Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

 Poetry. I VICTOR KMMANUEL. I Mie weeps- '• -rh.t?sha-.tt?thsp? Her stay of  Virt'?' Emmanuel i> de.ui. n? 'tilt, ?"??' ill t.lie sil?,lit )nMtt??.(.h(.?"? Fill' him W;¡II rai,(',111I']' hl',lIl > Wh??ch.?-"?- Victor KnHU'-i""1 ¡" .1.1 .nK'???.??" 1 ?'' S?.?.?'?-?' E'en :,o';III!<'I'" :1,111 !I;'ir ;ril.'f, .r.?.)).n.?"<?''?"?' v share ?"?'??" ..Virt?''?''?"?"?'?'?"' Hell') I)tl!l)lt,s ill ()e, Tht!W<?'?'??" ?jrt'wfn eh, glorious soul T?-???'?" hc.l Sil III i-t,til?ll tile P,Lit, '['!)"?'?""?"?'?'?. His precepts and liis life be A theme ot praise to ;ill the free. l,ILLEN, Jaiuia.y llitli. H. ('LA nr..

Literary. A WELSH "JAWBIIEAKFR." 'j'?.t.JL?\iu?:))'t]?t' from the ?<u/</??6?)/<? ><l deserves a place i))?nr literary column. ,viul in tlie <JitnthriuAVc.s- that at the Mer'ionethdiire Quarter Sessions the other ??y [!i ?'t'?t Uanfairpwilgwyngyllgogertysilio- o oeh ?as charged with obstructing a higli- -.7. \IU{ the y '"?''?''?'?''???'?"??'y"' ^■V"i'^rtv^Uo''o-ogoch is an abbreviation of the ?!: title of tV ?m.??. Shirley Brooks, whl'J\ .„ ??t.,t))<?th oi Seot and sonie years j wvote in the victor.- '?"?"?'"?? oVn'unadvoelut a f.*v lines evprcssive uf thej .ii'?dtYh..).? experienced m h?hn-,w.u-s to with the curious nrn.e of the hostelry :.r Week< aftewarls anot.a r visitor, who iiV the entry made by the talented editor ;7.?, .?nt tn the !?.a.jy?mev.rs?n ?).i. h" .'f'"?'? ??'? tt?tf.hndthc i < -v rhymes. Th"I' ?hn r?.d the ilViVvaph in'i.n t?-?'?' ?'? ?vc imagined that it was next to impossible tor .<nch  -?'??: ''L!:Htfair?Y.)!ch.wyh?yn?''?crty?Ho- )(. t eh" to ?<"?'?'"?t"?' Yftsuchhas, ?' (tollt!illll too. Am??th? !'W ?.t)'. ;n to compete torcfhel hri^ stmas prizes '? .hv ihe propi'ieiovs of the Pcuplcx ?");<? ,:M i:t?.!?citt)! )??-t's heroine bpIoH?c? ?-t)F.L-c?'i?' t!u» unpronounceable name, .? -h<? t!;? the )"'ct has done his work well ?'?.tt.t'?'??'"?'?'?'"??'?? .r'i't)'???"?'?''???? ???'"?" ??'?'?" u'' ,v -i Ui.ii'k of elision in the last line of ach if ti,e i\-Ilt,ii it, e()nlt,s to) tl)i?, Vv.ili till in the necessary ruinti-iddity-iihlity .'t)!?'r)i:?!f?'????" ?'?'? '?'?'"?'c?'??? tiv (>■reailsi with wonderful smoothness of Heiv w the poem which is entitled N.WCY JONKS OP I.UM'UHL'V, l.l lll.WVMIEUUlilAVLCIILU.N i»vssil.ioi:t».:o. ,)..t).?'J.b'?'" ?M,?'cuthesundimh'< UI' .:h. .1, val(?, wlien the ,;unset t?k 'sW^v- lill Llanli'ris ?' when the sunset h?m isB?' B til durktr shwlow !«lls this heart .since my sweet- beirt X". ■' '• l £ Jones »f I.1anfair)»wlchj>wynj^!rgobwkh- i;!iosi!anerchmgu^ boasts fair ivufuls. but fairer far, Ait- the maids of l-'iiulieris a' they trip upon the \nd Mit' fuirp«t was my swcrtlieart, until she sjud, tmf "? fJrP'-t wa" my SWt'ctheart, u:)tH she Mid, n'L IM'W Nuncy Jones of Llanfair'siliogogo. I > i love,! her dearly, dearly, with heart, and mind, .l.v.i "Mil. i iyielded up iny way and will to her own sweet :if:ol, \r.i nany a gift 1 save her before she said ":Su, Xincy Jones of Lliinfaiv'sHioxo^o. i i s,i;iw,ion's steep and crujary "ide does many a \;viUanbcris stranger* stay fur flecks in the sum- t' time. i-jt artist wooed Iier, and tilei, S.Lie.. XO, of LIanin iI" siiioso.iro. \1\ -uttage home wits lowly, and humble was my lot; five-and-thirty acres was all tlie (ann 1'(1 got, I; i:tttï laud for uiitziiijf, or tiner ground to sow, ■* •> M" tin- like in Llanfiir'siliososo. Wi: ii I sav the painter court her by the winding river the hnusf in order to make really fnr my bride \i\li %,slitii I-&it I iiikttt her, she pertly said, No, bv. nut the mate for X;ujc> Jones of "LLuulyssilio- H,i wails so !i-lnly spoken made tlie shiver to the. h. "t l ist a s hasli.w uVr it. that can never more depart, v: laughed a lit tie s'ailv awl then she said, '• So, so, ■ \ou thoudit to win ilie painter' s bride in JJiuidys- 1 siliiiiu^o. d(V|> sigh was t). :i!u for words stuck in my > tlli" shi' .'ooliy tiirweil 111",11 M, i' hefl, affected not ;i sront: fh.'t??htwj!)J si-liM in sympathy tu hfuj her say. "?"' !w." I KiU Xaucy .InaeJI.lunfu ir s»H< >soj;o. Uiv ni'mter left 1 kmheris when the :Iilitinizi N%-inil.-iI I.I-. I'liill, IVIit-; she rieli ?i lfiives f»Tl tliick around tlie foot s;u-,l,,n's hill I'v Sii'icy Jpin-s iL-ma'tifl 'hind. A wadded wife ■ iihrm Niiiioy Jo'ies of I.Iaiif;dr'sl!i,ijrn^o. I! tIlt- spring time ciime. the summer hi-iit- Viiulii. ',n LTave ti." beneath tlie slmde of Suowdon's lK-i'lit v.. r,ii y .iti'ur I sheil f>.r her wiio lies in deatll so 1" ■ .Viiu-y Join- oi' l.lanfa ivpwU'lisovyngerj" cbwU'li- 'li nlvf-ilii Lo j author <>i the poem says "T may be to state that, t-lie mine of the jilaee from i '??u:?t?r?:i!?\h.'ti].?Hsu"t .Ht invention, de- 1?'i:!K'ku?thuf't: it is as old ?stht:' hi)!s,and ?'i"M')?))nn:ri:?i..)t is:? follows :—'Tlilan- tp..?)?!(h.?\)!t.r(.' ?:i)?)-?)-1)??]r')<d)?uth)r- 't!?n?)i—)?.?.-t,?. \Ù fear the authors"* i "Venation as to the jiropur ]>ronunciation nf! Mi-i'iriAvH;o'.Tti' ll^ii-rtysi]io--(.iLr,)C'h wil) I e; little twice t» ivadei s lniacipiainted with '?\\c?h!?)?))a'?. ')'))c?n.;itt:tl))nrK:,Ta]?h Xt r x w as copied into tlie i a nil the following ]etttr ap]iears in tliat '1"' I ?tm. v "'i the works of th'? ih'l'CUiiTiiua Bridge in |.s-l!i\V( had a slightly different j "?';w.:th?n;)?)t.)'tht-parish mentioned in :'j'! !'i))?i?.t.??\\ ()m- er.inri of it was ')')?.v)!?'?.?.,),?n. iy?!i,,??.). Th(- NN   .?th.. An.) ??[?ftheLn??antit  u.vil always to live there when tN •; ?"?h tuth..?;.?s. IrfMHectSir MM h::l.,¡, Head, i). !.w?r.nt of the n.?tinu' ¡! t t 1 1] ¡ I t -'I tt '? .??'?" '"?" tu th!s,?y th.LtMr tt X"fT?:' •I:|'1 't "n the An^lfsesi side, "'ut- '!I'hd lor '??.?..nt.s -)t?t an unhappy way M '"?'? it.

