Monmouthshire Merlin

MORE FIGHTING IN THE SHIPKA PASS. 3000 TURKS KflXED, [RUSSTAN ORTRCIAL DESPATCH, HEAD QUARTERS (GOENY STTJPBN), Sept. 22. -YesterdaYi.e.t ,:11 M. the bombardment of St. Nicholas hill in the Shipka Pass, which had been suspended by the Turks since their re- pulae on the ITftkv inst., was renewed from mortals fired in salvos. > About 1 p.m. the oncmydirected an attaok against the position of General Falischeff, at Fochertauna, on their right flank, but0were; driven back. Attacks made oh the left gainst the^ Centre were like- wise everywhere repulsed. The fighting only terminated at. nightfall, when General FaHs- pheff's column maintained its position. A re- newal of fche attack is expected to-day. ^ST. PKTEUSBXJIIO, Sept. 23.—-The following official despatch has been received from Gorny Ktnden witi. <$aaxd to the eneacements which ■ -igoa 'MOM took place m the Shipka Pass on the iVtn instant: The enemy, on the night of the 17th instant, stealthily approached our right wing on Mount Nicholas. This was discovered by a hidden outpost on the right wing, and Lieutenant-colonel Sàndezky, -of the Volhynian Regiment, who was in command at the spot, gave orders to the troops to hold themselves prepared, and to await the attack. Captain Ostappff, commanding the first company of rifles, allowed the Turks to approach within tifty paces, and then, by a volley, put them to night. This occurred at five o'clock in the I. morning. Later on the enemy made two more attacks, but retreated towards nine o'clock. The Turkish attacks; on our centre were feebler, and ceased towards eight o'clock: in the morn- ing. The engagement, which commenced at 3 a.m. on Mount Nicholas, was the most violent of all. The Turks scaled the rock in dense masses, hurling hand grenades among our troops, and succeeded in driving back two com- panies out ofqur front trenches. They then began constructing trenches with gabions and fascines, which they bad carped with them. Notwithstanding our sustaipjed musketry and, artillery fire,:the Turks; 0o&ti»ued to pour up the -ascent, and towards six. a.zou hoisted on the rock a white flag with a red crescent, in conse- quence of which we suspended firing for a time. The first counter attacks were re- pulsed, but towards eight a.m. the Turks were beaten down from the height and almost entirely annihilated by two companies of theSkitomir and one company of the, "Volhynian regiments. The entire slope was thicldy. CQy&red with Turk- ish dead to the number of no less than 3000. The column which opposed the assault was at first commanded by Colonel Tieschelnikoff, but this officer was subsequently wounded, and the command was then assumed by Prince Chilkoff, Lieutenant-colonel of the Volynian Regi- ment. Our artillery fire was very effective, especially that of the fourth battery of the 14th brigade, under Colonel Hoffmann, and the first battery of Prince Mestschersky, one of the Emperor's aides de camp, who was killed. After his death the command passed to Lieut. Sidoren, who dispersed several Turkish storming columns by shells. Lieut. Sidoren was himself wounded. The sappers of the 2nd battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Rieswty, also behaved with- gallantry. Our loss is larger than was at first announced. It amounts to 31 officers and 1000 men killed and wounded. Among the latter is Colonel Renner- feldt, of the General Staff. The defence of the 17th was conducted by General Radelzky in person.

THE CZAREWITCH SEVERELY WOUNDED. PARIS, Sept. 28. Osman Pasha has again defeated the Rus- sians, driving them out, of Grayitza. Chefket Pasha arrived, bringing reinforcements, supplies, and ammunition. The Czare- witch has sustained a disastrous defeat at Biela. Mehemet Aliproved himself: an excel- lent General. He masked his movements, and under cover of a heavy cannonade attacked the enemy's flank. It is rumoured that a panic is spreading among the Russians. The Czare- witch has been severely wounded. The Rus- sians are reported to be recrossing the Danube.

