BRAZIL.

A visit toJMo Janeiro.

' 1 I- V In.

»fc. world knows more about Englan SK* knows about tho world is 1 which although it muy bo disputed b I iL nevertheless is ono of fch inwy flt Tot striko tho traveller's attci FttSfflvo shores This is t to" 011 j fnr in a vurioty of wayu, fc is agolv absorbed in he •«ta.£S§ ttooycoftho^rldarofixe of civilisation foreiuos 011 th £>hi« Eni'laiul, and whoso intei «^*»hthfworld at Wro exceed, thn """"rfh?r nation. And if WO find well of any ime f U'lie illto "'"ediblo mi? *"*»* not expoot t0 thul bll Au „ vaeue and visionary eoneeptioi a , v!7 n ' the public mind of such a plae Janeiro, who.c tho souroea nn, * c, for information are oonsidevnbl; ' MS' a Nlxod Population. r * mn therefore stato that the capital o J&2mm BmP«w Ho. in latitude AWog ?' Btrtl very boundary of the tropic o S' °". ~d has a population of f.00.00l «;,! the i'ortugueso language people rtwakii „ No-rocs, am "^.P 0 ,? h(vvaros intermixed. Urn/.i I'f'St country tfhero Maven "•KSS. CiM^ mention of the- ii.con ■ .looking elements- which oompost Port,^ UC H m. l-ory : add to this the Sffi/3th"ltTnJa-iht black, and .««,- JTni uence of tho fierce Indian. These ,fcr ctors are put to-other, and leave any v f hut a favourable or satisfactory in & tcorninKthopcoploofßra.il. A S of years1 residence, however, among SWilians has confirmed me ma widely M 6 rent conception of their character. S also, is too often thought, to bo a ,Mt theatre of volcanoes and earthquakes, Pfl ma de to share in the South American station for revolutions. Let it therefore ilCd that it is entirely frcef rom both th, Srial and political eruptions that seem Mtom the leading features of tho other countries and peoples of South America. The First Glimpse of Bio. The year 1882 was in nor second half when we first caught sfcht of tho shores oi E«7il Among rocks and islands, and bo s' P Kills, lightly clad with a Sresque vegetation, wo entered and {Led up the bay of Rio do Janeiro. The Sern summer had just commenced, and Mthine could have been more exhilarating 2ta leaving the clouded skies of England fan the first view of the tropical landscape. Mb and valleys covered with their doeply feted evergreens, and boldly relieved by towering palms, appeared in every direction. Overhead shone a clear and cloudless sky, nd benehth, a soft cooling breeze breathed through the bay. From tho harbour, Rio hu an extremoly picturesque appear- So, The city lies half hidden among Sm hills that riao in every part of the town; these hills) are dotted nth cay • coloured houses half covered Surrounding trees and shrubs Border lithe line of vision, rises a high range of Ms by which tho city is almost entirely Undlocked. The Rtyle of architecture, turrets of tho churches, and general aspect of the city are strongly suggestive of the Peninsula The houses are all painted some light tint, while trees and green spaces Sdify the scene even in the heart of the cttT Not a chimney can bo seen, nor any of tot ascending smoke that eternally be mimes tho great towns of England. A Motley Crowd.

Arriving on shore, one is confronted with I somewhat striking mixture of people, liery ethnological variety passes beforo one, tan the intellectual, fair-skinned Circas ia down through a hundrod varied shades .'Mulatto to the lowest negro specimen, fa contre of tho city presunts an enlivened d business-like aspect. Busy foreign orchants (among whom the familiar Eng- Mlan"uage will strike tho car among a N»l of others) throng tho streets around fcbanks, exchange, post-orlice, and the tot commercial houses. Lusty negroes aJalone the wharves and docks ahoulder- Wcksof coffee. The sun burnt rortu melie at every landing stage with tboir Satß. and share with the negro tho busy toffee lighter trade for the ships in the kbour. The streets are narrow, but ttenlv kept, and generally mdet at right iDgles. Light trams drawra by ono or a ™jrof mules traverse nearly all tho runs. Cii agreeably surprised to find such a tamber of fashionably stocked shops in all tin principal streets; indeed, most of the novelties and fashions of Europe hnd their where within a month or so after their npearance in l'aria or London. Quito a timber ef Engli*" names encounter tho eye in many of tho streets ; indeed, about the rer? first words to be seen on landing will bean all-known English motto, ' Live ad let liTe> » OV or an establishment devoted to the acco'nwdation of BritUh sailors, and fatherjiminously labelled "All kinds of Injtlißb drinks sold here." The day after arrival my first movement nth visit the market, held daily, and fMcliesn be seen to its best advantage at 6 o'clock in the morning. This is tho Wand moat pleasant hour of the day bftTtoopies. I" * BtranSe °°untry> therf iino place wbe*e one may learn so much ,it to about the character and P«ducts of % place as in the market and no visitor cwfail to be richly rewarded and interested k his trouble. At the above-mentioned kr the market was in a state of great Ktmty. Nearlyall the businesswascarn. ---m by negro women, many of whom wore ■■ Mtoiishing proportions. Few stood Utt thim 6 feet, and all were attired in the ffaadest hues-blue and yellow stripes, tad. speckled pink, peacock-green, ot.-., taming a very lively contrast to their ■ taty features. Some were shouting in ...totaenew, others in their native African &!ect, ond with the screeching nf the 'nrrote and birds, the noise became one ol MMcribabie confusion. Fruits wero in '-Jtnat abundance. Among others, I noticed faunas, .oranges, bread - fruits, water uslons, -sweet and sour lemons, limes, peaches, tomatoes, pepper, pineapples, ana mr-oanes. The oranges were both large ■S-gnti, exceeding in these quality tto» A Europe. There is also a kind with tlla sfcltw and a somewhat acidaous but wy .ptawa*t taste, called to***"" ---%m I have never seen before. The buanasare rich flavoured, and were both chap and abundant. Some of the water ■■■Amiweraat least a foot and a-half in dia 'Setw. Passing to the live stock quarter, tee mustered an almost perplexing variety rf strange and curious looking biras and tttaals, Parrot? were la great numbers «d of many different kSn'd?. A species called arara has au extraordinary plumage ; ■: Hi .tail, more than two feet in tength, is 4t dazzling red. Some of the tiny blue m humming birds-the smallest of the = I"W species-seemed, no larger than ,-M»ckWtles. Strikingly attractive were taM miimh of a deep nnmnted M from beak to tail-tip, Besides tWe wero towns, etorto, pomborolas tad birds, grflat ur,d small, aquatic ami "tterwise, and of all polours and kind.-i_ AooDgtiio animals were sareral species ot "Mnkeya, some as large as a big .doff, others • mallstrata; some suspending tyWieir ■■<*,and others with no tail at ail. 1M1& *<n oany huge tapirs; a species ot Jok >«d g&(n b a) on i y f oUn d j n Brazil; as also J» another curious anhW called paca. ■'Ifa is something betweon ft iavgo guinea- and a pig, and its food forms a favou rite "alive dish. Among tho immy vavieijes o •m «oght in the bay of Kio and ox[>om4 .'* »all», I noticed the curwußly-snpped J<l^).u^ with its eight long »nn» °r \>. Thk fish if> found in numbers J«Wf! the rockt in the harbour, and i£ not "oldfresh its food it sufficiently esteemed to ■*»*itta.-be drie* and saltod. The waziliatw seem partial tb .reptile? Large '"wdg were exposed i'or sale, And are so ■!»«A«mnht after for food that ti^oy com ■■'•»nd* B ood price.. .Huge snails (aboutino '.** of an orange) wereii'sirig'solri, pvasuffi "'yfot.eatiDi', but of tlvia I am not quite

As Easy-Kolng Population.

1 Rio presents, an a whole, a strikingly *J-goiorf appearance. The people are "formly cheerful, affable, and polite. /•nothing suggestive of glocßiir.eps lr.eots the '■'W. «iywhere The houses are gaily S"*«d, the ladies gaily dressed.. No ... *«iKan ie ever seen tn be in any huiry «v TjMMKmode himself by exertion of any f,™' Bwr? und v(orry are two qualities ■'"'eh «e«mincompatible fo thtir tempcra t*l- A warm ctlorate and favourable en - ..■yWwtaoceß have reduced thnc mind to a of philosophical eaee which, by ..:«WOT6r name it,,may be called, is the ■-JS*"«9 of activity. *'ot undemonstrative Swi» ia" the ose of a little word, which :#™ frequent use, will be about the very '"""'to strike a stranger's attention,

and -*hich may be jrat down as the nahonai nctro oi the Brariliana; If; ; s . Eapern, espera," or in English, "wait,' wait. In England wo hear nothing but come(m ■' or"goahend,"butthaßiazilian character linils expression in a serios of sentences in just the opposito aontiment. I ho following aro a few of what form tho stock-m-tnulo of a native of Brawl from a minister of stato downwards: — " Mais logo " (by-and-bye) " espera urn pouco" (wait »little), "Sim Senhor vem amanha" (Yes, Sir, come to-morrow), "paciencia" (patience}, etc., etc. This often becomes trying to tho patience of Englishmen, but I doubt whether the luttor enjoy thoir activity inoro than tho former dooa hia easy-going indilforonco, and it, •.mist bo romotubored that tho Brazilian character ia laigoly tho mould of circum stances.

