Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAIENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.—A run, 16. It was resolved to appoint a Select Committee to •onsider the question of betterment, and another to report upon the feasibility of marking foreign and colonial agricultural and horticultural produce. The Limitation of Actions Bill was read a second time. HOUSE OF COMMONS. BUDGET NIGHT. In making his Budget statement Sir William Har- court announced that the estimated expenditure for the coming year, apart from the sum handed over to the local authorities, was £ 95,458.000, and the revenue £ 90,956,000, a, deficit of £ 4,502,000. His first step towards reducing this total was to apply this and last year's New Sinking Fund to meet the charges under the Imperial and Naval Defence Acts. This left a balance of £ 2,379,000 I to be dealt with. He proposed to amalgamate the various death duties into one estate duty on all pro- perty, both realty and personalty. The tax would be graduated as follows Estates between £ 100 and £ 500 would pay 1 per cent. from £ 500to £ 1000, 2 percent.: from £1000 to £ 10,000, 3 per cent.; from £ 10,000 to £ 25,000,4per cent, and thence by incrementsofiper 2 cent., the dividing lines being drawn at £ 50,000, £i5,OOO, £ 100,000, Y.150,000, £ 250,000, £500,00:), and zP-1,000,000, estates over the last sum paying eight per cent., or double the present duty. Although tho new scheme was expected to yield an increase of between £ 3,500,000 and £ 4,000,000, yet as it only operates during a part of the present year it will not produce in that time more than £ 1,000,000 towards the deficit. Income-tax would be raised from 7d. to 8d. in tho pound, but allowances of one-sixth on houses and one-tenth on land would be made on gross incomes under Schedule A. The class exempt from the tax would be raised from £ 150 to £ 160. On incomes below E400 an abatement of E160 would be granted, and on those between E400 and £ 500 there would be an allowance of EIO). The result of these changes would be an in- creased yield of £ 350,000. An additional duty of 6d. in the gallon on spirits and 6d. in the barrel on beer would supply the remainder of the deficit, and leave a surplus of £ 290,000. Mr. Goschen, commenting briefly on the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer's statement, asked what pro- speet there was of passing so controversial a Budget before June. Other speakers followed, and the usual formal resolutions were agreed to and reported to the House, the additional duties on beer and spirits being first adopted.

THE LABOUR MARKET. The following memorandum has been communi- cated to the Board of Trade Journal by the Labour Department of the Board of Trade The Labour market during March has been a good deal disturbed by disputes, of which no fewer than 100 have broken out during the month, chiefly, however, of a limited and purely local character. Judging by the returns from trade societies, the state of employment appears to show a slight backward tendency during the month, but it is to be noted that the last week of March (to which these returns relate) was Easter week. On the whole there has been an upward movaiient of v/ages during the month. In the 45 trade societies, with an aggregate membership of 355,625, making returns, 23,044 (or 6'5 per cent.) are reported as unemployed at the end of March, compared with 6'3 per cent. in the 43 societies making returns for February, and 7'0 per cent. in the 37 societies from which returns were received for January. Information received from collieries employing 279,000 persons, shows that the average number of days worked by these collieries during March was 20f, compared with 20 in February. This is equivalent to 5'1 days per week in February, and 4'7 days per week in March. In March, however, the average was somewhat lowered by the Easter holidays. If Good Friday and Easter Monday were excluded, the average number of days worked in March would be about five per week. The shipbuilding industry aa judged merely by the pro- portion of unemployed, shows a slight falling oif, the percen tage of unemployed members of unions connected with this trade having risen from 1.5 to 13'3. On the whole, however, the prospects of the trade appear brighter. In the pig-iron trade employment is good in the Cleveland district, but elsewhere many blast- furnace men are out of work, though there are pro- spects of revival. The chief branches of the steel trades are fairly good, The engineering and metal trade have not maintained the improvement reported last month, owing, to some extent, to local wages disputes. The percentage of unem- ployed in unions connected with these trades has risen from 8'7 to 9'1. A marked improvement is noticeable in the building trades, due largely to seasonal causes and the exceptionally fine weather. All branches, with the exception of the plumbers, re- port favourably, and the percentage of unemployed in unions making returns has fallen from 5'0 to 3'5. An improvement has also taken place in the furnish- ing and woodworking trades. The percentage of un- employed in unions connected with these trades has fallen from 5-8 to 4'2. Little or no improvement is observable in the state of employment in the printing and bookbinding trades, and the out- look for employment is not good. The percentage of unemployed in the various unions has fallen from 5'8 to 5'4. The bespoke tailoring trade is reported as busy, but a falling off is observable in the ready-made branch. Full time (or even overtime) is being generally worked in the chief centre of the boot and shoe trade. The cotton mills of Lancashire are generally working full time, but in some districts stoppages have taken place owing to disputes. The wool and worsted trade in the Brad- ford and Huddersfield district continues depressed, short time being worked. The carpet, hosiery, and silk trades remain quiet as a rule, but the improve- ment noted in the lace trade in March has been main- tained. The number of seamen shipped during the month at the principal ports was greater than in March, 1893, by over six per cent.; but the supply of men at most of the ports is still reported to be greater than the demand. The fishery industry, judged by the value of the fish caught, has been above tlio average for this time of the year at most of the great fishing ports, exce^tiPlymouth, Yarmouth, and Milford, where there has been a falling-off. Dock and riverside workers have not been so well employed in London and Liverpool as in February. In Glasgow employment has been good, and in Hull moderate. The state of employment for agricultural labour has somewhat improved during the month, owing to seasonal causes, and at the March hiring fairs in the North wages were maintained or rose slightly. Want of employment is still reported in Essex, and wages in the Eastern Counties have not regained the amount by which they were reduced last autumn. The disputes of the month show a remark- able increase, 100 haying been noted, com- pared with 57 the previous month, and 37 in March, 1893. Of these 23 arose in the textile trades, 17 in mining, 16 in shipbuilding, 14 in the building trades, 11 in the metal trades, five in the clothing trades, three in connection with seafaring and dock labour, and the remaining 11 in miscel- laneous, industries. Particulars obtained with re- gard to- of. these disputes show that the num- ber of persons engaged was 12,432. Twenty-two I of these disputes, affecting 3672 persons, together with 21 other disputes, affecting about 1600 persons which.b^gan beforo March, were known to be still in progress at the end of the month. On the other j nand, eight disputes, involving .1106 persons, which began befpre.March, were brought to a settlement during the month. i | The most important disputes were a strike of 1490 iron-moulders on the North-East coast for an advance of wages, and a strike for a rise of wages in the ship- building trade at Belfast, affecting nearly, lbüU persons. T119 Crown solicitors in Ireland have received an

