THE NATIONAL E1SIEDDFOD OF WALKS. APPOINTMENT OF TREASf'HER. &C. Th" K.xecutivo Committee r>f th»* Xitionul Ki» to'Miod met »it tho Kist.MMfod oftic(?s Aln-rdMre, or '1 uc*<Jiiy in ord-M* to eiect a f teupuref, e >n*idnr the fcite rC')lllll)(,IHIt".1 by tlu* Pavilion Conuiiitue, and other ninivr*. ),11'. it t'.ird<>o presided. After tho consideration of presidents and the Chairman said thar thev wer« to appoint* treasurer in place of .Major T. H. I'owell, dt-eeaeod.— It was unanimously ayived by the committee that tiie newly-:i|'p"int<'d inanijj.'r (Mr. L. Ac.HJIIW) bu treasurer. — Mr. J. JauH'R (vice-chair'tnun of the Pavilion C-,tijojiilteep reported that they wer< in favour of the field above J>rynawe) o..inl{ In tb, elevation and protection (In both left and right angles, "lid 1hollgbt It w*!l adapted lor th<» pur- pose of erecting a pavilion, it they were able to; secure it. Ti.e C ujniiituv agreed upon the s.Üd field.—The Secretary (Mr? J. )'t. )L.?is)??u).- tuittei j th tuMiies «>t arti""h by the Musical and it was sub- sequent Jy agreed tiwit the secretary thould write to them. — Mr. Ret* Kvaus (clminnan of Ihe Mimical Committee) gave HII estimate or au orchestral band lor tho concert*, the selection or .hich Was left, for tile Musical Committee.—Tho usual vote of thanks to the dJikinllln terminated thc procet:di n 1;1,

THE NOKTil WALKS UMVKiiSITY…

AMK. ULADSTOM-; AM) THB KHONDDA…

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TIIE GOVELNMKNT HESITATES ONCE MOKE. Evasion, equivocation, n constitutional i.e. luctance to face facts or accept responsibilities, a fatal facili'ty in explaining alray the mean- ing and object of enterprises they have been forced to undertake, and in giving a colour of uncertainty to all their plans of action, these conspicuousdisqualilicationsof ller.MAji:si v s Ministers for tiie positions they till art) so ingrained in their nature that even the lesson of the recent division has failed to implant in them a spirit of constancy and courage. Splendid as the valour of our troops has been proved to be, great as may be the skill of our generals, it is impossible to suppress furebodn?s that the fresh military operations which J;n?and has sanctioned in the Soudan may end badiy; for they have been begun in a ba)f-hearted manner, and with a d?tinct determination o:i the part of tho Government to escape at the earliest possible moment from the disagreeable task of bringing the cam- paign to a satisfactory conclusion. It was well said by Lord SAI.ISIIUUY ill the debate on the Yoie of Censure that what the Government would do in the future might be predicted with absolute certainty from what they had done in the past, sinoe the inherent defects of their character caused them to pursue a course the path of which might be calculated with the accuracy of a scientilic law. Tbe correctness of this pro- phecy has already been amply verified hy the speeches made oil behalf of the Government in the debate on the Supplementary Estimates for the war in the Soudan. Lord IIAHTINGTO.V, who must now be acknowledged to be as weak-kneed as any of his colleagues, made a desperate attempt, in asking the House of Commons for a million sterling to supply the de- ficiency in the Military Estimates for Ibs-l-tto, to show that this money was not wanted through any miscalculation on the part of the Government as to the cost of Lord \OJ.sEIÆY'S expedition. The WAR SHCRE- TAHY professed great satisfaction at linding that, according to his financial advisers, the £ 1,300,000 already voted by Parliament will cover the expenses of the Nile Expedition for the current year. The new vote, he says, is entirely wanted for the fresh and quite distinot expedition to Suakim. This explanation is most dis- ingenuous. It altogether ignores the faot that the Nil. i xpeditiou has absolutely failed to accomplish its purpose, and that the expedi- tion under Sir UEHALD GRAHAM is a neces- sary consequence of this failure. It may fairly be said that the troops under Lord WOLSKLKY'b command have nothing left except their arms and ammunition. Their clothes are worn out, their transport camels have died by thousands, the horBes of the only cavalry regi- ment with the army have nearly all been destroyed by hard work aud want of water, and of the stores conveyed with so much toil up the Nile but a small quantity can still remain uncon- sumed. l'ully 2o per cent. of the whole force, too, have been killed in battle or invalided, and at all the stations on the Nile, from Assouan to Korti, the hospitals are full of siok and wounded English soldiers. It is quite clear that Lord WOLSKLKY cannot hope to resume the offensive until his army has been strongly reinforced and completely re-iitted, and uoiÜ. new transport servioe of steamers has been provided on the Upper Nile, and communication by railway estab- lished past the various cataracts below Dongola. In point of fact, therefore, the one million three hundred thousand pounds voted last autumn has been spent to no purpose whatever, and the whole of the work it was intended to provide for has to be done over again. Then, Lord HAUTINGTOX him- self admits that Lord WOLSELKY has told the Government his army cannot maintain its ground near Dongola uuless Osman DIGSA is crushed, so that the new expedition to .,uakiin is all essential part of the iiiilitary operations on the Nile. The Government may pretend that its original estimate of a million and a half as the cust of the Nile Expedition is proved to have been correct. But this estimate took no account of the possibility of the war in the Soudan lasting over two campaigns instead of one, and it