THE SITUATION BEFORE PLEVNA. CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 24.-The Porte has issued the following intelligence:—His Excel- lency Suleiman Pasha, telegraphs to us, under date 21st instant:—"To-day our artillery con- tinues bombarding the positions of the Rus- sians at Shipka, inflicting very heavy losses. Chefket Pasha also ajo-nponoea to tue. from Ork- hanieonthe 22nd inst., that the division of Ahmed Ifzi Pasha has arrived at Dinek, two hours' march from Plevna, with the convoy which it escorts, after having had a violent artillery engagement with the enemy, which terminated in the retreat of the Russians. Mehemet Ali Pasha, on his part, fought an engagement of some importance the day before yesterday, in which the enemy was totally defeated." I 'I CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 24 (6.10 p.m.)—The following despatch has been received from Chevket Pasha:—" Orkhanie, Monday.—Hakki Pasha, who is stationed in the Kara Dagh to protect Ahmed Hifzi Pasha's line of retreat, has advised that the division under the command of Alimed Hifzi, consisting of twenty battalions of infantry, two batteries and a regiment of cavalry, has entered Plevna with the convoy. The work of restoring telegraph communication is advancing rapidly. Suleiman Pasha telegraphs as follows, under yesterday's date:—Two companies of infantry and 200 Cir- cassians, sent out, on a reconnoitring expedition, advanced to within two, hours'march from Ga- brova. After paving burned some villages on the Jantra and Jeirimshalle, and driven out the Russians, they returned to the camp. We keep up a continuousjcannonade against the positions of the enemy, who do not reply." (RUSSIAN QFFICI^ DESPATCH.) RUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS, GORNY STUDEN, Sept. 29.- The attack made by the Turks on Tsober- kordnai- on the 21st was decisively repulsed. and was not renewed on the 22nd. The Tub retreated. Our loss was 21 officers, and 400 xnen kort de coniiaf, while that of the enemy amounted to at "least 1006 men. Our cavalry corps, .which is stationed on the road between ,?levn^ and Sophia, madi? two reconnamstuices tb obiain information 't40s to the strength; of the Turkish relief troops; On the 20th, Adjutant <3ount Starkelberg left Sophia for Raschita, and dispersed, three Turkish squadrons near that village, but withdrew, as infantry were seen doming up in the rear. Our loss was five men killed^ and two officers and eleven mefn wounded., On the 21st, Colonel Totalman drove back a body of Turkish ca.va.lry, 'and discovered ten battalions with artillery and two regiments of cavalry en- trenched near Temin, by Opening artillery fire upon the Turks. He stopped their further advance, and afterwards withftrew with his troops to a post of observation-

TheREPOBTetl)JtJBKISH VICTORY ATBIELAGONTRADICTED. .1 (From the Spooial Correspondent of the London Telm<*Ph') PERA, Sept. 28.The telegramn which I transmitted to you on Friday night from Shumla now appears to( have been- based on an erroneous .or preriiatiire report from the head- quarters of Mehemet All. An action appears to have taken place, but the Russian positions Were maintained, at our last tidirigs. VIENNA, September 24,—The special corres- pondent of the Nem Wtm Prtsje, who wit- nessed the iafliair near Biela: between the force^ of the 0?rfl,rewitch and Meheanet Ali, states that Prince Hassan- maxSe a sharp reconnaisanco against the Russian fortiifed position, with ten battalions, which; after Steven hours' artillery and infantry fitting, ended by tee Turka voluntarily ^ach&ide keeping their old positions,; ENGAGEMENT !IFJJ!IT"V^P,EN TURKS AND BULGASIA^'1XS'URG;ENTS. CONSTANTINOPLE, ^ySeptiiii.-r-^i^him. Pasha belegrapha: to the; jjSferaakierate as fonows:- Philippopolisi Sunday;— Bome Bulgarian insurgents having occupied the; monastery of Tourrian, and a b&nd'of'Cossacks having made their appearance in$}ie direction of Carlowa, eleven companies" of infantry and three aauadrons of cavalrv ,:v ere sent out to re- V J v J 'i:J It.. connoitre. ihey encountered the insurgents at Tourrian, dislodged them from the position they had taken tifp on the hoights, and pursued them as far as, Osmasonnou." < NEWS FROM BUCHAREST. BUCHAREST, Sept. 23 (Evening).—Mr. Lloyd, the delegate of the Sick and Wounded Fund, has arrived here with three ambulance waggons and appurtenances, in value about £ 5000. The materials most needed are bandages and linen, To-day the three guns captured by the Roumanians in the Grivitza redoubt were brought in procession into Bucharest. A large crowd collected in the streets to seethe trophies, and the Princess Elizabeth was also a spectator of the procession. Two of the guns are to be placed, in accordance with an order of the day, before the monument of Michael the Brave, and the third in front of the Prince's palace. BRUTAL SAVAGERY OF BASHI-BAZOUKS. MUTILATION OF RUSSIAN DEAD. f (From the Times.) SffcA, Sept. 22.—A correspondent whom I personally know as of philo-Turkish sym- 'pathies and opinions writes from Mehemet Ali's camp as follows: "Russian corpses are lying around us all stark naked, many headless, and a few mutilated. In the distance I see Bashi- Bazouks despoiling and mutilating the dead." I believe the Turkish soldier is incapable of committing or even conniving at these dastardly acts. They are the work of men who practi- cally represent the dregs of an infuriated population driven to madness, and who seek relief in a war of extermination. The Turkish commanders deplore these excesses, and Me- hemet Ali has organised a military gendarmerie for the special purpose of stopping them. One man caught mutilating a Russian corpse was sentenced to eight years' hard labour, but the Turkish Government is too weak to stop them effectually. This continued violation of the Geneva Convention, however, is not confined. to the Turks; as letters from your own corre- spondents show. The Russian soldiers at the victory of Lovatz did not give quarter. People may well ask how much longer Europe is going to look on impassive at a war conducted with such savagery. ILLNESS OF THE CZAR. NATIONAL GRIEF IN ROUMANIA. OKSOVA, Sept. 23 (3.20 p.m.)-Both the Czar and the Grand Duke Nicholas have been much overcome by the recent calamities of the army. The Emperor had two fainting fits the day after Plevna; he is greatly careworn, ana. scarcely speaks to encourage those around him. I have these details from unquestionable autho- rity. Officers of the cavalry of the Guard who have just passed through Bucharest are much de- pressed in spirits, and complain that their horses are utterly knocked up by forced marches. They manifest much resentment against the Imperial family, always excepting the Czar, himself. In- dignation against Prince Charles is rapidly rising amongst all classes in Roumania, stimulated by details of the slaughter oozing out by degrees. When convoys of wounded arrived at the sta- tion last Tuesday, the women there assembled were heard loudly invoking curses on hia head. The Roumanian army has lost fully one-fourth of its whole strength since it crossed the Danube. Certain districts in Moldavia have hardly one family unbereaved. Most of the men who have fallen were married and the heads of families. There is, consequently great distress throughout the country.—London Telegraph.

