The Times from London, Greater London, England • Page 9

THE TIMES, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, ix. ol th pcracction of Catholics In wimcdM by the trated ik TusUtyof tb practice ot challenging juries, and etd that th rmt rori oa their trial, ought not to retain th Mr A. Mpreaeed th disaaUafacUon largely fU by Cwtholic at their fraquent exdweV from jurie. Ma. KwMoitD anJoudnrttJ on JU.

lUros'i restoration, which wwUdehortW be set at lily am of money in bis ket the wUt. M. Kvxect Vinikatcd tb conduct of the Irish jnriee, and tbocgh bj attfibuUd much ot the dVorahlecotdition cflftlind to th action of the Uku Grrrnent, ha did not think they were liable nowpropoMj. it fiiwMV OHw, and Mr. Wa IBB anieiruurcui.

pi 11 the fre irnmirt n. for IRELAND eatccoricallv tbP brought againat He denied that the right of rch had hewi terfervd with in Ireland, and reotestrd against the insinuation that the rorrbantsof IUi'n who had served at special jurvmen bid not lonelily fulntlcd their duties. lleVonUnded that Kotnan Catholics had not been Bptvmrly excluded Irom juries. her they wrr excluded such exclusion was effected by their co religionists, becauso crery oUkxrof the Government concerned in the admlniatreUon of justice in Dublin. with th exception of himself, Catholic.

Referring to the suggestion that the Government luJ endeavoured to MMfl Ma. C.U.SWA1X. he rolnted out that the Government Lad proeecuteJ him rn every charg which Uio Uw allowed tbora 10 preier against mm. At tl.is point Mr J. H.

M'Caethy moved the ad joarnment cf the debate, to which Mr.Glai jsnRemphali.aIly objected, pointing out that tho Ulmi itu not tho uccaaion for. raiaini? a debato trn any subject simply because it happened to bo important, and declaring that if any further ex tenskn were given to the recent practice a new txvoIuUoa would Ixs introduced into l'arlia nvntary life. After debate and division, the debate was adjourned, and tho House adjoumod at 2 40. The faith one reposed in by elections as indL ettione of popular opinion was rudely shaken by the experience of the late and those which have recently taken place are not by any. neans of the most instructive kind.

The return of a Liberal for the Radnor Burghs is not of in oct importance as a test of public feeling, nor Is the election of a Liberal yesterday at Scarborough in place of Mi. Donsox an event upon which large conclusions can be based. Tho majority of nearly 300 is sufficient, and though not so large as thit which the Liberals could bewtt at tho general election, is nor than Mr. Donox obtained a few months later. It is rather curious that tho Conservative candidate has polled exactly the same number st rotes as were recorded for Mr.

Uocckii in when he opposed Mb, Doisos's entry into the plica vacated by Hasoocet subsequently created Loan Dikwent. Colo mi tebu, however, has secured C7 Totes in excess of those then east for Mb. Doros. The only remarkabie point about the election is that Sia Gtoaci Sitwxll, the Conservative candidate, appealed to Scarborough as an opponent of any schema redistribution which would involve, as all the schemes which are likely to be proposed would involve, its partial disfranchisement. He mada the most of that local feeling whose operation fills Ma.

Glumtosk with apprehension. The Panxicn. now has a certain measure of the importance of this element in the fact that, although reinforced by the resentment of the fishermen against the Fishing Boat Act, it has not saved Sn Geobgi Smrtu. from defeat by a larger majority than his predecessor in 1SS0. Members who know that their constituents cannot be roused by the prospect of interference with existing electoral arrangements will not be able to offer any very formidable resistance in tha Bouse of Commons.

They will calculate that it is better to ingratiate themselves with the new constituencies than to light a thankless battle for the perpetuation of old. It seems probable that oh this as on many other points connected with reform exasperated statements have been put forth and believed in to the prejudice of moderate and conciliatory counsels. The Conservatives may possibly prove more fortcnate in South Warwickshire, where it was said at the last election that only a Lcigh could carry the seat for the Liberals. 1 Bet, whatever the result of that election, it can hardly add anything to the data now at our disposal for calculating the. relative strength of the two parties in the country.

Loan Kobtebkook met a number of his cc Leagues in the Cabinet in Downing strt yeiterdsy, and although he may not have formally presented his report upon Egyptian fkance, he can hardly hare avoided putting his soil agues mote or less fully in possession of his ideas. The subject has been so fully, canvassed from all possible pointi of riew that no great discovery can hae been reserved even for a Minis to of his experience and ability. Monsy is urgently rtquind, and the sources from which it can bo obtained "are few in number. It ia' admitted on I all hands that while there is room for considerable tha Egyptian Custom ooaae, hampered as it lib consular privilege, Is powerlces to ttop so long as il ratnaint prouabio. An end ls been put to tha system of tyre year contracts, unJer which Europeans in the service of tho Egyptian Government hare been guilty of the grossest abuse.