I." '??- • ilATKI't I, ANI> ( 'oMIOHTlNO. '?t,r, ?,),,? led-e of the lKitiU'al laws '•t^•iin-crii the "peiations of dioestion ami nu- ""1" :lad a ea.eful ajijilieation of the fine I'licnii, Kj.ps ]IMS t tables with a delicately which limy save us many :s' :.j;!? [t is by tic judicious use of 'f,t?)???,)??,?j?,,?j?y?? ? '"y?Uit'.o). until.-t)'nh,'t-)t?)!?i)t")'c.-i?t ,?'J'?')?!?. Hundreds of subtle ''?:'t.t?.:rr"))i;<! us re:nly ti> attack W« may escape >iiaft by keeping ourselves well fov "-a mire bluo'l and :i pi'ojierly nourished c.n.jttt. Sold ■ .nlv in Y'?"?'?'??!).'i ?'?.f,,(.?iM. It? ''?!).t t'1¡;¡l 1'hr..J }IO}. hc' OIl n "'11. t'\P "1'1\ j"'I,!tJ1.f.i..tl ?f f<?\??t')'?Ht a" i' •• hich at tliis. tim« f v '??.'1 ('adiain'"s, the ''ted roe, K-ene, have | ¡ f'. '"?"1!<f tht.i-?.,u?!? \If viliv, ;ttl(l tile)-   !sei!t; f. many of oiirchild- 'I. -I.. C   i;( 1 liri.stina •. festivities. SoT'i '??'i?r)) \\11 I,I¡UTI!, .??-?n)i, sprinkled .I" t' I 'I 1 ] ,) "It: -I  !i!"d !av.. a p L.?.)t ]?.r, '?- the t-eth from all 11", .t' "?"L.h..?. h., ,„ ,? I i,?'?.t'b.-t.?t').t)..?iH.r aii, .??'?!<'i)?iU)))fn?,r.utwt.. 1: ¡Ill lllif.I,'a-:Ù1t 0<1')111' ? d..  ?"'?'"i' tobacco smoke. ",<1 i'ili¡¡. ?.')?? composed L) I I I t I .??"'M?-?)s.)..) ;r!Ns t.. ?tc til" ') t f "') t  "f ?'??''y-?h..?.. f I' h' -• till n' and Perfurners. i 'I j,. I, I i;  "'?' <'?.? ? ,1:1;" O?.rd.? ?? j   ?'?.Srn.?).. T).i.-<.])?.th ?' \o;.emiM- last )'y t.h.- Kev. K. ?"L?))(-ct<n-t!)d th)? V, i 1 k uly been )?.?ivt..t. j I/¡I CII'¡ ;'11.1 ''?') ?'? done in this  ,i LI., "¡" J"h"t") '1 "ltl"j'l<'t"'T l'- |\M'ti'i<, and also in tvpetitiniithev I  ? "¡";Il'c ¡,. i-s very .sweet." j' I; J1.| :V' t?'1i-;i(?!.? K)m\\ I,y", 't''?" ???'L "di-c)i?)n.:u?) '111.1(: '"? -??!'?"i io rt'?;?'<i k.J ■ j 1' t; 1 H h I.. ><•"« I I' .'1 1 '?h?? )"'?????"?- '?'<?- 1¡"I' :1.1, !"?;tmt are ree, iniiiiended ..I ||, Mil k ami Si i.i'in i: Sovi1.  !hL.. It is elegantly « ?it.. I'll"" ¡" t" t "l's, »i>t making the watel" .i. 1 ";1, ?'?'?"? '?' It ? l,' cl." 1.1,, and ?'?'? )"'?)?'t'?? for "t".lt I I. 'II J 11 I '?' H • "?"?"7.? .S., '?"?"? ?"?.< /A' S/.Iii. /y' I'enoit nic t" add ',I, S, >h'; value of ?,?t,!k:tt? "I!  ;?'?".<. ?.<S. "\CW. 'U' 'I "I all ^li!'•S,):l!' -is (juitt- ),?")'?c it h?)?.i?.t) fmin t- Jar" /i .It -W' Siiiith. t' J' I. 1. L "IIU fl. :s ,T, "j 'haiti" SIII'ell"I,'I\ S??,??; 'il' \liP I. I) I ]'k "h'!¡"d'i" ",11' ,"Ii J 1111' S'mp. n:k.it! \Ii I"r ..s, ,I _livail chemists I:, 'In' ) 11v ;V'! iiiti, tid and Is. The .<\1", ,.t' co (' I. t &??J??'?????????S??? '41(() ,) "? '"?..{f?.? ]??

London Gossip. I When ir. the old days of the duet between par- son ami cierk, Wesley wished to show up the absurdity of a little clerk who appeared in church smothered he-neath a huge wig, he resolved to gin: out in alternate verses the hymn, For as an owl in ivy-bush," tov.-hicli the clerk responded That little owl am I. The owl in our political! ivy-bush wa- a Society journal which was started a few month. ago, hut inm up on account of the inii.a'eet way in which it let out political' secrets, all of which were known to come direct iroll: the J* oveio'n Office. That same bird of wis- doni has ],e;un to hoot in the Mor.i tit;/ Pout, and ;i writer, wh.. signs himself Owl," sends out a | mysterious note of about Rtissia. The 1 Czar, he i-s sincerely desirous of peace, I)iit i j he is powerless in the hands of the war party, and. as he cannot hold them in, we must look for inothel- act of perfidy, as in the case of Khiva. This is possible. Still, we would remind our owl in the ivy-bush of the Monti, Pott that Europe has yet to say its say to the terms of peace, and it will probably ttirii out in the lony; run that h. has a greater interest in the integrity of the Ottoman Empire than we have. It was so i,aN, happen so again. What I- vitriolic pieti.sm"? Thep h rase is hat h "v1tl'lOlH; llletism: t he phra';ic l from the P"lf Mall, wliichi:i harking in with the toile of the pro-Turki-h press is, for a paper written for gentlemen by gentlemen—well — slightly below the well-bred calm of a club organ, j The author of "Maud," in hib war rhapsody, written full twenty-live years ago, and which in cool moments he must have often since regretted, speaks of tlie vitriol madness which flashes up in the ruihan' s head but I fail to see the vitriolism of that alliance of High Churchmen, Dissenters, and philosophical Radicals, who make up the principal supporters of the Eastern Question Association. The Pali Mall, in fact, has for- gotten its manner*, and has to be reminded of (^TriggerV i-Iii-ztse in "The Rivals," "Let your wit be a-- keen but as polished a.s your sword." In an account of the experiments that were made with the Telephone at Osborne the other day. Ia presence of the Queen and members of the royal family, I read that the strains of the National Anthem played on an organ to which was attached a Telephone in London couid be heard at Osborne. It seems to me that this must have been an error but I cannot find that it was so. if it was a fact.. it certainly is marvellous. Since these experiments. Lord John Manners, as head of the Post Office, has, I understand, been I making inquiries whether the Telephone could lie fairly applied in that Department; but the result of his investigations h:>s<, I hear, been un- ) favourable. In fact, one of the officials of the L'ost Oihce, who has directed his attention to the matter, tells me that at present the Telephone is i :i mere toy marvellous is is true, but, still, uf no practical utility. I may add that the managers of one or the London daily newspapers has been making enquiries with a a view of establishing a Telephone between its offices and the Houses of j Parliament, and that for the present the idea has been •lite abandoned. The Telephone may, and perhaps will, become of immense service in ce:i\ eying messages in lien of the Telegraph, but I at present I repeat, in the word of my imoniiant. it is a mere toy. 1 he genuine Webt-Endiun is wont to describe ) a business man, vaguely and somewhat con- i tercptuouslv, as Something in the City." The phrase has become consecrated, "to use a French ¡ expMHSion. A more specific '?escripHon of the occupation of anyone engaged in a thing as vulgar as trade, of course, cannot be expected from individuals who derive their incomes from rentals. Somewhat similarly the City man himself refers to regions within the postal district E" a.s i somewhere in the East End." The City may j b? said to be between the Temple on the West and the Tower on th- East. The BeI?t-av::Ut f..p in the wprds of a popuhv song—" N ever goes Fzvt of Temp" Bar" (hytheway, he could'nt, if he wished, now), and the merchant, unless he happens to he in the shipping line, never goes East of the Tower. I am bound to admit that until two or three Jays ago the parts beyond the Minories i were as much a terra in<r,>i,iita to me as the Sahara. My jounieyings towards the rising M;II had always been performed by rail or boat, Fired, however, by a, sudden zeal for geographi- cal discovery, I took the opportunity of a dreary I drizzling afternoon to penetrate the mysterious i-e,,ioni of the Tower Hamlets. I pushed my re- I into the parishes of Stepney, Lime-1 house, and Poplar, and was amply rewarded for my trouble. In some parts the quaint narrow streets, with their anomalous shops and cabin- like gin palaces, reminded one forcibly of a small j sea-port town. Nearly every male in some streets was a mariner, ftiul most of them were drunk. Poplar itself is by no means it bad place • to live in. The neighbourhood of the East India i 1 Docks contains- some very good thoroughfares, and an extraordinary number of good residences, chiefly those of sea captains and dockyaid officials. I am not without holies of mustering up resolution for another expedition, Ultimately I may even fizitl niN- way out into the green fields beyond what seems to be au interminable succes- sion of bricks and mortar. I shall then deem myself an explorer with claims almost equal to those of Mr Stanley, who, by the way, I hear is to be knighted, I suppose for having risked his life amongst be-niglited savages. The great Dr. Kenealy has raised his wail over the collapse of his million sixpencesfund. "Where" -lie asks reproachfully in the last appeal put out from the Magna Charta Association—"where arc the mIIHou ?ixpcuccs with which we could have returned thirty members to the House of Commons 'i" Echo answers, where? or, rather, I the Dodor answer" his own question. "Both are nowhere. We have piped to the millions in the market-place, and they will not dance." But the member for Stoke might go on with the (ii-.t,tation and ask, do they lament with him when he rn¡\urn? If reports from Stoke are to be trusted, the Tiehbornites of the PotterieR will neither dance nor lament to the Doctor's piping, j ami should a general election now occur, it is possible that he might be chief iiiournei- at his political funeral as inelitbei- for the borough. It is a melancholy proof of onr national ingratitude. jMnidius pleading in sight of the Capital was nothing; to this spectacle of base desertion. Miiriu-, .seated on tie- ruins of Carthago was not a more melancholy instance of the mutability of lu;man greatness. A Dr, Sevtoji, unknown to fame, llut I c!a.uing to he a Professor and Associate of cer- tain obscure Academies in Rome and Naples, is ai nounced to preach two sermons in a Dissenting Church on Sunday next, and the connection of irLu is so odd that I should like to know whether i tlie whole matter is a trick of the j Tesuits. I hope, in any case, Mr i Y. lialley has his eye on the placard | whi-h arrested my attention in Olaphani Road. In t!-e iticiri,.iii-, 111'. Sexton is to hold forth on "Tiie Personality of Satan." and in the evening on "V ictor Emnanuel." What can it all mean ? I fs there any connection between the two topics? Has Dr. Sexton ever heard Urban YIII's remark i on tlie death of Richelieu. If there is a (iod In-will catch it: and if not—well—he was a Calnntuomo Does the worthy Doctor with a funereal name intend to send the Re-( iaiantuomo t" the bad place in company with RichelieuItj seems so. It is stated in the Dailfi Ti-h/iroph that "an appeal is made by the Rev. H. R. Haweis, M.A., •' -half of the widow and two yot'.n: daughters of Air George M. Bright, one of the Ti„)i\ cor- respondents with the annv aS Varna, who died of typhoid contracted at Yo.litza." Rut it is not, stated —which is a most creditable and a.ree- eble fact—that th>- TiMfn has Contributed two lo the fund being raised for the widow ;LT;11 daughters, and undertaken to give t"»0 a year for two years. [ mention tiie omitted fact to coun- teract the natural t us-pris* that will be created at tile zlotliill,, f'.j■ t::e widow and chi'dren of one of its -) war cor- respondents who died in harness. I should in m, ne.is add cii;,t "lie Y,it"($ is extremely liberal in .•■ll •t- t.ayineiits, whether tn the living who are d'»i»..g or to flic relatives of the dead w hose work i ■: over. I .o;ido;i,

