Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its eons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream, Dies at the opening day, The busy tribes of flesh and blood, With all their lives and cares, Are carried downwards by Thy flood, And lost in following years. ISAAC WATTS.

ONWARD EVER! Nations, like individuals, die. Their birth pre- -sents an ethnical element; their death, which is the most solemn event that we can contemplate, may arise from interior or from external causes. Empires are only sand-hills in the hour-glass of 'Time; they crumble spontaneously away by -the process of their own growth. A nation, like a man, hides from itself the contemplation of its final day. It occupies itself with expedients for prolonging its present state. It frames laws and constitutions under the delusion that they will last, forgetting that the condition of life is change. Very able modern statesmen consider it to be the grand object of their art to keep things as they are, or rather as they were. But the human race is not at rest; and bands with which, for a moment, it may be reo strained, break all the more violently the longer they hold. No man can stop

THE MARCH OF DESTINY. Time, to the nation as to the individual, is nothing absolute; its duration depends on the rate of thought and feeling. For the same reason that to the child the year is actually longer than to the adult, the life of a nation may said to be no longer than the life of a person, considering the manner in which its affairs are moving. There is a variable -velocity of existence, though the lapses of time may be equable. The origin, existence, and

DEATH OF NATIONS -depend thus on physical influences, which are themselves the result of immutable laws. Nations .are only transitional forms of humanity. They must undergo obliteration as do the transitional forms offered by the animal series. There is no more an immortality for them than there is an im- mobility for an embryo in any one of the manifold forms passed through in its progress of develop- ment. The life of a cation thus flows in a regular sequence, determined by invariable law, and hence, in estimating different nations, we must not be deceived by the casual aspect they present. The philosophical comparison is made by considering their entire manner of career or cycle of progress and not their momentary or transitory state. Though they may encounter disaster, their absolute -course can never be retrogade; it is

ALWAYS ONWARD, Yen if tending to dissolution. It is as with the individual, who is equally advancing in infancy, in maturity, in old age. Pascal was more than justified in his assertion that" the entire succession of men, through the whole course of ages, must be Wgarded as one man, always living and inces- santly learning." In both cases, the manner of ildvance, though it may sometimes be unexpected, pan never be abrupt. At each stage events and ideas emerge which not: only necessarily owe their to preceding events and ideas, but extend *ar into the future and influence it. As these are crowded together, or occur more widely apart, national life, like individual, shows a variable rapidity, depending upon the intensity of thought and action. But, no matter how great that energy Mfty be, or with what rapidity modifications may take place-since events are emerging as conse- quences of preceding events, and ideas from preceding ideas-in the midst of the most violent intellectual oscillations, & discerning observer will fail to detect that there exists a law of con- tinuous variation of human opinions. From the Possibility of thus regarding the

NATURE NOTES. February 4th.—Blackbird's neat .with three eggs seen by D. O. Pugh near Dolgau, Machynlleth. „ 14tb.-Eggs hatched. THE BIRDS OF A TOWN GARDEN.-V. The Chaffinch is perhaps the best known of all the Finches on account of its ornamental plumage, brisk movements and lively song. In the garden it is a familiar bird, feeding with the Sparrows in Winter, singing amongst the apple blossom in Ipring or calling pink, pink to its mate. The Linnet we only hear as it flies overhead on its way to its nest amongst the forte bushes and I brambles on the hill side. Now and again, generally in spring, the Bullfinch pays us a visit. A more handsome little fellow could not be found, With his black cap, grey mantle, and red waist- coat. Unfortunately he is fond of nipping off the buds of the fruit trees, especially those of the Plum and cherry. But we are ready to overlook his mischievous ways on account of his good looks. If there is any bird which could well be spared, it is the impudent and noisy House Sparrow. He Palls the snowdrop and crocus flowers to pieces d pecks up the newly sown seed. But one thing lnay be said in favour of the Sparrow and his mate. They clear off many a green caterpillar from the rose-bushes to feed their young ones. Another bird of bright plumage which may be -een everywhere about the lanes and hedges is the YelUrv Hammer or Yellow Bunting. It does not Cttne into the garden, but is often seen flying over. In the same way we recognize the Skylark by its fcofce but to see it mount upwards, singing as it goes', we must take a walk into the fields rather further from town. The Crow family includes several clever, wide- awake birds, chiefly of black plumage. They are ao well able to take care of themselves that they do not suffer like the smaller birds in jthe cold Weather. First of this group, comes the Starling. Who has not heard him on the chimney top, Wheezing and piping, flapping his wings, and turn- ing his head from side to side all the while ? When "plate of food is put out in winter, the first bur- ling has no sooner found it than he is followed by a dozen more. Then there is running to and iro, such snatching, scuffling, screaming, and fighting, for the Starling is not a polite or well-mannerea bird. Still he is a pattern of industry and a model parent, coming back from the field every few Jninutes with a beakful of worms when be has young to feed. What an outcry when they hear the old bird coming, and what a noise when they t bave left the nest, and are not yet strong enough to follow the old birds up to the Brynymor fields to look for worms and grubs. In autumn the Star- ing has leisure to sit on the chimney tbps again, to flap his wings and imitate the notes of every bird that be has heard during the summer. We bave no more amusing acquaintance than the Starling amongst our garden birds. U.C.W. J. H. SALTER, (To be continued).