The Ministry of Finaoco now audita, or rather pre audils, the acconnts of all the public department xcept thrco, which, it is hoped, will submit to its authority bafore th end of this year efforts are being made to give the Ministry of Finance itself powers analogous to tbda of th English Treasury, which are essential to full and complete financial control. Tho appointment of a competent Englishman to the control of th land revenue department, and of English inspectors to prevent peculation by the native tax collectors, are reforms greatly desired and certainly calculated to confer great benefits, alike upon th Government and tl.e people As to events in the Soudan, we are still without trustworthy information farther than that Lorp Wocsklbt has arrived at Dongola, and may be expected to do whatever is possible to get at tho truth. Our Alexandria Correspondent gives us to day another rersion of the rumours current in EjQ pt, which, however, rests in tho long run upon native testimony. According to this stery Geseral Goarox was forced by wsnt of provisions to make a sortie down the river. He reached Berber and tlioro turned back, while CoUnel Stewabt pushed on.

Gknekil Gobkw learnt on his way that Khartoum had been handed over to tho rebels in his absence, and, being unablo eithorto advanco or retreat, was killed. This is one of the varittious to which native rumours are always liable, and while it adds nothing" to their credibility it is equally far from offering any relief from the distressing uncertainty as to Goebil Gouhon's real position. The affairs of South A frica were yeaterday brought boforo Loud Derby by a deputation of which Sir Do.vsut CcBBii was the principal spokesman. Ho dwelt upon tho serious falling off in South African trade, which ho attributed largely to ths uncertainty prevailing as to English policy and the disturbances occurring east and west of the Transvaal, and he asked for the adoption of a firm policy in South Africa generally, but especially in Zululand. Loan Derbt's defence of the past dealings of tho Government with South Africa is open to damaging criticism, but be gave very satisfactory assurances of the determination of the Cabinet to enforce tha fulfilment of tho London Convention, and to put down the disorder prevailing in Bechuanaland.

There aro still hop that Mk.Cmsotos and Ma. "Gorton Sruioo, who hare started for th Transvaal, will be able to bring about 'a ptaeeful settlement of the questions now in dispute, but in case of their failure Loud DtXBV Is prepared to adopt' stronger measures. We must reiterate what is sufficiently obvious that it will not be enough to obtain a fresh batch of promises from the Boers, without providing meaLS for insuring their due observance. Upon this point Lord Debbt is romcwhat hazy and inconsistent. The Capo Ministers must be presumed to contemplate dealing with the Transvaal Government, since they can hardly Lave set out on the unpromising errand of negotiating with a fluctuating mass of border adventurers and marauders.

Yet it is with tbso adventurers that Lord Derby says we bar to deal. Tho Transvaal Government, 1. thinks, is powerless to securo tie carrying out of tie treaty it has signed, owing to tho weakness of its authority. The Cape Ministers cannot add to its power, and if it is as. innocent and well meaning as Lobd Debby pretends, their exhortations are uncalled for.and eren a little impertinent.

The truth is that we hare to deal both with unruly persons on the border and with a well marked disposition on the part of the Boer Govern ment to profit by their lawlcssness when it can do with impunity. A strong police is required to deal with border ruffianism and to remove tho pretext for extension of Boer authority. At the samo time it ia necessary to make it very clear to th'e Transvaal Government that it would do well to come to terms with the Cspe Ministers, and to observe its engagements in the futr.ro a little more loyally thaa in the paat. Treaties are of no use to restrain border outlsws, and the police which can restrain thera cannot copo with connivance on tho part of the Boers. Lord Derby's present theory completely disposes of the plea put forth in the House of Commons to justify past inaction.

If the Transvsal is loyal but weak, and only bonier ruffians are in question, it is ridiculous to talk about the danger of a race qcarrel. In refusing to undertakethe responsibility of annexing Zululand Lord Derby will command the approval of the country. The less said the better about our attempts to tet up kings and kinglets in that country. If tho Government interfere in that fashion they, put potent arguments in the mouth of those who demand annexation; and if we arc not going to annex we had better keep to our own sido of. the border and let the Zulus choose such rulers as please them.

It is difficult to bcliero that tho House of Commons will continue much longer to tolerate re of tas.tion n. Egypt, thtr. none the indefinite the debate en tha Addnss, against which the Prime j. id ccnoiucn uppef i i(n. nt, adjournment at tho close There' ia no apparent present rato of irogrrts ZxyUusuch that whatever mar be pained br an 7 7 me lor auiouri imrosu1.vSfm reTd th of last night's sitting Tl imposU levied from the poorer classes.

The recent i cu Deen carriea a. far at is pcasibl in existing circumstances, and it ia also a proof that the credit of Egypt will not suffice to! float another loan. Consequently Egypt must titter borrow upon a British guarantee carrying witn it the right to effect economies now forbidden by the law of liquidation and the real or supposed necessity for maintaining a dual adminis. nauou, cr tne interest now paid to her creditors tnust be reduced in order to release a portion of rwenue for the rectification of the Budget and the payment of interest on a new loan. It is clear that such an infraction of the law of liquidation cannot be proposed unless at the aame time ffer an equivalent in the shape of increased ecurity for the reduced Interest.

