Monmouthshire Merlin

BOMBARDMENT OF SILISTRIA. BUCHAREST, July 22. The first weak detachment which had crossed the Balkans were driven back. The whole 8th Army Corps then took up the opera- tion, forced the passes, and defeated the forces of Selim Pasha at Yeni Saghra. The bombard- ment of Silistria has begun. A conflagration has jjJrcady broken put in the town, CAPTURE OF A TURKISH CAMP. BUCHAREST, July 21 (Evening).—Two Rus- sian divisions have reinforced the advanced posts near Yeni Saghra, and after a brilliant en- gagement, have occupied the Turkish camp. The position of the Grand Duke Nicholas at -mova has been rendered secure by the rein- forcements which have reached him. A RUSSIAN CAVALRY REGIMENT SUR ROUNDED BY TURKS. ST. PETERSBURG, July 21.—To-day's Golo., has the following telegram, dated Kuruk Dara, Thursday — Yesterday the Wladikawkas cavalry regiment was. surrounded by an over- whelming force of Turkish cavalry near Subotan, but succeeded in cutting its way through the ranks- of the Ottomans, a hundred of whom fell. Mussa Pasha, the Kurdish leader, is reported to have been killed at Kunduchoff. A forward movement of the Russian advanced1 guard from the direction of Basch Kaduklarförced the Turks to retreat after an engagement, in which 'th6.Russians lost ten killed and twenty wounded. The Turkish front extends to a, djstanpe of twenty versts, and is carefully fortified. Their right flank, which is stationed on thp heights of Aladscha, reaches as far as. tho village of Gulubscha.

THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE. SEVERE INFANTRY ENGAGEMENTS. ST PETEFC^TFUIIG, Jtily 22.—The following official despatch has beeh received here :—•" Tirnoya, July 21.On Thursday last Adjutant Scherels- koff, with of Cossacks of the Guard, a detachment of infantry, two guns, and somo companies of the iWladikawkas regiment, en- countewid, near Selvi, a body of Circassians and Bashi Bazouks. After a severely-contested in- fantry engagement, in which about 1500 men took part, the Russians succeeded in occupying the town of Lovatz. The losses on the TiSrish side Were %men killed; the Russians had three Cossacks wounded." The fol- lowing official despatch has-been received here from Tirnova, dated the 19th inst.:—" Shipka pass was taken to-day and occupied by the Orlamas regiment with two guns.' On the 17th inst. the. Orloff regiment had an engagement with fourteen tabors of Turkish troops. The regiment, which behaved splendidly, lost in this affair two officers and one hundred men killed, and five officers and one hundred men wounded. On the same day General Gurko occupied Kesanlik and the village of Shipka. On the 19th inst. the Orloff regiment resumed the offensive, but the Turks fled without making any stand; and even without firing. a shot. They retreated westwards, leaving behind them three standards, eight guns, and a quantity of arms." KUSTENDJI, July 20.—A regiment of Cossacks, with six guns, is now here. It is expected that the Russians will evacuate the place after organising, a municipal administration. Tho British Consul has left for Varna, on board her Majesty's sloop Rapid. ATROCITIES ON THE MUSSULMAN POPULATION IN BULGARIA. CoNSTAirirKbpLfc, July 2t.. The Sublime Porte h&& addressed the following telegram to its representatives abroad;—" Constantinople, Saturday-—— We consider it our duty to bring to your knowledge the exact text of a report drawn up ard signed at Shunda- by Representatives of foreign newspapers, the names of wllich are the Manchester O'ttnr-dian, Koeltnsohe Xeitung, tStanitard, Frankfurter Zeitung, Journal drs Pebatq, Morning Post, Republique Fr-tncaite, Pesthcr Lloyd, Weiner Tagblatt, Illustrated London ftfe-uts. JVeuie Frie Presse. Times. Mornino Advertiser, J\ew lorn Hernia, Scotsman, Egyptersezz, Graphic, Wiener Porstcult Zeitllng. London Daily Telegraph, and Manchester Ex- aminer. The undersigned representatives of the foreign Press assembled at Shumla con- sider themselves bound to sum up collectively, and support with their signatures, the recitals they have separately addressed to their newspapers on the acts of inhumanity committed against the inoffensive Mus- sulman population in Bulgaria. They de- clare having seen with their own eyes, and interrogated both at Rasgrad and Shumla, children, women, and old men who had been wounded with lance and sabre cuts, without mentioning the wounds by firearms which might be attributed to the chances of legitimate warfare. These victims give horrible accounts of the treatment to which the Russian troops and sometimes the Bulgarians subjected the fugitive Mussulmans. According to their state- ments, the Mussulman population of several, villages have been all massacred either. upon the roads or in the villages which had been given up to pillage. Every day more wounded arrive. The undersigned declare that women and children are the most numerous victims, and that the wounds are made by thrust from the lance. Shumla, July 10th, 1877.' This document acquires great significance and great,, value from the quantity and character of those who have signed it, and whose veracity cannot be placed in doubt.