THE SITUATION BEFORE PLEVNA. CONSXAKXINOSLS, Sept. 25. T- The strong Turkish force which had been despatched to oppose an invasion on the part of Servia, has been directed to proceed to Flevna, as it is con- sidered that there is now no danger of attack from Servia. This, with Chefket Pasha's re- inforcements, will enable Osman to resume the offensive. BUCHAREST, Sept. 25.—A Circassian Cossack brigade,in reconnoitring to the south of Plevna, encountered a strong Turkish force, and were compelled to retire. ■ BUCHAREST, September 25.—It is stated on good authority that the total losses of the Russians and Roumanians during the recent operations before Plevna exceed 25,000 men killed and wounded. y BERLIN, Sept. 25!-—Ammunition, amounting to several thousand1 cartridges, has arrived at Plevna. Ifni Pasha has been reinforced by a force of 16,000 men. The Shumla recon- naissance' Imows that the army of the Czare- witch has been reinforced by the 26th division, and also that Mehemet is receiving reinforce- ments from Vama. VIENNA, Sept. 25.—-Twenty battalions of in. fantry, one regiment of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery, with a large convoy of provisions and ammunition, entered Plevna on the 23rd. Meanwhile a reconnoitring corps of Suleiinan Pasha's army have expelled the Rus- from the village of Jaiitra, near Gabrova. ,J THE TURKISH FLEET. GI6RALTAB, Sept. 26.—The Turkish fleet passed through the Straits this morning on its return to Turkish waters.