official order for their guidance in empannelling juries. "TheCrown solicitor," says the new regula- tion, shall not inquire into the religious or political opinions, or the calling of any juror, and no person shall be directed to stand by on account of his religious or political opinions or of his calling. SEVERAL large landowners are now disposing cf their properties in small lots. Lord Ashburton°J- as already signified his intention to have 8000 acres sub- mitted in lots, so as to give an opportunity to his tenants to become their own freeholders the Duke of Marlborough has followed suit; and now the Earl of Westmorland has put the celebrated Apethorpo estate, of close on 9000 acres, in Northampton, on the market, either as a whole or in lots to meet the convenience of purchasers." J

ARREST OF AN ANARCHIST. The Press Association states that on Saturday evening at about 8.30 Insctor Melville succeeded in arresting in London a well-known Anarchist named François Polti, who had at the time a bomb, wrapped in brown paper, in his possession. The capture was made at the far end of Farriugdon-rond, and was effected with comparative -quietness. The arrest of Polti is considered by the police to be the most im- portant yet effected in connection with Anarchism in London. Polti is well known to the Scotland- yard authorities as a dangerous and advanced Anar- chist. He is by birth an Italian, about 21 years of age, of very square build, and belongs to the In- dividualist section of the party. Polti is said to have been a great friend of Bourdin, and soon after the latter's death at Greenwich he disappeared from his haunts in Soho. The police thought he had gone abroad, but some little time back certain in- formation came to them which made a search for Polti an absolute necessity. With the idea of finding his address raids were organised upon Anarchists' haunts. All the efforts of Inspector Melville's men were, however, futile, and it was no; until the beginning of last week that they were at all able to point to the locality where Polti was residing. The police were told that he was living in Clerkenwell, and after a day's search Detective-Sergeants M'Guin and Irvine were able to say positively that Polti was living in a house in Warren-street. Every care was taken not to let the man escape them again, and a strict watch was kept upon the house. A woman was placed in the house to watch the man. When Polti was out she made an inspection of his rooms, and found, as she said, some liquids in bottles, many letters, and quantities of Anarchist literature. On Saturday the supposed Anarchist left his lodgings at an early hour in the afternoon and walked over Blackfriars-bridge towards a street running through to the Borough. As usual, he was followed by Scotland-yard detectives. He entered a certain house in the street, where he remained for two or three hours. When he came out he was carrying in his band a brown paper parcel. He re- turned across Blackfriars-bridge towards Clerken- well. The detectives allowed him to go as far as the end of Farringdon-street before they made the capture. They deprived him im- mediately of his brown paper parcel, and then took him in a cab to the Bow-street Police-station. The parcel on being ope^tfd was found to contain an iron cylinder, some 7in. long by 5in. broad, perfectly hollow in the centre, with an iron screw knob at one end. Immediately after Polti's arrest was reported to Inspector Melville he proceeded to the man's lodgings to make a thorough examination. The room contained many bottles with various j kinds of fluids, among them being sulphuric acid. Other bottles contained brown fluids, i supposed to be used in the manufacture of explosives. Anarchist literature was found, and in a drawer letters and papers were found which may be of service in tracing other Anarchists. The chemicals and the case for the bomb are being submitted to Colonel Majendie and Dr. Dupre. Inspector Melville then formally charged Polti at Bow-street Police-station with having possession of explosives, &c. It is expected that the charge will be amended for one of a graver nature. The police refusa to say whether they think Polti intended to use his bomb in this country or abroad. PRIgOXER AT BOW STREET. Before Mr. Vaughan, at Bow-street, Francis Polti, aged 18 years, was charged on the 16th inst. with the unlawful possession of an explosive. Detective- Sergeant Sweeney deposed to arresting the accused in Ray-street, Farringdon-road, after following him from Blackfriars-road. Polti had with him two hollow iron castings wrapped in paper, and at his lodgings were found two packages of powder and a bottle of sulphuric acid. The prisoner was remanded. I