MORE FIGHTING IN ASIA. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 22 (3:48 p.m.) — Mukhtar Pasha telegraphs to the Porte under date Kars, July 19th, as follows:—" The Rus- sians left their camp at Turey Kedik yesterday, bearing round to our right wing at Chedlak. We detached to meet them a body of regular and irregular cavalry. The fight which ensued lasted three hours, and resulted in the enemy falling back to his encampment. He then sent forward six thousand Cossacks, whereupon our cavalry retired in good order, and drew the Russians under fire of our batteries, which the enemy vainly attempted to capture. The Rus- sians were ultimately compelled to retreat with a loss of 250 killed. We lost 25 killed and 58 wounded, as well as 80 horses killed. At the present time we occupy the heights of Akrunar." A despatch from Ismail Pasha, dated Aidjeh, July 17th, announces that some slight engage- ments have been fought between the advanced guard at Djelaighedik. The losses sustained were insignificant, and nothing else of noto oc- curred. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 21.—A despatch re- ceived here from Erzerum of yesterday's date, states that the positions of the, armies of Ahmed Mukhtar Pasha and General Melikoff, remain unchanged. It is believed that the Russians will await reinforcements before renewing the attack. RE RECALL OF MlDIIAT

PASHA. ■ CONSTANTINOPLE, July 22. — The Imperial yacht Izzedin has left Constantinople with sealed orders, which the commissioner is in- structed only to open at a distance of 40 miles from the Dardanelles. It is reported that the object of these orders is to bring back Midhat Pasha to Constantinople. Some Bulgarian notables residing here have been ordered to leave Turkish territory. Several other Bulga- rians have been arrested. NEWS FROM ST. PETERSBURG. ST. PETERSBURG, July 22. All articles in foreign journals which contain allusions to negotiations for peace are struck out by the press censors here. Somo news- papers repeat a remark by the Czar, which implies an intention of penetrating as far as Constantinople.. THE ATTITUDE OF SERVIA. VIENNA, July 21 (Evening).-The Political Correspondence publishes the following telegram from Belgrade, dated to-day: The Skupts- china has authorised the Government to take all steps which the situation may render necessary. The Emperor of Russia has signi- fied to Prince Milan his gratification with the reserved attitude of Servia, and Prince Gortscha- koff has congratulated M. Ristics on the same grounds." BELGRADE, July 21.—In the Skuptschina yes- terday the House passed a resolution completely approving all measures and expenditure of the Government during the period of war with Turkey.

ENGLAND AND THE WAR. Startling Statement: PARIS, July 20 (Midnight).—A report is cur- rent amongst well-informed diplomatists* here, to the effect that the English Government has determined to occupy Gallipoli, and that troops for this purpose are to be immediately de- spa.tched.-Standard.. THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT AND THE ALLEGED RUSSIAN CRTFELTFES. ST. PETERSBURG, July 22.-The.Journal de St. Petersburg of to-day remarks in reference to the recent questions in the English Parliament touching alleged Russian cruelties, that Parlia- ment should at least appeal to the opinion of General Kemball, who has the Turks at his side and the Russians before him.

