI HEREFORD AS A WARNING. HEREFORD election comes an apt com- mentary upon the correspondence which has passed between the Welsh members and Mr GLADSTONE. Unless the Cabinet press forward with the reforms for which the country is crying out, and for which—as well as for Home Rule-a mandate was given Mr GLADSTONE twelve months ago, we shall see many more Here- fords-shall witness the steady decline of our majority and the creeping onward of impotency. Home Rule was the chief, but it was only one, of the great measures which the Government had been placed in power to push through Parliament. Disestablishment of the English Church in Wales is the second great reform required, second only to Home Rule, and we regret to discover from the corres- pondence, all the Welsh members have at last summoned courage enough topublish, tliat the PRIME MINISTER cannot even yet bring himself to accord to this measure of bare justice the place which has been assigned it by the unanimous voice of the whole Liberal party throughout the United Kingdom. Home Rule first, Welsh Dises- tablishment second; that is the order of the Newcastle programme, framed and endorsed, and emphasised over and over again. Unless it be the deliberate design of Ministers to risk all that would be involved in abandonment of the programme, Welsh Disestablishment must be dealt with. We want no Herefords in Wales and Welsh- men will certainly not desert their Radical- ism. With equal certainty, though, they will not support Ministers who do not carry out their wishes. As to Hereford election itself, the result can scarcely be regarded as a surprise. A constituency notoriously in the balance has once again changed its opinions. Seven years ago, when the Home Rule question first came under discussion, Hereford re- turned a Conservative by 1,401 votes to 1,136, showing a majority of over 260 against Home Rule and at the General Election last year, the Liberal candidate, Mr GRENFELL, was re- turned as a supporter of the Bill by 127 majority. Now we have a Conservative candidate chosen as the representative by a majority of 44. Obviously no" more than about 200 to 300 of the votes are required to change the political complexion of the constituency as manifested in the liouse of Commons, and it would be absurd to treat the opinions of those few as in any degree fairly indicative of the general feeling through the country. Bearing in mind the strong Conservative element which existed in 1886. and also taking into account the inevitable effect of centring political action in the House upon a single great subject to the neglect of all those different items which go to make up the Liberal creed, it is not to be wondered at that the general enthusiasm which last year brought together in hearty co-operation all the different influences which combined to ensure the Liberal victory should be to some extent dissipated. It is this dissipation of enthusiasm which the party will have to reckon with. Had there been last year an Autumn Session wherein a Registration Bill and some other short measure were passed into law, the result at Hereford yes- terday could not fail to have been different. It is the game of the Unionists to make the Parliamentary Session sterile, and so far as Wales is concerned the Cabinet will play into the hands of their opponents if they neglect to press on with the one great re- form which the Principality calls for. The Unionists have within the last day or two declared their policy and their line of action to be strenuous opposition. to the suggested Autumn Session. They are acute observers and skilful tacticians and nothing can better serve their ends than to demonstrate that the present Government is powerless to carry through the reforms upon which the heart of the nation is set. If Ministers are wise they will at once decide upon and announce an Autumn Session, wherein will be opportunity to deal with pressing re- forms and by so doing they will cut the ground from under the feet of the Unionists and stop the spread of a conviction that this is a Government devoted solely to Home Rule. ]

POLITICS ON THE BENCH. AT the annual meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Liberal Federation on Monday, Mr DAVID DA VIES moved a resolu- tion, one sub-section of which called the attentioa "of the LORD CHANCELLOR to the gross and absurd anomaly in the appoint- ment of county magistrates in the Princi pality, and declared that a special obligation rests upon his lordship to Speedily equalise in just proportions the representation of political parties on the magisterial rolls in Wales." The Tory complexion of the magisterial benches in the Principality is a crying scandal and a shame- ful discredit to those who are responsible for packing the Bench of Justice with the nominees and partisans of Toryism. The wrongdoing and the flagrant political dis- honesty of the thing arise mainly from the old, but evil, custom of successive Lord Chancellors appointing to the time-honoured and responsible office of Justices of the Peace only such persons as were nominated by the Lords-Lieutenant of Counties and as these Lords-Lieutenant are nearly all Tories, and as they, unhappily, could not rise above the narrowest political par- tisanship in their official nominations, the shameful spectacle is now witnessed by the country of 7,661 Tory magistrates on the benches in England to 930 Liberal magistrates and 793 Tory magistrates on the benches in South Wales to 143 Liberal magistrates, excluding Carmarthenshire, from which county we have received no return. The South Wales Daily News has repeatedly called public attention to this scandalous prostitution of the bench of justice to political and personal ends, and within the last three weeks figures were published in these columns in proof that the County Benches throughout England and Wales have been debased into the political preserves and partisan hunting grounds of the Tory party. The Tory LORD CHAN- CELLOR, who has attained, beyond all other Tory Lord Chancellors since the days of Lord ELDON, a bad pre-eminence for pack- ing the Bench of Justice with Tory nominees, is Lord HALSBURY, ex-Tory Lord Chancellor, who has earned the unenviable sobriquet of Champion packer of the Bench," and whom South Wales knows well as Sir HARDINGE STANLEY GIFFARD, CardiiTs once perpetual candidate." Public decency, political morality, the magisterial Bench were alike debased and dishonoured by the reckless partisan appointments to the seat of Justice of the ex-Tory Lord Chancellor, Lord HALSBURY. The special reasons for our referring to this matter to-day are three. Firstly, because, as we have stated, it received prominent notice at the annual meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Liberal Federation on Monday secondly, because unless the present Liberal Lord Chancellor, Lord HERSCHELL, makes prompt and extended efforts to remove from the magisterial bench the stain and stigma of being an almost close preserve and political appanage of the Tory party, by his appointment of a very large number of magistrates of Liberal politics all the country over, the whole subject is likely to be brought before the House of Com- I:> mons in the form of a motion for the adjournment of the House; and thirdly, because some Tory journalists are actually scandalised at the appointment t) the Bench of men with strong political preju- dices or convictions. We rejoice exceed- ingly at the new light which has so suddenly burst in upon the Tory mind, and illumined its hitherto chronic darkness on this ques- tion. Some three weeks ago we contended that "the political complexion of the various County Benches in England and Wales should be rectified, and that the honour of appointments to the Magisterial Bench should not be almost exclu- sively bestowed upon the adherents of one political party, and in too many cases, we fear, as a reward for political services." In language singularly similar some Tory journalists are advocating similar views, although they do not, perhaps, very enthusiastically applaud the recommendation to Lord HERSCHELL to remedy the gross inequity and mischief of the present Tory complexion of the Bench by appointing Liberals to the magistracy. Mr DAVID DA VIES, at the Liberal Federation on Monday, contended that the present unjust and scandalous preponderance of Tory magistrates should be redressed by the present LORD CHANCELLOR by the appointment of Liberals to the magistracy who should be Liberals everywhere but on the Bench. He wanted men to be appointed who should not only be Liberals but honest Liberals, not ashamed or afraid to vindicate their principles in every public representa- tive function which they are called upon to discharge, as members of the Board of Guardians, as County Councillors, and in other representative offices. In connection with this he said that they not only needed honest magistrates but honest policemen.who would do their duty faithfully and not screen and shelter some offending publicans, whilst harassing and laying information against others. The ringing cheers with which these references to both magistrates and policemen were greeted by the audience told conclusively that there was much local need for the severe rebuke which Mr DAVIES administered. But the local question sinks into insignificance and almost nothingness beside that gross caricature of Justice which looms upon us in the scandalous partisan character of the South Wales Bench of Magistrates. The following short table, showing the grievous political partiality shown in the magisterial appointments in South Wales will, perhaps, be interesting in more ways than one to most of our readers, and especially as we give the names and political views of the various Lords-Lieu- tenant as well as the politics of the magis- trates. The table is an instructive study in political ethics. MAGIS- COUNTIES. LORDS- TITATES. LIEUTENANT. Tory Lib. Breconshire Sir Joseph Bailey 1i4 10 (Tory) Cardigan- Col. Davies-Evans 113 17 shire (Tory) Carmarthen- Earl of Cawdor no returns shire (Tory) Glamorgan- Lord Windsor 219 64 shire (Tory) Monmouth- Duke of Beaufort 163 11 shire (Tofy) Pembroke- Lord Kensington 96 38 shire (Liberal) Radnorshire Lord Oniiat'uwaite 97 3 (Tory) 793 143 In the seven eounfcies there are six Tory Lords- Lieutenant and only one Liberal, and in six of theseven from which we have returns there are 793 Tory Magistratesand 143 Liberal Magistrates.