THE WELSH MEMBERS AND THE GOVERNMENT. At a meeting held at the Reform Club, Carnarvon, on Saturday night, Mr.Lloyd-George declared his in- on Saturday night, Mr.Lloyd-George declared his in- tention of withholding his support from the Govern- j ment in consequence of their action in deferring the question of Welsh disestablishment, and urged that it would be well for Wales to wreck a Liberal Government in order, in five years' time, to have a more Radical Administration. A resolu- tion approving of his attitude and explanations, and urging the Welsh party as a whole to carry out their resolution on this subject agreed to six months ago, was carried. Other manifestations of discontent with the conduct of the Government have taken place at j Chester and elsewhere.

THE EGYPTIAN MINISTRY. The Egyptian Ministry resigned office on Saturday, and after consulting with Lord Cromer the Khedive summoned Nubar Pasha and entrusted him with the formation of a Cabinet. It is understood that the Khedive has approved a list submitted by Nubar, in which that statesman takes the Premiership and the Ministry of the Interior, Mustapha Fehmy Pasha the portfolio of War, Fakhry Pasha those of Public Works and Education, Makloum Pasha that of Finance, Ibrahim Fuad Pasha that of Justice, and Boutros Pasha, that of Foreign Affairs. The decree constituting the new Ministry was signed on Monday. A special correspondent at Cairo says the only policy of the late Cabinet from the beginning was one of underhand hostility to British influence, and its failure was certain after the frontier incident of last January. He regards the retention of Mazloum and Boutros Pashas in the Ministry as necessary in order to tide over a period of transition.

SENSATIONAL BREACH OF PROMISE • CASE. A trial for breach of promise, which has been pro- ceeding at Washington for some weeks, and has excited much interest in the States, resulted on Saturday (says Reuter) in a verdict for the plaintiff, Miss Madeline Pollard, a student, in a Wesleyan seminary, the damages being assessed at, 15,000dol. The defendant, Colonel William C. Breckenridge, who is 57 years of age, is a member of Congress, and one of the leading politicians in Kentucky, where he has also long identified himself with religious move- ments. In the latter respect he was most popular aa a speaker, being often called upon to address pupils in young lady's seminaries and schools upon religious topics. I

THE AGITATOR'S LOT. I Alderman Ben Tillett, L.C.C., addressing a large meeting convened by the Poplar Labour Electoral League outside the East India Dock gates on Sunday morning, said the life of an agitator was by no- means so pleasant as some of the workers seemed to think. If a Labour leader rose to eminence, many of his own class seemed to be jealous, and all sorts of remarks were made. The classes against which the workers had to fight acted very differently, and far more wisely. When Lord Salisbury became Prime Minister his fellow peers did not display petty jealousy and sneer at him because at one time they went to school with biin. The aristocrats, the capitalists, the landowners, and the middle class worked together in order to defend their own interests, even if they did not love one another; and if the workers wished to better their condition and secure their just rights they, t6o, would have to learn to act more wisely.