Foreign and Colonial. FRANCE. In consequence of the Republican majority having invalidated the election of so many of the Conservatives, a motion was submitted to the F-ench Chamber of Deputies on Monday, on be- half of the Right, that a majority of two-thirds should be necessary for the annulment of an election. M. Gainbetta and M. de Cassagnac were the principal speakers, and their heated < "atory produced a stormy sitting. The motion v, as rejected by 312 to 17*> votes.—A return has been issued of the imports and exports of France for the past year. The value of imports amounts to 3,75(i,368,000f., and that of exports to :Js-t,:23,OOOf., showing an excess in the case of imports of 272,000,000f. The total value of exports and imports together for 1877 is 7,240,691,000f., against 7,f»63,{»57,000f., the similar total for 1870, a diminution of over 300,000,i)00f. The chief general sources of diminution are, in the case of imports, natural products and materials neces- sary for manufacturing' industries, and in the ease of exports, mamiractured objects.—Every- body who has been in Paris during the last few •ays complains of the dulness which now reigns in the once gay and festive capital. There are iew balls and parties, and even the carnival gaieties which precede Lent are tame and spirit- U ss. But all this will be changed, we are told, when the Exhibition opens.The new Pyrenean Railway, intended toconnectthe French Eastern Railway system with th. North-east of Spain, was opened on Sunday. Barcelona will now be in direct railway communication with the great eities in the South of France. (iiiKMAN i. The marriage of the two Prussian princesses, stands fixed for February 18, and will be made the occasion of very brilliant and imposing festivi- ties. ITALY. King Humbert of Italy took the oath on Satur- day, at the Parliament House in Rome, Queen Al nrgaret and the Princesses of the blood being present in the court gallery. The Senators, amongst whom where the princes Aniadeus and 'arignan, and after them the Deputies, then took the oath, after which the new King of Itidy made a short speech, which he closed by saying that he had no other ambition than to Jf"rit the eulo¡{y, "He has been worthy of his father." The death is announced of the Countess of Mirafiori, the morganatic widow of Victor Emmanuel. She was forty-five years of age, and three children by the King, whom she loved tei.derly. It was the news of his decease which iiiitdu immediately fatal the disease (cancer) from which she had been long suffering. She fell into a swoon on hearing the sad announcement from lome, and never thoroughly recovered her consciousness. The universal sympathy shown by the people at King Victor Emmanuel's fui.t. val is said to have created a (leel) impression at th j Vatican. That brigandage in Sicily is far from suppressed may be inferred from the details d the case af Alessandro Parisi, of Palermo, who v/ns captured and spirited away in a carriage i i.i the heart of the city, within sight and hear- ;1:C .f his family and friends, before midnight on i th :!nd inst. The brigands only released him 'n receivmg a ransom of 10,000 lire (about C;f)(t) in gold, or 57,000 lire in paper, after eleven de.ys' detention in a mountain cave, with much s-uff-ring. It is scarcely a matter of surprise that pf-ople at Palermo should now be afraid to ven- hr out after dark. SPAIN. The marriage of the King of Spain, Alphonso XII, with his Cousin, the Princess Mercedes, daughter of the Duke de Montpensier, was cele- brated at the Cathedral church of Latocha, Mad- rid, on Wednesday, with great pomp and ;e .gnificence, and amid universal rejoicings. The day was ushered in with superb weather, ich added to the enjoyment of the spectators to the brilliancy and imposing character of the processions to and from the church. Joy s rung from an early hour, and salutes of ai tillery were fired at intervals in honour of the auspicious event. The whole city presented a cry gay and animated appearance. Rejoicings ei I'lineneed at eight o'clock in the morning, when tie; bands of all the regiments of the garrison padded the various quarters of the city adjacent "c their respective barracks. During the foro- I yci'ii three hundred provincial delegates arrived b. oresent a wedding gift to the King, and Don i'tancois d' Assisse, the husbanel of the ex-Queen II s;vbella, presented to the Princess Mercedes a diadem of brilliants, and to the King a baton of Commander-in-Chief which belonged to Ferdin- and VI. His Majesty left the Palace at half- past ten, and, attended by a niimeroiis" and brilliant suite, went in state to the church tr. await the Princest.. Her Royal High- ness, with the Duke and Duchess de Mont- pensier, arrived from Aranjuez at the Southern Railway station a little before eleven, a ad immediately proceeded to the church, which was sumptuously decorated for the occasion. The ceremony, with high mass and Te Dmm, lasted until nearly one o'clock. The numerous crowds thronging the streets enthusiastically cheered the King and the Princess on their passage to the church, where special places were reserved for the Foreign Diplomatic body. and thespecial Envoys bent by the different Courts of Europe to con- gratulate the King on the occasion of his mar- riage. On leaving the church on the conclusion of the marriage ceremony, which was performed with great pomp and splendour, the King and Owen returned to the Royal Palace, by way of Puerta, del Sol. The procession was of a splendid and imposing character, the royal cortepe including all the foreign ministers, the special envoys, and many of the grandees of Spain. The afternoon and evening were devoted to rejoicings on an extensive scale, which will be continued for several days, and in the evening there was a grand diplomatic dinner. The Earl of Rosslyn, the representative of England, was received on Monday by King Alfonso, and de- livered an autograph letter from Queen Victoria to the Duchess de Montpensier, and a tine bracelet for the Infanta Mercedes. The noble Earl also presented to the King, on be- half of the Prince of Wales, in an oak case, a splendid Indian scimitar, with a hiltandscabbarel inlaid with turquoises and sapphires on massive ltI¡d. BELGIUM. The estimates of the Minister of the Interior has asked the Belgium House of Representative* j for a grant of 125,000 francs, principally for the construction of fen-tifications along tlie Scheldt. A shocking murder has just been discovered at Antwerp. In a dirty room, resided a couple of the name of Mestdag, who were known by the neighbours to live on very had terms. The woman was 22 years older than her husband, who is an idle, violent, drunken fellow. The last time she was see!, alive was on the 12th of August, when one of her daughters looked in and found the ill-assorted couple engaged in one of their periodical brawls. The daughter wanted to in- terfere, hut, on being told that if she did she would be treated like her mother, she went away. Next day she returned, when her stepfather told her that he did not know what had become of his wife she must have gone away. Since then nothing has been heard of her. The husband professed great anxiety to find her, and gave every assistance to the police; the house was searched without any result. At last the police had the water-closet emptied. Somebody re- collected that soon after the woman's disappear- ance he had been-icet) throwing in a iiiiiiilit--i- of buckets of water. It was then that 1251 pieces of human flesh were discovered, to- i gethcr with I-! locks of human hair, but not the slightest trace of bones. There could be n? duuht ¡ whose body had been thus cut up mto small pieces. Mestdag was arrested, but until now denied any knowledge of the revolting crime. RUSSIA. A circular letter, referring to the difference** I between the Vatican and Russia, said to have be> n issued by Cardinal Simeoni last October, but hitherto kept secret, is published by the Parisian Month'. From this document it seems that last June the Pope directed the Cardinal to protest publicly against the treatment of the Catholic ('hureh in Russia that the Russian Charge d'AiiV.ires begged the ( ardinal to c,.zifiiie Iii -.If to a memorandum to be communicated to Prince (iortschakoff; that a detailed statement of grievances was consequently drawn up, but that i'vinee Uortsehakoff refused to take any cogni- sance of it, whereupon the Vatican issued a eii- to the Powers with which it holds diplo- matic relations, theiuemcirandum being appended. THE UNITED STATES. Numerous commercial failures in the principal' towns of the United States are reported. A j New "York telegram reports another raid by Mexican Iieiians into Texas, the raiders killing-, two men and carryi: off many horses and Cttttie. The hatred of the American workpeople towards their < hinese competitors culminated in a riot at San Francisco on Thursday week. A j m.inlier of Chinese immigrants, who had just: lam led, had to bo protected by police and troops i from an armed and the rin" g-i leaders of which were talcen into custody. INDIA. The Secretary for India has forwarded a patch to the Viceroy acknowledging his services and the services of those who acted under him in coping with the recent famine, and instructing him to appoint a commission to collect infor- ination to assist the Government in limiting the range or mitigating the intensity of famines. The Akhoorul of Swat, according to a despatch | from Calcutta of the 17th instant, is dead. He was a kind of Pope among the Mahometans, j and was regarded with great veneration by them, especially by those on the Pi-oittie)-. During the rebellion in India, lllallY of the mutineers took refuge in Swat, which is a moun- tainous district to the east of Cashmere, in- habited hy the Yusufzee Afghans, of which very little is k;;own even to Ang-lo-lndians. THE CAPE. A Hindi more serious aspect is now assumed hy the Kaffir outbreak. Latest advices from the ('ape state that the Caikas have joined the Galekas. A severe engagement has been fought at Komgha. in w hich the imperial forces were successful. Martial law Itwl been proclaimed, anil volunteers were said to be eagerly enrol- lli

