The Aberdare Times

PREPARING FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY IN PARIS. Ihe Paris Correspondent of The Times writes, under date the 12th Inst. Despite the political events which are now occurring at Versailles, the good people of Paris are busily engaged in preparing for tbegeneral, though nominally optional, tax of present-giving on the New Year. Every shop window is filled with the latest specimens of 19th century art or invention, and every such dis- play is carefully labelled etrennes, in order that the passer-by may be reminded of his duty to society in general and to the shop in question in particular. I notice that most of the articles in question are of graat inutility. For instance, a jewel box for 2f. 95c. is not absolutely indispensable, while a silver- mounted pocket-book, with a monogram on it, at the same price is more to be recommended for its cheap- ness than for its durability. Boxes of bonbons suggest indigestion, and who is the person who would buy the bear which I saw hanging to-day outside a eharourtier's shop near the Grand Hotel! The toy shops are peopled with dolls, not dolls such as may be found in English nurseries, but fine waxen ladies, dressed in the latest fashions, with their real hair ar- ranged according to the prevailingyeminine taste. For these poupets a la mode there are gorgeous wooden mansions, furnished in a style of supreme luxury, while some of them are provided with trousseaux of corresponding magnificence and even with miniature husbands, correctly attired in black suits, with ties and opera hats. For the small boys there are no cricket bats or footballs, but there are plenty of military accoutrements, imitation decorations or walking-sticks, while whole armies of rpd-trousered leaden soldiers defend cardboard forts against more truculent-looking forces wearing the spiked helmet of the hereditary foa. The mercers' large establishments are full to overflowing of ladies' cheap dresses and glove boxes, while the shirt- makers show of the most brilliant ties and pocket- handkerchiefs warranted English, might lead one to suspect that our manufacturers make especially to suit Continental tastes, or, what is more probable, that French houses allay Anglophobia at cheaper rates than could be done by imported goods; for, after all, the words high life," so often seen upon the strangest productions, have a maeic "ffnoon the vonfch nf Boulevards.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS FOR THE CHINESE. The Vallejo (California) Chronicle Bays :—" It may not be generally known that there are now two Chinese Sunday Schools that meet regularly in this city, one connected with the Presbyterian and the other with the Baptist Church. Evidence shows that the Chinese attend the Sunday Schools, not because they ar" thirsting for religious instruction, but for the reason that it is a good chance to get an English education and they are indulged in their preference, for labour spent in impressing upon them the truths of Chris- tianity would be thrown away while teachers and pupils have no common medium of language. The method of instruction adopted is not the teaching of pupils to translate from one language into the other, as languages are usually taught in the public schools; but, beginning with the alphabet, the written language is taught in the same way as to young children in the primary schools. Most of the Chinese display great, not to say wonderful, aptitude for learning the alphabet and the first reading lessons, and acquiring correct pronounoiation. It is pretty well known that an educated Chinaman will pronounce English better than almost any other foreigner, which is the result of certain similarities in sound of English and Chinese. In learning lessons which must be com- mitted to memory the Chinese display the greatest quickness, which, however, is not so surprising when it is known that the acquirement of a Chinese education, according to the native method of teaching, is a mere exertion of the memory. Thousands and perhaps tens of thousands of words are memorized be- fore the student is informed what they signify. For persons who have had such a discipline as these China- men have, it is not a performance that need create surprise to learn their a b c's and a-b abs in two or three lessons of an hour's duration neither is it sur- prising that their after progress, when mastering diffi. culties which require an exercise of judgment, is slower. But if learning to read and speak English is an object of earnest desire with the Chinese, learning mutdc is none the less so. They learn to sing by ear with pre- cision after a short practice, and evidently take great pleasure in exercising their musical powers.

THE MURDER OF DR. MUNZINGER. The Cologne Gazette publishes some particulars con. cerning Munzinger Pasha, whose murder in Africa has been reported by telegraph. He was born in 1832, and was a son of Joseph Munzinger, Landamman of Solothurn, and afterwards Federal Councillor. He received his first instruction at the Gymnasium of Solothurn, and went in 1849 to Munich to study there i the Oriental languages. In 1852 he went to Paris, and a year after to Alexandria, where he joined a commercial firm. In 18S4 he conducted a com- mercial expedition to the Red tea, and then lived for some time at Massowah and at Keren, the capital of the Bogos. In 1861 he joined the German expedition to Central Africa, but separated from it when its chief, Theodor von Heuglin, directed his course to Abyssinia, and went by Khartoun to Obi in order to penetrate from thence by Darfour to Madai. Not being allowed to pass through Darfour he returned in 1863 to Europe. A year after he was again in Africa, where he conducted since October, 1865, the British consulate at Massowah, and with Colonels Merewether and Phayre made the preparatory surveys which were printed in London, and rendered great service to the British Government in the cam- paigu against King Theodore of Abyssinia in 1867. When in June, 1868, the British troops left, Munzinger remained at Massowah as French consul. In this capacity he travelled several times through the northern borderlands of Abyssinia, and was in 1869 severely wounded. In 1870 he went to Aden, from whence he explored with Captain Miles the south- eastern coast lands. After his return he became governor at Massowah, with the title of Bey. In 1871 he continued his explorations in the Bogos country, and was in 1872 appointed by the Khedive Commander in Chief of the Egyptian army of invasion destined for Abyssinia, and governor of the country with the title of Pasha."

A CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY. A newspaper correspondent at Esqulmalt, writing oh the 7th ult., say. News having been received here on the 5th inst. of an atrocious attempt at murder having been com- mitted by Indians at Barclay Sound, Her Majesty's ship Rocket, 4, twin screw gunboat, Lieutenant- Commander Harris, left early this morning to inquire into the circumstances. It appears that smallpox has b"en raging severely among the Indians In that neigh- bourhood, in spite of the noble and Christian efforts of a Father Brabant," a Roman Catholic missionary priest, who has charge of a chapel and mission in the place. By vaccination and assiduous care, he, in the absence of any medical man, has used his utmost endeavours to arrest the progress of the loathsome disease. The Indians, however, have taken it into their heads that it has been the cause of the disease, and about a week ago when visiting a hut, the chief of the tribe came in with a loaded gun and shot the unfortunate gentleman. The chief had distinguished himself some time ago by assisting a ship- wrecked crew and bad been rewarded by the Canadian Goverment for this act with a silver medal, which seems to add to the atrocity of this present occurrence. Father Brabant was wounded severely in the back and right arm, and when he last sent down he stated that his life was in danger from threatening mortification. As soon as the news reached Victoria by a canoe a con- ference was held at Government-house, and Her Majesty's ship Rocket started this morning to discover the perpetrator of the crime. She took with her the Right Rev. Bishop Seghers, the Roman Catholic Bieh o of Victoria, the superintendent of police, and Dr. Walkem. It is to be hoped their efforts to appre- hend the assassin will be crowned with success, and that he will meet with the punishment he so richly deserves."

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT NORWICH. The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was the scene of a tragedy on Monday morning, whioh has re- cited in the death of three boys. A male patient named ■Edwards, who was suffering from dyspepsia and ner- vous debility, rose shortly after five o'clock, and the temporary absenee of the nurse, pro- oeeded down a corridor leading to a ward, wherein our boys were sleeping. Entering this room, Edwards seized the tongs from the fire place, and went wu" bed to bed smashing the heads of his victims. Whilst attacking the fourth boy the nurse sleeping in an adjoining apartment was awakened, and at once entered the ward to discover what was amiss. Edwards at once attacked her as soon as she made her appear- ance, but she fortunately succeeded in shuttiDgand bolt- ing the door. Foiled here, he rushed into another ward and commenced a murderous assault on the inmates -three yonng boys. One of them, however, escaped and gave the alarm. The house surgeon at once pro- ceeded to the spot, and was successful in disarm ing the jnurderer with a poker. He was at once stcured and taken to the police station. Of the four boys attacked In the first instance three are dead, and the other is not expected to live.