Thus in on way or another must become responsible for the satis 7WBCI jptin debts, unless Europe cun be Induced to look calmly on while Egypt, under British occupation, becomes a defaulter. That, we "wy rely upon it, would in th long run be the most Iy of all methods, both for Egypt and our "naa. Hence, dealing with the matter broadly, and "poking many possible naodificationa of minor Lord Korthbrooi: most have practi 7 had tochooee between cutting the coupon with wFranteMfor the payment of the reduced and raising money on British credit while that increased freedom to deal with CTFt which alone can offer cs any pros poet of reconpmgth. Treasury. Th difference is one of wa father than of subsUnc so far as this JtryU concerned, bat from th point of riew "EgyptUa tax payer th formor method is ptT.

AJxadri Correspondent tale fphd som time ago, an abstract of Ma. Edgar tncnrf, rsport on th financial administration Egypt, th tax ot which now Ilea be'or It i ah able and comprehenairs reriswof Vicm, ahowing that very considerable Engl sh officials, notwithstanding tharioua dimcuUWs thy h.v. tad to encounler. By raduckm aad of Ccstoma under treaty with Or and E. and, a ntt dwek baa ban to anna lr, which otod on this side of Christmas.

The amendment which Ma. Sexton brought forward yesterday denouncing the working of trial by jury in Ireland, was discussed at great length and occupied tho whole of the evening. Yet it suspected that this is only one among many amendments which the Parnollites have bad hi contemplation and some of which thoy may still insist on debating. The tactics of this party are always mysterious, and we do not venture to speculate with any confidence upon what they may do or leave undone. Bat, setting aside such Irish questions as Home Rule and Education, which it may bo thought politic to raiao at the present, time, there are two important amendments of which notice his been given by English members, and which, if seriously diseussod, would postpone the voting of th Address until at least the close of tho Thete is Ma.

Cowxx'a amendment, calling upon th House to express regret at the constitution of the Commission on Merchant Shipping, and Mb. Gorst's deploring tho consequences cf tho dilatory policy of the Government in Beebnahaland. Mr, Marriott has postponed until the report of the Address his amendment demanding a definite statement et tho policy of this country in Egypt," and Mr. A biimeai Bap.tlett proposes st the same staga to movo a resolution in favour of the establishment of a stable' and civilized Government at Khartoum." 1 1 is, how rr, th prolongation of the debate on the Address itself which is at present blocking the way. If tho Address were voted and tbo Hons allowed to pro ceed to tho debate on th second reading of the Franchise Bill, which th Conservatives, it is said do not wish to protract beyond two sittings, few would care to protest against any legitimate discussion that might afterward be raised on the report.

Bat when Mr. Scxtox baa bean followed byMR.Cowrjf, anJ Mr. Oowxx by Ma. Gotm what guarantee can there that some new topic of controversy will not raised The progress of vents lrom day to day may be trusted to supply such topics without fail, and th Parliamentary nacnia i out go od for weeks grinding awar at th Address, with no batter chance than at preson of reaching its close. The position to day ia suffi ciently significant as, indeed, Ma.

Qiadstose a protest implies to justify the Government in making an appeal to tho Uouao to unction a aimplo and practical method of setting limit to what la growing to bo an intolerable abuse. It is hardly permissible to hope that Mr. Cowis a amendment on which th shipping interest, th Conservatives, and th rarnelhtct are said to bar prepared a for midable coalition, will come on to day. When it does it will probably occupy the whole of a sitting, and for th purpose of discussing either Ms, Cowes's amendment cr dealing with Mb. Gobst' on South African affair, not to apeak of any other amendmenta which way spring up in tho mcsntimc a Wednesday's debate ia dangerously limited.

It ia, therefor, in tho highest degree unlikely, if the debate on the Address bo a.Iowed to take its course, that on Thursday MB.GtiigTosE will bo in any better position to enter upon the consideration of the subject which Farhamtnt lai been specially aummencu to deal with, at an unusual and incon yenisnt period of tho year, than he was in when th House met a fortnight before. We are quite sure that, after last night's proceedings, jir. ulatstose wouia be sup ported by tho preponderating opinion both of tho'Houso of Commons and of the country if he were to more that the debate on tho Address should be suspended in order that the second reading of tho Franchise Bill may bo taken on Thursday. It would bo necessary, of course, to resume the debate on the Address as soon as the Franchise Bill has been read a second time, but this could be don without surrendering the wholo of th time Of tho Horso of Commons to a discussion which threatens to bo interminable. There is a 'recent and incon testable precedent for this course.

Though it is usual, aa a matter of courtesy towards the Crown, to proceed with Address before taking up other basal waya beencareful to preserve the right to go on with its work without considering any meesngo from the Sovoreign.and in ebruary last tho debate on tho Address was suspended after it had lasted a few days in order to allow the House to discuss tho Egyptian vote of censure moved by Sir bTirroKD Aortucote. Tho reason was obvious. Egypt was then the special and urgent question awaiting tho consideration of Parliament, as tho Franchise Bill ia now, and to hare set it aside while the debates cn the Address dragged their alow length along would have been universally con demned as an irrational act of deference to punctilious formalities. Of course, if the Government can soo their wy to making an arrangement with the shipowners, who hare preson ted an ultimatum in the shape of a demand for tho appointment of ad' ditional representatives of tho principal shipping centres on the Iloyal Commission, they may get Mr. Cowxx's amendment out of the wsy.