MINING ROYALTIES. MR ALDERMAN EDWARD JOHN, of Cow- bridge, in moving the resolution on the Welsh Land Commission at Aberdare, narrated some astounding facts as to the monstrous claims and the high-handed despotism of certain Lords of Manors in Gla- morganshire. One of the facts stated amazed and startled the audience out of its calm, judicial temper, and evoked loud and con- demnatory expressions of indignant surprise. Perhaps the reason why the meeting was aroused to indignation by the calm and quiet narration of the special facts, was that the case is at this moment occuring in the neighbourhood of Aberdare, and we are all-and perhaps not altogether without reasonable justification more directly interested in cases nearer home than in those more remote. Alderman JOHN stated that a wealthy Glamorganshire land- owner, whose name he mentioned, is, or is alleged to be, Lord of the Manor of -(the name was also given. He does not own a yard of land within the bounds of the Manor, and possesses no interest whatever in the dis- trict, but he is Lord of the Manor, and as such claims the ownership of the minerals beneath the surface, although -and let it lijfaiu be reted-he does not own an inch of the surface. He has recently, so Alderman JOHN stated, leased the working of the coal in a certain portion of the Manor to a rich colliery com- pany in the district, at a royalty rent which, according to the computation of the quantity of coal within the portion of the manor leased to the com- pany, will amount in the aggregate to a million sterling of English money. It is obvious that the seams will be exhausted sooner or later, according to the quantity of coal raised yearly. If the coal be exhausted in fifty years this wealthy Glamorganshire landowner, Lord of the Manor whilst not owning a yard of land within the Manor, will have an income from royalties of £20,000 a year if the coal be worked out in twenty years he will have an income from royalties of £50,000 a year, pro- vided the estimate of the quantity of coal beneath is approximately accurate. If Mr Alderman JOHN'S facts be correct-and we have no reason whatever to doubt them, his other facts have been tested and found accurate—then we ask the reader to look at this matter in the plain, sober light of unvarnished truth. Manors are of feudal origin in Great Britain, although some writers think they can discover some traces of Manorial usages even before the Norman Conquest. The KING granted to some powerful subjects Baronies and Manors, not in absolute owner- ship—for the KING could not give what he did not possess—but for purposes of State defence; that the lords to whom the Baronies and Manors were granted might maintain peace and order within the dis- tricts under their jurisdiction. The land of the nation is not the property of the Monarch in his or her private character, but as guardian of the rights and possessions of the nation. As such guar- dian he appointed subordinate guardians, and granted to them the fees or emoluments of Baronies and Manors, to enable them efficiently to perform their trust. For it is self-evident that the Crown could not grant to any Lord of Barony or Manor that which he did not possess. The Crown held the land of the nation in trust for the protec- tion of the nation, and not for its own private advantage. It used the emoluments whether in the shape of taxes, subsidies, or personal service for the defence of the realm. It held the land for this purpose, subject to the rights of the people and their ultimate ownership of the land. It is evident, then, that the Monarch could not grant to the Lords of Manors any rights of property in the land beyond those which he himself possessed. If the Manor in question, to which Alderman JOHN referred, was held by the Crown instead of by a private holder, the QUEEN would not receive the royalties as her own—they would not be carried to her private account — but would be paid into the Exchequer for the benefit of the nation. And yet here is a private holder, holding under a grant from the Crown, who puts these large royalties into his own private pocket and uses them as his own. It will be of no avail to express startled surprise and indig- nation at the revelation of these wrongs at a public meeting. The evil system is in full operation all the country over, and until the people awaken to a sense of their rights and their responsibilities, no radical cure of the evil—no cure of any kind—will be effected.