THE FIGHTING NEAR PLEVNA. Defeat of the Russians. Arrival of Mehemet Ali. PERA, July 22.-Before leaving for Shumla Mehemet Ali received a present from the Sultan of a gold sword and two splendid horses. SHUMLA, July 21.—On Thursday last, Osman Pasha having arrived near Plevna, where he took up an entrenched position, he was attacked by a superior Russian force. The artillery fire of, the latter was heavy, but ineffectual. Later on, the Turks moved forward, and took up a better position, the Russians retir- ing. On Friday, the Russians renewed the attack along the line, bringing into action several batteries of artillery. They delivered their as- sault on the right, left, and centre simul- taneously, to some slight extent succeeding in outflanking the Ottoman left. Osman Pasha, however, handled his inferior forces with, re- markable dexterity and skill, and his soldiers bought desperately, repulsing the enemy several lmes. Towards afternoon, the Russian efforts failing, the Turks began to press forward, well covered by their artillery, and Caused the Muscovites to still further retire. At four o clock the Turkish infantry opened a vigorous and determined attack on the Russian position. A, sanguinary fight ensued, and ulti- mately thei Russians were routed in considerable disorder, the Turks capturing three guns and a quantity of ammunition and stores. The Turks attacked the Russians again to-day. Ahmed Eyoub had some effective skirmishing, and drove the Russians slowly back in the direction of Rasgrad. A grand combined attack will pro- bably be made immediately, Mehemet Ali, the new generalissimo, having arrived, it is be- lieved he will commence operations without de- lay. The Russians, coming up from the Dob- rudsclia, are at Kustendji, moving towards Silistria and Bazardjik. This force is esti- mated at about 50,000, The Nicopolis garrison holds out. ADRIANOPLE, July 21, — Suleiman Pasha's troops, from Montenegro, are passing to the front. Rftmrf Pasha is at Yeni Saahra with a strong force. Skirmishing is taking place ail along the line. Confidence is completely re- stored. ADRIANOPLE, July 21 (Morning).—The Russian force at Kesanlik consists of 8000 infantry and 2000 insurgents. Raouf Pasha is at Yeni Saghra. Turkish troops continue to arrive very rapidly from Montenegro. Their appearance is much praised. Suleiman Pasha is here. The Russians continue to cross by the Shipka Pass. Ottoman troops are being forwarded, to Philip- popolis. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 23. (6 p.m.)-The cap- ture of 14 additional a-mrnunition, waggons is communicated to the Porte in a despatch from Plevna, dated Saturday, sent by Osman Pasha, who says they were brought into camp on that day by a detachment of Turkish cavalry, hav- ing been abandoned by the Russians at a spot within'the lines they previously occupied. It is admitted here that Shipka pass is entirely in the occupation of the Russians. The Porte had issued a circular stating that 6000 inoffensive persons of both sexes have been massacred in one village after another. BOMBARDMENT OF NICKSICH. VIENNA, July 23 (Evening).—The Political Correspondence publishes the following telegram, dated Zara, Sunday:—" It is stated here that the fortress of Nicksich has been bombarded by the Montenegrins since yesterday' morn- ing." v; THE BOMBARDMENT OF WIDIN. ALLEGED COWARDICE OF ROUMANIANS. BUCHAREST, July 22 (Night),—Fighting has been going on with great, vigour at Widin, which is now being actively bombarded. The Russians in their advance having been repulsed with considerable loss in men and guns, the order was given to the Roumanians at Kalafat to create a diversion in favour of the Russians by attempting the crossing of the Danube. The attempt was made ten miles below Kalafat with a number of boats which had been supplied by the Russians. The Turks having been informed of the attempt, sent infantry and artillery to occupy positions on the heights commanding the river. The Turks then opened fire on the enemy, causing the greatest confusion amongst them. The Russian gunboats responded, but the Roumanians put back, declining to persist in the attempt. The Russians vehemently accuse the Roumanians of cowardice. The commanders of the gunboats declared that the labding could have been effected, as the Rou- manians outnumbered the expeditionary corps of the Turks. The gunboats were seriously injured, and one is said to be sinking.

