LONDON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2989, 24 January 1881, Page 3

LONDON.

January 16

An attempt has been made to fire the Custom House in London, but the plot was discovered in time to prevent the destruction of the place. The plot is understood to be the leault of Fenian agents. A plot to murder Mr Charles Bradlaugb, M.P., has been discovered and frustrated. Hanlan, while going through some training exercises yesterday, slightly sprained his arm. He is reported to be in splendid form, and in no way affected by the slight sprain to his arm. He practises daily in company with Ross, over whom his superiority is so marked that his backers are now freely offering 4tol on bira. Laycock is also in excellent condition, and is reported to be thoroughly game. Both he and his friends are confident that he will pull the great race to the finish. He is reported to be absolutely without any fear of the, result, and tully satisfied win. •> ? > "**..■ Sir John A. M'Donald, the Premier of Canada, has addressed a letter to the miners of Staffordshire remonstratingwith them for bargaining with their employers in connection with liability to accident. In the House of Lords, Lord Lytton, late Viceroy of India, instituted a debate upon the policy of the Government in Regard to Afghanistan, which he severely criticised, Earl Granville warmly defending the policy of the Government. The generalship of General Roberts was highly eulogised from both sides of the House. A prize fight took place at Essex yesterday between two men named Taylor and Longen, which proved to be a very severe encounter. The cambatants fought fifty-two rounds. And the fight lasted an hour and a half. Both men were severely punished. They were very evenly matched, and fought till they could scarcely stand. Longen was fearfully beaten about the face, and was at length so exhausted that he was unable to respond to the call of time. His supporters acknowledged his defeat in the usual fashion, and Taylor was accordingly declared the winner.

In the House of Commons the Solici-tor-General likened the Irish Land League to an octopus, and Lord Hartington declared that the Irish land miscreants stifled the real feelings of the Irish people. The Home Rule members cheered the references made during the debate to the undetected agrarian crimes in Ireland.

The weather continues exceedingly cold and frosty. The bracing atmosphere has stimulated the champion scullers Hanlan and Laycock, whose daily exercises and trials are watched with much interest by a large number of deeply interested persons. The Irish Land League is financially in a flourishing condition, its weekly receipts being £4000. General Grant, the ex-President of the United States, is using his utmost exertions to prevent the construction of the Panama canal as projected by Mr tie Lesseps. He delivered an address denouncing the whole scheme, and recommending , the cutting of a canal through Nicaragua, taking advantage of Lake Nicaragua, instead of across the Isthmus of Panama.