THE WELSH DEMAND. II MEETING OF THE WELSH MEMBERS. THE LIBERAL PART Y AND V DISESTABLISHMENT. IMPORTANT CORRESPOND- ENCE. tK '« MR GLADSTONE'S VIEWS. THE MATTER AGAIN APJOURNED. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TKLE'JRAM.] LONDON, Tuesday Night. Mr Stuart Rendel presided this evening over a meeting of the Welsh Parliamentary party, when 18 members attended. There were present Sir E. J. Reed, Mr C. F. Egerton Allen, Mr R. J. D. Burn if:, Mr W. Rees Davies, Mr Thomas E. Ellis, Mr S. T. Evans, Major E. R. Jones, Mr Herbert Lewis, Mr Lloyd George, Mr J. Lloyd Morgan, Mr David Randell, Mr J. Bryn Roberts, Mr Albert Spicer, Mr Alfred Thomas, Mr D. A. Thomas, Mr A. J. Williams, and Mr Win. Williams. It was re- solved to publish the following correspondence with Mr Gladstone :— House of Commons, June 26th, 1893. U Sir,—We regretjthe necessity for trespassing upon your time and attention when the re- sources are so severely taxed by the committee proceedings on the Home Rule Bill. But the increasing anxiety of our countrymen respecting the prospects of the measure for the Dis- establishment and Disendowment of the Estab- lished Church in Wales must be our justification for troubling you at this juncture. The Welsh electors are apprehensive lest by the interposition of other interests their claim may be dislodged from the precedence which they deem had been accorded to it by the unanimous vote of the Liberal party before the General Election. It is with a view to being enabled to reassure them on this point that we now venture to address you. Perhaps you will permit us shortly to explain what are the circumstances which have given rise to the feeling of uneasi- ness, undoubtedly prevalent at the present moment, throughout Wales. "It will be recollected that the Newcastle pro' gramme conceded to the Welsh demand a second place in that schedule of grievances calling for treatment at the hands of the Liberal party on its expected access to power. This programme was considered to be the official charter of Liberal policy at the last election, and Liberal candidates in Wales appealed for support on the specific ground of the pledge thus given by the party to settle the Welsh question immediately after Homo Rule. They considered that they were fully justified in placing this interpretation upon the Newcastle programme and the method of its acceptance. The resolutions constituting this programme had been arrived at in conferences held under the auspices and honoured by the presence of the recognised leaders of the Liberal party, and the same resolutions had been subse- quently confirmed at demonstrations ad- dressed by those leader. Moreover, it is urged that this programme had been posted and circulated by the National Liberal federation throughout the English and Welsh constituencies, as the policy upon which Liberalism appealed to the British electorate. We have no doubt what- ever that this construction placed upon the in- tentions of the Liberal party and Liberal leaders contributed materially to the overwhelming character of the Liberal victory in Wales. Immediately upon the assembling of the new Parliament this view of the situation was em- bodied by the Welsh members in the following resolution, unanimously adopted at a meeting held by them to discuss their line of action for the future :— That this meeting of the Welsh Parliamentary pacty adheres to its determination to aid the passing through the House of Commons of a Home Rule Bill as proposed by Mr Gladstone, satisfactory to the majority of the representatives of Ireland. That it desires to emphasise the fact that Wales, for the fourth time, by an even more striking and overwhelming majority than hereto- fore, has declared its conviction in favour of Welsh Disestablishment. That it rejoices that the Liberal party is now in a position to redeem the pledge given by the National Liberal Federa- tion, and repeatedly and solemnly ratified that Welsh Disestablishment should be the second object of Liberal policy, and expresses its deter- mination to spare no efforts to secure in the present Parliament a thorough and satisfactory measure of Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church of England in Wales.' This resolution was communicated to you, sir, before the division on the Confidence amendment was taken. During the negotiations between the Welsh Parliamentary and the Government which preceded the introduction of the Suspen- sory Bill, Mr Marjoribanks did us the kindness to attend a meeting of our party. He then afforded substantial confirmation of our views, and in a great measure allayed our fears by stating his belief that Disestablishment would comeimmediately after Home Rule and Regis- j tration, and that nothing would ba at- I lowed to intecvena the detriment c: Das. tablishment. The introduction of the Susptensory Bill we regarded as the official committal of the Government, and its first reading we esteemed to be the conferring of Parliamentary sanction upon the undertaking given by the Liberal party to the Welsh people. The fact that it was proposed to extend its operation beyond the year from the date of its enactment satisfied us as a further indi- cation of the determination of the Government to deal comprehensively and finally with the whole question not later than next year. The above is a. summary of the situation on the Welsh Church question as it presents itself to our minds. We may say that we simply dwell npon this not for an instant with any desire to impute default, or a change of front to the Ministry, but in order to justify the Welsh people in the expectation formed by them and participated m by us, that Welsh Dises- tablishment would be the first measure of any magnitude dealt with by the Government after Home Rule. "There are now, however, rumours abroad which have caused us some disquietude as to the efforts being made to induce the Government to depart from the Liberal policy—proclaimed at the last election—by postponing the consideration of the Welsh Church question until such measures as the Parish Councils Bill and the London Equalisation of Rates Bill — if not also other equally important reforms- have been disposed of. We do not for a moment presume to dictate to the Government what course of action it ought to pursue, but we are desirous of pointing out, with a full sense of our responsibility—not only to Wales, but to the Liberal party—that such a dis- placement of our cause (as these reports contem- plate) would be productive of the gravest conse- quences. From Qur acquaintance with the sentiments of the Welsh electorate and of the Welsh party in the House on this point, we appre- hend that sueh a po1ICY would resullJ ill the loss of several seats in Wales and in weakness and defection in our own ranks. We have also good reason to believe from communications with English members, and from other sources of m- formation, that it would induce a sense of dis- couragement amongst Nonconformists in England who have giveu us their enthusiastic support, and thus imperil the prospects of Liberalism in several English constituencies. We have, therefore, ventured to address you with a view to obtaining from yon, as Prime Minister, assurances which will lay at rest all our concern and that of all Welshmen on this question.