NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2214, 31 March 1881, Page 3

NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL

We take the following items from Home papers, to hand by the Suez mail, which arrived on Wednesday night PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FENIANS.

The " Manchester Guardian " assorts on positive authority that the precautions whioh have recently been taken- in that oity and neighborhood against anticipated violence on the part of the Fenian brotherhood have not been groundless. So recently as January 28th the Manchester police received information, both from the Home Office and the War Department in London, and also from more private sources, that it would be well, in the interests of publio safety, to look carefully after the most important of our municipal and commercial buildings. Particular attention was directed to the guarding of the prisons, the precedent of Olerkenwell demonstrating that a secret and well-organised society with ample means at its disposal would in case of necessity go to desperate lengths in order to further its designs. Acting on this information, Mr Ohas. M. Wood, the acting ohief constable of Manchester, at once prepared to form an adequate protection to places which, in his opinion, were liable to attack. On I January 29th a body of police officers formed a cordon around the Town Hall, and the Boyal Exohange, constables being stationed twenty yards apart, with specific instructions how to act in case aoy alarming occurrence came under their notice. Daring the night a patrol, under the command of an inspector, also visited the "sentries," to see that all was quiet. As other publio buildings, inoluding Hulmo Barracks and Strangeways Prison, had also to be guarded at the same time, the acting ohief-constable found the drain upon his foroe more than it would bear. He accordingly communicated with the Home Office, and the result was that General Cameron, in oommand of the district, dctaohed from the Bth Regiment of Foot, lying in Begent-road Barracks, a guard consisting of a sergeant, two corporals, and twelve privates. These were provided each with five rounds of ball cartridge, and despatched to Strangeways, where they relieved the police on duty round the gaol, and continued to patrol the precincts of the establishment throughout the night. A similar picket was also detached to guard the exterior of the Hnlme barracks in place of the policemen, and these precautions will continue until further orders. In the centre of the city the same spirit of watchfulness has been shown. As usual, the doors by which the publio obtain entrance to the Town Hall are closed at six o'clook, but the iron gate giving access by a subterranean passage to the basement, and which formerly stood open all night, is now strictly closed against all comers after dusk, and no one posses the portal unless his account of his mission within the building is perfectly satisfactory. Almost the whole of the water supplied by the Corporation to the borough of Salford passes through a large main over Blackfriars bridge, and on the Manchester

side is a subterranean apartment containing a "water motor," or machine for regulating the supply. Amongst other wild rumors which have reaohed the police was one detailing a projected outbreak in Salford, whereby the gasworks were to _be blown up and several public buildings set on fire. Simultaneously the water main in Blaokfriars' street was to be destroyed or choked up, the design being to render all efforts for the suppression of fire useless, because of the total stoppage of the water Bupply. Such an improbable tale reooived but little credenoe from the authorities, but, by an arrangement with the Salford Watch Committee, a police officer from that borough was detailed, together with a constable fjom Manchester, to watch the threatened spot, and last evening this guard was strengthened by the addition of a man from the waterworks department. Thus for the last few nights three men, all armed with revolvers, have mounted guard in the darkness upon the square iron lid of the manhole giving access to the main, which, undoubtedly, if damaged, would almost entirely deprive Salford of defence against the work of the incendiary. Notwithstanding the precautions against surprise which are taken at the Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth, it was discovered a few nights ago that tho whole of the brass unions and connections belonging to the hose of the fire service had been cut and stolen. The theft may be an ordinary one or a practical joke, but it is supposed to be connected with the rumours of Fenian aotivity. Special orders have been issued by tho War Office to place extra police on duty at the Government Powder Mills, Waltham Abbey, and at the Small Arms Manufactory at Enfield Look. In addition to this precaution a detachment of Royal Artillery has been ordered for guard duty at both establishments, and several of the workmen are temporarily employed as watchers. The precautions adopted in London have now, it is stated, been extended to all the public buildings and to the residences of some officials. It ia also said that the increased vigilance, which is equally maintained in nearly all tho large towns in England, is justified by the serious nature of the information which continues to reach tbe authorities. It is added that for some weeks past a number of suspected persons have arrived in the metropolis, that their movements ore being closely watched, and that at most of the principal railway termini and many of the ports besides London it has been found neoeasary to adopt measures which are only carried out on extraordinary occasions. The rifles lot several regiments which were sent to Birmingham for re-browning have been detained there, and in the case of one well known metropolitan volunteer regiment it hat not been deemed proper to order the re-issue.