was, therefore, quite worthless. Lord lIÁuTIGTON showed the s nne want of straightforwardness in his shuffling language about the purpose of the new expedition, The Suakini-Berber liailway be still describes as a purely military work, and, although a weeli ago he spoke as if the vote of the House had settled the question of advancing to Khartoum, he now uses the halting phrase that such an advance is only" ultimately probable." Mr. CHAPLIN, in his vigorous and well-timtd criticism of the WAR SECRKTARY'S remarks, admirably described the speech as one of "ultimate probabilities. lr. GLAD- STONE, who subsequently took part in the debate, was as \tgue as Lord IIAIITIS'GTOX. He, too, spellw as if the policy of re-taking Khartoum were still an open question, to be discussed by the House of Commons a few months hence. This is a distinct step backwards on the part of the Government, and it gives countenance to the report that it is the Ministerial intention to await the result of the Kadical agitation against the continullllce of the war before pro- ceeding to carry out the policy of smashing the MAIIDI. Mr. GLADSTO.vk even declined oil Monday night to say a word in order to remove the bad effect of his ambiguous declarations about the abandonment of the Soudan. lie says he only spoke of an "I gyptiau" evacuation of that country; but he knows that this was not the general interpretation put oil his words, and yet he refuses to give a promise that those native tribes which assist Lord I WOLSKLKY snail not be abandoned to their enemies. 1 his hesitation will lIot only pro- duce a bad effect on the Arabs and increase the dilliculties of the English commanders, but it will also, we venture to say, dishearten and enrage tho British troops sent to tight in the Soudan. Uur army consists now of men who read and think for themselves, and, strong as the homh of discipline may he, they will not avail much longer to keep otliccrsaud soldiers from asking, and asking loudly, why tliev should be cailed upon to shed their blood and the blood of brave enemies in a purposeless and, therefore, wicked war at the bidding of such a Government as Mr. GLAD- It would I)o well, we think, if iiiore private letters from the camp were published in the newspapers to let the English people know how strong is the feeling of discontent already existing iu the ranks of the regiments on active service.

LONDON AND LUUAI NOTES.

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LONDON AND LUUAI NOTES. (Fitom or.i OW 0I IVFSEIAY NIIIIIT. l.ord Granville has now made it perfectly clear, by his letter to Lord E. I' itzmaurice, that he not only never 8aw Prince Bismarck's dispatch of May Õ, 1,64, ottering to support England's policy in Egypt if England would favour the colonial expansion of Germany, but that he did not even know till quite lately that there was such a dispatch in exis- tence. Prince Bismarck must, therefore, I have been guilty, it would seem, of duplicity i worthy of the great Napoleon in trying to fasten a quarrel on England on account of this suppressed dispatch. The Prince's ex- planation will be awaited with interest. Where are the members for Wales ?" is the question 1 hear often asked in the House of Commons in these days. It is certain they are but rarely seen, and as certain that they are never heard. While one listens atten- tively to comments on current event, one tinds almost every part of the United Kingdom but Wales is heard of, llow is this ? In no portion of the wide dominions of her Majesty is a livelier interest felt in current political events than among tl. ) Cymric masses, and yet Wales might as well be Timbiictoo and the Cyinry illiterate savages so seldom are the voices of its representatives heard in the House of Commons. I recollect very well a distinguished "special" of the Tones remarking to me, after avisit he paid to the mining districts of South Wales, where ho attended several great mass meetings, that nothing struck him at those meetings more than the readiness with which Welsh miners engaged in debate. H Why," said be, they are all born orators!" Such are really the vast majority of the people whom, to employ the words of Queen Katha- rine in reference to some Welshmen who came before her, but who could not speak English, "these handsome dumb creature8" are supposed to represent. Awake ye, my countrymen The member for Cardiff has accepted the inevitable. As 1 have already maintained in this column, it was folly of the most transpa- rent kind to go quibbling over the point whether the resolution he intended submit- ting to the JIouse of Commons on going into Committee of .-upply was or was not a Vote of Censure on the Government. 11 is own best friends saw what it was clearly enough as well as I did, and, with me, they joined in giving it its true designation at the outset. Sir I'd ward Heed sees it now, too; helped to a little clearer vision, perhaps, by thtl refusal of Dr. Cameron and other members whose notices preceded his own upon the paper to give way. A recognition of the simple facts of the situa- tion has now induced the member for Cardiff to notify that he will on Thursday ask the Prime Minister to give him facilities for bringing on his resolution, and will base his application 011 the circumstance that it is intended as a sweeping Vote of Censure" on the naval administration of the Government. By this means Sir Edward Reed obtains a first innings over the heads of all his com- petitors, and the Government will have the opportunity given it of defending itself against a charge-not the first by any means, let it be remarked—of incompetency brought against it by one of its own