On Monday, before the Norwich magistrates Robert Edwards (a labouring man) was brought on a charge of murdering three children, named William Martin, John Lacey, and Joseph Colman, in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, at an early hour that morning. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Baumgartner that the prisoner was admitted as a patient into the hospital on Saturday. He was admitted on the recom- mendation of a governor, in the ordinary way. He was placed in the Catherine Ward, on the upper floor on the male side of the hospital. This ward is not confined to any particular disease or diseases. Mr. Baumgartner saw Edwards between eight and nine o'clock on Satur- day evening. He did not make any examination of Edwards then, but Edwards asked him to give him something to make him sleep. Mr. Baumgartner did not give him anything then, but told him to take the medi- cine which bad been already prescribed for him by Dr. Bateman. Mr. Baumgartner saw Edwards again on Sunday morning, between ten and twelve. Mr. Baum- gartner examined him then, and he appeared to be Buffering from nervous disease. His manner made Mr. Baumgartner think that he was irritable, but Mr. Baumgartner saw nothing to lead him to suppose that be- was dangerous. Mr. Baumgartner di i not see Edwards again until he went his evening round, be- tween eight and nine o'clock. Edwards was then quiet in bed, and Mr. Baumgartner's attention was Jiot drawn to him specially. At this time all the patients were in bed. Mr. Baumgartner was 10, the ward again a few minutes before twelve, and his attention was still not called to Edwards. The jiurse who has charge during the day of the ward In which Edwards was placed, as well as of wards N'OII. 5 and 7, is named Kehoe; an assistant named Norchisse has charge of the same wards during the night. About four or five o'clock on Monday morning Nurse Norchisse called Mr. Baumgartner jip. In consequence of what she said, he first looked about the passages and downstairs; he hap- pened to meet another nurse named Hannent, who has charge of the other male wards Nos. 2, 3, and 4, and he went upstairs. Hearing, however, th«' voice of a third nurse named Denmark, whj was below-stairs in the corridor, he came downstairs again and met a patient-a boy of fourteen, who had come from the boye' ward, No. 12, some way off on the ground floor. From what the terrified boy said, Mr. Baumgartner went at once to No. 12 ward, which consists of two separate rooms, with the foot of a ltaircase between them. On reaching No. 12 ward, he saw the prisoner, who had nothing on but his Jhirt and a small flannel cape. The prisoner had a pair of tongs in his hand, with which he was striking repeated blows on a boy named Edward Lubbock, nine years of age, who was lying in bed in a coiner of the ward. Mr. Baumgartner went to the fire-place and took up a poker. Edwards came towards him and struck several blows at him, and Mr. Baumgartner struck several blows in return. Ulti- mately he struck Edwards on the wrist, arm, or band. Edwards dropped the tongs in consequence, and Mr. Baumgartner then closed with him, seized him by the throat, and kept him down until a porter came; an- other porter also arrived and Edwards was then properly Secured. There had been three boys in the room in which Mr. Baumgartner first saw Edwards one of these was the lad who gave the alarm. As soon as Mr. Baumgartner had given Edwards up to the two porters, he went into the other boys' room, and he saw there four boys lying in bed with their heads smashed. The first of these was named William Martin, aged 11. He was then breathing, but he died within an hour. The next was John Lacey, aged 10 he was quite dead, and his brains were scattered on the pillows and walls. The next was Joseph Colman, aged 11; his head and jace were smashed to pulp. The fourth was Alfred Clarke, aged 9 this lad had sustained a severe fracture Of the skull but he was alive. Nurse Denmark, it should be added, had charge of the two boys' rooms. When Mr. Baumgartner examined the tongs dropped by Edwards, he found them covered with blood. .Dr. F. Bateman, one of the phyicians of the hos- pital, stated that he saw Edwards on Saturday, when 1)8- was admitted an in patient. Edwards then stated that he had been ill for six months, and that he had Buffered from flatulence. Dr. Bateman prescribed for Edwards accordingly at this time he considered his taanner that of a reasonable man, but Dr. Bateman now added that symptoms such as those described by Edwards might coincide with insanity. The prisoner was remanded. His manner unmis- takably indicated insanity, but he submitted quietly to be removed by two police constables. The mur- derer threatened one of the nurses, but she promptly bolted him out, and so eseaped.

THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. It has been supposed that Parliament might pro- bably meet earlier in 1876 than ordinarily, so as to give its sanction promptly to the purchase of the Suez Canal shares; but the 8th of February, instead of being earlier, is rather later than usual (remarks The Fines). In the whole of the present reign the Session, **e believe, has only once before (in 1870) commenced On the 8th of February, and never later than that day, With the exception of 1871 and, necessarily, of 1874, *n which last year owing to a memorable Dissolution and general election, there was no Parliament to meet at the customary time. There have also been three or four instances in which the Session began before Christmas, and it was reasonable that business should not be resumed in the new year until a rather later day than waa usual *or the meeting of Parliament. There has keen for some time a tendency to fix the beginning of the Session not quite so earlv as was common a few years ago. In the first twenty years of her Majesty's reign the Session often began in January, but since 1860 it it has never been earlier in the year than February. The meeting of Parliament in January might now be regarded as rather remarkable, and implying some Special cause. As is well known, the United States' Congress, whose Session has recently begun, must (by the Constitution) meet on the first Monday in Decem- ber, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

THE COST OF A SHOT FROM THE NEW BIG GUN! The Daily News remarks:—"The Commander-in- Chief, the other night, in responding for the Army at Fishmongers' Hall, conveyed to his audience a very Rood idea of the expense of modern ordnance, when he said that every shot from the new big gun at Wool- wich would cost JE25. It seems a large sum of money to spend for every round fired from a gun, especially when we put the original cost of the weapon itself at £15,000, the sum mentioned by the Duke of Cambridge, and bear in mind that in all probability scarce five hundred shots will be fired from it from first to last. Compared with the heavy guns of fifty years ago, the artillery and ammunition of to-day are indeed a serious item of expense. A first-rate line of battle ship in the days of Nelson, carrying 110 guns, supposing they were all 32-pounders, would have cost but £ 2,'200, or £ 20 per &nn, for the whole of her armament, while we propose for the Inflexible, now building at Portsmouth, an armament of four 81-ton guns, each of which the Commander-in-Chief values at £ 15,0i 0. A broadside from these four guns will coBt, therefore, exactly one hundred pounds, while in the c'we of a 32-pounder, reckoning the cannon hall at two shillings, and the Powder charge at three, no less than four hundred rounds could be fired for the same money. What Would be the amount of damage wrought in each case is of course, another matter. The way in which the J625 per shot is made up is at once apparent When we take into consideration the nature of the ammunition used. There are, in the first instance, about 250 pounds of gunpowder, which costs probably half the total amount. then comes the flannel or serge cartridge case to contain the charge, and finally.the chil- led iron projectile, neatly turned and fitted with brass atuds, weighing 1,250 pounds or more. So that the Duke of Cambridge does not at all exaggerate in his estimate, but, on the contrary, if the loading apparatus and the fuze and burster for shells, and other articles are taken into account, we believe he somewhat under- states the cost. In any case, one thing is obvious that with such guns and ammunition it will never do to throw a shot away."

WORK AND WAGES. In London, on Saturday, Professor Leone Levi de- livered the second lecture under the above bead in the theatre of King's College. The subject was "The Reward of Labour." Mr. Levi said the question be proposed to consider was Are the working classes reoeiving such wages as they are entitled to hofe-do they participate justly and fully in the produce of their labour ?" It was said the workman ought to have a share in the profits made by the master, but there weie many and cogent answers to this k'nd of reason- ing. British producer- were fouud all over the Work:, snd it coit time aud K.one.y t') take them to their destination. Could the labourer afford to wait until the article was Eo:d, and tibk the variations of the market ? He thought notj and it was better far for him to accept a fixed sum, commuted upon a fair standard in the shape of wages, and not depend upon a remote contingency, Which might prove very delusive. The labour-market toust depend upon supply and demand. If the master found a ready market for his goods at the best prices, he could afford to raise his wages; if ho found that to compete with his neighbours and foreign producers he must sell at a much lower rate than he had anticipated, he must lower his wages or be beaten out of the market. It was to the interest of every employer to pay as high a rate of wages as be could, con- sistent with his own demand. Where there had been a long course of dealing between the parties the men had a right to expect from the masters an open and candid statement of the position of the busi- ness, and of the reason which prompted a break- ing of the contract before be summarily announced a reduction in the wages. Tho workmen should look at the difficulties which beset the master, and the latter must remember that his workmen were free men, who had a right to accept or refuse the reduction, as they tnougnu proper, xne only remeay wmcn no cuuia for tne low wages of the agricultural labourers was emigration, which he held to be a blessing to many. He objected to the employment of women let them attend to the household duties in the end there was no economy in the woman helping. He hoped that all working men would be thrifty, and so gradually become capitalists themselves, and that they would make the more kindly masters, as they had felt the dependence of labour in their own persons. A discussion followed the lecture. — i- ■■■- ,-t*. t