Mr Gorst, it msy be hoped, will see, what we aro quite sure tho leader of the Opposition sees, that after tbo routh African debato raised last week br Siu Heskt Holland it can serve no good purpose to discus again at length the affairs of Bechuanaland But the Irish party remain to be reckoned with, and tbo temper they showed last night doos not justify a very sanguine forecast. Their organs in Ireland are already boasting of the tffect produced by the prolongation of the debate on the Address, and exulting in the inability of th Liberal majority to enforce the cloture. It is, indeed, quite truo that the debate on tli Address is not, tho most ap propriate occasion on which the closing power could be brought into operation for the first time. But, as we hare said, the aame object can bo attained by simply giving tho Franchise Bill temporary precedence, and this the Irish party, even if thoy deatre it, hare no means of preventing. The debate on Mr SxxTos'a amendment, which waa adjourned, shortly bejore we went to press waa wearisome and barren.

Eren, tho resources of Irish invective did not suffice to impart any freah interest to a worn out tissue of calumnious charges against everybody connected with tho Government in Ireland. Mr. Biooar's scandaloua attacks on the Irish Bench drew upon him tho severe rebuke of tho Speaker, who had also to interfere to repress tho unmannerly in terruptiona of Mr. TbzvL yam's speech. Bat th proccedinga were so obviously a resusuta.

tion of the familiar charges 'of jury packing and the like that only a few members stayed to listen to tho indictment and the defence. Mb. Teeveltas's answer to tne accusation and what are more dangerous, the insinuations of the Irish party, was borne out by Mr. Plcnket, who gave his testimony as an honourable political opponent to the seal with which the Government have laboured, under great difficulties, to secure a conscientious administration of the law in Ireland. Although Mr.

Sexto.n'h amendment directly raised the question of the working of tho jury system, other points wero in sisted upon in his speech and in Mb. O'Bpies's, to which the Solicitor General for Ireland gave a perfoctly satisfactory reply. Th importance assigned by the I'arnellitea to the threatening letter in which ex Inspector Frescii has endeavoured to extort favourable terms from the Government is a somewhat cynical stroke of Parliamentary tactics. French, like Casey and other informers, is denounced and hunted down so long as it is thought the Government can bo discredited by association? with him, but as soon as ho turns upon tho Castle he is paraded as a trustworthy witness. The objection to.

the admission of Free masons iot tho jury box can hardly hare been seriously meant. But, whether serious or not, thess discussions hare served to waste time. The motion for adjournment was resisted by the Priue MrxisTEK on grounds similar to those on which we havo advocated tho suspension of the debato on the Address. Mr. Paksell showed characteristic coolness in urging, that the House would wish to have Mb.

Cami bell Ban.nekmah's opinions on tho questions brought forward in the debate, though tho new Chief Secretary cannot possibly have any cognizance except at second hand, of the affair with whichMa.TREVELYAK and the Solxcttor Geseral for Ireland were ablo to deal authoritatively. It is possible that the Pamellites were eager for an opportunity of opening fire upon Mr. Campbell Bassermax, who had announced early in tho evening what Mr. Healy described, in his own dialect, as the ruffianly reappointment of Mr. Folto but it is certain that for this or some other reason they were resolved to do all in their power to prevent the debato from coming to a close.

If this bo their disposition, as seems to bo clear from the obstinate attempt to force an adjournment on the House, it is useless to cut short the discussion upon a single amendment. TImj true remedy is to remove th temptation to dilatory tactics by pawing at once to the Franchise Bill.and leaving the Address to bo voted afterwards. Yesterday two ponderous Blue books were issued, containing the second and third parts of the Be port and Appendix of the City Companies' Commission. That is to say, these volumes con tain tho evidence which was laid before the Commissioners, and the answers of th Companies to the questions relating to their, constitution, his. tory, and expenditure, Thus they cannot pretend to' mueh of the special interest attaching to the publication of th first volume, which contained th statement of the Commissioner' own riewt and their recommendation for legislative action.

Bat at the earn tiro the second and third Toluenes bare an interest of their own, historical and practical. Probably, indeed, thera ha never been brought together so ranch aridenco as they contain as to the social history of the City, datiiur for tho most part from a timo when the City waa rcaiiy identical with London. Tho rtrr names of the Companies, especially of those grouped under the titl minor," will be a malatkm to most people. Who imagined that, in these latter days, London could still boast corporations of Farriers, Feltn.akcra, Fletthers, Class Sellers' Musicians, Pattenmakers, laying card Maker; Upholders, and Woolmen? Many of these Con panlesarain the condition of the Playing card Makers, whose "only official is a clerk at a nominal salary," and whoee only property is "1700 Consols." But such sorrirsJ are curious at least and when we pas to tho Companies a little richer then these it is dear that ws aro dealing with the rery corporations with which a reforming Commission will bare most to do. Tb third Tolomo, which is occupied with tho statistics of these minor companies, is thus not less important than the second, which deals with soch famous corporations as the Goldsmiths, the Mercers, and the Merchant Taylors.