supporters. I have only to add that I congratulate Sir Edward Reed upon a return to common sense, and that I shall expect a telling speech from him when his motion comes 011 for dis- cussion. I am always glad to find a man who, having alighted upon a happy historical or literary parallel*, makes a note of it and sends it to the papers. Ten days ago or so I drew your readers' attention to the Dean of Llandatt's Shakspearian reference, whioh, applied to the betrayal and desertion of poor Uordon (to- warda whose memorial I am pleased to hnd the Dean aud Mrs. Vaughan have sulmoribed a sum 01 twenty guineas), read for all the world like a literally-fulfilled prophecy. j To-day I olipped from a London journal the communication of a correspondent who pointed oat that Dr. Johnson, writing with regard to the resignation of Lord Northlon the 19th of March, 1 i82, said I am glad the Ministry is removed. Such a bunoh of imbecility never disgraced a country. If they sent a messen- ger into the city to take up a printer, the messenger was taken up instead of the printer and committed by the sitting alderman. If they sent one army to the relief of another, the first army was defeated and taken before the other arrived. I will not say that what they did was always wrong, but it was always done at the wrong time." Lord North was the man who lost us America; Mr. Gladstone, to whom the quotation is so obviously meant to app)\, has ost us all the world in prospec- ii\h Transvaa) I¿hew¿j:n for cer- taiii. I thought musical Wales would not be far behind the capital of the" Black Country" in appreciating the works of the French com- poser of the dedication of whose new produo- tion, Mors et Vita," to his Holiness the Pope you gave some information a couple of days since. Cardiff has already had the honour of being third in producing Gounod's Hedemption," and will be the first town after the initial performance at the Nor- wich Festival in which Mackenzie's" Hose of sharoit" will be witnessed. And now I hear that the enterprising conductor of the Cardiff Choral Society, to whom all these musical treats were due, has closed an arrangement with Novello and Co. for the production of 3fore et Vita" within a month of its first performance at Birmingham. Somebody who professes to have paid a flying visit to Swansea has written a little drama touching upon one or two evils which exist in the town. It is dedicated to an enthusiastic public man, who has been fight- ing to save about twenty acres of waste sand fields for the people," who is, without a doubt, Alderman Thomas. I do not intend to review the book here, for, truth to tell, it is hardly worth the trouble, but there are in it one or two errors which Alderman Thomas will, above all others, be annoyed to discover. Take, for instance, the following passage, referring to the council and the prosecutions of lads for taking aand away from the fields The new blood is as bad as the old-those who are most interested sit quietly by and give no aid, whilst the grab-alls and others who think only of themselves brand us as agitators, deina- gogues, and everything that is bad. Besides, the press is very half-hearted about it; the papers seem to follow public opinion rather than lead it. Still, if wo Were to win, they would join heartily in the hurrahing." This is founded entirely upon an insufficiency of information. The writer should have asked Alderman Thomas about it. The Alderman is enthusiastio about the support given him by tho new blood, and he holds up the press of the district, since its action on this question, as a paragon of perfection. Our A berdare friends, who have for years been noted for their apathy in public affairs, appear to have at last awakened to the fact that they are paying a most extortionate price for gas, and, if we may judge from the figures quoted, they have good cause of com- plaint. Although situate in the very heart of the coalfield, the directors of the local company have maintained a charge of oi. per one thousand cubio feet, an amount that cannot be excelled anywhere, At Merthyr, the sister town, 3s. Od, only is the price; Brecon, 3s. Od.; Neatb, 4s.; Llanelly, 3s. Od.; Bridgend, 4s. (Jd,; and Carmarthen, with one-tbird the population of Aberdare, 4s. Od. The carriage of coal to the last-named town is four times that paid to Aberdare, and the anomaly is, therefore, greater. It is said that the Board of Directors urge as an excuse the heavy law costs that they were-iieediessly, so the consumers urge—put to in the formation of the company; but, seeing that very com- fortablo dividends are paid, it is high time some reduction should be made. If moral pressure fails, I would suggest that oil lamps, such as are adopted by the Rhondda Valley tradesmen, should be tried for a time, and the reduced consumption may then prompt the governing body to have a little consideration for the people who contribute to the funds that swell their own exchequer. The movement to petition for the appoint- ment of new magistrates for the Hbondda Valley is spread ing, and it is stated that the Liberal Association is about to take up the matter iu conjunction with the Chamber of Trade and other bodies. When it is con- sidered that the Valley has a population of about seventy thousand and has not a single resident magistrate the grievance of "Gwyr Cwni Rhondda" can be appre- ciated to some extent. That the great mining district which has been thought of sufficient importance to be made a Parliamentary Division of Glamorgan- shire has not a single "beak" within its boundary is certainly a somewhat singular fact. If the Lord Lieutenant does not make haste Rhondda