THE PRINCE OF WALES IN INDIA. The Special Correspondent of The Times, under date Madras, Dec. M, says A group of aboriginal Viddahs, two men and three women, was exhibited to the Prince before he left Ceylon Two of „he women were veiy gentle in appearance, and one wa- decide ily pretty. The men were small and rather ape like; they shot fairly well at a mark with bows and arrows, but the exhibitions of fellow creatures was, on the whole, rather c'triuusand sad than elevating or exhilarating. It is said they do not laugh, but it is certain the men grinned horribly at the command of the missionary. A heavy thunderstorm precipitated the departure from the gardens. MADRAS, Dec. 14 On Sunday Divine Service was celebrated at 12 30. The Prince left Trichonopoly station at four in the afternoon. The axleB of the carriages were so much heated that the train had to stop twice. It arrived at Madras one hour late, at 7 30. The Governor, his Staff, and the authorities awaited the Prince's, and there was a presentation of native Chiefs. The procession was accompanied by the 16th Lancer's the body guard and suite preceding the carriage of the Prince and Geverner with Major-General Probyn. An escort of horse and a foot cortige of the authorities followed. The arrangements were admirable. Only the municipal police kept order in the poorest suburb. The streets were packed. Thousands had come into thp town the night before. Every place was occupied. At dawn the troops lined the way to Government House. Christian children sang with a pretty effect. All along the route there were flags and streamers and striking native dresses. The Prince was known to the crowd by his gold umbrella. He was received everywhere with marks of intense interest and curious respect. There was no cheering or noise. The Prince rt ached Government House at nine, when pre- sentations were made. Breakfast was at twelve. The Maharajah of Travancore paid a visit to the Prince. The visit was private, but was conducted in great State. He spfaks English. The Prince expressed his regret that he could not visit Travancore. The Maharajah teamed much pleased. The next visit was from the Raj Ah of Cochin. He spoke about the trade of Cochin, and also seemed greatly gratified. The Prince of Arcot and four Strdars followed The F/ince of Arcot said the dreamt of his life were at last realised. The Prince gave attar to each, and proper salutes and honours W6re paid. At one levfie there were upwards of 600 ohiefs and Europeans. The Prince stoed in front of a splendid silver chair on a raised dais. The Duke of Buck- ingham and Sir Bartle Frere were on his right, and the Duke of Sutherland on his left. The native officers presented wore very magnificent costumes. At eight there was a State Banquet with 50 covers the Bench, the Clergy, and the Civil and Military authorities were represented. The Governor of Pondicherry and his suite were also present. There was an illumination at 10 30. The Prince, the Governor, and his suite rode out to Guindy Park. To-morrow Is the anniversary o fthe Prince Consort's death, and will be spent there in seclusion by the Prince.

EARTHQUAKE IN NAPLES. A Correspondent of the Standard, writing from Naples, the 6th Inst, says This morning, at about half past three o'clock, all Naples was awakened by a most severe shook of earth- quake, which lasted eighteen seconds in its different phases. The movement, first undulatory from N. E. to S.W., became afterwards vertical, and there is not a quarter of this large city that was not most severely shaken. The greatest wonder is that as yet no damages are reported. Professor Palmieri, the well-known and learned director of the Vesuvian Observatory, had, by means of his newly-invented instrument, the "sysmograph," been able to foretell an imminent volcanic perturba- tion, which it was expected would have found its vent through Mount Vesuvius, so well styled the safety valve of Naples, but his calculations have been at least partly mistaken, inasmuch as the mountain, instead of vomiting flames and smoke, is since yesterday quietly reposing under an immaculate shroud of snow. Never- theless we are permitted to suppose that the present state of repose of Vesuvius will not last long, because for several days past the awful subterraneous noises which usually precede violent eruptions have been fre- quently heard, especially at night. These noises may be compared to the rumbling of distant and prolonged thunder, and when heard amidst the still repose of night have a very grand effect. The morning's shock of earthquake caused a great fright amongst the population of Naples, especially in the lower quarters, where the inhabitants fled from their houses and sought refuge in the open spaces that offered nearest; and, to add to the horrors ef the scene, the weather was abominable. It was only when daylight began to dawn upon the city that the poor frightened nativea began to regain courage, and ven- tured to return to their houses. A party of devotees repaired to the Duomo (or cathedral) and insisted upon having the miraculous effigy of St. Gennaro brought out and cried in procession in the streets. Happily for public quiet, at that time the tesoriere, or guardian of the treasury of the Duomo, was n^t to be found, so that they bad to abandon their idea. Numbers of poor half-clad wamen were gathered in groups in the public squares at the Munioipio, at Santa Lucia, &o., all telling their beads with great fervour. I hear that the numerous prisoners confined at the Vicaria, where they are awaiting trial for their various offences, got so excited upon hearing the crowd in the adjoining square that they nearly mutinied to get out, and thus avoid the danger of being, as they expected at every moment to be, buried beneath the ruins of the old castle. The population has now returned to its usual calm, but the earthquake of this morning is the topic of the day, and the first words of greeting are, as a rule, Have you felt the shock ?" Were you frightened ?" &c. Everybody is looking-with anxiety towards the Montagna, as Vesuvius is generally called here. and eagerly watching for the first symptoms of the pro- mised eruption which is to avert from us all danger of such shocks as we have had this morning.

THE IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN CATTLE. A deputation from the London Trade Council waited on Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P., on Monday, to as. certain his views as to the present high price of meat and the causes which have led to it. The members of the deputation said they considered that the restrictions on the import of foreign cattle were the chief cause of the grievance of which they complained. Mr. Forster declined to express an opinion whether the restrictions referred to ought to be continued, but hinted that they had not so much to do with the high price of meat as was generally supposed, that price being attributable, in his opinion, rather to the increased demand. There was nothing, he said, while in office, that gave him more trouble or more anxiety than this matter of the trade falling into the bands of monopolists. It was a serious business having to interfere in the trade, but no doubt as at present worked it did tend to give the large monopolists rather more power than could be desired. Some legislation seemed to be necessary to preserve the country from the effects of disease, but he thought ttey ought not to interfere one bit more than was necessary, and if those restrictions should turn out to be unnecessary, he would do all he could in Parliament to get them withdrawn.

HOW TO BUY GOOD MEAT. The National Food and Fuel Reformer gives the following useful hints In order to make sure as much as possible to buy good meat, the following rules should be observed in the purchasing, to distinguish good wholesome meat from meat obtained from diseased and bad animals. Good and wholesome meat should neither be of a pale rosy or pink colour, nor of a deep purple. The first denotes the diseased condition, the last proves that the animal has died a natural death. Good meat has more of a marble look, in consequence of the branch- irgs of the veins which surround the adipose cells. The fat, especially of the inner organs, is always firm and suety and never moist, while in general the fat from diseased cattle is flabby and watery, and more often resembles jelly or boiled parchment. Wholesome meat will always show itself firm and elastic to the touch, and exhibit no dampness while bad meat will appear Boft and moist, in fact, often more wet, so that the liquid substance runs out of the blood when pressed hard. Good meat has very little smell, while unsound meat has a dis- agreeable, cadaverous smell, and diffuses a certain medicinal odour. This can be distinctly proved by cutting j the meat through with a knife and smelling tbe blade, j or pouring warm water over it. Lastly bad meat has thePeculiarity that it shrinks considerably in the boil- ing, \v rule wholesome meat rather swells and does not ing, wnile wholesome meat rather swells and does not lose an ounce in weight.

A GIGANTIC BIRD.—A letter from New Guinea speaks of a gigantic bird in that island which can fly away with a kangaroo or a large turtle. The writer states that he saw two, and that they appeared to b« from sixteen to eighteen feet across tbe_ wings as they flew. The noise caused by the flapping of the wings of one, which rose as the party approached, I '1 resembled the sound of a locomotive pulling a long train very slowly." That of another heard coming waa just the sound cI an approtechmg goods train.