THE CAMPAIGN IN ASIA. Revolting Outrages by the Circassians and Kurds. SYRA, July 21.-Your special correspondent at the Turkish headquarters in Asia, writing from Erzerum on the 8th, says: At Hassan Kale, a small town six hours on the Kars road, the sick are accumulating in very large num- bers. In the hospitals there, six in number, there are at present 2500 sick and 1500 wounded. The sickness consists principally of typhus, ty- phoid, an,d dysentery. Medicines are wanting. There is no chloroform for operations. At Has- san Kale there is an extemporised hospital so crowded that two patients occupy one mat- trass, dysentery and typhus patients being often in close contact. When Faik Pasha's division, principally consisting of Kurds, sur- rounded the Russian force left in the garrison of Bayazid, the Cossacks and two infantry bat- talions offered to capitulate. While nego- tiations were pending the Kurds were allowed to enter. They fell upon the Russian cavalry, and having massacred them, turned on the Christian Armenian population, who were almost exterminated. The infantry fled to the Old Palace, and 11ave been able to hold out. They arc now relieved by an advanced Russian force. All through the province the Christian population has suffered from the Circassians and Kurds. Complete anarchy exists. Pillage and outrage are universal. From an authentic source I learn that every girl over ten years of age has been violated. My information says that Faik Pasha is not responsible for all this, but that the military authorities are un- able to repress the excesses of the irregulars. Even here the Circassians speak openly of massacres of Greeks and Armenians the moment the Russians approach the place. One woman, after being repeatedly violated, had both feet and hands chopped off. An old man, unable to satisfy the exorbitant demands of the Circas- sians and Kurds, had his mouth filled with gunpowder and a lighted match applied. We now fear a Russian advance with a concentrated force by the Olti Valley, turning Erzerum, and cutting it off from Trebizond. The Turkish troops are being recalled from the Hassan Kale Deviboinee positions, and sent by Erzerum to the entrance of the Olti Valley."—Daily News. THE RUSSIANS RETREATING ON ALEXANDROPOL. ERZERUM, July 22 (7 p.m.)—The following official despatch has been received from the headquarters of the Turkish army, under date July 20 :—" To-day a Russian force, consisting of eight regiments of cavalry and eight field guns, made a reconnaissance up to four thousand yards' distance of Moukhtar Pasha's position. A brigade of Ottoman troops at once advanced, and exchanged a few shots with the artillery of the enemy, whq, soon found himself compelled to fall back. A detachment of the garrison of Kars have made a sortie to cut off the Russians' retreat. The Russians appear to be concentrat- ing at Zarin, but the forces already there, com- posed of cavalry, have been withdrawn, leaving their tents at Zarin. The camp has been convevod to-dav bv long transport columns to Djaninshdash and Alexandropol. The general movements of the Russian army point to a retreat on Aiexandropol. Tele- graphic communication with Kars is restored." SEVERE CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT IN ASIA ERZERUM, July 21 (7.40 p.m.).—(Delayed in transmission.)—The following official de- spatch has been received hereTurkish headquarters, four miles from Akponnar, July 19. Yesterday morning the Russians encamped at Parget sent forward a cavalry force to attack our right flank. They were received by our regular and irregular cavalry, and a severely contested engagement of tliree hours' dura- tion ensued at Yediklere..The Russians had begun to retreat when they were reinforced by 6000 Cossacks, and the battle re- commenced. The Turks were obliged to give way, and fell back in good order. A Turkish battery was, however, placed in position, and suddenly opened fire upon the' enemy, putting1 28 Cossacks hors de combat by' two discharges. The battle finished at one o'clock in the morn- ing. The Turkish loss was 25 killed and 58 wounded. Lieut.-Colonel Zakaria and Major Reshid were wounded." Hadji Murad and Mustapha, commanders of Circassians, were killed. The Russian losses, are estimated at 250. Mukhtar Pasha was on horseback four- teen hours. Rumours of a great, battle near Bayazid, compelling Faik and Ismail Pashas to fallback, require confirmation. CONSTANTIQNPLE, July 23.—Abdul Kerim Pasha, ex-Turkish Generalissimo, and Redif Pasha, ex-Mmister of War, have arrived here. An official notification has been issued from the Press Bureau prohibiting the publication of war news favourable or unfavourable for the Turkish cause, I !■ -v. l'l < -?

THE RUSSIANS IN THE BALKANS. ADRIANOPLE, July 23.-Fugitives from the Balkans who have arrived here report that the Russians occupy very strong positions in the mountains. In front of Shipka Pass they have raised entrenchments and placecl forces suffi- cient to defend the crossing of their whole army over that route. A great battle before Philippopolis is imminent. The Turkish com- manders here seem to think that the Russians will delay any further advance towards this point until Widin and Rustchuk are reduced. ST. PETERSBURG, July 24.-The following official telegram, confirming the passage of the Balkans, is published here to-day:—" Tirnova, July 20.—The difficult task of crossing the Balkans has been successfully accomplished. Three passes near Shipka and Janiwy are in possession of the Russians. ADRIANOPLE, July 24.-The Russians are en- trenching themselves in the Shipka Pass, while another body occupies Eski Saghra, where a fortified camp is being formed. H.M.S. Rapid has arrived at Kustendji, having on board the British Consul, Mr. Sankey,. who returns to his post in accordance with the orders of Mr. Layard. VARNA, July 24.—The Russians having arrived within a short distance of this town, a large number of Turkish and Greek vessels are em. barking fugitives.

FIGHTING NEAR SHUMLA. Reported Defeats of the Russians. Alleged Victory over the Montenegrins CONSTANTINOPLE, July 23 (8.30 p.m.).—The following despatch from Mehemet Ali, the new commander-in-chief, has been received, dated Shumla, Monday: Yesterday, two battalions of infantry and one squadron of cavalry de- feated four Russian battalions and a cavalry regiment near Yayla, "between Shumla and Osman Bazar. Our losses were insignificant. The Turkish advanced posts near Silistria having been attacked, compelled the Russians to retreat and abandon their plan of making a flank movement. A body of cavalry under Hassan. Pasha has defeated a corps of Cossacks occupying Kodickoi. Our infantry, after avoid- ing an ambuscade, captured the enemy's posi- tions, with a large quantity of aims and military equipments. A despatch from Ali Saib, dated Podgoritza, July 22nd, says:—"The Montenegrins have surrounded the small fort of Satorriman. On receiving intelligence of the critical position of the garrison, we sent our disposable forces to its relief, and we occupied Zoitcha, compelling the Montenegrins to take to flight after inflict- ing upon them severe losses. Our loss was in- significant.

