The Times from London, Greater London, England • Page 6

THK TIMES, THUIISDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880. CHRISTMAS BOOKS. The island of th Haly ArtsUwUr bti always had en attraction for oar coantrnMa. Sir Jidm Brook' connexion with the tlnd will sot toon forgotten, nor he Mr. Wallao.

account of hi tnnli uuoag them yet lost it chares. They ere the borne of thevHldraenof the ot Out king the frnJt. thedririen, theeonntryofthe tran tJtchr rinU nd It I. not too fanciful to call thera The Garden of the Sua." Ifature there bountiful and evwr beentif ul thee rrderi have moisture la abund saoe I itxi yet the ion thin on them all throurh ih.i, nmmersdsv. In thee garden of th Eastern Sm Mr.

Burbldxe apant some lima engaged la th pleasant, though toilsome, oocu tmUOB Ot pwxwou; A WU WWIlIt! k. i nMnirl alao tha tdt ot UUnr a nota of what he aaw, and thee notat, now printad and illnttrated by drawinn from their author's pencil, form a handsotn volum jut published by Mr' Murray. In it wa find account of river and foreet travel of rough patba and rougher reatinx place; of two aacenta of Kina Ilelu the Widow Mountain of tbo lnduatriea of Labuan Island and of Brunei, that city of lata dwelling. Tha sportsman will enjoy tbo account of a Koyal pig bant with tbo Sultan of tha Bulus. Ona chapter ia devoted to an aoeoant of tha tropical fruit mat with, among which tha mango steen, tha mango, tha roaa anple and custard apple, tha orange and pomoloe hold a chief rise.

Thara ara several well executed plataa of orchids and insects as wall aa of tha aeanerr. Mr. Seamar soralr darad ereetlv whan aha aat herself in express rivalry with Charles and Mary Lamb, rat aha could hardly bara bean nneonacioas tbat thi waa wnai ea waa ooing in Shakespeare's Stories Simply Told (Nalsoa and Bom). We are no rery riolent sapporters ot the creed of theoretical ooprrisht. the meUphyaisal right, as Johnson at led it, the right of creation.

It ia a creed which, if pushed to extremes, would in these day narrow the bounds ot literary venture almost to nothingness. Yet there must be a limit somewhere a law ot trespass, to be used at discretion, but capable of enforcement when occasion demands. The purpose of Mrs. Sea mar's volume. to familiarize children with the works of our great national dramatist," is so admirable that it seems almost ungracious to remind her that its bad been anticipated in it.

Only a triumph so complete aa to throw her predecessors for ever in the shade coma nare jusuuea ner taxing up wnat others had before her made their own. And this we can scarcely think she has won. If we ooxv pare her, not with Charles Lamb himself, a com parison wnicn lew. any, oouia anora to race, nui with his sister, whnse share ia the Tales from Shakespeare is, as so many seem to forget, by far the larger, we must pronounce in the latter' favour. Her work Is not without its good points its weakest point is that it waa not wasted.

The older work haa been reDrinted manv times, and could be, as, it should be, in the bands of every child. Mrs. Sessners book has been liberally illustrated by the lata Frank Howard, R.A. Borne of his Illustrations ara par ticulsrly good, though the impressions are occasionally indistinct; He hss sometime employed costume which may be correct, but hare aa odd, and, sometimes, hslf strangely modem air. Tha chain mail in which has clad the ghost of Hamlet a father haa a curious effect in the enerav ing, more akin to the patchwork of Harlequin than to tne complete steel in wnicn tne murdered Maiestv of Denmark waa armed.

Tne purposa of "The Wooing of the Water witch (Unatto and loans; is hard to discover. It is styled a Northern oddity," and may, per il ins. be intended for a parody on those old Norse Saga which hare coma again into fashion. At one time we fancied we nad detected some design of political allegory. The portrait of one ot the character bears a certain likeness to a distin v.

.11 put into his mouth might stir up recollections of another, at tne present' moment, sua more dis tinsuished. But we could not follow up the cine, which existed perhaps only in our fancy. The humour contained in such names as Grincab, Suckard, and Sesom and Nos, the famous tailors, is not of a rery rare quality, though Balderdash is. certainly, an appropriate name enough. Yet this is, far a we can discover, the principal point of the story.

The stanzas on page 61 are but a feeble echo ol tbo famous blaying ot tne Jabber wok. The iUnstrationa are often spirited and occasionally comical, but tne elaborate Initial letters, which are copiously employed, are generally more perplexing than ingenious. The Silver Star (Iloulston and Sons), by David Murray Smith, is on the other handj a genuine romance of the Northern land. It is compiled from the old Norse mythology, a concise and spirited account of which is furnished in the appendix. The stories, for the book is rather a collection of stories than a consequent narrative, are agreeably written, and should furnish a useful addition to our library of fairy lore, though they might be found rather above tfio comprehension of very young students.

"Northern fairy Tale" Sampson Low and Co.) contain some of the most overt and honoured favourites of childhood, "The Tin Soldier, Fred and his Fiddle," The Emperor's New Clothes," to wit. The coloured illustrations, large and bright, are by Messrs. Pritchett and Gilford Merton. and the former's, which are both comical and well drawn, are by far the best. Miss Rosina Emmett has been very happy in her illustrations of rretty Peggy, and other ballads (Sampson Low and She is a pupil, and an apt pupil, of that school which Mr.

Caldecott has inaugurated, and in which Miss Greenaway holds high rank. Miss Emmett follows the former rather than the latter. She has moth of his humour and net a little of his grace. She loves to dress her figures in those old fashions her master pourtrays so well, and very skilfully she fits them. Her best is to be seen in the ballad of the young lady who prayed her papa not to take her from the ball so soon.

The pictures of the girl coaxing her old lather he must have been a stern parent, indeed, tJ have resisted so sweet a petitioner of his ultimate triumph, and cloaking of the young rebel, and her sorrowful farewells to her disconsolate partnerSj are all excellent. The authorship of the ballads is not specified. They are not, we mar presume, of a very venerable antiquity, but they catch the true note sometimes very skilfully. The dislopuo in the ball room is, in particular, very happily rhymed. The fancy of the binding is ingenious and appropriate, and 'the little volume makes at all points as pretty a picture book as one could wish to give.

Major Seceombe's humour is at once more exuberant and more simple, and probably more directly to the taste of young critics, ne tells the story of Prince Hildebrand and Princess Ida (Merer. Do La Rue and Co.) in fluent galloping couplets, and his nonsense has that matter of fact, chapter and vcrse sort of air which children like, nis rhymes are easy and catch the ear with distinctness. In his illustrations he is equally at home best in his comicalities, which are of ien very humorous. He is not quite so happy when he would adapt his jolly pencil to the flowing curves of female beauty and grace, but his heroino is a comely young personage enough, and his hero certainly a very pallant guardsman. A akilful hand, owning apparently to the initials S.M., hat designed some capital illustrations to a set of Morry Ballads of the Olden Time," which have been printed in colours by Messrs.

