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

THE POET LAUREATE ON BURNS. A statue of the poet Burns, presented by Mr. John Epiers, of Glasgow, to his native town, Irvine, was on Saturday formally handed over in the presence of thousands of people. The masonie ceremony was performed by Provincial Grand Master II. It. Wallace, of Cloncajrd and Busby, and Miss Geor^ie Spiers, daughter of the donor, who was unable to be present owing to ill-health, unveiled the statue and presented it to Provost Breckenridge, who accepted the gift on behalf of the community. The freedom of the burgh was conferred on Mr. Spiers, the Burgess ticket being enclosed in a haudsome silver- gilt casket. Mr. Alfred Austin, the Poet Laureate, delivered an address, in which he said Burns was not a favourite of clique or classes, like some other poets, but was the favourite of the whole world, having survived the arbitrament of time. He stood after 100 years on a pionnelwof fame from which he woald iwrer bo.dis- placed. He had the good fortune to be born in a lowly station near to dear mother earth, which left him the freedom of an unconventional mind untram- melled and uncontaminated by literary traditions. The cardinal fault of English poetry that it was too lite- rary. When Burns was literary he was weak, but in his native tongue he bore them along charmed and delighted on the stream of his unsophiBticated^ong. The wise ancients were fond of saying Call no man happy till he dies." He ehould like to supplement that sagacious aphorism by adding, Call no man famous till he has been dead a hundred years." After the ceremony a banquet took place in the new DrillHall, ProvostBreckenbridge presiding. Mr. Alfred Amtin gave the toast, "The Immortal Memory of Burns."

1 INDIANS AT WINDSOR. On Sunday at four o'clock the Indians and Cin- galese connected with the Indian and Ceylon Exhi- bition arrived at Windsor to be inspected by their Empress, who had expressed her desire to see them. All were dressed in their very Sunday best," but tn many instances that does not say very much, ta from the waist upwards they had nothing on except beads, and on their arms any amount of bracelets. By their attire it was im- possible to say which were ladies and which were gentlemen. There were many babies brought by loving parents. Some of the visitors were clothed in purple and flne linen, and displayed some fine Kashmir shawls, which, in such great, heat, must have been rather oppressive, and the ladies and gentlemen with little clothing were, after all, more suitably attired. One lady brought down a magnifi- cent bouquet to present to the Empress of India tied with streamers of the finest Indian embroidery. Crowds lined the streets through which the proces, sion passed on its way to the Castle, where the Queen, Princess Frederica, and other members of the Royal Family were waiting to receive them.

MYSTERIOUS POISONING IN SUSSEX. The medical men of Crawley, Sussex (says a contemporary) have been called upon to investigate a mysterious epidemic which has raged among the servants at Bnchan Hill, Crawley, the residence of Mr. Philip Saillard, of London. No fewer than 10 servants have been attacked, during the past week by severe vomiting and diarrhoea, and on Friday night one case terminated fatally. The Horsham coroner has been communicated with, and an inquest will be held. So far the local doctors have been unable to diagnose the disease." The condi- tion of one "or two of the sick servants is causin" grave anxiety, though they showed some im provement on Sunday night. The name of the deceased servant is Annie Brockbank. She was a house- maid, nged "2, and her home is at Beckenham. Great excitement prevails in the district, and many wild rumours are afloat. Buchan-hill stands on very high ground, and the excellence of its water supply ard sanitary arrangements has never been ques- tioned.

am_ A LAWYER on his death-bed willed all his property to a lunatic asylum, giving as a reason for so doing that h. wished his property to return to the same liberal class who patronised him. Miss OtuntiEND: "I declare I begin to feel that I'm growing old. It's really unpleasant." Miss Becky Sharpe: Yes, dear, it must be especially so for one who has been young. so long. AN interesting investigation on the nature of tne submarine structure of a coral reef is at present being carried on under the charge of Professor Sollas The work is the outcome of a strong com- mittee formed by the British Association some six six years ago. Fumafuti, a typical atoil, situated due north of the Fiji group, bag .been chosen as the -at of operations. Apparatus has been taken for boring about 1000ft. into the reef by the use of diamond drilling plant, which has been kindly lent by the Department of Mines of the New South Wales Government. A tromesape formed by the flat roofs of the shops « a special feature of the plans for the new arcade at- Southampton. j < w. 7 4. •••f