Machynlleth Parish Church. CROMWELLIAN PLATE. BY PHILIP SIDNEY." I have just seen and handled, for the first time in this district, as fine a piece of church plate of Cromwell's period, as one can desire, so perforce i sit down and tell my readers about it; at the same time asking them to come with me, in thought, and see other precious things belonging to that grey-towered Church of Machynlleth, which adds no little to the effectiveness of the view of the town, as passengers through the station see it, and too often pass by on the other side, without ever making a visit to the sacred fane. When was the Church built ? According to the inscription on a board in the vestry, now hidden behind a large cupboard, this took place in 1827, —the year of the battle of Navarino—when we are told that This Church was rebuilt and enlarged and contains sittings for 873 persons I Geo. Venables, M.A., Minister, Thos. Evans and Thos. Griffiths, Churchwardens. Since the re- building the interior has been modernised and vastly improved under the learned and careful hands of Messrs Bodley and Garner; the cumbrous gallery along the west end has disappeared, and a profusion of excellent coloured windows have been set as glistaing jewels in the walls. Of the Church which gave place to this one I speak not now many things which it sheltered are still carefully guarded by the respected and respecting Canon Trevor. There are the registers, of which I am to write ere long, there is the church door-key, more than one foot long, of massive iron, which still hangs on the vestry wall, in company with the two small and quaintly made wooden collecting spades," or boxes, now much worm- eaten, and frail; and above all, there are the silver paten assayed in London in 1655-6 and the pewter salver, both alluded to in the Terrier of 1791, de- scribed in this column last July. The pewter paten 10 inches in diam., or as the Terrier "describes it one pewter salver also hangs on the vestry wall. It has seen much use, having been long used as an alms dish, if we may judge by its worn state. The inscription on it reads:- Willm. Puglt. Bichd. Lewis. Church Wardens 1747. A year easy to be remembered as being that of the terrible rout of the Highlanders at Culloden Moor, when after a few moments fight it was all over with the 6000 starving and dispirited Northerners, who bravely faeed the Duke of Cumberland with his force of nearly double their numbers. This pewter salver is worthy any amount of loving care. In order to indelibly fix in our memories the year 1655 let us see what it brings before us. No parliament was then existing. Cromwell's second parliament had been dissolved in January, ^without passing one single Act; there was no constitutional rule. The press was placed under the strict cen- sorship, and payment of taxes, levied by the sole authority of the Protector, was enforced by dis- traint, and whn a collector was sued in the courts for redress, the counsel for the prosecution were sent to the Tower I Yet midst all this unrest two skilled artificers were quietly going on with their handiwork, one of them, 1. W. by initials, fashioned that fine silver cup given by Christopher Pin to the Black- smith's Company, inscribed By hammer and hand, all arts do stand"; the other in a neigh- bouring London work room, by initial O. carried to the Goldsmiths' Hall for assay the magnificent silver paten now, and for two centuries past, the prized possession of Machynlleth Parish Church. Can you not picture this artizan, proud of his plate, hurrying with it under Jhis leathern apron, that the all-necessary stamp might be punched on it without delay 1 What happened to it for the first fifty years of its life we may not now know, but the inscription on it then takes up its story, and has preserved it unto this day :The Legacy of ye Reverend Thomas Parry, Gierke, Doctor of Lames, lal- Bector of Machynlleth lo that Paris7i Church Anno IJrn, 1704. Yes reader, the very year of the battle of Blenheim, when, as Southey rightly tells us It was the English,' Kaspar cried, Who put the French to rout; But what they fought each other for I could not well make out, But every body said' quoth he, That 'twas a famous victory,' The care with which the Machynlleth Terrier was compiled in 1791, is surely evident from its allusion to this paten, as:—" A silver salver weigh- ing about eighteen ounces and a half, and worth as we believe about five pounds." The weight, 18.2 is actually marked on the plate and so affords a ready means of identification. It stands just 3 inches tall on its circular foot, and has a diameter of 9i inches. With this relic before us it is not out of place to ask the question :—What has become of the silver chalice mentioned in the Terrier as then belong- ing to the Church and Containing about a wine quart, weighing almost fifteen ounces, and worth as we suppose about four pounds"? It would be of interest to know at what date, after 1791, this chalice disappeared, from the Church's use, and where, if it has not found its way to the melting pot, it now is 1 Who can answer 1 The oldest silver Chalice now in use in the parish dates from 1857. It is of noble proportions. 8! inches tall, and bears on its base the legend:- To Bod and the Parish of Si Mary's, Machynlleth, Christmas Day, 1857; in memory of Thomas James Gilb»rtson, who died 16 August, 1857, and tvise buried in this Church Yard, 22 August, aged 3 years and 2 months. Here we find commemor- ated a name, long and deservedly well known in the towns, both of Machynlleth and Aberystwyth. Yet other silver plate—that known as the Lon- donderry service—has the parish in its treasure chest. This consists of a flagon, 10 inches tall, two chalices 7 inches tall, and one paten on foot, 7 inches in diameter. From their incriptions we learn that \—This Service of Holy Communion is presented to St Peter's Church, Machynlleth by the Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry, and Lady Edwards, Easter Sunday, 1880. It will be observed that these inscriptions give two different names to the Church's patron; one says St Mary, the other St Peter; this arises from the doubt which exists as to the proper dedication, a doubt which possibly cannot now be satisfactor- ily settled, unless perchance we could light on some parchment or will of the 14th or 15th century lying hidden away in the Record Office or else- where.—One cannot help admiring the silence on this point in the earliest inscription of 1704; there was then in all likelihood a doubt, and so they wisely said that Parish Church. 9 Many other things there are in this Church to claim our attention. Let us go to the riifging chamber. The peal of six bells was given, in 1892, by his widow and children to the memory of Mr David Howell, of Craigydon, Aberdovey, as also of Machynlleth. The chiming apparatus by which one man may do the work of six, or play a simple tune, as did the Rev D. T. Hughes, when explaining the mechanism to me-, was given and fixed last year by Canon Trevor's son-in-law, Mr John Isdale Smale an offering worthy alike of him and the Church. A set of fine hand bells also finds place and use in this belfry; which is fitted with eTerything con- ducive to the bringing up of a race of men, who shall be in the best sense adepts in the ancient art of campanology. And then there is the fine organ placed in the church by the generosity of Mr Edward Morgan, solicitor, and since further added to by the cor- I rectly designed organ case. The key board is, presided over by Mr Howell, the National School master, whose steadfast work is bsknswn in the town. I almost feel tempted to keep the windows for another time, but must perforce allude to them here. Their scintillation is good, they are far above the average, and in colour and tone leave but little to be desired. That in the chancel, placed there in 1879, is known as the Vane Tempest window, per- haps on the whole it is the least satisfactory. There is much beautifuljworkmanshipand colour- ing in the other Londonderry windows as also in the one commemorative of the well remembered Canon Griffith, rector of the parish, who died on j 7 November, 1888, and to whose memory his daughters have likewise placed the brass lectern used in Christ Church. Much of interest is called up by the Lewis Morris Window, and we like to remember Jane, widow of Councillor T. O. Morgan (Aberystwyth's son and guide") who was, as we here read, youngest daughter of Lewis and Anne Morris." Here I must stop, having said nothing of the unique Londonderry pew with its emblazoned hatchment over head, the baptistry, the pulpit, or the still used burial ground; all which are well worthy the attention of any who come to see the great key and the Cromwellian plate.