THE SLAUGHTER AT PLEVNA. Serious Position of the Ottoman Forces (London Telegraph despatches.) SHUMLA, July 23.—Mehemet Ali held a Coun. cil of War here to-day with reference to future operations. Large reinforcements left here yesterday and to-day for Adrianople. There is I a large number of Russians on this side the Balkans. The position of affairs is very serious. PHILIPPOPOLIS, July 23.—The Turks were forced back from the Shipka Pass yesterday after heavy fighting. They are retreating here. A large force of Russians has entered Eski Saghra. SOPHIA, July 23.-Prince Hassan, with about 50 battalions, is proceeding along the northern side of the Balkans by way of Ohanie. Very severe fighting is expected. Osman Pasha's victory at Plevna cost each side about 4000 men. Osman is still advancing. ADRIANOPLE, July 23.—Troops are still mbving up. The situation is serious. The Turkish soldiers are brave, but fears are enter. tained that they are likely to be outnumbered. THE MONTENEGRIN WAR. RAGUSA, July 24.—The Montenegrins have taken Fort Vri, at the southern entrance of the Duga Pass, with a garrison of 60 Nizams and a quantity of ammunition and provisions. Vu- kovitch, with a Montenegrin force, occupies the hills commanding Nicksich. CETIGNE, July 24.—On the 22nd instant the Montenegrins took by assault the fortified heights of Trebesch, commanding the town and fortresh of Nicksich. The fort of Gorjornopolicki has capitulated, after a bombardment of a short duration. 53 nizams were taken prisoners. On the 23rd instant the Montenegrins succeeded also in taking the second fort of Rabmratz, near Nicksich, making 30 nizams prisoners. RAGUSA, July 24.-The Montenegrins have captured the second fort in the vicinity of Nick. sich. INSURRECTION IN CRETE. PARIS, July 23 (Night).-The Athenian corre. spondent of the Zernps telegraphs that the treatment to which the Christian population of the province of Janina is subjected will neces- sarily bring on an insurrection against. the Turkish authority. Greece will defend her frontier. An insurrection, it is added, has broken out in the island of Crete. ATHENS, July 24.—Military preparations are being actively pushed forward by the Greek Government. According to accounts received here, insurrectionary agitation is spreading at Sphakia and Kistami, in Crete. MASSACRES OF CHRISTIANS IN THE V. GREEK PROVINCES OF TURKEY. ATHENS, July 24.-The Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs frequently receives from the Greek (consuls in Turkey reports of massacres of Christians in the Greek provinces under the rule of the Porte. The despatches received by the minister stated that a Greek subject, pursued by some fanatical Mussulmans, fled to the house of his consul, who eventually gave the fugitive up to the Zaptiehs, as the mob showed a disposition to force their way into the Consulate. Much indignation is caused in Greece by these occurrences. WARLIKE ACTIVITY IN GREECE. ATHENS, July 23.-Greece has concluded a foreign loan of forty million drachmas. The Greek army is almost completely mobilised. THE ALLEGED RUSSIAN AND BULGARIAN ATROCITIES. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 24.-The Minister for Foreign Affairs has despatched the following telegram^ to the foreign representatives of the Porte:—"A telegram from the Governor of Tirnova, addressed to his Highness the Grand Vizier confirms all the previous re- ports of the acts of barbarity committed by the Russians and Bulgarians at the time of the occupation of Tirnova and the neighbouring villages, and more especially that of the burn- ing of a mosque in which the inhabitants of Ciamsi Keni had taken refuge, and in which they were burnt alive. He adds that the Russians compel Mussulman prisoners, under pain of death, to fire on the Otto- man troops who come to their aid." Suleiman Pasha telegraphs to the Minister of War:—"Of twelve unarmed Mussulmans of the village of Sukuloo, near Eski Saghra, who made their submission to the Rus- sians, seven were killed by Bulgarians with blows from axes, and three others by the L Cossacks. We have ascertained as exactly a? I possible the number of dwellings burned and of Mussulmans massacred by tho Russians and Rnlcwrians in t,he villa ere s which have uvi .J°, to the present suffered most from the invasion of the enemy, and I herewith i transmit you the result. (1.) At Batak an exclusively Mussulman village of the district of Sistova—houses, one hundred; inhabitants: men, two hundred; women, three hundred; total number of victims, five hundred. Seven of the inhabitants are believed to have sur- vived. (2.) At Balovan, a Mussulman village of the district of Tirnova-houses, three hundred and fifty; inhabitants: men, seven hundred; women, twelve hundred; in all, nineteen hundred victims. One person only is believed to have escaped the massacre. (3.) At Cara Bounas-houses, one hundred; men, two hundred; women, three hundred; total, five hundred victims. Two persons escaped dath. (4.) At Kestanbol—houses, 150; men, five hundred; women, six hundred; survivors, three. (5.) At Cheins, a mixed village — Mussulman houses, 60; man, 120; women, 200; in all 320 victims. One person alone escaped. (6.) At Tundja a mixed village — house, 100; men, 250; women 400; there were altogether 650 victims. There were three stirvivors. The following is the number of houses burned in the villages which were deserted by their inhabitants before the arrival of the enemy:—Tranick Homri, 40 houses; Beran, 150; Adalar, 180; Armond- louk, 80; Bourouck, 100; Kodjina, 70; Okdyler, 200—total number of houses burnt, 800. It is further represented that the Mussul- man inhabitants of 40 to 50 mixed villages, each containing at least 100 houses, have tendered their submission to the Russians, but their fate is uncertain. You will doubtless be of the same opinion as ourselves that these frightful statistics form the most overwhelming evidence of the pitiless cruelty of Russian policy."