Tho wealth of Rio is smtticiently in dicnted by the numbers of costly suburban residence* which extend in every direction from tho city. Tho town is built in a pun at tho font of tho mountains, but tho sur rounding wooded elevations ure all dotted with privato residences, and serve as a healthful retreat during tho hot season. There is nothing of grandeur about Brizilian architecture, but much of tho fanciful and beautiful. Private residenced are soldom more than ono story high, but are oxqui sitoly Hniahodand decorated, generally with gilt relieved edges and corners, The out *idu walls arc faced byglu/od tiles generally in .Mosaic. The dining and reception rooms run through tho middle, while the sides aro

tastefully laid out with acacias, bananas, lividiti dll into rows of ult'ove* or small bod iiuun.-i. A iliiublo row of palms generally Jinnies the entrance path to the house, which

ifl HuriMuiiiltd by :i eliacara (ctirdon or or chard) fmi-]mhn:i, lemon, orange, ami jack ti-Lvj mid other ladigonous arborencence. Tho homo is not regarded with the Mine

foiiliiu; ;h it is in England, nor aro there any 01 tho indoor amusements so much loved in England. Tho only species of recreation and diversion among a Brazilian fmnily is music and dancing, of which they are pas sionately fond. Brazilian ladies aro amiable, and their manners aro very grace ful, but are seldom beautiful, and, as in all warm climates, they fade very early. Intellectual pursuits aro entirely ignored, and never amongst them can a " blue stock ing " or "strong-minded lady" be found. Tho only outdoor resorts are tho theatros and public parks. Open-air eoucerta aro given in the latter, and form a delightful species of rocroation in the tropics. In the ," I'ssscio Publico," for instanco, which is a prettily laid out park, concerts aro givon nearly every ovening from G. 30 to 9.ISQ. Tht>o hours, it must bo remembered, aro the most pleasant of the day. A clear, azure sky poors through the trees that overhang tho walks. The air is always soft and cool, and the strains of tho music can be hoard until ap proaching the furthermost end of tho grounds, where it is drowned by tho boating of the sea. Thousand? resort eveningly to this spot; but tho ladies form the most prominent feature. They appear without any head- dreas, and attired in white or some very delicate tint 3, gene rally attended by thoir black slaves, who also appear in white. Numbers of fireflies illume the sombre but noble-look ing vegetation, and overything seems to have conspired to mako this a vory charm ing place of resort. In my noxt paper I shall give a few observations upon the political institutions and industrial condi tion of Brazil, and tho opening it affords for European enterprise. Roiskrt H. Abbott,

THE REVOLT IN CANADA.

KIEL'S FIRST REBELLION.

Where Lord Wolseley Won Hia Spurs.

I The Indian revolt in Canada recalls tho history of the Kod River Expedition, which first brought Lord VYolaeley into notice as a military commander. It is singular that this campaign, which laid tho foundations of tho Genoral'a fortunes, was ono in i which the troops never fought an engage ment or fired a shot agaiijst tho enomy. The political history of that {art of the Northwest in which is located Manitoba has not boen an uneventful ono. In 1070, Charles 11. granted this Territory to the Hudson Bay Company, which in 1811 sold the tract which is now Manitoba Provinco to Thomas Douglas, Earl of Selkirk. Under him a colony was founded, which went undor the name of tho Red River Settle ment. In 153.3 the Hudson Bay Company bought back this land, now populated with a mixed race of English, Scotch, and French half-breeds. A tnoro sottled form of go vernmont was inaugurated. Under this re gime the peoplo lived happily. There was no friction between them and the Govern mont. On December 1,15C7, tho Dominion of Canada was founded, and in December, IStiil, tho Canadian Government pro ceeded to incorporate this Territory. Then began tho troublo headod by Louis Kiel, who was unwilling that ho and his people should be sold as mero chattels; The'first act of the insurgents was to prevent the entrance into the Territory of William llcDougall, who was to act as its lieutenant Governor. The French Canadians at that stago of the in surrection did not desire any serious conflict with tho British authorities. They rather preferred to get somo guarantees of good faith from the English Governor botoro they cave up to him complete possession of their Territory. The history of this trouble is yet buried in obscurity, but the following account of that disturbance has been com piled from an English Bluo Book contain in^ the "Correspondence Relativo to the Recent Disturbance? in tho Red River Settlement." Tho "first mention made is in a copy of a tologram from tho ■ Vvirnor, Sir J. Young, to tho Earl of ~ mville, dated November 23, ISG9, which t; ,'eh that "McDougall, who has boon do nii'riiiteil Lieutenant-Governor of the North we-t Territory! when transferred, has been -topped on his way to Kort Garry by asmali forcTof armed insurgent half-breede. The authorities of the Hudson Buy Company, with whom the Government still rests, are apparently inactive and powerless." Two da« later Sir John Young wrote to tho au thorities in London that tho insurrection had beenbroughtaboutthroughthemachinations of the French priests, who had, with the as sistance of tho half-breeds, formed a pro visional Government, under tho Presidency of John Bruel, and had further takon posses sion of the forts and stores. The English and Scotch half-breods had held aloof from the movement, and it was expected that tho Indians could be relied upon as allies in case of war.

Kiel's First Revolt.

The month passed quietly, and not till October Hth did the half-breeds again give evidence of hostility. This time eighteen of them, headed by a man named *™« »«* s'oppod a survey party under one Mr Webb two and a half miles from the Ked River. IZZ f stood thus-the half breeds were insolent in their demande and the authori to "ere vacillating. Notwithstanding that the insurgents had expressed their de hf not to enter the NortWt territory un oss by permission of the National Com mittee of the Ked Kivor Territory ; and on Uougal , > ' Lieutenant Governor ■ Sal'Lrd into the post and demanded an gUlppod ™ £ f the laadord wore iem being the redoubt- M Md demanded his immediale 1 .h ' from the Northwest Territory for one object, t9 . c \ oo!ine xt morn the Territory. 10r left cross ed bravely w rote, wo fleQ that but will not i»«^' d £ r pl . ea enoe ?." y rPAUe^hU succes/the rebellion he^ -. t Kiel boldly appeared before a grew *t*«YV i -„. sittina osfow Governor througiiaut c;:o Pov," lsic , ns ofdiscon the rough Plc^ts'oweasig Riel _ tout, and *°&* Vp>*'£ tinted under I*l*l rttHfSrf* held to the the gentle (W*"»jX, p'inW ,S»W printers' hooos. *!- J; *'■ f t H ho re belliou?

Usvnv, ,\'o property T7a9 moisted, no v.olsane wan committed, uad all the people were treated with civility. Tha following is from a privato letter of tho time: — Tho Government co far is generally ac knowledged to bo an improvement upon that of tho company." Kiel was the head and front of tho insurrection, «a well its of tho now Government, Ho adopted a new Hag, composed of a whito ground, upon which was displayed three crosses, the centre large and scarlet coloured, the side ones smaller and golden coloured, and a golden fringe around the white ground. Kiel in hia remarks to his friends spoko sensibly of tho eaueo of tho uprising. He said : " Our consent was not asked by tho' Canadian peoplo."' And further as a gentle man in tho employ of the company wrote ' that they wore "sold like so many sheep ;" that tho Canadian Government should, be fore entering into negotiations with the Hudson Bay Company, have consulted with the natives of the country, and, if this had been clone, they would have listened to what the Commissioners of tho Government had to say, but, having been transferred in tho way'they wero, nothing was left to them as brave men but to resent the insult. The Red River Republic. On December Gth the insurgents received a royal proclamation, which told thorn that they " may judge, then, of tho sorrow and displeasure with which tho (jueon viewed theso disturbances." Howovor, Kiel ro-

tnained obdurate, as well as in possession oi

his advantage A provincial Government wfis formed, with Kiel as ['resident and a council of twenty four members, twelve- English and twelve French, and a bill of rights was adoptoJ, the moat prominent feature, being a demand for representation in tho Dominion Parliament and for a local Legislature elected by tho people, Kiel ruled for a few weeks peaceably, but the English loyal element was opposed to him, aiui preparations wero made to oust him from his position. A significant despatch from tho Governor was aent to England, asking for the arrival of Lindsay and saying that tho Rod River expedition ought not to start later than April '25, 1870, and that provisions had already been secured for 1.000 men. Then camo tho shooting of ono Thomas Scott by ordor of Riol, who, it is said, ordered his death to gratify personal rovongo. Reil had by this tiino completely alienated his Eng lish friends. A rising took placo auioni' them in February, which waseasily crushed by Riol. He had some of the riugloadors shot as an example to tho other English half-breeds, who had sneered at those of French origin. When remonstrated with concerning Ui»-o sheotings, ho coolly re plied : " Scott and others like him are troublesome characters to doal with ; they are best out of thu way."

