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r WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. 'J;-
r WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. 'J; IULLER DRIVEN BACK FROM THE TUGELA. HEAVY CASUALTIES. WRD ROBERTS TO TAKE CHIEF COMMAND, KITCHENER GOING OUT. SAD HIGHLANDER LOSSES. ENERGETIC GOVERNMENT ACTION. BULLER STOPPED AT THE TUGELA, LOSING ELEVEN GUNS. General Buller began his advance on the morning of the 15th inst. from Chieveley on the Boer positions near Colenso, and ina despatch dated the same night he had to report that he had sustained a serious reverse. He states that there are two fordable places on the Tugela, about two miles apart, and his design was that General Hart's Brigade should attack on the left and General Hildyard on the right, while General Lyttelton, with a central brigade, should be prepared to give support to either. Early in the day General Buller saw that General Hart would not be able to force a passage and directed him to withdraw, but in the meantime he had attacked with great gallantry, and his leading battalion, the Connaught Rangers, suffered severely. General Buller then ordered General Hildyard to attack, which he did, and his force occupied Colenso Station and the adjoining houses. But two batteries of artillery which had advanced close to the river bank were suddenly overwhelmed by the fire of the enemy at close range. Most of the horses were killed, and many of the gunners wounded, and after a desperate attempt to bring off the guns had failed, General Buller would not per- mit another to be made, and withdrew his forces to Chieveley Gamp, the retirement being effected in good order. Eleven guns in all were lost, and the General feared that the list of casualties would be heavy. METHUEN ON THE MODDER. The Times special correspondent at Modder River, telegraphing on Wednesday of last week, said the troops remained in position, rendering invest- ment impossible. Great activity is reported among the Boers, who are moving their Haggons from Magersfontein towards Jacobs- dal, probably to obtain supplies. Their present position is almost waterless. The Times correspon- dent gives some further details about the Magersfon- tein engagement. He says the casualties were almost confined to the early morning and the latter part of the afternoon of Monday week. Otherwise the I engagement resembled that of Modder River, being a continuous shelling of the enemy, who only replied when a movement among the troops from under cover eave them a target. The enemy were entirely cleared from the upper intrenchments. Their loss in mounted infantry was severe. The heavy loss suf- fered in the onset of the Highland Brigade is un- doubtedly discouraging, but the day was marked by the superb pluck of the Gordons and the steadiness of the artillery. On the extreme right the Yorkshire Begiment was under heavy fire all the afternoon, and rtmained firm even after their ammunition failed. HOW GENERAL WAUCHOPE DIED. A despatch from Modder River says General Wauchope's body was found near a trench. He had been shot through the chest and in the thigh. A wounded Boer stated that the loss of the burghers had been terrible. The whole Scandinavian contin- gent had been destroyed. An estimate of the Boer losses, based on information from wounded and prisoners, places them at over 700. The prisoners Maid that the word was passed along the Boer lines to prepare for retreat at nightfall. THE STORMBERG BATTLE. A Sterkstrom telegram reports that, according to Boer accounts, their force at Stermberg was only 800 strong, and that they were surprised at the I British retreat. If the British had been half an hour earlier the Boers wonld have been taken by sur- prise. NEW COMMANDER OF THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE. General Tucker and Colonel Hector Macdonald have been ordered from India to South Africa. The fetter is to succed General Wanchope in. the com- mand of the Highland Brigade. CASUALTIES ON THE TUGELA, 1097. General Buller sent to the War Office for publica- tion early on Sunday morning a first list of the casualties sustained in the engagement on the Tugela, from which it appears that 82 officers and men were killed, 667 of all ranks were wounded, and S48 missing—presumably prisoners-making a total of 1097. MAGERSFONTEIN LOSS, 963. The War Office issued on Saturday a farther list of casualties at Magersfontein, including those of the Highland Brigade. The total list in killed and wounded in this engagement was 963. Of the Black Watch 42 of the rank and file were killed, 182 wounded, and 111 are missing. RECONNAISSANCE ON THE MODDER. Under Lord Methuen's direction a strond recon- naissance in force was made on that day by the 9th Brigade, supported by artillery, which shelled the Boers' position and put one gun out of aetion. The force returned to camp without loss. SKIRMISHING NEAR NAAUWPOORT. Naauwpoort telegrams describe some active skir- misthing which took place on Thursday of last week between our forces in that neighbourhood and the aoemy, and in which the British artillery rendered reel lent service. DISLOYAL CAPE DUTCH. Reports from various quarters indicate that in the northern districts of Cape Colony the Dutch popula- tion are showing an increased tendency to disloyalty, and in sbme places are joining the Boers in large numbers. The natives, both in the colony and in Basuioland, are also becoming more restless. COURAGEOUS MAFEKING. Interesting despatches from the Times corre- spondent at Mafeking record events there from the 1*t to the 6th December, and show that the garrison are maintaining their activity and courage. On the 6th a very heavy rainfall did a good deal of damage to the earthworks of the defences but this was promply repaired. A Bulawayo telegram says that news from Mafeking is to the effect that the enemy have been obliged to evacuate some of their works mear the town, and that their losses from the rifle- Art of the garrison have been considerable. NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF: LORD ROBERT'S TO GO OUT. LORD KITCHENER CIIIW OF STAT*. A meeting of Cabinet Ministers was held at the Foreign Office on Saturday afternoon in London, and on Sunday night it was announced that, as the cam- Gign in Natal is, in the opinion of the Government, :ely to require the presence and undivided attention of Sir Red-rers Buller, it has been decided to send Field-Marshal Lord Roberts to the Cape as Com- mander-in-Chief in South Africa, with Lord Kit- dbener as his Chief of the Staff. On Sunday the War Office issued an announcement that, acting on tbe advice of the military authorities, the Govern- ment have approved of the following measures: Aff the remaining portion ef the Army Reserve, in- cluding Section D, will be called up. ^The Seventh Plrision, which is being mobilised, will proceed to Boath Africa without delay, as well as reinforcements of artillery, including a Howitzer brigade. The Commander-in-Chief in South Africa has been Mthorised to continue to raise at his discretion fecal moanted corps, and it is intended to send ant as well a considerable mounted force from home. Nine battalions of Militia, in addition to the two battalions which have already volunteered for service at Malta and one for service in the Channel Islands, will be allowed to folunteer for service out of the United Kingdom. and an equivalent additional number of militia fcatfcalioos will be embodied for service at home. A Strong force of volunteers, selected from yeomanry fegiments, will be tonned for service in South Africa. Arrangements are being made, and will shortly be announced, for the employment in South Africa of a strong contingent of car^Uy-selected volunteers. She patriotic offers which being received from the colonies will, 80 far as possible, be accepted, pre- ference being given to offers of mo«^d conitngents. fERIOUS REVERSE TO GENERAL BULLER'8 FORCE. The following telegram from Genrat Ber em issued by the War Office early on the morning V Saturday last: « CHIEVELEY CAMP, December I regret to report serious reverse. I moved, strength from camp near Chieveley this morning four a.m. There are two fordable places in JTugela, and it was my intention to force a pass through at one of them. They are about two m¡}eI apart, and my intention was to force one or the Other with one brigade, supported by a central brigade. General Hart was to attack the left drift, Qeneral Hildyard the right road, and General Xyttslton in the centre to support either. Early in (the day I saw that General Hart would not be able to force a passage, and directed him to withdraw. He had, however, attacked with great gallantry, and -leadins battalion, the Connaught Rangers, I fear, Mgered a great deal. Colonel Brooke was severely wounded. I then ordered General Hildyard-to advance, which he did, and his leading regiment, the East Surrey, occupied Colenso Station and the houses near the bridge. At that moment I heard that the whole of the artillery I had sent back to that attack —namely, the 14th and 66th Field Batteries and six naval 12-pounder quick-firing guns, the whole under Colonel Long, R.A.