From tho enormous mass of material provided by theie rolumea ther emerge a number of facta which will form the groundwork of the operations of the hiatorun and of the practical reformer The bulk of the most ancient documents deals, of course, with the internal atructcro cf the Guilds, a subject on which rery much was already known hut ther is also abundant material for the inveatigation of the origins of English trade, foreign and domestic. Th return of tho Vintners abort of a misuse of language describd a of tbo natar of private property, shoald really mad naefulto the pcopl of London at large, under th airecuon of a public authority. Mr. Josxtb Tbcksox delighted tha Royal Go grapnicat cKxriety Iaat night with a most interesting narrative of East African exploration. Tbo existence of Englishmen like Mr.

Tnoxscnr ought to reassure any who are dejected by disquisition on th decadence, of the race. For no reward but th thanks of a learned society ha defied a rear's peril of every conceivable description. Amidst them all be bor himself with the cheerfulness of an Alpine tourist. He relates them with no apparent consciousness that any remarkable faculties wero needed to surmount them. His troop of a hundred and twenty followers was a tenth of tho number it should, according to Mr.

Stanley, bar mastered, FiTe aixtlu of them ho truthfully characterizes as the riry offscourings of Zanzibar villainy. At any moment they woald haro. decamped with their loads, had he not shut them np nightly, with armed sentries at tho gates, and frightened them witn tones of their certain fata, should they run away, from kidnappers, lions, and cannibals. One power ful tribe on the route was always ready to plunder him on tho pretext of sn acceptance of presents. On tho slightest exenso it would hare murdered the wholo company.

Another explorer, a German, rag in the field and Ma. Tnoxsox was threatened with th misfortune of having reached a second' and of tho Clothworlers are specially important in tliut hand goal by roads already pioneered. Da. direction, tho one giring much mfcrmaticn upon tho Mtcnre repulse ty hostile tribes left him in trado with France that went on throughout the I oxscaslon.nith tho substituted difficulty of a legacy later middle ages, and the other upon the once from his baffled fororucner of native embroilments staple English trade. Wool made tho fortune of and prejudices against white travellers.

II had England in the days before coal and iron became important but it also, aa readers of Latimer and Sut Thomas More remember, brought with it agricultural revolutions which pressed with terrible force upon the rural labourer. Upon the growth of tho wool trade the elaborate records of the Clothworkera' Company, given in the second volume of the Commissioners' report, cast much valuable light. Another point that is made clear thoso volumes ia tho extremely faint connexion that has at all times cxiatad between tho Companies tho actual workers th trade from which tbey are named, and which they long controlled. Erery one knows that there need not be a sirglo practical goldsmith on the Board which has the right of stamping plato and of rejecting and treating up all that falls short of the asuay but every, one does not know that there has never been a timo when a Court was really composed of practical workers. "Patrimony" accountsfcrthis thatgreatherlitary principle which has played such a part in our history and the Companies are as thorough going believers in it as was Lord Malmesbcrt himself when, as he has lately reminded us, he persuadoil the Lords to havo nothing to do with life peerages.

But the Commission was not appointed primarily to discover srchicological interesting. Its object was practical to find out what was tho income of the Companies, whence it came, and what tbey were doing with it. The general findings of tho Commission and it broad recommendations as to the future hare already been for some months before the world. But from these two rolumes those who are carious or interested will learn as much ss there is to know about the source of tha 700,000 annual income, the proportions of trust and private income, and the manner in which this rast sum is annually spent. As a correspondent remarks, tbo total makes the Companies richer'than Oxford and Cambridge taken together.

hat do tbey do with it all Certainly they keep up a good many schools, tbey subscribe hcarily to. London and other charities but they spendivait aBtns jJso on laas, pnhiio objects. The broad facts aa to the sums annually paid in this manner are given in another column, from which it will be seen that several of the great Companiea spend Court fees', entertainments, and pensions to. poor members," sums ranging from ten to twenty thousand a year each. It is upon these sums that the Commission has mainly fixed its eye, and its recommendations bare mainly to do with them.

But, again, the charities themselves are not all btyor.d criticism. Some will be the causa of a severe Parliamentary struggle when the Legislature really begins to tako action in the matter, for they are denominational, and we know how serious is the strife which the very name stirs up. The Ironmongers, for instance. are tho trustees of Betton's. Charity," which include th rents of a most valuable property in and near West Ham, and the objects of which are defined as the ransom of British slaves Turkey and Barbery, and grants to achool where the education is according to the principles of the Church of England.

Aa Betton's estate produces omething like 9,000 a year, it clear that those who dislike denominational education will hero have a cround of action after their own heart. The recommendations ot the Commissioners Lords Debbt, Sherbbooki, and Coleridge, tho Dcki of BEDroBD, Sir Sydney Wateblow, and others have been before th country for several months, and it is hoped that before long some kind of action may be taken upon. them. It will be remembered that tho Commissioners wer not unanimous that Sir Riciiaed Cross, Sir Nathaniel ds Rothschild, and Aldkbman Cottos issued a Duscnt Report" of their own, and that the last named, protested independently against the wholo spirit of tho inquiry. Of course it was only to bo expected that the mere attempt to move such a matter should provoke the keenest opposition.