OUBtlng Rlel from Office,

On May 7, 1870, Siv John Young tele graphed to England: "I may now, I sup pose, giro final orders fer tho military to start for Red fcifer." Aid a reply was re ceived to the following effeot from Earl GranTille on tho ciuno date : "Troops may proceed. Who is in commander of expedi tion, and what Is uame of Governor of Territory?" On May Mth standing orders wore issued for tho Ked River expeditionary force, figned by G. J. Wolpeley, Colonel commanding expeditionary foroe. Finally Colonel Welseley started from Toronbe and iiimlo the march te Fort G«rry, wkich laid the f.'iiioda'.ioi hi hi* after f»me «^ » mill try nomni-iiider. Bnf. i.n ronchrd »i« destination, Louii Rinl. nut daring d trust him.-e'.f in ;i colli-ien t. ith the British forces, Hod tho country.

Captain W. F. But!er, in the "Great Lone Land," thu« jxirtrays Kiel a? lie saw himiu IS7O : "Following cmiio v short, stoat man, with a large head, a sallow, putl'y face, a sharp, restless, Intelligent eye, a «qu«ro cut massivo forehead, overhung by a mass of long and thickly clustoring hair, and marked with well-cut eyebrows, altogether a remarkabte-looklng face, all the more so, perhaps, because it was seen in a land where eucb things aro raro sights. This was M. Louis Rfcl. tho head and front of tho Ked River rebollion—Tho President,the little Napoleon, tho ogre, or whatever else he was called. Ho was drcssod In a curious mixture of clothing—a black frock coat, vest and trourors, bnt the effect ef this somewhat clerical costomo was not a little marred by a pair of Indian moccasins, which nowhere look moro out of placo than on a corpoted floor." The fight of Riol from Fort Garry is thus described by Captain Butlor : "As tho skirmish linn (Wolscley's army) nearod Fort Garry two mounted men rodo around tho west face and entered at a gallop through tho open gateway. This wai an otlicor of tho Hudson Bay Company. Ho had been the first to enter tho fort, somo minutes in advance of tho oxpedi'ion and his trium phant imprecations, bestowed with un gpaiing vigour, had tended to accelerate the flight of M. R.i'^l and tho membors of hi* Government, who sought in rapid retreat tho safety of the American frontier." Since his first, revolt, Riol has remained in quiolude until the pint few weeks, when he has a^'ain appeared as tho liberator of his countrymon from tho huted yoke of the British.

PRINCE EDWARD AND PRINCE GEORGE OF WALES.

A Night and Day in tho Bush.

We rode on to Marblup, where wo arrived nbout 4 p.m., thirty miles from Albany, at Mr Young's farmhouse and dealing. The mantelpieces, tho tables, and all the furni ture, aro made of mahogany, or fhodarkor jarrah wood. Tho broad largo inglonook, with seats on eithorsido, looks uncommonly snug with tho iron dogs for tho legs, a pile of which last aro storked In tho verandah outsido, so as to bo Mnvoriioutly linndy for throwing on tho fire all night through. Mr and Mrs Young, their two cons nnd two daughter?, gave us a hearty welcomo; .and after taking a draught of warm frosh milk (of which there BCeras an inoxhaustiblo supply all over tlio piano), wo walk up to tho small shanty in which wo aro to stay. This consists of two rooms completely empty and with baro lloorn : each, however, has a large open firoplaoe and plenty of jarrah wood stacked for us durin» the nipht. Two grand wood flros aro already burning bright and dry, such a contrast to what wo have had for the last few weeks on board ship. A email two-wheeled cart that has brought our mattresses and rugs, nnd whatfow things we wanted for tho niaht, has arrived before us, and wo proceed at onco to make our toilet in tho open air, for there is plenty ; of frosh water in tho tank outside, and a small wooden trough dooa duty by turns for each of the party. Bovis, a largo kangaroo dog, a sort of huge, brown Scotch greyhound, looks on as we make ourselves ready for Mrs Young's teu supper, for which we return to »!■•• farmhouse, and there everyono was i • i|P.\rtv nml l'oMy, -mrl did ample justice , ;,i... •..»■' "v i-id I: M'_'""> 111" i im, »'«-m.H' ir«,.in.l i '•••"' l"«« '••■■ ' "«>] ; i '.; Hi". Ij'i'tff - i • ll ■' J «'O have i. ' !n»ted

.j ~. ■~ Inul li:l: I-nijll'.'l (fnvrluTU I none, i-.-I-, 'ill- nf Bi'lor "i iliv^e twe last at ihoCp •:'"";' "n--l»»' TV-lay has been cloudy, but l:ere lias li.ars no_rain, though everyono says tliore is every sign of it being wet und windy to-morrow, one of which is that the lills in the diatnnco are intoneely blue. Aftor tea found our way up across the paddock to our night-quartors, and there we slopt as soundly as possible (nine in the two rooms) with the windows ODon aud the fires burning. There are two pails of frosh milk, which some drink neat and others prefor to take mixed with a little whisky beforo turning in. Some fall asleep at once, others not sO soon, the Amorican doctor's cheery ringing laugh sounding long on the quiet night air, as be and tho commander toll alternately tho most astounding yarns, each with a cknow.nent inoro startling than the last. In tho sitent pauses between tiie tales, while th.iy are collecting their wits, wo can hear tho croak ing of tho frogs away in the distance on tho borders of the rcarsh, and with the3o two sounds alternately singing in our ears wo fell asleep.—"H.M.S. Bacchante at the Antipodes," by Prince Edward and Prince George of Wales, in the Engiiah Illustrated Magazjno ____»

A now symphony, by Sgambati, has been performed in the hall of the German Em bassy at Rome. The scherzo is sate1, to have given the greatest satisfaction of the tour movements. A leading critic writes of it: " Sgambati also in this symphony upholds the (lag of instrumental music in Italy. While maintaining a continuous (low ot melody, bo is never vulgar, and his orches tration displays rare.precision."

Good Words-From Good AuTnoRiTY. ---• • • We confess that wo aro perfectly amazed at the run of your Hop Bittora. We nevor had anything like it, and never heard of the like. The writer (Bontoa) has been selling drugs here nSfrlr thirty roars, any hna reen the rise of HMtotter'B V&eßar and all other bitt-rs and Sten medloinesTbut never did any of thorn, in Ihnfr begtdayfl begin to kave the run that Hop ■fftorsHavß; : ' we etfflt get enough of them. /./iv'ioWiir'Hi n<k> Bittern Co., ABgust «> 70, from ffij. WyEha & CO.. Wholesale Drug- Ss£ ClevSandTO. Be eur'e euifep.

THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN DIFFI CULTY.

Description of the Country in De pute.