'MF FIGHTING AT CFIBKOVNA. 1 (From the correspondent of the limes.) VIENNA, September 24.~The details at last to hand of the fight, on the 21st inst. at Cer- kovna, on the Banicka-Lom, reduce it consider- ably in importance compared with what pre- mature rumours attached to -it. Stilly it has some weight, as it seems the first check encountered by Mehemet Ali in his advance. Although in the Turkish camp it is known under the euphonious name of a forced recon- naissance, it looked very much like a serious attempt to gain a footing on the right bank of the Banicka-Lom, which failed chiefly through the want of support to the Egyptian battalions. The ten battalions in the first line seem, as usual, to have done their$nty, and to have gained ground, which some of them would no^ even give up when the order to fall back was given. For once Mehemet Ali did not contrive to have the numerical superiority. The ten battalions which he placed in the first line found themselves faced by 12 Russianbattalions —eight of the 32nd Division of the 11th Corps d' Armée, and four qf the 35th Divison of the 13th Corps-while w; the course of the after- noon the Russians brought up from Koprivca, lower down the Banicka-Lom, the other Divi- sion of the 13th Corps d' Axm4e so that even if the nine Egyptian battalions had taken part in the fight, the superiority of numbers would still have been in favour of the Russians. With all this, it tells in favour of Mehemet Ali that, seeing the day was lost, he did not force the attack, but withdrew his troops. A brigade of the 82nd Division of the llth Corps seems to have been chiefly engaged on the Russian side, whicb shows that one, at least, of the three brigades of the llth Corps, previously stationed m and around Tirnova, had been brought up to strengthen the forces on the Jantra. General Tatischeff, who is mentioned as the Russian leader, figured in the original ordre de bataille as Commander of the llth Cavalry Division attached to the llth Corps d'Axm^e. Nothing is said about the losses on either side, so they cannot have been very great. At any rate, the figlit of the 21:st is but the prelude to more extensive operations, which, however, may be delayed by the weather, which has been breaking up, as it usually does about the time of the Equinox, and the attack on the 21st aeema even to have been retarded on that account. The rainy weather usually only lasts for ten days or a fortnight; but time is even a more important factor in this case than in others, as every day brings fresh reinforce- ments to the Russians, and these autumn rains may thus not be without influence on the cam- paign.

THE SITUATION AT SHIPKA. (Times despatch.) BUCHAREST, Sept. 24.—At Shipka, Suleiman Pasha is no nearer his object than he was a month ago, when his 15,000 dead and wounded men were still on duty. I do not credit the Turkish report that they had temporarily occupied Fort St. Nicholas, simply because a force that had once captured it could hold it, on account of its commanding position, dominating as it does all the surrounding grounds. From my knowledge of the positions in the Shipka, I am confident that it is utterly impossible ,to carry the Russian fortifications by assault, unless the Russians run short of ammunition—a contingency not likely to oc- cur as they have constant communication with their depots at Gabrova, notwith- standing Suleiman Pasha's assertion that he commands the Gabrova road. There are short distances where the Turkish fire reaches the regular chaussee on the northern slope of the pass; but the Russians have constructed bye- ways at th6se places, which enable them to avoid the Turkish ifre during the day, while at night they 1186 *be chaussee without danger. Should the Shipka Pass fall by some unexpected contingency, the capture of Timova is not the inevitable result. The whole road from Gabrova to that place abounds in strong posi- tions, and so long ago as the 30th of August the Russians were fortifying the approaches to Tirnova. Should Suleiman Pasha reach Tirnova, he must get out of the labyrinth of hills and valleys either by Tirnova or Selvi, and the latter place is too far to the westward to enable him to threaten the Russian commu- nications before the reserves could be thrown across his line of march. Besides, his forces would be badly off before he got out of the Balkans, and he would be in no condition to take the offensive after losing 15,000 or 20,000 of his best troops between Kesanlik and the open country north of the Balkans. On the left, Mehemet Ali Pasha has been falling back to- wards the Lom, and has attacked the forces 6f General Tatischeff, which were probably follow- ing him up. General Tatischeff held his posi- tions, and a repetition of the Turkish attack was 'expected. The Guard is beginning to arrive upon the scene of action, and unless Mehemet Ali strikes very quick and hard, his opportunity will have passed away, perhaps for ^CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 25.—Suleiman Pasha telegraphs under yesterday's date that the musketry and artillery fire continues on the whole line.

THE CAMPAIGN IN ASIA. VIENNA, Sept. 24 (Night).—A telegram from Tiflis, dated the 23rd, states that at Erivan, Alexandropol, and Ackaljik, large forces are collected for a winter campaign. At the latter place also, 20,000 reserve troops are concen- trating. The first division of Grenadiers has reached Karajal. Among the Abchasians who were shipped by the Turks to various seaports were several hundred Christians, who deplore their departure, and declare they were carried off by force, and intend to petition the foreign I Consuls for intervention on their behalf.—Daily News. I.d j