—We are, sir. your faithful servants, Stuart Rendel, G. Osborne Morgan, W. Rath- bone, Arthur J. Williams, Thomas E. Ellis, C. M. Warmington, D. Lloyd George, Edward J. Reed, Alfred Thomas, J. Lloyd Morgan, W. Bowen Rowlands, Evan R. Jones, C. P. Eger- ton Alle'i, Abel Thomas, Albert Spicer, Frank Edivards, D. A. Thomas, William Williams, Samuel Smith, Thomas Lewis, Robert D, Burnie, David Randell, S. T. Evans. W. Rees Davies, J. Herbert Roberts, T. P. Price, Win. Abraham, W. F. Maitland, W. Pritchard Morgan, J. Herbert Lewis." 10, Downmg-street, July 5th, 1893. Dear Mr Rendel,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of the memorial signed by thirty Welsh members, including yourself, on behalf of Welsh Disestablishment. I think you and they wffl probably feel that in the midst of the present struggle in Committee on the Irish Government Bill the time has hardly arrived for my making.. reply to this memorial. But when the Bill shall have substantially escaped from the battlefield with security I shall be happy to make a further communication. In the meantime I ought to say a word on tho declarations at Newcastle. I have never heard, and certainly also never considered, that they announced any plan with regard to the order of business beyond the express declarations which may have been contained in them. On the other hand, I think the Government have even in the pre!5ent overcrowded Ses810n given some evidence of their desire to go as far as they are able in securing a forward place for Welsh Disestablish- ment, and I can also assure you that nothing has been decided, or even meditated, by us which could tend to deprive that question of the position which it now holds.—Believe me, very faithfully youis, (Signed) W. E. GLADSTONE." "House.of Commons, S.W.. 28th July, 1893. Dear Sir,—Nov/ that you have been relieved of the pressure upon your energies involved in the passage through committee of the Home Rule Bill, we venture to ask you if you can give a further and more definite reply to the memorial addressed to you by the Welsh members on the question of Disestablishment. In reference to your observation that the Newcastle declaration did not announce any plan with regard to the order of business beyond the express declarations which may have been con- tamed in them,' we may be permitted to pomt out that, as far as Welsh Disestablishment is concerned, they do contain an express declaration. The National Liberal Federation at Newcastle not only pronouueed for its inclusion as an object of Liberal policy, but expressly declared that it ought to receive legislative treatment imme- diately after Home Rule. The position thus accorded to Welsh Disestablishment was first given to it by the Federation at its annual special meeting held in Manchester in the year 1890. It was confirmed at the annual meeting of the Federation held at Sheffield in 1891, and again, as above stated, at Newcastle in 1892. Liberal candidates in Wales so interpreted the meaning of these declarations to the consti- tuencies, and the Welsh electors were led to believe that they were an authoritative proclama- tion of the intentions of the Liberal party if returned to power, and acted 011 that belief. Should it be found that the Welsh members had no warrant for regarding a Liberal Government as being under any obliga- tion to carry out the pledge thus given by the I Liberal party through its most responsible and authorised organisation, we fear grave conse- quences may arise. The tone of the Welsh Press, aud that manifested in resolutions adopted by inflnelltul alld repr,¡osentatlv9 conferences and meetings throughout Wales, indicate a state of public opinion in the Principality which should be taken note of. The loyalty of Wales to the Liberal party has hitherto been unswerving, and we earnestly trust that you, as leader of the Liberal party, can see your way to avert any misunderstanding which would have the effect of imperilling that devotion, by placing in the forefront of your programme for next Session, not a preliminary but a final and com- plete measure for the Disestablishment and Dis- endowment of the Church in Wales.—I have the honour to be, dear sir, your very faithful servant, "STUART RENDEL, on behalf of the thirty signatories ot the "10, Downing-street, Whitehall, "8 th August, 1893. Dear Mr Rendel,—I have to acknowledge the veceipt of your letter on the position of the Welsh Disestablishment question. Without entering upon any discussion of particulars, I can neither complain nor be surprised to find that the repre- sentatives of Wales insist upon all such ad- vantage, as the reports drawn by tho executive of the National Liberal Federation may have given them. Over aud above this independent and non-ofiicial testimony, they have the further adv:1ntage, as compared with the advocates of many other important Liberal measures, of the emphatic affirmation in their I favour, which has been secured by the division on the introduction of the Preparatory Bill. I can, therefore, sincerely congratulate them on the position which the question of Welsh Dis- stablishment, considered as a whole, has attained. The identification of sentiment which prevails between the Liberal party and tho people of Wales makes it certain by evidence far stronger than any words of mine could supply, that when the time arrives for the ultimate decision of questions of priority the leaders of the party—for whom as well as for myself I can und!oJrtake to do the utmost, and the general situation may admit In urging the claims of Wales not merely for a provisional measure, but for a full and effective plan of Disestablish- ment to be carried through with a steady hand. At the present moment we art) painfully aware that the decisions which the Cabiuet may form even as to the business of the present Par- liament are by no means independent of the effects which may be produced by any obstruc- tion made for the first time, both general and systematic, by a party of at least 315 gentlemen. The order of business H1 a future Session mani- festly will be affected by the degree and the particulars of our success in combating the present modes of opposition, especially a-s to the position in which the Session of 1893 may leavH the great Irish controversy. But the important and enlightened body of gentlemen on whose behalf you write, may rest assured t'nat at the first moment when deliberations of reasonable solidity on the subject of priority become possible, we shall approach the question with the firm intention so to handle it as amidst competing or conflicting claims to avert whatever may threaten to deprive Wales of the advantage which I have described as attaching to the position she has acquired.—I remain, dear Mr Rendel, sincerely yours, "W. E. GLADSTONE." To-day's meeting of the Welsh Parliamentary party occupied about two hours. At its close the debate was adjourned until the day of tho third reading of the Home Rule Bill in order to secure as large an attendance of members* as possible.