DR. JAMESON'S TRIAL. APPLICATION TO QUASH TUB ^DICTMBKT. In the court of the Lord Chief Justice of EnglaiW at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday, the trial at bar of Dr. Jameson and his five companions con- cerned in the raid upon the Transvaal was com- menced, before Lord Russell, Baron Pollock, and Mr. Justice Hawkins, the senior judges of the Queen's Banch Division. TLe defendant are indicted under the Foreign Enlistment Act; their names are Dr. Leander Starl Jameson, Major Sir John Christopher Wil- longhby, Colonel the Hon. Henry Frederick White, Colonel Raleigh Grey, Major the Hon. Robert White, and Major the Hon. Charles John Coventry. The indictment contains 11 counts. The defendants were accommodated with seats at the solicitors' table in the well of the court. Three rows behind were partly occupied by members of the Bar, including those engaged in the case. Three rows behind these were reserved mainly for ladies, and were also occu- pied to the fullest extent, as was the public gallery overhead. Among the ladies who occupied seats in the Judges gallery-a small recess at some height from the floor, and at e back of the court-were Lady Russell of Killowen, Lady Esher, Lady Cole- ridge, Lady Methuen, Lady Annaly, Lady Finlay, Mrs. Asquith, Lady LockVeood and Miss Lockwood, Mrs. C. w. iilathews, Mrs. Richard Chamberlain, and Mrs. Bryce. Seated on the Bench were about a -dozen persons, including Sir Tatton Sykes, Sir W. C. Wyndeyer, Mr. Bryce, M.P., and Mr. G. W. E. Russell, Lady Esher being the only lady so privi- leged. Dr. Jameson and his officers arrived and took their seats in the well of the court at a quarter to eleven o'clock, and were followed by the leading counsel engaged. The Attorney General (Sir R. Webster), the Solicitor-General (Sir R. B. Finlay), Mr. Suttou, Mr. C. Mathews, Mr. liorace Avory, and Mr. Rawlinson appeared for the prosecution Sir E. Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Carson, Q.C., Mr. C. F. Gill, Mr. A. Lytteiton, and Mr. Howard Sliensley, junr., for the defen- dants, Jameson, Willoughby, n. F. White and-R- White; and Sir F. Lockwood, Q.C., Mr. J. "P. Wallis, and Mr. J. Roskill for the defendants, Grey and Coventry. Mr. A. Cowen, Q.C., Mr. Saunders, and Mr. Pelix Cassel held a watching brief on behalf of the South African Republic. SIR EDWARD CLARKE'S MOTION. At eleven o'clock the learned judges took their places on the bench, and the officers of the court were proceeding to call the jury, when Sir Edward Clarke said that, before the fury were sworn, he, as counsel for Dr. Jameson and others, moved to quash the indictment. The learned counsel proceeded to argue that the Foreign Enlistment Act, under which the pro- ceedings were taken, did not apply, because, according to the terms of the Act, while it came into force within the United Kingdom immediately on its passing, yet in other parts of her Majesty's dominions it only came into operation after public pro- clamation. There was nothing in the indictment to show that the act had been proclaimed in these terri- tories of British Buchuanaland. By implication it was suggested there must have been a proclamation. If that was so, the Crown was bound to state on the faco of the report that the proclamation was made, and he submitted that lpy this omission the in- dictment was bad. He further argued that if ought to be proved, and he ought to be entitled to the benefit of the opinion of the jury, whether the places mentioned were at the time within the British possessions. Everything material which made a criminal ofienco must be affirmatively and distinctly alleged in order that a defendant may know as to what he was to answer. The Lord Chief Justice: I think there is a qualification to that. Sir Edward Clarke quoted a number of authorities in support of his contention, and further submitted that the Foreign Enlistment Act did not apply on general principles apart from the question ef pro- clamation, since it was an act whose purpose was to regulate the actions of her Majesty's subjects during the continuance of hostilities between foreign States with which her Majesty is at peace. If, as he con- tended, the first count was-bad, every count in the indictment was bad. The objection applied to all. Count nine omitted the vital words, within the dominion* of her Majesty," as the place wherein the expedition was prepared. He contended that where acts were intended to apply to British subjects out- side British jurisdiction, it was so expressly stated. If the act applied outside of her Majesty's dominions it must be to British subjects, and the Crown had neglected to nllege that Dr. Jameson and co-defen- dants vr<MV British' subjects. TLe Lord Chief Justice: The presumption is that they were British subjects. Sir Edward Clarke: I submit there is no presump- tion if the act was done outside British dominions. The Lord Chief Justice: The allegation is that the expedition was within British dominions. Sir Edward Clarke The count does not allege that the expedition was within British dominions. On behalf of Dr.' Jameson and the other defendants be represented he moved that the indictment be quashed. I., THE ATTORNEY-GENEBAT.'s REPLY. The Attorney-General, in replyr argued that no principle of criminal proceedings had been infringed by the omission from the indictment of the assertion that the Foreign Enlistments Act applied in the times and places mentioned. The allegations of fact con- stituting the offenoe were specifically stated, and that was all that was really necessary in the indictment. Therewasno possibility of the question arising that the defendants were not British subjects. He ubuiitied the suggestion that the defendants might not be British subjects did not arise on the indictment at all. The Solicitor-General followed, and submitted that the points raised were such as would arise in the course of the trial, and not on the indictment. Sir Edward Clarke next made his rejoinder. He said the jury would,, not be able to :say whether the defendants were Briti sh subjects or not on the in- dictment as it stood. It was obvious that if the Crown had intended to allege that the act was in force where these acts were done that allegation wonld be extremely simple. Finally, the learned counsel fiubinitted''on all the authorities that for want of absolute statement of fact the indictment was bad. The Lord Chief Justice In view of the far-reach- ing effect of these objections, we think it desirable to consider them, and as fcr that purpose we desire to take sume little time, it will not be desirable to call upon the Attorney-General to open his case now. The Court adjourned to give the judges time to examine the points raised.

