The Standard from London, Greater London, England • 5

THE STANDARD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1880. THE FOREIGN POLICY OF FRANCE. DISPERSAL OP THE ALLIED FLEET. up. Hence lias sprung the doctrine, almost universal, tliat a navigable river is "public" in reputation which it has so long enjoyed, everything connected with the Annual Competition must be absolutely above suspicion.

TURKISH AFFAIRS. (By Telegraph. (from our special correspondent.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Friday. It is absolutely certain tliat Mr. Goschen will not accept the duties of permanent Ambassador to the Porte.

Negotiations continue with respect to the movements of the Fleet The Commission appointed to report on the a inity of Voli Mahomed, feeling unequal to the task, have suggested a consultation of experts hence there may be a further delay in answering the Ambassador's Note. (Recter's Telegram.) CONSTANTINOPLE. DBO. 3. A Commission has been appointed, consisting of Seid, Mahmoud Nedim, Assyni, and Osman Pachas, to deliberate upon the adoption of energetic measures against the Kurds.

EVENTS IN FRANCE, (Bt Telegraph.) (TEOII OUR OWN PARR, Friday, Midnight. Tho crisis in the silk trade of Lyons con-, tinuea. Yesterday a deputation of operatives waited on the Prefect to solicit his aid in the formation of national workshops. That functionary replied that he had no funds at his disposal for such a purpose, but that he would support ihm idea before the Municipal Council. It appears from the latest statistics that the exports from Lyons to America during November represented a total of only 2,344,654 francs, being nearly one million less than in October, and more than two millions less than in September.

Tha decrease is most remarkable in silk stuffs and velvets, the exports of which have fallen from 2,300,000 francs to 1,400,000 francs. A meeting of the promoters of tho Exhibition of Electricity, to be held in Paris next year, took place to-day at the offices of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs. M. Cochery presided In the course of the proceedings, which were chiefly formal, M. Berger, the Head Commissioner of the Exhibition, stated that the voluntary subscriptions already exceeded the 600.0G0L demanded by the State as a guarantee fund.

The Comte de Chambord has subscribed a thousand francs to the fund for the relief of the dispersed Religious Orders. The Paris Town Council continues its axrttV religious crusade. Yesterday it adopted motion, the object of which is to demolish the Church of tho Sacred Heart now being built an the heights of Montmartre, and to devote the site to some work of (i national utility." The Prefect of the Seine approved of the motion, reserving, however, the question of the indemnity to be given to the owners of the religioua edifice. It remains with the Chamber to confirm or annul the motion, but in the present mania for religious persecution it is likely to be sanctioned. An artilleryman belonging to the 12th Regiment blew out hia brains last night in a restaur rant on the Boulevard St Martin, after having dined there.

A letter, addressed to the War Minister, was found in his pocket, in which ha They spoak of their project as a "Bpecies of ideal Combination of the European Fleot. This is not to do it justice. The scheme is unique and perfect in every particular, and has proceeded from the brains of its projectors, like Minerva from the brain of Jove, fully equipped for every possible emergency. As in the case of the first Naval Demonstration, Turkey ought to be invited to contribute a Squadron, and on this occasion her consent can hardly be doubted. The scruple of the Sultan to demonstrate against himself, though doubtless foolish, was intelligible.

But by the laws of the new tslieme, by the conditions of the ideal Combi-lation, tho difficulty will be avoided. As aach Squadron will take a different direction, to be agreed upon beforehand, it is only reasonable to supposo that each Power will be allowed some latitude in tho selection of the waters in which it would like its own Squadron to appear. The Sultan might decide to send his Fleet iuto British waters and whilst Admiral SjvVMOuk was anchored off the Pirwus or Smyrna, IT uart Pasha would appear peacefully in Bantry Jiay, and, by way of diversion, make a trip to tho Coast of Donegal. This would, indeed, be an ideal Combination and after it, no one would dare to deny the existence of the European Concert. Obviously, the number of minor ideal Combinations, all suggested and carried out under tho ivgis of the central idea, is not slight.

Cruising in different directions, the German ironclads might visit Cherbourg, while the French Fleet exercised its moral influence in the neighbourhood of Wil-hclrnshaven. Austrian Admirals would find themselves at home in tho Bay of Naples or the harbour of Ancona, and the Duibo and Yittorio Emmanuelo would divido themselves with amicable impartiality between Tunis and Toulon, by reason of the twoplaccs being so conveniently within easy roach of ouch other. It is not till We examine this ideal Combination in detail that we apprehend its full beauty. But even if in some trilling particulars it were to break down, tliat would not suffice to vitiate a proposal in itself so admirable. What would be tho armaments of this new separated combined Fleet would no doubt be arranged without any diliiculty for it would not require the heavy uud eostly instruments of slaughter hitharto in vogue.

It would carry inaudible guns, and would move through imperceptible water. All its apparatus would be innocent and harmless phautom captains would give Bhadowy orders to ideal sailors but it might perhaps be arranged that once a year, say at Christmas time, all the severed Squadrons should meet in order to gi ve a practiced proof of the ideality of the European Squadron by eating plum pudding together, provided by the generosity of the British Government century, the scenes of the Rebellion of 1798, and the assassinations, burnings of homes, cardings, cutting off of ears, and cruel mutilations of harmless cattle at the present moment, are indications of this deplorable obverse to the smiling image of Hibeinia but to understand the full portent of the metamorphosis, it is needful to see the faces, such as those humorous and homely ones which Ebskine Nichol places before us, transformed in an hour as if by demoniac possession. The amiable and generous traits which go far to counterbalance the grievous faults of Irish character have, unfortunately, small opportunity to display themselves in the Irishman's own country while his worst characteristics are constantly called forth. He would delight, like a Milesian Chief of old, to be hospitable and profuse; but ho is too poof to offer his neighbours, oven on the occasion of a wake or marriajje-feast, better cheer than a little whiskey and tobacco. His Gascon nature would be gratified did he possess tho slenderest foundation for boastfulncss; but he can scarcely find a peg even for his lively imagination to use for self-exaltation.

He would be loyal to King or Queen if they would only exhibit themselves to hia gaze, and suffer him to shout Hurrah as they drove by but they studiously abstain from visiting him. Ho urgently craves variety of interests, and would brighten up into a different and far more rational being (as he does in England ami America) were he to live among the free currents of industrial and commercial activity, and find sports, races, music, theatres accessible for his enjoyment. Instead of this, he dwells all his life long either, as Lord Beaconsfielo said, by the melancholy ocean," or among the still more melancholy bogs and desert hill sides, associating only with other peasants as dull as himself, in a mud hovel, absolutely sottish in its ugliness and hopelessness of ornament, and where neither active business nor lively pleasures are ever lieard of. No man was leas meant by Nature to be isolated, and bored, and poor no man, consequently, is so much exposed to the temptations of drink and tho deceptions of demagogues, suggesting to him methods and modes whereby he can become rich and important, not by industry or self-denial, but by turbulence and crime. These aro points of Irish character which those who attempt to touch the terrible problem of Irish affairs should never leave out of sight.