The good Com panies are jcalcus of interference because tbey think their management ot tneir property could not bo improved the bad ones if there are any such because they have still better rearons for shunning the light. But these are not timea when such institutions. can uccessiully defy the hand of the reformer. Oxford and Cambridge! did not and they were at, least doing some thing with their revenues. What tho Commis sioners wished to do was to deal with the Com panics rerv much as tho Universities hare been dealt with they proposed that an Act of Parlia ment ahouldbepassod(l) restraining the alienation of tho'r property by tho Companies (2) ordering the publication of the Companies annual accounts (3) it no longer possible to obtain the Parliamentary fran chise by means of entering Livery (4) appointing an Executive Commiasion.which should assien a portion of the corporateu incomes cf the Companies to objects cf acknowledged publie Utility, and provjuing mr ui wiitr application of the trust funds.

The sting of the recommends tions, of courseies here. Hera it is that thorough. coin? defenders of existing institutions, like Aldxxxax Cottox, raise the cry of confiscation, and more prudent people do their beat to put off the ril day. trust, howerer, that tbo publi cation of thes new relume will quicken Parliamentary and official interest in the matter. and that Sn vvilxxax Harcocrt will really do bis best to bring in a Bill soon after Christmas.

Some people are sanguine enough to belie re that the Uompamea would not al tocether oppose the principle of a BUI drawn on the lines of the Commissioners' Report, but that, belieTing themselves doomed to be rrormed, tby would not mind being reformed now. It be so we bop it is but it hardly seems probable. Anyhow, th time is. surely come when the vast revenue aoese wmnm. viuii can bj Homing engaged two guides and ho believes that the rCovcmor of 31 ombau instigated them to ruin his plans.

Hedistrustoi both, and bad occasion to confirm by his own experience' the black record against them of treachery to former employers, He had to be meek and grateful and obliging to odoriferots negro ruffians who swaggered about his camp aa beings of a superior order, snd lolled on his bed. Lions mado raids upon his donkeys, and ho had to turn rhinoceros hunter with no love for tho spcrt. Sometimes a tract of country had to be croaied which cattle disease had desolated. The land was strewed with decomposing carcasses Bollocks had to be bought at the point of death, and eaten in a condition approaching putridity, with their bones like mud. Before tho journey was over the exactions of hospitality and compulsory munificence had exhausted his currency of beads and cloth.

He wss reduced to depend for food, which was at famine prices, on his reputation as a medicino nun. He retained at last nothing to support his credit upon but a couple of artificial teeth and a packet of Eso a fruit salt. His own personal risks were considerable. Savages twice made stabs at him because ha wished to keep a remnant of hi goods for his own use. He was attacked by fever, fiom which be recovered in time to be tosjed byan old buffalo bnll resentful of the six ballet he had planted in Tarious parts of its tough hide.

Finally, he fell ill of dysentery, and, with nothing to cur it nut diseased gravy soup, nearly left his bones in the wilderness. He talks of wearying worry and dangers. They must hare been incessant, and would for most men bare been He nertr suffered his spirits to bo conquered by them. He gar no opportunity to bis odious visitors or the traitors in his pay to pick a. quarrel with him.

He enjoyed the scenic beauties of Central Africa as if he bad been a landscape painter. He treated a midnight incursion of lions as an agreeable diversion. He could gaily toast his own health at night in buffalo broth made from tho creature which had all but impaled him on his born in tha morning. Maimed and bruised he preserved abundant sense of humour to enjoy the jocose exhortations of his carriers to each other not to lay their dollars," as they called him in allusion to their expected wages, down to die in tho wilderness. Gradually by the force of bis indomitable energy he had effected a moral subiucatlon of these porters, ona of the most dis reputable caravans," he declares, "whichever left the coast." He brought them back without the loss of one by violence, and has enriched the annals of African adventure with a novei and fascinating chapter.

The geographical gains from his researches are aa valuable as his personal experiences ara amusing and exciting. Little was previously understood by direct European exploration ojhe4isrict between the coast and Victoria Kvanza. (Mr. Thomson has been enabled by the public spirit of the Geographical Society, and bis own gifts of leadership, to fill up the gap in respect both of the manners of the inhabitants and of the natural features of their country. Some' of the tribes are easy to deal with.

Mr. Thomson praises tho people of Tai eta as peaceable, hospitable, and sumrisioiilY honest. Another tnbe, the Yi kavirondo, in the vicinity of the late, which be had been told by the Arab traders was quarrelsome, he waa happily disappoint! to find good humoured and friendly. The men are dangerous only when irritated cr drunk, and he thinks, if they bo pro voked to. fight, their visitors are to blame.

The Masai are the real terror of the land both for natives and for strangera and 31. Thomson has collected matter for a complete account 'of them. His sketch last night creates a formidable im prtssion of these resolute freebooters. From youth till their strength begins to fail the men divide their leisure between cattle lifting abroad and de bauchery at home. They are temperate in a sense to satisfy a total abolitionist.

