BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 853, 27 June 1910, Page 11

BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

LONDON SUMMARY. OLIVER CROMWELL'S HEAD. INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. ( London, May 13. Tho licad of 'the Protector, Oliver Cromircll, known as tho "Wilkinson heirloom," has been tho subject of nn intorosting correspondence between Mr. Lewis Ilnrcourt, First Commissioner of Works, and a Cheltenham resident. Tho gcntleuian appealed to Mr. llarcourt to recover tho relic and re-inter it in Westminster Abbey, from which it was exhumed in IGCI. Mr. llarcourt replied that "at the timo of the late Mr. Wilkinson's death I wrote to the executors to know if .they wore willing to dispose of the so-called 'Cromwell' head, uiul they declined to do so. llavo you any reason to think that they would chungo their minds now?" To this communication the Cheltenham gentleman replied that he was not awaro of any renson which would induce the present Mr. Wilkinson to part with the head, as to the genuineness of which he (tho writer) had very little doubt, and suggested that the State had "a right to redeem that which it originally possessed, if surreptitiously obtained." THE PRICE OF NOVELS. Tho six-shilling novel, which has recently been threatened, will take a fresh lease of life—that is, if authors and publishers' generally accept the conclusions arrived at by tho sub-committee of tho Society of Authors and adopted by the committee of management. These conclusions are the result of months of inquiry amongst authors and booksellers. Tho evidence collected by the sub-committee from authors wns overwhelmingly in favour of adhering to the six-shilling novel. Fiftyfive writers were approached, of whom 47 were opposed to a reduction of price. Tho replies from 2-fcl booksellers were more varied. A majority, however, believed that an original novel of tho ordinary length sold at 2s. or 3s. net would secure a larger circulation, and so compensate for tho reduction in price. Tho sub-committee coneludo by finding that novelists would bo unwise to.allow themselves or their agents to enter into any contract to lower the initial price, but to maintain six shillings as the standard price of issue of new -fiction, save in special cases. ELECTORAL REFORM. The repuil of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into electoral systems has just been published in the form of a. Blue-book. Tho commission states that political considerations enter so largely into many proposals affectiag representation, such as elections on one day, redistribution, and payment of candidates' expenses from public funds, that it has confined their recommendations to systems of election. It recommends the adoption of the alternative vote in cases where more than two candidates stand for one seat, but docs not recommend its application to two-member constituencies. Of schemes for producing proportional representation, the commissioners think that the transferable vote would have tho best chance of ultimate acceptance, but are. unable to recommend its adoption in existing circumstances for elections to the House of Commons. JAPAN-BRITISH EXHIBITION. ■ An interesting display will be made at the Japan-British Exhibition by tho Japan Society, who will exhibit objects which Illustrate the growtli of commercial intercourse and friendship between Great Britain and Japan. These commence with ti volume giving an account of an expedition of five ships which set sail from tho Texel in 1593, and on board of one of which was William Adam;), the first Englishman known to have visited Japan. A model of a ship of this period is shown, as well as a letter written home from Japan by Adams. This letter is accompanied by Hie log of Captain Saris, and several documents relating to tho first attempt of England to establish a trading factory in Japan. There will also bo shown a piece of his Majesty's ship Beagle, in which Charles Darwin made his celebrated voyage, and which wns afterwards purchased by the Japanese Navy and renamed the Kcuko Kwan. A PRIEST'S HEROISM. Six men have been killed in a pit shaft at Woodlesford, near Normanton, owing to tho collapse of one of the sides. ' Tho shaft had been sunk to a depth of 110 ft., and tho men, who were working SOft. from tho surface, were hurled to the pit bottom. One of the men, M'Carthy. was found with one leg forced beneath tho debris and the scaffolding on which ho had been working. Ho was so entangled that to rescue him was impossible. \lfe bore his excruciating pain bravely for several hours, and finally lapsed into delirium and madness. Father Wright, a Roman Catholic priest, obtained permission to descend with a companion, Mr. Pickering. Ho went down tho shaft at great risk from falling stones, and found that besides being packed in masonry to his waist, M'Carthy was up to the chin in water which had accumulated. Mr. Pickering placed his arms round tho man's neck, drew his head on to his breast, and thus M'Carthy died before the heroic priest could administer tho last rites of his Church. TRADE RETURNS. The trade returns for April are very satisfactory, bntlj exports and Imports showing large increases. Tho monthly Board of Trade return gives tho following figures:—lmports, J859.555.ft50 (an increase on the corresponding month of last year of J510.381.G97); exports, .£35,292,215 Can increase of .£6,333,755); and re-exports, JJ11.855.C54 (an increase of .£3,227,618). It must bo remembered, however, that thero wero two more working da 3's in April, 1910, than in April, 1909, a.'i Easier fell in Maieh iii this year. Tho principal gains in manufactured exports aro:—Cotton goods, ■£1,166,091; woollen goods, ,£585,767; and iron and steel goods, ,£735,186. The rise in the price of rubber and row cotton account for some .£4.000,000 of the increase in the imports. EMPIRE TRIBUNAL. Tho Judicial Committee of the Privy Council—the Supreme Tribunal of Empire—has risen for the vacation. It has disposed of all the appeals on its list, although several wero set down as recently as tho first week of April. For a considerable time pust there havo been no arrears in the committee's work, and it is stated that much satisfaction ha=i been Wt in the oversea States at tho speedv manner in which tho appeals havo been dealt with. SUBMARINE'S ESCAPE. Submarino AB, which sank in Cawsand Bav, Plymouth, five years ago, drowning fifteen of tho crew, has had a remarkablo escape from a similar disaster. Tho vessel was-manoeuvring off Plymouth, and in the early part of tho afternoon dived and descended a distance of over 200 f«.t. It was only after considerable difficulty and over an hour's anxious labour that tho boat could bo made to rise. It. is stated that she touched bottom. The crew, eleven in number, had a most exciting and trying experience. After being submerged for nearly an hour, Ihov had the satisfaction of sooin/j the submarine's noso rise, and their pentup feelings found vent in hearty cheers. SOCIETY DIVORCE CASE. After a hearing lasting fourteen days, tho divorce suit brought against his wife by Major llopo Uiddulph, son of a former Governor of Cyprus and of Gibraltar, has ended in a decree nisi being granted to tho petitioner with .CISOO damages, against Mr. Guy Ewen, a King's Messenger, the co-respondent. Tho principal evidence against the wifo and co-respon-dent were their diaries, long extracts i'-om which were read in court. In summing up, the Judge, Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane, said: "Married women and men— whether married or unmarried it docs

not eeorn to matter much nowadays—dine together and go to theatres together. It is ii modern idea, but people must boham themselves, ami it is necessary to sco that there is no indiscretion." DARING JEWEL ROBBERY. A daring jewel robbery has fakon placo at the Hotel Metropole, lirigliton, Mrs. Frederick i. Benson, of Park Lane, tho wife of a city banker, lias been robbed of jewellery worth .£ISOO by a well-dressed burglar, who passed as an hotel guest. While Airs. Benson was absent for a few minutes her room, which was left locked, was entered by means of a diinlicutc key, and the b'.ig containing tho jewel-case was cut open. When she returned everything appeared as usual. The bag was against the wall whore she had left it, but when she took it up slio saw that tho leather had been ripped from end to end. The thief had slopped to empty the smaller cases, which he had thrown back into tho bag, before walking out and coolly mingling again with' the guests.—"Standard of Empire."