A TEI.EOMAM Tfrom Sydney reports the pre- valence of a drought m New South Wales, the weather being intensely hot. THE Jwm Mail states that Sameshima, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, will leave for France shortly, in order to resume his position as envoy at the French cnpital, and will lie fiwl- lowed in January next by Matsukatii, the V ice- Minister of Finance, who will act aJ commis- sioner at the Paris Exhibition.

¡ Military and Naval. I- THE ARMY AMD NAVY ESTIMATES have been framed on a peace footing. They will be pre- sented at the earliest possible moment, but are susceptible of expansion in the event of emer- gencies invol ving an attack on the national honour and interests. THE REV C. M. RUSSELL, one of the candi- dates for Poly Orders at the recent ordination of the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, and now curate of Leckhampton, served in the Ashantee war, and rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. INSTRUCTIONS have been issued by the authori- ties that the whole of the infantry regiments now at home stations are to be supplied with a new and longer bayonet for the Martini-Henry rifle, and a sufficient number will be despatched to the various statioiis.-(tlobe. THE KEQUIKKMENTS OF THE VOLUNTEER FORCE. —A paper on the requirements of the Volunteer Force was read by Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Howard Vincent, at the Royal United Service Institution on Monday. He said that in these troubled times, it was at least opportune to exa- mine whether the Volunteerforce possessed all the essentials for active service, which might enable it, be the notice ever so short, to perform the ser- vice for which it existed. In estimating the armed strength of a nation, it was absolutely necessary to take into account the unity and co- hesion of the body military. The regular milit- ary, and Volunteer forces of Great Britain made up a total of nearly 400,000 men. Something had been done of late to consolidate and amalgamate these three services, but much, very much, re- mained to be done. There was room for improve- ment in the distribution of Volunteer regiments. Some places and districts were overcrowded, while in others equally well situated, with equal claims to serve the State and to be protected, there was no regiment at all. In stating that numbers constituted the great aim of command- ing officers, lie said he thought this was not other- wise than natural, because l numbers alone were considered in giving the pecuniary grant, and thus the military proficiency and the physical qualities of a regiment were sacrificed. It was a remarkable fact that there was; no reserve field artillery in the country whatsoever, and the Yeomanry was but a fractional cavalry force. There were two hundred thousand volunteer in- fantry practically without a single horseman, or a single field gun, and there were but few situa-! tions in which they could render effective service alone, and none would be likely to occur in the operations connected with a hostile invasion. The volunteer garrision artillery, if accustomed to the guns they would have to use, would doubt- less prove valuable, but could afford no support, whatever to the active operations of infantry, With regard to the want of great coats and field j equipment, the financial resources of a regiment were insufficient to provide great coats, and without them, in this uncertain climate, mm could not be said to possess the first necessary of di ess. Without them, military training was difficult, for it would not do to expose men, to say nothing of the uniform belonging to the corps to those atmospheric accidents, which might re- ward their patriotism and abnegation by per- manent physical evil. Then possibly we might be able instantly to equip one hundred thousand volunteers but could we in like space accustom the men to the equipment ? Emphatically no. I The speaker then referred to the want of pecun- iary support. Formerly individuals subscribed I largely to the force. Little by little there had been a diminution of private subscriptions until now they had almost died out. He did not for a moment say that a volunteer ought to subscribe anything. Indeed, he held very strongly that neither officer nor volunteer should be put to any pecuniary expense whatever. The time and the labour given formed a sufficient contribution. So long as the expense of uniform and equipment fell upon the regimental funds, it could only be with the utmost difficulty that volunteer regi- ments could pay their way. He knew of one commanding officer who owed a sum equivalent to the whole of his capitation grant to the tailor; another, whose regiment was E2,000 in debt, and who was ex officio personally responsible for its discharge. Apart from the subscriptions of the officers. often extremely heavy, the Government found all the funds, and should, therefore, have a right to exercise a control over the expenditure. At present, however, this right was delegated to a general meeting, where all ranks met in plain ekithes on an equality where votes were fre- quently taken, censuring in unmistakeable terms the regimental administration; where bitter feelings were frequently generated, undesirable expressions used, and where all the discipline ac- quired in the year was dissipated in a moment. These general meetings were unnecessary, in- jurious, and unmilitary. After referring to many other subjects of interest to volunteers, Lieut.- Colonel Vincent concluded :—The general con- dition of the force I take to be eminently satis- factory. It remains the most glorious national institution in the whole world-an example of what a contented people is capable of doing for their protection—a force without parallel or equal, which has taken permanent root in the affections of Britain. Yes, and it is as ready for national defence, to fulfil its mission, as circum- stances permit, as it can possibly be with in- ferior organization, with no equipment, with in- sufficient funds, with no drill-grounds. In time of peace the Garde Mobile of France recei ved in a dequate support from the Chambers and the Government. The war came, and this French equivalent to our volunteer force was a danger, not > protection. Will the country not be warn- ed in time ? We ourselves, gentlemen, are powerless to remodel the elefects that have by this meeting been brought to light. They can only be remedied by full inquiry and considera- tion in another place.