"ROUGHING" HORSES. (From the Sanitary Record.) During at least three.months every winter, we are subject to severe and sudden changes of weather, which render our streets so slippery that traffic is almost brought to a standstill. The ordinary pedestrian can- not help noticing the frightful difficulties experienced by horses drawing even fight loads. The practical horseman knows that, leaving aside the risk of sprains and falls, the energy expended by a horse in keeping his balance over a mile of ice-covered road is quite equal to that required for a four mile journey under ordinary circumstances. But few persons, however, are aware of the result of all this misery—stables con- tain idle horses, lame and injured, for weeks after, and the horse- slaughtering establishments are crowded with the fatal accidents which occur all over the town. This heavy loss is only avoidable by having the horse's shoes roughed." Unfortunately this opera- tion requires the removal of the shoes, which, besides being expensive, is not unfrequently productive of much damage to the feet. Horse owners, therefore, avvid "roughing" as much as possible, and send their horses to work with smooth shoes, hoping each day will bring a change of weather. We incline to believe that no prudent or humane man would find his economy in working his horse even one day in smooth shoes, if he were convinced of the success of any cheap plan by which a horse could be "roughed" in the stable by his driver. The plan of having holes in the heels of the shoes, into which steel sharps" or spikes may be screwed when necessary, is pretty widely adopted in the West End of London, and, when done properly, is quite successful, but it is expensive, costing, in fact, nearly double the price of ordinary shoeing. Mr. Fleming, of the Royal Engineers, has, how- ever, tried a plan suggested to himjfrom Russia, which he strongly recommends, and which is free from the objections of great expense. It consists simply of punqhing a square hole in each heel of the shoe, which in ordinary weather may be kept closed by a piece of cork. In frost the cork is removed, and a steel spike inserted. If this steel rough' be made to fit the hole exactly, it remains firm in its place, and is not liable to break off short at the neck like some of the screwed spikes. The economy of this method consists in its saving the expense of the screw. Putting a thread into the holes of the shoe and into the steel spikes is a tedious process, occupying much time, and therefore is costly. If Mr. Fleming's suggestion were widely adopted, the square steel spikes could be supplied at a very low figure, as machinery could be made to turn out three or four different sizes, each of uniform gauge, and the farriers could punch the holes to fit them with great exactness. We commend this plan to the notice of the large horse-owning firms, believing that it only requires a trial to establish it as the best system of roughing' extant. Christmas always brings a busy time for horses, and those who receive an annual hamper from the country know how, even in ordinary weather, the carriers are over-weighted, and the delivery of goods rendered very irregular. A return of the recent slippery weather during Christmas week would increase these difficul. ties tenfold, but the adoption of a good system of roughing' would save at least 20 per cent. in the cost of horse-haulage.

In connection with this subject, "C. A. W." writes to The Times In confirmation of the suggestion of A Lover of Horses' in your columns of a few days ago as to rough shoeing, I beg to state that, for upwards of thirty years in England, and also during a residence in Northern Germany, where the variations of frost and thaw are often very sudden, I have always had my horses' shoes during the winter months made with flat- headed screws in the heels, which can be exchanged in a few minutes for screws with roughed heads. The shoes are, of course, a little more expensive, because the roughing screws are made of steel, and some steel is welded in the heel for drilling the necessary worm; but on the whole little more is laid out than the con- stant removal of shoes and roughing would cost, and there is the great counter advantage of not breaking the hoofs to pieces, and of having your horses ready in five minutes upon sudden change from thaw to frost. The German farrier had never heard of this arrange- ment, but after a time he told me he drove a very good trade in the winter months with this to him and others new sort of shoe."

THE LANDLORD OF NEW YORK. (From the Spectator.) The career of Mr. W. B. Astor, the American mil- lionaire, who died at New York on the 24th of November, deserves mere than a passing word. He was believed to be, perhaps erroneously, the greatest capitalist in America, and he certainly was, in the whole world, the supreme example of a special type of rich men, those who may be called beaver-capitalist— men who, possessed of unusual means, care nothing for speculation or for business in the usual sense of the term, nothing for splendour, and nothing for political power, but pass quiet lives, almost in seclusion, in the patient and usually successful endeavour to increase and secure their fortunes. The late Mr. Thornton, whose death affected an English Budget, was one of these men and Mr. Brown, the Liverpool shipowner, another but neither of them offered so perfect a speci- men of the genus as the late representative of the Astors." He was the second in succession of a family of money-getters, who, but for an accident, might have attained wealth unequalled in modern history. John Jacob Astor, the founder of the house, the son of a German butcher of Waldorf, possessed in a high degree, the genius, for in him it was something more than the mere capacity, for rapidly making money. He landed in 1782 in New York at 19 with 25 in his pocket and seven flutes for luggage, intending, it is believed, to deal in musical Instruments, but became apprentice to a Quaker furrier, set up speedily fonhim- self, and without any special luck-without marrying his master's daughter, or inheriting a great legacy- In accumulated before he was 40, by dealing in furs and by some successful shipping speculations, about a quarter of a million sterling. This was au immense fortune in those days, more than a million would be now, but it was only a beginning of Mr. Astor's accumulations. He commenced investing his money on a plan which had the advantage of being absolutely secure, and of affording a chance of immense profit, if he could only wait. He had a profound belief that New York would grow in no long time into a London, or would become, at all events, an immense as well as a wealthy city, and he bought land on the island very cheap, at what seemed to lefs convinced observers preposterous distancea from the centres of business, and began erecting large and attractive houses on his estates. As the city spread they sold and let well, and still continuing his business as a furrier, and speculating heavily in shops and pianofortes, he invested all his profits in more and more acres and more and more houses, till, when he died, in 1848, at the age of 85, it was found that his estate required as much management as a first-class business, and that his only efficient son, the other one being insane, bad inherited a fortune of jS4,000,000 sterling. Larger fortunes than this are believed to exist in the United States to-day, but in 1848 this was probably the largest, and certainly the largest safely invested in real estate, and beyond any fluctuations except those incidental to the pros- perity of the country. The German butcher's boy who at 17, long before emigration had become a habit, had the nerve to decide on emigration to a new world, and to wait two years in England en route merely to learn its language, had in one life-time made himself the richest citizen of his adopted country. He intended to have been much more. There was ambition as well as power in the man, he had a passion for wealth as a con- quest as well as a possession, and he struck out a scheme for founding a Fur capital in Oregon, to be called Astoria," monopolising the furs of the North and the Far West, and developing a trade between the United States and Asia through the Pacific Slope, which, but for the war with Eng- land of 1812, would, he firmly believed, have made him "the richest man that ever lived in the world." The scheme was abandoned in oonsequence of the war, and never resumed; but Mr. Astor never lost faith in it, and looked back on it to the end of his days as re- gretfully as Napoleon looked back on his expedition to Egypt, and the wretched little Englishman who "stopped his true career." He would, there can be little doubt, had he succeeded, have held in his hands all the furs from the Far West, then a main source of supply, especially for beaver, and might have saved a million a year for thirty years. He turned aside, how. ever, and thenceforward adhered firmly to investments in land. The William B. Astor who inherited all this wealth had none of his father's daring genius for money- making but he had, nevertheless, a quietly persistent desire to continue accumulating. He was 56 when be succeeded; he had been trained to watch his father's property, and for the rest of his life he pursued un- swervingly a single purpose-that of so managing the Astor Estate that it should grow greater in his hands. He was not a mean man, still less a miser, any more than he was a generous one. He thought his father bad not distributed quite enough among some relatives, and in a moderate, sensible way, at a cost of a few thou- sands, he remedied all the deficiencies he perceived. He heard that the trustees of the Astor Library, after their large expenditure on buildings, had hardly adequate funds for book-buying, and he added £40,000 to his father's gift of £80,000. He gave, when asked, to chari- ties, and net illiberally but his usual check was one for £200, and he is only once recorded to have made a donation of E10,000 at once. He lived also liberally, with a town house and large country place; but he lived moderately, spending on himself and his charities but a fraction of his income, secluding himself almost entirely from the public eye, and taking no visible part in the business of the City or Republic. He never en- gaged in business in the ordinary sense, and never became a director in any of the undertakings in which he held shares. His work for 27 years was merely to manage his property, to cover his father's latds with large houses, till shortly before his death he possessed 720, most of them of the first-class and in the richest quarters, and to invest his yearly accumulations in the safest investments he could find. He never speculated or dealt on 'Change, or went in for grand coups, but steadily added house to hous^ and share to share, work- ing a^the while as if he had stii.i his bread to-ruako. His dftce was as large as that of any great contractor and he superintended it himself, going down every day when in town to business, and keeping all under him at work. He paid well, and he must have bad some judgment in men, for he was well served, and had the art of inducing his agents to give up their whole lives to his service. He had, too, a certain fidelity to his work and to the estate, and, we believe, put a clause j in his leases under which he alone should undertake I all repairs—a branch of work involving exce s labour and no profit. It is probable that while be flhered steadfastly to his own plan of life, and Vofthed his fortune accumulating, he was a weary man, who thought life had very little to give, and had something of a dislike for the wealth which had made him such a name. He seemed to be governed, possibly from habit, by a sense of duty to the estate which be had watched so long—by a feeling that to diminish it, even for great objects, wou'd be in some sense a moral wrong. It may even be surmised that he was conscious of this feeling, and a little ashamed of it, broader ideas I flitting occasionally before his mind. There is some- thing to our ears excusatory ia bis frequent remark thaA his wealth brought him nothing but a mainten- ance and a daily round of work, and the burdensome < reputation of being the richest man in the Union, Nevertheless, he never intermitted his toil, but from 1860 to 1873 increased his buildings, till be was popu- larly described as "the Landlord of New York," and was possessed of a. fortune which the Tribune eays is variously estimated, but may reach £10,000,000 ster- ling. We have heard it estimated, not by vulgar rumours, but by grave capitalists, who had in- terest in knowing the truth, at a very much larger sum but, vast as the transactions of W. B. Astor Wfre, Wall-street is shrewd, and the Tribune's estimate is likely to be found, when the property Íi valued for the succession, tLe terms of which are still unknown, very near the truth. Jacob H. Astor certainly left £4,006,000, most of it producing more than six per cent., and allowing even £ 40,000 a year for expenditure and management charges, the savings of 27 years under such manage- ment as Mr. William Aster's, added to the original fortune, cannot amount to much less than ten millions, and may prove to be much more. It is to be observed, however, that the houses will be valued at a period of unusual depreciation. If the amount we have stated should be realized Mr. Astor's fortune was one of the largest ever at the disposal of a Bingle man, unfettered by the responsibilities of a house like the Rothschilds, or by settlements such as reduce the London dukes to life-tenancies. We rather wonder why one feels a slight contempt for a career like this—a contempt deepened rather than lessened by the charm which very great wealth, like very great power in any other shape, has for the imagination. Tried by all rules, William Astor was a very excellent citizen. Tried by the rules of politi- cal economy, he was a most excellent citizen-a man who, instead of wasting wealth upon himself, or hoard- ing it unused, or pauperising his neighbours by lavish gifts, employed it in the most beneficial way—-devoting the whole, or nearly the whole, of his profits to repro- ductive undertakings, railways, mines, and above all, useful buildings. Tried by a higher standard even, there was little to cavil at, for, as we have said, he probably accumulated money from a sense of duty, which, however narrow, was sincere, and his personal cha- racter is believed to have been without a stain of any kind. He was bred and remained through life an un- obstrusive member of the Episcopal Church, and never neglected any external duty of a Church member, giving up attendance only when his age made the ascent of the church steps a suffering to him. If bis will is found as respectable as his life, there Is no fault in it on which a critic can take hold. And yet the in- stinctive feeling that this man on the whole lived a poor life must be the correct one. He had power in his hands, power of the most real and effective kind, and he did not care to use it; but while always in- creasing it, left it behind him for others to me or mi-use, indept-ndent of his control. There is no reason why he should he blamed, any more than any English million- aire who, equally with him, buries his talent in a nap- kin but one fe, Iii in bis case an extra sense of disap- pointment, as if, living in such a country, with such a family history, he ought to have been more original, more splendidly generous, more of a recognisable benefactor to his kicd. It is as if Napoleon in the fullness of power had used his whole strength to make himself a safe and decorous Sovereign in some corner of his possessions,—had made a warm cloak of his purple robe, and a handsome crutch of his sceptre. A man is not bound to be lofty, if loftiness is not in him, but there is in the career of Mr. Astor, excellent person as he is always repre- sented to have been. a want of the greatness which power like his would in some few natures have called fined. He did not even expand the somewhat con- forth and sordid American idea of living.