—were out of action, as it appears that Colonel Long, in his desire to be within effective range-advanced close to the river. It proved to be full of the enemy, who suddenly opened a galling Sre at close range, killing all their horses, and the gunners were compelled to stand to their funs. Some of the waggon teams got shelter for troops in a donga, and desperate efforts were made to bring out the field guns, but the fire was too severe, and only two were saved by Captain Schofield and some drivers whose names I will furnish. Another most gallant attempt with three teams was made by an officer whose name I will obtain. Of the 18 horses 13 were killed, and as several of the drivers were wounc'ed I would not allow another attempt. As it seemed they would be a shell mark, sacrificing loss of life to gallant attempt to force passage unsupported by artillery, I directed the troops to withdraw, which they did in good order. Throughout the day a considerable force of the enemy wag pressing on my right flank, but was kept back by the mounted men under Lord Dundonald and part of General Barton's Brigade. The day was intensely hot and most trying to the troops, whose conduct was excellent. We have abandoned 10 guns and lost by shell fire one. The losses in General Hart's Brigade are, I fear, heavy, though the proportion of severely wounded is, I hope, not large. The 14th and 66th Field Batteries also suffered severe losses. We have retired to our camp at Chieveley. THE QUEEN POSTPONES HER OSBORNE VISIT. The Queen, who was to have left Windsor on Monday or Tuesday for Osborne, has postponed her departure till after Christmas, in consequence of the gravity of the South African situation. Her Majesty desires to be near London under the circumstances. This will be the first time for many years that her Majesty has not spent Christmas tide at Osborne. LORD ROBERTS'S BEREAVEMENT. Lord Roberts goes out to the Cape as Commander- in-Chief in South Africa, with Lord Kitchener as Chief of his Staff, as the campaign in Natal is, in the opinion of her Majesty's Government, likely to require the presence and undivided attention of Sir itedvers Buller." It is a tragic, coincidence that Lord Roberts should receive this command from the Government at the same time that he heard of the death of his only surviving son, Captain Frederick Uoberts, of the King's Royal Rifles, who was mortally wounded in gallantly trying to save the guns at the TlIgela River. METHUEN HAMMERING AWAY. Lord Methuen, who is now able to ride, directed personally the successful reconnaissance on Friday morning of last week under General Pole-Carew, near the Modder River. He has evidently resumed the process of hammering away at the enemy and detaining him where he is. A force seems to be moving down from Jacobsdal to try to cut his com- munication. LOCAL CORPS TO BE RAISED AT THE CAPE.—VOLUNTEERS TO BE SENT. The following announcements were issued on Sun- day night by the War Office: Acting on the advice of the Military Autho- rities, her Majesty's Government have approved of the following measures: All the remaining portions of the Army Reserve, including Section D, will be called up. The Seventh Division, which is being mobilised, will proceed to South Africa without delay, as weli as reinforcements of Artillery, including a Howitzer Brigade. The Commander-in-Chief, South Africa, baa been authorised to continue to raise at his discretion local mounted corps, and it is intended to send out as well a considerable mounted force from home. Nine battalions of militia, in addition to the two battalions which have already volunteered for ser- vice at Malta, and one for service in the Channel Islands, will be allowed to volunteer for service out of the United Kingdom, and an equivalent additional number of militia battalions will be embodied for service at home. A strong force of volunteers selected from yeomanry regiments will be formed for service in South Africa. Arrangements are being made and will shortly be announced for the employment in South Africa of a strong contingent of carefully-selected volunteers. "The patriotic offers which are being received from the colonies will, so far as possible, be accepted, preference being given to offers of mounted contingents." A DASTARDLY TRICK. The War Office on Sunday night published the following telegram: From General, Cape Town, to Secretary of State for War. CAPB TOWN, December 17, 4.40 p.m. Lord Methuen reports as follows Lieutenant H. A. Chandos-Pole, 2nd Coldsteream Guards, was taken prisoner on December 14, when going to meet a flag of trace. He was waving his handkerchief in response, and was unarmed. DEFENCE OF MAFEKING. The following telegram has been received at the Colonial Office from Sir A. Milner: Following telegram has been received from Baden- Powell December 4. Received your despatches of November 28. All well here. Yesterday morning we again succeeded in forcing enemy to evacuate strong and commanding fortifica- tions to north-west of town by our plan of advancing military works. We continually push Boers back, alid are now pushing towards their main siege battery. Authentic information shows that Boers have fairly large daily loss of life from rifle fire, while our casualties are small. Snyman detains Lady Sarah Wilson a prisoner of war, and offers to exchange her for Viljoen, a pri- soner here. I have, however, refused, offering instead Boer woman, and pointing out that, as a matter of course, we returned the 28 women and children who were taken at Sekwanis in the fight on the 26th. The Boer forces have now been reduced to about 2000 men, with one siege gun and four field guns, under command of Snyman. THE CROCODILE STOPS PLUMER. Colonel Plumer's flying column has been stopped in its advance southward by the Crocodile River, which is flooded. The Boers have retired well into the interior of the Transvaal. BADEN-POWELL'S ADVICE. A Boer despatch from Mafeking says: An attack has been made on a small British fort with good results. The fort was demolished. Heavy cannon firing is proceeding. Colonel Baden-Powell has sent the Boers a notice advising them to lay down their arms and return to their several homes, adding that 'protection will be given them as soon as England has taken over the Transvaal." MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL FRENCH. The following despatch was issued on Sunday night by the War Office: From General, Cape Town, to Secretary of State for War: CAPE TowN, December 17, 4.40 p.m. December 17.—Gatacre removed troops and stores to Sterkstroom from Putter's KraaL French established headquarters at Arundel. Van der Merwe, with commando, reported to be moving south from JacobsdaL THE QUEEN AND THE MAINE. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught visited the West India Dock on Saturday, and presented to the American hospital ship Maine the Union Jack given to the vessel by the Queen. A distinguished company was present. The Duke said the flag was a mark of her Majesty's appreciation of the charity which a large number of American ladies and gentlemen had shown towards soldiers of their own kin, speaking their own language, who were now fighting gallantly in South Africa. Never before had a ship sailed under the combined flags of the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes, and it marked, he hoped, the generosity and affection which the two countries felt for each other. On behalf of the committee, Lady Randolph Churchill returned thanks. KR. WINSTON CHURCHILL. The Morning Post is indebted to the courtesy of Renter's Telegram Company (Limited) for copies of the following telegrams concerning its war corre- spondent, Mr. Winston Spencer Churchill: LOUBWICO MAKQUES, December 13. ChurchiU missing from School. Search being instituted. LOCMWCO MARQUSS, December 16.—It is reported that Mr. Winston Spencer Churchill, the correspon- dent of the Morning Post, who escaped from Pre- tona. hasbeen capered at WaterfalboTen. Mr. Winston Churchill addressed a letter imme- diately before his escape to tt* Transvaal War Office, declaring that as a correspondent he considered his detention unjustifiable as prisoner of war. Mr. Churchill expressed the higliest appreciation of the treatment he had received at the hands of his detainers. Other British military prteoners wh0 we in the custody of the Transvaal authorities alee express their admiration of the humane and chival< taus character of the treatment meted out to them' by the Doer forces. Though Mr. Winston Churchill's escape wM, sleveriy executed there is but little chance of his being able to cross the borda*. < THE BRITISH LOSSES. Ono thousand and ninety-seven officers and men of General Buller's army are reported killed, wounded, or missing as the result of his reverse on Tugela. If we except the disaster of October 30 at Ladysmith, when, besides the better part of two in- fantry battalions captured at Nicholson's Nek, 300 men were killed and wounded, no battle of the present campaign has furnished so large a total of casualties. Yet while for other reasons the check at Colenso overshadows in seriousness any we had hitherto ex- perienced, our losses in men will upon examination be found less formidable than the total figures would at first appear to show. Lord Methuen's casualties at Magersfontein, as at first telegraphed, num- bered 833 of all ranks. He had 14 officers killed, including General Wauchope, Colonel Coode, Colonel Goff, Colonel Downman, and Major the Marquis of Wincheetsr. Sir Redvers Buller has only seven officers killed, not one being above the rank of captain. The totals of casualties among officers in the two battles are not far from equal. Forty- eight were wounded at Magersfontein, and 38 on the Tugela at Colenso, where, however, 18 officers are reported to have been made psisoners or to be missing, while in the Magersfontein list only five come under this category. Again, the number of non-commissioned officers and men actually killed and wounded in the more recent of the two engagements is smaller than in the former, the figures as first given being: Magersfon- tein, 764; Colenso, 742. What makes General Buller's total so high is the item of 348 men missing, the larger proportion presumably prisoners. II; is to be remarked that the number of men killed (75) is hardly ten per cent. of the number hit. It is stat.ed .that the total British losses in the war as far as known on Sunday night reached the large total of 7630 officers and men killed, wounded, and missing, of whom, however, only 5777 have up to the present been identified with their respective regiments. The regimental lists show that 728 officers and men have fallen in death or died subsequently from their wounds 2784 men have been wounded. and 2265 have been lost or taken prisoners. The above figures take no occount of men who have died from natural causes. EXPULSION OF A RABBI FROM THE TRANSVAAL. Dr. Hertz, the Rabbi of Johannesburg, has arrived at Lorenzo Marques, having been expelled by the Transvaal authorities on the ground that he was an enemy of the States. He says that he was called upon to retract the remarks on Jewish and Catholic disabilities which he made in his speech at the Uitlanders' meeting in the Wanderers' Hall last July, and to publicly apologise to the Government. He, however, refused to comply with the demand. LORD ROBERTS'S SON'S DEATH. On Sunday the official intimation was received of the death of Lieutenant the Hon. F. H. S. Roberts, only son of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar. This young officer was shot in the abdomen in the battle of Colenso, and although the bullet was ex- tracted by Sir William M'Cormac, hope of recovery, usually slender in such cases, was practically non- existent. News was received of his very grave condi- tion, and on Sunday evening intelligence of his death was transmitted to the Government, occasioning the keenest regret. Lieutenant Roberts, who belonged to the King's Royal Rifle Corps, left London a few weeks ago for the front. A representative of the Press Association saw him off from Waterloo for Southampton, when he was accompanied by his distinguished father and Lady Roberts, who were both obviously proud of their smart soldier son. He was within a few weeks of 28 years of age, and was A.D.C. to his father, the Commander-in-Chief in Ireland. He served with the Waziristan expedition in 1894-5, for which he was mentioned in despatches, and again with the Chitral relief force in 1895. An ex-officer who knew Lieutenant Roberts, speak- ing last night, said: He was not only a popular officer, but in my opinion one of the smartest and most plucky of those selected for service in South Africa. There are few of our casualties which will occasion more widespread grief, and the sympathy of the entire army will go out to Lord Roberts in this terrible bereavement." DUCHESS OF PORTLAND'S BROTHER DEAD. A private telegram has been received in X>ondon from South Africa announcing the death of Lieu- teanant H. Dallas Yorke, of the 10th Hussars, from typhoid fever on Saturday morning. Lieutenant Dallas Yorke was the only brother of the Duchess of Portland. The 10th Hussars are at present at Naauwpoort. THE TUGELA FIGHT. The correspondent of the Cape Argus with General Buller's force, describing the battle on the Tugela, says that at four o'clock on the morning of the 15th rhe whole force advanced on the Tugela. General Hart was on the left, General Hildyard, with the naval guns, in the centre, and General Barton advanced on the right on Colenso. The naval guns shelled Fort Wyllie, above Colenso, and the whole line of Boer intrenchments under Grobler's Kloof across the river, forcing the enemy to disclose his positions. A heavy artillery duel followed. General Hart was forced to retire with considerable casualties, but the retirement was effected in good order. Simultaneously General Barton advanced on Colenso across the level, covered by artillery, ''a*nd took the village at the point of the bayonet under a raking fire. Fort Wyllie was silenced, but a gallant effort to drive the Boers out of an impregnable intrenched position on the bank of the Tugela by the cavalry on the right flank was unsuccessful, the enemy's artillery and accurate Maxim and Norden- felt fire, which commanded the plain before Colenso, doing much damage. The later part of the fight concentrated mainly on the right wing, the Boers shelling from the extreme right. Our two forces re- treated and returned to camp. All the wounded were removed before six o'clock by the Colonial Volunteer ambulance. The troops are in excellent spirits. There would appear (the Times explains) to have been some contusion in the mind of the correspon- dent of the Argus with regard to the position of the three British brigadiers. It will be remembered that in his despatch of the 15th inst. General Buller stated that General Hart was on the left, General Lyttelton in the centre, and General Hildyard on the right, and that troops under the last-named officer occupied Colenso Station and some houses. HART'S BRIGADE OVER THE RIVER. The Telegraph war correspondent's story of the battle of the Tugela River, though much cut down by the Press censor, indicates very