'■ P,M*— 't TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY IN THE SHADE. Many people have recently been heard to declare that they are sure they will die if the present weather continues. Therefore the statistios below, showing the highest and the lowest temperature which man can endure, may prove interesting. To begin with, the difference between the highest and the lowest limits is estimated at 250deg. Fahrenheit. French troops in Algiers must frequently march and manoeuvre ilt a heat of 122deg. above zero. A French professor has, during a stay in the Sahara with a tribe of Tuaregs, observed a heat of 153 degrees. Attendants in Turkish bath establishments work 10 hours a day in rooms where the air is arti- ficially heated to 155, 175, and even to 195 degrees Fahrenheit. A scientific gentleman in Paris not long ago spent 15 minutes in a hot air room of the Paris Ham man, in which the dry air had been heated by his order until the thermometer regis- tered 250deg. Fahrenheit. Issuing from this room lie plunged immediately into a bath -filled with water of about 53dep\, a difference of almost 200de P., which his body passed through in less than a minute. On the other hand, man will stand' greater cold than any of the other mammals—for instance, the temperature during the journey of Prince Henrv of Orleans through the Central Asiatic highlapds where the party had frequently to withstand i tenii perature of 40deg. below zero. The quicksilver In. thè thermometers had frozen solidly at this temperature and even the alcohol in the alcohol thermometers be- came thick. Horses and camels died from exposure while none of the men in the party suffered in the least. In North America intense cold is frequent. A Captain Burn once measured at Fort Reliance a tem- perature of 70deg. below zero, while Captain Dowron, at Fort Ran, saw the thermometer down to 88 below zero in the month of April. The lowest temperatures known, however, have occurred in Siberia, where a temperhfUre of 50 below zero is not uncommon, while at Wercho jansk a temperature of 93deg. below zero has been observed. It appears, therefore, that men can stand a cold of OOdeg. below zero, while a heat of 160 and even 180deg. Fahrenheit appears to be the extreme limit in the opposite direction. No animal is known which is able to resist such changee of teny- perature. ), o.