will have a member of Parlia- ment before it has a J P. Dr. Morgan, of llafod, lives nearest, and he seldom appears at Ystrad, being naturally a "Pontypridd man." Air. John Davies, Brvnfedwen, has been suggested; so also has Air. Josiah Lewis, 'I y'n-y-Cymmer. They are both good men and, I think, have been selected by the Chamber of Trade as suitable for the Bench. Another name frequently mentioned is that of Mr. W. Jenkins, the general manager of the Ocean Collieries, a gentleman who has resided in the Khondda twenty-five years, and who is thoroughly oonversant with both the English and Welsh languages. lie was at one time a guardian of the poor, is a member of the Ystradyfodwg School Board, and has been a member of the Yatrad Local Board since its formation. So it seems Newport is going to oppose, tooth and nail, the project for the amalgama- tion of the Taff Vale and Bute interests. The reason of this hostility is not very clear. It is certainly difficult to tell what greater harm can befall the rival port with the docks and railways of her competitor in the same hands than is likely to befall her with these undertakings conjoined. I sbould have thought myself that the people who bad most grouud for complaint were those of the district immediately affected by the junction of the two interests. It might well be that the freighters and others of the Glamorgan, shire coal basin whom the Taff Vale Railway and Bute Docks at present serve would have reason to fear from the cessation of all competition which the amalgamation would imply. But, then, it is Newport which would in that case be benefitted. Newport would be the t'tump card which the Glamorganshire people could at any time play off against the Bnte-tatt proprietary in case the latter offended in the matter of freightage rates, speed, collection, or in any other direction whatever. That the Newport Town Council thinks otherwise is to my mind about the best argument possible in favour of the amalgamation from a Cardiff point of view, for Cardiff, seeing what will harm Newport, will, at the very same glance, discern what will benefit ithelf.

AN AUTUMN DISSOLUTION.I

JUDGE B. T. WILLIAMS. !

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THE METEOROLOGY OF 1884. !

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THE METEOROLOGY OF 1884. Bt FSANKLKN G. EVANS, F.R.A.S., F.H. MIlT. SocitTr, kc. (Continued.) In lat year's report lentered at considerable length on the discussion of the solar phenomena that distinguished the latter part of 1883, and endeavoured to throw some light on their most probable origin, with reference to the volcanic- dust theory, and the more ordinary causes of sun- glows intensified in character. 1 do not know that we are in a much better position now to form a definite opinion on the matter than we were then. Throughout 1884 the saino interesting displays have continued more or less. In the early months of the year up to April intense glows occurred at intervals at sunrise and sunset. Throughout the summer they wero not much observed, ?)thou?h tho sky even in the daytime often had ? peculiar appearance. At the end of August the crimson and gala cxhibiHoa was fM-opened. and WM continued to the end of the year with considerable, but aomewnat Oimimshed, intensity. There were also counter glows in the opposite sky, which suggested to some observers a search for streamers connect- ing these opposite chrumntic poles, to peak, but. none were found. In the latet, montliti tie appearances werg to my eyes more uniform in character, and with less variety of colour, which was, however, very peculiar. The hue on the horizon was very red, and higher up golden then after an interviii (if many uiinutesacurious pinkish- violet tint would bo seen higher up still. This was the almost constant appearance of the later sun-gloA-s. In the daytime the skv near tho sun sometimes had a pink colour, and occasionally a white opaque 1-k like opal glass. There w?s also a red glow round tho sun iuelf wi?,?. rising or setting. Some writers called this a corona using the term in its meteorological sense as dis- tinguished from the astronomical corona which is an actual appendage of thn sun. Meteorologi- cally, a corona is a luminous circle of rays in cl.fse proximity to, and lit up by, a heavenly body, similar in appearance to that which in higher things is called a nimbus, or glory. A halo, it may be remarked, is a distinct circle of many degrees in diameter. This limited solar corona was, no doubt, caused by sunlight illuminating romfthinu in tik atmosphere. le particles have been sugge8d, but in tint case wo should certainly have had haloes Bnd similar phenomena, which were, however, less pre- valent than usual. Tho volcanic-dust view has not advanced since last year, and no fresh evidence or weightier argument in support of it has been forthcoming since that period. On the contrary, 1 think we nny assume that the great eruption at Krakatoa in August, 1883-witicii one felt a difficulty in accepting as a sullicient cause last year for tho reasons then mentioned—can hardly be operative now al ter such a long lapse of time. There is, further, a positive piece of evi- dence that seems to put the volcanic-clu«t idea out of court. Mr. Robert Leslie stated in Xalllrt, Sep. tember 11, 18S4, that the solar displays were observed by Mr. Xeison.of the Natal Observatory, as early as the spring of 1883, and that t hey "increased in intensity from February until June, when they were strongly marked. This seems almost con- clusive against the theory, but as science is long though life is Bhort, she can alTord to wait for the gradual unfolding of this secret of nature. TUB TOTAL KCLIPSK -OF TUE MOOS, This interesting phenomenon was well observed in this neighbourhood, and presented many note. worthy features, and some points of difference from most previous eclip8es. The eveuing was very tine, and graced with ono of the most beautiful sunsets and coloured after-effects of the autumn. Tho sky was clear throughout, and tho stars were bright and luminous, but there was a heavy dew. Tho eclipse commenced at 8.15 p.m.