CynlrUilFu. Short, original, and signed communications on antiquarian topographical and kindred subjects pertaining to Cardiganshire will be treated on their merits. Communications to be marked Cymru Fu," NO. XII. 35.—MEMBER FOR CARDIGANSHIRE in 1739. By some unaccountable oversight I have missed the query of'Ceitho" hereon, but I may be permitted to supplement the reply of G.E B." (24) with the following from Mr Williams' 11 Parly History of Wales" He was in 1735 appointed a judge of Equity for North and South Wales. In the general election of 1741 he defeated Thomas Powell, of Nanteos, by 344 votes against 340 votes recorded by the latter, but on a petition he was unseated in February, 1742, and Mr Powell declared elected. Mr Lloyd died in 1747. In addition to his more notorious son, Herbert Lloyd, M.P. for the Cardigan Boroughs 1761-1768, his son John was M.P. for Cardiganshire from 1747 to 1755. Walter Lloyd's name appears as Mayor of Cardigan in 1710,1711,1714,1718,1721, and as Deputy Mayor in 1720. D.M.R. (Myfyr Dar.) 36-ABERYSTWYTH BURGESSES, A.D. 11730, October 30. Henry Hickman, Capten of the Welsh fuzilear. Swr. David Thomas, of Llanrhystid, „ David Roberts, of St David's, „ Mr William Williams, younger of Llanbadarn, Evan Humphrey, of Aberystwith, „ John Godfrey, of Llanviltid Richard Hugh, of Aberystwith. Mr Mortimer HicKs, „ » Mr James Excell » Lewis Oliver was Mayor; at this Court Alex- ander Gordon was presented Maire for the coming year. He kept the Gogerddan Arms." Of him many good stories are still current. G.E.E. 37.-ST MicHAEVs ABERYSTWYTH.—Here is the wording of a notice in 1846, from the original in possession of Mr T. J. Samuel, solicitor. The Churchwardens particularly request the immediate payment of your Church Rate for the year ending Easter, 1846, otherwise they will be under the recessity of having recourse to un- pleasant measures to enforce the same." The amount demanded from and paid by the nonconformist to whom the notice was sent was Is 1-id.