HE MEL HEMPSTEAD MURDER. OPENING OF THE INQUBBT. Mr. W. Grover, coroner for South Herts, opened an inquiry on Saturday at Warner"nd Farm, an unoccupied building, Boxted, near Hemel Hempstead, respecting the death of Catherine Mabel Quartermass, aged 12 years, the daughter of Mr. John Smith Quartermass, a dealer, residing at Bod's-end, a small hamlet son* miles from Boxmoor, who was found on Thursday evening of last week in a field brutally murdered. Owing to the smallness of the room at the farm the inquiry was held on the lawn. John Smith Quartermass identified the girl as his daughter, who was 12 years of age last Sunday. He last saw his daughter on Thursday afternoon, about four o'clock, when, as usual, she went to get the milk at Mr. Proctor's farm, situate about half a mile away. About seven o'clock in the evening he and his wife, who were on business at Apsley, were sum- moned home on account of his daughter's body being found. Mary Elizabeth Allen, domestic servant in the employ of Mr. Proctor, farmer, Dexted, stated that on Thursday evening, about five o'clock, deceased called at the house, and she was supplied with a quart of milk. George Ginger, a shepherd in the employ of Mr. Proctor, stated that after attending his sheep on Thursday night last he was proceeding home when he came across an umbrella lying in the roadway, close to the hedge. A few yards away he picked up the lid of a milk can, and a little further away the ean itself. He tried to fix the lid on, but found that the can was out of shape, as if it had been thrown violently to the ground. On getting over a hurdle he saw a girl lying in the hedge, about 100 yards away from where he found the umbrella. When he got to the body he found it was a little girl. The clothing was all smothered with blood and the child's cloak was down over her head. There was a considerable quantity of blood about, and he was so afraid that he ran back to the farm without touching the body. On his way to the farm he met the girl's sister, who bad come into the fields to see where her sister was. He told her that her little sister was lying in the hedge covered with blood, and that there was little doubt that she was dead. They both went back to where the body was lying, and her sister cried out that it was "Mabel." On the blades of grass some few yards away there were spots of blood, and the condition of the pathway clearly showed that after murdering the girl she had been dragged along the side of the hedge, over the gateway, and then thrown into the hedge. The gate was smeared with blood, and exactly in the centre -was the shape of a man's hand in blood, the thumb and fingers being quite distinct. Dr. Arthur John Hubbard, Hemel Hempstead, stated that he examined the deceased on her removal to the disused farm. Her throat was cut from left to right, being in some places two or three inches deep, and having almost severed the windpipe. There were several cuts on the face and neck. There were punctured wounds on each side of the neck. One eye was black, and the left temple severely bruised. He could find no traces of the deceased having been outraged. The cut in the neck had evidently been done by a knife which was not very sharp, and the bruises on the face by being dragged along the pathway with her head to the ground. There were also signs of a severe struggle k having taken place. At this stage the inquiry was adjourned in order that the police might make further investigations.

THE SOUDAN EXPEDITION. INCREASE OF THE CHOLERA. There is no immediate prospect of the Connaught p 1!1 Rangers going to the front. Colonel Brook, whc commands, went to England on Sunday from Cairo, and is not expected to return for six weeks. The battalion will then probably go to Wady Haifa. The cholera has increased at Kosheb. There are also two cases at Amara, making the total 31 cases and 20 deaths. To these have to be added four cases among the camp followers, three of which proved fatal. The epidemic seems, however, to be confined to a certain quarter, and has not spread throughout the camp. It has been decided to remove the whole camp from the river bank into the desert. High temperatures continue to prevail. According to the cholera returns for the military posts between Assouan and this place 269 cases and 165 deaths have occurred among tne troops. Among the men of the Staffordahhe Regiment and British details there have been 23 cases and 18 deaths. It is fully expected at Cairo that the Italians will ahortIy cede Kassala to Egypt. In that event Kassala be oocujMed by the Indian troops now at Souakim. Furthermore, should the forces now operating against D6ngola ultimately advance upon Khartoum, a column will be despatched from Kassala to co- operate with the Anelo-EevDtian armv. TROOPS IN TUB DESERT. Several deaths from cholera and enteric fever were again on Tuesday morning reported among the British forces in -Egypt. The cholera epidemic is apparently abating at Kosheh and the other posts. The troops are encamped a mile out in the desert, away from the river bank. ANOTHER OFFrCER DEAD. The General Officer Commanding in Egypt has reported to the War Office the following additional deaths Lieu tenant H. H. F. Farmar, King's Royal Rifle Corps, attached to the JSgjptian army, at Suarda, July 20, of enteric fever; 1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment at Gemai; of cholera, 3889, Private George Hall, 3548, Private Henry Wildring, July 16, 3656, Private Samuel Beresford, Jnly 17, 3168, Corporal John Dunwiddie, July 18, of enteritis, 4223, Private Amos Green, July 17, of meningitis supervening cholera, 2478, Sergeant Jtohn Rixon, July 18.