I' ¡¡.( THE May number of the Magazine of Art will con- tain atlarticle by the late Mr. J. M. Gray (of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery) on "The I Authentic Portraits of Burns." The article will be illustrated with nine portraits of the poet, several of t which have never before been published. This j number will a'lso contain a photogravure of The Fan," by Albert Moore, and an original etching by Percy Robinson, A.R.P.E. A first article on the Royal Academy, by Mr. M. H. Spielmann, will 1 also appear. 1 SIR REGINALD WELBY'S new title is to be Lord [ Welby of Allington. ÂCCORlHNG to a correspondent of the British Weekly, who writes from Marseilles, Mrs. Annie Besant, when on board the P. and O. steamer Peninsular, was dressed in Hindoo costume and wore on her forehead the mark of a high ^aste. "As," says the correspondent, dining wit« the other passengers in the general saloon would jhave defiled her caste, her meals have been served privately during the voyage." Annie was desirous of (delivering a lecture on "Theosophy," but the capts'.ia, probably fearing what she would do if once fairlty wound up. JTesDectfullv declined. 1

THE LATE DEAN OF LINCOLN'S WILL. The Very Rev. W. J. jliitler, Dean of Lincoln since 18S5 (previously vicar of Wantage), by his will; dated October 31, 1872, bequeathed all his property, real and personal, to his wife, Emma Butler, and appointed her and his son, Arthur John Butler; executrix and executor. The said Mrs. Emma Butler, who survived her husband but a few days, and died on January 21, 1894, by her will, also dated October 31, 1872, left the whole of her property to her husband, appointing him and her son, Arthur John Butler, executors. Probate has been granted at Lincoln District Registry to Mr. A. J. RutIN; of Wood End, near Weybridge, the surviving executor, by whom the net value of the personalty was sworn at £ 16,234. t

THE LOST SWEDISH EXPEDITION, j The Central News has interviewed Mr. Clements R. Markham, President of the Royal Geographical Society, regarding the appeal he made a few days ago for funds ia order to assist the expedition which is to be sent out to find the lost Swedish explorers Kall- stenius and Bjorling. In the course of the interview Mr. Afarkhani said: "The two young men went to St. John's early in the spring of 1892. They hoped to get on board a whaler, which might have taken them up Baffin's Bay. But the whalers had already sailed, and they had no prospect of getting away by that means. It was then that they bought the schooner the Ripple. She was very small; and I am told that everybody said that she was unseaworthy. I do not know how that may have been, but the price paid was so low that one cannot think that she was in good condition. There was, of course, difficulty in finding a crew. It was a month before anybody could be found to go on board; but at last they got three men, and sot off on their voyage. We next hear of them at Godhavn, on Disk Island, lying off Greenland, and to the north-east of Davis Strait. At Godhavn they bought a fowling gun, a rifle, and a boat. Just think of it the Ripple when they bought her cannot even have had a boat I With such scanty provisions they sailed, and this is the last that was actually seen of them. In November, 1893, the master of the whaler Aurora brought home the news of the finding of the Ripple lying ashore on one of the Cary Islands, and half full of ice." Mr. Markham concluded by express- ing a hope that English people would contribute to the fund for the relief expedition, which he considered was necessary, and which, even if it failed to discover the members of the lost expedition alive, would certainly add to our knowledge of Arctic matters.

PROPOSED NILE RESERVOIR. The Commission of hydraulic engineers appointed to consider the question of constructing a Nile reservoir has finished its labours, so far as the British and Italian representatives are concerned. The Commission considered the questions set forth in Mr. Garstin's note, and all agreed to reject the Wadv Rayan scheme, owing to its costliness. Sir Benjamin Baker and Signor Torricelli are united in favour of the proposal of the Government engineers for the Assouan reservoir, as being by far the be3t practically. They consider it, indeed, the only possi- ble scheme, but suggest certain modifications which will increase the cost by £ 650,000. Sir Benjamin Baker, in a separate note, says that, if necessary, the Philia Temple may be raised bodily at a cost of 4:150,000. M. Boule, the French Commissioner, refuses to discuss the Assouan site, on account of the Phike Temple, although he was not asked to con- sider the question of the Temple, but merely the different reservoir projects. M. Boule thinks that with further research another site may possibly be found nearly equal to that of Assouan. Sir Benjamin Baker and Signor Torricelli leave Cairo immediately. M. Boule remains with the object of suggesting some new scheme. The members of the Commission are unanimous in saying that the condition of the country will not be injuriously affected bv a Nile Valley*reservoir, agreeing in this respect with Rogers Pasha, the Sanitary Inspector-General.