HUMANE TREATMENT OF THE LOWER ANIMALS. Many stories have been told of Sir Edwin Land- seer's fondness for dogs, and the attachment shown by his various pets. Tiney, a little white terrier, was the latest companion of the painter. A brief biography, accompanying a portrait of Tiney, in the Animal World," says that he readily learned hia master's will, and equally understood his fun. The painter and his brothers and sisters found no difficulty in teaching him many tricks. He regularly fetched the morning news- paper from the kitchen to his master's bed, and found a daily reward in the caresses of his benefactor. He as punctually carried up his patron's boots, making two journeys in doing such duty. Dogs reason, we have often said, and certainly Tiney did one morning, when he thought that it would save himself a second journey if he could take up the two boots at one time. Consequently he placed the boots together in a favour- able position to enable him to grasp both with his mouth, and having gripped them he started off with apparent success and glee. His enthusiasm was, however, checked on the way by many impedi- ments, and principally by the steps of the staircase. Though it occupied much more of his strength and time to accomplish the task he had set himself to do than he had expected, Tiney's energy never flagged until he placed both boots together before his master, when he rested, apparently much exhausted, but really perhaps reflecting on his own folly for never afterwards did any one see him attempt to carry more than one boot at a time. Tiney was taught to ask for biscuits; and it is noteworthy that when he begged of Mr. Charles Landseer (who suffers from deafness), he invariably barked in a much louder note than when addressing any other member of the family, a habit which experience and a love of biscuits, we need hardly explain, had taught him to be mindful of. During Landseer's four years' illness Tiney never left his side. In the garden, on very fine days, the faithful dog would set coiled up for hours at his master's feet; and shortly before his end, Landseer, embracing his pet. exclaimed, "My dear little white dog; nobody can love me half so much as thou dost." Anecdotes of elephantine intelligence are numerous, but must of them too well known to repeat here. In fact, all animals that come under the observance of man supply illustrations of what we may call moral as well as mental qualities that are truly surprising. The difficulty is, not to find but to select such illustrations. But we have quoted as many as our space will permit. A reviewer in The Timts having noticed several books on animal sagacity, said If animals were only as sagacious in real life as they are in books, what a won- derful world it would be No doubt the fact contained in many of even the most wonderful of these tales really happened exactly as they are described; it is the inferences from these facts whil'h so often make us shake the head I" Well, we are not telling these stories here to illustrate the disputed question of instinct and reason, nor to encourage any morbid affection towards the lower animals. Because some animals are intelligent, docile, and affec- tionate, it does not follow that all animals are to be praised, or any of them to be petted. There are very bad and disagreeable animals, as there are very had and disagreeable people, but we have no right to treat them with cruelty. Where animals do not in- terfere with men's rights and convenience, they have a claim to humane treatment. If the Creator has given to them such wonderful qualities and capacities, man should not injure wantonly God's creatures. This is an inference at which no one need shake his head. And another inference from such stories is the very practical one, that we may get good example some- times from the lower animals.—Our Own Fireside,