Our sick man," like many another patient, is chronically tho worse for every medicine wliich we exhibit, even if we chance to relieve some pressing symptom of his malady. And there is another matter that is hardly ever remembered. There is, we venture to affirm, not an acre in the island fur which there would not be found, in the event of any-such settlement of the Land Question as is now suggested, at least five or ten claimants ready to come forward. Thoy would be rarely or ever the occupants. Some might dwell in the same parish, some at a distance some might be rich and ablo to undertake lawsuits, others might be in workhouses some would bo of English descent others would belong to old Irish elans, but each one, without exception, would be prepared to proclaim that he, and he alone, had a right to the portion of the soil claimed.

His ancestor, three, or six, or a dozen generations ago, was, he would argue, unlawfully dispossessed thereof by a landlord, or inortgageo, or creditor, or by William or by Cromwell, or in Elizabeth's time, or possibly in the days of Steonglow. He woidd assert that he is the heir, according to one or other of half-a-dozen systems of inheritance, primogeniture, or tam'stry, or every sense of tho word. The Normans parcelled out such portion of the English land as they could get occupation of, but no subtlety of law known to their ablest councillors availed to turn the bed of the Thames into private property. On no point is the English Common Law more clear than on the rights of "free fishery." The subject is one upon which infinite learning nas been expended, and practical certainty has been the result itivers are either navigable or not. The distinction in the case of small streams may be difficult of definition but use and custom has usually determined the issue in each instance, and, so far as the Thames, from Crick-lade to it mouth, is concerned, its navigability has never been called in issue.

Now in all navigable rivers unless the older jurists are strangely at fault the bed of the river itself appertains to the Crown, and the right of fishing to the public at large. But," we aro told, in a public river some Royal grant or prescription may entitle a private person and his heirs to the exclusive right of fishing therein" a privilege called by Blackstone a free fishery." Grants of free fishery, however, were so generally unpopular and obnoxious that they were specially prohibited by Magna Charta. That famous document, it may be remembered, was signod "about a mile and a half from Old Windsor Lock, near the Middlesex Bank and in "Magna Charta Island" is still shown the very stone upon which it is alleged that John himself signed, sealed, and delivered it Re tins as it may and archaeologists are welcome to a point which they have made their own it is certain that there was no free fishery in the Thames when Magna Charta was Bigned, and that in virtue of Magna Charta itself no such privilege can have since been granted. The right of fishing in tho River belongs inalienably to all her Majesty's subjects, save only in so far as it may be, for the common benefit of all, restrained by statutable limitations. There are rides as to the seasons and times within which fish may be taken in the Thames, and as to the sizeability of the quarry itself, which depend upon special Act of Parliament, and which all anglers willingly obey.

But the right of any riparian proprietor to claim theRiver adjacent to his bank as his own, and to warn anglers off it, cannot be for a moment seriously maintained. Such a free fishery" could only have been acquired by Royal Grant given as one of the flowers of the Royal Prerogative" before the date or Magna Charta itself and it need hardly be pointed out that there is not a single proprietor ou the whole banks of the Thames who can trace liis titles and privileges back to such a date. None the less these rights have been asserted and riparian owners have endeavoured to eat up the Thames itself in much the same fashion as Lords of the Manor have eaten up our old common land. It is affirmed that some of the landowners on the Bide of the River have sot up a claim to the proprietorship of tho by-streams, the back waters, and the weir tails and whilst one has Laid claim to a part of the Old Thames itself, just above Cliefden a port not now used for navigation another has laid claim to miles above Oxford, charging a toll for each day's angling. Another riparian owner, it is asserted, has laid down the rulcthnt no boat hasa right on tho Upper Thames except for the purposes of navigation, and that for any time longer than is necessary for navigation the persons in the boat are subject to penalties.

Neighbouring Justices, it is asserted, havo convicted persons of the offence of fishing in tho waters of tho Thames claimed by their neighbours, and a widespread spirit of discontent on the subject is declared to be prevalent, not in London only, but along the whole Valley of tho Thames. If this be indeed the ease, we can very well trust the various Thames Angling Clubs to protect their interests. Thames Anglers are, as a rule, prosperous citizens, who can afford to gratify their love of the gentle sport without much regard for the balance of a few stray shillings. When lob-worms have to be fetched from Nottingham, where thoy are specially bred for piscatorial purposes, when the swim has to be regularly baited two or three days in advance, and a punt with attendant Oh aeons has to be hired, and rooms have to be taken at the village inn, and a railway journey hazarded, with all its concomitant small expenditure, it is clear that the man who can devote a whole day to tiie capture of three or four barbel, and perhaps a dozen or so of perch and roach, must be, in his way, an enthusiast Enthusiasts are always difficult people to deal with. (Rectsr's Tzleqium.) KAGUSA, Dso.

The International Fleet disperses to-morrow. The British Squadron will proceed to Malta, the French to Toulon, the Russian to the Piraeus, the Italian to Brindisi, and the German to Trieste. (Br Telegraph. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) VIENNA, Fbioat Nioht. The Naval Demonstration is at an end.

The International Fleet will be dispersed to-morrow or the day after. Such are the facts cniifirmed to-day by the Austrian Foreign Office. The Btop was agreed to by all the Powers without excoption. Notwithstanding that the collective Maritime Intervention of the six Groat Powers in favour of Montenegro is thus at an end, there are some diplomatic personages in this capital wljo are prepared to hear of one or two Powers agreeing to continue without interruption their common action in the East, although henceforth they wUl be unsupported by their recent allies. The vessels of the Powers in question, it is thought, may not impossibly be still kept together.

THE GREEK QUESTION. (By Telegraph. (from our special correspondent.) ATHENS Fiudav Night. Tho leader of tho Opposition, M. Triooupis, proved yesterday, in the sitting of the Chamber, that before the Conference the Greek cause was practically lost, the Beaconsfield Government having had no serious inteution to carry out tho 13th Protocol of the Berlin Treaty and the essential point, namely, the question of Janina, had been sacrificed even by the promoter of Greek interests at the Congress, M.

Waddington himself. M. Tricoupis brought forward unanswerable arguments that Janina is parexcdltnce a Greek city, that it is important in every respect that tho city should belong to Greece, that this question constitutes the main portion of the dispute, that its transfer is indispensable to the proper settlement of the frontier and that if Janina is excluded no other solution will acceptable to Greece. RH This declaration was especially provoked by the rumour that has been spread lately tliat certain Powers are about to suggest a solution of the differences between Turkey and Greece which will leave Janina to Turkey. The mmour has thrown the Greeks into a fever of excitement M.