THE AFGHAN SECRET CORRESPONDENCE. Writing oa February lltb, the London correspondent of the "Argus" says:—The Afghan qneation has been revived amongst us this week in a new form. The determination of the Government to withdraw from Candahar has been for some time announced and canvassed. Lord Lytton is not disposed quietly to accept this complete reversal of his policy. Accordingly, he moved the other evening for the production of the secret correspondence found during the occupation of Cabul, on which he partly rests his justification, and which has also an important bearing in relation to the future. The Government acceded to his request, but before the papers could be laid on the table of the House they were published by the enterprising "Standard." They have excited much interest. Whatever their political value, they exhibit Russian diplomacy in a very unfavorable light. The dates are important. It is necessary, in reading them, to remember that the Berlin Conference assembled in June, 1878, The imminence of war has been previously indicated by the bringing of Bepoy troopß_ ts Malta. Russia not unnaturally was preparing for a diversion by which our Indian forces might be held in check, ft is now asserted that three columns of 20,000 men had been formed in Turkestan for advance southward towards Afghanistan. The presence of a Russian mission in Cabul, for some months atter the signature of the Berlin Treaty, was well known, and the explanations of Russia on this point were accepted by Lord Beaconsfield's Government as satisfactory. The mission was said to be one of oourtesy, temporary, and to be withdrawn as soon as possible. But it is now plain that the Russian Government was committed by its agents, and had to seek some means to cover its retreat. The letters published are from Goneral von Kaufmann and Major-General Stolieteff to Shere Ali, with certain missives also from' that potentate. General Stolieteff was deputed to act as agent in June, 1878, whon the European issue was still uncertain. Much saroasm has been directed against Lord Lytton's Orientalisms of the earthen " pipkin " and the " two iron pots "; but the Russian General must be pronounced his superior in magniloquenoe of style. Stolieteff visited the Ameer in Cabul, and afier his return wrote to the Afghan Foreign Minister. The following letter—l quote in part — bears date October, 1878. It is not possible it can have been written without knowledge of the Berlin Treaty :—" The great Emperor is a true friend of the Ameer's and of Afghanistan, and his Majesty will do whatever he may think necessary. Of course you havo not forgotten what I told you, that the affairs of kingdoms are like a country which has many mountains, valleys, and rivers. One who sits on a high mountain can see tbeee things well. By the power and order of God there is no empire equnl to tha of our great Emperor. May God make his life long. Therefore, whatever our Govern • ment advises you, you should give ear to it. I tell you the truth, that our Government is as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove. There are many things which you cannot understand, but our Government understands them all. It often happens that a thir g which is unpleasant at first is regarded as a blessing afterwards. Now, my kind frii nd, 1

inform you that the enemy of your famous religion wants to make peace with you through the Kaisar (Sultan) of Turkey. Therefore you should look to your brothers who live on the other side of the river. If God stirs them up, and gives the sword of fight into their hands, then go on in the name of God (Bismilla) ; otherwise you should be as a serpent; make peace openly, and in secret prepare for war ; and when God reveals His order to you, declare yourself. It will he well when the onvoy of your enemy wants to enter the country if you send an able emissary, possessing the tongue of a serpent and full of deceii, to the enemy's country, so that he may with swoet words perplex the enemy's mind, and induce him to give up the intention of fighting with you." Such is the pith of the Enssian advice. Other letters follow, Beveral from Shere Ali, protesting against the English mission, and aiking Russian aid. General Stolieteff meantime had gone back to Europe. In December, 1878, Shere Ali proposed to go himself to St. Petersburg. He issued a firman to certain of his nobles,'and himself quotes as having received from Stolieteff, " who was with the Emperor in Livadia," the following letter:—