r The Whitehall Review is able to state that Field- Marshals are not to be brought under the operation of the rale that provides for the retirement of general officers on attaining the age of 70. The new three-volume Edition of Sir J. Gardner Wilkinson's' Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians," edited by Dr. Birch, will be published in November by Mr. Murray. On the lst of, March, M. Brasseur will leave the Palais Royal, where he has played for twenty-four years. He is going to set up a theatre of his own on the Boulevard des Italiens. At a special meeting of the Wolverhampton Town Council last week, it was resolved to accept the offer of the Duke of Cleveland to lease 501 acres of the racecourse for a public park. The British Medical Journal states that Mdlle. Titiens, since her return from Worthing, has re- mained without improvement. Her state causes considerable anxiety to her family and friends. The Royal Exhibition to the School of Mines of £ 50 per anni^m for three years has been gained by Mr. J. J. Beringer, of Redruth, one of the nuoils of the Miners' Association of Cornwall. FOOD POR THE PHILO-TCRKS.—The Spectator says: — The Turks do not stop their atrocities even during the agonies of wkr. At Philippopolis the most active hanging—even of respectablo Man- chester," though not English, merchants—and others, is going on. At Carlova, at the relief camp, a correspondent of the Times describes horrors worse still. There are sheltered at Carlova some 5000 women, who are either inhabi. tants, or have fled from the massacres going on elsewhere. Of all these helpless creatures not a dozen are desperate enough to leave their empty houses, except to run here (to the camp) in weep. ing groups, beHeeching us for that proteotion which it makes the blood boil to be powerless to give. Anything like the White Terror can scarcely have existed since the French Revolution. In other plaoes, the Bashi-Bazouka and Circassians have Home and gone like a blasting sand-storm, and the living have raised their heads upon their depar- ture. Hera for nearly six agonising weeks, they have come and gone at their own hellish will, and their hapless quarry have been cooped up like fowls awaiting their cine^itable turn." And the wretch Chefket Pasha is high in command, and his accession to a command in Bulgaria was re- ceived with general rejoicing, we were told, by the Turkish troops! REMABKABLE STORY OP A CONVtCT.-In this year's report of the Chaplain of Pentonville Prison, he gives an account of a young man who some years ago was in the condemned cell at "Newgate. He had a few books at hand, and one day Tie glanced at a foot note in "Lady Wake's Commentary on the Gospels,which intimated that "even a mur- derer may look for hope and mercy," and he began an earnest searching of the Scriptures. On what was expected to be his last night he heard clearly every stroke which the erection of the scaffold re- quired and the tolling of St. Sepulchre's bell in morning announced the near approach of his end. I But a message of Royal clemency inter- vened. As soon as it reached him he dropped on his knees, and devoted to God the new life given to him; and there is reason to hope (says the chaplain) that from that hour he has not swerved from his resolution. He recorded his feelings— before and at the trial, and while lying under sentence of death—in a small poem, entitled, "The &.gony of Murder," which was written in Pentonville Prison, and prepared for publication by the late Ordinary of Newgate, and by him dedicated to the late Alderman Wire. Copies of the book are now very scarce. The chaplain goes on to say that the reprieved young man, being in process of time transported to Western Australia, and sent there in the ship which took out Bishop Hale, discovered a con- spiracy of convicts on board to mutiny, and by tact and energy was the main means of preventing the execution of the plot. Arrived at J? reemantle, he was rewarded with a considerable amelioration of his condition; and eventually, at the end of 12 yearn, he obtained a ticket of leave, and, embark- ing in business, by literary ability and useful lec- tuivs to the rude members of the community around, he became eminently serviceable. He is now," says the chaplain, with a young family, settled in a distant part of the country, and prospering; and I have had recently, as continu- ou dy before, communications from him, proving that he is holding on in the right path."

HEAVY FAILURE IN LONDON. At the Bankrnptcy Court on Saturday, the failure was announced of Messrs. Machter, silk merchants for £ 136,000.

GREAT FIRE IN LONDON. DAMAGE, £ 30,000. A fire broke out in Mrs. Timothy's jute ware- house, Millwall, on Saturday, and, spreading to other buildings, was not extinguished before -630,000 damage had been done.

GREAT MILL FIRE AT CORK. On the 21st inst. a fire broke out in the extensive flour mills of Brown Brothers, Cork, and in a couple of hours they were totally burnt down. A number of millers were locked in, and had to break open the gate to escape. Two men were dreadfully burnt. About one o'clock on Saturday morning the boiler exploded, blowing up the floors. The mills contained a large stock of flour and grain. The damage is estimated at JElO.OOO.