Emrik and Binger, of the Holborn tiaduct, and published by Messrs. Warne and Co. We have not been very greatly impressed with the manner in which some of ur fine old ballads have been re written we ere no undue glorifiers ot the past time at the ex, pens of the present when we admit, for example, a preference for the "Blind Beggar of Bathnal green" and the deeds of Robin Hood in their native dress. But it is a different public for whom the work haa been reshaped, and one who will scarcely be competent to institute any such ungenerous comparisons. The drawings are in excellent spirit they are not less humorous than those of Major Seccombe, and are more graceful where grace i needed.

It is a pity that the colouring could not have been more frequently toned down, but thi it almoet inseparable, we fancy, from the method of their production, which is in ther respects remarkably skilful. "Tha Eastern Archipelsro (Nelson and Sons) ia another ot Mr. Davenport Adams's indefatigable compilations. It is, as its name implies, an account tbe islands of the Pacific, their inhabitants, oenery, product, and general feature, put together from a variety of sources, the reoords of Wallace and Bickmor having been moat largely xt baa sJao ft map iaa numerous uius trattea, and nay be nevded aa weful If not an entertaining work. Miss Mason has succeeded in infuaiaf mora individuality into bar aooount of The Forty Shim (Hatcnardi) than Mr.

Adama succeeds, or permit hi ma If to succeed. In imparting to moat of hi labour to judge from tha enormous quantity of work bearing Eis nam on tha title page, he cannot possibly find time to do mora than extract. Mis Mason haa aimed at what may be styled a bird's eye view of each of tbe shires of England, it general aspect, history, and employments, together with brief account of the great men and women whom it haa produced, and tha most notable event in history or tradition with which it haa been eon nee ted. She will pos sibly be found to hare fallen a little short of so much ot her design, a embraced a book for pleasant holiday reading," but aha haa certainly succeeded in producing a useful little volume, and her style is as easy and pleasant a hsr subject permits. The Illustrations to English Lake Scenery (John Walker and Co.) are remarkable lor toe delicacy ana moderation of their colouring, which ia most agreeably free from thoae blinding hues which too often disfigure the productions of chromo lithography.

The letterpress, if not of any particular distinction for its originality in treating eubjeota of which it would, Indeed, difficult now to find much to aay that has been left unsaid, is at least tnteiiwible and to the point. and the poet who have known and loved our English lake have been laidVinder judicious toll. Tha plates are after drawings by A. F. Lydon it ia not atated who 1 responsible for the latter pre.

There are people who profess a great dislike for nirtnoay oooca. it 1 a aunt wnicn we cannot hare, tor wa hold them to be not only pretty, but useful presents, often capable ot furnishing tha mind, young or old, with agreeable and instructive thoughts, and of directing it to valuable sources ot knowledge. Sense and taste ara required, of course, in their compilation, aa they are in moat other work but where they have been present the result ought to be both pleasant and profitable. The Keble Birthday Book (Sampson Low and Co.) i naturally designed to lead tne mind to solemn and devotional subject only, and though Its usefulness must be indisputable, it may, perhaps, not be found ao generally popular a some of it lighter and mora varied contemporaries. The floral illustrations, however, are effective.

Messrs. Nation and Son publish a neat little edition of Mrs. Mary Howitt'a Song of Animal life." These pretty, healthy little ballads have, perhaps, rather' fallen into disuse in the schoolroom before tha louder counduur note of modern education. If this edition avail to bring them bask into favour it will have earved a good work. A the smell of violet hidden in the green" it is to turn over again these honest, kindly page, with their gentle touches of humour and aimple good sense and piety.

The Spider and the iy is sim without a rival many a more am bitious bard might be glad ot the fancy that lurk in tha lines to the monkey, Nature's Punchinello." The only similar work of later years that may compare with them is to be found in aoma Terse Bret Hart ha written on certain of tha animal products of California. In two substantial volumes, each containing nearly 600 doubleolunmed page, adorned with a variety ot illustrations Edmund Oilier haa told tbe history of the Rusao Turkish War (Casaell, Petter, Gslpin, and When we say that Mr. Oilier includes in these volumes a history of 3prus and of our wars in Afghanistan, together th a tolerably exhaustive review of the rise and progress of the Russian and Turkish Empires, it will be gathered that his work is of a comprehensive Aa Mr. OUier'a labours largely consist in collecting, arranging, and digesting tbe approred labour of others, his volumes will doubtless be found useful as a work of reference. There can be no quarter of the globe into which Mr.

Kingston baa not at some time or other conveyed hi reader, no seas unploughed by hi adventurous keels, no woods that have not echoed to his unerring rifles. We have already this year passed in cursory review before us a perfect little library ot tits works, and now we hare him again in quite at his best. His hero, who tells the tale, is Maurice the son of an Utah squireen, who. havinr: no for the mercantile career, which seems hi only chance ot employment in his native land, persuade hi father to go off with him on a visit to an uncle, who, after wandering over various parts cf Am erica, has at length settled down in Florida with a handsome Spanish wife and'a family of three small children. After a stirring time 01 aaveniure, 01 sport alternated wiin war, tha traveller return to Ireland, Maurice bringing one of his pretty cousins with him aa wife.

This is a capital story the author himself has hardly written a better one, Buenos Ayres and Patagonia are the parts of tbe world in which Mr. Sands' young hero, Frank Powderborn (Nelson and himself, not always at his own sweet will, inasmuch a in the latter country he remains for a year a prisoner in the hands of the Indians. He has a turn, too, in an American whaler, so for a lad of 15, hi age on leaving home, it will be allowed that by tne time he return, a handsome, manly young fellow of 18, he has seen a sufficient number of the phases of many coloured life. The book is written an attractive style, a considerable part of it being founded on the author' personal experiences the illustrations, some by Mr. Sanda himself, some by F.

A. are above the average of such things, the vignettes particularly good. t. 41.1 it 1 1 At IB U1U WJAIl U1V UIUOI B43JI BUUUU1 UBTV lUlUt and we have before us a batch of books designed for their special delectation. In "Beatrice Melton's Discipline (Sampson Low and Co.) Miss Franc tells one of those tales of dainty melancholy which are considered, and, it is to be presumed, with good reason, appropriate and agreeable reading for those young ladies who nave yet emerged from the gentle discipline of the schoolroom.

Beatrice seems inclined to disquiet herself without much cause. 'and her self examinations and reproaches will, perhaps, strike her readers aa unduly severe. She is made happy eventually with tbe love of Kenneth Gordon, a very strict and pious young widower, almost too good for tbe patience of weaker vessels, lie baa a kindly heart, however, aa he has occasion to prove at an' unfortunate crisis in his lover' family affairs. Another marnsge sheds appropriate lustre over tbe ages, and relieves the sober twilight ot miss ranc tale. The scene is laid near Adelaide, in South Australia, but no particular attempt is made to localize the spot, which, save for the occasional use of a few words peculiar to the colonies, might be A gentle atmosphere of piety pervades the bookwhich by its simplicity and honesty disarms the scoffer, but it cannot be said that Miss Melton and her family affairs furnish 'very cheerful reading.

More genial tastes will gladly turn to 1H ituiciinw vawuiKi, Galpin. and This is quite a little romance. with a variety of characters and incidents, and a well constructed fable. The scene is laid chiefly on the sea ooast of Scotland, and partly in Paris, in the days when the luckless Charles by the publication of bis fatal ordinances, was forced a second time to fly for his life. There is more discrimination in the characters, more vigour in the dialogue, and more action in the narrative than are generally to be found in work of this class.