The Court. THE QUEEN still remains at Osborne. Prince Leopold joined Her Majesty on Satur- day. THE COURT CIRCULAR says the Prince of Wales and party of ten guns, on Tuesday week, at Hamilton Palace, shot over 1202 head of game. ACCORDING TO A telegram from the Hague, a marriage between the Prince of Orange and the Princess Beatrice of England is in contemplation. Sm EnwARD CrsT was buried at Belton Churchyard, Grantham, on Saturday. The Queen was represented at the funeral by Sir Francis Seymour. Mn AND 3.1ns W. COHNWALLIS WEST, have arrived in London. They were among the guests of Lord Carlingfordand Frances Countess Walde- grave, at dinner on Friday week. A CAIUNET COUNCIL, attended by all the Min- isters, was held on Monday. Lord Derby, whose health was sufficiently restored to enable him to be present, afterwards transacted business at the Foreign Office. Another Cabinet Council was held on Tuesday, and a third on Wednesday. THE PIIINCI: OF WALES, on Tuesday, unveiled a statue of his illustrious father, the late Prince Consort, in theFitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. The ceremony, which was witnessed by a dis- tinguished assemblage, was preceded by the pre- sentation of an address to the Prince, read by the Chancellor of the University, bearing testi- mony to the solicitude and kindly attention the Prince Consort, during a Chancellorship of near- ly fifteen years, had bestowed on the in- terests of the University, and alluding to | the signal benefits he conferred on the Queen and the country by his wise and farseeing counsels. The Prince of Wales, in acknowledging the ad- dress, expressed the pleasure it gave him to re- visit the University at which he was an under- graduate. The statue having been uncovered, several speeches were made, and the Prince after- wards held a Icrtr. i ——

RHYL NEW STATION has at last heen cnm- mcnced, Mr Rhydwen Jones being the con- tractor. SCIENCE AND ART CLASSED for drawing, writ- ing, shorthand, physiology, and botany, have been established at Hhyl. MH ELLIS EYTON, M.P. was one of the four members, not Irishmen, who voted with the Home Hulen; on Friday night. .A TESTIMONIAL is to be presented to the Rev. T. A. Thomas, curate of IUmJdbn, on hh pro- motion to the living of JUenecht:rd. I HARDING AND JONES, char?fd with attempt- in? to murder the ?amekeeper?wainat Newtown, have been remanded for another week. RHYL CHURCH LrvlxG is now in the gift of the Vicar of Rhuddlan. An effort is being made to transferee presentation to the Bishop of St. Asaph. I HANNAH DAVIES, wife of George Davies, engine fitter, Birkenhead, was found (lead last week in the house of her mother, two empty i laudanum bottles being found in the room. it is supposed she had committed suicide. GEORGE CHEESE is in custody at Bishop' C?st?' on a serious charge. He and a man named John Jones quarrelled in a public-lionse. From words they went to blows, and Jones was so severely assaulted that he died in a few days. WILLIAM WALTERS, a little lad, 13 -y?4I.Lrs, havin' no IDotha and bein? deserted by his father, was charged at Shrewsbury on Friday, witfi absconding, for the seventh time, from Atcliam Workhouse. He was sent to gaol for fourteen days. THE RHYL COMMISSIONERS have resolved to apply for i'2,000 from the Treasury, and for power from the Local Government Board to purchase witli it the foreshore belonging to tlie ('rown and to certain private ratepayers, so as to have entire control of the shore :md nmke an esplanade. A SOLDIER, named Chidlow, has been corn- j initted for trial, charged with the murder of John at Market Drayton. The men quarrelled about a :lwl it is alleged the deceased assaulted the latter, whose lIarneideech, whereupon Chidlow "tahbell him so seriously^ Miat he subsequently died. I A SAD F:\TI\l,ITPha:; taken place near Aberystwith. Mr John Roberts, of Tyissa, when presenting a testimonial to the Rev. Mr Lewis, vicar of Llanilar, in the schoolroom at that place, oil Wednesday week, prior to his re- moval to South Wales, fell down dead. The sad event caused a sudden termmatMt to the pro- ceedings. Miss ELIZABETH JONES, lodging house keeper, Beaumaris, has met with her death in a melan? choly manner. On Thursday week, at midniyht, she entered her father's bedroom, and, apparently in a fit of passion, dashed her hand twice through the window gla?, almost 8trenng the wrist. She fainted from loss of blood, and was carried to her room and the injured wrist bound. The father remained with her all night, but she died before medical aid arrived. It was stated she had been in a desponding state since the birth of m illegitimate child.

I AGRICULTURE A A ALU ABLE Cow.—The Earl of Dunmore has lately been offered 10,000 guineas for his hand- some two-year-old daughter of the celebrated Duchess 07th and (ith Duke of Geneva. The heifer is nearly eight months gone in calf to the beautiful young Oxford Duchess bull now ill j service at Dunmore, and the only condition ac- companying the above extroarelinary offer (made by a well known English breeder) is that the animal should produce a live heifer calf.—Court (Jtrchtr. CATTLE IMPORTATION.—On Tuesday, the Dnke of Richmond and Gordon received a deputation of cattle importers, who urged upon him the desirability of omitting from the promised bill the restrictions on the trade recommended by the Select Committee of last year. They stated that the existing regulations operated greatly to the prejudice of trade. The Duke declined to say anything about his measure before he intro- duced it in the House of Lords, but promised to consider the representations made to him. THE CORN TRADE.—The Mark-lanc Mrpresx says- The rainfall during last week was in- significant, and we have had some bright clear days, with mild spring-like temperature. Some slight improvement has been noticeable in the condition of freshly-thrashed grain, while winter- sown crops appear on the whole satisfactory. Imports of foreign wheat into London have con- siderably fallen off of late, the total of last week's arrivals being about 30,000 qrs. Business has been almost at a standstill, pending the develop- ment of the course of political affairs with regard to the East. The effect of peace upon prices has been discounted to a considerable extent, and there is little reason to suppose that the reopen- ing of Black Sea ports would produce a selling panic in our market. Our supplies are also likely to be restricted from all sources for some time to come and as the requirements of other nations, notably of France, will have to be satisfied, a large proportion of whatever accumulation of grain there may be in Odessa will no doubt find its way to Marseilles. Trade remains dull, no effect having apparently been produced one way or the other by the Queen's speech up to the moment of writing." THE PRICES OF IMPLEMENTS.—"A Fanner" writes as follows to the Mark-Lane JJ.rjtrcxx Between foreign wheat and foreign meat the British farmer is hardly likely to gain profits that will admit of his paying a fancy price for any requirements needful for the successful carry- on of his business. Now, it appears to me that the agricultural implement trade is by no means doing its best to meet the times. Fuel is to be had for half the money it was oak and ash tim- ber are down in value something like forty per cent. iron is also cheaper; and if, notwithstand- ing these patent facts, the makers cannot see their way to make a considerable reduction in present prices, however anpafateable it may be to them to do so, it is strange indeed. The wages of their artizaiis must be reduced. Pork at 6d. per lb., good flour at 2s. 3d. per stone, sound drinkable beer at Is. a gallon, and coals, lamp-oil, tea, aid sugar, at equally reasonable rates, will remove all hardships from such an ar- rangement, which the ixiostiigiiificant fact that our ironmongers' shops are half filled with articles of foreign manufacture seems to render advisable. What is to hinder reapers, carts, ploughs, &c., being imported from the same sources V Clearly nothing but the production of the articles in question at such reasonable rates as will keep the foreigner out of the market. Recollecting, as 1 do, how derided the landowners and farmers of England were, a round number of years since for raising the cry of Protection to Native In- ) dustry," I must confess I never expected to live long enough to see the same revived by the very class that at that date were won over to Free Trade principles mainly by the exhibition of a large loaf placed beside a small one. Free Trade I is no doubt right if we can get reciprocity with it. ê —————

I HORTICULTURE. PALMS AS DOMESTIC PLANTS.—So popular have Palms become as domestic plants, and so admirably do they thrive in the dry air of living rooms and in ill-lighted corridors, that they are offered in large numbers in Covent Garden, and from thence they may be seen on the barrows of costermongers and on the heads of plant-hawkers in the streets of London, who eneleavour to earn an honest penny in distributing them over the homes of the metropolis. During the first week in J anuary the weather was so mild that Palms and the hardier Dracaenas could be conveyed in the open air without being sheltered and without receiving any injury. The Palms which are the most extensively grown for market are Latania borbonica and Seaforthia elegans, both of which are as ornamental when small as they are stately when of larger growth. Plants of these Palms in M and 6-inch pots are valuable for decorative purposes both in rooms and conservatories, in town and in country.—Journal of Horticulture.