M. THIERS'S WILL. The Academy says that M. Thiers has left a con- siderable legacy to his country. By an article in his will, of which up to the present moment only his intimate friends have been aware, he leaves to the State not only all his collections, but also the immense historical materials which he had gathered for his works, as well as the house which he had partly rebuilt with the funds voted by the National Assembly after the defeat of the Com- mune. We understand that this house will be converted into a museum. The packets of MSS., comprising documents of the highest political and diplomatic interest;" which he used for his History of the Revolution" and his History of the Consulate and the Empire," and which had been given him or transcribed for him by the sur- viving members of the families of the historical personages concerned, or by the chancelleries of the various countries, will be deposited in the national archives after the friends of the deceased have selected from them all matter of a purely personal nature. This explains why the Govern- ment abstained from sealing them up, as is cus- tomary with the papers of late ministers the day after their death.

SHOCKING COLLIERY ACCIDENT. TWO MEN KILLED AND ONE INJURED. Shortly after ten o'clock on Sept. 21st a shocking accident happened at the Bryn Hall Collieries, near Wigan, belonging to Messrs. W. E. and F. Crippin, whereby two rtx 40 met with a fearful death and another only just escaped a similar fate. At the No. 2 pit three men, datalers, stood in the cage at the surface waiting to be lowered into the mine, and there were also three men returning from work who occupied the other cage which was at the bottom of the shaft. The latter signalled to the surface, and the former shouted that they were ready, but unfortunately the engine-tenter started his engine the wrong way ana the cage at the surface was carried up to the pulleys. One of the men, named George Johnson, finding the cage ascending, jumped out and fell on the landing stage close to the mouth of the shaft, and re- ceived severe injuries, his leg being broken in three places. On the cage coming in contact with the head- gear the winding rope broke, and the cage and the two foor fellows were precipitated at a fearful speed to the ofetom of the shaft. There are three guiding rods to each cage, and down these the heavy weight rushed at so great a velocity as to produce a noise like that of thunder. The men in the other cage discovering the loose rope coiling on the top of the framework, Speedily jumped out and ran for a place of safety, and thus escaped unhurt. On returning to the pit eye after the crash, they found the body of one of the men on the bonnet of their cage, he having evidently been thrown out in the descent, and the other body in the broken cage in the dib hole. Both bodies were terribly fiutilated. The injured man was taken to the Wigan nfirmary, and there lies in a critical condition. The names of the killed are Lewis Blakeledge and John Blakeledge, father and son, the former leaving a widow and six children.

A. YORKSHIRE CLERGYMAN ON CRICKET. The season of the Yorkshire Gentlemen's Cricket Club closed last week, and about forty members and a few guests have since dined together in the De Grey Rooms, York. Mr. J. Coleman, of Riccall Hall, presided, and Mr. J.. R. Wood, the secretary and treasurer, occupied the vice chair.—The Chairman, in proposing The Yorkshire Gentlemen's Cricket Club," said that when he knew the club eleven years ago it was not in a flourishing condition. The experience of the last three or four years, however, led them to hope that the elub would become an institution of which Yorkshire had need to be proud. The Rev. E. S. Garter (who, it will be remembered, played with the Yorkshire County Eleven against Notts.), in responding, said that it had been cast M his teeth that he was a very good fellow, but had got the cricketing mania." Carlyle had said that in England there were so many millions of people, who were mostly fools; hence he was not an exception. When he was told he was labouring under a delusion, if cricket were a delusion, it was a very harmless one, and he was not the only cleric who was labouring under that delusion. His Grace the Archbishop of York, in reply to the in- vitation of the committee, was the only one who had, in declining, said he extremely regretted that he could not be present. He held that it was part of a. clergyman's duty to play cricket, for there was as much discipline in it as there was in rowing. He hoped soon to see a rowing club formed on a good basis in York, and he would be one of the first to join it. The Bishop of Durham had said the other day, on finding that he was about to hand a. silver cup to the Durham School crew for their prowess at the regatta, that too much attention was paid to athletics, but he was glad the schoolmaster replied that he was proud to see the boys winning a challenge enp competed for by men from the Tyne and the university.