Tricoupiss speech, brilliant and energetic as it was, since it will compel the Government clearly to avow its intentions, will provoke a new series of recriminations, out of which the Government has not much chance of emerging victoriously. Among other Government projects is one for reforming the present land-tax system, which the majority of the House is almost sure to reject M. Tricouphi prophesies the fall of the Government in twenty days. The Charge d'Atfaires representing Turkey at this Court, Melik Effendi, has left suddenly for Constantinople, having been recalled by his Government in consequence of a scandal in which he has been mixed up here in a gambling house. (By Telegraph.) (from our special correspondent.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Fkidat NlOHT.

The leading Turkish paper, the Vakii, alleges that the outcome of the Ministerial Councils on the Greek Question will be a Note to the Powers, calling attention to the threatening attitude of the Hellenic Kingdom. But if the Porte know the facts as well as they ought to do, the Greek armaments need not really cause any alarm. The latest official figures from the War Office at Athens show that the strength of all arms was barely thirty-eight thousand. The date of this figure is less than a fortnight ago, when the Greek enthusiasts already imagined that there were aeventy thousand men under arms. (By Telegraph.) (teou our own correspondent.) COPENHAGEN, PttinAY.

Private information received here from Greece fully corroborates the information from Athens published by The Standard. I liave the best reason to believe tliat the King, acting with Ins usual candour, and in the most perfect concord with the Cabmet and the wishes of the nation, has plainly informed the Ambassadors that if at the latest by the 1st of March the territory allotted to Greece by the Berlin Treaty be not handed over, Greece will pass the Rubicon, the state of the Exchequer and of the popular feeling making extreme measures an absolute necessity' for the sake of tho dynasty and the country. (By Telegraph.) (from ovr qvts co-respondent.) VIENNA, Fridat Niqht. Both the Greek and the Bulgarian Governments deny that they have been in communication with reference to the plan imputed la them of bringing about a simultaneous rising against the Turks. Here implicit faith is not placed in the denial According to my information, there is, however, no doubt that the most active negotiations are at present going on among the Powers upon the Greek Question.

From Lord Rosebery'a sarcastic description of M. Barthelemy St Hiiaire it is concluded that the attempts of the English Radicals to draw France along with them have proved failures. It is, however, affirmed tliat Au-tro-Hungary, France, and Genu any are now pursuing a common policy towards Turkey and Greece. As an eminent statesman remarked to me to-day, "The great aim of thethreePowersinques-tion is the maintenance of peace. Hence the attempts wluoh have been made to reduce the hopes and the expectations of the Greeks within reasonable limits, and to induce them to be content with an instalment Hence, too, on the other hand, the pressure which is being brought to bear on the Porte in order to move that Power to make the largest possible concessions." (By Telegraph.) (KROil OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ROME.

VtSDAX NlOHT. The Dh itto officially denies tho statement that France, England, Austria, and Germany havo negotiated respecting tho Greek Question. It iB equally untrue that Greece is determined to 6ght, if the Fleet is not Bent to Yolo, Salonica, or Besica. THE COST OF DULCIGNO. (By Telegraph.) (from ocr own correspondent.) VIENNA, FaiuAr Nioht.

Now that the Dulcigno difficulty is practically disposed of it would be curious to know what has been its cost to tho Great Powers. It is calculated that the Naval Demonstration has caused them directly an expenditure greater than would havo sufficed to purchase the entire interest of the Porte and Albanians in the territory under dispute, while the indirect loss to the commercial interests of Europe lias doubtless exceeded the value of the ceded district many times over. Perhaps the friends of Greece may tike the lesson to heart A lump sum, representing, say, three or four years' purchase of the revenue derived from Epirus and Thessaly, would form an offer which the Porte in its bankrupt condition could not long resist It is very unlikely that a war between Greece and Turkey would absorb less money than would induce the Porte peaceably to give up possession of those provinces. (Kkctkr's Telegrams.) CONSTANTINOPLE, DBO. 2.

The Turkish Government has invited the Foreign Delegates, if possible, to commence the delimitation of the new Turco-Montenegrin frontier forthwith. The Delegates have unanimously replied acquiescing in this recommendation, maainueh aft perfect tranquillity now prevails among the inhabitants of the ceded districts. EAGUSA, Dxc. 3. Dervish Pacha has addressed a Circular to the foreign Consuls at Scutari announcing the settlement of the Dulcigno question, and the restoration of order in the ceded district.

THE CZAR. (Bv Tkleouaph.) (FROM OUR BPKClAX CORREflPOIf DENT.) ST. PETERSBURG, FajDAT. The Emperor arrived here this morning, accompanied by Count Melikoff. After stopping, as usual, at tbe Kasan Cathedral for a few minutes his Majesty drove, in a close carriage, to the Winter Palace, (Br Telegraph.) (FROM OI'R OW.V CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Fkioat Nrc.HT.

The question Tin Standard asks in its leader to-day, Are we have another Naval Demonstration 1" is one to which an answer ia anxiously expected here. The Government says no, but M. Gambetta says yes. In to-day Dfbat John Lemoinne rebukes his countrymen for an ignoble love of peace at any price, which he reminds them thoy did not entertain when he and some of his readers were younger than they are now, namely, when Louis Philippe was King, and when M. Lemoinne will forgive me for calling to his recollection, the acific policy at any price of M.

Guizot had no warmer admirer than the journal of which he was then nu ornament, as he is now. M. Lemoinne says For the old stagers in politics and polemics, for those who witnessed the ardent and often violent contests which were formerly oueht ontin the Chambers ou foreign affairs, the siectAck- offered us to-day was a strange change of soene. Oh reminiscences of the evacuation of Ancona, tho United States Indemnity, the Pritchard affair, and others, what has become of you Do you recollect that superb master of his art, M. Bcrryer, whose eloquence had at the same time the vivid brightness and rapidity of lightning, and behind whom tbe President (old Dupin), while pre tending to call him to order, whispered, on, Bcrryer Do you remember the greatest of our classic orators, whose name was Guizot Do you remember his sr-pwlchrally pale face and bis attitude like a lioness at bay facing her furious adversaries Ah, in those days mfjedictions were hurled against tbe cowardice of the Goiernment, against the system of peace at any price.

IWnisters were then impeached for not liaving set fire to ti four corners of Europe 1 The King, Louis Philippe, hid loved peace too truly, and he died of it. Now when are present at the sittings of tbe Chambers we rub oir eyes and inquire if really we are in the same country, in iR. same hall. Good old M. Bescherelle must feel qttj as astonished as we do.

Oh, the warmth and anion- of yore, whither have you fled? To-day Ministers near being impeached, and why For havingapproochea too near the fire, and for having risked burning their fingers. They are licensed of high treason, and why? For having sent a few ironclads to make a Platonic demonstration in front of a little fort only recently discovered by geographers and yet orders were issued prohibiting a single shot being fired. Yes, this is true, but after all, to use au old adage, tbe cannons might hare gone off all alone. Theysbonld not havo been exposed to such a temptation. And this is what we have come to Certainly we are staunch partisans of peace, there is no need to say so, but wc ore of opinion that it is not necessary to proclaim it so loudly.