RUMOUR OF MEDIATION BY THE NEUTRAL POWERS. (CENTRAL NEWS TELEGRAM.) Rumours are prevalent of a collective offer of mediation by the neutral Powers as soon as the Russians have reached Adrianople, which it is believed will be acceptable to both the belli- gerents. Great confidence is expressed at Constantinople in the ability of Mehemet Ali, the new Commander-in-Chief, who, with Osman Pasha and Suleiman Pasha, is expected to increase greatly the vigour of the defensive operations of the army of the Balkans. Mehemet Ali is a German by birth, who, nearly thirty years ago, embraced Mahomedanism, and was on account of his conspicuous ability sent to a military college. Since then he has risen rapidly through the different grades, and in the repression of Greek brigandage in Thessally and Epirus he ac- quired a great reputation. Recent events have confirmed the general confidence in his energy and judgment, and his appointment is universally popular.

MR. CHILDERS, M.P., ON THE WORK OF THE SESSION. At a luncheon, last week, in connection with the annual show of the Pontefract Agricultural Society, the Right Hon. H. C. E. Childers, M.P., in reply to the toast of the borough members, observed, in refe- rence to the House of Commons, that there had been a good deal said about it lately, and he was bound to say not with entire justice. It had been said they had done no legislation this session. It was perfectly true that they had only as yet passed two bills which were really proposed during last session, so that it might be said that the work of this session in legislation, so far as it was initiated and commenced, had been very small indeed. That might be true, but at the same time the bills they had passed had been measures of very considerable importance, and might lead to a good deal of improvement in several warn There was the Prisons Bill, which had laid the foundation of great improvements in local government, because he did not hesitate to say that whatever might be the merits of the details of that bill it must be followed by great re- forms in our local government; and it was to our country and local government we looked as the field for the greatest reforms of the present day. Then they had passed the Universities Bill, which was of interest to the country generally, for anything which im- proved our universities was'of great importance. That bill would also be of great value in the future dealing with the magnificent endowments of our country. It had always bsen a difficulty to know how to deal with the very large sums which were at the disposal of in stitutions more or less antiquated in their constitu- tion; but after the passing of the Universities Bill they should never have that difficulty in the way, and sweeping a3 that bill was with regard to all sorts of claims and interests, they should know that neithei party in the State would -be able to say to the other that they were dealing with something that had been in operation for centuries past. Well, for those rea- sons, if they stood alone, what Parliament had done this session was not of such small value as some whc criticised its proceedings would have them believe. But during the present session they had done two things that had been utterly unknown for years past: so unknown and so surprising that he could hardly tell them how much they had astonished him. Why, they had positively censured a Prime Minister, and those who took part in that division hardly knew of the terrible thing they had .gone through until the numbers were announced, and so overwhelmingly surprised had the' country been that nobody hardly had said anything about it. It had so startled people out of their propriety that the event had, passed almost without remark. (Laughter.) They had also performed another feat. They posi- tively sat up for seven hours, until half-past seven in the morning, dividing seventeen times on the very important question as to whether they should adjourn or not. (Laughter.) He believed that feat had been once before performed in the present century, some forty or fifty years ago, when the House sat for ten minutes longer. An hon. gentleman had told him that if only they had known of this former feat they would the other morning have had another division, so that the present House might have rivalled it. He (Mr. Childers). hoped they might never try to commit an equal folly again. (Applause.)