The story of pretty Peggy Ogilvie may interest a larger public than it has been presumably de signed iot. xuss xuaiey in ner itetter tnsn Good," from the same publishers, delights, like Miss Franc, to employ neutral tints. The heroine is a handsome young girl, proud of her hereditary beauty. By an accident, when at play with her brother, ahe loses her eyesight, and the design of the story is to show the virtues of resignation to the will of Providence, by which the severest mis fortunes can not only be lightened, but made instruments ot happiness. The design is so good that one is not disposed to be hard on the manner of execution.

And, indeed, it i quite possible that many girls will be interested with story of Beatrix Oldham. There is plenty of conversation of a kind and on subject they may be expected to appreciate. Nor does Mb Ridley always keep her bow strung; she relaxes sometimea into lighter and even playful moods of a polite and gentle playfulness. The book, however, can scarcely claim to be amusing, not, at least, in the conventional sense ot the word. "Bernard Hamilton" (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) is tne story of a young curate in a sleepy country town.

He it a hard working, conscientious young man, and hi labours, hi trial, which are not beyond tha strength of man, his hope and fears, ara rcunted with photographio fidelity. It is a picture, a may be imagined, of still life, and composed with care and a laudable attention to details which, in inch an importance not always under other conditions allowed to them. Young curate, a work, assume it is well known, are object of much interest to certain portion of tha community, and many, wi doubt not, will follow with genu anxiety th fortune of Bernard Hamilton to their happy eloee in tha rectory of Stow Puarorum and the lore of fair Sylvia Bo wen. "Stepping Stones (Isbister and Co.) Is written ia Mrs, Doudney'a accustomed train of sober thougbtfulneaa. Th current ot her story run smoothly on, with neither rapid nor eddy to check the even Unour of its course.

It capacity for interesting must depend entirely on the temperament of th reader: those of a subdued, if not exactly melancholy, cut of mind will like it beat. Ther is a pretty, xraaint fancy'about Mis Knox's story of Captain Era (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) which raises it above tbe oommon livsl of its class, it is described a the story of a naughty girl, but poor Eva' naughtiness ia not of a very heinous type, though she Is a wilful little lass certainly, and doubtless lead her poor.and rather foolish a weary life. She take, her title from her fondness for soldiers, among whom has been brought up, her father having served with distinction in the Indian Mutiny, when Eva nearly lost her own baby life." Her petulance, her love for her father, and her fanciful affectation of military discipline, which throw into sad confusion th old rtytms of th ohool such a pleasant school it must have been to which her impracticable temper consigns her, are all cleverly drawn, and so is ner ultimate repentance and reconciliation with tha principal object ot her dislike. Altogether th little book makes prettier reading than most of its class. And Mrs.

Erst In haa been scarcely lea successful with her story of Sweet William," published by th same society, the story of a son whom a little girl is the means of restoring to his old mother pretty tale told with much simple tenderness. TEE PH0T0PH0KB. At last alias's mestrag th Bosiety of Tslefraph Zafinetrs. held at tha rooas of th IasUtotlea ef Civil a ftaeers, 25, Great Owi tr WantmlarUr, 'the Freei Sent, Mr. W.

U. Freese, te the Fort Offloo, read a paper Ware a deaasly srewded sodiene eo Xb Phttopbooe sad the ef fBadlanl Zaergy late Boaad." Mr. Latimer Clark, Fast President, was la the tWr, and Pre fasten Qrahass Ball and Tyadall.were asseag these pretest. Hi. Paxxox eessiaeaeed by referring te the elesuntary notions ef sound, which showed tbat so and was, la reality, simply a tenaatlea applied to that physiolofics! actios In the ear of tb hearer produced by the meehaaloal distnrb aaee ef external air.

The outride disturbance was sonorous Titration, for tbe pradnetioa ef which It we essential that matter itself should be thrown late vibration. All the systems adopted for th prod action and reproduction cf tennd were simply dependent apea the axon by which matter was thrown Into motion. That principle was inns' trated by sympathy ia th ease ef tnnimr forks, by reversion by meant of microphones, by traasmtsitoa by Wheat stone's experiments, and by means ef electric signals transmitted by wires as instanced fa telephone. Radiant energy was a term employed te denote tbe rayandalations which fava beat, llfht, and chemical action. The relatire post, tione of those various rays were shown by the spectrum.

Illustrations were (iron which proved that periodic Inter million or variation la the strength of sa electric current when psssed through a telegraph wire, it quick enough, was sofflcient to produce sound In telegraph Instruments. If saehvsriations followed the pitch, loudness, and form of the human voice, articulated speech would be reproduced. The metal selenium wss tbe only substance known iuffl eicntlT eentltlre to have It radiant energy Influenced by electric current. Mr. Willonghby Smith, at the reqaect of tbe lecturer 1 repeated the original experiment by which he discovered tbe peculiar property of selenium.

The question waa whether the effect was due to heat, light, or ectieitm. Captain Sale. R.K., and Lord Bone proved, shortly after Mr. Smith's duoorery, that the eSect was produced by light. Dr.

Siemens seleaiam eye was exhibited, sad was shown to emalate the human eye in experiencing fatigue, and requiring tbe rest of sleep to restore it to it pristine vigour. The next point dealt with was whether tbe influence of light on selenium effected the electric resistance of the substance, or whether it set np in the substance a fresh electrical action to in lit tbe normal currant. The researches of Professor Adams, Mr. Day, and Mr. Crookes were referred to.

But the researches of Mr. Sabine had decided the point, and showed tbat the surface action reralted in an improvement of the conductivity of seleaiam. A sensitive cell, eonstrneted by Profejeor Minchia, of Cooper' hill College, was shown, which, it was stated, exhibited greet partiality for the bine rajs ef the spectrum. That cell wee one ef the moot recent additions to tb discoveries ia tbat branch of science. Con Jeetares aa to the eonversiea ef light lato sound very early followed the invention of tbe telephone.

Professor Bell bad himself foreshadowed It, and Mr. Willooghby Smith, ia May, 1878, beard a ray of light fall on a bar of Mr. Freeee himself had also been working. in the eame direction, and had reported his doings totboBritlah Association at Swansea. The labours of Profeaeor Bell and Mr.

Samner Tainter bed secured snecees, and that was attained by increasing tbe sarfsce of exposed selenium and by improving tbe contact between the selenium sad the metals used, which eliminated tbe effect of fatigue or time, and obtained very low reeistance combined with rapidity of action. A cell, constructed by Mr. Shelford Bidwell wss exhibited, and gave out eotmds audible ia every pert of the large hall, which were transmitted by a ray of light. Professor Bell'e mirror transmitter wae then shown and described. By it sonorous vibrations of the air were imparted to a beam of light, which became oadalatory, and was afterwards condensed by means of a lens upon a selenium cell, and tbe sounds originally spoken were beard by a telephone in aa adjoining room.