The French character seems to us somewhat to resemble tbe circus tider wbo can never succeed in placing himself in tbe saddle, and wbo no sooner jumjwj up on one side than he foils over ou the Other. Alas, on heating tho Minister of Foreign Affairs, alluding to the Congress, pronounce tbe wonls We wentr to we could not banish from our mind those sinister cries of A Berlin' which led us to Sedan. But to-day we sin by a contrary excess. We no longer cry either 1 A Berlins or A Fekin. Oh, no we cry A la Marmite A 7a Soupe They want to moke France, the Franco of History, sit for the portrait of Lucre tia watching over the fireside and spinning wooL Well, truly, if this cold fit continues much longer we shall end by making ourselves ridiculous, and shall become the laughing-stock of the whoi universe.

Tea, we desire peace tliat is quite understood. Ko, we will have no more adventurous enterprises that is equally well understood. But we must not use and abase our declarations of peace any more than our declarations of war. Wisdom must not degenerate into platitudes. Let us tako care not to exchange the cliaracter of Don Quixote on his lank steed for that of Sancho Panza on bis ass and after liaving been perhaps too much like kings errant in politics, we must avoid becoming nothing but grocers and shopkeepers." TILE JEWISH PERSECUTION, (By Telroraph.) (from our own" correspondent.) BERLIN, Fridat NlGHt.

Another Jewish debate to-day excited the Prussian Lower House. Herr von Ludwig, an eccentric member of the Absolutist Party, moved for a full list to be made up of all those who had a hand in establishing Joint-Stock Companies in 1871 and 1872. 31ost of these, he contended, were Jews and swindlers. Privy Councillor Herr Furth opposed the motion in the name of tlie Government There was no need, he said, for classifying financial entrrpronenrs according to their religion. Herr Rickert, the Liberal leader, took the trouble to combat the assertion of Herr von Ludwig that all Joint-Stock Companies are swindles.

Professor Virchow protested against the Absolutists mingling ethnological principles with their political theories. Very many of the supposed Germans present, he said, were Slavs by descent yet their rantings had begun to turn students heads and influence the ignorant, who were always but too delighted to discover some specious reason for self -exaltation. Herr Stocker, the Chaplain, off ered to mention privately the names of those who had signed the Mommson Declaration and yet had dabbled in Joint-Stock Companies. Herr Struve retorted that he despised all Pharisees and calumniators, and that he thought it a cowardly act on the part of the Rev. Herr StOcker vaguely to accuse gentlemen in public and then offer to mention their names in private.

Hero Herr Struve was interrupted by a tremendous tumult. Tho outcries heard while it lasted throw but too glaring a light upon the passions roused by the meek Chaplain and his politic friends. At last Herr Struve wus able to go on, and he said that the members of the oldest nobility had been specially mixed up with babble concerns, and that he thought it his duty to repel the invectives uttered by their defenders. Upon this fresh outcries and recriminations ensued. Herr Virchow then stated that Herr Stdcker, with reference to a previous utterance of his, had been asked by a Member, before the sitting, to mention the names in question privately, and that he had declined to do so.

Tbe like calumnies, he added, were being daily circulated by the leading paper of the gentlemen interested in supporting the so-called financial reforms that formed the characteristic stigma of the present sensational period. The proprietor of that paper was a member of the Party and a member of the House. Herr Stocker said he had promised to mention the names though he had not yot actually done so. Herr von Ludwig then withdrew his motion, when the subject was allowed to drop. A PARALLEL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD. Sir, I have been reading with much interest Lord Granville's Despatches to Mr. Goschen. In one dated "Foreign Office, Oct. 2, I End tho following words Your Excellency iB aware from the reports which have been received tliat the state of the country in Korth-East Albania is little Bhort of anarchy.

The Turkish officials are powerless to execute ustico murder, violence, nud forced exactions are prevalent, and tlvo peaceable population is ut the mercy of the armed Committees who, under the name of the Albanian League, have been allowed to assume absolute authority." If a Turkish Statesman were to write as follows Your Excellency is aware from the reports which havo been received that the state of Ireland is little Bhort of anarchy. The English officials are powerless to execute justice murder, violence, and forced exactions are prevalent, and the peaceable population is at the mercy of the armed Committees who, under the name of the Land League, have been allowed to assume absolute authority," would he not very accurattdy describe the present state of aifairs in a great part of Ireland I am Sir, your obedient servant, A IRISH PEER December 2. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD. Sltt, Some of your readers may probably recollect the contrivance to which tho murderers of Kiog Edward II. reported in order to prevent any external marks of violenoe oa his body betraying the secret of his death.

Well, Hir, this infernal contrivance lnxs bcrn lately resorted to, as I heard last night on the Ik st. authority, by some Irish peasant I or peasants in order to destroy a cow without i hrtinyin that it had been lone by human hands. The i of a hue now dying without any apparent led to it being opened, on which the contrivance was drteoted, the only difference being that a stake armed with rusty noils bad been substituted for the red hot iron. I am, Sir, your obethent servant, ,4 December 2. An interesting case has been tried before the Higher Court of Tribunal of Paris, in which M.

Constats, the Minister of the Interior, was practically the Prosecutor, and Monsignor Cotton, Bishop of Valence, the Defendant. The Bishop was accused, in terms of Clause 222 of the Penal Code, of liaving outraged by word of month the honour or high-mindedness of the Minister of State and for this offence, had tho Court not acquitted him, he would have been bable to suffer from one month to two years of imprisonment It appears that the Department of the Interior issued a Circular referring to the dismissal of certain Jesuit Professors from seminaries under Episcopal control, and that this Circular enragod Monsignor Cotton. He accordingly indulged himself in vituperative replies, the character of which may be fairly judged by the comment ho made on the threat that if the original Circular were not obeyed the Government would withdraw their subvention from the Training Schools under his supervision. This menace he said he regarded as an insult." It was, he alleged, an attempt to bribe" him. You might," ho wrote, offer us alJ the savings of the President of the Republic and his Ministers all the money which you put into your own pockets and those of your creatures.

I tell you once more that we are not to be bought The hatred of God and the love of gold are closely connected. Let you and your friends gorge themselves with money. The worship of pelf is the characteristic of our Rulers. Tho defence of the Bishop was, that in writing this he had assumed he was writing privately, and tliat he had no idea he was expressing himself in an ofl'eusive manner. The Court did not seemingly accept the first plea, but, apparently, with a keen sense of humour, it held that the second was good.