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THE REV. J. WILLIAMS ON THE CORRUPTIVE HABITS OF THB AGE. [To the Editor of the Welsh Gazette.'] SIR,—As might be expected the sermon delivered at Betbania in denunciation of the corruptive habits of the age has created no small amount of local interest among us in Cardigan. The local allusions made in the course of the homily will doubtlessly account to a very large extent for the considerable stir that it has caused. Mr Williams felt that he had a message to deliver and he did not fear to deliver it in a straightforward manner. Even those who might question some of his state- ments cannot but admit that the reverend gentle- man spoke with his usual candour and thorough- ness of conviction. Addle-pated indeed would be the person who would venture te assert that this our age is anywhere near perfection, but neverthe- less it is possible to go in the direction of the other extreme and to be weighed down by a too pessi- mistic temperament. To a casual observer this age might seem to be perilously distinguished by a drifting away from perfection. A casual and sup- erficial observation of any individual age would probably lead to the same sad conclusion. But I question very much, Sir, whether this conclusion will hold good when tested by the history of civil- ization. From the earliest pre-historic times down to the year of grace 1902, the trend of the history of mankind has been not a drifting away from but rather a steady progress, slow though it may be towards the ultimate goal of perfection. Mr Wil- liam's knowledge of human progress in the elovu- tion of man as narrated in history ought surely to have preserved him from the pessimistic mood which runs through the sermon. It is to be re- gretted that Mr Williams should have been carried away by his well-intended earnestness so as to exaggerate some of the evils that might exist in Cardigan more especially. Even if there are two or three, or even four young men in Cardigan who do gamble, yet is that enough of a justification for calling the town a typical Monte Carlo," though the qualifying phrase on a smaller scale" be added. The fact that Kipling's "muddied oafs" have been born again in Cardigan is also deplored and lamented. The reverend gentleman urges that it would be more profitable to spend more time in developing the mind and less in developing the legs. Where football is carried to excess it becomes a vice like. an excess of everything else, good and evil. Aristotle's golden mean is certainly the best plan to adopt. But will the unbiassed observer say that Cardigan is infected with football mania t I venture to say, no, but I leave it to Mr Williams himself whether he would prefer to see the young men of the town lounging their half holding away on the market steps and street corners dangerously near the public house, or pulling it to good use by partaking in a vigorous manly game of football in the recreation ground. Satan will be more likely to find work for the idle hands on the street corners than to do any moral damage on the athletic field. In the course of the sermon it was denied that a theatre can exist on its own merits, it must have its liquor bar—the soul of its existence. It would not be difficult to name theatres that paradoxically manage to exist without the so-called soul of their existence. A theatre is not judged by the presence and quality of the intoxicants that may be sold in a neighbouring bar, but by the status of the plays produced in it. It is true that many theatres do include a liquor box, but it is equally true that the vast majority of playgoers do not patronize the place provided for a thirsty minority. The last "corruptive" habit of the age that Mr Williams deals with in his sermon is dancing. To the question is it a sin" he does give no direct answer, but asks whether the dance is a .good medium for the promotion and promulgation of the Gospel. No enthusiastic tripper of the light fan- tastic toe" would answer the question in the affir- mative, but in my humble opinion that does not prove to be a sin. A Sunday School tea-party as such does not promulgate the Gospel, but surely Mr Williams would not for that reason class it among the mortal sins. Has not the Wise Man said that to every thing there is a season. Nay, unless my Biblical knowledge plays me false he even dares to state that there is a time to dance. So after all there may be some excuse and authority even for holding a Mayor's Ball. With apologies for having trespassed so long on your valuable space.—Yours, itc.,—GRIFHOR. SIR,—I must say at the outset that I do not agree with the majority of the sentiments expressed by the Rev J Williams in his recent remarkable sermon; but I yield to no one in my admiration of him for his moral courage and manliness. If he is not orthodox according to the Zeitgeist, he is at any rate true to his obligations and loyal to his convictions-and this is a good deal more than can be said of the majority of ministers of the present day—who simply preach to please. The theatre! Oh I dearly love it. The cant of the effiminate preacher! Oh how I loathe it. Stick to your guns, Mr Williams, and with God's will I will help to keep your powder dry.—ESPERANZA.

Llanbadarnodwyn. [At Olygydd y Welsh Gazette.] Syn,Mewn canlyniad i'r Tstori a ledaenwyd ychydig amser yn ol yn y gymydogaeth hon, fod Mr Thomas Jones Davies, Birch-hill, Llangeitho, wedi cyfarfod a lleidr ar ei ffordd gartref rhyw noson yn ddiweddar; ac mai un o'r gymdogaeth hon ydoedd, ac hefyd fod Thomas Jones Davies wedi gorfod rbyddhau un o'r gymdogaeth hon trwy gyfrwng y Welsh Gazette," credaf, os caniatewch i mi ychydig ofod o'ch newyddiadur clodwiw, taw teg fuasai iddo ryddhau pawb yn y gymydogaeth, neu enwi y lleidr. Y mae cymeriad un yn gymaint o werth a'r Hall yn y cyfeiriad yma. Ac ni ddylai cwmwl mor ddu a hwn gael aros uwch ben cymyd- ogaeth mor heddychol a chrefyddol a hon heb gael ei glirio ymaith. Am fy mod yn byw yn y gym- dogaeth hon, ac yn gymydog i'r sawl a ryddhawyd, trwy fod un wedi ei ryddbau, y mae yr euog yn aros, am hyny teg ei enwi, er mwyn i'r dieuog gael chwareu teg. Gan fod y mater hwn yn dod yn agos at gymeriadau pobl yr ardal, credaf mai teg fuasai cael eglurhad mwy pendant ar y pwnc. Rhvdd bvnv lawer o esmwythdra a thawelwch meddwl i bobl y plwyf. Ni ddymunwn er dim beri cynwrf, na thaflu y mater i fwy o dywyllwch; ond yn bytrach dwyn y cyfan i oleuni ar dir teg. Nt chrefaf ychwaith am ofod i ysgrifenu o dan ffug- enw. Credaf fod yr hyn a ofynaf yn deg a diduedd.. JOHN EVANS, Fronbadarn, Llangeitho.