EARLY BIRDS. A remarkable feature of this singularly bright and forward season (observes the Daily News) is the early home-coming of some of the migratory birds. Their return is, to the naturalist, among the great events of snring-time. Year after year he watches for the first swallow, as eagerly as for the first pale primroso blooms. To him, the note of the wryneck and the call of the cuckoo are as welcome year after year as the scent of early violets. This year the birds have come back earlier than usual, after their winter in the south. So much, indeed, was one of them before its time that reports from many places of the early arrival of the cuckoo were received with incredulity, even with derision. The cuckoo's cry seems an easy one to imitate. There is a story that even a naturalist was once taken in by one of those effigies that proclaim the hours from the windows of Bavarian clocks. But the real note has a quality in it not easily mistaken. And it is an undoubted fact that, in the West of England, at any rate, cuckoos were not only heard, but seen, and seen in the act of calling, as early at least as the latter half of March. There is evidence that in 1776, the cuckoo was heard in Devonshire on January 10, and other days later in the same month. But even in the West Country April 16 is looked upon as Cuckoo Day. It is a very early bird that announces itself in the first week of the montq, while the arrival of a cuckoo in March is an event of the greatest rarity. This season the familiar cry was heard in many places in one large parish in the Mendips, when March was little more than half-way through. The return of the swallows has also been remark- ably early. The first swallows frequently come singly. Even on one of the great lines of migration a solitary bird is often seen during the first week in April-the 5th, 6th, and 7th are especially favourite dates-and then, perhaps, no more are seen for a week of 10 days, while the main stream of home- coming birds is later still. This year many swallows were seen in March, and large numbers in the first week of this month. There is usually a consi- derable interval between the return of the chiff-chaff- among the earliest of familiar migrants—and the arrival of his companions, the warblers, whose sweet notes lend so much beauty to the woodland chorus. But this season the chiff-chaffs, who themselves were early, had hardly settled down in their old quarters when the woods were ringing with the rich song of the blackcap, so often said to rival even the night- ingale himself. The willow warbler and the wood warbler, two graceful, sylph-like figures, so like the chiff-chaff in form and so unlike him in speech, have both returned earlier than last year. It is probable that these birds, who spend the winter on the shores of the Mediterranean or further to the southward, make their way back to us bv easy stages. At any rate, they may be heard among the Sabine Hills, or in the green lanes of Appenme, weeks before their kin have alighted on English soil. The weather upon the Continent of Europe perhaps makes more difference in the time of their return than the state of our spring, the warmth of our sunshine, or the condition of our lanes and wood- lands. Some years we listen for them in vain, even when woods are turning green and when April is half over. This season, not only has the chiff-chaff for weeks past been calling his own name all day amonc the tree tops, but the blackcap sings loud amon° the leafy thickets, the willow-warbler's soft, sweet° cadence ripples down among the feathery larch boughs, and the wood-warbler hurries through his rapid rush at notes amongst branches that already hide him from our ken. Rarely have they come back to find their haunts so full of verdant beauty.

CLOSURE OF DEBATE. A Parliamentary paper has been published contain- ing a return respecting the application of Standing Order 25 (Closure of Debate) during the session 1893 94. The return shows that the closure was moved 168 times in the session—namely, 60 times in the House, and 108 times in committee. The assent of the Speaker (or Deputy-Speaker) was given 23 times, and withheld 37 times; the assent of the Chairman was given 50 times and withheld 58 times. The closure was carried on division on 42 occasions and it was not once negatived on a division. The members who moved the closure oftÆnest were: The Chan- ctllor of the Exchequer, 16 times; Mr. Gladstone, f(ur; Mr. T. M. Healy, eight; Mr. John Morley, 2; Mr. Asquith, four; and Mr. Sexton, five times.

II TilE Queen has 60 pianos at Osborne, Windsor, aid Buckingham Palace. THE Emperor of China is rejoicing in the arrival oi an heir. The baby has been temporarily named j Goo Prittee-Prittee. .U i-j VI;. •