PKonssoa Beix briefly repeated the experiments he bad made ia following up the pecuuarproperty of selenium, and stated that nearly all suHtancee cave off sound when placed in a test tnbe and subjected to aa Intermittent beam of light. Professor Ttkdaix related experiment be bad made in conjunction with Professor Bell with bi sulphlde of carbon and sulphuric ether, both being separately sab. jeeted te the impact of intermittent light. Tbe experiment! showed that various results were obtained according to the absorption of tbe light or beat rays by the rerpediv vapour. Pcorcssoa Adams also related experiments with selenium as to its varying resistance for electric conductivity, and instanced a ease ia which at first the resistance was 7,600,000 ohm, whereas by the lapse of 12 months it was reduced to 745 ohms.

A hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer and to Professor Bell closed the proceeding. MARIA OAXD." TO TBE EDITOR Of THE TIMES. Sir, Now that the opera season at Her Majesty's Theatre Is about to close and the last representation of my opera Maria di Oandhu been riven, my I solicit your kind insertion of a fsw words from me I Sm anxious. In the fint place, to express my gratitude for tbe many kind and encouraging aommenti made upon my first operatic work, and' In the next place I wish to explain that it was commenced 14 years ago and completed In the year 1863, before the production in this country of Aid, tbe works ot Richard Wagner. It wss written In conformity with what was the accepted Italian model at the time of Its Inception, and I may add that it wss the fint work orchestrated by me.

No matter how much I may subsequently have been impressed by recent innovations in the construction of lyrlo dramas, I thought it beet to' refrain from any endeavour to remodel my work, and, excepting tbe elisions made after it was privately performed at St. Georgo's hsll, it remains precisely as it stood) 12 years ago Truittng you giro publicity to this explana tion of the differences existing between Maria di Gnd end more advanced lyrio works, which were not performed in England until long after my opera was written, I reiterate my thanks for the greet kindness which bee been shown me. I remain, your most obedient servant, December 8. TITO MATTEL The Action against Me. Bbadlauoh.

The leadings la this action, which is brought sgainst Mr. Brad ingh by a Mr. Clarke to recover penalties from Mr. Brad laugh for voting In the Mouse of Commons without having taken the necessary oath, are all bat completed. Tester day, however, an application was made to a Sinter, et Chambers to strike out portions of the plaintiff's reply to tbe statement of defence.

The first paragraph of the reply stated that the plaintiff admitted that the defendant affirmed, but that be was a person without religion belief, end tbat he voted snbject to stetatory liability. Tbe second paragraph stated that tbe Acts rslied upon by the defendant were limited in operation, and went to show that they did not protect tbe defendant. Tbe application was to strike out all the reply, except fares it was a joinaer 01 lune. it we nrgea oy sir. i.

urump, who appeared a counsel for Mr. Bradlaugh, that the insoe wss not as to tbe religious belief of the defendant, but whether be was protected by tbe Acts end nroeeedincs set out in. tbe statement of defence. If they afforded no de IVUtw Mid NU1MU wun WM wnw, MJ.A;uuvlr posed the application on the part of tbe plaintiff, on the ground that the alteration were a necesnrv Dart of his case. Tbe Master allowed tbe fint paragraph to stand, but iiruca out toe wueie ine eeeoea, excepi as 10 sne joieaer of lue, without prejudice to tbe plaintiff's right to demur.

Pnerxynox or Kxtlomons in Mines. At a meeting of Monmouthihlre and South Wales 8Uding Scale Committee held et Cardiff yesterday, Mr. Talieain Jones, ot Rbymaey, laid before them tbe results ef fire years' study and many experiments for tbe prevention of eiplo ion from coal gas ia mines. His scheme consists In die. tri bating through ell parte of a colliery some material which sivee rise to a gas and decomposes coal fas so effectually that the moat fiery mine can be worked with naaeaugnis.

no explanations given were so stlsraetory tbat arrangements were made, with tbe consent of the marten, to test enact tha asnst fistj soiae la the ghandda VeUey, AGRICULTURAL MESTINQ8. THI EOTAL AGK1CTJLTTEAL SOCTXTT. The annual meeting of this society was held yesterday at Haaovar equare, tbe preeideat, Mr. Wells, in the chair. There were also preeeat SirU.

Heron Maxwell. Mr. J. MXaren, Mr. Scott Burn, Mr.

T. Areling', Mr. H. J. Little, Profeesor oiatoods, and Mr.

Jacob Wilson. Tbe secretary, Mr. H.M. Jenkins, read tbe report, which stated that daring tbe year the governors and member had beta Increased by six ef the former and 473 of tb latter, and dimim'ihod by the deaths ef two governor and 121 members. The society now consisted of 8,083 members, showing aa increase of 153 during the year.

The funded capital remained the same as at the last half yearly meeting 13,430 New Three per and the balance of the current aoeoant In tbe hand of tbe bankers was 1,188. Tha OarlUlo meeting was remarkably successful considering the very unfavourable weather experienced daring tbe last three days. Although the receipt were not sufficient to cover the expenditure, the council were glad to announce that tbe deficit would not entail any farther diminution ef the funded capital of the society, as it could be covered by tbe surplus ordinary income of tbe year. Tbe offer of medal tor new invention for the cultivation oi the land by (team or other mechanical force did not call forth eo much competition as iu expected. Tbe offer of the local eommiiiee of prises for the beet managed farms la tbe counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland gay rise to a most interesting and instructive competition.

Tbe preparations for the lierby meeting next year were well advanced. The Kev. Sir George Wilmot Horton had consented to tbe ibow being held in Oemaston park, eloee to the town, and the local committee had already commenced the necessary work of draining and levelling. The council had deemed it advisable to restrict henceforth tha amount offered ss prises for lire stock by the society Itself to a suuetmust of 3,000. Tbe local committee proposed to liberally supplement the society's prize sheet with elasse for agricultural horse, hunter, hackneys, lenc woolled and Shropshire sheep, loashoms.

Jersey heifer calve, and dairy cattle, as well as butter sad cheese. They had already offered prizes for the best managed farms in tha county of Derby and within a radius of 20 miles, and 11 farms bad been entered te compete la tbe three elassee of large dairy farms, small dairy farms, and arable or mixed farms. The council had added the following rule to the stock prlse ebeet No person who has been disqualified from exaiotnng live stocs: st any meeting 01 tne society shall be allowed to act as a rest, renrrseutstivs, or servant of an exhibitor ef live stock at any of the society's future snows. ine rue a 10 ineenng naa neon amended so as to render eertaia the Identity ef disqualified sheep, and now stood as follows 1" Inspectors will be appointed by tbe council to examine tbe sheep on their admission to the haw yard, with ins traction in any ease in which the sheep have not been really and fairly shorn bare to mark tnem end report tne lacl to tne stewsms." in consequence of a recommendation mads by tbe judges of Implements st tbe Carlisle shew, tbe council had decided to organize a competitive trial of sheaf binders in connexion with the Derby meeting, and bad, therefore, offered a gold eal silver medal to tbe heaf binding machines wbicb, after trial during tbe harvest of 1881, should, ia tbe opinion of the Judges, be tbe best and tbe second beat, the binding material to be other than wire. The council had decided that the Derby meeting should commence on Wednesday, July 13, and close on tbe following Monday evening.