Tim special correspondent of the "Daily News " with the Afghan Frontier Commis sion, writing from Bala Murghab, Afghan istan, says:— "Tho Turcoman raiding is now at an end bo completely that it is never likely to be resumed. In tho future a population will again appear, and the ruined towuu will bo rebuilt. Ituasin iB entitled to the honour »f having iioooni plished all thia by her conquest of Central Asia. So far all will be good, but there are other and very important quostions behind this. Doubt and speculation are alroady expressing themselves. Will Russia bo content to occupy tho Central Asian desert merely to enable her to rule tho Khanates, which means principally tho north-eastern district of Turkestan V Each conquest in that region was explained as a necessity, so that ."ha could govern what fho had conquored in safety and peace. Tho tlesert botween tho khanates and Afghanistan was to bo a neutral zone to give assurance of security to the Uritiah Government in India, while, on the other hand, we were to leave Afghanistan alone as1 part of this neutral spaco on our sido. Will tho Government of tho Ak-Padishah continue this policy in the newly-acquired torritory? Will tho ardent politicians of Russia bo content to pluy tho part only of policemen, and do nothing but koop the Turcomans in onler? ' liig battalions,' lurjjc ansetiftla, nuO ox tensive fortifications will not bo required for this purpose. Aa yet wo dv nut hear of those : but will they bo part of the programme of tho future? The ground is now Kucsian soil, and she may claim to do as she likes with it. Should sho fortify her position there, and eithor throw forward hor troops or make arrange ments to enable her to do that, then it will become evident that the double-beaded eaglo means to advanco; that Russia, is to become tho Turcoman raider of tho future. This will bo most serious. It will menu tho doubling, if not tho trebling, of the British army ; it will mean our occupation of Afghanistan; it will mean the great struggle for supremacy in Asia. That struggle would imply groat calamities, not only to Russia, but to England, India, and all tho countries in which tho contest would be carried on. Persia aad Tur key could not escapo becoming part of the theatre ol this great Arma geddon. If Russia begins to uiaka Central Asia a place, d'amie* we must begin tho same gamo on the Indian side. Lot it but once begin, aid it is not likoly to end till th« whale Ruaaian frontier, from tho Danibo to China, will have a lino of armed men on each sido of it rc.-u.ly for notion ; and when that! condition is reached, if not l*ng before, tho fearful battle will have begun. The mitot injj of tha Sopey and tho Cossack in Ceutrul Asia will be an ominous event. Tho first moetiag is likely to be in poke*; and if all subaeqaant •aoouators should be in tha same friendly manner, it will ha for the good ef all oovcorntti. Lot It b« othorwi.se, and it will bo a Air* disaster to Uju whol« oWll is*d world. Such a contest ftr lupronaay cannot take place wlthoutthenioat far-reach ing results. Alexander's conquests in tho Bast would bo a bagatelle in history to what would take placo in such a war. A sorioualy disquieting clement in connection with tho position co latoly acquired by Russia in Central Asia is fhe now Cranecaspiau rail way. At tho time of the Criaioan war there were na railways in the south of Russia. Now the railway system of that country ex tends to Tiflis, while a lino connects Bat-aum on the Black Sea with Baku on the Caspian. From Baku stoaaiors can reach tho oastorn sido of the Caspian in twonty four hours. When Gook Teppeh was taken a railway was made, and this is u#w a permanent lino from Michailovek to *Kizil Arvat, a distance of 144 miles into tho dosort of Central Asia. This line has beoa surveyed to Askabod and Sarakhs, and the Russian engineer oven carriod his survey as far as Herat, Mid four.d n* difficulty in tho way for making a railway. I have been »var the ground, not exactly that which M. Lessar proposes for tho lino, and should say it would be a very easy line to make. From Kizil Arvat to Sarahks is on the desert, aad would present almost nothing in tho shape of engineering difficulties. Tho Russians look upon this as tho futuro way from Europe to India, and hoM that it will mndcr tho Euphrates Valloy lino unnecessary. I think it is laid that it will only require nine days to go from London to India by this routo, and it is expected to cut out tho passenger trntlic on the duez Canal. English olfieore will, or course, go and come by this railway when the whole is complete. All this is very ,'ntiafactory, but beforo tho liae is evce rcsdy, English oflifter.« ."fiy that this railway will givo the

Ri;».-ian« tho means of \ siiridon mare on Herat,, and on.iblo twr, whenever it maj

suit her policy, to tiike that p!nee, which Is considorofl *o necessary for tlia fafe defence of India. It is even said that, as matters now stanrl, Russia, with the railways exist ing which 1 have mentioned abovo, could be in Herat beforo our troops could como from India to defond it. Be that as it may, when tho lino comoß to Sarakhs thero will them bo only '200 miles from that to Herat; and if a modus vivendih&a not beon reached by that time tho occupation of Herat by our troops nill havo taken placo. This will necessitate a largo increase in the British army—an incroaso onco bogun no one can CHtimnto what its final result may bo. This Transcaspian railway, it will bo oa»ily seen, which has only beon in oxistonco for about four yoars, has completely changed the whole aspect of tho Contral Asian quostion. Boforo that time thoro was a desort of somo distanco botwoon (lie Sopoy and tho Gossack, and it was bolioved with iinpass flblo, or at loaat difficult, ranges of high snowy mountains to pass boforo an army could b« moved on to tloraton its way to India; now it is known that a railway can bo made, and that tho high mountain?, ho far as tho lino to Herat is ooncocned, donotoxist. I oan endorse this part of tho statement. Tho lino from Ki7.il Arvat to Sarnlths will ba a littlo ovor ,')00 milss : this lias boon doter mined upon, and somo say it is begun already at the Kizil ArvatonJ. England cannotap pear as an opponent of ra'lways, but hero is a railway making which may, if terms aro not arrangod, mean tho invasion of India. The first Afghan war may bo described as having boan the cry of ' Wolf, wlion thoro was no wolf; the lato war in that country war per haps only a socond edition of that cry.' Thoso who raise these crios have thomeelves to blame if thoy aro not now believed when tho wolf is so near."

Terrible Colliery Explosion Near Sunderland.

Loss of Forty Lives.

Dciith of Two Explorors,

An explosion, terrible in its consequences, took place shortly after nino o'clock on tho night of March 2nd, in tho workings of the Wost Pit at Little Usworth, Tho village lies about soven miles, almost due west, from Sunderland, and closely adjoining the well-known Washington Chemical Works. It is the very heart of the North Durham Coalfield, and its immediate surroundings aro anything but picturesque or romantic, notwithstanding the fact<that the Earl of Durham's noble castle at Lambton and the Earl of Scarborough's old castle and grounds .it Lumley aro almost within sight of the village. Until lately Sir George Elliot was the principal propriotor of the Usworth Colliery, but now it is in the bauds of Mr C. M. Palmer, M.P., and partners, and is managed by his brother, Mr Alfred H. Palmer. In ISSI the coal was tested and accepted for Admiralty purposes. It is highly gasoous, and consequently the work ing was considered dangerous, Owing, however, to careful management and gooJ ventilation, accidents have been few and far batween, and only one of a serious character has previously occurred. That was in August, 1850, when twelve men and a boy were killed. Three seams are worked. Tho Maudlin seam is reached at a depth of 154 fathoms, and the Hulton, the deepest of the three, at 172 fathoms. Tho colliery id worked by a main shaft and a back shaft, which are situated close to each other, but t,hc last-named is used as a downcast only. The main shaft is bratticed down the centre, and on one side of the partition are drawn tho coal* from the west pit of the Maudlin t-eam, whilst from ths other comes the out puc of the Maudlin east pit and the two deeper seams. ThocollieryemploysabputfiOO men andboys, and theordinary output is 1,000 tons per day.. Up to two or three weeks ago, the colliery worked regularly from ten to twelve days a fortnight, but'sine* then it has only been on six days a fortnight. Everything proceeded as usual on Monday until nine o'clock, when the night shafes mon were about to descend, and the shatters and other workmen who "keep the mine in order between the shifts were preparing tp

leare tba pit. The first batch of. hewers had taken their placa in tlio cage, but jn-t. before the signal to lower it could be giv en, the Bhafc bolched forth a tell-tale column o.' coal-dust, smoke, and foul air, accompanied by a crashing report from below, tho mean ing of which was but too clearly under stood by tho men at the bank. Tho lirafc results of the explosion noticed were the jamming of the cage in the main shaft, and the demolition of the greater portion of tha substantial partition which divided the shaft.

Aa soon aa possible an exploring party was organised by Mr Morland, tha manager, and Mr Lindsay, assistant viewer. They found the main shaft hopeloesly blockod up, and repaired to the buck shaft, which was tho only other meanu of entrance to the mine. A kibble and chains were fitted up, and soon a dozen courageous men wore let down to aid those who were in the pit at the time of the explosion. It was seen on reaching the bottom of the shaft that the scene of disaster waa the West Pit. Near this shaft four men and boys were found. One of them, Hidley Taylor, a waggon-way man, who leaves a wife and five or six children, was dead, and William Howard, fireman, was severely Bcaldod. The explorers were joined by the men from tr>e East Pit, who had not been alarmed by the explosion, and did not think anything more than a severe fall of coal hud occurred. Subsequently they had

got through a hole near the stabler, on find ing the nniiu shaft blocked, and worked their way to tho back shaft pump. Theso men were all sent to the bank by tho kibble, a long and laborious work, and the explora tion of the West mine wa« commenced.

A little after midnight the tirst fall was got through, and the men woro übla to make their way for nearly '2011 yards, but the air becoming foul they were obliged to retreat. About this time Mr Lindsay, lUchard Slee (master shifter), and Elijah Donnelly (back overman) seem to have got in advance of the other rescuors, and the two latter were overcome by choke-damp. Air Lindsay wag also affected, but b< heroically seized the other men anc tried to drag them into the better air, but his own strength failing he was obliged to leave them alone to die, and with difficulty reached the bottom of the shaft himself. On coining to tho bank, Mr Lindsay was taken home, and medical assistance was se cured. During Tuesday morning evory effort was made to repair the main shaft, and open out the workings. Tho falls had been 10 far remoTod that tome of the men bad paaotrated about 400 yards, and hod boon utoppod by a fall that is lupposed to extend for some forty or fifty yards. A correspondent, telegraphing on Wed nesday ■orning, tayi:—"All light long; tks work of clearing tha fall in the Maudlin seam of the West Pit has been pressed •nerettically forward, but the progress made has bee* slow. Each exploring party worked five hours, but uu tht etono vrus ro moTed froth fills occurred, and the shift which came t» tha bank about midnight fot through four feet of tha obstruction, ho road whtro tha Ml has taken placo is od a considerable dacliao, and as further •ftorts ware rondo to gat thraugh tha atone tii* onoraioas quaattty that has fallen beaonati mora and mar* appareat. It is supposed that Bomo of the bodies will bo found beneath tha debris. At seven o'clock jresterdaymorniagasioodnuinberof men were at work at tho fall, and it Is expected that many moro will bo ablo to assist shortly. Tha ventilation is fairly good, but when tao obstruction is cleared Increased pre cautions will be aocded against afterdamp, It is beliovod that two men are in the mino who hava not been accounted for, and if this bo so tho death-roll will be at least 40.. Tho horses, numbering 72, wore in the stables, whore they cannot bo reached, and, no doubt, are doad. Groat effort* are still being made to clear tho shaft from the Maudlin team to tha bottom, and it is ex pcoted that tha work will be complete before noon."