WINTER WEATHER AT NAPLES. The Naples Correspondent of The Times writes under date December 6 A more wintry scene than that which lies before us you could scarcely have in England. A* far as the eye can see the several ranges of illountaillsare covered with snow, while here in the foreground, audible as well as visible, rises up Vesuvius as white as a sugar- loaf. Here, in the low grounds, however, snow does not fall, but something quite as cold and trying, for rain and bail are continual, and have scarcely ceased for the last fifteen days. The prospect before us is far from encouraging according to a preverb much trusted in bv the people, who say that when it rains on the 2nd of December it will continue for upwards of forty days. On the 2nd of December occurs the Festa of Santa Bibiana, and the rhyme runs thus:— Quando plove II giorno de Sa. Bibbiana 'Piove quaranta glornt eduna settimana.' So that we have our St. Swithin even in Italy. The damage which has been inflicted on the country from north to south by the deluge which has poured down upon us is most serious. Every railroad in the king- dom has been more or less injured, and if communi- cation has not been entirely impeded, it has been limited' as the journals officially announoe almost every day. Fewer trains have left, and at certain points where bridges have fallen or portions of the road have been washed away, passengers and goods have been transferred across the gap from one train to another. There has been a suspension of oommnui- cation between Cava and Salerno, but the damage was quickly repaired. Between Naples and Foggia it was more serious, as, after passing Benevento, the road from Dugento to Amorosi was and is impassable. As this is, perhaps, the most rapid postal communication with the north, though not the shortest, the mails have been delayed, and the Post Office authorities have issued fresh directions for the receipt and distribution of letters. Further north, from Rome to Florence by Leghorn, and on the whole of the Maremma line, the state of things is as bad, or even worse. In Amalfi, which lies under lofty mountains, a fearful disaster occurred last week, for the rain, sweeping down in torrents, destroyed an entire Quarter, with the loss of twelve persons drowned. As you may know, what remains of this interesting mediaeval city lies on a narrow tract of ground, shut in by the Bea on one side and by precipitous mountains on the other, so that, even in the best of times, the feeling of the visitors is that there is no possible way of escape from it. What it must have been in such storms as we have had, and still have, may readily be imagined. On Thursday and Friday no steamers could leave our half-constructed port, so that postal communication was interrupted between this and Sicily. Equally difficult was it for any steamers to enter, and a large vessel from Alexandria lay up under tbe lee of Capri for seven or eight hours, until a gale abated and she could venture to cross. Indeed, the expe- rience of this and every winter shows the imperative necessity of completing the long-delayed works of our port, and of forming a port of refuge at Capri, which acts as a breakwater to Naples. Happily, I have to report only one disaster at sea—all lives saved—and that was to an Italian merchant vessel, which was wrecked in or near the port of Salerno. I am writing by lamplight at half-past eight o'clock there has been thunder and lightning all night, and the storm is Btill pealing and flashing awfully while the ground, as if in correction of the statement at the beginning of my letter, is white with mingled snow and hail. Of course, all agricultural pursuits are suspended; whfre the grain has been sown it has been washed out and out. No foreigners are coming in, and the prospect for those in the country and the town who depend on the season is as bad as it can be. After giving, however, so de- plorable a report of the weather, it may be as well to say that the thermometer in the open facing the north stands at 44, while in the house, without fires, it is 51."

'CT"'III r 'T* >• dl A SON OF ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. The Home News writes of the late Colonel Francis Cunningham, the youngest son of Allan Cunningham, the poet:—"Like his brother, Peter Cunningham, be was an enthusiastic lover of Old London. He searched it every nook and corner, and one of his latest labours was the preparation of a new edition of his brother's work, which, we believe, will before long be published by Messrs. Murray. A sense o; his apprr aching end made him desirous of preparing mateiia's f r a life of his father, for he felt de-fvv thpt t' 3 life already published was insufficient and incomplete, especially in its treatment of the period of the poet's residence in London, to illustrate which be was in possession of many valuable letters from Scott, Wordsworth, Southey, and other leading contemporaries of Allan Canning- ham's best days. He was called in at the eleventh hour by Messrs. Vickers to edit their last publication of Ben Jonson's works, ard he has thus licked his name with that of the second greatest of our dramatic Eoets. Glorious Ben was indeed his idol, and it was is supreme desire to be spared long enough to accom- plish ano'her edition of the poet on his own undivided responsibility, an opportunity of which bad just been offered him. But it was not to be, and. as ever happens when a learned man dies, a mass of knowledge has perished out of the world never te be presented to it in the form it would have assumed. He was cut off at a comparatively early age, just when his knowledge was ripest. He was well known to and appreciated and admired by a few of the highest rank among the litterateurs of the day who will miss and mourn him while his geniality as a companion, his happy fund of anecdote, his courteous manners, and his large-hearted sincerity as a friend will leave a blank among a large circle of those who enjoyed his intimacy which no time can efface or supply."

SYDNEY SMITH AS A CURATE. The biographer of Sydney Smith (his daughter] remarks:- It would be difficult to express the famine of mind that came over him when planted in that great waste of Nature, Salisbury Plain. He has himself described a curate as the poor working man of God—a learned man in a hovel, good and patient—the first and purest pauper of the hamlet;' and pauper he wa», for he had no private means whatever, except six small silver spoons, worn thin, which after his marriage he threw into his wife's lap, saying, There, Kate, you lucky girl, I give you all my fortune!' Netheravon was scarcely a hamlet, but only a few scattered oottages and farms, and the home assigned to the curate so wretched, that another clergyman win came to survey the place and premises galloped away in two minutes with every mark of astonishment and antipathy. Once a week a butoher's cart came from Salisbury it was then only he could obtain meat, and he often dined on a mess of potatoes, sprinkled with a little ketchup Too poor to buy books, his only resource was Squire Beach, and his only relaxation long walks over the intermin- able downs. In one of these walks he was overtaken with a snowstorm, and lost his way, and wandered miles and miles until late at night he reached the vil- lage, fearfully exhausted. I mean to try to persuade the poor people to some to church,' he writes, for really at present my preaching is like the voice of one crying in the wilderness.' Again—' on Sunday there were three or four children with their feet on the cold stones, without any shoes, and one poor boy with such grinning remnants of trousers as if he had come ready for whipping, as a fowl is trussed and ready for roasting.' The squire, the ancestor of the present Sir Miehael H. Beach, according to good old English custom, invited the curate to dinner every Sunday; and soon discovering his powers of mind and stores of learning, offered him the tutorship of his son to travel abroad. Thus ended Sydney Smith's connection with Wilts in 1797. But afterwards, in December, of that year, he writes :—' They have sent for me to Bowood, to marry my brother to Miss Vernon, daughter of Lord Oscory, and a relation of Lord Lansdowne. The marriage took place in the Library at Bowood, and all I can tell you of it is that he cried, she cried, and I cried. I would write more, but it is dinner time, and Lord Lansdowne gives such good dinners that they are by no means to be neglected —especially by a poor curate who had been accustomed to dine on potatoes and catsup'"