EPITOME OF NEWS. The Russian Vice-Consulate at Yokohama has been converted into a Consulate. Mr. Barton hopes pint the Turiff debate in the Australian House of Representatives will be finished in three weeks. The officers of thn British squadron which line returned to Villugarcia have goue to Santi- ago de Compostella. Several young members of the Belgian aristo- cracy are now serving their time Ins apprentices on board English sailing ships. An English visitor fell from a hotel lift in Mihin ftBd sustained injuries which it is feared will result in death. Contingents of German soldiers are now manoeuvring on ski in the forests :ound Pots- dam. Prinoess Henry of Battenberg will unveil the Queen Victoria nu-morial window in Hereford Cathedral on May 13th. At Lewes a printer was carrying a formn," when it slipped, bursting the thumb of his right hand. Death supervened from lockjaw. At Andover a fariner and deAler WaR lined £10 with costs for causing two horses to be worked in a plough when suffering from sores. Herr Reimer, who has been German Vice- Consul in London, has beeu appointed German Consul at Johannesburg. Dorking post office has been burgled and bo- tween £ 40 and £ 50. Duplicate keys appear to have been used. A reign or terror prevails in Newcastle owing to young women having been mysteriously stubbed in the ^reet every night. A Liverpool (look labourer lias unexpectedly come into EIO,000 by the death of his brother, a Scarborough chemist. The new battleship RusseL line arrived at Shoerness from Jarrow-on-Tyne. When fully equipped she will cost £ 1,092,922. During 1901 11 evicted notices were flied in the High Cotirt of Justice in Ireland, and 319 in the County Courts, malting a total of 330. Three gentlemen were fined for failing to answer to their names when called on the grand jury at the Middlesex Sessions. In rescuing a youth who had fallen through the ice at ETerend, near Halesowen, Robert Cole broke him leg in two places. The Australian Cabinet has decided that the Federal High Couri, shall consist of five judges instead of three, as was at first intended. The majority of the Welsh settlers in the Chubut district of Argentina have informed the authorities that they have not thought of leav- iilg tile country. The Argentine Government have remitted to its fmnncial agent in London the sum of 92,750,000 in payment of all debts contracted by Argentina up to July let, 1902. Through playing with an oil stove in a bed. room, Florence Fanny Goddard, aged four, died at Crewe Cottage Hospital from fearful burns. Six pounds was the fine inflicted on a young man at Dover for driving a motor oar along the Canterbury road at the rate of a mile in 75 seconds. The Suffolk police are looking for two men who persuaded an aged Sudbury lady to part with Ego by pretending that they were eye specialists. Heavy speculation in sugar ig proceeding in Birmingham in view of possible increased tax- ation. Many houses have six months' supply stored. The writ for the election in South Monaghan has arrived. Nomination day has been fixed for March 4th, and polling will take place a week later. An actor has been shot dead on the stage of a theatre at Rome by a fellow-performer, who used a revolver which had been inadvertentlj loaded with ball cartridge. Slight damage was done to Somerset House by a fire caused by the overheating of a gas stove in the carpenter's ahop on the ground floor. A vote of funds to defray the expense of sending a Commonwealth rifle team to Bisley this year is to be asked from the Federal Par- liament by the Australian Federal Ministry. For the recovery of A:10 out of a debt of E481 the solicitor's bill of costs amounted to £28, an- cording to a ntatement made at the Westminster County Court. When the steam trawler Honoria arrived at Hull it was reported that Walter Parkin, the skipper, had been accidentally knocked over- board and drowned in the North Sea. A New York journal publishes A despatch from San Salvador stating that tidal waves re- cently swept over the coast of Salvador and partially destroyed seven villages. Fifty persons were drowned. According to "Pari journal great anxiety is felt at Lorient in regard to the three-master Nemesis, which left an English port on January 30th for Arcachon, and has not since beeu heard of. The Prince nJIIl Princess of Wales have in- timated tli eir willingnesK to receive All address of welcome on their arrival at Chippenham at the beginning of next mouth, on their way to Badminton. The King has been pleased to confer a baronetcy upon Sir Thomas, Burlow, K.C.V.O., M.D., Physician to his Majesty Household, and one of her late Majesty's Physicians Extraordinary. A new torpedo boat, built at Elbing, has just been taken over by the German Admiralty after oolv one week's forced trials. It has a speed of 28-3 klJot, which in stated to be a record for German shipbuilding. To protect ttioitioielve.4 from unfair competi- tion, chiefly German, Swedish musicians have petitioned their Government to exact a poll-tax of half a crown a day from all foreign profes- sional players in Sweden. Permission to establish a shell-filling factory at Scotswood, noar Newcastle, has been obtained by Messrs, Armstrong, Whitworth, And Co. The firm has sought the permission in order to be able to m»i>ufae.ture shells for foreign Govern- nients if required. The arbitrator appointed to fix the price at which the Devonport Corporation should ac- quire the borough gas works have named £ 110,113, which represents 25 yettrml purchase, the corporation to take over all liabilities and a bank overdraft of £ 39.457. At a nominal price of E333,330 the United States Steel Corporation, it is stated, has pur- chased nearly all the shares of the Gellivare Ore Co., Sweden. The trust, it is added, will take over the working of the North Swedish Mines next autumn. While attempting to alight from a train in motion at Catford Station, Mr. Williain 1 Volcmarm, residing at Granville Park, Lewis- ham, fell between the footboard and the plat- form. Before he could be extricated two car- riages had passed over him and he was out to piece". The Franco-Irish committee in Paris has protested against the action of the French Government in inviting Mr. Swinburne to the Victor Hugo Centenary Celebration. The poet was objected to because it was stated that he had approved of the system of refugee camps in Bouth Africa. An offer for the establishment of works oti, the Parramattl, River for the manufacture of steel railij from New South Wales ore is being considered by the Government. The industry would, it is understood, employ 4,000 bauds. The requirements of the Government are esti- mated at 20,000 tons annually. When the White Star liner Celtio arrived at Algiers with a number of wealthy American touriets on board a great sensation was caused among the thousands of Arabs who were watch- ing the departure of pilgrims f°? Mecca. The immense liner completely dwarfed all th* Froeoh vessels in the harbour, and the fact was not lost on the Arabs that she was flying the iki6ish ftsg.