Telegraphing in the evening, the corres pondent says:—" Very great exertions havo beon used te clear the Maudlin seam and rocovor tho 33 or 'M bodlos which remain in the pit. Relays of mon went down the shaft at frequent intervals, but the task of bratticing tho seam and securing ventila tion was not successfully accomplished until kto in the ovenlng. It has been definitely ascertained that the total loss of life is forty men and boys, »nd sixty horsos Mr Lind say, the viewer, who nearly lost his life in attempting t« ssts two of the explorers, is very much bottor." On Thursday night tho exploration at the Usworth Colliorv was (•unpondod, owing to tho dangor of tho explorers being en tombed. Tho pa.»s«go through tho first koiivy fall, ,'!00 yards from the shaft, was in a precarious condition. In its courso an oxploror had to climb 50 foot up the debris, then to creep through a crevice and slide down ft similar incline, next to drop into a hole 0 feet deep, then lie upon his back and draw himself through a tightly-fitting hole 7 feet in length. Emerging from this ho pursued a devious course, until it was gravoly feared that the 7ft. holo might bo blocked any moment, and tho lo«s of life greatly increased. Tho explorers who wore affected bj tho choko damp havo recovered.

Cariosities of Examination Papers.

A cORRKM'ONDKNT writes to tho " Pall Mall Gazotto": —l havo in my possession a largo varied solection of answers given at a Berics of examinations hold five or six yoars ago, attended by children of both soxos, of from thirteen to sixteen or sovotitoen years of ago, and which I do not think havo over beforo soon tho light. Hore thoy aro :— Question: How do we got the seasons 1 — Answer: Tho earth goes round on its axis. The earth's axis is a polo put through the controof thosun, which turns it round, and thus wo get tho seasons. Tho Equator is a lino run through tho centre of tho earth. Al one end it tho Tropic of CancoF ; at tho oihor tho Tropic of Capricorn. Tho Nile is tho only remarkable river in tho world. It waa discovered by Dr. Livingstone, and it risex in Muni/n Par/.: Constantinople is on tho (Jolden Morn, a strong fortress, haa a university, and is tho residonce' of Petor tho Great. Its chief building is tho Sublime Port. Cyprus camo into our possession in 1878, and was given to Lord Beaconsfiold. The Boers aro the wild people of Cape Colony. Olivor Cromwoll is said to havo exclaimed because ho cut ofl' King Charles's head and got on tho throno: "If I had served my God as I served my King ho wouldtiot have loft mo to mine enemies." Also, that the word " Charles ' would bo found on his hoart. Aftor tho wars of ISIS there was1 a great famine in tho land (England), for the country hod boen plundered and pillagod.by foreigners, that the ground would not bear fruit because of its bloodshed, and it was said that " Christ and all his saints slept there," Eebert was a wickod king. When Julius Ciesar came over he boat him back several times. Three times was Ca?aar driven back by this bad man. The battle of Waterloo took place in 1815, when tho Duke of Wel lington fell. His death was deeply re gretted, for ho was greatly beloved by all his country. Julius C.-esar invaded Britain 400 years n.c. The condition of the Britons was in a rude state. The people lived in huts made of straw; and the women wore their hair down their backs with torches in . their hands. They joined in games such as cock-fighting. The Druids were an ancient people supposed to be Roman,, Catholics.

Was ever a more profound piece of reasoning given forth to the world than the following? — The word torrid means hot, and the word frigid means cold, and the word temperate means neither hot nor cold, Therefore, the temperate zone ia neither hot nor cold. A circle ie a figure contained by a straight lino. The greatest writers of tho proEent day aro Lord Beanonsfield, who wroto the "History of Cyprus," and Miss Braddon, whose books, such as "Guy Mannering," "Poveril of the Peak," &c, are, in my opinion, too full of bloodshed and romance. The two fol lowing are strictly geographical:—Buck ingham is noted for its palace, Gibraltar is an island built on a rock. It was discovered by Sir G. Rooko in 1704, and has 15,000 in habitants. Here is something which Messrs Marvin and Ashmead • Bartlctt, the great authorities on Russia, may perhaps not be aware of: —ln 1839 the English had to stop the advance of Russia in India, and Suraja Dowlah was made Governor. In 184G confusion again broke out, but the Engiifh Govern ment wont out and stopped it. This led to the appointment of a Secretary of State It consisted of fifteen persons. Surely a more forcible and striking illustration of Hope's line, " A little learning is a dan gerous thing," and at the same time a stronger argument against the cramming system, could not possibly be conceived.

A Good Account.—" To «nni it up, fix long year* erf h«A-rtdaei sickwga and sufiirioif.cout.- InaSrtpjrj-eiir, tota) £240, all of wl.ioh was atpppid by thre6 bottle* of American Co.'a Hop Bitters fa«e» by mj wif«.whohaßdOneherown housework for k your elneo without the loss of a flay, and I want ever; body to know it (or their benefit."—Johjt Weeks, Butler. Find.

A Hide on a Tree top.

"Somebody ought to let the aeUlera at. Arm strong's know about the danger they're in ; but I don't sco how we're going to do it." Tho speaker waa a man dl'GHaod as a farmer; ho.was speaking to his neighbours, and they were all gathered in a large bam, built of logs, in one of the newly-settleri portions of Minnesota. It waa in the time of the Indian outbreak, and they had sought safety here, men, women, and chil dren, inspired by a foeling of terror only understood by those who nave lived on the frontier, and know from actual experience tho danger of such v lifo in places whore tho Indians are unfriendly and murderous. Stories had come to them of horrible massacres at New Ulm and other settle ments not fur away, and they wore expect ing an attack at any time. Every hour passed slowly in fear and suspense. The remark with which I have begun this story was called out by the tidings which a scout had just brought in. He had learned that the Indiana intended to attack a settlement some ton miles down the river.

"Armstrong's" it was called, because the name of the leading man there was Arm strong. It was a lonely placo, quito by it self, and aa it had been out recently settled, the only communication it had with the outside world was by wuy of the fiver and a rough trail along the blufli, "It's juat like thia," said the man._ "The Indiana avo scattered along tlio river on either side of it for four or live miles bolow hero, rlear back to rhe Bwampu, thus cut ting olfall chance of escape for the folks nt , Armstrong* if tho/ knew of tliu danger, for there lire Indians! on tho other fide of them. Tho only chnuee for tliom to save themselves in in getting together as we've dono, and holding out against the redskins until help comes, and that will bo Boon, I'm suio. But they don't know anything about what's buon done or what ia going to bo done; therefore they'll be taken by surprise, and they'll be butchered, every man, woman, and child of them, as the whites wore at Now Ulm. It's terrible, but I don't see how we can help it. It's sure death to attempt to got from hore to Armstrong's. Xtio woods are full of Indians, and they'd dis cover a follow before he'd made two miles of the distance."

Robert Woods listened to what was boing said with a sad heart. Ho was a poor boy, with but ono relation in tho world, as far as he knew. That relative was a sister living at Armstrong's. " Must I stay hero and lot her be killed ? he said to himself—" let her be killed, with out making an attempt to save hor ? No ; I'll try to got to Armstrong's in some way, if I die for it."

" See here," he said, going up to the man who soomod to bo in charge of affairs, "I have a sister at Armstrong's. I can't stay here and do nothing while she's in such danger! I'll undertake to get thore and give them warning." '• Why, boy, you'd bo shot before you d got out of hearing almost," was the reply. " I know it seems cruel for us to stay hero while thoy're exposed to such danger ; but wo'vo got our families to protect, and wo know that there isn't one chance in a thou sand of getting to them. It would bo like running a gauntlet." " I'll take that chance, thon," said Robort. "I must go. Don't try to keop mo back. I have n plan that may work. I'll try it, any way." "What ia it?" they askod him. "How aro you going!'' " By river," answered Robert. " They're oamped all along tho bank a few miles below hero, and no boat or canoe could possibly get past them uneeen," they told him.

" But I am not going in a boat orcanoo," he said. "I'm going to float down in a treo top." .lust at dusk that night a tree-top drifted out slowly into tho river from the littlo bend below the settlement. Hidden away among tho branches was tho boy who had detot minod to risk his life for the sake of othor lives.