THE RAILWAY KATES COMMITTEE, The Select Committee of the House of Commons on Railway Rates met on Tuesday, and it was decided to meet again on Friday™ in tho event of other Mr Justice Wills or Sir Frederick Peel being able to attend to give evidence. If theso witnesses are una Vile to attend the evidence already t¡1keu will be reported to Parliament, and the consideration of the comiYdttea'a will be deferred till November.

THE ADJOURNED INQUEST; EVIDENCE OF RESCUED MEN. ALLEGED INCOMPETENCE OF THE BOATMEN. A VERDICT OF MAN- SLAUGHTER. At -.tbe.:Aberavon Police-station on Tuesday, Mr Howel Cuthbertson, county coroner, resumed his inquiry into the cause of the disaster at Aberavon, on Bank Holiday, which caused the deaths of 23 excursionists. Mr Bruce, of the firm of Messrs Walter Morgan, Rees, and Bruce, Pontypridd, watched the case for the relatives. John Isaac Evans, borough surveyor, said he had..made a tracing from the Ordnance Map of the beach and breakwater. The boat capsized 109 yards from the breakwater seawards. The boat jCapsized 580 yards from where it was loaded. WIN, James Cowdray, 20, Gelly Crossing, Ystrad Rhondda, haulier, said he went out in the boat, and he had been out in it in the morning. He and the two girls were the first three in the boat. Wm. Bath invited them to take a ride on the water. He now knew there We r J 3S in the boat; including the boatmen. Some gentleman on the beach asked Bath how many did he say the boat would carry, and Bath replied 30." Before they pushed off Bath said, Some of you smaller lads can stand up," and they did so. Witness thought the boat was overloaded. The two Baths were at the oars and another man (iu court) was steering. When they started they intended to go to tho pierhead and back. Bath said, I will ask you a question—little and big. If you will make the money up to 10s, I will row you a far way out." Witness said, No," but he could not say what the others did. The charge for being rowed to the pierhead was 3d each. There was no attempt made by the boatman to stop anyone from getting into the boat. The people were standing up along the sides of the boat and also in the middle of it. He could not say how it was that the boat cap- sized. When they went out in the morning with 24-, they went a long way out and paid sixpence each. He bad never been in a boat before thai day. The money was to be jiaid after the trip was over. They went over several waves. He did not see any rush to the side of the bout or hear anyone shout to Bath cautioning him 1.3 to the number in the boat. By the Jury The water was within two inclico of the top of the side of the He was afraid of the longer trip which was proposed, as the giris screamed when the boat went over the high waves. Witness, too, got frightened, and said, "For the Lord 111 Heaven's sake, pull back." By Mr Bruce: The boat was packed with people, and there was no room to move. By the Jury: Some water came into the boat. The two s were standing up rowing. Bath did not stop when witness asked him to go back, but said, "We are now having the best of it." Bath did not stop for five or ten minutes. He did not seo the boatman preventing a boy from coming into the boat. He had been told that D. L. Evans offered 3 if the boatman would go further out. Hector Wm. Evans, Cornwell-tcrrace, Llwyn- ypia, at present mason's labourer, and formerly in the royal'navy.saidhe thought it was about3.30 when he went into the boat. When they pushed off he thought there were 24 in the boat, but he had heard since that there were more. Witness pulled the starboard oar going out, but gave it up to William Bath before they got to the end of the breakwater. The sea was beginning to get choppy off the breakwater. Bath said when they were about 150 yards from the breakwater that he would go back. As the boat turned witness observed a heavy swell, and as the boat heeled with the swell the passengers did the same, instead of leaning to the weather side. If they had loaned to the weather side he believed the stern of the boat would have been to the swell. Very little water came into tbe boat. The boat was overloaded. Eighteen would have been the most she ought to have carried. He did not think the boatmen were capable of managing a boat a long distance. The cause of the capsizing of the boat was the sudden turning in the swell and the passengers heeling. The last witness said to Bath, "We went out further this morning for sixpence. Let us do so again. Bath replied, Some paid their sixpences and some didn't, but if you will make it up to 10s I will stop out for an hour under the lee of the breakwater. The fireman at the Gelly, Works, David Evans, said he would put 3s, and another said he would give a shilling. Bath continued to row on. Witness was not in the boat in the morning. He did not know how many were standing up, but be 5&W seven. The breakers were breaking dead on the shore. Bath refused to allow a boy on the boat after the others "had got JU. There was no room for him to get in. The boat was leaking when they got in, but not much. From six to nine inches were above the water. Before they started Bath told him tbe fee was 3d to the lee of the breakwater. By Mr Bruce: The boat should have been turned under the lee of the breakwater. He could not say why the boatman went beyond the break- water. The boat turned ahout in about a length and a half. When the swell struck her she went over at a very sharp angle. Witness leaned to the weather side of the boaK By the Jury Ho did not know there wore so many in the boat, aud also he thought they were not going beyond the breakwater. He srtw the danger in the breakwater, and spoke to the boat- man quietly so as not to cause a panic. There was too little freeboard. The boatman did not assist witness in rescuing some of those in the water. Dr. Arnallt Jonfs said he saw the body of Gwenllian Llewellyn and examined it. Death was due to drowning. In the of three bodies, was due to shock or fright, not to suffoca- tion. The court adjourned at one o'clock for luncheon, the Coroner suggesting that the jurymen should inspect the boat in the interval. Catherine Hopkins, 14 years of age, of Ystrad, another of the rescued, said she did not see the wave coming, and as there was nothing expected there was no rush. Hector Evans saved her life. Shelhad never betn out 111 a boat before. There was no room to move, and as the boat went out it moved back and fore. The force of the wave capsized the boat. Hector Evans, re-called, said he was not aware that 10 or 13 people jumped in the boat as it was being pushed off. Captain Thomas Ace said he was captain of the tug. He did not know the owner of the boat which capsized. He had been captain of the tug nearly 40 years. He saw a boat going out over the bar between 12 and 1 o'clock. It was then within an hour of high water. The water was rather rough for boating, but there was a smooth bar. He saw the boat was overloaded and much beyond what she ought to have been. Witness called out to the man in charge of the boat, and said, "What are you doing out here, you stupid fellow, with that load of people in the boat?" Witness shouted to him to take the boat back into smooth water, and to take care or he would drown his passengers and himself. Witness directed the boatman to pull into the lee of the breakwater. The boat was then 150 fathoms north-west of the pomt of the breakwater. The tugboat was about 100 fathoms away from the boat when he called ou tQ the boatman. The boat was 20 feet long. Between two and three o'clock tho billows would begin to break where the boat capsized. There was a little wind billow on. It was very unwise to turn the boat in a swell. Anyone who under- stood boating would not hav", taken out such cargo, and would have shown sqrne judgment in turning. Such a boat with 35 persons in it would be in an extremely dangerous condition. He only knew boats to be licensed un the Thames, By Mr Bruce Sixteen would have been quite enough for such a boat, and even then no man who does not understand the management of a boat should venture over such a bar. By the jury It was never safe to take any open boat over the bar unless thoroughly prac- tical men were in charsre of her. The ground sea was so uncertain. It would have been better to have gone half a mile further out to have turned. The boat was not large enough to carry such a number. Jenkin Bevan, Custom House officer, said he had seen the boat. It was 20 feet long, 5 feet 6 inches broad, and 2 feet 5 inches deep. It was a strong boat, and was capa.ble of carrying.15 to 16 ordinary people in smooth water. It was a most ridiculous thing tu take thirty-five people out in it. Theie were no regulations as to boats made by the Port Talbot Port authorities. John Snoik, a pilot;, said he had known the Port Talbot bar over 50 years. His boat took out trips of passengers on Bank Holiday, and it assisted in the work of rescue of those who had been thrown into the water. A load of 16 would have besn sufficient for such a boat. Bath had done it in ignorance. He said he did not know how long they were gomg to the rescue. The young girl appeared dead when picked up. No man in his senses wbuld attempt to go out with such a load. Police-inspector Cole said he had that morning taken Wm. Bath to se« the boat. H* said it ws his boat, and he bought it about two months ago from Mr Piper. Bath told witness he had had no experience in boating. Wm. Bath, John Bath, and John Cramp were asked If they desired to make any statement. The two former s:ud were not acquainted with boating, and added that John Cramp was connected with the trip as much as they were. John Cramp, tin-worker, who demurred to giv- ing hill evidence, and brought upon himselt a rebuke from the coroner, was subsequently sworn, and said he did not know anything about seafaring matters. He was invited by William Bath to come out for a trip, and he (witness) jumped in the boat. He went out with a party before tho party which met with the accident. He went out for his own pleasure. He did not expect to be paid for going out. He could not say how it was they wen6 feSyowfi the breakwater the second time. JJfe knew UflAhing at all about the sea, the grC&fii&swell, currents, or anything else. By Mr Bruce He had been in Bath's boat be [ore but he was not in it when it became un- managable. He did not pay for the trip, neither had he been paid. By the jury The trip in the morning returned from the end of the breakwater. He was not nt the tiller. He believed some of the passengers asked to be allowed to go out further. Hector Evans now asked the jnrv ha told anybody that he had taken ehargQ the boat. and if SQ. what was the uunaetat*liuet wiad he received. He distinctly denied having accepted any responsibility. The Coroner summed up. and in the course of his remarks, explained the law of manslaughter. The cause of death was clear, but the jury had to decide from the evidence whether any person or persons were responsible, and if so, who. The overloading of a boat was an unlawful act, and they had it from Captain Ace, Mr Snoek, and Mr Bevan that the boat was overloaded. The Baths were tinworkers, who apparently thought that they might on Bank Holiday make a little money. The carrying capacity of the boat was said to be 16, whereas no less than 35 were taken out on the fatal trip. It was for the jury to determine whether the disaster was the result of negligence, or whether it was merely an accident. The jury retired to consider their verdict, and on returning into court after (a few minutes' consultation, the Foreman announced that they had found that deceased had met their death as thejresulo of the capsizing of a boat, and that they considered Wm. Bath anaL John Bath to be guilty of manslaugbther; they added to their verdict as a rider, a reccornendation to the Cor- poration of Aberavon to frame bye-laws regulating the management of pleasure boats, and defining the limits of plying for hire. The Foreman added that the lamentable accident was^deeply regretted, and he hoped that people in search of pure air would not in conse- quence of the accident be prejudiced against the Aberavon beach, as he could offer the assurance that it was one of the safest. The disaster which had been the subject of their inquiry was the result of the indiscreet conduct of inex- perienced persons. TheCoroner committed William Bath and John Bath to take their trial at the assizes on a charge of manslaughter, bail being accepted in each case in the sum of £50 and a surety of £25.