In effect, it decided that expressions which, coming from anybody with even feeble pretensions to be a gentleman, might be fairly considered coarse, were not to be regarded as offensive when used by an Ultramontane prelate. There is one feature of the case that ought not to be overlooked Notwithstanding the attempts now being made in Franco to purge the Judicial Bench of independent Magistrates, there are still Judges, it seeni3, who are not afraid, even when the Government is Plaintiff in a suit, to decide in favour of the Defendant. According to a telegram which we publish this morning from our Roman Correspondent, a terrible fog round Milan has caused a series of disasters that may frighten Londoners who have not forgotten the experiences of the last few days. Five labourers, it seems, on the Venice and Milan line, in trying to get out of the way of a goods train, were killed by an express train coming in an opposite direction. Their cries were heard, but they themselves were not seen.

Near the Bame place a pointsman was killed a little while after in the same way, and another man, a traveller, also lost his life in a similar manner near Alexandria, on the same night. Italian Railway Officials, it may be, are not accustomed to drive trains in a fog as ours are, and hence it is possible that when they work in the mist they are apt to make all sorts of fatal blunders. Thus we must not assume tliat what has just happened in the North of Italy must necessarily happen in London when theCity aud the Suburban Railway lines are enveloped in a thick unpenetrable veii of yellow vapour, the meshes of which are impregnated with choking sulphurous fumes. In fact, when a dense fog descends on London, it is safer, as a rule, to travel by rail than by any other mode of conveyance and it has always been supposed to be a mystery why accidents in such circumstances happen so seldom. Those who fancy that detonating signals aro an adequate substitute for lights, and who believe that it is to them that we owe an immunity from accidents, would be quickly undeceived by interrogating an experienced engine driver on the subject.

The truth is, that when a fog settles on a Suburban Rail way line it Btrikes a wholesome terror into the hearts of those ivho work the traffic. They are accordingly doubly careful, and sacrifice every consideration to safety. At the samo time, it is hardly possible to hope for absolute immunity from danger when travelling by rail in foggy weather. Some day or other a terrible accident will happen, and then we shall begin seriously to consider whother, if London Fogs are not altogether preventable, something cannot bo done to mitigate their horrors. Modern life is so very apt to be dull tliat the ingenious personages who contrive to brighten it in any way are always sure, in these days, of receiving a liberal appreciation.

The wits and tho humourists, whether they work with pen or pencil those honoured beuefactors of their species who enable the melancholy British publictolaugh and grow fat, havo, of become almost the spoilt children of Society. Even a Statesman of Mr. GinsTONE'tf gravity and earnestness of purpose has a kindly word for the caricaturists who make fun of him. As he reminded us the other day, political strife is apt of itself to engender such angry feelings that we are all glad when a humorous light is thrown upon it. In other words, when men can bo got to laugh at one another they are not in a mood for breaking each others heads.

The issue by the conductors of Punch of a series of collected sketches fi-oui the pens of some of the most brilliant members of its artistic staff reminds us that the work of these true artists possesses elements of enduring interest Mr. admirable drawings, in which the politics of the day are so skilfully chaffed," have, in tho collected form in which they have recently been presented to the public, a genuine historic value. But they are thoughtful rather than merely amusing and the still more recent publication, in volume form of sketches by Mr. Du Maurier and Mr. Charles Keese will interest an equally wide circle, who love to view every-day life from its funny side.

Even persons of culture will perhaps, in so far as they are capable of understanding anything so vulgar as a joke, unbend in an unwonted smile when they find the mirror held up to the eccentricities of the school, tho Chaperon of which is Mrs. Oimabub Brown, and whose prophets are those illimitable Messrs. Mauple and Posthel-mwArra But for those who live in communion with natural, folks, Mr. Charles Keene's volume of sketches, felicitously styled Our People," will be a constant source of delight. It is not too much to say that if the late Mr.

Lef.i has a successor, he is to be found in, Mr. Keexk. Both artiBts have the same vivid sympathy with the every-day life around thorn, the same quick insight into its foibles, the same deft power of sketclung its follies, and making most exquisite fooling out of its weaknesses, and even its meannesses. The laugh they raise leaves never a sting belund it then' satire, even when it encroaches on low comedy, is ever free from any taint of coarseness or any trace of bad taste. If proof were wanted of the great advance which Our People" have made in good manners and good taste within the present ecntury, it would be afforded by a comparison of a volume of Gilray's sketches with that in which Mr.

Kekne has now ombalmed the more felicitous specimens of his work. We have received a telegram from our Correspondent at Teheran, stating that a mistake occurred in the news sent from Urumiah, and that it is Persian regiments, not Russian, wliich are moving against the sous of the Sheik Abdullah. Sir F. Roberts has accepted an invitation to dine with the Mayor of Liverpool oa the 3d of aext month, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND THE CPIURCH. (By Telegraph.) (from ocr own correspondent.) PARIS, Fridat Night.

The Higher Correctional Tribunal of Paris to-day witnessed a novel sight A French Prelate, Monsignor Cotton, Bishop of Yalence, was placed in the dock on the charge of insulting tho Government In July, M. ConstanB, Minister of the Interior and Public Worship, sent a circular to the Bishops enjoining them to dismiss all Jesuits employed as professors in the clerical training Bchools, designated as scminaircs, wliich are placed under episcopal superintendence. Tho Bishop of Valence replied by a letter which gave offence to the Minister, and though it was not made public at the time, and has not been pubb'shed since, M. ConstanB decided toprosecute the Bishop, on the ground tliat insults against the Government, eveu though not made public, come under Clause 222 of the Penal Code, which runs thus "When one or mor? Mogixtraie of the Administrative order or the order shall, in the discharge of their duties, or on the occasion thereof, have aufftAined some outrage by word of mouth tending to affect their honour or their kigh-raindednettt, the person guilty of that offence shall be pimUbcd with imprisonment from one month to two years," It is hardly to be supposed that whfen that Clause was framed it was ever intended that it should be applied to a Bishop for writing a letter to a Minister, especially as there was no publication but thiB circumstance only renders the case more significant. Under a law of 1810, the Bishop was tried by the Court of Correctional Appeal, another illustration of the boasted principle of equality.

The Bishop wore the undress costume of the Members of the French Episcopacy, and was attended by three Counsel, M. Beranger, a Senator, de la Bouillane, and M. Robinet de Clery. In answer to the President, the Defendant stated that his name was Alexander George Cotton, that he was fifty-five years old, and that his profession was that of a Bishop at Valence. The following conversation ensued The President.

Monseigneur, yon have road the charge against you in the summons which you received have you any explanations to offer 7 The Bishop. I wish, in tho first place, to point out thit I never bad any intention of giving offence to the Minister or the Secretary of State. I may possibly have used somewhat strong expressions hut to insult the Minister or any one else never entered my thoughts. The letter which I am reproached with was addressed to M. Fallierea, Under Secretary of State, and it was not intended to be communicated to M.

Constona, tho Minister of the Interior. I had been receiving from the Ministry letters marked 11 private or eontidential they related to matters connected with the mmfamira I have also received a letter which appeared to be couched in very extraordinary language, which infringed, and indeed entirely ignored, canonical rights. It was quite evident to me that the matter must end badly but after all, when I wrote to M. Fallieres, I did not suppose my letter would he laid before his cbijf, Constans. The President.