POULTRY KEEPING. I CAN poultry-keeping be made profitable ? We know of no question upon which opinions are more conflicting. One day on our journey to town a suburban resident complains of the scarcity of eggs, that such a thing is never seen on his breakfast table during the winter, and that he believes every one he gets throughout the year costs him üd in food. His neighbour tells a very different tale he finds his fowls very remunera- tive—they lay well, and summer or winter he is never withoutthe delicate luxury of anew-laid egg. Further, he has been fortunate enough to hatch ten chickens early in March they all lived and did well. Four of them, however, turned out to be cocks, and had been transferred from the poultry run to the table, the most delicious fowls he had ever tasted. The other six pullets were now in full lay, and had kept him well supplied with eggs since Michaelmas. Upon further inquiry we found our first informant had not I been more fortunate in rearing chickens than he had been with his eggs. The hen he sat in March had most annoyingly deserted her nest; a second was tried in April, hut she was so clumsy she contrived to break five of the eggs; two did not hatch, and one was such a bad mother only one miserable little object was alive out of the five she (lid bring off. The cases we have quoted are not exaggerated similar results and diversities I of opinion we hear daily. We quite believe them, and often from our own knowledge of the people expect them, but who but those who from experience know the necessities of fowls can reconcile them ? Accidents happen and failures sometimes occur with the most careful, but we are convinced the cause of failure which poultry- keepers assign to so many causes, bad luck coming in for a large share, too often is occasioned by neglect and rests with the disappointed ones themselves. Fow Is, it must be remembered, are not playthings and, like children's dolls, to be made the all-engrossing amusement of an hour and then left to the tender mercies of an over- worked genera! servant or cook. No matter if fowls are kept for egg-producing, for the table, or reared for the exhibition pen, certain essentials must be provided for their shelter, and an amount of regular attention given to their natural wants. They cannot be treated like the Irishman's pig that was alternately starved and fed to get the bacon streaky. A week's nursing cannot make up for a day's neglect. It is better to feed once a-day with regularity than three times with oc- casional omissions. The fowls would thrive better; and apart from the question of profit, it is so much more satisfactory to look at a nice pen of healthy fowls with their blood-red combs than the pale sickly-looking wretches we find in some of those neglected aviaries. Fowls to be profit- able must be fed with regularity. The new year generally suggests a new point of departure in the affairs of life, so we would most sincerely advise all who have signally failed in poultry- keeping to take this opportunity for a fresh start, and to remember past failures only for the pur- pose of profiting by the experience, and to believe that, whether they rear fowls for the table or for exhibition, the fault will rest principally with themselves if they are not successful.—Journal of I Hoi-tiruHtirf.

————— Tm: CIJO has now sixty boys on boarel. <)VEU AGRICULTURAL SHOW is to take place on September 14th next. BALA is about to be supplied with water from Llyn Areiiig. THE PRICE OK GAS IX CHESTER has been reduced to 3s t'd per thousand feet. BASUHUKCH STEF.PLE CHASES have been fixed for Tuesday, the 2nd of April. CONWAY JJRIDGE BILL ha.s complied with the standing orders of the House of Commons. THE CARNARVON LOCAL BOARD are applying for £-1000, with which to extend their gas works. SLAPU, the spiritualist, after being sent twity from Vienna, went to Berlin, where he has like- wise been denied permission to s tay. THE BANGOR AND CARNARVON RAILWAY, the up line of which has been closed for some weeks, owing to a landslip near Port Dinorwic, was fully ro-opened Oil Friday week. THE Hos. W. O. STANLEY, Penrhos, Holy- head, in addition to giving £ 3,000 towards the restoration of the Parish Church of Holyhead, has now eiven a further sum of £ 1,000 towards the Sailor's Hospital, to which he had already and lie has also endowed the Sailors' Home with t500. AN ATTEMPT was made the other evening to upset a train on the Holyhead Railway. Home evil-disposed person placed what is called a rail- way chair, a piece of iron 22 inches long and weighing rlti lbs., on the metals near (lueen's Ferry Station. A train passed during the night, and the consequence was that the life-guard of the engine was hrokjn. and the chair was cut into three pieces. The authorities are on the alert. THE WELSH CHURCH IN CHESTER.—The an- nual meeting of the committee was held on Tuesday, at Chester, the Lord Bishop in the chair. The secretaries reported that they had prepared and issued .500 circulars, appealing for pecuniary support, which were distributed in the city and principality. Although the response had not been all they could have desired, yet con- siderable assistance had been given, and they hoped that much interest had been evoketl which might prove very beneficial and helpful. At the close of 1877 a debt was due to the North and South Wales Bank of £ 90 13s. Subscriptions and proceeds of tea meeting and offertory, &c., during the present month had realised k.-)g 8s M, leaving a balance due of t32 4s 3d. There was also an unpaid account of the gas company for S10 10s iíd, which, with other small items, left a debt of £ 45, or thereabouts. It was decided to make yet further efforts to get rid of this encum- brancel

I IRON. REPORTED FAILURE IN SOUTH WALES.—The Echo contains the following:-A petition for the winding-up of the Llynvi, Tondu, and Ogmore Coal and Iron Company (Limited) is to be heard on the 1st of February. MIDDLESBOROUGH, Tuesday.—The attendance on 'change to day was good, but the tone was very depressed, and business was as usual, almost nil, makers and consumers still being unable to agree upon prices. The ironmasters at their private meeting to-day resolved to uphold prices, which are on the basis of 41s. less commission for 3, G.M.B. A lower rate would give them no profit. They had intimation that nearly the whole of the iron over which merchants had con- trol was sold, and they confidently expect that the end of the month will also see an end of the straggle between them and buyers. Iron is gro. ing into Connal's stores at the rate of 300 ton a day, and makers' iron stocks increase enormously, notwithstanding- the great reduction of make. In no department of the finished iron trade are there any changes. WOLVERHAM PTON, Wednesday.—Remarkable firmness characterised to-day's market. Leading buyers looked for a drop of 5s per ton in sheets, consequent upon the reduction ordered by Mr Chamberlain, as arbitrator in workmen's wages. But makers would not give way at all. The minimum quotation for singles was s;7 17s 6d to k8 2s Cd. Marked bars are unchanged at S8 10s, and common bars at a minimum of £ lj 10s. All- miire Staffordshire pigs could not be bought under from E3 17s üd to i;4 2s (id. BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.—The recent reduction in the wages of the millmen and puddlers did not produce the slightest effect upon the quota- tions of any description of iron to-day. The men appear to be quite satisfied with the award of the arbitrator, but ironmasters appear to consider that the reduction is not sufficient to warrant any alteration in their quotations in favour of the buyers. Prices therefore remain unaltered in every particular. A meeting of colliery proprie- tors was held here to-day to consider the proposed amended Alines Drainage Bill, and to take action against the clauses that appeared to be objection- able and inoperative. WAGES IX THE IHOX TRADE.—In consequence of the refusal of the workmen of the Avonside engine works, Bristol, to accept a reduction of 12 per cent. in wages, work has been stopped. 1,030 persons were employed.—An interesting discussion between masters and men in the Staffordshire iron trade took place on Saturday at Birmingham the employers contending it was imperatively necessary that wages should be iin- mediately reduced to the lowest point, while the representatives of the men showed the difficulty of living at the present wages. Mr Chamberlain's award on the claim for 12, per cent. reduction was given on Tuesday. He recommended a re- duction of 7i per cent. In several Staffordshire works the men have agreed to lower wages and longer hours.—Between 300 and 400 ironworkers and others formerly in the employ of Messrs G. B. Thorneycroft & Co. were addressed in Wolverhampton, on Saturday, by Mr Lysaght, the new proprietor of Messrs Thorneycroft's Works, and were told that applications for em- ployment shoulel be made to Mr Richard Dodd, ironmaster, to whom the sole management of the works had been entrusted, and who would re- start them with all practicable despatch.

I COAL. I THE NORTHUMBERLAND MINERS have decided in favour of a committee to settle the existing dispute between them and their masters by 4,734 votes against 2,0% in favour of remaining on strike.

———— ———— LEAD. I REPORT FROM THE DENBIGHSHIRE CONSOLI- DATED MINE.—We are delighted in being able to inform you that the much desired and long anticipated communication between Parry's and our lower workings has at last been effected. The difficulties we had to encounter were very great. In the first place the ventilation was ex- tremely bad; so bad, indeed, that it was with the greatest difficulty that the candles could be got to burn. In spite of this the men went to work with a wilL We drilleel holes from both sides 40 in. in length, into which we put 10 charges of dynamite, and these had the desired effect. To give you some idea that we have not been idle we can state that during the last week there have been about 140 blasts, and when the de- fective ventilation has been taken into account, you can readily understand that extraordinary efforts have been made, and we are but stating the truth when we inform you that we, and es- pecially the men who have been at work here, have experienced the ill effects upon the dystem in consequence of breathing the foul air. Then, again, we have had the water difficulty to con- tend with; twice has the water from the old workings broken in upon us, filling the levels, and coming half-way up the sump. All this hall to be wound and pumped up the sump, and, of course, greatly retarded our progress. Our troubles, however, now are over. The western end of the mine is splendidly ventilated, and so are the workings at Parry's. All our stuff ob- tained from the latter will be taken to our lower level, and so also will the water, and we shall thus be able to dispense with the engine, engine man, 2 landers, 3 men pumping from bottom of sump, two fan boys, not to mention the saving in wheeling and filling, coals, oil, &c,P,. PRINCE, in the Min.imj World.

