NOTES OF THE MONTH.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 205, 4 February 1875, Page 4

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

{From the Spectator.) Mr Disraeli has written to Sir Henry Rawlinson to say tbat after weighing the reasons given for another Arctic expedition, the Government think so highly of the " scientific advantages to be derived from it," and " the importance of encouraging that spirit of maritime enterprise which has ever diutingnished the English people," that they intend " to lose no time in organising a suitable expedition for the purposes in view." This is a wise decision. If it be true, as the Daily Telegraph Bays, that lightning has never been seen in the region beyond the magnetic pole, it is alt but sure tbat the magnetic phenomena of a successful expedition would yield us new discoveries in magnetic science ; and at all events, the spirit of disinterested nautical enterprise is so nobleas well as dear to England, that a Government which cavilled at the slight cost of fostering it, would thereby prove itself out of sympathy with the nation. According to a letter in, the Times, signed by Mr J. H. James, the Religious Tract Society needs the instruction to be gathered from some of its own tiresome publications. In 1852, Miss Anne Maury, an American lady, published a book called the " Memoirs of a Huguenot Family," which proved very successful. The Religious Traot Society thereupon, without communicating with the author, republished under the same name two-thirds of the book, unaltered, and sold it at half-price, so killing the demand for the original. Though aware that she had no legal redress, Miss Maury, thinking a religious Society would be honester than a secular one, aßked for compensation, and received a refusal, the Secretary alleging, among other excuses, all unfounded, that the practice of American publishers in stealing English copyrights " did not suggest to the Society the duty of making terms" with the American author. In other words, the Society thinks that its breach of the Christian rule which forbids retaliation justifies or palliates a breach of the Eighth Commandment. The secretary ought co have his own tracts read to him steadily for a month, keeping awake the while, The regular conflict in Central Middlesex between the medical and legal professions as to their claims to be considered the fittest coroners has ended in the usual way, the freeholders deciding for the medical candidate. Four persons originally sought the office vacant by Dr Lankester's decease, but these were soon reduced to two—Dr Hardwicke, for many years deputy coroner, and Mr Boulton, a solicitor in very good repute. The contest was close, and as usual we should imagine excessively expensive; but at the close it was understood that Dr Hardwicke had polled 1164 votes, and Mr Boulton 818. There can be little doubt that in the great cities at all events, where so many deaths occur from starvation, parish neglect, and child-murder, the doctors have the best claim, but the method of election is detestable, and that of inquiry not very good. Appointment by the Home Secretary and inquiry through a better jury of six would be far preferable, but there is no great grievance to remove, and the system will, we suppose, continue until we havo County Council! everywhere,