" The Emperor considers you as a brother, and you also, who are on the other side of the water, must display the same sense of friendship and brotherhood. The English Government is anxious to come to terms with you through the intervention of the Sultan, and wishes you to take his advice and counsel; but the Emperor'B desire is that you should not admit the English into your country; and, like last year, you are to treat them with deceit and deception until the present cold season passes away, then the Almighty's will will be made manifest to you, that is to say, the (Russian) Government having repeated the Bismillah, the Bismillah will oome to your assistance. In short, you are to rest assured that affairs will end well. If God permits, we will convene a Government meeting at St. Petersburg, that is to say, a Congress, which means an assemblage of powers. We will then open an official discussion with the English Government, and either by force of words and diplomatic action we will entirely out off all English communication and interference with Afghanistan for ever, or else events will end in a mighty and important war. By the help of God, by spring not a symptom or vestige of trouble or dissatisfaction will remain in Afghanistan." i

The characteristic features of the correspondence are best seen in these extracts. There is also appended a copy of a treaty said to be negotiated by Stolieteff with Sheer Ali—an imperfect copy, however, and written down from memory. Whatever different interpretations may be put upon the language of Stolieteff, who found himself in a position from which he was compelled to recede by tho force of facts, there can no longer be a shadow of doubt as to the Russian design, neither can there be much question as to " the wisdom of tho serpent" displayed by these agents. [A Loudon telegram in the " Ceylon Observer," dated February 20th, says;—"The secret correspondence found at Cabul has now been officially published, and includes letters that passed between General Kaufmann and Yakoob Khan. With reference to the correspondence the Russian Government alleges that, owing to an inoorrect translation, the word 'alliance ' was frequently substituted for ' friendship.' On the sth October, 1880, the Russian Government informed Lord Granville that the Czar had peremptorily ordered General Kaufmann to abstain from any communication with the Ameer, and that even the replies to his ceremonial letters must be sent through the British Government. On the 14th January, 1881, tho Russian ambassador in London informed Lord Granville that a continuance of Russian negotiations with Cabul, after the signature of the Treaty of Berlin, was solely due to General Stolieteff being ignorant that the treaty had been signed. General Stolieteff took to Europe a draft of the treaty proposed by the Ameer Shero Ali, which the Russian Government categorically rejected."} TURKEY'S TROUBLES. Turkey's difficulties appear to be increasing rapidly. It is announoed from Constantinople that the Porte is making preparations to impose new taxes to meet the necessities of the State. A forced loan is to be raised in the capital, and in other parts of tho empire the land tax is to be increased and payment exacted for five years in advance. In Albania resistance to the Porte is said to be spreading. The troops sent to enforce the orders of the Government are withdrawn to avoid an outbreak of rebellion. The reserves summoned do not obey, and a portion of the Albanian battalion in Salonica recently gave notice to the officers of the nearest railway that any despatch of Turkish troops to Albania would lead to the murder of the railway officials. In Syria, also, the Constantinople correspondent of the " Standard" says, there is much excitement among the population. The Governor of Damascus reoently telegraphed for troops, owing to the threat of the Arabs to march on that city with 60,000 horsemen, but as the danger ceased the request was withdrawn. According to the Berlin correspondent of the " Standard," the Sultan is inclining more towards peace, in consequence of his apprehensions of a rising in Arabia. An Arabian League is said to have been formed, resembling those in Albania and Armenia, and placards have been posted in the large towns calling on the population to be prepared to expel the Turkish officials as soon as the war with Greece commences. The Kurds (according to the same correspondent) are giving fresh trouble. They have robbed the post near Mendeli, killed twenty of the escort, and referred the authorities to the League. This exploit on Turkish territory is seconded by the refusal of their brethren on Persian soil to obey the dictates of the Shah. A general sent to Savadj Boulak to treat with the chiefs was informed that the rule of his Sovereign must be at an end in Kurdish lands. j DAVITT'S IMPRISONMENT.