clearly the dispo- sition of the British force. He states that General Hart's Brigade, which suffered so seriously, actually forded the river. ENEMY CUNNINGLY ENTRENCHED. The enemy, who were most cunningly entrenched in every direction on the Tugela (says the Chronicle special correspondent) reserved their fire for a time, and then raked our unprotected force. The officers and men, who behaved with all the historic gallantry of the British Army, were finally forced to gradually retire, which they did in orderly fashion. I COLONIAL PATRIOTISM. The news of the reverse of the Tugela has been, both in Canada and Australia, received with calm- ness and patriotic determination to give aU the help that is needed to enable the Imperial Government to achieve the task it has undertaken. The Australian colonies are joining to send out a federal con- tingent of 1000 mounted troops, who will sail, it is expected, before January 10. A battery of artillery is also offered by New South Wales, and ts ready to start at once. The acceptance by the Imperial authorities of the offer of a second Canadian contingent has been received throughout the Dominion with great enthusiasm. A Cabinet meeting was held on Monday in Ottawa to determine the composition of the force, which will probably consist of mounted police for scouting end detachments of cavalry and artillery from the Regulars. CONTINENTAL OPINION. The Continental Press generally admits the pro- priety of the decision of the British Government to prosecute the war unflinchingly, and recognises the dignity and steadfastness of the attitude assumed by the nation. LORD ROBERTS AND GENERAL BULLER. A News Agency says that there appears in some quarters an inclination to interpret the appointment of Lord Roberts to the command in South Africa as an outcome of General Bnller's reverse, and a reflec- tion on that officer's conduct of the campaign. The agency has high authority for stating that this idea is entirely erroneous, and that the state- ment of the Government that General Buller's sole attention is required in Natal, and that the necessity has arisen for appointing a com- mander-in-chief of the whole of the forces in South Africa, is a perfectly frank and full one. Sir Redvers Buller is in no way superseded in his com- mand. Exactly the same considerations apply in this instance as have operated in former stages. While the force in Natal was small a major-general held command (General Symons), but as soon as the number of troops exceeded that with which a major-general is usually entrusted, a lieutenant- I general (Sir George White) took supreme com- | mand. Then came a further increase of numbers, and a "full general (Sir "Redvers Biiller) was sent out. Neither of these appoir,tmen.ts'wi}n. any sense 'a censure on the-previous holder of the position. It was intimated when General Buller was appointed that in the unlikely event of large increases of force an officer of yet higher rank might have to be em- ployed. Had General Boiler now been superseded by an officer of his own rank, censure might reasonably have been understood, but the plain fact is that the decision to- send out more men has raised the force to a strength at which it is thought desirable to "place a higher officer in command. Hence the selection of 'Field- Marshal Lord Roberts. If General JJullerJ Lord Methuen, and other general officers are tb have their hands full locally, it is pointed out that it'will be obviously desirable to have somebody acting as a central authority with charge of the entire campaign. Lord Roberts, the new Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, and Lieutenant General Kelly- Kenny, with their respective staffs, leave Southampton for the Cape on Saturday in the Dunottar Castle. Lord Kitchener is hurrying home from Omdurman via Cairo, and will quickly follow his chief. It is officially announced that the Reservists of all arms now remaining in the First Division of the First Class Army Reserve, and such Reservists of the Second Division as may receive notice to join, will be called out on permanent service at an early date. Two additional transports, the P. and O. steamer Asgaye and the Union liner Goorkha, have been chartered by the Government for the conveyance of troops to South Africa. The Transvaal War Fund at the London Mansion House amounted on Monday evening to £ 427,000. VOLUNTEER ENTHUSIASM. The intimation that the Government are consider- ing the desirability of employing a force of selected yeomanry and volunteers for services in South Africa and the inquiries which are being made by the War Office as to the willingness of members of these bodies to serve are meeting with a most patriotic and gratifying response. In London and in all parts of the country members of volunteer corps are eagerly offering their services, and in many cases their com- manders have already been able to intimate that almost the whole strength of their battalions will be at the disposal of the War Office. The same spirit is being displayed by the yeomanry. CORRESPONDENT SHOT AFTER THE DISPLAY OF A FLAG OF TRUCE. The Morning Post has favoured us with the follow- ing extract: The following is an extract from a letter, dated Base Hospital, Wynberg, Cape Town, November 28, which we have received from our war correspondent, Mr. E. F. Knight, who was shot in the arm at the battle of Belmont, and has since bad the limb amputated I am dictating this to Surgeon R. Fox-Symons, who is doing his best to preserve my arm. It is very bad luck being wounded at the beginning of the cam- paign, and I shall be no good for some time; for the bullet, a Martini, perforated the top part of the arm, completely smashing the bone into numerous frag- ments, then leaving with an exit wound about the size of a fist. The triceps muscle at the back of the arm was torn in two. Yesterday the arm was operated on, some fragments of bone removed, the muscles joined up, and the writer is hopeful that amputation may be avoided, but it is too early to speak with any definite certainty. I was wounded towards the very end of the battle of Belmont—in fact, only ten minutes before the firing ceased. I was with a detachment of the Northampton Regiment on a ridge, from which our men were firing at a party of Boers occupying the summit of a small kopje. On our right other men were firing into them, so that they were caught in a trap, and must all have been killed or have had to surrender. They apparently chose to surrender, for a Boer hoisted a white flag. We ceased firing, and some men stood up, myself among them. At once several shots were fired from the kopje, and I, among others, was hit. The Tommys, then exasperated, at once killed off all the Boers. I was carried to Belmont Station." PRISONERS IN PRETORIA. According to information given to the Cape Times by a gentleman who has just left Pretoria after being under arrest as a spy, the Transvaal Government appears to be treating the prisoners fairly well, but provisions are apparently somewhat short, and prices of foodstuffs are consequently high. The prisoners are now being fed on the provisions which the Boers captured at Dundee after the evacuation of that plaf'e. They are guarded by some 80 Boers from the back veldt, in addition to a contingent of Germans, who have volunteered their services. They are detained inside the racecourse, and sleep in the sheds in the enclosure, but though these sheds are dry enough at present, they are quite exposed to the weather, and during the rainy season, which sets in in December, will probably he swamped out, so that the prospect in that respect is not particularly cheerful. The President pays a visit to the prisoners two or three times a week to see that everything is all right, for apparently the authorities are much concerned as to the possibilities of the prisoners making their escape. The guns from one of the neighbouring forts have been brought down and trained on the racecourse, and a searchlight front a kQpje in the vicinity is played on the racecourse after dark, whilst at the entrance to the enclosure a Maxim is mounted.
FIELD OF THE BETHLEHEM SHEPHERDS.