HUGH DJLTIEBIB V COUGH MIXTURE N9 MOHB omcmHy NO MOJfB SO MlHtB Umtreti'X DAVIESS «M«KNB MKXTOTE ftr OOU» Sinin SeSS ESoSI Smrn SSS SSI S, £ £ £ £ SXS ESS! SSS tooat Si?SS 8SI5 OOQ*B tor SIHaEH S S BAVIB**S OOWH BCXTINYS—ROR PTFMJC ■ DAVIES'8 OOTOB mXTTJRE SPEAKER^ | TFFTT <UEAT YTTSH RBMEPY. | W 2 9 Bottles. | thai HOB*V. Children like K | ^ilr^ nAVIES. Chemist, MteHYHsXE' H. 5 tmmm ■mm- iihum———'

GARDEN WORK. CONSERVATORY. Weak, clear soot-water will be beneficial for Camellias and any other plants coming into flower. Azaleas will now be a prominent fea- ture. Deutsche Perle and Fielder's White will flower now without much forcing. The latter is one of the best whites for cutting, though somewhat loose in habit of growth in compari- son with other kinds. Azaleas are not clif-licul to keep in condition if there are glass houses i to give them proper treatment. As the plalll.H go out of flower remove the seed-pods and take to a house where the syringe can be freely ut-ed. with a night temperature of fifty-five degrees to get the plants into growth. After the growth is made they should be gradually hardened oil by removal to a cooler house, and finally ill. July placed on a coal-ash bed outside. During all this time they should never be allowed to get dust dry, and should be syringed freely every fane day. The repotting should be dune if it is required just as the plants begin to grow. Small shifts only should be given, and soil should be beat peat, made porous with tharpsand. The Azalea will not thrive if there is lime in the soil, and if hard water is used it is difficult to induce it to grow freely; in fact, I have never seen a collection in good health where water coming out of the chalk has been used for watering. This refers to hard-wooded plants generally, but especially Camellias and Azaleas. The show Pelargoniums are now filling their pots with roots and will soon require a little stimulant in the water twice a week. I do not think it is wise to tie oneself to one kind of stimulant for plants. Most of the artificial manures have some value, and a mixture of several would, in some cases, be an advantage. At any rate, it is well to try a change from time to time. Specimen Fuchsias should be pruned back, and as soon as the buds are starting shake out and repot in clean pots of the same size. When the plants are several years old it will be better to plant them out in the garden and bring on young plants for the conservatory. Cuttings of the young shoots will strike freely now in bottom-heat. OUTDOOR GARDEN. More attention should be given to flowering trees and shrubs. In our murky climate a larger use might be made of the Thorns, not necessarily in the dressed grounds, but on the lawns aud in the borders or margins of the glades in the park. I know several places where this has been done, and they have proved a great attraction. The Tulip-tree will grow treely in any good soil, especially if sheltered at a distance by some of our native trees. The Scarlet Horse-Chestnut is being more plauted now, and there is a good deal of beauty in the Crab section of the Pyrus family. It is a loss to a garden when the soil is unsuit- able for Rhododendrons and Azaleas, and even with the addition of beds of peat, the Rhododeudron in a limestone soil is often unsatisfactory. But there are compensations, for the Berberis family will thrive, and scarcely anything can be more beautiful than B. steno- phyUa, and B. Aquifolium makes a charming patch anywhere. More might be done with the Maguolias; some, such as M. acuminata, make a good-sized tree, and all are ornamental and would make a very handsome group planted in open order with hardy Heaths or other dwarf plants between. The Brooms, especially the dwarf early flowering kind nameTl prtecox, and the spotted kind Andreana, certainly should be in every garden. Hypericum Moserianum forms a pretty grcup, and for planting under trees or in shady places generally Hypericum calycinum is very useful. Any or all of the above may be planted now in open weather. VEGETABLE GARDEN. All seed Potatoes should be taken out of the heaps and laid out thinly in some light build- ing safe from frost. If they cannot all be laid out singly they should be frequently turned over to check growth. All the early kinds in- tended for early planting should now be placed in shallow trays or boxes crown upwards. Only one stem should be permitted to the earliest Potatoes, but that should come from the central crown eye. Those who grow early Cucumbers in hot-beds should lose no time now in preparing the beds, which should be composed of tree-leaves and stable-manure in about equal parts. The bed should be large enough to give a continuous heat for several months, though linings may be used to sustain warmth. Still, with a well- made bed, 44 feet high, there ought to be no difficulty with the heat. Of course, warm cover- ings will be used, and if the position is exposed to cold winds, shelter should be given on the windward side. The bulk of the trenching ot the vegetable plots is usually done in winter, aud should now be approaching completion for the season. In breaking new land Potatoes are a good crop for cleaning and intermixing the soil, but a dressing of gas-lime is always bene- ficial to newly broken up land, especially that infested with wireworms or other insects. Make up Mushroom-beds in buildings. FRUIT GARDEN. In some districts the bud-eating birds will give trouble if nothing is done. I have always found a mixture of soot and lime dusted over the trees on a damp morning sufficient, though it was sometimes necessary to repeat the dressing. In applying anything as a preventive it is important to be in time, before the birds bpgin the attack. When they have tasted the young buds it requires a heavier dressing to make them seek food elsewhere. If any pruning remains to be done get it out of the way as soon as possible. in large gardens the pruning and training are often a long business, aud the north sides of the walls being generally left till 1&I't, the work is cold and unpleasant. Morello Cherries are usually worked on the same lines as Peaches, the crop being taken from the young wood. There is nothing gained by leaving in too much wood. Very often this leads to brauch dying, and certainly produces smaller wood and fruit. This applies also to Peaches. The pruner's timidity in using the knife often ruins the trees. It is rather singu- lar that the same hand that works in a timid manner among the Peaches and Morello Cherries often slashes away in a reckless way among the bush Apples aud pyramidal Pears. STOVE. The time for repotting many things has arrived. Years ago we used to grow nearly all our stove plants and many of our Ferns in peat. Now more loam is used, and it is found that smaller pots will suffice. All fine-rooted plants should have a very large proportion of peat, but the stronger-rooted things will do better and make stronger, firmer growth in really good loam. More or less loam, according to the root formation of the plant, should be used. Clean pots and clean, free drainage are also very im- portant, and for most things, especially those of a woody nature, the soil in the pots should be made firm. Propagation both from seeds and cuttings will be going on now, for this work a brisk temperature is required, not less than sixty-five decrees at night, with a corre- sponding rise during daylight, and a crack of air along the ridge. WINDOW GARDENING. Turnall plants round occasionally, so that all sides may have equal access to light. Look closely for insects, and drop a soapy sponge on the first fly that appears before it has had time to establish a colony. The water-pot must be used with judgment, but enough water should be given when required to moisten all the soil in the pot. Stimulants are not required yet, I.ATE PEACH-HOUSES. Even where no fire-heat is used the buds will be gelt ing forward now, and the pruning and training should have been completed before the buds swell much. The blossoms in late houses ought to set without much help beyond giving the trellis a tap in the forenoon, when the pollen is dry.-Gardening Illustrated.