— or. as we ought njw to say, 20.15 o'clock—and its most remarkable characteristic was the grallt dark- ness that prevailed during the total phase, like that of an ordinary moonless night. There was also, its a natural consequence I take it, a complete absence of tho rich copper hue observed on some previous occasions, notably on July 12, 1370, and February 27, 1877. This was not. duo to the duration of tho total phase, which, though longer than in some eclipses, was Dot so long as that of July 12,1870. Tiie magnitude of the eclipse, taking the moon as 1, was 153, whereas that of July, 1870, when the copper colour was &) marked, .,as 1-67-14 per cent. more. Instead of a burnished coppery hue, the appearance was black and smoke-like, with a tinge of blue. The penumbra also was much darker, and more noticeable than usual; in fact, the passage of the penumbra, followed by the shadow, teseinhled II thick, black-blue smoke rolling over tin laudsc ipe -if I may be allowed the expressioll-of the moon, When tho midJle of the eclipse—10 2—was reached, the satellite was not visible totlienaked eye as a disc, but it looked like a star struggling through mist, and would not have been re(!"lIi,eJ at all as the moon by a casual observer. Viewed through. telescope or good binocular the entire circumference was visible throughout. As this eclipsa was a favourable one for the pur- poso, it was proposed by Tiolessor Striivo to observe the occuliation of as many stars ItS pos-ihle, to aid in the measurement of the moon's diameter, and a catalogue of 110 stars to be occulted during the eclipse was sent round to observatries by Dr. Dollen. Tho result, however, w is poobublv not satisfactory,as cloud prevailed in so rmanv places tJiatthe observations are hardly trustworthy. It may bo asked, "What is the cause of Iho difference of colour No doubt one's first im- :i;:ldouI:r, 1I17It:II1 :Letilr;uT I not only covered, but a great deal more than covered, by the earth's shadow, complete darkness ought to bo the rule. This is not uSlllllly the Cile, because the refraction of the earth's atmosphere so bendSlhe rays that some light tinds its way to the lunar surface. The violet end of the spectrum is absorbed and the red and some yollow ravs pass on, hence the copper colour often seen. This would generally happen whon tho air %ng only m"dcratdv moist; excessive "umi,lilY wou id probably absorb nearly "II the ravs, and ;,) cause the great obscuration sometimes seen. We aro 1\11 familiar with the effect of the atmosphere when the sun Is rising or setting; but it must be borne in mind that on any part of the earth's out-- face an observer is only looking through half tho horizontal length of the atmosphere, and has an equal aiiiotint behind him, whereas the sun's rays in an eclipse or the uioon traverse the whole length of the atmosphere, and are, I lierelore, more powerfully affected. 1'he glowing sunset men- tioned, or, at least, the condition of tho air that caused it, no doubt, intensified the glootn. The moon was full at 10 p.m., almost exactly corre- sponding with the full phaso of the celipsc It was also the harvest moon, although oc. curring in October,and, as there w;i,, it controversy in the public p ipers on this point, 1 will say a few words about TUE BARUST MOOS, The popular idea is that the harvest moon is tho full moon in September, and that of October was called the hunter's moon, and this is often the CUM, but not invariably. The term "harvest "is not of scientific origin, but was given by out-agi-i. cultural ",Ileestor, who observed that the full moon in corn-harvest rose immediately after run. set, and nearly at the same time for several nights in succession, ard thus gave them a longer spell of light to continue the in-gathering of the 01'0118. This was many years ago, for the time of harvest now is generally much earlier than then, owing to drainage and other agricultural improvements and tho earlier maturity of modern seeds. The moon when full at the autumnal equinox makes UH» sm"Ueet possible angle with tho horizon, and consequently rises just alter sunset, and nearly at the same time fore., era l ?igl?t4s. The greatest dif- ference b?t?e.n her rising on successive nights is one hour and sixteen minutes. The least difference possible is seventeen minutes. The harvest iiioon is the nearest full moon to the 21st of September, and it is only when this occurs on or near that data that tho full effect is realised. The full moon on October 4 was the nearest to September 21, and was, tiierefore, tho harvest moon, but, as it was nearly a fortnight after the equinox, tho intervals between successive risings would have increased, so that the harvest longings of our bucolic friends would not have been satisfied by the October moon or that of September. EARTHQUAKES. In my meteorological paper for 1683 I devoted a fair share of space to the consideration of earth* quakes, volcanic eruptions, 1111.) kindred phenomena. Since that period we have had some wonderful illustrations of the instability of the crust of the globe, even at our own doors. Prom the trBits of Sunda to this country is a far cry; but last spring the roll ot the