The current boro the treo top along paßt tho shores, whoro, for all the young voyager knew, an Indian might bo lurking, hoping for v victim. Somotimos it almost touched tho bank as tho river mado a curvo und a curruiit ran clone by the edge of tho stream ; then it would drift out into tho middle of tho river again. The moon rose by-and-by, and mado the scono almost as light a? day. Kobort was sorry about that, for it made his voyagu seem more porilous if it really was not so A vory dark night would have suitod him boat. It soomod to him that ho had been adrift for three or four hours before ho Ba\v or hoard any indications of life. Suddenly a figure rose upon the bank, and flood there watching tho rivor. [t was nn Indian. He was not twenty feet away from Hubert, and tho boy hardly dared breathe for fear of being heard. It !>comod to him as if tho Indian's sharp eyes mutit .see through tho brunches and discover him. Hut tho Indian probably novor thought of mich a thing as n person being hidden in the troo top, and soon Robert had left him behind. Hut there wore others skulking up and down tho rivor, and ho saw soveral of them beforo ho had gono much further. But they, liko tho first ono, did not soom to think thoro was anything unusual or suspi ciouß in tho floating of a tree-top down the rivor, and Robert passed them safely. Presently ho hoard the sound of a paddlo, and peering through the branches ho saw a canoe coming towards him. Thoro woro throo Indians in it. Thu eanoo wan being stoered straight for tho troo top. Ho boliovcd that his presenco thoro had beon discovered. It was barely poasiblo that it had not, howovor; but if tho Indians ran into the-troo-top,.as it looked as if they intendod to, it certainly woidd bo if he remained crouching on tho (roe. Ho lowored himself noiselessly into tho water until only his hoad remained above the surface. The Indiana ran the front of tho canoe upon tho trunk of the floating top, and one ofthem got out and stood upon it, Bteady ing himself by holding to tho branches, whilehis comrades inado.wmo changes in the blankets and other articles in tho bottom of the canoe. The Indian's feet wero not a foot from Robert's hoad. The extra weight caused tho troo-top to sink lower in tho water and once or twice, while the Indian stood there, Robert came near strangling, for the water rose to his mouth. But ho managed to lift himself a little higher, and koop above tho threatened danger. It was with such intense rolief as only they can imagine who have been in a similar position that he saw tho Indian got back into tho canoe. After that Robert saw no more of tho Indians, though he heard several whoops and their answers a little distance back from the banks. By-and-by ho knew from the trees and some of the bluffs along the stream that he was nearing the settlement where his sister lived. Half an hour later ho paddled his leafy boat ashore, and climbed the bluff bank, Before him, peaceful and unsuspicious of danger, lay the little settlement of Arm strong's. .... He hurried to the house where his sister lived, and rousod the owners of it. To them he told his story in a few. brief words. Tho place was in danger. Tho settlers must be got together, and that at once. The Indians might come at any time. Tho man started in one direction, and Robert in another. It did not take long to visit all the houses and rouse their inmutes. Armstrong's house was the largest one in the settlement, and the most substantially built, and here the settlers gathered, bring ing guns, pitchforks, scythes, and whatever seemed likly to be of any possibio use as a weapon. The house, had a lar^e cellar under it, and in it tho women and children were placed. In less than half an hour from from the time of Robert's arrival they were ready for the Indians. And by and-byo the Indians came. They had expected to find their victims asleep, but they found them very wide awake. There were throe or four guns of the repeating kind in the little party, and as soon as the Indians wore com ing across the clearing, lire was opened on them. The shots woro fired with such rapidity that thebesiegers evidently thought the bes"ieged to be much stronger than they were. The surprise of the sudden and altogether unexpected attack threw them into confusion, and they retreatod after firing a few harmless shots.—" Prize Tit Bit."

The pretty littlePrinceof Wales'sTheatre, the former home of the Bancrofts and Robertsonian comedy. U to paas into the hands of the Salvation Army. General Booth, in anticipation of this event, has added a wag to the staff of the War Cry This gentleman informs the public that " the devil will soon find out' this theatre ia Ours,' that the Army will welcome all classes of ' Society' quite irrespective of 1 Caste,' and will be pleased to receive all the ' Money' the congregations like to bring. " BUCHU PAIBA. "-Quick, comploM core, all tnnnyiDi

THE ENGLISH LABOURER.

His Miserable Wages and Hoveln.

One may well stand appalled before the labour problem as we find it in Kuropo, Lovi, Giflon, uud others estimate t.iat the average annual earnings of tho industrial classes in England ia about £40. I often doubt if it reaches this amount when I see the poverty iq which they live in large cities. When one sees tha squalor of such cities as Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, Glasgow, and some parts of Birmingham, to say nothing of London, the crowded houses, tho collars reeking in firth, one is terribly shocked. Yet wo aro told by ono of England's greateat litatesmon that this is tho roault of England's prosperity—the increase in the value of land. Thousands of families have only a single room to dwell in, where they sleep, eat, multiply,,and die. For this miserable lodging they pay a price ranging from 2 to f> shillings per week —one-quarter anc"> sometimes one-third of their ournings. A tale told the other day by the Chairman of the London School Board illustrates the terrible character of this struggle for house room. Three schools wore taken and the condition of the children was ascertained. They came from 1,129 families. Of these, 871 lamilies had only one room to live in. In the majority of these cases the families living in one room contained five or more persons —in some cases as many as nine. This condition of affairs is not confined to the towns in England. I propose in a sub sequent letter to present Home startling iactaon the decadence uf the agricultural population of the kingdom that will etliii'lu ally dispose of Mr Bright.'.-: rant regarding the improvement of tlcu nyriuultural I'ludaes in England.

Misery and UegiaUatlun.

Mow dnei; the following, taken verbatim

from an official report recently made to Parliament, strike those who fondly talk of the improvement in the condition of tho la bouring classes in England undor free trade? " At a block of six cottages - One of these cottages is occupied by a man and his wife and tive young children. They have but one bedroom. Tho next cottage which your committee report upon is one occupied by A., with his wife and threo children, who have but one bedroom. Two children here died of tho fever. Until death reduced the family there were seven persons sleeping in one room.

"In a cottage occupied by 8., a widow with livo children and a grandson, namely, a son aged 25, a daughter aged 19, three more sons aged 17, 15, and 11 respectively, and a grandson aged 5, there is but one bedroom.

"In a cottage occupied by C, a tailor, there are four grown-up persona sleeping in one room, namely the father and mother and a grown-up son and daughter. " A cottage occupied by D., who with his wife and five children sleep in one bedroom, which, though small, is open to the roof. " The next-door neighbour under the same roof has but one bedroom, in which sleep tho father and grown-up son and daughter. There are indeed two beds, but the room is so small that thore is baroly two leet between them.

" Your committee report upon a row of five cottages. In one occupied by B. there is but ono bedroom, part of which is parti tioned off, and forms what looks more like a cupboard than a room, without door, or window, or fireplace. In this one room, with its open cupboard, a family of eight havo been brought into the world, and with tho fathoi and mother still uso it as their sleeping placo. Two sons and ono daughter aro grown up. and the rest, consisting of three sons and two daughters, are under 10. Tho grown-up daughter has just boen sent to tho workhouse to be confined (she returned in a fortnight's time with her child). " In another cottage occupied by F., with his wife and fivo children, there is but one bedroom, reached by a broken staircase, the two bottom steps of which have disap peared. "In a third, occupied by G., with his wife and four children, thore are two small bedrooms, but only one is used, bocauseithe othor is so damp. "In a cottago occupied by H., there is but ono room upstairs and one downstairs. In tho latter are two beds, in one of which

lies Mrs H., bedridden ; the other is used by her husband. Five grown-up mon, a child and the woman who waits on Mrs H., sleep in the bedroom. "In a cottage occupied by L, there is but one bodroom ; the family are father and mother, two grown-up sons and ono grown up daughter : they ull sleep in the same room. When your commi too was there thoy found, in addition to the usual occu pants, a married son, with his wifo and child, staying on a visit."

Not by any Moons Exceptional.

Is it possible, I ask in nil seriousness, to crowd a more terriblo account of abject pov erty and degradation into th,o same spaco in a column of a newspaper than wo have horo ? I think not. This is a plain statement from an otficial report. It is no exceptional case. There aio hundreds of just such villages and thousands upon thousands of just such cottasjos in the rural districts of England. Indeed, the clergyman of this vory village suys he will answer for it that in the single rural union of which it forms a part there are at least four villagos whore the cottages aro equally bad. And this is an ordinary English country village, with a squire and a parson and the usual charitable appliances, including a stately workhouse.

The Labourer's Unimproved Condition.