The district assigned for the country meeting of 1882 comprised Berkshire, Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Hampshire, Kwt, Somersetshire, Surrey, Sussex, and Wiltshire. The experiments upon anthraeoid diseases, such as splenic apoplexT) quarter evil, were still being carried cut at tbe Brown Institution. Dr. Greenfield, the professor superintendent of the Institution, had submitted to the council aa abstract report stating tbat tbe experiments bad bees entirely successful, and had established the fact had an animal which had been iuccessfally inoculated with modified virus was protected from the effect of future inoculation with the unmodified virus of th disease. The detailed report on these experiments would be published, and, having regard to tbe great importance of tbe subject, the council had made a grant for tbe ensuing year for tbe purpose of enabling this conclusion to be put to practical test.

The council bad had under their consideration tbe very serious outbreak of sheep rot which caused so; much mortality among the flocks of the country during the past year, and had instituted a practical a well a a scientific iarettigatioa Into the whole (object. They bed also placed within the naeb of every one an account of their present knowledge on the subject by tbe republication of Professor Si moods essay on sheep rot and by his forthcoming paper on the subject. The council regretted to observe that foot and mouth disease was again prevalent ia several districts, after an almost complete immunity from the disease for nearly two years. With reference to pleoro pnenraonis, tbe council had the satisfaction of reporting that a considerable diminution ia tbe number of case a compared with last year hsd been effected by the measures adopted for its extermination. This subject mutt always command tbe attention of the council, and in consequence of representations si to the lax manner in which the importations of Irish cattle were controlled, they had already urged upon the Privy Council that more stringent regulations and more careful inspection of imported Irish cattle were requisite both at tbe ports of embarcation and arrival.

They had farther asked the Privy Council to take additional precautious to prevent the spread of contagious diseases from the Deptfora Cattle market, as there waa reason to believe tbat foot and mouth disease had recently been conveyed from there to dairies in the neighbourhood, and theace to other localities in tbe Metropolitan district. None of tbe six varieties of seed wheat that were entered in competition for the prizee of 25 and 10 offered by tbe society for distinctly new' varieties of wheat had fulfilled tbe conditions required by the society. Tbe analytical work for memben ot tbe eocisty bad increased 20 per cent, in 1380, sad nearly twice as many samples were analyzed in the second year since the opening ef the sew laboratory than were sent four year ago. Experiment on swede, to test tbe comparative manurial value of soluble and insoluble phosphates, bad been successfully carried out on 24 plots of a quarter of an acre each. Forty candidates were entered for examination for the society' junior scholarship.

The following candidates, arranged ia order of merit, had gained scholarships T. Leese, of the Sand bach Grammar School G. L. ilaslehunt, E. D.

Shirtliff, J. H. Hodd, and F. IL Purchase, of the Surrey County School G. Corbett, of the Bedford County School A.

E. King and A. F. L. Pattison, of the Surrey County School; P.

W. Whitcombe, of the Bewdley Grammar School end F. H. White, of the Devon County School. Mr.

B. Scott Burx, of Stockport, moved tbe adoption of tbe report, which was seconded by Mr. T. Bo wick, and adopted unanimously. Totes of thanks were passed to the auditors and tbe President, sad, some suggestions having been made by various members, which the President promised (hould be considered, the proceedings concluded.

THE CENTRAL CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. Tbe annual meeting of tbe Central Chamber of Agricul ture was held yesterday at the Society of Arts, Adelphi, Colonel Buggles Brise, M.P., in the chair. There were present Baron Dimsdale. Mr. W.

W. B. Beach, M.P., Mr. E. Hicks, M.P., Mr.

T. Duckbam, M.P., Mr. B.St. John Acken, Mr. Gordon, M.P., Mejor Genenl Burnabj, M.P., Sir Baldwyn Mr.

C. S. Read, and representative members of Cham ben throughout the country. Tbe Secretart (Major Cnigie) presented the annual report of the Council, stating that now 43 local chamber of agriculture" and farmers' dub in England and Wales were in association with the Central Chamber. Therefore tbe chambers represented were 60 bodie.

With regard to the Koyal Agricultural Commission, the Central Council had been in frequent communication with that body, and took this occasion to urge the propriety of an early publication of the evidence already taken inithls country, sod any special reports from the Assistant Commissioners la Greet Britain and on the Continent of Europe, while they trusted that the general report of the Royal CommissioDere themselves might not be much longer delsyed. The report reviewed the work done by the Local Taxation reminded tbe members that early In the year the Council, by a unanimous vote, bad renewed its protest against tbe Injustice done to the owner and occupier of land by the present incidence of local taxation. In tbe ssme resolution ther expressed a hope that the attention of Parliament would be immediately called to the question with a view of securing comprehensive relief and they declared that the imposition of new ntesfor higbwsys and national education had increased tbe existing agricultural distress. At the meeting in June, after considerable discussion, tbe Council recorded their opinion that a larger portion of tbe cost of the maintenance of Indoor poor and of tbe establishment charges should be borne by a grant from tha Imperial revenue, which would encourage increased economy in poor law administration, by curtailing tbe tendency ot poor law guardians to give outdoor relief. With regard to the malt tax, the Chamber had.

re affirmed a resolution that the tax on malt was contrary to every sound principle of taxation, and ought to be repealed, and that a tax upon beer of a sufficiently large amount to prevent ponible loss to the revenue might be with advantage imposed in lieu of it. This course bad been adopted, and thanks bad been given to the Government for its action in tbe matter. Then the Council had unanimously approred the Hares and Rabbits Act.inasmuch as it secured to occupien the power to protect their crops from loss by ground game. In regard to proposal for amending tbe Agricultural Holding Act, 1875, approval had been unanimously given to the principle that compensation should be secured to tbe out going tenant for unexhausted improvements. The Council trusted that early attention would be riven by the present Administration to the (object of land law reform.

A to the charges for freights for British agricultural produce over British railways, attention was drawn to the apparently unfair sad preferential rates allowed to foreicn produce on the English lines, and it hsd been resolved to continue an agitation for obtaining such alteration of tbe law as would meet the hardships complained of. Respecting the corn returns, tbe Council recorded its view that the returns now collected were altogether misleading and incorrect, and ths Council trusted that tbe snbject would be referred to a Select Committee next session. Satisfaction was expressed at tbe progress of agricultural education. It was reported to tle meeting that tbe Chamber had joined with the Chamber ot Commerce In a petition for a Minister of Commerce and Agriculture. 1ith regard te tbe subject of highways, the Council, after expressing an opinion that tne aci 01 101 9 naa proved most unsatisfactory, concluded that a thorough investigation by a Parliamentary Committee was advisable.

Tbe CHAIRJUN. ia ovine the adoutioaof tbererjort. said he very much regretted that th Koyal Cossmiisloa on Agriculture bad not yet been able to issue it report. In bis opinion, tbe Chamber bad had, during the past year, several outcomes of their labours. One of these was to be sees la tbe reports ef Messrs.