I have proposed to her just twelve times, and shall not propose another time." How superstitious you are, Mr. Binks!

THE "uielsb Gazette" WILL BE FOUND A FIEST-i LASS ADVERTISING MEDIUM It is sold by a large number of Agents in all parts of the counties of Cardigan, Merknir and Montgomery; also in maiiiv districts in the adjoining counties; la Lo., an in several of the principal townff ui England. Bk ST* 4 r* RD- ABERYSTWYTH. Business Notices. L/AMESYS LONDON AND PROVINCIAL Tea, Wine, Spirit and Provision STORES, TERRACE ROAD, ABERYSTWYTH. No connection with any other Shop in the district. SOLE AGENTS in the District for BASS & CO. S Celebrated Burton Ales and Stout, Supplied in 9 and 18 Gallon Casks; in Im- perial Pint and Half-pint Bottles. AGENTS FOR W1 & A GILBEY S Wines and Spirits. GLEN-SPEY GLENLIVET SCOTCH WHISKY, JOHN JAMESON & SON'S AND DUNYILLE'S IRISH WHISKY, In Bottle and on Draught. HENNESSEY'S BRANDY. CROFTS FINE OLD PORT. KIMMOND'S SCHWEPPE'S & STRETTOX HILLS MINERAL WATERS. CROSSE &;BLACKWELL#S GOODS < IN GREAT VARIETY. LAZENBY &|SONS' PICKLES. HUNTLEY & PALMER'S AND .Ea:?-I PEEK FREAN'S BISCUITS AND CAKES. MACKENZIE & MACKENZIE'S AND JACOB'S BISCUITS. HARRIS'S WILTSHIRE BACON, DEVONSHIRE BUTTER AND CREAM. Cheddar, Stilton," Gorgon- I zola, and American Cheese. 3. St Co.' s ceas I Are well known for their QUALITY AND FLAVOUR. IPBICES- 1 6<1.4 2s. k 6d. 2s. Sdl-and 3s. per lb. di Business Notices. A WOPID IN SEASON. TRY MORGANS Pectoral Linseed Balsam Certain Cure for Coughs, Colds, Influenza, and all affections of the Chest, Throat, and Lungs. HAS CUBED OTHERS. WILL CITES You. Prepared only by R. MORGANS, PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMIST, ABERYSTWYTH. Sold in Is. & 2s. bottles WO-NDERFUL RESULTS. .< WORTH A GUINEA A BO 4c IWIB y ,PILLS FOE ALL HILIOUST NERVOUS DISORDERS bICK HEADACHE, CONSTIPATION, WEAK STOMACH, WIND, I IMPAIRED DIGESTION, DISORDERED LIVER, and FEMALE AILMENJS, ANNUAL ALE SIX MILLION BOXICS. In Boxes, Is lid, and 2s 9d each, with fall directions. The Is lid box contains 56 Pills. Prepared only by the Proprietor— THOMAS BEECHAM. ST HELENS, LANOASHIBB ROCK FOUNDRY, MACHYNLLETH. [ESTABLISHED 1869]. A DECIDED IMPROVEMENT ON ALL OTHER WATER WHEELS In efficiency, simplicity, compactness, and cbettp ness. I solicit an opportunity to confer with parties in want of Turbines or Water WbRls. Special design for Churning, &c. TESTIMONIAL. The Iron Water Wheels turned out frem the Rock Foundry are well-known throughout tke Principality and many counties beyond. ThevSLre but on the most modern designs, the being at the same time light and durabl$$&nd giving a larger percentage of power than fAIl be claimed for most Water Wheels."—" The leway Supplies Journal." Address all communicatiom to B. M. DAVIES, Engineer and Ironfounder, MACHYNLLETH. NOTICE OF REMOVAL l;<,i' ".),¡'lf1:'¡;t 1.'I'ala', ARTIFICIAL TEETH MR. JAMES REES Seventeen years with Messrs. Murphy and Bow • Q A LEXA-NDRA R DAD, (Late Railway Terrace), A BERYSTWYTH. MR. REES visits TREGARON first and last TUESDAY in each Month at Mrs. Williams, Stanley House. Visits Machynlleth the Second and Fourth Wodbas. days in each Month at Mrs. R. Jones, Foutre- rhydin Street (opposite Lion Hotel). Corns on the 1st and 3rd Saturday in each month at Mr W. Evans, Grocer, Liverpool House, (opposite Slaters Arms. Visits Lampeter the First and