I cannot believo, with these facts confront

ing us, that the condition of the English la bourer has greatly improvod of late years. Tho same torriblo conditions of life may be found in the largo cities as were found in IS4O, and the samo conditions may bo found in tho rural districts. The great, daily journals wholly ignore these facts. " What, is tho nso?" they flfty ;!" no good can coins of publishing them "—and co matters grow from bad to worse. Mr Chamberlain^ has recently boon exposing tho terrible condition of the agricultural labourer, and asking how ho can livo and maintain his family on 10 shillings a wool;, 74 per cent of which amount (according to the above-named gentloman, who is President of the Hoard of Trade) is taken from him by the existing unfair system of taxation, the British labourer will do when an additional 2,000,000 are enabled to vote it is ditlicult to say. The economic pendulum may swing to the other extreme, as it has done in Germany. The wage-earners are dissatisfied, a large number of them are out of employment, and great distress exists in all labour centres. Many of the large towns have organised for the distribution of food and blankets, and

tho town councils have voted sums of money for this purpose, —Special Correspondence of "S. B\ Chronicle."

Judge Williams Rebuked by the Bishop of Melbourne.

Sl ß] In a notice of Judge Williams's in-; fidel book, the writer of a notice of the Melt bourne Review " says this evening in the

" Star " the Judge's book has been assailed with slander and misrepresentation. I hope that the following critique upon it by the Bishop of Melbourne will neither be regarded as slander or misrepresentation. I sincerly hope that you will publish the prelate's remarks, as I think they are much needed here, where infidel lecturers are greeted when they appear amongst us with, as it appears to me, very unnecessary con sideration.—Yours, P.M.

"The Purity of the Bible," by the

Bishop of Melbourne

Andnowonepreliminary question presents itself. If these books be what Judge Williams has allowed himself to describe them, how is it that those who took them as theruleoftheirlifeweredistinguishedamong all the peoples of antiquity for spiritual views of God and an austere morality ? Can a clean thing come out of an unclean— purity out of indecency—a lofty spiritual faith out of mere howlings and blood-thirs tiness? Above all men upon earth, the Hebrews have been " the people of the book." They have held it to their heart as their dearest treasure; they have studied it night and day ; they have almost wor shipped it. If ever a people were made by a book, the Jews have been made by the Bible. Judge the book by its work then, and what must we say of it? Look at tho strong faith of the Jews, at their pure homes, at their tough vitality, at their power to hold their own with the strongest and ablest nations of the earth, and that without a country, a king, or a government. They embody simply to-day one of tho might icst spiritual forces upon earth, and yet they have nothing in the place of country, king, and priesthood but this book, which is all indecency, howling, and blood -thirst inofs. It is incredible, though a hundred Judge Williamses affirmed it. A groat Jew, who too often mocked the book, but whose mockeries were at least witty-Heinrich Heine thus wrote about it in describing the light which had, dawned upon his latter days: —"$ pV? »y ehlightenmont

simply to the reading of tv book. A book? ?tv», and it is mi old homely looLiug book, modest, as nature, and as natural; a book which has as work a-day appearance as tbo sun that warms us and the bre;..l that nourishes us; a book that looks a: familiarly at us mid is full of kinti blessings as the old grandmother who reads daily in it with her trembling lips, 1 and with spectacles upon her noao—arid i thiß book is calloi quite briefly the Book, tho Bible." This from Heine, the great, poet, the brilliant philosopher, who knew all the wisdom, and had tried all the cul ture and pleasure,of tho nineteenth century, Who was right, Judgo Williams or ho? Men and womon throughout the wide earth who have lived on the Bible, who was right —tho man who darca to Bay that it is all indecency and blood-thirstiness, or the man who found it modest aa nature and as full of kind blessings ? Modest as Nature. Modest as nature; there in' tho whole answer to Judge Wiiliams's chargo of in decency. Indecency with him is to mention sins which nro common, alas ! as daily work, and to call them by their right names in order to denounce them. Men may commit them as much as they like, and defile and degrade themselves by committing them as much as they like ; but according to such men as Judge Williams, they ore not in decent if oniy they will keep a prim mouth, and say nothing about them. Do you think I am doing Judge Williams an injustice ? Then look at the instances which he has ?olocted as the worst he could lay his hands on. The worst are 'he incest of Lot, and tho shameful aut. of Tamav. And do you think there was no uFioin showing what.evil iMinpnnionnliiji anil temptation would do for otherwise ;jun,l men, in an age and a land, when Sodom was destroyed for name less wickedness, and whon all the heathen of Palestine and tho East wore as Corinth and an Kome in their worst days? It was as hard for a man to bo puro in that sonsual world as it was for Israel when he foil in with tho wanton Moabites on emerg ing from his wilderness seclusion. And was it of no uso to pillory these great defaulters as a warning to tho rest? Moses insists in tho fifteenth chapter of Leviticus upon wholesome domestic re straint, and he is called indecent for saying what he means. He threatens punishment of death to those who slander an innocent maid, the punishment of death to those who defile the home ; and again, he !b indecent ' for describing what he means. The writer of the Book of Judges describes the hideous sin and awful punishment of the men of Uibeah and their sympathisers, and he is called indecent for holding up before the men of sensual time this awful warning of the results of their besetting sins, What would Dr. Dollinger be called for his infinite ly darker picture of the awful sensuality of Greece and Kome? And yet I venture to say that few books have ever been written by man which more are likely to operate as a deterrent from vice. The historian's description of David's sin is quoted, but not Nathan's magnificent re buke of it. And this, too, is called in decent, though I verily believe these very chapters, and those following ones which show that a father's wantonness is like the letting out of poisonous waters in his family, have dono more to check and shame lust than any piece of literature to which Judge Williams could point. These are his ex amples—the worst he could find—and I say that he ought to blush crimson for his foul slander of tho word of fiod." " Modest as nature." Yes, tho old book is that. It calls things by tbeir own true names; that it may make us hate them, and avoid them, and to rise to that truly natural lifo which is as pure as it is strong and happy*

A Hindu's Impressions.

In common with moat natives, he thought all Englishmen a trifle mad. Had he not often seen them rushing about cricket-fields to pick up balls, when there were any number of servants fitting about who might have done it for them ? Did they not jump up from their dinner and get on horses, and ride away like mad, if they heard there was something to shoot, and leavo their dinners to get cold, and perhaps not come back all night ? Instead of eating their meala at home, did they not have their food carried up to the tops of mountains and down to the bot toms of valleys, and eat " idiots'dinners " there, as the natives call picnics ? Were they not in the habit of dress ing up in ridiculous clothes, and danc ing at "idiots' dances"—for such the Hindoos call n. fancy dress ball. Would any sane person go riding after pigs with spears, breaking tlioir collar-bone and get ting horses killed, when they might easily shoot the pigs if they liked? Take his present master at tho prefent moment. Here was he, in an excellent position under Government, and tiliin waiting for him, flying like a maniac along the river-bank. Thus moralising on the unaccountable eccentricities of our active race, the old servant trudged along, perspiring and dis gusted, in tho track of his acrobatic^master, —"Chasing a fortune." By Phil Robin-

ORIGINAL POETRY.

THE STAR OF LIBERTY,

I sow in tho glorious future A fair queen on her throne, Decked hi azure robes of velvet, O'or vi hich fair rubies shone; In lior high Ootate of splondour, A goddess rare was she; 'Twas the queen of modern Athens, The empire of the sea. Chorus— Old England is the bulwark. Kmiv ens o'er land and sea, Tho majesty of right divine, The Star of Liberty. I saw in the glorious future Old Scotia by htr side, And over hills and valleys, Her happy eons replied. " Yes, our Kngland is tho bulwark .Kmpro is o'or land and soa, The moiesty of right divine, Tfte Siar of Liberty." I saw in tho elorlous future Fair Krin by her side, And with oqo nrm around her. Tho other held in pride A bnnner with the motto, " Tliobo only are the free Who rally round our Kngland, Tho Star of Liberty." And Canada her legions threw Around fair freedom's tl rone. And the Majesty of Justice Was ruler there alone.' She stood us ouly freemen stand, ■\ rm 'd and mail'd was she. The bulwark of the Motherland, The Star of Liberty! I saw in the glorious futuro Fair Austral proud and Btrong Her sunny brow was garlanded With peace and wealth and song. She stood with prido in mail'd array, And proud she well might be, For th' arm was strong that battled wrong In th' March of Liberty. I saw in the glorious futuro Columbia in her might; Her teeming millions marching In progress, peace, and Tight; And on her golden banners This legend, fair to see, " We stand in pride, by mother's sido, The Star of Liberty." W. R. WIIXS. Otahnhu, March 30,1885. SONG OF A SNOWBALL. I'm a morry little snowball And I cau knock you flat, Or take right off your cranium Your stylish boaver hat. Lart night a little urchin Evolved me in tho yard, And threw mo in the water-pa<\ To freeze me round and hard. At early morn he grabbed me. And sent me running clear Across (he highway, where I took The milkman in the ear. I'm sure that when I hit him I brought him little my— Because, insti-ad of kicking mo, He wont aurt kicked the boy. And then a man stepped on me. And failed to crush mo flat: I don't know what he did it lor, . But. somehow, down ho sat. Right ofl'ho seized upon me— His rage was wild and vain— And hurled me wildly through his own Bip parlour window-p»..e. The thrifty housewife used me To chase n vagrant hen; She nearly broke her shou!der-bAudw— Why can't they throw liV^s'jie'n? A younger bro fha? found me And plaj jd with me awhile; With soaking chilblains off his handß His leisure ho'U beguile. He sent the dog to fetch mo From out a light snow-wreath— The dog is now a sufferer from Neuralgia iv the teeth. But in my fair young lifetime The joy, the most intense, I felt when Johnny made me knock The tom-cat oiF the fence. I'm melting smaller, smaller, But peace iv death is mine; They'll ctrop me downjsomc fellow's neck To Ail along his spine. Though a merry little snowball— A snowball light and gay— I think I shall have had some fun Before I melt away.