PROGRESS OF THE RELIEF FUND. TO THE KDITOK. SlB,—At the request of the committee which has been chosen by the inhabitants of Ystrad and Treherbert for the purpose of forming a fund to defray the expenses connected with the burial, &c., of the victims of the above disaster, we ask your permission for the insertion of a few particu- lars connected therewith in your columns. Mr Charles Jones, the mayor of Aberavon, has kindly consented to act as chairman of tho joint committee Councillor Evan Davies, Treherbert, and the Rev. A. Williams, Ystrad, as vice- chairmen Dr. Thomas. Ystrad, and Mr M. L. Llewelyn, Baglan, Treherbert, as treasurers and the undersigned as secretaries. Inasmuch as many of the parents and relatives of those who met their death at Aberavon are totally unpre- pared to meet the expenses of the burials, we make an appeal to your numerous readers for some help to defray the same. We are pleased to inform you that we have already received sub- stantial aid. We enclose a list of donations that have come to hand, which amounts to about jS68, and which we hope you will be able to publish. Hoping that the readers of your valuable paper will show their practical sympathy by sending their donations to either of the above-named treasurers, and thanking you in anticipation for the insertion of this,—We are, on behalf of the committee, J. CRADOC OWEN, Bodringallt. J. GOWEli, Baglan House, Treorky. Ystrad Rhondda, Aug. 14th, 1893. Messrs Cory Brothers, Clifford Cory, 5s; Mr T. Thomas, merchant, Ystrad Rhondda, JB5; Mr Griffiths, J.P. (Gelli), London, Mr E. H. Davies, Pentre, £2 2s; Dr. Thomas, Ystrad, £2 2s Mr M. L. Llewelyn, Treherbert, £2 2s; Mr George Williams, regis- trar Mr D. Lloyd, grocer, Ystrad-Rhondda Captain Istance, Ysrad; Dr. Williams, Ys- trad; Rev. Mr Jones, Ton; Messrs James Jones, grocer, Ystrad; P. Williams, Commercial; Thomas Harries, grocer, Ystiad Wright, manager, Gelli; A. L. Lewis, Treherbert Councillor Evan Da.vies, Treherbert— £ 1 Is each Messrs J. John, grocer, Treherbert; J. Jenkins, butcher, Treherbert; W. Davies, New Inn, Tre- herbert; W. H. Davies, Brynfedwen; Coun- cillor J. Walters, Treherbert; Mr Daniel Thomas—10s6d each; Rtlv". A. Williams, Nebo, Ystrad; W. Davies, Bethel, Ystrad j M. H. Jones, Ystrad J. C. Owen, Bod- rnigallt; Messsrs Leyshon, Thouias Davies, and John Rees, of Ystrad R. Llewelyn, overman, Bodringallt; T. Salathiel, manager, Ystrad—10s ach; Wm. Morris, Ystrad R. T. Joues, Ton Win. Thomas, Jonathau Rees, John Jones, 20, William-street, and David Rowlands, assistant, of Ystrad; T. Rees, overman, D. Thomas, grocer, M. Lewis, Corner House, D. Owen, overman, and T. Stephens, Smith Hotel, and Dr Warburton, ot Treherbert Messrs W. Collins, Castle Hotel, Evan Uule" grocer, Ben- jamin Jones, and W. Jeffreys, of Treherbert—5 each smaller sums, £3 19;¡-totaJ, £68 19s.