FIELD OF THE BETHLEHEM SHEPHERDS. A precipitous descent by a rugged, and crooked path eonduct.. from the church to the valley below, litre we meet with a s:nall well-cultivated plain. This is known as the Field of Boaz. It is quite pos- sible that it belonged to him. Further on is the Grottoofthe phephgrds. It is fitu^t^d)a,thet;iiidst of a group of olive trees. A tower formerly stood here. Since the year 670 A.D. tradition has it that this was the spot where While shepherds watch'd their flocks by night, Ail seated on the ground. The angelof the Lord came down, And glory shone around. j: The Empress Helena built a church here. Its re- mains still exist. Be this the precise spot or not, it was somewhere hereabout the watchful sliepherdfi were when they had "glad tidings of great joy" brought to them by the angelic iiie-en-er and here they beard the minstrelsy of angel voiceshymning in sweet rapture their joyous anthåclll". "Gloria in Excelcis." Happy shepherds they, thus. privileged alone among men to hear the heavenly song of the celestial choir t It was praise to God Most High for devising a loving plan for the redemption and re- covery of fallen and lost man. Throughout eternity will they joim in the hallelujahs of men fedeemed and saved, which will without ceasing be presented in adoring homage to the- Lamb Who has re- deemed us to God by His blood." To secure which He, the Almighty God, became, man, took man's nature, and was born in Bethlehem's manger. The good shepherds hastened from the valley below, up the steep hillside they mounted, and, having come to the cave belonging to the khan in the city, "they found Joseph and Mary, and the Babe lying in a manger." The good news they could not selfishly retain to themselves. They "made known the saying that was told them concerning this Child." They became tbe first Gospel preachers. It was in this locality the gentle, loving Ruth r gleaned, and met with the generous and thoughtful Boaz. He became her husband, and thus she was the ancestress of the promised Messiah. And over these fields and hills around oft roamfcd the valiant and youthful David as he tended his father's flock, and in defence thereof once slew a lion and a bear, which bold deeds gave him courage to do battle with the blaspheming Goliath. The prophet Samuel, too, was no stranger to this neigh- bourhood. From the roof of the native school at Bethlehem a grand and extensive view is obtained. We look down upon the vast plain where shepherds watched their flock and upon surrounding hills marked with ancient terraces once fruitful in vines and olives. Beyond uprises the Frank Mountain with Herod's vast building on its summit, and away to the east the towering range of Moab, with Kerak perched near the top and quite distinct to naked eye, as also were the clefts ill the mountain's sides and the valleys. Ere descending, a thought fills the mind: Why that lowly Birth we commemorate at Christmas ?" It was that all who are united by living faith to Him Who here was born may be exalted to everlasting glory. His infant cry was uttered, and later on His cry of agony, that we might in time cry aloud in joyous rapture and song of praise. And as Christ- mas season is one for presenting gifts, what better gift can we offer to the Father above Who gave to us His best, the Son of His love, than that He asks for ? I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies & living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Rom. xii. 1).-I?ev. Dr. Preston, in Quiver Christmas Number.
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THE largest stone ever quarried has been extracted from a granite ledge near Vinalhaven, Maine, U.S.A., to serve as one of the eight columns destined to support the great dome of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in New York. In the rough the stone measures 64ft. in length, and is Stft. thick and 7ft. wide, its weight being 310 tons. To tarn it into cylindrical form, a lathe that will cost more than 15.000dols. must he specially built.
CURRENT SPORT.'
CURRENT SPORT. The thaw did not prevent the executive of th" Littleport Skating Club from holding the race for the Challenge Cup on Saturday. There was some water on the ice, but a good course of about a half- mile was obtained. Nineteen professionals com- peted, the holder, J. Bates, of Leigh, Lancashire, being beaten in the second round by the ultimate winner. The four left in the final round were H. Lindahl, Redditch; T. Sutton, Upwell; G. T. Ward, Tydd Fenn, Wisbech; and Joseph Wells, of Iselham. The placings were as follows: Lindahl (5min. 13sec.), 1; Ward (5min. 22sec.), 2 Sutton (5min. 24 3-5sec.), 3; Wells (õmin.29..ec.), 4. Rugby football throughout the country was greatly interfered with by frost, and except in Wales there was little or no play, the matches having been ratched, and the partial thaw of Saturday coming too late to allow their re-arrangement. Of the few decided games, the most noteworthy was the defeat of Swansea by Llanelly, the first reverse experienced by the Welsh champions this season. It was an exciting game, and there was nothing in the victory which was undeserved. The tinplaters' team scored first, a goal being kicked, and then Swansea replied with an unconverted try. In the second half, Llanelly had a little the better of the play, and j Morgan Williams, who is chosen as a reserve three-quarter for the Welsh International side against England, added a try for them. The visitors could not reply, and their run of wins is thus broken. In England a non- English club, the London Scottish, is the only unbeaten first-class club, Cambridge Uni- versity, also a team of mixed nationality, being excepted. The Neath club, which ran Swansea fairly close a week earlier, was beaten by Aberavon by exactly the same margin, a circumstance which points to the great strength of the West Wales sides this year. Devonport Albion and Redruth met at the latter place, and a very rough game ensued, the referee having to order more than one man from the field, the result was a pointless draw, the home for- wards preventing Albion from getting their three- quarters at work. The roughness of play in West country matches has already occupied the attention of the Committee of the Unions of those counties, and these frequently recurring cases call attention to the necessity for severe and stringent penalties. Though the postponement of the great, natch at Birkenhead has necessitated the detH. of the choice of the English Fifteen, the Welsh Union, having got their trials over, have been able to publish their selection. It is (says an expert) an excellent team on paper. Bancroft is still given his place at full back, with Winfield, of Cardiff, who so pleased his critics on his appearance at Blackheath, as re- serve. Nothing better than these men could be wished for by the most patriotic Welshmen. Gwyn Nichols, who is said to be expected home from Australia on January 4, is the first choice for the three-quarter line, and, of course, if in any- thing like his form of last year, could not be passed over but it is very doubtful if he will play so soon after landing from his long voyage, if he actually does arrive as expected. In his absence the two Swansea centres, Rees and Davies will be together, with W. Jones, of Cardiff, as reserve. These men, with Llewellyn, the Llwynypia flier who roused the crowd to enthusiam by his fino dashing runs at Swansea last year, and Trew. the