THE RAINFALL AND PUBLIC HEALTH. In almost all parts of England, the rainfall during the 11 months of the present year already elapsed has been excessive. The year 1872 was one of the wettest years on record, but at Oxford the rain which had fallen before November 15 of this year exceeded the fall there in 1872. Tne rainfall in September, October, and the early part of November, was reported from nearly all recording stations as excessive. At Bristol, during the nine weeks ending November 20, the total rainfall was 15 942 inches, the average quantity for the same period being 6'200 inches consequently, the excess above the average was 97'42 inches in the nine weeks. In other localities the downpour was equally great. The result has been a series of disas- trous floods in all the low-lying districts of the central parts of the country, the nearest paral- lel to which occurred as far back as November, 1852, during the lying-in-state of the Duke of Wellington. Where drainage is good, wet seasons appear to be generally healthy at any rate in large towns, where some of the principal causes of disease and death are impurities in the atmosphere, drains, &c. And the reason of this is obvious. The rain in descend- ing first washes the atmosphere, from which it doubt- less carries off zymotic particles, and then mechanically cleanses ths streets and sewers consequently an abun- dant rain usually coincides with a low death-rate in town districts. But, in low-lying and badh-drained boio iibo wttf.fr rises and enters the basement of houses, especially when the surface-water is added to the sewage of overflowing drains, disease is wont to be rife. It is te be feared that the present wet season will not prove an exception to the rule. But for the statistics which will show the exact effect of the rains and floods upon the public health, we must wait until the Registrar-General furnishes his next valuable quarterly report. The weekly returns of deaths in the 18 largest English towns do not as yet apparently exhibit any marked feature due to the prevailing wet. It is certain, however, that in many of the flooded districts, in which the houses have for day, and even weeks, had water lodged in the lowest rooms, much sickness will prevail, since the walls and floors will remain damp and unwholesome for weeks to come. To add to the misery of the inhabitants, who in the flooded districts almost all belong to the poorer classes, they have, by reason of the flood, lost in many instances a considerable part of their property while the extreme cold which has set in at this early ueriod of the winter will greatly aggravate their troubles (at a time when they cannot afford to pay for extra coals), produce disease, and augment the death rate.— British Medical Journal.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. Thirty-eight persons have been dispatched from St Petersburg to form a war hospital in Montenegro, at an out- lay of 10,000 roubles. On Monday the Sheffield Coal Company advanced its prices by one shilling per ton. A Bombay telegram states that a severe shock of earthquake, which resulted In the loss of several lives, was felt In the Lahore and Peshawur districts on Sunday. The death is announced as having taken place on the 16th November, in battle, In Abyssinia, of Soren Adolph Arendrup, Danish Captain of Artillery, Commander-in- Chief of thedate Egyptian expedition against the Abyssinians. Victor Emmanuel is opposed to wearing flannel shirts. He says no sturdy huntsman like himself has any- thing to fear from rheumatism. Marshal MacMahon, the President of the French Republic, has graciously conferred upon Mr. Alderman Stone, late Lord Mayor of London, the rank and decoration of a Commander of the Legion of Honour. Dr. Alfred Hill, the Medical Officer of Health for Birmingham, in his report for the third quarter of the pre- sent year, states that there were 95 cases of small-pox, of which 83 had been vaccinated and 12 not vaccinated. It is shown by a Parliamentary Blue book that in the seventeen years of the establishment of the Divorce Court 5 922 petitions were filed, giving an average for each year of 348, exclusive of applications for the protection of property And for alimony. Last year the petitions were 611, against 464 in 1873. In 1874 there were 379 to dissolve marriage. The authorities of the Home for Lost D ga in Lon- don have recently added, at the expense of £ 400, a sufficient number of new kennels to accommodate from 160 to 200 dogs. On an average about 400 dogs are well fed, supplied reely with water, and carefully littered every day. General Walker, superintendent of the United States census, in a report which he has just made, expresses his regret at the pauoity of results in the state censuses of the year, but, after naming the few states which have taken the census, he says, enough Is already known to Indicate clearly that the progress of our population has received a temporary check." The usual religious service was held in the Mauso- leum at Frogmore on Tuesday morning ( he 14th), in com- memoration of the fourteenth anniversary of the Prince Consort's death. It was attended by her Majesty the Queen, the Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Leopold, the Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lorne, and by the Princess Beatrice, The Windsor annual exhibition and sale of fat stock was held on Monday. The tntrfes were numerous, and among the exhibitors and recipients of prizes were Her Majesty the Queen and lladame Van de Weyer. A prime heifer, bred and fed by Mr. JoEiah Smith, of Marlow, was sold for £54. -Several beasts fetched £37, while the average was about j631. Wether sheep averaged 75s. Bac,n hogs were sold for about Lio. This is the third annual sale of Mr. Mason, of Windsor. On Monday Lord Derby received a deputation re- presenting Turkish bondholders, who submitted a scheme having for its object a new settlement of the claims resulting from the various fluanclal transactions in which they are in- terested, and by the adoption of which, they alleged, Turkey would be relieved of a large amount of her grots debt. The noble lord suggested that, in order that he should under- stand the views of the deputation properly, they should put them on paper. Mr. Hamond, M.P., who introduced the deputation, promised that this should be done. The Railway Service Gazette states that a memorial signed by railway men is to be presented to the Railway Ac- cidents Commission praying them to recommend Parliament to render the adoption of certain improvements compulsory on the railway companies. The memorial will embrace nil the suggestions which have been made by advocates of re- form, with the view of rendering the avocation of railway men less dangerous Fur is so much patronised by ladies and gentlemen in Paris this season, that it is difficult to know who s who. Hitherto, ladies adopted fur as a lining for their silk mantles now they wear the silk for lining and the fur as the material they have also purloined the gentlemen a dressing- gown and top coat, and as both are trimmed extensively with fur it is difficult to divine to what «ex the owner belongs, especially as the fur bonnets are not uncommonly like bearskin caps in tbe distance The very rich tUganteg patronise ermine with sapphire clasps, or turquoise buttons set In diamonds. -Court Journal. Mr Forster, M.P., had an interview with some men b'ersof the London Trades' Council, who conferred with him respecting the regulations of tbe Privy Council regard- lng the Importation of cattle, and whether existing n strio- tions increased the price of meat to the English consumer. The right hon. gentleman did not express any opinion ss to whether those restrictions ought to he continued, but hinted that they bad not so much to do with the high price of meat as was generally supposed, that price being attributable, In his opinion, rather to the increased demand lie promised, however, that ifthe restrictions should be found to be un- neoessarjr he would do all In "his power as a member of the House of Commons to get them withdrawn. So intense has the cold been in Navarre, that many Carlists are reported to have been frozen to death. The Smithfield Club Cattle Show was attended during the week by about 100,000 visitors. According to a Royal Warrant recently published, free conveyance will in future be provided, at the regulation rates, for the families of all soldiers on the married establish- ment. Victor Emmanuel set Tokay wine one hundred and fifteen years old before his Royal guest, the Emperor William. A riot between blacks and whites, in which seven ef the former were killed, is reported from Yicksburg in the United States. There are glante&fes in Minnesota, it seems. A local p".per the-e, in d»-,cvibi. g the burning of a dwelling, men- t, > f the re=' ':h y way of a window, of the servant-girl, fifteen ffct in height." It appears from a recently issued Parliamentary paper that the value nfrne-chaud se imported from the Go]d ("oast in the last three quarters was £ 309 978 the exports of British and Irish produce amounted to £ 354,033. Mr. Stanley, the African explorer, has found near L'ike Victoria, iu the Interior wi:(1s :iear the fhore of the lake, a breed of doxs so lar/e as to dwarf his larsre English We hope he may be sble to export some fine ^:edmens to EsgHnd and Amsrica. A Daily News f,e;Tain from Boulogne says that the Amtrloau vesssl George E. I hacher, laden with petroleum. irom Baltimore for Dunkirk, went ashore on Saturday night, owing to the fog, an hour before low water, at Ambleteuse. The vessel floated the next tide, and has been towed into Boulogne. Part of the crew walked ashore with their clothes when the vessel struck. The Leeds Mercury understands that arrangements are in progress for the formation of a British Iron Trade Association—one of the principal objects of whioh will be to watoh all parliamentary matters affecting the trade, and to take special cognizance of trade interests in connection with foreign tariffs and treaties of commeree. In the official Army List" for the present moath are the names of about 150 soldiers who have died in the service since 1865, leaving unclaimed property amounting In the whole to over £1.000, varying in amount from jE93 to a few shillings, for which the next of kin are invited to apply to the Secretary of State for War. The King of Bavaria has bestowed the knighthood of the Order of Maximilain on Professor Max MUUer. This order is oonfined to a limited number of men distinguished in science and art. As in the case of the order pour le mdrite the right of election belongs to the knights themselves, but their choice has to be confirmed by the Sovereign. The reign of false hair is over, and it is said that Parisians are already arranging their own locks either In plaited or twisted coils round the head, or in artistic curls at the back of the neck. We may, therefore, soon hope to see the heads of our fair ladies reduced to their natural size and shape."