GIGANTIC CUTTLEFISH. The Prince of Monaco has had the good fortune to discover some large, and hitherto unknown, denizens of the ocean. Being present at the capture of a sperm whale, he secured the contents of its stomach, which the animal ejected before death. These were found to consist of gigantic species of cuttlefish new to science. The whale feeds on them. Another observer describes a terrific combat between a whale and one of these terrible creatures, whose arms are as thick as those of a man, and yards in length. The whale hadeeizedthe cuttlefish, and the latter had wound its terrible arms round the whale. There was a deadly struggle, and then the arms were loosened, and the cuttlefish swaUowd.

TWISTING THE LION'S TAIL. -The full text of the new treaty (says the Philadel- liltia liecord) for the final adjustment of the Behring Sea ehiims, whioh has now been made public, shows how- little really remains to be settled. But the amount. of damages to be paid* for tbaseizure could have-been determined by a olerk in thaState Depart- ment from the evidence supplied byihe claimants of the loss* suffered by Ulem. The agreement made with the English Ambassador, Sir Julian Pauocefote, was that £ 35,000 should be paid in aatiefoclioLiof all claims arising out of the illegal seizures of vessels flying the British flag. But certain members of Congress insisted upon deferring the pay nient, with the resvilt that we shall now have to pay twice the amount originally agreed upon. They argued that some of the vessels seized were partly owned by Americans. But even so, it amounts to practically nothing for unless it can be shown that 'the ships in question were fraudulently sailing under the British flag, England would still be entitled to represent the claimants, even though their ships might be mortgaged to Americans, or some of our citizens owned shares in them. The whole opposition to the payment of the BehriBg Sea claims arose out of a desire of the Jingoes fn Congress to gain some cheap notoriety and a reputation for intense Americanism by keeping up the friction with the British Government. It will make no difference to these gentlemen whether this Government shall ultimately be compelled to pay twice the amount originally agreed upon since they have enjoyed the exhilarating pastime of twist- ing the lion's tail.

MR. HARNEY BARNATO is, as everyone knows a capable amateur actor. At Kimberlej Theatre Royal he often took the place of some absent professional. He tells funny stories of those days. One tale is a variation of a rather ancient stager. He was playine Jacob McKlosky in the "Octoroon and had just come to the climax, where he offers 25,000dol. for the girl at the slave-auction. The audience were worked to a high pitch of enthnriamu, and one of them to a good deal beyond it, for he, swarthy gold- I miner that he was, leaped up in the pit and shouted By thunder! I'll go 26. BTCPybody teaiwl except Barnato. r

NAVAL MANCEUVRES. OFF PORTLAJTD. The avfival of Admiral Wilson's squadron of the Reserve Fleet (said a special correspondent on board H.M.S. Sanspareil, writing on Monday evening) once more filled the Portland anchorage, which was during last week occupied by the Channel Fleet. The ships all anchored together about 3.30, though the Sans- ivareil only tied up to the Alexandra's moorings. Here a misadventure happened, as the lashing which secured the moorings parted, and the cable was dropped in over 50ft. of water and some feet of mud, whence the diver could not recover it. A mooring lighteF arrived later, and was more successful. Handl- ing such heavy tackle M that by which our battle- ships are secured, these accidents will happen. Just after the Sanspareil had anchored the Jaseur arrived with news that three strange ships had been seen steaming east on the north Cornish coast. A little later one of the six torpedo boats which we passed in the harbour, No. 52, was sent to Plymouth to repair a damaged feed-pipe. This makes the second ship which has broken down in this section of the fleet. Upon anchoring a telegraph cable was carried to the Portland Post-office from the Sanspareil with the greatest smartness. Unfortunately red tape pre- vented the newspaper correspondents making any use of it, and the only message which passed over it was one ordering its removal. The whole of last week a fine collection of war- boats were to be seen cruising about the entrance of the Channel, and continuously exercising captrfns at steam tactics and men at drill, the squadron compris- ing the following ships: Alexandra, Sans Pareil, Galatea, Australia, Devastation, Dreadnought, Edin- burgh, Colossus, Sultan, Benbow, and Thunderer, all armourclad Melampus, Mersey, Iphigenia, Iris, Pear], Indefatigable, Terpsichore, and Brilliant, pro- tected cruisers and nine torpedo-gunboats. The B Squadron finished coaling on Monday even- ing, in readiness for putting to sea the following night, when small defects in machinery had been re- paired. Torpedo-boat 52, which had been detached to Plymouth for repair, rejoined the fleet. Five other torpedo-boats left the harbour early on Monday morning to scont along the coast. There have been no serious breakdowns in the fleet. Admiral Wilson has held two councils of war.