EPITOME OF NEWS. I CoMruKSSEi) air is again to he tried on tramways from the Louvre to St. Cloud, Paris, and is expected to be more satisfactory than battery or trolley car, and more economical in their working. Tm; railway between Jaffa. and Jerusalem, which was built by an American firm, has been in operation about 15 months, and is now being run at a loss, it is stated, of about £ 25 12s. a day. Two passenger and two freight trains are run each way daily. TUB work of making steel oil barrels is proceeding satisfactorily at Borrow, and now plant and satisfactorily at Borrow, and now plant and machinery, chiefly of the hydraulic type, is being put down for stamping half barrels in dies. These are afterwards welded toge'' er by means of elec- tricity. This promises to Jecome an important industry for Barrow. WHEN the doors of the Exeter Theatre were opened the other afternoon for a performance of Paul lvauvar," there was an immense number of persons outside in fact, so far as the audience was concerned, the whole of the world was outside—and remained there, for we learn (says the ICxeter Evening Post) that not a single individual crossed the Terpsichorean threshold, and the auditorium consequently presented in a more literal sense than is generally the case a beggarlv array of empty benches." Of course the company, being well practised in their parts, were not disposed to play for amusement, and, leaving the theatre, they sought recreation in the glorious sun- shine which prevailed outside. Tm: Board of Trade have given a bronze medal to William Cooper, Commissioned Boatman of Coast- guard at Morthoe, for his gallant service at the wreck of the French brig A. C. L., in Morte Bay, Devonshire, on January 25. INSPECTOR FIU.DI.RICK LAWLEY has retired from the detective department of the City of London Police. He was one of the old school of City detectives, and had seen about 29 years' service. He achieved great success in bringing skilled forgers to justice. PART of a cabin door, including the lock, and bear- ing a metal plate on which appears the word "Engineers," together with some figures or letters not easily decipherable, has been washed ashore near Biarritz. It is supposed to be a relic of the unfortunate Serpent, which was lost in November, 1890, off Cape Trece, north-west coast of Spain. A WEIJ.-KXOWX Leeds solicitor has lately enjoyed the vagaries of the telephone. His family going to the seaside, he told a clerk (relates the Yorkshire Evening News) to telephone to "Young's 5 for a four- wheeler at, say, 2.30 of that day. ''Youngs is now Teale's," and the message got sent, therefore, to the Albion Brewery. A little later in the day Mr. Young telephoned back, "Wbat does Mr. want a t drav at his house at 2.30 for ?" But for the doubt in Mr. Young's mind, the astonished solicitor would have found a dray and two horses waiting at his door for the conveyance of his wife and family! AlOXG the subjects that are attracting close atten- tion from present-day health-seekers and scientists is the effort on the part of health-boards and hygienists to secure legislation looking to the restricting of the freedom of confirmed consumptives and a strict system of registration such as will enable boards of health the better to keep them under control, and thus avoid the possible spread of the disease. This may appear like a hardship, and will, no doubt, meet with violent protests from various quarters. But tuberculosis is a disease too deadly in its effects and too evidently infectious to be carelessly dealt with* any longer. A lack of comprehensive knowledge of its real character and a certain amount of timidity have heretofore stood in the way of active measures. While espionage may be excessively annoying, its victims can scarcely count upon the public sense of justice to sustain their side of the case. It is not thought unreasonable to quarantine a vessel that carries one single fever or cholera patient, but hundreds of consumptives can go their way, scatter- ing the seeds of death in every direction, and for vears no one has objected. It is quite time, in view of all existing facts, that some stringent measures were taken. THE following letter, written in Italian, has reached the Finance Committee of the Liverpool City Cor- poration, whose duty it is to elect a successor to Mr. Best, one of the greatest organists of the century. Appended is a free translation of the missive: "I offer myself as a candidate for the office of organist of St. George's Hall. For many years I have been grind- ing an organ in the streets of Liverpool, and am a ratepayer. I am becoming tired of out-door work, and would like some inside occupation. Hence my application. The mechanism of the instrument could be altered to suit my style of playing, that is, the rotary style, which is essentially popular.—Your humble servant," &c. AN amusing story is quoted by a contemporary from a recent political speech of Sir James Kitson's. A farmer who was dying called his wife to his side. Sarah," he said, I have been thinking about what you will do when I have gone, and I fear you will not be able to manage the three cows and the few acresof land we have, and make a living out of it. I think you had better marry John when I have gone." Sarah replied, "Well, John and I had been talking about it." The farmer said no more. A RATHER unusual scene occurred in a quiet Arbroath street the other morning. A certain ap- prentice at a factory, who is in the habit of sleeping in rather often, got a surprise. He had slept in, but he was awakened out of his pleasant dreams by aloud knocking at the door. When he got up, he found a deputation of his fellow-apprentices waiting for him with a barrow. It was no use kicking up a row he was soon put into the barrow and taken in triumph to the works. The youths carried out their practical lesson in the virtue of early rising with excellent good humour. Ix the instructive report of the late Sir Gerald Portal, on the Uganda question, some interesting par- ticulars are given of King Mwanga, of whom much was heard some time ago. Mwanga, he says, ascended the throne in 1884, and signalised the commencement