Davitt was brought up before the magistrate at Bow street on February 4tb, and charged with infringing the conditions of his ticket-of-leave. Special precautions were adopted for the safety of the train by which he travelled from Liverpool, apprehensions being entertained that an attempt might be made to resoue him. On arriving at Willesden Junotion trains were changed, and the prisoner was taken to Broad street, where a private omnibus was ready to convey him to Bow street, where Sir James Ingham was in wailing. A large number of persons had assembled at Euston cquare station in hopes of seeing Davitt, bat they were of course disappointed. The proceedings at the Police Court were held privately before the usual hour of business, and the warrant fcr the prisoner's committal having been made out, he was removed to Millbank prison without attracting any attention. Davitt was taken from Millbank early on Saturday morning to Portland. He left Waterloo station by the six o'clock train in the morning, accompanied by several detectives, and reached Portland prison about two o'clock. The Government have, it is said, ordered a strict medical examination to be made as to his health, and as yet no orders have been given to vary the prison rules in his favour. Special measures have been taken to prevent any attempt at a rescue. A memorial to the Home Secretary, asking that Davitt should be treated as a first-class misdemeanant, has been signed by between fifty and sixty members. It is stated that the Prison Act of 1877 does not permit of a felon being treated as a first-class misdemeanant ; and that only in local prisons, as distinguished from convict establishments, can any such privileges be granted as admit of a prisoner's communicating freely with the outside world. The " Daily Telegraph " says that some of the Home Rule members of Parliament intend to pay a visit to Davitt at Portland Gaol early next week. Davitt wob sentenced at the Central Criminal Court in 1870 to fifteen years' penal servitude for treason-felony. The charge against him was that of conspiring to procure arms and un.munitiun to send to Ireland with the object of promoting insurrection and rebellion. Ho was released in December, 1877, with a ticket-of-leave, after serving soven years and seven months in prison. Meotings were summoned throughout Ireland for last Sunday to condemn the arrest of Davitt. Many of thom were proclaimed, but at the few which wore held the conduct of the Government in the matter was severely denounced. THE STORMING OP GEOK TEPE. A St. Petersburg telegram, of February 2nd, gives the following particulars from the official report of General Skobeloff, of the storming of Gaok Tepe on the 24th ult. : I" The first storming column, under the command of Colonel Kuropatkino, consisted of five companies and one battalion of in-