MURDERER CAUGHT HOUSE- BREAKING. Another has been added to the list of those under sentence of death in Samuel Williamson, a gardener, who was charged at Notts Assizes on Monday with murdering Mary Kaye. The deceased, who was about 68, bad been staying with friends at Arnold, a suburb of Nottingham. On the night of Februtuy 17 the p'risoner called at the house, and on the pretence that he had been sent to say that Mr. Powley, the tenant, had been taken suddenly ill in another part of the village, decoyed all the inmates away except the old lady. When they returned later they found her lying in the kitchen with her head terribly battered with a poker. A watch, two chains, and a brooch had been stolen from an upstair room, and also about £ 8 in money. The evidence showed that the prisoner made his way with all despatch to Nottingham, where on the following morning he changed his' blood-stained clothes in a public-house. He was traced to Manchester, where be was found in custody on a charge of breaking into the Golf Pavilion. He had^dispoeed of a watch and chain at Manchester.

A REMARKABLE WILL. The funeral of Edmond de Goncourt took place on Monday. The service was held in the church of Notre Dame, at Auteuil, and the remains were after- wards interred at the Montmartre cemetery., M. Emile Zola pronouncing the funeral oration. Thq will of the savant was read before his executors MM. Alphonse Daudet and Leon Hen- nique, and is rather remarkable. There are a few trifling legacies, one of which is 5000 francs to Mile. Edmée Daudet, his god-daughter, to buy pearls to complete a necklace, he having given her one pearl on each of her birthdays, and 1900 francs to Mile. Jeanne Charpentier, his other god- daughter, to buy a piece of lace for her wedding ceremony. The remainder of his property is to be realised to found the Aoodérnie des Goncourt. To endow this Acadmie he directs that his executors shall sell his books, his collection of Japanese works of art, his pictures, drawings, and engravings, his fur- niture, his objects of art, and bi. house at Auteuil. He requests i8 family to respect his wishes for the sole reason that they are amply provided for: He creates I he Academie des Goncourt, with the object of placing 10 literary men beyond the reach of want, that they may devote themselves solely to art and without a desire for pecuniary motive. He names eight of the 10; these are to elect the remaining two, and in case of the death of any one of them, the majority is to elect the successorj Any member who becomes a candidate for the Académle Française is to be considered to have resigned. Each member is to receive 6000 francs a year provided he respocts the rules of the Academy. A prize of 5000 francs is to be given each year to the author of the best work of history, novel, aesthetics, erudition, or even best collection of short stories. No aristocrat, political man, or poet is to be eligible. In conclusion, he directs that a complete manuscript of the Journal de Goncourt be placed in the Bibliothoque Nationale, and failing this, he asks his life-long friend M. Alphonse Daudet to securely preserve the manu- scripts.

MANNING OF THE NAVY. Lord Charles Beresford delivered an address to the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on Monday after- noon on the "Manning of the Navy; Our Dangerous Position." His lordship reiterated the statement he bad made on previous occasions on the position of the navy, and advocated the formation of an efficient naval reserve, the total cost of which, he said, would be £ 1,440,000, as against EI,964,000 now spent on the army reserve.

ROYAL MANNERS. The children of Queen Victoria were most care- fully trained in manners. The Queen and her hus- band, Prince Albert, meant that their children ihould deserve to have it said of them that they bad the manners of Princes and Priricerres. Once the Princess at a military review was coquetting with some officers of the escort, and took no notice of the warning looks of the Queen. Finally she dangled her handkerchief over the carriage and dropped it intentionally. There was a rush of young officers to pick it up, but the Queen bade them desist, and, turning to the Princess, said in a stern voice, I- Now pick up your handkerchief yourself." There was no help for it the young Princess, with flaming cheeks and a saucy toss of the head, did as she was told. Another time it was "Princie who received a wholesome lesson. He was riding in company with hie father, and for once forgot his usual politeness and neglected to acknowledge the salute of a paBser-tar. Prince Albert, observing it, caid, My son, go back and return that man's bow," aid he had to do it.