GOOD ADVICE.—Mr T. Brassey, M.P., in the course of a lecture delivered in London, on Mon- day evening, on the comparative efficiency of England in foreign labour, remarked that if the workmen of this, country allowed themselves to be deluded with the notion that by working at half-speed they would prevent over-production, British industry could not contend successfully against the free and vigorous efforts of our kins- men in America. The only result of such a suicidal course must be that the people who im- pose no artificial restrictions on their powers would take our place in every open market. FOREIGN COMPETITION WITH ENGLISH MANU- FACTURERS.—We have heard so much lately of foreign competition with manufacturers sup- posed to be peculiarly English, and of the intro- duction of foreign goods at cheaper rates in to our own market, that it is pleasant to be able to give an example on the other side. We learn that a leading Birmingham firm, in one of the hardware trades, has recently booked considerable orders for the Continent, for articles which have not, to any amount worth mentioning, been hitherto made in this country. If it is possible, as we are told it is, to place these goods at their des- tination, and after paying import duty and the cost of packing and carriage, to show a moderate profit on the transaction, we may lie encouraged to believe that the benefits of competition are not exclusively on the side of foreigners.—Bir- M?//tf!'? Post. '?l-fE LONDON MASONS' STRIKE.—On Saturday the Masons' Strike Committee paid about the same number of masons as have been on the roll during the past three or four weeks, that is to say, about liOO, The number of men receiving the lOd an hour is increasing, and several on strike assert that they have been offered work by foremen who undertake that they shall re- ceive that sum if they arc satisfied to receive it without its being entered on the books of tlieii- frm., in the usual wav. The committee have received highly satisfactory evidence of the increase in the number of masons at work at lOd an hour, for the amount of local levies received last week has been much larger than any yet paid in. The committee have sent back to Ger- many four men, but ten others have arrived from I >ussi-ldorf. They have also sent home some 38 others to Scotland and the provinces. The general trades council in Bradford have re- ceived a delegation from the strike committee, and have given them great encouragement. The council has issued an appeal to the trades generally, and has sent out subscription lists, which are obtaining considerable support. After discharging all the expenses of the week the committee have a satisfactory balance on hand. HOME INVESTMENTS VERSUS FOREIGN.—At the present time, when more than usual atten- tion is likely to be directed to Tramways Securities as a sound and progressive Home In- vestment, it may he instructive to point out what have been the results to those associated with the leading Companies from their formation, and from a study of the various Registers of Shareholders, it is surprising to notice how large a number of the original ci upon the lists. The following list will show how this steady faith has been rewarded The original ("apital of the Dublin. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Liverpool, London, London Street, and North Metropolitan Companies amounted to £ 2,070,000 and the value of this Capital to-day is £ 3,10S,03.">. The above figures speak for themselves. They show that an investment of £ 2,070,!)00 of capital at home (or le, than either of the last Loans to Honduras and Costa Rica, and about one-eighteenth part of the money entrusted to the tender mercies of the Peruvian Governnenit) has, in a few year, under the protection of English laws, produced a profit of 4!)--ii per cent. upon the capital, in addition to a good dividend yield while those who placed faith in miserable foreign Republics have lost no less a sum in the three Loans above-mentioned than £ 38.72'.Vr>00. The rtdiiis of Tramway Shareholders is, I am j glad to say, steadily and surely widening, and it is evident that small capitalists who have hitherto held aloof are at last realising the merits of these Securities. To anyone having, say 1'1,000, to em- ploy in undeveloped Tramways, I would re- commend a, selection from the following:—Anglo- Argentine, Hull, Belfast, Provincial, Swansea, Tramway Union, Wolverhampton, and Tramway and General\V(ll'Iu¡Company.-FI'oín thcJainutri/ (Circular «/Mv WILLIAM Armor, It), ToLcnhouxe Yard, Lonodn,E.O.

HYDROPHOBIA is alarmingly prevalent in Ches- hire. Mrs Mary Ann Holland, of Over, elied of the disease on Saturday night. The deceased, who was about 34 years old, and the widow of a contractor, was bitten by a dog at Beeston in September on the right hand. She appeared to be all right until Wednesday when she com- plained of a choking sensation, and shurtly after, the ordinary symptoms of hydrophobia set in and the poor woman died on Saturday. At the inquest, the coroner stated that lie had written to the Lord-lieutenant of the county calling his 1\ attention to the fact that no less than four deaths bad occured in the district from hydrophobia within a period of three weeks, and requesting to know whether lie could not take some steps to check the evil, )

CORN AVERAGES, For the week ending January 19. The following are the quantities sold and the prices this year and last year :— QUANTITIES SOLO. I'RICIiS. This year Last year. This year. Last year. Wheat. 39,425.40,798 52s. Id.. 51slid. Barlev" .77,4KS..07,444 44s. d. 39s. mL Oats. 4.SS7.■ 5,4'K) 23s. Hd.24 llsd.

EARLY ox THURSDAY MORNINC. the schooner Utility, of Fleetwood, stranded on the Preesall sands, near that port, and is likely to become a total wreck. One of the crew died from ex. haustion.

SUD!>KX URIATH AT IJANOON-ISRCOKD.—A very .liden death took pi.r; at liaugor-isycoed oil "viocday morning. Mr WHH.m) be had been livmg with )ns family for some time at the Turn I "f L'ee, where IK- ht.dt'Mn?vefL from l.syeoed. The prev! '?)- t¡a- ht h.?t spent .tt L-yc?fd,ft the house of liis s ister, and he lingered there till very late, as if lie were loth to leave. After he veai lied home, he at" a hearty supper, and re- j tired to bed, but he was soon afterwards taken ill, and died by s ix o'clock in the morning. He been ailing' for some time, and had had a docior attending him. It was not however thought that he \\a> in immediate danger, and his si'.dileu death has struck everyone with asfcon- iii ient. Much pity is felt for his widow, who has been left t" tlte. (if a family of little ehildren. The deceased was about fifty yearn of re. TMI: KKV. K. HUOIIKS, LIXWH.— This faithful minister of the gospel departed this life "11 th FIt!! inst.. ai 70 years of age. and was i iteri'fed on Saturday, at the Baptist ( hapel Cemetery, Lixwm. He commenced preaching over forty years ago, to the small congregation at tllis place, and in a few years afterwards was onlained its minister, but did not confine his ministry to this church, as far as preaching was concerned, exempt for two Sundays in the month. The other Sundays ]:e was engaged at various sna il Baptist congregations in Flintshire and elsewhere. He was well known among the churches there, for )K' pleached much to them and w:? :d?\)v-- f.utid'?dt" his en??MnM!? during that long period. For the last few years i he had no cl.in gc of any church, and frequently preached tc other denominations, and for many y?.r.s performed the bm i:d service over the graves .?rv i ce ovt,t- the ,rave. of hundreds in the neighhourhoael of Lixwm. He had many friends among all classes of Christians, fL1:ll v:a • highly i-esjiec-ted. At the funeral, the ll.ev. J. Pickvi-iitf, <'oedpoeth, read .suitable por tions <> Scripture and offered prayer at j the residence of the deceased. In the chapel, arid at the addresses were delivered hv the ILe'.s. J. 'Tames. Eugillt, K. Evans, Holywell, J. Pickering, and K. Davies, Middlesborough. LIX'TI'HK AT PUOWOAIITH.—ON Monday ever.- !)?, a lectin<- ??-< dc):\crud in the Briti?;h Work- ¡"iŒ, by the Rev. W. Johnson, ?.A f''om (Jalcatta. The subject of the lecture w;? "A stroll among the ruins of Pompeii." The lecturer gave I ?aph.ic :md eh"[H?nt d'?cnpt!on of the n,Ï¡¡" of thi, .mdent .,jty, illustrated with cveral diagrams. During the evening the choir sar." several pieces. The usual votes of thanks to the lecturer, the choir, and the D. R. Jones, vicar, who presided, and the singing of the National Artheni, brought rt pleasant and successful even- | ing's entertainment to a close.