Third Fridays jn Tarf* Month, at R. Evans, milliner, 18, Harford bqtare. CXABEAS MOIDERATZ. ————————————- ———-———-——' SPLENDID BARGAINS, REES JONES E MPORIUM, FJIREGABGN Now offers for Sale at Low Clearance Prices a be lot of MEN'S, YOUTH'S, AND BOYS' OVERCOATS. R. DOUGHTON, p NMONGER, CHINA J^EALEB AND CYCLE A GENT. (OPPOSITE TJIE Towir CLOCK). CYCLES FOR SALE AND HIRE. USE THE CRYSTAL PERISCOPIC SPECTACLES TO BE HAD Ar ABOVE Anniwpfr, Furniture. Furnitnre. EDWARD ELLIS & SON. Little Darkgate-street, ABERYSTWYTH. IIQKSES, DOGS, BIRDS. CATTIE. 120,000 OlDntrS of JUiimU Itevt Mowrt a eafff ot tiM k ELLHlII fllSl III MM ÂeelDBNTS AND AILMENTS. OiMfi of Animals can have a Cloth- booad Copy, 176 pages, the caiplete boek, teat post tree upoo mcslpt of One SbHSw tad a legible address, or the label affixed for the purpose to the outsMe of the back of the wrapper off of a as., as. M., or 3s. 6d. bottle ot ELLIMM'S IJYAL EIBBOCATII would secure a copy poet free. Owners 01 Pegs or Birds C88 tare Parts It. and III., 54 pages, apart froi complete Beek. FREE. rrtiHihrt by Elliman, Sons M Co.* 51oi|fei El(>

PROGRESS OF A NATION in definite and successive stages, answering re- spectively to the periods of individal life—infancy, childhood, youth, maturity, old age -we may :Cather:an instructive lesson. It is the same that we have learned from inquiries respecting the origin, maintenance, distribution, and extinction of animals and plants, their balancing against each other: from the variations of aspect and form of an individual man as determined by climate; from his social state, whether in repose or motion; from the secular variations of his opinions, and the gradual dominion of reason over society; this lesson is, that the government of the world is accomplished by immutable law. Such a conception commends itself to the intellect ot man by its

MAJESTIC GRANDEUR. It makes him discern the eternal in the vanishing Present events and through the shadows of time. £ lom the life, the pleasures, the sufferings of humanity, it points to the impassive; from our fishes, wants, and woes, to the inexorable. Leaving individual beneath the eye of Providence, it •■hows society under the finger of law. And the faws of Nature never vary; in their application never hesitate nor are wanting. Is there an object presented to us which does not bear the ?ark of ephermeral duration? As respects the tK ^e' they are scarcely worth a moment's ■nought, for the term of the great majority of them so brief that we may say they are born and die before our eyes. If we examine them, not as individuals, but as races, the same conclusion holds good, only the scale is enlarged from a few days to few centuries. If from living we turn to lifeless mature, we encounter again the evidence of brief continuance. The sea is unceasingly remoulding itig shores; hard as they are, the mountains are Constantly yielding to frost and to rain here an tensive tract of country is elevated, there de- pressed. We fail to find anything that is not undergoing change. Then forms are in their Mature transitory, law is everlasting, If from ▼isible forms we turn to directing law bow vast is the difference. We pass from the finite, the niomentary, the incidental, the conditioned—to *ne illimitable, the eternal, the necessary, the un- shackled JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, M.A, L.L.D,.