No spirits, beer, or tobacco may be tasted by them. They equally forswear vegetables, and are nourished alternately on beef and on milk. For several days the one is their exclusive diet, and then the other. Bullock' blocd drunk raw supplies the necessary salts. In other ways they are not temperate at all.

3Ir. Thomson says these agreeable young peopl, whose chief attire ia a smear of wet clay," lire in their kraals in a rery indescribable manner till they are married." When their prime is past they range themselves, abandon war, chooso wires, and rear families. Mr. Thomson considers the Masai the most magnificently modelled savages he ha ever seen or read of. Hi admiration did not prevent him from evading, ao far as he could, intercourse with them, adverse or rocUl.

The territories they and their neighbour occupy were nerer before rery definitely knewn. Enough bad been learnt to dissipate the old legend cf the flatness and pervading sterility of the African interior. His survey reveals a picture of beauty, variety, and natural capability beyond the eridence eren of Krapf and Waiijtxld and hew. If Duruma a billowy range of thorny scrub and barren red sand diversified by weird and ghastly aaeemhlsges of gnarled traea, it ia bordered by cool highland three to leren thousand feet high. A fw marches off tb river Lumi and the gigantic pile of Mount Kilimanjaro, with an altitude of 18,700 faet, bare trodoceda delicious Arcadia or African Cashmere.

Through labyrinths of tropical ahadebraathe 8 wis breezes. There are the saltpetre waste of Kgiri, and the volcanic oonea and craters about Lake Jipi and Mount Kibo. There ia the tramendoei con of Mount Mem, and the greater still of Mount Kenia. There are the forest glade and grean park of Chaga. Lorelr lake are contrasted with parched deserts, and the KorUt Britiabazil in the middle of Africa may ern indnlp fa the patriotic luxury of a Scotch mist.

The popular notion of Africa, waa of a con tinent chiefly desert, and altogether flat and monotonous. It population waa regarded as a flock of abeep, uiifbm in habit and character, submissive, vgfy, and servile. Investigation baa refuted th fable ia all its parts, and Ma. Thomson's discorerle add fresh proof of its falsity. Jfativet of Africa and thoir country are shown to be equally various.

Tribe like the Masai, the Wa terta, and th Wa karirondo manifest contain among them qualities which might be moulded into elf ataining nationalities. At present it ia raw material. Bravery in the Masai combined with extraordinary groaaness and brutality The attractive qualities of tb Wa karirondo are not warranted by Ma. Thomson against a tendency to sadden perversion by alcohol and passion. He has to temper his glowing panagyrie on the ideal virtues of the Wa tavete by a qualification of their excessive lack of common morality." More cannot be said for the best of the native peoples of Africa than that they are unadulterated savages.

Their worst qualities imply no incapability of receiving civilization. They have in their favour their endowment by natar with a land demonstrated by faithful eye witnesses such as 31. Thomson to be amply supplied with the material conditions of human health and comfort. Civilization would have been a physical impossibility for a population cursed with a native country of the sort Africa appeared to the imagination of Europe half a century since. It seems the most natural thing in the world for the smiling plains, the umbrageous forests, the valUya laughing with rills, and the anowcapt mountain Mr.

Thomsox has been traversing. He is an excellent example of the elasa of pioneers wanted to aet the work going. In African travel there baa often been too much fighting. 3Ix. Thomsot, thoozh doubtlesa he could brave a Maaai warrior as stoutly as ho faces a rhinoceros or a buffalo bull, nerer challenge to a battle.

His arowed motto is tha Italian proverb He who goes gently goo safe be who goes safe goes far. Acting on that principle, he has substantially enlarged tho frontier of geographical knowledge without any blood bill paid for it at the cost either of his own men or of natives. If explorer has mors thoroughly. deserved the triumphal reception, such a yesterday's, in tha theatre of Burlington House, which is for bis restless profession what Westminster Abbey seemed to Lord Hxisox. CIHCULAK.

EALMOBAL.XoT.3. The Queen and Princess Bestriee were nresant at Divine service ia the parish duueh of Crathie reaterdav moraine Tha Iter. Colia Campbell, ot Dundee. wtf'ttl The Dowarer Duchess of Boxburrhe and the Hon. A.

York were in attendance oo Bar Majesty. Lord Lsxliufford, tb Bv. Colia CamphelL and the Be v. A. Campbell had th honour of dininf with Lb Qaeca.

rathe report that theQuaen has re ceived a telegram from the Khedive" anaouaeinf the fall of Khartoum and oaptoie of General Gordon. VARLBOEOCOH BOUSZ, X0Y. 2. The Prince of Wales west to the Hoosa of Lords thi afternoon. Aflf.

CHAM BBRLAIS and th SHIPOWNERS. Negotiations were proceedis yesterday between the Government and the shipowners a to th constitution of the Bojal Commission oo Saipptnc. Cltimatcly a tim sting of tb representatives of th shippina; interest waa held ia the Conference Room of the House of Commons, Mr. J. Cowen, M.P., in the chair.

JUnoBg ether numbers of Parliament present at th coafareace war Mr. CM. Palmer, Mr. K. T.

Courier, Mr. W. Bataboe. Mr C. M.

Norwood. Mr. C. H. Wilson, Mr.