DIASY, OR THE OLD TREE.

(KimmtMl on fact.l Two ehiltlreu, a boy aiid a t?irl. ono day, Wore sitting beneath an old trco. "I lovo yuu bo much," bo whinnered now lay. Little darling, lif.w much you love raer And the clear "little daisy' turned to him, Bad (said, Whilo Hie crimson crept o'er her fair brow, "I love yiyn as much us you say you love me/" And he naid, " We'll be .sweethearts, then, now." I will love you for ever; I will lovo yon (or aye. Through aloud and through sunshine, 111 lore you alway; Though worlds lio botween us and ocean divide, I'Ulovo you for ever, whate'er may bolide. Alone in solitude wo 6i;e A maiden, yonng and fair, Beneath that tree, where years ago, A boy with golden hair, Whlnpered how much he lovfld her, A sailor lad, on his good ship's deck, la garlng o'er the nea, And asks the pad wbvpb aa they break '" Will Bhe be tmo to me— My little sweetheart. Daisy V Aks, little Daisy, so fond and true, Alap, that j onth on the ocean blue. For the good ship Bank in the doep, deep sea. That should carry that youth his love to see. And beneath the old tree (whoee branches bate Tell the safl talo) site that maiden tair. Longing and waiting with anxious eyea. To meet hur lover beyond the skies. Then lovo not for ever; Oh! love not for Bye, For aad will the heart be thatlovop alwtyl Oh! love uot for ever; Oh! Jove not for aye; For snii must the heart ho that loves alvray. T. 3. MINtiHEB. Aunkland, tfanrunry 2,1855.

THE CLOSE OF THE FIGHT.

Our bnnliifi sound " Charge!' and, with rilU* trailed low. With a brave Hrit.ii.ti cheer ivn rußh on the toe. Ping I ping ! co their Lmlfcta )i!:e hornets aboot TIB, But when'cniild auoh little winß'd deaths ever rout us i At the glance of out Btcol Jjlke drunkurda they leel, And fly. ere the points of our weapons they fee}. With odo ringiof? volley wo quicken thelrnlght. Like clouds o'er the valley they hurry from sight. And now wo give chase, And with U3 keeps pace Grim Death with hia bcythe and -war-gleaming face, Though grape and round shot plough many • lane In our serried array, we close up again: And onward we press, whilo our loud battle cry Is heard 'mid tho guns' roar, "To win or to die!" Hark! Hark! through the turmoil that tow rolling sound, Like far distant thunder—why shakes the firm ground t The battle-clouds reft, to our vision reveal The waving of plumes and tho glittering of steel; " Cavalry! Cavalry I" see bravely advance, Hussars, and Dragoons, and the gay-pennoned Lance. The bogles Bound " Halt I" and we're thrown In to square. For the onset of fury our hearts .we prepare. Thoycomo! they come! with the clouds at their hoof, And every man's metal is put to the proof; Like the surge of the billows around a lone rock. Again and again they return to the shook. But true to our standards, each wave we beat back. And scatter the sabres as tempests the wrack; As lightning smote kine to the Hash of our fire. Both charger and rider are strewn in the mere. Vain, vain on our square does the hurricane beat. With splendour all shattered the horsemen re« treat; And now, as our masses tho cannon balls rend. Once more to^thebugles our lines we extend ; Then " forward !" thrills through all the pnljsea of life, And every face beams with the raptuie of strife. Hurrah ! hurrah ! their battalions rotiro I From tho right to tho left wo ply them with fire; Then on with a rush, whilo the guns on ouc flanks With voices of thunder speak death to their ranks; Now. up with our sQuodrcns, and hurl on their roar The swift-smiting sabre and slaughtering spear. Tara! Tara! Taral Our trumpets ory; With tha roll of the drum The too reply. With plumes gaily streaming far down on the plain, Our cavalry gallop o'er wounded and slain, Tlv foe's overtaken 1 Now, hark to the din Of shouting and sword-clash! Down cleft to the chin Sinks many a hero in war panoply, wt.o never again tho ml sunrise will see. They're brokon! They're broken lln terror they run. An army no longer—the battle is won 1 AFTER, Where the sere grasses Idly wave, We dig our fallen heroes' grave. In Bilent sorrow, not in dread. We make their last, their lonely bed And. oi'e by one, we lay them low. But, ah! no useless tears must now, for soldiers in the battle field. To that last weakness must not yield. On tho still forms of comrade, friend, Who fought unto this bitter end; On the closed eyes that ne'er shall see The mother fair, the babe on knee; On thosn: brave lips, all stained with gore, And sealed in silenc; evermore— We gaze oar last, and turn away. To-morrow vo may bo as they. May 7, 1386 HJ>a

LADY MAUD AND LILIAN GRAY.

Lady Maud is tall and fair. And has rich and auburn tresses Falling on her shoulders baro And the pet she oft caresses : And cheeks so fair and oyes so blue No bard or painter ever drew. Lilian is a bright brunette, Fond of mirth and witty flashes, And her grey eyes glisten yet Underneath the long dark lashes. Her cheeks the very rones shame When with love's witchery aflame. Lady Maud has noblo halls Where her titled Ruests assemble. Rooms for feastinps and for balls Where those guests will oft dissemble! Where those by wealth and rank allied Gaze on those charms the fair should hide. Lilian, in her kitchen stands, Cooking, scrubbing still, when able • Glancing at the tell-tale hands Of the clock above the table. No one is happier thnn sho, Safe in her native modeatr. yearly Maud's rich friends confess They each day fresh charms discover s And at last she deigns) to bless With her hand her favoured lover • And wealth and rank and beauty pay Their liomaßo on her bridal day. Lilian has a hOBt of friends. Who around her love to linger. As her manly lover bends. O'er the ring-encircled finger. And when she goes, a blushing bride To grace her own bright ingle-side. Lady Maud's fond heart delights In the fays around her staying' But she waives a mother's rights, Is her sacred trust betraying. When handing to n guardian's care To train her cherubs young and fair. Lilian has her darlings, too, Choering every hour that passes; But the mother's heart is truo . Toherbright-oyedladsand las?es. And eaoh fair cheek Its bloom retains. Amid tho fields and scented lanes. Thus they live, each in her Bpberei Knowing .lot the other's serrow Lilian's joys so bright and dear Will be brighter still Jo-njorrow - But t as.hlon'3 silly pomp enthrals The mlstroßß fair of stately halls, KB.°,PI OU, r to** Bo"*.o"*. Ladr Maud, All the lands around you lyine Priceless gems, and acres broad' Moro than evory want supplying But Lilian s faith and hope shoWd shame Your life, so aimless, noble dame! Koop your roses, Lilian Gray m.n°«. tl? B maiir noar's that love them. Till life's autumn winds shall play wSP %? "s™'<»kß above them. Till death s dread messengers shall ateur To cot and castle, Lilian Gray! Auckland, April, 1885. R< St Hotb4n*

THE SQUIRE'S DAUGHTER.

The girl I love is just fifteen. With face so fair and bright • I think about her all the day ' I droam of her at nipht. % For I sit with the Blue coat Boys And ah-'»in the Squire's pew. ' Yet still I try her b!uli;u to meet - Her ejVH aro large and qrny ' There's only half a church hetweeik. But what a word away. ™M"l * , . My dear! Oh, what a world away! I watch her when the Psalms begin Smelng so oarnesllj ; , B * Aad I am sure I hear her voice i Rin!C-hJ-<>"gl> tbe chant to me. I watch her vrlson the vicar reads Ana when wo kneel to pray. Th. re's only half a church between. But WAat a world away. „, . . My deav Oh, what a world away! By the great pillar as she sits, She looka co slight and fair: Thn light of thesteinetl window fall. XJpon her yeliow hair— A bar of glowini? amethyst! •Mid to myself I Bay: " There's only half a ctftirch between But what a world awny. ÜBiyfem ' Oh, whataworiaaway!"ear' MI were rich and I were free How f?reat would be my joy! I'd be a grand Ktonian. And not a Blue-coat Boy Ttf X 1 ■ Ah, what a work*'away ! dear" —Lontman'a Magarirte ■

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1885.

5