I would call your attention to the fact that several letters had pasted between yon and M. Fallicres, and that contrary to what you have just been saying, you must have very well known that you were in communication with the Minister, as well as with his Under Secretary of State, and you must surely have seen that they had an official character. The Bishop. These letters were marked private and confidential," and I did not publish them, or my answers, in tho newsjiapers. The President.

You cau understand, Monseigneur, that if such letters were sent to the nnwspapers there would be an end to all administration. The rrocoreur General, M. Senator Dauphin, then rose for the prosecution. He wished to express himself with the deference due to a dignitary of tho Church, but lie had an imperative duty to discharge, and he would carry it out unmncbingly. That duty was to make it plain tliat the Government matt be respected, and that those entrusted with the work of the Government and the administration of the law could not bo insulted with impunity.

That was a fundamental principle, and those who were tempted to ignore or disregard it mtut bo compelled to respect it. The Right Keverend Defendant alleged that his letters wure private and confidential, that they were not published, and that they were not intended to be read by the Minister himself. He was sorry to say that this plea was disingenuous. The Defendant must have known that a eorrespon douce on such a subject mr.st come under the notice of the Secretary of State. He also knew that it was not necessary that an offensive letter should be addressed to the person whom it was calculated to offend to come within the opera tion of the law tt was.

sufficient that the person offended should see the letter. The correspondence betweeu the Bishop and the Under Secretary of State Fsllieres commenced on the 6ih of August, and closed on the 14th October by the letter which led to this prosecution. The Procureur GiWral went through this corripondence srrmtim. M. L'alHuries had written to the Ebdiop in October tliat if the Jesuit Professors were not turned out of the seminaries the Government would withdraw its subvention to those establishments.

The Bkhop replied in one letter, Ptcunia tecum jxreat. We are not to be bought or the Cnder Secretary called upon hhn to furnish a list of his professors, nud to this tho Bishop replied I know of no law tliat warrants your asking such quostions. You are neither my confessor nor my confidant, and I have no confidence in you. If I were to ask you If you were a Freemason or an Internationalist you would tell me that that was no business of mine. You have used liberty as a stepping-stone to power there is no liberty, civil and religious, that you do not oppress.

Is not that the height of evnicism and bad faith You have tb roe times threatened to suppress the subvention pray do not repeat that menace I regard it as an insult. You might offer us all the savings of the President of the Republic, and his Ministers all the money which you pnt into your own jackets and those of your creatures I tell you once more we are not to be bought. The hatred of God and the love of gold are closely connected. Let yon and your friends gorge themselves with money tho worship of polf is the characteristic of our rulers." The Procureur General earnestly urged the Court to sentence tho Bishop not to imprisonment, but to a fine, however small, that judgment would have a great moral effect. M.

Robinet do Clery made a powerful speech, in the course of which he quoted Pension's letter to Louis and made a point by remarking that it wr.s odd that under the Republic M. Conetans should exact (rreater respect from the Episcopacy than tbe Grand Monarquc. The Court acquitted the Bishop of Valence, on the ground that in writing the letters he had no offensive intentions, and dismissed the suit without costs. THE DANUB1AN COMMISSION. (By Teleobjlth.) (FBOM OCR OWN COttRKSPONDENT.) VIENNA, Fbiuat Niaor, The Porte has withdrawn its protest against the admission of a Bulgarian Representative to tile Danubian Commission, but without prejudice to her rights in other cases.

The Commission is accordingly shortly expected to assemble. It is very uncertain whether satisfactory agreement can be come to, and an adjournment is very probable. RUSSIA AND THE POWERS. (Rkuter's Telegram.) ST. PKTEHSnURG, Dec.

3. The Ayenee Itnsne. to-day publishes a declaration, to which considerable importance is attached in political circles. Replying to tho criticisms of the Russian Press respecting tho attitude of Austria, France, and Germany, the semi-official organ says All the Powers are equally desirous of peace, and it is natural enough that there should exist some differences of opinion as to the best means of assuring it in view of the state of public feeling in the East. Russia has shared and still shares the view of England, but places altove her own preferences the maintenance of the European Concert, which is the sole guarantee of peiicv.

She will therefore declare herself in favour of the course most conducive to that result" ua ne preterrea death to serving hve years in arm-. 1 law nn nfM tn.jln. oraiiiay case Qf ejj abduction. Five years ago a yog woman gave birth to a daughter si the house vT nud wife in the Rue Montmartre. A few weeksftcr the father was informed that the child had 1.

The burial took place in due course, ana nothing more was thought of the matter till tht other day when to some private quarro. a cousin of the younj? woman disclosftd the thaT a dead been substituted forth4ivin whjdl WM sold to a wealthy but for three hundred thousand francs, hj-divided between the midwife the mother. The young woman, who has sine, been livin a villa at Auteuu on the proceeds oe sale has been arrested, and the police are to on the track of her acconrplice. The Gauloi- lias received a upon M.Jules Simon's manuscript work the 16th May, wliich he has not yet publhu This journal says that, without being too discreet, it can affirm that if M. Jules Simort keeps his manuscript under lock and key, and hides it from all inquisitive eyes, even from his most intimate frieuds, the ex-Prime Minister in this only gives proof of more patience, and kind-heartedness than are usually possessed by Party men.

Among the numerous anecdotes extracted from M. Jules Simon's book, the follow-ing is ne th- must piquant MM It was a little before the 16th May, and a Cabins! Council was to be beld at tbe Elyu'e. Before ths sitting tbe Marshal took M. Jules Simon aside, and aid Do you know that M. Gambetta boa caused me to be informed of bis desire to be presented to meT In a few words, tin's is what bos happened.

M. Dnelcro came to me unofficially to tell me that on a certain day and hour M. Gambetta would be Walking in a certain alley of tbe Bois de Boulogne, that he would be glad if I would arrive in my carriage, get out, and meet faun as if by chance. It appears Gambetta fears that bis with certain individuals of his Party would be compromised if he came ta the Elysee. The proposif tion seemed to me rather laughable.

Upon ay v. mi. why did he not at once ask me to pnt on a false noes 1 like Emile OUivier at pat in M. Tuls Simon. And what answer did you give, Monsieur le Maruchal Why, I refused, parbiea Ho I rather regret that I cannot find myself ace to face wit the man.

Vrtaiu sides of his character please me, Gambetta is for war with Germany, and so am 1 A new ballet La Korrigane tho libretto by M. Coppee, the music by M. Widor, has boon-brought out at the Opera last night, and proved a great success. The subjeotis well adapted fora ballet. It is a kind of Tarn o' Shanter story Kerrigans in Brittany, as in Cornwall, are wicked fairies, who dance to death any rash mortal that intrudes upon their mystic evolutions.

There 1 is a love story introduced as a matter of course, and the lovers are ultimately made happy. The music is extremely pretty the dancing of Mdlle. Mauri is the best thing we have had here since Cerito. NEWS FROM ROME. (Bv Telegraph.) (FROM OUR OWN COK RESPONDENT.) HOME.