BUTE DOCKS COMPANY. HALF-YEARLY MEETING. LONDON, Tuesday. The fourteenth half-yearly ordinary general meeting of this company was held at the com- pany's offices, Westminster, to-day. From the accounts submitted, it appeared that the balance available for dividend amounted to £69,240 lis 8J, and that after providing for interest on debenture stpek and dividend on four per cent, preference shares, there remained a balance of £2),240 lis 8d. The directors' report was approved aud adopted, and a dividend for the half-year at the rate of 2f per cent. par annum on the ordinary shares, payable on the 16th August, was declared, leaving a balance of £4,865 11s 8d to be carried forward.

THE GREAT WESTERN COLLIERY DISASTER. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. An action for damages will be brought agaiust the Great Western Colliery Company to- morrow (Thursday) at Pontypridd on be- half of the relatives of the workmen who were killed by the fire. Mr Abel Thomas, Q.C., M.P., and Mr Evans, M.P., will appear for the company, and Sir Roberts-Jones, barrister, will represent the plaintiffs. An appeal will probably be entered in any case.

NARROW ESCAPE OF LORD ABERDARE. Our Aberdare correspondent was informed by a passenger in tho midday train on Tuesday that as Lord Abardare was crossing the Taff Vale Raihvay at the level crossing leading to Duffryn House, he was almost knocked down by a Taff Vale passenger train. Several passengers in the train saw the occurrence, but the train fortunately slackened speed sufficiently to enable his lordship to escape

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT COGAN. The causes of the derailment of several passenger carriages on the Barry line on Monday morning have now been pretty definitely ascer- tained. It is not unlikely that the principal cause will be found to have been in the check rail of the curve where the accident happened being too tight. It is expected that a Government inquiry into the matter will be held at an early date. It is worthy of remark that the same train that met with the mishap had been twice that morning over the line fro, Cardiff to Barry, and had experienced no difficulty in rounding the curve. It is satisfactory to khow that the total damage to rolling stock and permanent way is not likely to exceed £ 10.

TRAP ACCIDENTS AT SWANSEA. 011 Tuesday morning a trap collided on the Sketty-road with a furniture van, with the result that the trap was upset and its shafts broken.—Another trap, in which was Mr Dow, had a narrow escape in College-street, owing to a young horse bolting. Its career was fortunately abruptly stopped by a barrier erected across the road.—On Monday evening, while Mr and Mrs Hacche, ot Rutland-place, and children, were driving between Bishopston and Blackpill, the hor?e took fright through being stung by a wasp. The horse went down the hill at a great pace, and just after it started Mrs Hacche, with her baby at her breast, leaped out 011 to the side of the road. Mr Haache turned to see what had happened to his wife, and in doing so lost control uf the horse, which dashed into the hedge- side and overturned the trap, throwing Mr Hacche into the road. He was badly bruised and shaken, and on going to where his wife lay he found she was seriously injured, but that the baby had escaped without a scratch. Mrs Hacche was taken to the hospital, where it is probable she will be detained some time.

THE MURDER OF A POLICE- SERGEANT. A REPRIEVE. The Press Association states that the Home Secretary has reprieved Richard Davies, one of the two brothers sentenced to death for the murder of Sergt. Eves, in Essex, and the sentence has been commuted to penal servitude for life. John Davies will be banged to-day (Wednesday).

THE OTLEY BOY MURDERER, A REPRIEVE GRANTED. Frederick Cook, the,youth sentenced to death for murdering his younger brother wtth a hatchet at Otley, has been reprieved. Cook's execution had been fixed for Tuesday next. but it was thought from the first that the Home Secretary wond give full weight to the views of the jury, who strongly recommended tho lad to mercy on account of his age and previous good character.

THE CARDIFF MURDER. THE MOVEMENT FOR A REPRIEVE. A petition at Swansea in Savour of a reprieve of Collins, the man condemned to death for the murder of a woman in Mary Ann-street, Cardiff, wm ob MeodairjsaBited £ 09 jtaarsons^