— Graphic. In reply to a deputation of Tinnevelly migsionarieg the Prince of Wales expressed great satisfaction at finding that they were offering to their Indian fellow subjects the truths which formed the foundation of our social system at home. A meeting, estimated to have been attended by nearly 25,000 persons, took plaoe on Saturday afternoon on Hackney Downs, In opposition to some enclosures by the lord of the manor, which resulted in the pulling down of all the ob- noxious fences and their destruction by fire. Instructions have been forwarded to the district officers of the Board of Trade to visit the ports in their dis- tricts, and instruct the surveyors to make arrangements to obtain information of the arrival of every grain-laden vessel, respecting which there are reasonable grounds for believing that any of the provisions of section 3 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1876, have not been complied with; and to survey the ship and her fittings before unloading, and report full particulars for the information of the Board of Trade. On Monday morning an inquiry was held at Orwell, Camb'idgeshire, touching the deaths of two boys named Spacksman and Clarke, the one eight and the other nine years old, who, it appears, met with their deaths while sliding on the ice in a brickfield. They had been cautioned and driven off, but, in the absence of the workmen, returned. Death took place before the bodies were pulled out. A ver- dict of accidental death was in each case returned. The Courrier d'Oran (Algeria) relates that, a few days since, m) riads of winged ants passed over that town In dense columns, moving towards the North, and coming from the desert. When they had arrived at the border of the sea, a certain confusion arose, and they collected together in close masses, but after a time, reformed their ranks and returned southwards. The Budget presented to the New South Wales Assembly shows a clear surplus of £1,600,000 at the end of this month. It is proposed to borrow three millions of money, mainly for the extension of the railway system, in- cluding a project for connecting the port of Sydney with extensive coal-fields about fifty miles off. The Moravian missionary, Mr. Redslab, lately undertook a perilous tour to the northern side of the Hima- layas. He alludes, in a narrative of the Journey, to a very curious custom which prevails among the natives. I learned," he says, "that some of the natives, believing our books to contain more wholesome Instruction than their own, are in the habit of converting the leaves into globules and prescribing and swallowing them In cases of sickness." The Bishop of Winchester has issued a lengthened letter to the clergy and laity of his diocese In which he strongly urges that nodoctrinal significance should be attached to the eastward position or to vestments. The right "v prelate reeoromends internal union among Churchmen of the t wo historical schools of thought, rather than carrying on an internecine quarrel which may end in secession and disesta- blishment. The steamer Illinois, which recently arrived in the Mersey from Philadelphia, brought about 30 dressed beeves, 150 sheep, and a quantity of poultry, which were placed in a tank in the lower hold. The meat was in eight layers, npon iron bars, so that the air had free acces3 to it. A blower, run by a five-horse power engine, forces a coiia,siat current of air through the ice ch,sts, which circulates through the compartment, and thence is drawn back through the blower, which keeps the meat at a low temperature. The tank in which the meat was placed is capable of holding 75,0001b. All the meat is stated to have been in good condition. From returns laid before the German Diet relative to tbe change of currency, it appears thst the calling in and getting rid of the old silver coinage has resulted in a loss thus far to the State of je52,000, being just 8 per cent. on the amount received in specie, and sold or recoined by it. A note adds that this moderate rate will not be maintained when the modern and less valuable coinage of thalers (which are still in legal circulation) is bought in. As to the old gold coins of Germany, the remarkable fact is shown by these returns, that of over £32,000 000 put into circulation in dif- ferent States at former periods, less than dM.000,000 have come back to the Mint, the other £ 26,000,000 having somehow disappeared from the country THE MARKETS. M ARK -LANE. —MONDAY. The grain trade at Mark-lane to-day has been very quiet English wheat has been in short supply. The demand has ruled heavy, and quotations have been unaltered from Mon- day last. With reference to foreign wheat the supply has been tolerably good. There has throughout been a want of animation, and the tendency of prices has been in favour of buyers, without, however, any quotable reduction taking place. Barley has been in moderate supply. Malting produce lias been dull and drooping. Grinding, with a slow sale, has been unaltered Malt has been qniet, at previous quotations. English oats have been scarce but there has been a large snpply of foreign. The market has been inactive, and quotations have been rather easier Maize has met a slow sale, at about late rate Beans have been quiet, and maza- gan rather easier. Not much has been doing in peas, at late rates. The flour market has been dull, and without fea- ture. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—MOUDAT. To-day is our annual Great Market." The supply of beasts is much larger than the average of late years, there is, however, a considerable number cf inferior quality, still every breed is well represented. We have such splendid specimens of Scots, Devons, Herefords, and short-horns, that it is difficult to say which bears the palm. The first-named, however, seems to he the favourite. Taken as a whole the quality of the supply is superior to that of last year, but the trade is not so active, nlr are the prices so good. In the sheep market there is but little noticeable as of a "prize" character. There are a few lots of very choice Downs, which command a ready sale at exceptional prices, otherwise the quality of the supply Is very middling. The number Is smaller than on the corresponding day of last year, and prices are higher, yet trade is dull. Choice calves are scarce and dear. Our foreign supply consists of 1,400 beasts, 4,600 sheep, and 20 calves. From Scotland, 1,870 beasts Ireland, 800 Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, 700 Western counties, 400 Midland and Home counties, 1,900 beasts and 40 milch cows —Best Scots, Herefds., 6s 4d. to 6s. 6d. Best Short- horns, 6s. to 6s. 2d. second quality beasts, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d calves, 4s. 8d. to 6s. 8d. pigs, 4s 4d. to bB. 8d. best downs and half-breds, 7s. to 7s. 4d. best long wools, 6s. 8d. to 7s.; ewes and second quality, 5s. 8d. to 6s. 4d., per stone of 81 bs. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET.—MONDAY. Trade to-day was very quiet, and prices were fiat-mutton being decidedly cheaper. The supplies on sale were mode- rate :-Inferior beef, 3s. 4d. to 4s. middling ditto, 4s. to 4s. 6d. prime large ditto, 4s lOd. to 6s. 2d.; prime small ditto, 5s to 5. 6d. veal, 6s. 8d to 6s. Inferior mutton, 4s. to 4s. 6d. middling ditto, 4s. 8d. to 5s. 4d. prime ditto, 6s. 6d. to 6s. 8d. large pork, 4s. to 4s. 4d. small ditto, 6s. to 6s. 8d. per 81bs. by the carcase. TALLOW. LONDON, Monday, Dec. 13 —The market is steady Y. C. old remaining at 50s. 6d. to 51s., and new at 63a per cwt. on the spot. Town Tallow is held for 49s. 3d. net cash, while rough fat is quoted 2s. 4d. per 81bs. a. d. a. d. Town Tallow, per cwt. 61 9 Rough Stuff, per cwt. 17 9 Rough Fat, per 81bs. 2 4 Greaves „ 18 0 Melted Stuff, per cwt. 35 0 | Good Dregs 8 0 Yellow Russian, new 52s. Od. per cwt. Ditto Ditto old 00s. Od. Australian Mutton Tallow 50s. id. „ Ditto Beef Ditto 48s. Od. „ POTATOES. 1 here was a fair supply of potatoes, with a steady demand. at somewhat enhanced rates :-Kent Regents, 120a to 150s. Essex ditto, 110s. to 140s. rocks, 80s. to 106s. flukes, 155s. to 170s. kidneys, 120s. to 150s. Victorias, 126s. to 16Cs. per tOt'. SEED. LONDON. Monday, Dec. 13.-There was no new English Cloverseed yet offering for tale. The best samples of French wpre in good demand at an advance of 23. per cwt. on the prices of last week. The quantity of other sorts is limited, and prices were well supported. Trefoil: Good qualities were held for m re money, but not many sales effected. Catiarys;ed was iully as dear, but some importers required more money for the best. Dutch Hcmpseed brought full rates, with a steady sale. Foreign Tares, for spring sowing, was bald rather higher, but not much business doing in this article. Fine English Ripened was scarce and fully as dear. White and brown Mustardseeds could not be bought lower. FISS. Cod, £ 115s. to 49 per score crimped ditto, 7s. 6d. to 12s 6 1. ea' h soles, Is. to 4s. uer pair; bloaters 4s. 6d. to 6s. per hundred kippers, 3s 3 i. to 4s. 6d. per box mackerel, 2s. ad. to 3s pel dozen eels, 8d. to in. per lb. whiting, 12s. to 16.. p r basket sprats, 8* to 10s. per barrel; turbot <s. to 13s. each lobsters 12s. to 30s. per dozen plaice, 18s. to 22s. per basket; native oysters, JE12 pearl ditto, £3 common ditto 41 to £ 1 10s. per bushel. GAME AND POULTRY. Pheasants, 3s, to 4s.: partridges, Is. 6d. to 3s. black game. 3s to 3s. 6d. caper-cailzie, 4s. to 7s. 6d. ptarmigan, Is 2d. to Is 7d woodcocks, 3s. to 4s. snipes, Is 3d. to Is. 6d. gold plover, Ifd. to Is. black ditto, 6d. to 9d. hares, 3s. 6d. to 4s 6d. white ditto, 2s. 6d. to 3s 6d. leve»ets. 2s. 6d. to 3?. 6d. Surrey fjwls, 4s. to 9s. Sussex elHto, 8s. to 5s. Boston'd'.f.io,2s to 3s. 6a Eetex ditt", 2s. to3s. Irish ditto, If. 6J. to 25. Turkc) s, 4s. to 1511 and geese, 3s. 9d. to 9,- PROVISION. LONDON, Monday, Dec. 18.—The arrivals last week trom Ireland were 633 firkins Butter, and 3 671 bales Bacon and from foreign ports 23 868 packages BuUer, and 824 bales Bacon. Foreign Butter continues to meet a go-d sale, and prices generally ha' e advanced 4s. to 6i, per cwt. For Irish there Is but a limited iuquiry. but rather more business done than of late The Bacon market ruled firm a good business transacted without change in prices. HAY. WHITECHAPEL, Saturdav, Dec. 11.—The market has been well supplied with hay and straw. The trade has been dull, and price, have given way Prime Clover 100s. to 1¡¡5s.; inferior, 85". to 95s. Prune meadow hay, 90s. to 144s. inferior, 55s. to 75s. and straw 35j. to 52i. per load. WOOL. During the past week public sales of Colonial wool have progressed with more animation, and t^e value of Cape pro- once exhibits some recovery from the lowest points of the series. In Australian wool, however, thpre has been no material alteration, but a fairly sctive inquiry has been ex- perienced. As regards English wool, a somewhat increased demand has prevailed, but prices show very little change. The improvement in the Inquiry hu been both fcr fleece and seiu desirtj-t or. a