Bead and PsU. Another was tbe passing ef the Growad Game Act, for which, ia his pisJon, th Chamber aught take great credit te itself. The Art wnld net tbo gnat trUef era sre serrsttoa ef (use, sad ef tbe leadlerds Jetting shooting ever the beads ef their timet. Vet it weeJd.m addition, be mesa of pi eventing any farther agittt' for she repeal ef tbe Gem Laws. Tbe effect of tbe malt tax repeal was very doubtful, sad wss a sues sere of which be could not say whether he results would ba good ar eviL Be himself bad beea all hi lifi srrtag the repeal of the malt tax, but eves now be did not hke to rive a deta'ded open the cuange.

mere ws no doubt tbat tb tax en tne beer acted very ualavouraUy and Iv nsoa the oecunienef land. aatbev kadtexav aa Increased tax. These we tbe chief rteulta ml the laxU tatioa of tbe year, but there still remained moeh to be done. Os'y one of tbe many measure which Lord Hsatly bed thought Bfnery for, tbe welfare ef the agricultural 1 inter est had received tbe atteatioa of the Goverazaeat, and tbat wa tbe Weights and Measures BiU, wbicb, though a step ia tbe right direction, did not re far enough. The I whol subject of eora average required a fall and careful I eonsideratioo.

What tbe Goremmeei intended to do fer the I agriculturist in the coming year was a matter of doubt, and it was for tbe council te decide what measures they in 1 tended te press npoa tb Goverazaeat, wbicb was, be thought, willing to assist the arricalturists as far as poenble. It waa said that tbe chief matters for immediate legislation were eompcnaatioa fer unexhausted improve ments. or tenant rixht. the abolition of tbe law of distress. and ths establishment of County Boards.

Those, no doubt, were questions which should come te tbe front. He did not agree that the Agricultnal Holdings Act bad altogether failed, and be thought tbe landlords who bed contracted themselves out ef tie Act were sorry for it. Tbe Chamber bad expressed itself strongly In favour ef esnendments ia the law of distress, but ztot in favour ef (be total abolition of the law. There were two other Important matters which atteatioa should ba called. They should at once ask for a committee on the subject of highway legislation, which was unsatisfactory, and also upon the subject of tbe corn averages.

He did not see aay ether way ef putbag the matter before the public except by a committee. Mr. Gcxnox, M.P., seconded tb motion for the adoption of tbe report. Mr. C.

S.Bcad, ia rap porting the motion, eld be bad keen misapprehended at one of the previous agricultural meetings by his friend Mr. Duckbam who had represented him as being opposed to the transfer ef the malt tax te beer. He did not object to tbe transfer, but be objected to tbe additional burdens which bad accompanied this great measure. 8 B. Luohtox.

M.P.. advised tbat la say action taken by the Chamber tbe question of tbe corn average and that of the commutatioa of tithe she old be kept dls etber members, th report was tiaet. After remarks by adopted unanimously. Mr. O.

S. RxaO tbea called attention to tbe prompt closing ot a store stock market in the East of England, sad to the necessity of a change being made ia the system ef holding tbe two great London market on tbe same day. He moved that the Associated Chamber should thank the Privy Council for its prompt sad vigorous action in closing a store stock market la the East of England, and beg to arge that tha Deptford Meal Market and the Islington Store Stock Market should not be opened oa tb same days and at the same hour. He remarked that there had been aa outbreak of disease, whiah waa clearly traceable to persons going from one market to aaotber held on the same day, and it wss held by soms that tbe Privy Council ought aot to be thanked tor closing the door after the steed ws stolen. Bat It wae to be remembered that there were other steeds in tbe (table, and that thi was a courageous action on the part of th present admlalstraton of the Privy Council.

Mr. Dkstst seconded the motion. Mr. Dccxbam, M.P., moved that a rider should be added to tbe effect that stringent regulations should be made that tbe seme attendants should not be employed at both markets. Mr.

Buld accepted th rider, and the motion was adopted. TBS FARMERS' ALLIANCE. Testerdsy the annual meeting of memben was held in tbe Philharmonle ball, Isllngtoa Mr. J. Howard, M.P., presiding.

Tha CuAIucajr said be could not speak at any length la that bailding without tbe risk of losing bis voice, wbicb be hould probably require ia the coming Session ef Parliament a Session In which, apparently, there would be a vast amount of work to do. Tbe Secret aKT read tha annual report, which stated that there had been 21 meeting of tbe AlUar.ee In the pro. vinces. A deputation to tbe Prime Minister had received satisfactory assurance that the Govsmment would give attention to tha object ot the Alliance, with which tbe right hon. gentleman expressed his sympathy and since the interview the reform of the Game Laws hsd been dealt with to a Urge extent by tbe passing of tbe Ground Game BiU.

At a conference held In October resolutions bad beea passed laying down tbat tbe subjects which called for tbe immediate attention of the Government were security for capital invested In the improvement of holdings, with compensation for unexhausted improvements the repeal of tbe law of distress representative county government and the apportionment ot local burden, so that the landlord should be chargeable with tbe rates on agricultural land and tbe tenant rated upon bis bouse and premise only. Tbe mess cers migfit be I airly congratulated upon tne lnnueaceol tne Alliance daring the general election. In many counties the objects of tbe Alliance became tbe test questions vn which tbe contest tamed, and several caw members, a well as some old ones, secured their election by adopting them, tbe result being tbat there are 43 memben of the Alliance in Parliament. The success gained in counties in which local committees bad been formed and especially in Kent, Hampshire, Essex, Esst Suffolk, and Cornwall led the committee to recommend tbe formation of distinct, though allied branches in 00 untie or division of counties and the alteration of the rules with that object, lirmbers were urged to co operate ia effecting this local organization. Mr.

Everett, of Suffolk, moved and Mr. Dtxr, of Norfolk, seconded the adoption of the report. Mr. Boltos, of Sussex, concurring in tbe remarks of tbe last speaker, could not help thinking that tbe Alliaaea had aot been so decided and determined on question affecting farmers a it should have been. Tbe Alliance might well take a lesson in organization from the Land League in Ireland, and it could emulate inch organization without copying act whieh were to be condemned.

The questions which affected the Irish tenant farmer more or less affected those in England. In England they wanted fair rent, they wanted something like fixity of tenare, they wanted free sale of their interest in their holdings, and they wanted the abolition of unfair tithes. (Cbeers.l They wanted some reasonable powers of purchasing their holdings when they bad lived upon them for some considerable length ot time. (' Hear, bear," and No. It was desirable in tbe interest of the public that there should be some compulsory power ef purchasing land for reclamation and cultivation, and that we should recreate the yeoman class which in yean past was the backbone and the strength of England.

Mr. Maxrtixn, of Suffolk, said the committee would gladly consider the suggestions of Mr. Bolton at least, such of them a were out revolutionary. Tbe report was then adopted. A series, of resolutions was agreed to authorizing tbe formation of county branches.

A resolution wa passed acknowledging their obligation to the Prime Minister for the agricultural legislation of the past Session, sad expressing a hope that he would not allow the urgency of Irish questions to prevent the Government dealing with other matter la the programme ot the All ianee during next Session. Mr. BsTH. of Sevenoak. rose to move that tbe following new object should be added to tha programme ot tbe Alliance To obtain tbe redemption of tbe land from ordinary tithe charges and the readjustment of extraordinary tithes." (Cneers.) He complained of the unfair way in which corn averages were taken for the ordinary tithes, which eame to 7s.

or 8s. an acre, and said that the addition of 18s. an acre for extraordinary tithes made them one of the most oppressive and obnoxious burdens that farmers had to bear. He connected with the liability to extraordinary tithes tbe fact that there were good farms to let within 17 miles ef London. Mr.