of his reign by barbarous persecutions of all Chris- tians. This he followed up by ordering the murder of Bishop Hannington and his followers, and by an attempt to exterminate all the Catholics, Protestants, and Mahomedans. In this he overreached himself, and was expelled from the throne by the Christians and Mahomedans, who elected his brother Kiewewa in his stead. The Christians and Mahomedans then got. at loggerheads, and the leaders of the Christians were murdered. Another brother of Mwanga was then elected King. Meanwhile Mwanga, who was in exile, declared himself a convert to Christianity, and joined the Catholics, with the result that the Catholics and Protestants combined, drove out the Mahomedans, and restored the repentant and wily monarch, Mwanga, to the throne. A MEDICAL authority declares that ailments of the throat and stomach are often due to migratory tooth- brush bristles, which should always be carefully rinsed from the mouth. FORTY natives, or niggers," as they are termed, were sentenced at Johannesburg to receive 10 lashes with the cat," for the offence of walking on the foot- path, the same as colonists. IN Belgium, almost the entire population is Roman Catholic, and there are over 1500 convents, with nearly 25,000 inmates. Protestantism is tolerated, and even salaried by the State, but cannot count more than 15,000 adherents. TIIE French Socii-te des Gens des Lettres has elected for its president M. Jean Aicard, in succession to M. Zola, whose three years' term of office has expired. Thus, the chief of the Realist School is replaced by an Idealist poet, M. Aicard, who has essayed poetry, the drama, and the novel, the first and the last with greater success than the second. We believe his first dramatic effort was "Davenant," brought out not in Paris, but in London, by the Comedie Fran- çaise, in 1879. But it is as a novelist that certain. Academicians have persuaded him to contest the chair of the late Maxime du Camp, for which ho will have as a competitor, of course, that perennial can- didate, M. Zola. SIR E. HARLAND, M.P., one of the partners in the Belfast shipbuilding firm, speaking in the House of i Commons, said there is now in course of construction a class of steamers, presumably for the Atlantic trade, 160ft. to 170ft. longer than our two newest cruisers, the Powerful and Terrible, which are 500ft. long, and that these merchant steamers would be a couple of feet less in the beam. This means they will be at least 660ft.—one-eighth of a mile-long, by 69ft. wide. Even the Great Eastern was but 692ft. by 83ft. ARCHDEACON BLAKKNEY, vicar of Sheffield, who has been for some time seriously indisposed, has left the vicarage for Harro gate for complete rest and change In consequence of indisposition the Archdeacon was unable to preside at the parish church vestry meeting held last week for the first time since he has been vicar. The Rev. W. J. Morrison presided in Arch. deacon Blakeney's absence. i .J .J- -O- Sc;x!" f:,f the most eventful changes in our Const it.ti- tion have been carried by feeble majorities. The chief point:-of the national religion, under Elizabeth, were carried by six votes. The great question 011 the danger of Popery, in Queen Anne's reign, was decided by a majority of 256 to HOS. i he Hanover succession was carried by a single vote Ihe Remon- strance, in Charles's I. s time, by 11. The ith Scotland and Ireland by very small m;i;,ornu'S. The Reform in Parliament, in 1831, by one TUK schoolmaster's life is supposed to be one of ceaseless worry, he has to deal with that portion of our race which possesses the most inexhaustible capacity for worrying. Ye: the comparative statistics- of longevity give the schoolmaster a fair avenge of of vears. This is especially the case in Swit- zerland, where one often finds patriarchal school- masters. In lloss-Seedorf, a commune of Canton Berne, the schoolmaster has just celebrated his iubilea of 50 years of pedagogy. What is more i-ei., able is that this same village has only had three school- mast.ers during 100 years. There are few other chairs which are occupied by only three persons in the course of a century. TUB word "manor" is of cons'.ant occurrence throughout rural Pennsylvania, and it frequently marks some one of the 60 odd manors conferred upon the heirs of William Penn by an Act of 1779. These manors, ranging from 290 to many thousand acres, were scattered thickly over the eastern part of the State, and their mimes have since become the names of manv townships. The manors aggregated more than 500.000 acres, and included some of the finest lands in Pennsylvania. THE great South Dakota cave in the Black Hills region is said to be 52 miles long, and contains nearly 1500 rooms, some 200ft. high. There are streams, waterfalls, and 37 lakes, one of which is an acre in extent. The cave is 6000ft. above sea level. L'MUSU the heading of Two Memorable Days in Paternoster-row," a very interesting article appear:! in the current issue of the Leisure Ilmr, describing the publication by Mr. IIei;rv Frowde, at the busy London warehouses of the Oxford Universitv Press, of the first editions of the Revised Testament and of the new Revised Bible. The first "memorable day" dealt with was May 17, 18^1. which witnessed the giving to the world of the Revised issue of the New Testament. Immediately the bell of the clock or St. P.u! s had struck the midnight hour and ushered in the date mentioned the doors of the two University Press warehouses were opened, and the deliYeTV of the anxiously waited-for volumes be.