FbIDaT KlQRT. A terrible fog around Milan has caused a series of lamentable disasters. Five labourers on tbe Venice-Milan line were, while escaping from a goods train which they had heard but not killed by an equally unseen express running in a contrary direction. Shortly afterwards a pointsman was killed at no great distance from the scene of the former accident, and tho raiub night a poor traveller was sirailarly killed near Alexandria. A strict inquiry into the causes of the fire at Naples is being made.

Nothing is yet known, with certainty, but tho appearances are very ugly. The general opinion in Naples points to the crime of arson. THE EARTHQUAKES AT AGRAM. (Bv Telegraph.) (FROM OUR OWN VIENNA. Fridat NtOHT.

Shocks of earthquake still continue to be felt at Agram, but they are fortunately comparatively slight, and liarmless. Tho shocks are accompanied as if by the roll of distant artillery. This subterranean thunder is very powerful, and is heard up in the mountains of Agram. The want and distress of the population continue undiminished. No fewer than six hundred Agram families have taken refuge in the city of Laibach, the capital of Carinthia.

The inhabitants of the Latter place have ronderod the poor Croats what help they could but they complain that this sudden accession to their population has sent an house rents, and for the time considerably raised the price of the most necessary articles of food. GERMANY. (By Telegraph.) (PROU oil: OWN CORRESPONDENT.) BERLIN. FaroAT Night. Baron Friesen, late Saxon Minister of Foreign' Affairs, in a letter to the Drtsden Journal protests against the vacillation imputed to him by an inspired print as characterising his conduct in the critical period of July, 1870.

All the statements to the contrary put forward by the Grcnzbxitrn, Herr von Friesen says, are so many deliberate inventions and falsifications of tha truth, which perhaps bad been better avoided in the interest of the anonymous author. That is a nice supplement to the perfectly harrowing in-cidonts of the last few weeks, "rVhy the inspired attack was made is unknown, but may be guessed from the failure of recent designs. The Lowe Magazine Rifle assumes an importance of political magnitude. Great as it was ut the time, the progrens made by the adoption of the needle gun appears small in comparison the results obtained by the new invention. The extreme rapidity of the fire, which at first was supposed to constitute the one rjaerit of the apparatus, in a new series of experiments lia been discovered to form only one, and this not the greatest, of the advantage gained.

To the astonishment of exports, the apparatus very considerably steadies the aim and Ulcreasos the capacities of the soldier's arm. At a distance of six hundred metres a column target fired at by a company ranged in two files, the other day, showed the marts ot ninety-nine per 1 cent of the bullets discharged. Thirty-six figure i targets ranged in a broken line at a distance of lour uunoren metres wer uy eignty-nve per cent of the bullets fired. It is true the experiments were carried on by a crack ride company but as the above results were secured during the quickest of quick fire, the terrible effect of the new arm in battle may be easily imagined, Ireland," says Mr. Bence Jones, in his excellent paper in the new number of Macmiitan, liko all other countries, contains good and bad of all classes." This is an undeniable generality, but (as Mr.

Jones would be tho first to admit) tho good and bad Irishman are neither of them precisely the equivalents of tho good or bad Englishman of their class and in proposing to ourselves to aid the good and discourage the bad, it is highly desirable that some margin for these essential differences should be allowed. We have all heard, till we are rather sick of him, of the Irishman as he appears in the songs of Mooke, the novels of Loveu, the plays of Mr. Dion BouciOAtnr, and tho essays of M. Kkxan on tho I'ofoU de la- hate Velthjue. Between this poetical being, who, as M.

Kknan says, has such a thirst for "tho Infinite," thut, when he can reach it no other way, he seeks it through wut liqueur forte qui sappclk and tho vulgar and noisy braggart to whom is addressed in this country the notice 2lo Irish need apply," we usually compose in our minds a somewhat hoterodite ideal. Wo figure to ourselves the Irishman in his native land as deficient in the sterner qualities of prudence, steady industry, and unbending veracity but, ou the other hand, of a charming simplicity of character and winning disinterestedness and kindliness. Ko is, jxtr emhtcnee, that mythical persouage who is nobody's enemy but his own." It would be worth while for some historical critic to investigate whence is derived the deep-rooted superstition concerning "pastoral simplicity'" which always causes the inhabitants of great cities to depict to themselves the dwellers in remote districts as simple minded and true hearted in proportion as they are removed from the centres of civilisation. Were this really casot it would be a bad omen for the future civilisation itself but, in fact, it is a ridiculous jhistake. Noxbonn ViUitypuU, all tho world over, instead of being moro simple, are astute, self-interested, and cunning (though in an ignorant fashion) to a degree which the sharpest townsman rarely rivals.

The solitudes of pastoral and agricultural life are not by any means peopled with the sweet dreams of a Theocritus or a but with shrewd aud wily schemings and devices concerning such things as wills and leases, bargains and jobs. The Irish small farmer or labourer is, in this respectjprobably no worse thanthoFrench7iH Out it is a great mistake to suppose that he is at all wore simple, though he is far less frugal audsolf-deuyingthan either ho, or his own nearer Welsh or Scottish Celtic cousins. He combines, in hort, in a way which it is difficult for John to realise, the qualities of vulpine cunning and extreme imprudence. The old Irish prorerb, jWa a'u dif, uixge QmaracJt (wine to-day, water tomorrow), te the very motto of Iub life, bo far as is concerned the disposition to take the goods which the gods (or any other benefactors) provide for him on the spot, and without any narrow forethought 'or the next day not to speak of the next year. Even to bow his field in proper time for a harvdst not to be gathered for six months is an act of fmth and prevision which he is not always Prepared to accomplish, much less to lay by anything for the rainy day," unless indeed, as hi detractors have unkindly remarked, it bo his haymaking.

He is disqualified constitutionally from projecting his imagination sufficiently into the future to realiso what he will 0eed when that future becomes the present so ahapi y-go-lucky way he tru.sts,likoMr, "something will turn up" when the time Comes, ami set him straight without any painful Preliminary self-denial on his own part. But this improvidence and recklessness, which we familiarly recognise as the typical Irish character, is, as we have said, by no means incompatible with a degreo of cunning, craftiness, and ubtlety which would enable him, at a trial, to beat tbe cautious and prudent English yeoman hollow. Thua the country suffers doubly from the improvidence of that clas which in France and eWwherc, is frugal and thrifty as the inhabitants an ant-hill; and also from the endless, illimit-aWe jobbery which goes forward and turns overy honest English law aud Institution Poor kaws, Juries, Laud Laws, plans of relief and charitaHe funds into so many machines for defeating the ends of justice, and making jobs ftlld peculations. Mr. Benoe ones says truly Pat the falsehood and scheming which prevail 10 Ireland are the causes of the chief Pat of the present difficulty." Another ctaracteristic of the lower class Irishman hich it is painful to recognise, but of wliich Urgently behoves us not to lose Bight, is the "eility wherewith his bonhommie and gushing may at any moment be transformed into a peculiarly dangerous, half-animal ferocity, "aviog few parallels.