swift and clever scorer of the all-white fifteen on their wings, will form a strong three-quarter line; the reserves, Deere, of Mountain Ash, and Williams, of Llanelly, also having good reputation of someting more than local extent. At half; the well-tried plan of two men from the same club is resorted to, and this season Phillips, of New- port, hssreally as much claim on his own merits forhis cap as has his colleague, better known to English players, the old Leysian, G. Lloyd. The reserves are C. Escott., of Cardiff, and G. Jones, of Swansea, both brilliant, young players, whose honours "are most likely but deferred. In the forward ranks, where alone England appears to have the least hope of superiority, brilliant players in the loose, such as Dobson, of Cardiff, and Scrines, of Swansea, muke room for Thomas and Williams, men who are worthy rivals to Hellings and Brice for hard work and endurance. On the whole, it is a formidable side, and, unless last year's form was quite a mistake, the English Union will need to have its very best fifteen to reverse the verdict then recorded. In the First Division of the Association League on Saturday there was a very general upsetting of form, anticipations being realised in only two instances—at Sunderland and Nottingham. The best judges were certain that Sheffield United would not win at Sunderland, and that the best that could be hoped for was a draw. This turned out to be correct, a very fine and keenly contested game end- ing with a score of one goal each, both goals being a bit lucky. The Sheffielders are thus still unbeaten after playing 18 League matches. At Nottingham, the Forest elevon beat Liverpool by 1—0. In the other seven matches, things went curiously. Glossop brought off one of those surprises that one somehow half ex- perts when a leading club visits one of the least suc- cessful. Aston Villa have, during the last few seasons, been the victims of several of these surprises, and their defeat by Glossop (1—0) on Saturday was not the least interesting of the series. It was a capital effort on Glossop's part, weakened as they were through the absence of certain players; £ tidf having managed to score early in the game, it speaks volumes for what their defencs can do at a pinch that they should have been able to keep out Aston Villa's forwards for an hour and 20 minutes. This defeat of the champions enabled Sheffield United to1 increase their lead by a point, putting them five ahead of the Villa. Blackburn Rovers unexpectedly proved tdo good for Bury (3—2), by putting on a couple of goals just before play ceased, when Bury looked like winning. Everton and Derby County went down on their own grounds before Notts County (2—0)and Wol- verhampton Wanderers (2—0) respectively; Preston North End made an unlooked-for draw (1—1) with Burnley; Stoke, <tt home, could only draw (2—2) with Newcastle tJnited; and WestBromwich Albion, who were thought safe to win at home against Man- chester City, gave away their chances in front. of oal, the game ending in a pointless draw. The result of these various upsets was to put the clubs in the following order: Sheffield United, 30 points (18 games; Aston Villa, 25 (18); Sunderland, 20 (15); Wolverhampton, 19 (15); Stoke, 19 (17) Bury and Notts Forest, 18(15); Manchester, 16 (15); New- castle, 15 (15); West Bromwich, 15 (16) Burnley, 13 (16); Derby and Blackburn, 12 (14); Everton, 11 :15); Notts County, 11(17); Glossop, 10 (14); Liverpool, 10 (17); Preston, 8 (16). In the Second Division of the League, Sheffield Wednesday, like their fellow townsmen in the First Division, remain unbeaten. Walsall are their latest victims (2—0). Leicester Fosse have quite lost their luck lately, and are in danger of losing their chance of promotion to the First Division. They could only draw with New Brighton (2—2) on Saturday, and this result, coupled with Small Heath's win against Luton (3—0), causes them to fall below Small Heath to third place in the list. Grimsby's big win over Barnsley (8—1), Newton Heath's defeat of Middlesbrough (2—1), and the drawn games played by Bolton Wanderers and Burslem, caused the posi- tions of the first seven clubs to become very interest- ing, thus: Sheffield Wednesday, 22 (12); Small Heath, 22 (14); Leicester, 19 (13); Bolton, 18 (13); Newton Heath, 17 (13) Burslem, 17 (14); Grimsby, 15(11). Among other Association matches of note which were scratched by reason of the hard weather were Ealing f. London Caledonians, Clapton v. Watford, and West Norwood v. West Croydon, the latter a Surrey cup-tie replay. Three ties in the London Senior Cup Competition' were, however; got through :-Woodford, Ilford, and Lower Clapton Imperial winning with ease against Leyton (4—0), Townley Park (6—1), and London Welsh (4r—0), respectively but the only really important games in town were the two Southern League matches played at Millwall and Kensal-rise. Millwall, who a little while back beat Portsmouth on the latter's ground in a Southern Combination fixture, again had the best of the exchanges, winning bv two goals to one. The game was well contested, Ports- mouth being somewhat at a disadvant tge owing to the enforced absence of three of regular players. In the other match, Queen s Park B ingers finished up a highly satisfactory wet>k (which bad seen them qualify lor the competition proper for the Association Cup) by gaining a creditable win (3—0) against Bristol Rovers. Tottenham Hotspur had a very easy (6—1) win at Cowes but the other London club, Thames Ironworks, was quite outplayed at Southampton (3—1). Except for the fict that Beading met with an unexpected reverse at Brighton (4—2), the: provincial Southern League games ended much as was expected, leaving the position of the clubs as follows: Southampton, 21 points (13 games); Tottenham, 19 (11); Bristol City, 18 (15); Ports; mouth, 15 (10); Millwall, 15 (12); Reading and Swindon, 15 (13); Bedminster, 11 (10); Bristol Rovers and New Brompton, 10 (12); Gravesend, 10 (13); Thames Ironworks, 9 (9); Sheppey, 9 (11); Chatham, 9 (14); Queen's Park Rangers, 8 (10); Brighton and Cowes, 5 (13). A general committee meeting of the Amateur .Athletic Association was held in Manchester on Saturday. F. A. Ward's permanent suspension by the Southern Committee for an incorrect entry form for the Canning Tówn sports, on June 17, was con- I sidered, and decided that Ward's suspension shall terminate on March 1, 1900. Several clubs were t affiliated. H. Frost's appeal against his suspension was ruled out of order. C. Bennett's 1J mile record of 6min. 51sec. at Stamford Bridge, last June, was passed. The recommendations of the conference held between the A.A.A. and N.C.U., already pub- lished, were accepted. A sub-committee was appointed to deal with the question of sending an International team to Paris next year. The committee recommended to the general meeting that a grant of £100 be made to the War Relief Fund. It was reported that a loss of £5 had been incnrre-l on the Championship. The venue for the 10 Miles Championship, which takes place in the North, could not at present be fixed. Playing under Association rules on Monday, Tottenham Hotspurs beat Mr. A. R. Bourke'a Eleven, New Brompton beat Bedminster, Preston North End beat Liverpool, Blackburn Royers beat Middleton, Bury beat Manchester City, and Burnley beat Everton. Under Rugby rules Edinburgh Academicals beat Cambridge University, and Dublin University beat Edinburgh University.
THE DALSTON MURDER.