Fun for the Family. I 'L;J;a'I,-(IC to the Old Masters.—-Punch. STR-UTS that Russia would not object to bere- THE KALUEST SOLUTION of the PRESENT question of war or peace will probably be a <lis-si/Iur,ion. —Fit n. THE LADIES OF THE UI-SSO-TCKKLSII AVAB. —Bella Hoivida IVII. D;;rcia .Nells. otia. Sal Onica, Hdli i'olly. Bess Arabia. Hue A cni'Eb MAX described hin mother-in-law's Ex.—?<<i. IIAN eyes in the following outrageous manner: She is SO ci'O.s?-tV- th:? whenever die cries h?r ic?rs flow cro?-w?yM over h?r b?ck." A CATHOLIC Phir-si was nsk?d the difference between Ifiiinanists and Kitualists. "The differ- ence," replied the priest, is that the former are Papists, and the latter Ape-ists. The Finishing Touch—Och, but ye area:; angel darlint!—Now. .?t along wi? ye biarney, I)ut Sure all' ye O;¡'r \Ht:\ kippiie o' wings an' a bedgownd to be coinulate.—J t'dp. The proprietors of ironworks all over the country are blowing their furnaces out. This means that itwHi))j?, iong time before the men in their employ get a blow out.—Fun.. Colonel Forney oik-red a town in Texas a free library, but, after consultation, the citizens decided that they would rather have twelve bags of b'.ick-»h<;fc and t'el'. a shot-guns, if he didn't 1 mind. ALDEKMA: M.vi'i'ix, the Mayor of Sheffield, has taken up the uuestion or organised relieffor the distress in that town, and is energetic. Jiy leading the views of the committee, lie is Map- pi; i out their cour.-v.—Fti.u. A serious prevalence of smallpox is reported in the Fssex borders of the metropolis. Co wpox does not come natural t;) the Kssex calves and too many of them p;rLap.-> are of that breed of cal ves that neglects, or even resist. vaccination, P, I); 1 EUSPIRIXI; Run. (the regiment had justarrived at the g uris in —to non-coinnii isioned olFic^r) Corpora! Casey, what do you think of Aden;" Corporal: I'hew! Shure I don't wonder Adam an' Ave was otiasy in't, sorr!"— —Pu nrh. THE SI>LL.—He was kneeling at her feet and saying, "My precious bwe-et, life lingers to me as :t peramia streaked with the glor- ious golden fretting of a soul which knoweth no love IiO-" "011, le-nrv," said she,—" how you smell oi tobacco CAN YOU TELL M:: tiie way to the Caledonian Asylum?" asked a Scotchman iu Fleet-street the other day. in it now," was the reply. "What do yon mean 'said the Scot. ,i [ mean," retorted the (. 'ockney, that London In the Caledonian's asylum." The Scot c-ol)a;>ed. New VEi;sio-V of an old poem, written for an urchin in church during a weary .service. Where'er 1 ca my eyes abroad, I feel the i;i!h;euee rise. My little hands were surely maile, To squeeze to death these flies. A JUJGE rather posed a counsel the other day. The case was au alleged infringement of music license. Counsel contended that minstrelsy was not proved. He argued that they must all play together to be minstrels, whereas there was only one. Then how about Sir \Valter ScottV Lay of the Last Minstrel V asked the judge. A MINNEAPOLIS PAINTKU received an order from a rerMurat' nr to paint a sign with the word "Oysters" in various languages, so that a man of any nationality might understand that that was the place to get bival ves. The painter, from Ireland, a rising artist, went to work and made the sign read American, Dutch, (ierman, French, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, and Irish oysters. MK.VPRE.SIJ IR.XT." exclaimed a member of a debating society, "our country's fate looms darkling hefore us, without a star above the horizon on which the patriotic mariner can hang a scintillation of hope, but with ominous features of fast-coming doom, gloomy and ravless as the eyes of a tree-toad perched upon the topmost bough of a barren poplar, enveloped in an im- penetrable foe," THE WITTY LOIID Ross having t-pent all his money in London, set out for Ireland in order to recruit his purse. On his way he happened to meet with Sir Aluirougn O'Brien, (hiving for the capital in a lofty phaeton, with six fine dun- coloured horses. Sir Murrough, cxdaillledhi lordship, what a contract between you and me! I have left my duns behind me you arc driving your duns before you." THE KOYS or WINWEMUCCA, Nevada, had some fun with a showman. They formed a line from the ticket oflicc extending round a near corner. Each asked the price of admission, and when being told that it was fifty cents, s hook his head, said it was too dear, retired, and fell in the real" of the line. This was kept up until the show- man, astounded by the unanimity and the seem- ingly great numbers, reduced tlie charge, and then every buy cleared out. Ax AMEKTAN PAPER has found out the reason why persons cannot sleep. It is because there is not accumulation in the organism of the pro- ducts of oxydation, mainly that of carbolic acid, that accumulation being favoured and controlled by reflex action of the nervous system, which thus protects the organism from excessive oxyda- tion and allows the organism to manifest its normal functional activity throughout a succeed- ing rythmic period." POLITICAL ORATORS at the West indulge in some high-flown asseverations in regard to their firmness of principle. The following is a. moderate specimen:—" Build a worm fence around a winter's supply of summer weather skim the clouds from the sky with a teasjKion catch a thundercloud in a bladder; break a hurri- cane to harness; ground-sluice an earthquake; lasso an avalanche pin a napkin on a crater of an active v olcano—but never expect to see me false to my principles." A BFRLY-LOOKŒG FEMALE of unmistakable Celtic origin was recently arrain?ed beforeaDub« lin magistrate for some ordinary offence. While nature had magnificently endowed her with good health and physical strength, the question of good looks had been neglected in the haste in which she had been prepared for the world. "What are you up here for?" inquired the magistrate. "My beauty, I reckon." "Your iwhat?" My beauty." "Are you certain of that?" "011, bedad! there's no mistake." "Then I discharge you—you ain't guilty 1" And the acquited lady took her departure. AMO.V!; the few highly favoured individuals who were included in the select evening parties of his present Majesty. George the Fourth, while at the Pavilion, Brighton, was the facetious Reverend On one occasion the king suggested to his brother, the Duke of York, some intention lie had of doing a particular act, to which the duke dissented, and his Majesty re- ferred to the D.D., on which the reverend jocularly observed, "The kingean (buio wrong." Then, said his Majesty, "Fred, I shall pursue my object, for you hear I have 'Wright Divine' on my side," WINTRY DAY the Prince of Wales went into the Thatched House Tavern and ordered a I steak. But," said his Royal Highness, "I am devili-h cold, bring me a glass of hot brandy and I water." He swallowed it, another, and another. Now," said he, I am comfortable, bring my steak." On which Mr Sheridan, took out his pencil and wrote the following impromptu:— The Prince came in, said it was eold, Then put to his head the rummer Till swallow after swallow came, When he pronounced it summer. THE REV. E. L. BETTIIOX told a good tale of the old "tithe system at the dinner of the Romsey Agricultural Society. He said 'The records of Ronisev Abbey showed that his predecessors in the livings of St. Leonard and St. Lawrence re- cei ved their tidies in kind in the north aisle. They received every tenth cow, calf, and pig but how they managed to deal with them he didn't know. A rather pompon-, tight-laced clergyman was one day called upon to christen a child, but on asking its name the woman who brought it said. "1 don't know, sir; it'- your child, sir "My child exclaimed he. Yes, sir, it's the tenth child, s ir." THERE IS A MAX in Montana who has invented an electrical automatic dotf, with vulcanised bead, a brass spine, sheet-iron libs, copper-toed feet, it cast-iron tail, a gutta-percha skin, and an interior where the wheels of an eight-day machine go round to the time of two miles a minute. The advantages claimed for this dog are :—1st. It can't be pizened 2nd. It will not kill sheep 3rd. It will not run away from a cross cat; 4th. It will not bite the children; 5th. It will not introduce fleas into the house; lith. It will not yelp when its toes are trodden on 7th. It will bite a policeman when he takes it up. SOMKONE sent to the Athmtir MvVtltlU following Lightly s he lifts the large,* pure, luminous shell, and poises it in her strow," shapely hand. Listen she says—' it has a tale to tell, spoken in language you may understand.' Smiling, she holds It to my dreaming ear the old delicious iimrmer of the sea steals like enchant- ment through me, and I hear voices like echoes of eternity. Let her poise. She may also lift the convoluted univalve in a 'strong and shapely hand, and her biceps may swell out like a musk I uelon. But the antique swindle touching the olel, delicious murine)- of the sea." is a humbug. I'or, reader, if you will hold a beaver hat, or a goblet, or a pickle bottle to your ear, you will hear the ilame delicious murmer." HERE is a good aneedoteabouta Welshmusician and his double (' which eleservesto lie sa ved from oblivion. Perhaps some of our readersmay have seen it before, still it is worth recording for the amusement of those who have not ? It is not an old Joe," for it is quite true. Some seventy or eighty years ago, as Sir W. Wynn was riding in the neighbourhood of Wrexham, be heard a man singing in a cooper's workshop with whose voice he was much struck. It was a person of the name of Meredith, who possessed a splendid bass voice. Sir Watkin had him instructed, ami he became celebrated :M a singer of sacred music. He was engaged at the ancient concerts, oratorios, &c but he resided chieny at LIverpool, Having heard that a parish clerk of a village in the Yale of Clwyd, of the name of Griffiths could sing down to double C, Meredith was determined to visit him. He accordingly started, and walked about forty miles. When he arrived in the village he inquired for Griffiths. A very little fellow, digging potatoes in a garden, was pointed out to him, What!" thought Meredith, that shrimp of a thing to sing lower than I can '? Im. IloS8ihle!" Mereelith, it is said, was a tine tall man, upwards of six feet high. He walked around the garden, eyeing poor Grimths disdainfUlly. at length he said, upon low G, "Good day t yon sir." H ninths, resting on his spade, replied on double low C (nve note, lower), "Good d?to y°i\' 'TS v! ^0n ,hlCl Meredith marched off wth double C m hi? ear aH the w?"a'v ytn?* Liw,mem* Us rar' tk to