Messru. Chatto and Windus have ready for pub- lication, a second series of Poems nnd Ballads, by Algernon Charles Swinburne. The Greenock ship joiners have resolved to withdraw their demand for an advance of id. per hour, and a number pf them have resumed work. John Corbett, a porter employed by the Lanca- shire and Yorkshire Railway Company, has been fined 92 and costs, with the alternative of a month's imprisonment, at the. Manchester Police Court, for being drunk and stabbing Police- constable Alexander Fraser. Pigeon-flying, a favourite Sunday amusement in the Black Country, is threatened with extinction. The Walsall Town Council have passed a by-law to suppress pigeon-flying in the public thorough- fares, and under it two men who had flown their pigeons in the Birmingham road have been fined. The mill of Messrs. Collen, Cooper, and Co., millers, Valentine place, Blackfriars road, London, was nearly burned out last week by a fire originating from some unknown cause, and a large quantity of property in the vicinity damaged. A fire took place on the same premises in June last. The official inquiry into the cause of the explosion on board the iron corvette Euryalus, at Chatham, shows that the explosion was caused by some of the plates in the crown of one of the starboard boilers giving way, but why they should have given way is not apparent. The explosion might have been more serious to those on board. The damage will take some time to repair, but the expense will fall upon the contractors. A court-martial has been sitting on board the Achilles in Besika Bay for the trial of Wm. Snow, an ordinary seaman, and three other men, on a charge of insubordination, arising out of the recent disturbance on board that vessel, when gun sights were thrown overboard and other damage done. Snow, who was one of the ringleaders, was sentenced to five years' penal servitude, and the others to various terms of imprisonment. At the end of 1872 the Edinburgh Town Coun- cil, in an unwonted burst of generosity, decreed that the lamplighters of that city were to be sup- pljod with new jackets. The men were duly measured, and the jackets delivered to the store- keeper. But there, unhappily, they have sinoe remained until now, when, according to the Glasgow News, they are about to be distributed to the survivors. The Whitehall Review understands that many of those officers who are home on their Indian furlough have been lately ordered to attend be- fore a board of medical examiners, who have ascertained from personal inspection whether those who so presented themselves were really compelled by the state of their health to remain at home. Those who were considered well enough to go out have been ordered to India immediately to take their share of famine work.

MR. BRIGHT IN LIVERPOOL. T}IE) QAArter)Y meeting of the Society of Friends was AS' week, in Liverpool, commencing with a religious service at the Friends' Meeting House. There was a large attendance, and amongst the VIsItors frum a distance was the Right Hon. Mr. J ught. At the business meeting which was held in the afternoon Mr. Bright took part in the proceedings. Taking advantage of the right hon. gentleman s presence in their district, the St. Anne's Liberal Association presented an address to him at the close of the meeting of the SOCIETY

SIX CHILDREN KILLED BY THE FALL OF A PIT HEAP. The other afternoon an accident occurred at Jarrow by which six children lost their lives. A number of children were gathering coals on a road made on the site of an old pit heap. It fell in, and eight or ten children were entombed. Six were taken out dead, and another is in a pecarious condition. The ages of the dead range froir seven to 17.

BRUTAL MURDER OF A POLICEMAN. A brutal murder has been committed at a village near Dorchester. The victim is Police- constable Bishop, 36, who had been 16 years in the Dorsetshire Constabulary. Bishop interfered in a drunken disturbance, and endeavoured to get a man named Henry Lock to go home. There was a scuffle a few yards from Lock's house, and Lock threw a stone which knocked Bishop down. The constable was picked up by some bystanders. but Lock again knocked him down. aDd while on the ground Bishop was struck by several stones. He has since died. Lock is in custody,

TESTIMONIAL TO A NONCONFORMIST AT CAMBRIDGE. At a meeting held at Cambridge last week a testimonial consisting of a silver salver and a purse of money was presented to Mr. Frederick Charles Maxwell, M.A., St. John's College, as a protest against his dismissal at Midsummer, 1876. from a mastership at the Perse School, Cambridge, re- established upon unsectarian principles bv the Endowed Schools Commissioners, upon the ground of his Nonconformity, the head master stating to the chairman himself that he objected to act with a colleague who was a Nonconformist, a sentiment repudiated by the whole county except a majority of the Perse School Governors.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE AT EXETER. Sir Stafford Northcote on Sept. 21 inaugurated the autumn session of the Exeter Literarv Society. In the course of an address delivered to a numerous gathering, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, remarking that the society was founded in 1841, compared the state of things at that period with the present condition of affairs. He dwelt upon the vastly increased means of communication, the rise of the education vote from thousands to millions, and the development of science and art instruction. Still, with all our improvements, there was a sense of dis- appointment. Instead of continued peace and prosperity, we had lived to find that wars were still waged and that their ravages might affect the greatest and most civilised nations of the earth. We had learnt to analyse the sun, but could not check the potato disease. We could annihilate time and space, but we could not reach the North Pole. We had brought scientific investigation almost to perfection, and yet there were people ready to bow down to the very lowest form of spiritualistic imposture. Two great evils en- dangered us--the craving for sensationalism and the increasing growth of personal vanity. Sir Staf- ford asserted that if a Parliamentary session passed away without any exciting debates or the passing of great and striking measures, there was a general feeling of disappointment. Again, the numerous and ready means of disseminating intelligence fostered that feeling of vain-gloriousness which in- duced men to pay less attention to the work than to the opportunity of taking a prominent position before the country.