DISASTROUS FIRE AT LEITH. DAMAGES, £ 50,000. A disastrous fire occurred in Leith a few days since, causing damages estimated to amount to fully £50,000. The fire originated in large pro- vision and bonded warehouses belonging to Messrs. Aitkin and Wright, situated in Constitution street, one of the main thoroughfares in the town. It first broke out in the third story of the building, where a large quantity of liquor was stored, and was caused by the carelessness of a workman, who had left a naked light near a cask. The confla- gration was a most alarming one, and for a long time occasioned the wildest panic, particularly •& £ ■ successive explosions occurred. When the flames had raged for about an hour the roof of the build- ing fell in. This was followed by another explo- sion, which drove out the east wall, and the debris fell against the houses fronting the street. At this time spirits flowed out through the arched way to Constitution street, and burned in the gutters as it flowed along. As it was found that water had no effect in extinguishing burning liquor, a quantity of sulphate of soda was obtained from the works of Messrs. Hope and Co., timber merchants, and thrown upon it. This suc- ceeded most effectually in putting out the fire. The whisky flowed into some of the .sewers, down which sand was poured to prevent it from burning. Afte'r the wall fell, the houses in Constitution street caught fire. The offices of the German Consul, Messrs. Corrie, Hansen, and Co. and two dwelling-houses above were totally destroyed. On the opposite side two flats occupied by Mr. Gardner, of the Leith Burghx Pilot, were destroyed. A large block of buildings in Quality street, occupied principally by commission agents and wine merchants, was totally destroyed.

Mr. Anderson, better known under his nom de plume of Surfaceman," is at present engaged on a new volume of poetry. The volume -will consist entirely of poems relating to the railway, and will be dedicated to the author's fellow workmen on the line. The book will have as a frontispiece a portrait of Mr. Anderson in his working clothes shovel in hand, and pick and other implementil used bv the navvv" lying at his feet.

VIVISECTION AND CRUELTY. (From the Standard.) The operator who saves a- life bv removing a limb is not cruel; no more is the vivisector who sometimes experiments upon a rabbit in order to ascertain how he may save the lives of, per- haps, hundreds of men. Professor Hnxley, with a just and, on the whole, very gentle' irony, contrasts the legal treatment of the fisherman and the physiologist, under the authority of the Vivisection Act. Two persons might be "charged with cruelty to animals. One had impaled a frog, and suffered the creature to writhe about in that condition for hours; the other had pained the animal no more than one of those present would be pained by tying strings round his fingers and keep- ing him in the position of a hydropathic patient. The first offender said "I did it because I find fishing very amusing," and the magistrates dis- charged him. The second pleaded, "I wanted to im- press a scientific truth with a distinctness attainable in no other way on the minds of my scholars," and the magistrate fined him five pounds. The pro- fessor said he could not but think that this was an anomolous and not whollv creditable state of things. We imagine that many of our readers will find themselves compelled, whatever their original bias, to concur in this view. Perhaps the professor need hardly have troubled himself to, repudiate once more the calumny which im- putes to him any desire to introduce anything worthy the name of vivisection into ordinary schools. Those who are capable of thinking coolly and of remembering accurately on this sub- ject know that the charge is as devoid of even ap- parent foundation; but the leading spirits of the agitation refuse to learn the trnth, however often repeated; and their adherents generally will be no wiser for this fresh contradiction than for those that preceded it.