OaRDXIB, of Essex, seconded tbe motion. Mr. Avxuso. of Rochester, while not objecting to the resolution itself, thought it would be better that tbe Alliance should concentrate it attention upon tbe subjects specified by tbe conference in October, and moved an amendment to that effect. Several ipeaken urged that tbe question was such a vital one to farmers in certain counties that the Alliance must take it up If it were to command confidence and.

in response to an appeal which was almost unanimously indorsed by the meeting, tbe mover ot the amendment withdrew it. The ClUlRMAS said tbe tithes were objectionable te eaue they acted in restraint of trade. The farmers of England were urged to turn their attention to other crops than those they had been' wont to grow, but the moment they did so, and produced hops or fruit, or became market gardener, they were confronted with these extraordinary tithes, which they were compelled to pay whether they had good crop or noL Such a condition of things wss altogether indefensible. The resolution was then carried unanimously. Mr.

R0wui5t80y, of Yorkshire, moved that it should be an object of the Alliance to watch over the interests of farmer in connexion with railway charges. Ho gave several illustrations of preferential charges in favour of foreign as against home stock. From Newcastle to Wakefield seven steer in a smsll wagon would be charged 2 12s. if they were borne stock, and 1 lis. 6d.

if they were foreign. From Tyne Dock, Newcastle, te Darlington, four tons of imported oil take would be charged 5s. lOd. a ton, and four ton of home made 6. 8L a ton.

There were similar anomalies in the carriage of grain. Mr. JUT, of Kent, said that English produce was delsyed at station and sidings, while foreign fruit was carried past by express train. Tbe Chairman said that Mr. Barclay, the vice chairman of the Alliance, intended to call the attention ef the House of Commons to the subject next Session.

(Cheers.) The resolution was then agreed to. Mr. Parsohs. of Hampshire, and Mr. Evzxktt, of Suffolk, seconded; that the maintenance of effective regulation ia respect ot cattle disease should be to the programme.

The Chairma said there was a far healthier and sounder public opinion oa this subject thsa there was a few yean ago, because it wa realized bow large a proportion of our meat supply was home grown. Earl 8pencer bad race atly acted with energy and promptitude oa his attention being called to a source of danger at the Deptford Market. The resolution was screed to, and a vote of thanks te the chairman terminated the proceedings. RAILWAY ABU OTHER CQ21PAX1BS. The Nrw Toxx OmrniX.

ead Hucaoj Rrvia XOAD Company bay declared a quarterly dividend ot per eest payable both fa New York and Leadna w. i.rZ Jeauary. Tbe report of the directon of the Otrd sad RoHTLxtrio RaH WAV for the half year ended with June 30 state that the total capital receipt that date were 88VM7, and tbe expenditure 13,719,172, leaving a balance ia haad ia cash and stores (less outstanding balances 1 of 289 173. ThZ aceennts. which are presented with tne report, show gA rrveaae for the half year of 2UJ2i axiiut 774 741 expenditure of 130,619, aninit the sreoor te rtvenae being 93 38 per sent, against 477S per tion special general meeting of the Madias IxaiaATlow nd Casal Company wa held oa Tuesday at the etfieee.

CeleBJsn etreet, to eoastder proposals by tha Secretary of State for India In Council for tb company' ostler, taxiag to the Government. The principal feature of th terms have already beea published in Tk Tiwut, Mr. E. p. Boaverie presided, and ia explaining tbe drcumstances wbicb resulted ia tbe proposal stated that very soon after be became ehairmaa of the company, and not till the be.

fianisg of th year did be undertake that office, th Impression be bad previously entertained waa strongly eon-firmed by facts that the position of the company could be considered neither satisfactory nor et a permanent ha racter. Tb eempaay bad been in existence about 23 years. Is 1863 they got aa Act embodying their contract, and they had gone oa np to th present time with the help of some subsidiary Acts of Parliament. The company wa authorised bare 2.000,000 of capital, and they niaed CI ,000,000 of stock, which wa guaranteed 3 per cent, by the Gwvernmeat for a certain date and under certain conditions. Tb company spent this on the but It was not sufficient, end they borrowed ItOQ.OOO oa debenture, which, ia the first instance, wa advanced by the Secretary ef State, who, however, afterward pressed for npaymaat of part, and the money was accordingly bor rowed on mortgage la the open market, and a portioa repaid to tbe Government, At fint It wa anticipated that tbe profits of tbe undertaking would be very large, and as to their disposal per cent a to be said oa the 1,000.000 raised per eest.

was also te be paid on any capital raised beyond out ef tb balance tbe Goverameat were to be repaid their advances under tbe guarantee after that 7 per cent, was te be paid to the stockholder, and, it being rrp poeed tbat there would then be a good residue, tbe balance of tbe profits was to be equally divided between the Government sad tbe stockholders. AH theee anticipated profit, however, had never come into existence, they had oertr done store tbea pay their bar txpeisea and, as far as could be seen, tbe stockholders could never possibly receive the 7 per cent, held out to them. Tbey owed the Government for interest 936.710 tbe mortgage debt advanced at 83 per cent) was 426093, and th interest owing on It wss 33,518 and they owed the Secretary ef SUts 338,428 out of the original 600,000 advanced ea mortgage, the overdue interest on which wee 26316. She company might, la fact, be said to be insolvent. There wa ao doubt that the scheme had beea a failure, and.

lookfd st with aa impartial eye, be thought no one could b)p seeing that there were the germs of ailare la it which were likely to bring aboat the unfortunate re alt which hsd arisen. Tbe company wa not left free to carry 00 its operation independently ia India, beiag at every step subject to the supervision and control of the Government out there. Tbe failure of the scheme was partly attribatable to the eomplieatioa of the machinery by which tbe businea was to be managed and partly to tbe change which required to be effected in the habit of a highly conservative population before they could be got to use tbe company' water. The Board strongly recommended them to accept the terms offered. Hawse bound to that la tha negotiations between himself and the India OfSceJ be received every reasonable consideration, though be did not get all be asked.

Tbe Interest they received was aot permanently guaranteed, and there were only eight yean to run before tbe question of the purchase by the Government of tbe undertaking might be taken up. It was true that the purchase would be based oa the aveuege market value of the stock in the three previous years, but there was riskjtbet tbe price might be run down considerably. By tbe terms of the contract, too. if the works were not ia a satisfactory condition, or la a state of good repalr.the Government could give them notice te put them ia repair, and if that notice were not complied with within six months the Government were entitled to do tbe repairs and to charge tbe stockholder with tbe expense. Tbey had received a notice from tbe Secretary of State that certain of tbe works wen reported to them la bad condition, aad calling oa them to put them in good repair.

The practical result of aay litigation in this matter would be that the guaranteed interest would be reduced for these expenses, or tbey must carry oa the dispute with funds raised by thensielve. He did aot believe tbey would ever get a chance ot such good term again. He concluded by moving a resolution approviir the terms. Mr. Hall (a director) seconded the motion, and the chairman, in reply to questions, said they would receive 108 is cash for every 100 of ordinary stock tbey held, and per cent, np to tbe date of beieg paid off.