In Galicia the persons have been discharged who were arrested for secretly enlisting for Russia. The Jews at Warsaw fearing a massacre, the police have ordered all the houses there to be closed at eight o'clock in the evening. The Bolton power-loom weavers decided last week to ask the mayor to call a meeting in aid of the cotton operatives unconnected with trade organisations, who are sufferers by the strike. At a meeting of Oldham master cotton spinners, last week, it was unanimously resolved, under the depressed condition of the cotton trade, to lower THE wages of the operatives five per cent, the reduction to come into force on Oct. 22nd. Madame Liebrart gave a concert, on Sept. 21, at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, in aid of the Indian Famine Fund. The Lord Mayor of Lon- don and his daughters were present. The audience was large and enthusiastic. Samuel Allen, an excavator, was a few days ago remanded by the Manchester justices on a charge of manslaughter. In the course of a fight be- tween the prisoner and another man, named Holland, in Fairfield street, the latter fell, or was knocked down, and his head struck the kerb- stone. He died very soon afterwards of concus- sion of the brain. Mr. Gustave Opitz, who duly surrendered to his bail, underwent a further examination at the Lon- don Mansion House on Sept. 19th on a charge of embezzling and stealing various sums amounting to over JB300, belonging to Messrs, Daniel Faure and Co., brandy merchants, at 14, Rue de Palais, Cognac, but the evidence failed against him, and the charge was dismissed. SINGULAR REASON FOB SUICXDB.—The small an- noyances of servants have been found insupport- able by a Manx hotel manager, who has fallen beneath his affliction and committed suicide. His name is Philip Chapman, and his age 50 years. He was manager of the Castle Mona Hotel, Douglas. He had frequently complained of having been annoyed by the servants, and stated that his brain was turning owing to the trouble they put him to, and early on the 19th of Septem- ber he cut his throat. A jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity. INDIA AS A RESIDEKCB roB MABKIAGIABLE YOUNG LA-DIEs.-Formerly any young lady of passable ap- pearance who went out to India might count upon receiving an offer of marriage within a twelvemonth of her arrival, and that empire was often con- sidered by the unmated and desperate spinster as her last and often successful resource. But now, as I learn, the market is tremendously overstocked out there, especially at Madras. The other day, at the Duke of Buckingham's reception, and at Iiis sister Lady Mary's drawing room, there were pre- sent no fewer thau 186 unengaged and yet mar- riageable young ladies. Twenty years ago it was very different. One of the ugliest and most un- pleasant-mannered spinsters it was ever my lot to know, soon after she arrived out, was eagerly, and in spite of possessing a face like a very crusty loaf, snapped up by a wealthy fungus-bodied indigo planter.—May fair. A BARRISTER CONVICTED OF BiMMT.—TTederick R. Frith Banbury, 2FI, barrister, pleaded guilty, at the Central Criminal Court, last week, to an indictment for bigamy, also to receiving various sums of money from different hotel keepers. The prisoner, according to Mr. Poland's statement, practised at the Maryleboue. County Court, and was in the habit of frequenting for luncheon A public-house in the neighbourhood, where a young woman named HODGES was barmaid. He proposed marriage eventually, and, assuring Miss Hodges that he had been legally divorced from hi6 first wife, the marriage took place. They lived together at various hotels, fictitious cheques being given by the prisoner in payment of the bills. Alto- gether some forty cheques had been received at the bank since the prisoner's account was closed. The prisoner said he had nothing to say in justification, but something in palliation. He deeply regretted what, had occurred. His prospects in life had been ruined, so far as his professional career was concerned; but if the Court would give him the opportunity, his friends would place him in the way of getting an honest living for the future.-The Common Serjeant regretted very much seeing a person of the prisoner's profession in such a position, AND sentenced him to twelve months' hard labour.