THE BUSINESS OF THE SESSION. (From the Daily News.) The answer of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to Lord Hartington has done hardlv anything more than to confirm what we have already told our readers about the business of the session. The Valuation Bill is to be thrown overboard, for the reason we then suggested. It got itself mixed up, inconveniently for the Government, with ques- tions of county boards and local "autonomy," and Ministers are seemingly, therefore, rather glad to get rid of it. The Bishoprics Bill and the Patient Laws Bill are also dismissed into what Mr. Carlyle calls "the blue immensity" of the future. Sir Stafford Northcote talked as if he had or wished to have some faint hope still of passing the Factories and Workshops Bill and the Bankruptcy Bill, but the hope was so sickly that we cannot believe it destined to any existence worth counting on. What he really proposes to carry are the Irish and Scotch Prisons Bills, the Irish Judicature Bill, and the South African Bill. The last is rather the framework of a legislative scheme than actually a scheme itself, and the Iiish judicature measure is only a sup- plementary piece of law reform. There are two or three other measures-the Summary Jurisdiction Bill for instance-which the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer still professes with some seriousness to believe that he can carry. The prospect, however, comes to what has been described. The Universities Bill and the Prisons Bills will be the substantial fruits of the session. Even to carry out his present reduced and mode- rate proposals Sir Stafford Northcote intends to annex the Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the remainder of the session. The day of the private members is done, except indeed for Mr. Butt, who gets next Thursday all to himself for the discussion of his scheme of university education in Ireland. No one has need to sorrow overmuch for any of the abandoned measures. Resurgam might be the motto of each one as it sinks for a time under political earth. It is doubtful whether a session of Parliament could go on in our days without a patent laws bill and a bankruptcy bill. The time when all such measures will really be done with seems about as near as the time which it pained Mr. Mill to think of-when all the pos- sible combinations of musical notes shall have been exhausted.

THE SERIOUS RIOTS IN AMERICA. (From the Tivies.) The State Government, backed, if necessarv for the preservation of the peace, by Federal forces, will, of course, be compelled to use its strength, and to punish severely a breach of the public peace which may have very disastrous con- sequences. But it is noticeable and discouraging that the strike appears to have secured from the first a certain share of popular sympathy. It might have been hoped that this, as well as the conduct of the military, was merely a manifesta- tion of local sentiment. in a small place, peopled probably by few except railway workmen, their friends, and relatives. But a telegram states that the inhabitants generally in West Vir- ginia sympathise with the strikers." The feeling throughout the rest of the Union is, we doubt not, very different. The mass of the com- munity cannot but condemn an appeal to violence for the purpose of forcing employers to maintain wages at a fixed rate, and most Americans will be 11 ready to argue that if the railway strikers are allowed to have their way, the same ruinous methods will be applied to or attempted in other occupations. The neoessity of dealing vigorously and promptly with the Martinsburg rioters will in all probability be acknowledged by the public as well as the Government, and the authors of this little re- bellion must be speedily crushed. But, though the immediate consequences of the disturbances will doubtless disappear quickly, the fact remains to show how intense has been the friction and how painful the changes that were inseparable from the transition period in the history of the eco- nomical crisis in the United States. Workmen in America have not learnt, any more than our own labouring classes, that when times of abnormal prosperity, with high wages, are followed by years of stagnation, a. reduction in the rate of wages beoomes in- evitable. Otherwise, enterprises like the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad would have to accept heavy and continuous losses during times of dul- ness, and such losses, crippling and imperilling the undertaking, must be in the long run inju- rious to the interests of the men themselves. It will probably be discovered that the Martinsburg riots have tended to diminish rather than to in- crease the chances of securing good wages for the malcontents.

The Lord Mayor of London will be the guest of the Mayor of Swansea on Thursday, August 2nd, at a grand banquet to be given in that town. After visiting Mr. Vivian, M.P., the Lord Mayor will distribute the Mansion House fund awards to the rescued Welsh miners and their rescuers at Ponty- pridd on the 4th. A RARE BOOK. The privately-printed small folio volume, entitled Collections concerning the Manor of Marden," by the Right Hon. Thomas Earl Conmgsby (1722), was last week sold by Messrs. Puttick and Sunpson, of Leicester square, London, for the large sum of £ 340. The same copy produced at Bindley's sale £ 24. 3s., and was sold in 1851 for as little as J612. Au Manchester Police Court, last week, Fredk. Crompton was charged with keeping a betting lottery. He had sold tickets for a lottery on the. Two Thousand Guineas Race, in which there were 10,000 subscribers. The prosecution held that this was a breach of the Betting House Act, and Mr. Headlam fined the defendant £5 and costs. The judgment will affect a vast number of houses in Manchester. ENTERTAINING RoYAMT.—A dinner, involving three royal salutes, fired at Government expense, can scarcely be looked upon as a private party; and therefore I do not mincL repeating what is common talk at the Horse Guards, that the few noisy subalterns who sang "He's a jolly good fellow when the health of the Duke of Cambridge was drunk, would have shown better taste and been less offensive to his Royal Highness had they held their tongues, as nine-tenths of the officers did. I will not repeat all I have heard of two elderly field-officers dancing a cancan, and a sub- altern singing inferior music hall songs, because I cannot bring myself to believe that is true or that the Royal Regiment of Artillery could have found nothing better than this to amuse the Heir- Apparent to the Crown of Great Britain on hiø first honouring them bv a visit. World.