THE DALSTON MURDER. LOurSE MASSET SENTENCED TO DEATH. Louise Masset was, at the Central Criminal Court in London on Monday, found guilty of the murder of her illegitimate son at Dalston-junotion Station and was sentenced to death. • Mr. Justice Bruce, in summing up the case, observed that the jurymen were the judges of the facts, and with them alone rested the responsibility for their verdict. The finding of the clinker brick, the purchase of the shawl, and the discovery of some of the murdered child's clothes at Brighton, where Miss Masset went, were circumstances which called for the most careful attention. If Mrs. Rees, the attendant at London-bridge Station, was not mistaken, it showed that Miss Masset. was in London after the murder took place, and did not go to Brighton by the 4.2 p.m. train. Referring to her conduct after the discovery of the murder, his lordship said that un- doubtedly she had told falsehoods, about the taking of the child to France. She had given an explana- tion as to why she made those statements, but was it merely to account for the disappearance of the child in order that no inquiry would be made ? The Prisoner: The father in France would have asked questions about the child, and it would have been found out in that way. Mr. Justice Bruce, continuing, pointed out that no motive had been shown for the crime, but the jury had to judge of the conduct of the accused after the discovery of the murder and the identification of the body. One would have thought that, if innocent, the first thing she would have done would have been to go to the police and say she had handed the child over to the women'in order that the police might be put on their track. It was the duty of the Crown to establish the prisoner's guilt, not for her to prove her innocence. If, as men of the world, the jury came to the conclusion that the accused was guilty, they would say so by their ver- dict; but if they were satisfied that there existed a reasonable doubt the prisoner was entitled to an acquittal. A juror asked if Miss Masset could say why she had not called any evidence bearing on her visit to Brighton by the 4.2 p.m. train on the day of the murder and the visit to Mutton's restaurant there. Mr. Justice Bruce did not think the question' could be asked. He preferred that they (the jury) should return their verdict on the evidence as it stood. Another juror asked if there was any mark—a ticket or label—on the Gladstone bag belonging to the prisoner to show when it was deposited in the cloak-room at Brighton Station.; The Judge You should see the bag for yourselves, gentlemen. The jury retired to consider their verdict at ten minutes to five o'clock, and after a deliberation of half an hour returned into court. The Clerk of Arraigns: Have you agreed on your verdict, sentlemen ? The Foreman: We have. The Clerk of Arraigns: Do you find Louise Masset guilty or not guilty of the crime of wilful murder ? The Foreman—Guilty. The prisoner, on hearing, the verdict, appeared to be overcome with emotion, and sank down in the chair in the dock. She rallied, however, in a moment, and, ri$jng, broken voice, in reply to the usual question why sentence of death should not be passed, I am quite innocent of the charge, sir." Mr. Justice Bruce, assumiqg the black cap/parsed sentence of death, merely observing that he would not harrow the prisoner's feelings by making any observations on the verdict. The prisoner was asked whether she had anything to urge in stay of execution. She merely shook her head. She was then conducted from the dok By the female warders.. „ The jurors were exempted from future service for Six years. n' '.b..
J J ! t '' BURIED WITH MILITARY…
J J t BURIED WITH MILITARY HONOURS. In connection with the story of the British flag said to be buried at Pretoria, it is perhaps worth mentioning that in the middle of the last century it was no unusual occurrence for the tattered or wounded colours, as they were quaintly styled, to be interred. In a North Country paper of May 31, 1763. there is the following passage: "The old colours of the 25th regiment of foot. Lord George Lennox's (now the King's Own Borderers), quar- tered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, being much wounded in Germany, particularly at the glorious and ever- memorable battle of Minden, were buried with mili- tary honours."
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COLONEL POLK-CAREW, who distinguished himself at the crossing of Modder River, is the head of an old Cornish family, which has been settled at Antony for several centuries. His home is only a few miles dis- tant from the house of that other heroic Cornish- man, the late General Penn Symons. General Pole- Carew is a kinsman of Sir Redvers Buller. THE army death-rate is lower in Great Britain than in' any other country. In France it i* nearly six times as high as in this country. TIIE time required for a journey round the earth by a man walking day and night, without resting, would be 428 days an express train, 40 days; sound, at a medium temperature, 32! hours; a cannon-ball, 21f hours; light, a little over one- tenth of a second; and electricity passing over a copper wire a little under one-tenth of a second. AN invalided soldier from the Cape says it is not the case that they can get what they like in the hospital. Fruit, for instance, is never supplied by the authorities. THE questipn has been asked whether the fumes given put by an exploding lyddite shell have a fatal effect on human beings. Though ppippnous, they do not kill in the open air. VEGETARIANS who arp so strict that they do not care to wear an article of clothing into which any animal properties are introduced are catered for in the boot line by a London bootmaker, who is the inventor of a vegetarian shoe. For some years he he has been experimenting, and as the result he has produced a boot in the construction of which there is absolutely no paper or leather of any description. Not only this, but, according to his assertion, these wear one-fourth longer than leather shoes, and the upper material is always soft and never cracks. TISE ex-Empress Eugenie has sustained a heavy fosa in the death of her faithful friend and com- paniotjv MdmeLe Breton Bourbaki, who entered her service in 1867. She was in her second widow- hood when she became reader to the Empress, and accompanied her to the opening of the Suez Canal, and to Constantinople. while she was with her in her memorable flight to England just after she had lost a son at Metz. where he was serving as a cornet under his brother, General Bourbaki. For years she bad been blind, yet she accompanied the Empress, who leant on her arm and on a stick in visiting the Tuileries Gardens, once their daily walk. IT is estimated that there are 1,000,000 blind, people in the world, or one to every 1500 inhabitants. Reports show 23.000 blind persons in England, or 870 for each million inhabitants. Blind infants of less than five years, 166 for each million; between five and 15,288; between 20 and 25, 422; between 45 'and 60, 1625; and above 65 years, 7000 for each million. Russia and Egypt are the countries where the blind constitute the largest proportionate number of total population. SINCE the Queen of Holland has taken the reigns of government in her hands, she has become very regular in her habits. Like most Royal personages. the is an early riser, and breakfasts t seven o'clock with her mother. At nine State business is trans- acted. By eleven the Queen is out with her retinue riding in the neighbourhood of Apeldoorn; and luncheon is on the table at half-past one. The Queen reserves Mondays for audiences with her Ministers, and on other afternoons private audiences are granted. Dinner is served at half-past seven. GENERAL GATACRE is a man of spare and wiry physique, and is still in the early fifties. His demeanour is serious but courteous, and he is some- what stern. His indifference to his own personal surroundings is remarkable, and he will sleep in a ditch with perfect good nature, but he expects his officers to do the same thing with as little concern as himself. It was ha who organised and directed the plague relief works two years ago in Bombay, and the vigour and thoroughQess with which }ie did his work marked him out aa a notable man.
ART AND LITERATURE.