J. P. Carry Sir Donald Carrie, Lord Claud Hamilton, Mr. W.J Jenkins, Mr. Samael Smith, and Mr.

Stephen Williamson It was stated that Mr. II. Green, one ot the Commissionei already nominaUd, had intimated to the Board of Trad his. intention of mi ruing an! en mn eon eession were made to the wishes STTirrnil fcv tha shipping trad. It was unanimously rrsolvad that aa intimation should be mad to Mr.

Gladstone that'it woald necessary to hav oa the Commitaion four ttytt sentatWea of the shipowners of' London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and the north east coasts and a legal gentleman acqnalntml with maritime law. It im understood that those coaditiooa ara not conceded Mr. Cowan will proceed with his amendment oa the Address. At a meeting of the Committee of th Liverpool Shio owners' Association yesterday, Mr. Donald Kennedy ia the ehair.it was That tbeCommirtee.haviBg gtvea the proposed Koyal Commission on Shipping their consideration, are reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the composition of it ia not soch as will entitle it to the confidence of the country, farther, they think that, as Mr Chamberlain ba made serious charge against th shipping interests, it is neither reascnaVe nor jusl that he shoald upon a iTcmmissioa is expected to inquire into snfh charges, sad the Committee respectfully request that the Royal Commission be amended." The Sunderland Shipowners and Hartlepool Shipowners' Societies have passed resolutions In a similar sense.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir, I beg to enclose circular recti red this morning from the Glasgow Shipowners' Association, which speaks for itself as to th objects of the pretest movement. Yours very truly. House of Commons. Nov.

3. THOMAS B. POTTER. "Glasgow Shipowners' Association, 30, Garden street. Glasgow, Nor.

1. Sir. My directors will feel obliged by vour support of Mr. Cowra amendment oa Monday expressing ship, owners' disappointment and ditaitisiaetioa with composition of the Boral Commission oa Shipping. Xo eoo cession short cf Mr.

CbamWUia'a withdrawal and the appointment of new members tborooghly conversant with the shipping trades of the country, particularly east coast of England and west coast of Scotland, will pr ore aUa ftetory to the interests involved. I am, your very obedient aerfant, J. Mcianxan, Secretary. Thomas B. Totter, London." HER MAJESTY'S BETTIXG IIOVSZ AT ST.

MARTIN'S LE QXAND. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir. There I no doubt that the largest proportion et the betting done in this country is dona by telegraph messages on the storain of tha race, when it is kocwu that horses have arrived and are meant, or nppod to be meant, tho jh too often, for tha credit of the turf, tbey are not really on the job and ara merely run to tsrow dust ia the eyes ot the handicapper to got o3 weight ia view of futar events. Your orrespondent.

"An Ex President, in TktTiwittot to day. says, of betting sci os the Channel' I am not suie bet it waa attempted, but If so it was soon given up. ea aosor him that a very large business it done daily ia Boulcfne. both by letter and by we, through price fjsU circulated broadcast over th kingdom. ANOTHER WHO KSOWS.

October 31. Tan Caacrrr. An informal meeting' of tb Cabin: was held yestrrday afterfiooa at 2 SO at Mr. GladaUs' official residence in Dowoing strset to receiv icra BorUkoroo oa ms return lrom sir. uiaa ston.

Earl Granville, Lord Kimberley, lord Hartingtou, Sir William Hareourt, aad Mr. Childers wei present when Lord Norti brook drove tp to th oflcial residence. His lordship is still suffering from gout. The meeting did not break np till 4 o'clock. Loid remained with th Prime Minister a quarter of aa hoar later.

Era Mas is MoarxnoRX. regret to state that Sir Moses Moatefior continues seriously ill. The Queen has sent a telegram of inquiry. Tne medical attendant of Sir Moae (Dr. Woodman report Sir Moses, though a little better tha' he waa.

Is still daacaroaaly weak, lie is not to be diUaibeJ. Perfect quiet only banc of hi restoration Jcx Csreatdr. Tux Frischux Bill. It has been, arranged that Lord BudoJph Chnrckill's amendment to th seooad reading of the Franchise Bill, which i to be supported by the am ted Opposition, shall be sartuvied by au.Edward Staahopa. Hons or Pollho.

The Hon. Arthur EBot, P. for Eoxbcrriiii. baa introduced a Bill for extending tha boars of poding at ParliaawtTtary election ia counties, so aa to make them eoaameaee at a iathamoraina aad end 1 8 ia the rremiar. Ths QaxxxxT or Cam az Eorrrw Knsnri.

TO. Thar ha am vad ia tais sooatry cast of th Vatican copy of tha most famous work at Praxiteles th Aperodite of ajudos. The erigaaal. waica hi ia tae Sale deUaCroeeCreoaaf th Vatican, aa Vera long diaCnred eadttoVJeakjta drapery placed round it bj order a up arw wrerMry wegUuaOflBS SCaV WSS rr the drapery aad taka a maLL rm of wearing the tea. Taev which 1 aa axteUeavt cocr.

is new to be sera laafiv W. O. Parry's Cast GaBory aiC Sos3l4aiatceMaam. AaatSoB rf rM.