Tbe Government would themselves Introduce a Bill for the purchase, and would pay all tbe expenses of going to Parlia Kli Xr.tm were not nerd till tha end of tha ea I sioa. He asked for the 106 in four percent. India rtock.but this wa declined. Tha price of. 75 for the mortgage bonds wa arrived at in this manner.

Tbe Governmeni said that if tbey purchased the undertaking st tbe end of tbe eight yean tbey would be obliged to pay the mortgagee 100, but, calculating the value of that now, the figure was 72, and the 75 was offered as a compromise. The resolution was tbea carried unanimously. A general meetisrj'of the debenture bolden was held yesterday, st wnica Mr. Bouverie recapitulated his remark of tbe previous day to tbe stockholders, aad reminded them that tbe debentures were railed at 82 per 100 bond, bearing 5 per cent, interest, so that the return tbey bad really received wa about 6 per cent. Tbe nominal smonnt the raised wa 426,096, but tbe actual amount received was about 349,000, of which 241,500 was repaid te tbe Government la redemption of a portioa 01 the debenture originally advanced for five years to the company.

Tbe greater part of the balance ws absorbed la paying the interest oa the debentures, bat the interest.bsd not been paid for two and a half yean, so that, exeumisg tbat the com peny was solvent, they were entitled to 128,000, and unpaid interest, 53,500. The stockholder' guaranteed interest of 5 cent, eould not be touched by the creditors of the company in any event, and tbe only asset which they could look to wss tbe undertaking tbo canal, locks, and navigation works sod if the undertaking yielded a large income it would be a perfectly satisfactory security bat that was not so, and. ss far as he eould estimate, they would not be ia that position within any reasonable time. There bad been a committee of bondholden.who had ascertained what their right were, aad the result ef that was tbat each bondholder could, if he chuee, get ajudgmebt here and have that judgment proceeded on in India. There were, however, 445 mcVtareea, and they could aot each separately take proceeding ia this war tiyrefore.

any remedy of that kind waa illusory. Asaomise that st the end of eight yean tbe Government bought the undertaking, tbe bondholders would receive 100, but without say srrears ot interest. The present alue ef 100 te he paid eight years hence wa 72, and that wa the price the Govern ment as Sm ouerea. lie, oowever, ssggustcet teat toey should receive the 83 advanced, and, as compromise, 75 wa then offered. The interest tbey had actually received on the first israe up to November 1 last wa 41 per cent.

The composition was nelly, net allowing fer interest. 18s. Sd. in tne pound. Mr.

nail saving secooara ioe motion, a long discuseion followed. In the course of which the amngtment wa characterised a a com promise, bnt a a robbery. Mr. Learmonth moved aa amendment tbat a representation should be made to the Secretary of State that the offer wa not adequate, and that should ba given instead of 75 for th bond, with arrean of interest on the 82 at 4 per cent, from tbe date of default. Mr.

Speen seconded tbe motion. Mr. Edwin May contended that the Government were not free from blame in taking the money ot the debenture holders, who advanced it on the faith of a prospectus which ws not guileless. The Government, too, was represented on the Board. It wa of great importance to the Government to have the undertaking transferred to them, as they would not tbea have to pay 5 per cent, on the 1,000,000 of stock, which be aid they eould raise at 3 1 percent.

He disputed the position tbat tbe Government could pay tbem off at tbe end of eight yean without arrean of interest, sod suggested tret they hould ask the Secretary of State for 83 per bond instead of 75. Tbe chairman, in reply, said that th offer must be either rejected or accepted. He had dene all he eoold to obtain the best terms, sad he was confident that no better terms could be obtained. Mr. "Learmonth amendment was lost.

22 votitgfor it sad 33 against, bst an amendment by Mr. May requesting tbe Secretary of State offer 83 instead of 75 (with no arrean of interest) wss carried, 41 voting for it and 31 against. The chairman said be would do bis best to obtain an interview with the Secretary of State, and tha meeting v. as adjourned to the 4th ot Jeauary. Tbe directon of the Gxavd Jrscno WatixwOxXS Company report tbat the revenue for the past balf vear wa 73,140.

Taking tbe year from Michaelmas to Michaelmas, this gives an increase of 10.07 4 on the income for the previous year. That in turn showed aa increase of 00 tbe figures for 1878. This larger revenue leave balance of 46,631 to be carried forward, which is moeh more than In any previous period but. Instead of ereditfct interest and dividend account with the whole, tbe directon prefer to place 200 to a reserve account, to sMetsxeen tional and contingent charges. After providing for sU oot goings, including 034 paid for exceptional lew and Pr lismentary charge, and between 1.600 sad 1,700 1 foe ia terestonnew capital, there is a balance left snjEdeatst pay 8 per cent, per annum on tbe general share capital but deducting the iSOO aforesaid, the balance admit a pay meat at tha rate of 7 percent, pr annum, carrying foe ward iXOO.

TTJ A VWTV rlrt'MTlT'H Tb total vaeJ reeeipuer tbe Maeebeeter. gbeflUU. nd fnyle Disastexs at Sxa. The report that the North German Lloyd's steamer Neekar bad spoksa the Belgravis, of Greenock, with cargo oa fir, proves to have beea erroneous. LJoyd' agent at Southampton surmise that the report originated from tbe Nectar's signals having beea misread from the Lizard station.

Tbe log ot tbe Neekar states that oa tbe 4th Inst, ia let. SO keg. 29 40 W. tbe Neekar fell ia with tbsBelgravia abandoned Tbe Bel rravia, barque, ef Gratmoek, sailed froze Quebec ea November 13, bound for the Cbda. shire Kail way Compeer's nil war eanale (eictaeive lotet frees the 1st or Julv te 2SU ICereafaer aerate! niS a Koroered wit wall tKe total rjeBeJIetodlBf wot ton, duty.

esciewv ef )ota liaS wer. ffW pW 43S4.000 from tbe 1st of Jul to tb 30tb Mww.lgX teertets aaJ exnenws lor tbe cwrviwllns period UTS InsHKIHww arsssor tbea tbeewrreet Pcrio.L aaJ. sa staacerp eoesperwoa lor aa eqwal ewiaber ot dan. the Sirnr he tb two should be tMmi to tbee above bwe fee 130, wbi mmm sntod as 1000 forrarli aad 3.300 fer tnreire. With test addtttoo tbe reswU oc the list toe 17 V.

TV receipt ef taoTarvaoath aad Jtertk Xcrfjtk Xeflwer OSej peiiv for toe part week show an Incrstis ofga, Tass ef tk OerS aud Baadea aad West Cork Cos pear were ttt. The tnffie neeisee ef the Great Iadlaa fwiswdaiBwafas ear foe tbe week ended Ostober IS shew a iters ef ef ia Greet Central ef Beldam tar Cwtibsv bew a Tb (ran eereler ef the Hew Terk Oeetral sad Biiam1 Nevesaber were lifXI.U araiael t3g eedthesw eerels 1141,01. afaiaat f4Ja5tassllsnS ill Tbeew af the saseaied lQ. aaalast tun la UTS, Th tVeedeei Osserhes Cnm tT I dtosas ss ec sesames waa ass et SsaSLMlK 1.