earthquake movement visited these shores in a manner and with a force which was very unusual in out- quiet and stable land. During the past year many shocks of ub. terranean movement were felt; but the most not- able were the violent and destructive earthquakes in Essex last April. They seem to have had their centre of disturbance at Colche3t.er, and from this focus the oscillations radiated in every direction. Great damage was done in the tOWII and surrounding villages. The shocks were aNo felt at Chelmsford, Woolwich, and London. Damage to the extent of E10,000 was done in Col- Chester alone, but the loss of life was marvellously small, if any. At the end of the vear earth- quakes of a far more terrible character occurred in Spain. They began on the evening of Christmas Day, and chiefly affected the provinces of Malaga and Granada. A pnrtof a mountain in the former province slipped, and buried re number of houses with their living inhabitants. A great many lives were lost, and unknown numbers entombed in the earth. The panic-stricken survivors took to the fields, and were there met by new foes in the shape of extreme cold and heavy snow. This was a rare visitor in that sunny region, and added greatly to their sufferings. Notwithstanding the appalling suddenness and fearful character of earthquake movements, and the misery, panic, and loss of life and property- attending them over limited areas, there is, happily, another and per contra side to the account. There is every reason to believe that it is only the possibility of such catastrophes and death \h8\ makes the continued life and well-being of our earth possible, and general death is avoided. In the various operations of naluro partial evil and widespread good seem to be tiie prevailing law. This is manifestly the case in all the violent phenomena that take place on the surface of the globe-hurricanes, thunderstorms, rainfall, and floods. The commotions in the interior of this planet, with their consequent subsidences, up- heavals, and eruptions, are not less so in spite of the real losses, injuries, and alarms they occasion to Individuals, and the ultimate aud general result is beneficial and far outweighs the evil. This is the bright side of the picture. The great excita- bility of the earth's interior shows that there is a large amount of youth and vitality left in the old planet, and .he seems u rsady to open her mouth now *a she was in the days of Korah, :7ban a:'de A:m, inan:t ree uo: I mysterious and mlraculou. alcughter of the army of Sennacherib, in which an angel was the instru- ment, and volcanic gases out of the earth are sup- posed to have been the material agent, and tiie ter instances of Herculaneum and Pompeii and Lisbon. If it were not for this internal beat and activity we should not enjoy its beneficial 1. it radiates to the surface, but this effect some may doubt. There would be no force to upheave the land to counteract the denuding ageneics that conSlantly wear away the soil and rocks, and tend to reduce the face of the earth to a doxd level. But long before that stage was reached the condition ot the world would probably resemble the ld. state of tije noon, witliout an atmosphere, and with uo more sea. As the last dull glow of the eternal fires died out tho earth's crust would no longer be able to follow the contracting nucleus, and the ocean would oe drawn in by gravity to till up the countless cavities and crevices into which the interior is honeycombed, and the globe would at )enMt'h ?)<? its place in the solar system as ndead planet, with- out a ti-ace of organic life on its desert surface. This is what science seems to point to as the end of our present dwelling-place in the ordinarII course of nature; and it differs altogether Iroiii the tiery picture drawn by f^t. Peter with a master's hand, in which the heavens, twing on fire, shall be dissolved, the elements melt with a fi-rvent heat, and the earth alld its works be burnt ul). There is only ono point. in which the natural end harmonises with the Scriptural one, as men- tioned in Revelations "There was no more sea," The description of St. I'd,'r would be in Ilnrrnony with an extraordinary end, bur still in the course of nature, such as some violent astronomical catastrophe; and when we remember that astronomers have often seen a star of the sixth magnitude or so suddenly blaze up into one of the first magnitude, and have watched it for months or longer—a veritable world on fire — who ?"" ?? ?"" ?" a ??"?" is ""f?' siblc

IHISTORY OF THE WELSH SUNDAY…

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I HISTORY OF THE WELSH SUNDAY CLOSING ACT. BY COUNCILLOR E. BKAVAN, CARDIFF. I XIV,-GATHP:RIX(;;THE FRAGMENTS. Nothing has happened of a very special charac- ter since my Article No. 13 appeared in your hn. pression on the 25th ult. upon the above aubjeet. True, that, after sending you my article, some person hailing frolll l'enarth, and signing himself Not a llydropot," wrote to your columns on the 23r<l u!t and, its if very anxious to be taken notice of, in his haste and wisdom wrote vou again on the 28th ult. 111 n sorry to say that, lifter reading carefully the two letters signed by "Not a Uydropot," I can see only one thing clearly made out, and that, appears very plain indeed. It is this: That th3 writer need not to have signed himself such, for anyone could have vouched for the truth of the same without his going to the trouble of telling us. It is stamped con- clusivt-ly upon both letters, and the muddled and confused way in which th lettersappear, aswtll ag the fact that questions are asked which hav" already been answered, gives me