The weak hysterics of ho Celt," of which Mr. Tennyson speaks, pass l'ot only from tears to laughter, but also on some and terrible occasions to the roar of tho er springing on his prey. Excitement, widespread and highly wrought, is, of course, lMle to bring forth this terrible 1Jment in human nature, as Paris has witnessed gain and again but no half-maniac petrvleuse more to bo feared than an Irishman Hoae habitual good humour suddenly uro from him. revoalim? nassions of hate ct cruelty which have hitherto lain dormant a great massacres of the seventeenth heaven knows what, to the acre which was to be re-settled." In short, whoever dreams that any schome which human ingenuity can devise, beginning by dissolving existing contracts and abolishing the rights of present proprietors, will settle the Irish Land Question so as to introduce a millennium of peace and fraternity among Irishmen, will do ureU to renounce the pleasing illusion. Such a settlement Would inevitably suggest to ten thousand Irishmen the justice of asserting their claims to every estate in the country.

Ii these claims were ignored, their resentment against the new proprietors especially if belonging to their own class would be more bitter than that which thoy now entertain against the lords of the soil. All lovers of the Anglo, to say nothing of oarsmen, will rejoico to know that there is at last some pn speet the organisation of a Society for the Preservation and Protection of the Rights of the Public to traffic up and down the Upper Thames in other words, tho Thames between Teddington and its source and to fish from its banks aud from boats or punts moored in its waters. These rights havo of late years been seriously threatened, and in some instances actually invaded. First and foremost there lias been tho steam launch nuisance. These per'qiatetic tea-kettles," as one aggrieved angler angrily terms them, have been driven up and down the River at a perfectly reckless rate of speed, injuring the banks, frightening the fish, and swamping the petty traffickers who have as clear a title to the broad highway of the stream as has the owner of the most costly screw steamer that may ovorwlielm them in its wash.

Nor is this all. Forty years ago the right of fishing in theBiverwas practically undisputed. In these days, however, the Thames is preserved with tho most extreme jealousy. Owners of tho bank where a small tributary runs into the adjacent fields, or where there is a weir or a mill tail, or even where a long stretch of private garden extends along the shore, claim the right not only to the occupation and use of the bank itself, but also to the fishery up to the very centre of the stream. The right of the public, wo are told, is limited to that of fishing from the bank, wherever the bank itself is a public towpath or footpath aud this right, it is urged, extends no further than the centre of the River.

Were this contention tenable it would clearly entitle the riparian owner to feuce his own half of the River out with stakes, and so to impede the public right of navigation. If a river be navigable, as the Thames is, then at any part where boats have a right to come and go in tho usual course of traffic, there is also a right of fishory, unless some special Statute or Charter has taken it away. At Colchester, for instance, the Colne is navigable from its mouth at Brightlingsea to some distance beyond Wivenhoe but the right of fishing in tho estuary has been from time immemorial confined to the Colchester freemen. There are many rivers where tho right of navigation is opou to the public, and tho right of fishery preserved for the riparian or other owners. But this has never yet been the case with tho Thames and riparian owners who wish to appropriate not merely the bank of the River, but its very bed, to thrir own personal use, must make out strong case indeed before they satisfy the Courts of Law as to the validity of their claim.

Rights, however, even of the most valuable kind, can sometimes be irretrievably lost if they aro allowed to fall into abeyance. And for this reason, if for none others, it is grati-fyiug to learn that the final outcome of a public meeting recently held, and largely attended by well-known anglers and oarsmen, i likely, as wo have said, to be the formation of a Thames Preservation and Protection Society, sufficiently provided with the sinews of war to enable it to watch the strictest legal rights, not of its own members oidy, but of the public at large. From time immemorial, as one of the speakers at the meeting moat aptly reminded his audience, Englishmen have enjoyed the undisputed right of traveUine, of fishing, and of following what ever business they may have had to do on the River Thames without let or hindrance. Long before there was any made highway, the River itself was the one great hiuh way of all. Indeed, since the history of the world first began its course, rivers have always been the predecessors of roads, and it has been upon their banks that the world great cities have grown And if the various Thames Angling Clubs choose to co-operate and to institute a steady legal warfare against the riparian proprietors who claim the fishing as their exclusive right, and, on the other nana, the launch owners, who have made, or soon will make, fishing impossible for anybody, there is little doubt that they will come off victors in the contest The National Rifle Association have, none too soon, promulgated a Scheme drawn up by the Council for the prevention of fraudulent practices at future Wimbledon Meetings.

The mere publication of such a document, coupled with the letter lately written by the Council to Private B-untz, of the London Rifle Brigade one of the principal exposers of the late scand .1" is a recognition of the fact tliat, although no person has been brought to justice, certain practices have prevafled at Wimbledon that never nave existed, but which, having been discovered, must be effectually stamped out. The Scheme itself promises welL It deals with most of the points which, since tho revcLatious of July last, have exercised the minds of practical Riflemen but it is in no sense put forward as a final arrangement. As it stands, it will undoubtedly cause a larger number of officers to be employed, and it may become a question whether it will not be necessary to ask olunteers to uudertake some of the duties indicated. The mere checking of the scores between the black board and the tickets will cause a large amount of work, to say nothing of the extra duty entailed upon somebody of marking the scores upon the board, That butt Serjeants and markers should be told aft independently everybody will agree, while the arrangement at present foreshadowed, of squadding competitors to "butts" instead of target seems calculated to break down any fraudulent arrangement that might be devised. One of the most important features, however, appears to be the proposed check on the marking by an officer placed in a mantlet and watching a certain number of targets, at the same time being in direct telegraphic communication with the firing points.

The duty of these officers, it is assumed, will be to watch not only the marking generally, but any particular target, when called upon to do ho from the firing point to signal any hits that may have been overlooked by the markers, and to re-signal the value of disputed shots when challenged. The fact of not allowing a shot to be oludlenged has always been a sore point at Wimbledon, and this concession will undoubtedly bo much valued. It will probably be combined with a Bmall fine for an ineffectual protest against the signalling of a shot, but a rule that has worked so well in such large meetings as those of Middlesex is hardly likely to break down at Wimbledon. One apparently trivial matter, but which will probably cause much discussion, is that all colouring of sights with anything but plain black is to be discontinued, aud therefore we shall see no more of those gorgeous rainbow-tinted back and fore sights in which some of our eracks have lately delighted. The foregoing are the mere outlines of the Scheme, which there is plenty of time to consider and amend between now and the next Wimbledon Meeting.

It is, however, a Btop in the right direction, aud whatever may be the exact details settled upon, it is on all hands agreed that if the National Rifle Association of England is to maintain tho.