ART AND LITERATURE. SIR JAME3 LINTON, the artist, was educated at Barnes, which during his boyhood was only a tiny village. He remembers seeing cricketers on the village green in top-hats and peg-top trousers. At a very early age Linton determined that he would be an artist, and at the 1851 Exhibition his father pre- sented him with his first box of paints. IZAAK WALTON s immortal "Comoleat Angler" is this year's Christmas addition to the Thumb Library, printed on the famous Oxford India paper, and issued by the Oxford University Press as a specimen of what the printer's and binder's arts can achieve. This little book, vAich can easily be slipped into a lady's purse, is quu readable in even poor light, for the print is especially clear. The text followed is that of the 5th edition, and several collotypes illus- trate the letterpress. THOSE "Who-desire an agreeably fresh and uncon- ventional tale will Md it in In Royal Purple," by William Pigott (Cassell's). It is full of surprises and adventures, and the light veil of mystery is cleverly kept between the reader and the truth until the right moment comes to lift it. Very high praise must be given to the manner in which the story is told the conception of the plot is unhackneyed, and it is worked out with originality and resource. GRNERAL MAURICB, in an (article in the Nine- teenth Century, opportunity explains the reason of the name given to one of the guns just captured in the brilliant sortie from Ladysmith. Creusot is a place in the department cf Saone-et-Loire, in France, famous for its extensive ironworks, now possessed by the great French firm of Schneider and Co. It does not follow, however, that a "Creusot" gun was made at Creusot, because the name is applied to all the guns manufactured by the firm, who have also extensive works at Havre, where ordnance is made. IT may be that just now (remarks the Globe), when there are unusual calls upon the pockets of the public, there is a certain hopelessness in suggesting any scheme that involves for its proper carrying out the raising of a considerable sum of money. But at the same time there is no inappropriateness in calling attention to the need for some adequate com- memoration of the extraordinary services rendered by the late Sir Henry Tate to the art of this country. By his generosity the nation has been enriched in a manner almost unprecedented and it may be said to be actually the duty of the people to show how heartily they appreciate his single-minded and sincere desire to benefit them at his own expense. Something more is needed than the customary and conven- tional statue, a form of memorial that would not have been desired,by the man himself, and that is made really unnecessary by the fact that there is already in existence an excellent portrait bust of him for which he gave sittings. A far better monument would be the perfecting of some scheme for carrying on efficiently that system of encouragement of British art, which he began so well. Now that the gallery created by him exists, and is ready to receive really representative works by our native artists, it might well be provided with some regular endow- ment, the income of whioh would be available for filling up gaps in the collection. Pictures of a kind that the Chantrey Fund trustees cannot or will not buy will always be wanted, and could be secured as they occur if only a sufficent sum of money were put at the disposal of a trustworthy purchasing com- mittee. Whether or not such a fund could be raised now is plainly open to question; but if it proved to be practicable it would certainly be a memorial with which Sir Henry Tate would have entirely sym- pathised. We are in this country a little too much inclined to put nnlimited faith in the generosity of our fellow citizens, and to believe that sooner or later most of the works of art that are worthy of places in our national galleries will come there as gifts iin the natural course of things. But because We have in this respect been fortunate in the past, it does not follow that the same agreeable good luck will continue indefinitely. People, quite pos- sibly, may get tired of giving away their best things and then, as we have never learnad to depend npon ourselves, the effect upon our national collections will be disastrous. We might fairly make some exertions now, when we have an excellent reason, to increase our art treasures; and we might set ourselves to consider whether our unblushing dependence upon charity is not a little undignified. There seems at present, it must be admitted, to be no diminution in the willingness of collectors to pass on their posses- sions to the nation. Within the last few days it has been announced that Mr. Henry Vaughan, whose gift of Constable's Hay Wain to the National Gallery was referred to in this column last week, has bequeathed to that institution his collection of oil pictures and some sepia drawings by Turner, to the British Museum a series of plates for the Liber Studiorum and some Old Master drawings, to the South Kensington Museum many art objects and carvings, and to the museums at Dublin and Edinburgh a number of water-colours by Turner. The bequest, as a whole, is of very great value, for many of the things that Mir. Vaughan had gathered together were rarities calcu- lated to appeal very strongly to experts. IN; a Bitter Heritage." Mr. John Bloundelle- Burton (Cassell's) has given us a story which palpi- tates with mystery, and in which there is extraordi- nary fascination. The plot is decidedly original, the excitement is genuine and sustained, and the author's descriptions of tropical scenes are quite, the best things of their kind that have appeared of late. "A Bitter Heritage" is certainly a story that will enhance Mr. Bloundelle- Burton's high reputation. By the death of Mr. Craibe Angus, of Glasgow, one of the greatest Burns authorities in the country has passed away. His whole life was devoted to the expert examination of early editions and manu- scripts, to the study of paintings, especially the Dutch school, and to the collection of rare bric-a- brac—all of which gave him a celebrity as an art dealer, book collector, and general bric-a-brac mer- chant which extended far beyond Scotland. His salon in Queen-street, Glasgow, and afterwards in St. Vincent-street and Renfield-street, was the resort of all the notabilities interested in literature or art who visited the city, and no Burns sale or Burns gathering of importance was complete without the picturesque figure of this white-haired old gentle- man, whose cheery laugh and vigorous step almost belied the 69 years he bore so jauntily. THE SHIP OF STARS," by Mr. A. T. Quiller-Couch (Q) (Cassell's) is one of the few long stories.written by this popular writer. The book is instinct with the life of the West country, whose soenes and people Q so well understands and so well describes. Upon the one character of Taffy the author has lavished a wealth of care, and has breathed into it a wealth of thought. In every way it is splendid art, and yet it throbs with emotion and life. It is fiction of the rarest and most distinguished quality. MANY will regret to learn that Mr. John Augustus O'Shea, the Irish littirateur, is, as a result of a para- lytic seizure two years ago, now a confirmed invalid and completely incapacitated from pursuing his literary work. Accordingly it has been decided to issue an appeal for funds to provide a small annuity for Mr. O'Shea to assit him iu the evening of his varied and distinguised career. The committee which has been formed for this purpose includes the Marquis of Lorne, K.T., G.C.M.G., Lord Glenesk, Lord. Charles Beresford, Mr. Justin McCarthy, M.P., and others. For many years Mr. O'Shea acted as war correspondent for the Standard newspaper. being through the Franco-German war, the Carlist campaign in Spain, and other expeditions. He is the author of several interesting books, but has not derived any income from his publications for several years. THE gifted Count Lvof Tolstoi, commonly balled Count Leo Tolstoi, is very weak and ill. The count -who is a descendant of Peter Tolstoi, the comrade of Peter the Great—is over 70 years of age. After leaving the University of Kazan he entered the, army, and served in the Crimean War. At the close of hostilities he resigned his commission, and devoted himself to litera- ture. His most appreciated work is Anna Karenina," which appeared in 1876. Matthew Arnold enthusiastically praised this novel, and George Meredith holds that Anna, the beautiful but unfaithful wife, is the most perfectly-depicted female character in any work of fiction. Of recent years Tolstoi has given himself up to religious and moral philosophy and shoemaking.
THE QUEEN AND THE CONVICTS.
THE QUEEN AND THE CONVICTS. Many years ago (says M.A.Pi) the Queen paid a visit to Parkhurst Female Convict Prison. As soon as she entered the women's great ward, accompanied by Mrs. Gilson, the then handsome and stately super- intendent, a great silence fell upon the vast assem- blage of her suffering and erring sisters. Her Majesty was greatly affected. And then an indescrib- able scene ensued. The Queen t" cried the poor convicts; it's the Queen herself 1 Shell pardon us, she'll set us free!" and screaming and crying they prostrated themselves at her feet. For a few moments the Queen lost her nerve and begged her attendant* to clear a way for her to an adjoining room. Half- an-hour elapsed. Suddenly the door of the great room was thrown open again and1 Majesty with supreme dignity, with an unutterable far-awayness about her, and every inch a Queen, walkod through the women, now hushed into awed silence.
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IT is reported that in AUSTRIA the custom of boxing the ears of soldiers and recruits has been so common and so violent that thousands of them have suffered such impairment of their hearing as partly to unfit them for service- The Minister of War hao recently issued a prohibitory order. (:;