NEWS IN BRIEF. Sir Francis Jeune is the only judge in the La* Courts who does not shave. Madame Modjeska, who is now on her ranch in California, opens her season at Syracuse in October. Mark Twain's daughter is only 20, but she has already written a play. Her name is Ciaf Clemens. Lady Ermyntrude Malet, a daughter of the ducal family of Bedford, collects boots and shoes, of which she has already over 1,000 pairs. The King of Italy gives his Queen a string of pearls upon each of her birthdays. She owns now verkta>ble ropes of these precious gems. Mrs Langtry used to have two detectives in attendance behind the scenes when she was acting, in order that her magnificent jewellery might be safe. Sir Isaac Holden, the new baronet, is pro' bably the wealthiest member of the House of Commons. He is credited with an income of £200,000 a year. Mdrne. Modjeska carries in Henry VIII. a handkerchief which is said to have been the property of Queen Isabella. The handkerchief is one of the rarest pieces of Spanish lace in exist- ence. As the Duchess of York will be responsible for many of the fashions in the immediate future, and pale blue is her most becoming colour, blue is to be the coming fashionable shade. In a, comic opera, called Prince Pro Tem., which is to be brought out in America, one of tbe leading parts will be played by a lion; indeed, the plot actually turns upon the doings of this feline hero. The Queen has grown so lame that she has given up her habit of always standing after dinner in the gallery at Windsor, and sits in an armchair. Those who are near her or may be speaking to her sit down also. Prince Peter Troubetskoi, the Russian noble- man who is now engaged in painting the portrait of Mr Gladstone, is an unusually hand- some man of gigantic stature, standing 6ft. 4in, in his stockings. As regards perfume, both the Queen and the Prince of Wales never use anythinz but lavender water, whilst the Princess of Wales prefers eau-de-Cologne, and that but sparingly. Alto- gether, scent is not greatly in vogue. Rejoicings in the Earl of Jersey's family upon his return from New South Wales have been cut short by the intelligence received on Monday that his lordship's mother, Julia, Countess of Jersey, had died suddenly at Geneva. A correspondent points out that the coach accident near Ilfracombe took place between Lynn bridge and Lynton, and not between Lynton and Lynmouth, as seems to be the general, impression. It's as well to be accurate. Vera Douglas Evans, the ten-year-old daughter of Madame Evans-Warwick, the well-known contralto, has carried off the Trinity College Violin Exhibition this year. She is also a clever little pianist, 'cellist, aød organist. The Queen and the members of the Royal family at Osborne were represented by Sir John and Lady Cowell at the funeral of Miss Mary Augusta Gordon, second sister of the Hero of Khartoum, which took place at Southampton on Monday. Signor Foli has proved a great success at Kimberley, where he has extended his series of concents. At Johannesburg there was an over- flowing audience at the Globe when he gave his second concert. Nearly every item on the programme was encored. Foli sang four encores. The Duke of Westminster has the finest col- lection of plate in the United Kingdom. His grace's household is conducted ou the same principle as her Majesty's the supervisor of it has a salary of something like JB800 a year, and a number of servants are specially told' off whose duty it is to look after the plate. Chief among the lady cricketers is Lady Edward Somerset, who captained the team at Gloucester not long ago and made 73 runs, the victory being brought about by the splendid batting of herself, Lady E. Howard, and the Misses Maud, Henry, Matthews, and Wallington. Mr G. F. Watts, R. A., does not seat himself while painting, but paddles about during his occupation. He likes to have half a dozen pictures or so in progress, and sometimes puts a touch to each of them in one morning. His age is threescore years and twelve. Mr Watts rises every morning at four o'clock and goes to bed at nine. "Died from having helped himself to rum, whiskey, and port wine before hie parents got downstairs." This was the v-dio, returned by a coroner's jury at Barnsiey on the body of the eight-year-old son of Richard Birchall, landlord of the Rose and Crown Inn. The boy was found in the bar by his mother suffering from the effects of drink, and he died the same evening. It was to General Sir Edward Hamley, just dead, that Lord Tennyson dedicated his sonorous poem, "The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava," in affectionate lines which can never die. Sang the poet: I dare without your leave to head These rhymings with your name, Who know you but as one of those I fain would meet again. The Princess Nicolas Bibesco, who has just died at her beautiful castle of Mogosea, was a granddaughter of the famous Marechal Ney, and prior to her marriage bore the title of Princess Ney Elchingen. It is one of her daughters, Princess Jeanne Bibesco, who is the abbess of the convent of Carmelite nuns which now occupies be site. of the former shooting lodge of Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria, where he met his mysterious death. Amusing stories are told of the important airt which are assumed by juvenile prodigies. Little Jean Gerardy threatened to leave au Edinburgh hotel altogether because the landlord had puif him on the second floor. And the uew littll girl pianist never commences to play without saying, Are the critics present ?" Max Ham- burg was perhaps the most blase of all the child pianists. He had the greatest objection to being kissed, and used to be furious with the ladies who paid this tribute to his talents. A cigar-maker, Henry Jacobs, went into the coffee-house shop at 133, Mare-street, Hackney, and ordered eggs, tea, bread, butter, and jam. When the food had been consumed, Jacobs im- pudently said that he had no money and could not pay, but he must eat. The prisoner told tbt North London magistrate yesterday that he had been out of work for four months.—Mr Lane There is the workhouse for people who art destitute.—Prisoner I did not want to go there. —Mr Lane I daresay not. But there is not so much disgraco in going to the workhouse as in going to gaol for stealing. Fourteen days' bard labour. Moore, the cabdriver who tried to mwrder M. Edouard Lockroy, was once invited to dinner by Victor Hugo. The author of "La Legende des Siecles" had noticed that each time he wa? invited to a public meeting the same cab called for him afterwards and drove him home, always gratuitously. For some time Victor Huge believed this to be due to the organisers of tbe. meetings, but eventually, struck by the co- incidence, he inquired the reason of the driver. Moore—for it was the would-be assassin of-dny- told him that he came of his own accord, out of admiration for Victor Hugo, and it was an honour for him to drive "the greatest genius of French literature. Besides," added Moore, modestly, "I am a poet myself." Thus the playful D. T. :—Latter-day Jacob- ites have had a rebellion on their own account. The standard was' raised, not the Braes 0' Mar," but in the Cheshirt Cheese," and after the two objectionable mem* bers had been expelled the other two resolved to continue the work for the restoration 01 England's rightful monarch. The two exiles determined to start another Jacobite Society, as they intend to run a sovereign of their own fo. the United Kingdom, Fresh troubles are, how- ever, feared in the rival societies, and it may even happen that their membership will be still further reduced. It was reported that a Jacobite meeting had been held in Scotland—the firsO since Culloden—but as the speeches were in • Gaelic no authentic account of the proceedings is obtainable. There was a slight hitch in the proceedings of the chairing of the bard at the AberayroO Eisteddfod, and news of it has now spread abroad. It is fair to make it evident that this did not arise from any faint praise of the winning composition. On the contrary, Gurnos spoke of it in terms of unqualified commendation, sum' ming up his adjudication by saying that it had 14 marks out of r. maximum of 15. The position to participate in the ceremony of chair- ing, on the part of many of those invited to do so, arose out of the absence of the winner, the Rev. D. H. Williams, Newport, a native of Aberayron. This divested the ceremony of its m* terest. It is true that Archdeacon Griffiths lodged another objection to the effect that the Gorsedj* discountenanced the unsheathing of the and the accompanying rites in chairing at lo<^ eisteddfodau, but Gumos sternly overruled bf objection. If the winner had presented hiiuse^ in person, he would have been chaired with the pomp at the command of those in whom 1 presiding bard, Gurnos, invited, to joioio ceremony.