THE despatch sent by the Ambassadors of the six great Powers at Constantinople to the Consuls at Kanea is to the effect that the Cretans must be con- tent with the Halepa Convention and the concessions granted by the Porte. FROM Karlsruhe comes the report that the Grand Duke Frederick of Baden will be proclaimed King on September 9. Miss BOOTH-TUCKER has been knocked down by a bicycle in New Jersey, and has sustained serious injuries. Two boys were charged on Monday at Crovdon with stealing a penny's worth of plums from the vicar's gardens, and were remanded. Li HUNG CHAKG will occupy 14 and 15, Carlton House-terrace, during his London visit. His first secretary has been interviewed in Paris by the editor of Galigwufs Messenger. MR. JOHN MURRAY KINNKDV, residing at Man- chester, obtained a divorce from his wife, who was said to have eloped with the co-respondent, Major H. J. Fergusson, a retired army officer. AT the Central Criminal Court, which opened on Monday for the trial of 100 prisoners, one accused person objected to be tried by the Recorder, who said be would ask the learned judge fiom the High Court to hear the case. MRS. fuRY ALICK ELLBK MtuJtR, a lady of inde- pendent means, residing at. Ealing, was on Monday charged on a warrant with threatening Mr. Walter T. Warne Brown, living in the memo district, and 80ant remarkable allegations were- onae before the lady WIWo bound to keep the peaee. "v' '+nv.

WINCHESTER GAOL THE SCENE OP A TRIPLE EXECUTION. Private Samuel Edward Smith, 4th King's Royal Rifles, convicted of the murder of Corporal Robert Payne, of the same regiment; Philip Matthews, coachman, sentenced to death for killing his daughter, Elsie Gertrude, aged six; and Faederick Burden, Southampton, labourer, condemned for murdering his sweetheart, Angelina Faithful, were all three hanged at Winchester Gaol at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning. Billington and Wilkinson were the executioners. The Press were admitted to the gaol. In the case of Matthews, the convict, though already a married man, had arranged to marry a young woman named Malony. It was stated that he found the child a burden upon him, and that he strangled her whilst she was asleep in his arms. e case of Frederick Burden he had quarrelled fflui tne woman Angelina Faithful, with whom he lived at Portwood. They were both under the in- fluence of drink, and in the morning the woman -ray found dead in bed with her throat cut and holding a razor in her hand. Medical evidence was to the., effect that she could not, have committed suicide, and in the defence it was urged that she bad been mur- dered by some other men who had visited her. In the case of Private Smith it was stated that he had long cherished ill-feeling against Cotporal Payne, »nd killed him in revenge. A minute before eight the men were brought from their cells, and the procession to the scaffold was formed. All three appeared totally unconcerned as they walked on to the trap, and Matthews politely bowed to the warders. Billington and his assistant quickly completed the final arrangements, and when the bolt was drawn the men went down without a quiver of the rope. All information as to how the three doomed men passed the night was refused to the Prerskpresenta- tives.

THE LOST LINER. MR. MARQCARDTS STORY. The inquiry into the Drummond Castle disaster was resumed on Monday. The sole surviving passenger of the ill-starred vessel, Mr. Charles Marquardt, was put into the box—a gentlemanly, quiet spoken man, with close cropped black hair, and clean-shaven, rather full face. His story of the disaster was that be was in the smoking- room at about 10.30 on the night of the fatal June 16, when he felt a slight concussion, no more than might be made by a river steamer drawing up to a pier. Somebody said, That's a collision," and witness ran on deck and went, forward near the chart room. He noticed the ship was settling down by the head, and went below to put on his life- belt, of which there were two in his cabin. He did not understand the life-belt, but arranged it to the best of his ability, and went up on deck again. There he sat upon the rail till he was washed overboard. Just before this happened someone asked him for the other life-belt in his cabin. He caught hold of a spar when he found himself in the water, and after- wards drifted against the fourth officer, Mr. Ellitr, who was clinging to a grating. Together they con- trived a kind of raft, which afterwards broke up, and the unhappy men were washed apart. Witness was picked up about 12.30. The question of the entertainment was again broached by Mr. Bailache. Mr. Marquardt's testi- mony was to the effect that none of the officers were present; the captain he saw for a few minutes, when he acknowledged a vote of thanks moved by one of the passengers. Captain Pierce bad refused to become chairman of the committee formed among the passengers for the promotion of entertainments on board. They were having tableaux vivants on the night of the disaster. In reply to Mr. Aspinall, the witness said that the officers of the ship were unim- peachable as regards attention to duty. William Godbolt, able-bodied seaman, the third snrvivor, did not add materially to the evidence given already by Mr. Marquardt and Wood, the quarter- master. He was cross-examined with regard to the boats, and described how five passengers^-two men, two women, and a child-got into his boat and re- fused to leave it, thus making it difficult to be launched. Dr. Raikes put in a record showing that during the past 21 years .56 vessels had met with sasualties more or less serious on or near the spot where the disaster of June 16 happened. Mr. Wisely, who went with Mr. Merrilees to Molene, having described the finding of the lifeboat, Captain Howson (recalled by Mr. Bailache) declared that Captain Pierce's transference to the Courland from the Doune Castle after the miehap to the latter could not be regarded in the light of a censure, or species of degradation.