tho idellllnd im- pression at once that when writing same he could not bo under the if :fltience of teet»lalim, For the benefit of those who can appreciate it, and not for the above writer, unless his mind be clear enough to understand same, I may say that. Sunday drinking has decreased, notwithstanding that I may lId charged with being a jit tie prejudiced. It has been clearlv proved that both Sunday drinking and arrests for drunkenness in Wales have decreased, the htter especially, and to a great extent since the passing of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act. Properly-constituted dub." I have never said could he suppressed. I have never even hinted at such a thing, and do not care to interfere with them, although I have 111" opinion atiout tlielze, nd ventilated same pretty 'freely a chapter or two ago. It is the bogus, spurious clubs 1 am after and wish to see demolished, and urge the authorities to do their duty in abolishing them, for they have the power already, and that without douut. 1 again repeat, at the risk of 1\ot.\ Hjdropot" being able to seethe argument, that the Welsh Sunday Closing Act did not give birth to these, Look at" England to-day and mourn and weep because of the havoc they play 111111 the mischief they work there. If "Not 1I)'<1I'op(,t" "i<hes to know "when IIn.1 by whom the working and industrial cI. were canvassed in relution to public-houses ami their not requiring them," I must ask him to read my former articles, for I cannot repeat, for his linn-tit, what I have already written. have proved tint men abstain (hundreds and thousands of them) perforce, and are all the better for it. Being made sober by Act of Parliament is a process which goes on every day with excellent results, and as to my "Not getting over the fact that tiie Welsh Sunday Closing Act has been an utter failure," why such cant, rubbish, and non- seii-o is quite sickening to read after the facts stated and returns made. The testimony of the Hev, Vincent Saulez has been inado much- very niucii-of, especially at the Licensed Victuallers' annual banquet held last week, and I 00 not blam-3 the publicans for extract- ing all the comfort they can from such an opinion it is but poor, cold Ot11rort üt most, and let. them hug It to their hearts' content. I alll unable to 8c.what benefit they can drivtJ frolll it, for the rev gentleman rite. lather vaguely,and in undefined terms, though I atn quite willing to assume that he is sorry because 01 tl", Welsh Sunday Closing Act, but, after all, what is one among so many ? I could pit a hundred testimonies in its favour—sincere, unqualified, and unmistakable testimonies to its grand success and vast benefits—to this one against, IInd every i. stimony should come from as good a cleigvm in, minister, or Chrilian us the Rev. Vincent Saulez. No one will wonder at the repiy t- the question of Mr. Kdwards—" Winch of the two men would they have, Kbenezer Beavan 01' the Rev, Vincent Saulezthat they cried with united voice, S nilez." What could you expect ? And what credit to a clergyman to have at his back the support and applause of such a distin- nishl',1 body liS thoso cnnlpnsing the Licend \'ielual1ct,s' A<socia(bn! I was glad inneed to find it reported tli^t Mr. Lascellcs Can- had turned over to my way of thinking in relation to drink- ing-that it was bad and did much injury to health, ice., I Ioat abstinence waR good and should be prac- tised. 1 alii really afraid that t Ioe company assembled that evening diet not wP!c()!1JO his words, if they were glad of his [iresence, for it is certain thatvut. least part of his speech would have been very appropriate from a temperance plat- form, all,1 I yet hope to count him as one of us. I had thought that at last week's banquet the voico of Messrs. Blake and E. J. Thomas would have been heard pouring forth fit thunder tones their anathemas against myself and Ibis liiitory," but lo they were silent, and Mr. E.J. Thomas had to go without a vote of thanks from the association for his service to litem. and through your columns, in his endeavour to defend the "trade," and vilify those who brought about the passing of the We'l-h Sunday Closing Act, which iias been farly abused by him 1'1'0111 time to time. The president, I must say, let us off very lightly indeed. Now that the banquet is over and the speeches made, the minds of tIIoe who have been sighing for relief for a long time have found it by delivering themselves; and whit is" In-liter lor congratulation is that, happily, we shall survive tho attacks made; they fellliko water on a duck's back," to quickly roll otf, and leave us, none till" worse but rather the better, for we dis- covered by someof the speeches made, and notably tlio president's, that there wat) great, 1'00111 for in- creased t>tfnrt. luutwl1 assistance, more unicm, and greater SUPPOIt in the ranks of the association. it wa. confessed that in tile past signs of weakness were manifest, only about half of the licens d victuallers being joined to thu nsslleiiU illn; and who "1111 be surprised at the remarks of the cluirman as he deplored this strange and unaccountable state of things, which to him uppcared very il\tllcntable, I) Inuch 51) that he vei y pithetically raised I lie cry. Why should not all join ?" and re- proached the delinquents by adding, It was not iair ,hat while nil benefited by theiraction only 'a portion should subscribe?" The Mayor of Cardilf, wilh exceeding good hstt), talked atiout 1\ second member of Parliament for Cardiff, instead of in- dulging in the small talk and much diluted matter given vent to hy some of those present, who would very vainly endeavour