^an, Verv soon Mr. Frowde had distributed upwards of 1,000.009 copies to the London trade alone, and every suburban book- seller almost had a display of the New Testaments in his windows before breakfast. All day long the ex- citement continued in Paternoster-row, and crowds of the public were literally scrambling for copies. During the four years' interval between tl)e, publica- tion of the revised New Testament and the Revised Bible a new and commodious warehouse had been opened at Amen-corner for the Oxford "University Press but on May 18, 1885, the scene in the Row was even more memorable than its predecessor already alluded to had been. Many interest ing par- ticulars of the tons and tons weight of Revised Bibles sent out that day and of the D'.rP:t business done at the warehouse of the O.C.P. are given in the articie referred to, which is most instructive and entertaining. FEW people have done more for cricket than Billy" Burrup. who founded the Surrey Club, and was for a quarter of a century its energetic secretary. An accident cut short Mr. Burrup's career as a plaver many years ago, though he still, as a hale old gentle- man of 73, takes a keen interest in the game. It was he who first started Anglo-Australian matches. He went down to Liverpool to see the first team off— early in the fifties, advanced £ 150 apiece for their expenses, and settled with a bailiff's man, who came down just as the ship was starting with a writ for the arrest of one of the best players, without whom the trip would probably have been a failure. O.MUiUN.iA seems to have caught a tartar in its lady mayor. At a recent meeting of the Town Council, during a discussion on the resignation of the sanitary inspector, a member ventured to assume a smiling expression, when, "Sir," said the lady mayor, "this is no place to smile." Such severity is a little less than just surely a man may smile and smile, and yet be a good Town Councillor. THE authorities at Worthing are doing all in their power to prevent any recurrence of the disastrous outbreak of typhoid fever which so shattered the towns prospect and prosperity. During the past quarter no deaths have taken place from this appal- ling complaint, and only two cases of typhoid have occurred. The wate. supply is now as pure as that of any town in the Kingdom, and the danger has practi- cally vanished. Although the fears of the public are not easily allayed, and the time may yet be far dis- tant before Worthing regains her reputation as a health resort, the future of the town cannot but be fortunate. To many people the announcement of the death of M. Paul Jablochkoff, one of the pioneers of electnc I lighting, will bring up unpleasant reminiscences. He was the first to solve the problem of dividing the electric light, thus making it possible to use it for public lighting purposes: and at once numerous speculators arose who thought they saw fortunes ahead. Many fortunes were lost, and it is doubtful if any were made, in the early days of electric light- ing. The Jablochkoff system was undoubtedly a great step in advance, and it has been tried in many European cities. THE "Executor of High Works in Spain is dead. j His fume was so local that probably no one in this country ever heard before of Francisco Castellanos but it is well known that the garrote is in as great demand there now as the gallows was in England in the hanging days. To possess the post of "High Chief Executioner'' in Spain is more remunerative than to possess a castle in Spain and it is not sur- prising to find that 30 applications were received for his post on the very day of the death of Castellanos. One based his claim on the fact that he was the inti- mate friend of the deceased, and had taken possession of his iron collar. THE warrant officers of the Portsmouth Steam Re- serve, who are now hulked in the Asia, appear to have good grounds for complaint as to their accommo- dation. There is messing room for 50 members, and there are never fewer than 80 who want their dinner, therefore every day some 30 members have to wait till 30 of their predecessors have finished. L'nder some circumstances there would be nothing verv hard in this, but when it is considered that many of these officers have to walk a mile or more to reach their ships, and that thus there is not much of a dinner hour left, the reality of tL ir grievance becomes apparent. REFERRING to the late Dr. Brown-Sequard. the Gaulois has some curious details as to his parents. It appears that his father, who was an American, married Mdlle. Sequard in Mauritius, and was ruined almost immediately after his marriage bv one of those tremendous cyclones which sweep over the island from time to time. Mr. Brown left Mauritius with a cargo of rice, which he intended to dispose of in India, but he died almost upon his landing. It was not for two or three months after his father's death that the little Brown-Sequard was born. THE rights of readers have just been upheld very gallantly in Melbourne by a Mr. Isaacs, a member of the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Isaacs, on retiring to the Public Library to read, found it so hot that he took off his coat. An attendant asked him either to resume it or leave. Mr. Isaacs left, and wrote to the trustees complaining that the attendant's action was injurious to democratic principles. The trustees replied that no democratic principles worth anything could be injured by a rule which forbade disrobing in a public library. And there the dispute- stands. Mr. Isaacs, however, threatens to carry it to Parliament, and doubtless counts upon his party taking their coats off in his behalf. BABON ALDERSON is the subject of a sketch in the Law Times' literary column, and several characteristic specimens of his wit are quoted. It was he, for ex- ample, who said to a counsel who was cross-examin- ing with more temper than skill: Mr. you seem to think that the art of cross-examining is to examine crossly." And again, when a jurvman once said to the clerk, who was administering the oath, Speak up, I can't hear what you sav," the baron asked him if he was deaf, and on the jurvman answer- urvman ing "Yes, with one ear,"replied, Well, then, you can leave the box, for it is necessary that jurymen should hear both sides. DR. ArBRY, who has gained celebrity in the new division of science that is termed criminology, advocates in a work just published legislative measures hindering the Press from publishing accounts of crimes, police reports, and similar matter, on the ground that example is contagious, and that .the narrative of a crime, given in the news- papers, provokes similar deeds, and endeavours to prove in his Contagion du Meurtre that to the Presa ) is largelv due the contagion in auestion.