QUEEN VICTORIA TO ARBITRATE. Qfleen Victoria has agreed to act as arbitrator between Chili and the Argentine Republic in connec- tion with the frontier disputes between those coun- tries. All questions therefore in, these matters which are not agreed upon between the Governments con* eerned will be submitted to her Majesty for arbitra. tion.

THE VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY. The members of the United States Commission appointed to investigate the Venezuela boundary question are diligently pursuing their labours, and no indication has yet been given as to when these are likely to be concluded. A summary of the case for Venezuela, drawn up by counsel, has been submitted to the Commission. This first part will be followed by two others going more fully into the subject.

THE LANDRAIL COURT-3IARTIAL. A Court-martial which has been sitting at Por, s- mouth for the trial of Commander R. E. Berkeley and Lieutenant Pearson, of the gunboat Landrail, on a charge of having negligently or by default hazarded the vessel on the morning of the 11th inst., when she collided with and sank the four-masted merchant vessel Siren, was concluded on Monday. Commander Berkeley was acquitted, but the Court found the charge against Lieutenant Pearson fully proved, and sentenced him to lose 18 months' senioritv and'lo be severely reprimanded.

Tin: Admiralty are at last alout to take up the training of p'geons for messages at sea, which has hitherto received no official recognition. Pigeons have been traiued at the Royal Naval Barracks, Devon port, but solely at the expense of officers. There are GO efficient birds covering the ground •■■est of Plymouth. The greatest distance )ettravereed has been from the Woif Rock 75 miles away. It is now proposed to utilise torpedo-boats for the further training of pigeons. The speed of some of them is over -10 miles an hour. They are carried fcr iha cruiser; of both the French and American navies. TEN years ago the railways of extenaea over 22,000 verets. Towards the end of lust year the total length amounted to 34,000 versts. Since then 736 verets had been opened for tfaffic, and 2000 versts are being laid down by the Government, besides 5000 versts of Siberian railway and 3723 verstg of private lines. Authorised projected lines amount to another 2000 versts. The increase of r.ew lines has been accompanied by an increase (,f activity on the old. Passenger traffic especially has developed with accele- rated rapidity year by year. LORD TWEEDDALK, who has succeeded Sir John Pender as chairman of the Eastern Telegraph Com- pany, has long been connected with that and other companies. He spends a much greater portion of his time in the City than he does in the West-end, or at hie beautiful place, Yester, in Haddingtonshire. Lord Tweeddale is the third son of the eighth marquis, and never expected to succeed to the title but hot!: hip elder brothers, although married, died childless. For many years Lord William Hay was in the Bengal Civil Service he then entered Parliament as member for Taunton, and then for his own county of Had- dington, which he continued to represent until he succeeded his brother in the title in 1878. In 1*81 Lord Tweeddale was made a Barou cf the United Kingdom. TUB Due de Pomar, whose engagement to a French widow is announced, was at one time well known in London, when he was Count Pomar. He is the only child of the late Lady Caithness by her first marriage. Soon after her second marriage Ix)rd and Lady Caithness took a house in Portland- place, and entertained a great, deal. Count Pomar wrote a society novel, entitled "Fashion and Passion, bold,ng up some great London ladies to ridicule, and the book gave much offence in many qu ter--R- After its publication the author was not received with open arms in society, and for the last 20 years be has resided in Paris and Nice with his mother, Lady Caithness, who died a short time ago. The Due de Pomar is verv rich.