to p>-rsu tdo us that they, forsooth, are "the men of lighl and leading," for tlicy have "a million of money invested in this business." Alas! for them and their money, for to many it is proving a very poor and unremunerative investmenr, and will certainly get worse. Mr. E.J.Smith need not crow because rtain persons appeared to have thrown asid e tapes, rules, pocket-bxjks, and pencils," for these may be taken up again at the proper time, and, perhaps, with eveu greater success in tha operation than last year. So it, is quite as well for the worthy Secretary to "sing small," 1101, we think, far hetler thlut to make a noise,for we shall not forget whallhe bench advise.1 we were able to do, and I.d perfect right to do, in our efforts to reduce the number of licensed houses when at Swansea last October. Besides, what Mr. E, J. Smith call" II. farca" is drawing nearer and nearer every year, and II Local Ootion." when it takes effect (which it most assuredly will ere long), will then be well understood by hilD, if not before, for at present he appears not to understand what it is, or what it really means. Well, if nothing eNe, practice will teach him tho full force of its meaning, so that to menace us by such remarks lid ho is reported to have made will certainly do IlIe cause no good, but strengthen ours wonderfully, and make our position all the better fortified because of such teaching and in- struction coming to us from our opponents. If they will put weapons in our hand s wlial wonder if wo use them ? We sloall he sure -0 to ùo, and if thev do not wish us to take advantage of their speeches and advice they should keep quiet. Here is it rich bit: Mr.Tisoe said that men cailed navvies -the pioneers of civilisation—had on Sundays, poor fellows, nowhere to go and nothing to do," and the inference drawn was that it was II shame to serve these" pioneers of civilisation socru-1 ly. We ought, toopen public-houses for them to flock into in order that they may become yet further in- structed in their calling as the pioneers of civili- sation." Surely the public-house must liavo a wonderful effect upon 1 hem, and must afford great aid to them in their calling, Rnd especially seeing that they are the opioitc-ore of civilisation." Ask the Rev. Vincent Saulez what he thinks of this. I venture to say that lie would propose,and I would RCond, that, in the interest of the com- munity at Urge, and these "pioneers of civilisa- tion it would be .a .,If, perhaps a little belter, Ith"t they went to church or chapel on the Lord's Day, as this would likely tend to enable them to pioneer civilisation more efficiently and correctly than the public-house would. Poor Joseph Locke. I have excited his disgust; made him impatient and w"r -oh, I am w ?rrv. Why did Jomph Zd ddreary articles from my pen ? He must have done 10, or could never break out in such awful lamentation as in yours of the 2nd inst. But a bright thought after all seems to strike hiin a good idea, something that will probably bring hilll into fame his name IIhlll1 henceforth be •• Key," not" Locke," for he firomises the public at large, if ever I finish, which lethinks is doubtful, th?n be will reply-y", he will open the door, pick the lock, force an entrance, and look Into the mystery of the History of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act." Stand aside ye minisUn u4 claigy, reUrs behind ye temper. I. fall tmck ye Good 1?)?, Alliance .upportr. onù I'rolllbitinni.IS, hhje Y"U: d?tn.?dh.d<?H.ue K.bbon.? K?h?'.t? and ree?m)..r- f"r JO-I>h Locke lt? .-n e4 his appr-, l?.I??. e,tmin,. and whu will be th. rr?nn—whootn n'U? u?)). ??? ?)? ? tc.tdw)))s?..tr?h(.rf.xpec)tt.?wt?ntt,t.et?t high, mighty Joseph i ocke" has come an« ?"ue, I mMn T<ni<hed from vour column, ?< hope to do very shortly now, that the \\elsi hunday Closing Act" will remain andcooiinue te bless aud benefit the potlre of the Principality and tho WoUli nation. W. inav, possiblv, 1V*V and tremble because of "Joseph Locke," but the Act" is sale it will not suffer bv hitn, and in tin* is my boast. I glory and jejoiee in Uu f,tet lh..t whoever or whatever is wrong the Act ll right; quite secuie, and will stand the test of even "Joseph Locke." My "effusiohs are emptv' thev are so-called articles," which irritate, c.nfe and aunov .Mr. !k., and he would they were finished. Only wail a Jin:" h)n¡:r," R.d It shall be even so—your wi?h t)?)t b? t!r«'!tn.d. and you wiIha,e to.y Iiing,%and write down in terms 1 hardly think vou will be prepared to do tho "Welsh Sunday Closing Act," before I shall trouble to take pen AL't,"b'-for« tth.i:t trouhte totatfepe.. Mr Locke, but I do not anticipate 11 >ac MrLortff.bxtIdo notanticip<et)?t much, if anything, worth an answer, but if vou do I promise you that you shall have one, eitiier through the press or from the pialf,-rTu. I am truly sorry to find in your issue of the 2nd inst, under the head of" Th" Christian Ministry and the Welsh Sunday Closing Act," a statement sai I to be rroln the Vltrrver, which is not only at vaii»rce with truth, but utterly false. It is ti.i. —•• Aji the clergymen of Cardiff, whether of the Established Church, or Roman Catholics, or Nonconformist* agree that the Act has been a dismal failure and worse." I say this is an unmitigated, unqualified falsehood, and not an atom of truth in it, nd it really becomes a shocking depth of degradation to reach when a newspaper will unblusliingly lie to thra extent, RnJ I am bound to say til at I f,,l ashamed to think you are found guilty o ? r,PE?at. ing or quoting such a statement in your columns. (To be continued.)

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