fan try, half a company of sappers, one detachment of volunteers, one BOtma of foot Cossacks, a battery of mounted artillery, and two rocket tubes. The second column, under the command of Colonel Kosselkoff, consisted of two battalions of infantry, detachments of sappers, naval volunteers, and artillery, two rocket tubes, and one heliograph. The tbird storming column, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Gaidaroff, was oomposed of one battalion of infantry, detachments of volunteers, sappers, and artillery, five rocket tubes, and a sotnia and a half of Cossacks. The fourth storming column, held in reserve, consisted of twenty-one companies, including three companies of foot Dragoons and foot Cossacks and twenty-four guns. The column under the command of Lieut. - Colonel Gaidaroff attacked the advanced fortifications of the enemy on the south front at seven o'clock in the morning. At the atme time thirty-six guns commenced cannonading the breaoh for the advance of Colonel Koeeelkoff'a column, which had already been opened on the 20th ult,, and was completed subsequently hy the explosion of the dynamite mine laid by the Bussian volunteers on the night of the 24th ult. at the base of the wall. At twenty minutes past eleven o'clock Lieut.-Colonel Gaidaroff stormed and carried the enemy's position, in which he subsequently established and strengthened himself. At the same time a mine, containing 125 poods of powder, was exploded under the ramparts, in the ruins of which several hundred Tekkfs were buried. The explosion served as a signal for the columns under the command of Cols. Europatkine and Kosselkoff to commence the attack. Both the breaches formed by the Bussian mines were occupied ten minutes afterwards, when a sanguinary hand to hand fight ensued. The enemy desperately maintained their position on the walls, and the struggle on the rampart lasted about an hour. Two battalions and four companies of infantry from the reserves subsequently advanced to the attack, and the Samur battalion escaladed that part of the enemy's wall which had not been destroyed. The defenders on the ramparts then rushed forward between the two attacking columns, and were cut down after a desperate resistance. At half-past one o'clock in the afternoon Lieut.-Colonel Gaidaroff's column escaladed the south-western part of the walls, when an engagement ensued in the interior of the fortress. At two o'clock the hill redoubt of Denzil Tepe, dominating the whole position, was ocoupied, when we became complete masters of the fortress. The enemy fled, abandoning their camp and also their property and families. The pursuit of the enemy was at once commenced by a division of dragoons, four sotnias of Cossacks, six companies of infantry with long range guns, and a mounted detachment. The enemy were pursued and cut down for a distance of fifteen versts. In addition to the bodies whioh filled the trenches, and the large number of the enemy who were cut down by the oavalry during the pursuit, upwards of 4000 of the enemy's dead were found in the interior of the fortress. The losses of the enemy throughout the siege and during their three sorties must have been very considerable, to judge from the freshly dug graves and the information obtained. We captured a large number of guns, a considerable number of rifles, including Borne of the Bussian Berdan pattern, many guns, a large quantity of ammunition, several small flags, a considerable number of Eibitks, large supplies of flour, and a quantity of forage. There were found in the place j 4000 families, including three Imam families , and also 700 Persians, wbo bad been taken prisoners. Our losses in all the engagements from January Ist to 24th were —Sixteen officers and 267 men killed, forty-two officers and 647 men wounded, and eleven officers and 123 men sliehtly injured, 143 horses wero killed and 121 wounded.

EXTRAORDINARY SOENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The London papers of February 3rd give full particulars of the forty-one hours' sitting of the House of Commons, which terminated in leave being granted to introduoe the Protection of Person and Property Bill in Ireland. The following narrative is condensed from the detailed reports :—For forty_ hours the House of Commons had been oontinnally sitting, during which time every form of obstruction had been freely resorted to. With wonderful patience the Deputy Speaker, who was in the chair a considerable portion of the time, allowed the Obstructionists the widost latitude. In spite of the expressed hope of the Leader of the House that he would_ take the decided step that most members wished for; notwithstanding Mr Bright characterising what had occurred "as the grossest case of insult and obstruction that had ever happened," Dr. Playfair hesitated to take a step having the slightest resemblanoe to a restriction of the freedom of debate. Bub this tolerance appears only to have encouraged the continuance of the unseemly proceedings, and at length it became quite evident that the imperative intervention of the Speaker alone would restore order and arrest the flow of talk. This was done by the Speaker rieingin his place and exercising the extreme authority of the Chair. After referring to the continuous sitting of forty-one honrs, he went on to say that a crisis had thus arisen which demanded the prompt interposition of the Chair and the House. The usual rules had proved powerless to ensure orderly and effective debate. The, dignity, authority, and credit of the House were seriously threatened, and it was necessary that they should be vindicated. Under the accustomed rules and methods of procedure the legislative powers of the House were paralysed. A new and exceptional course was demanded. He was satisfied that he should best carry out the will of the House by declining to call upon any more members to speak, and at once proceed to put the several questions to the House. The amendment that remedial measures should have precedence over coercive measures was then put and negatived by 164 to 19 members, and the Speaker rose to put the main question. Mr Justin M'Carthy rose too, and the Speaker declining to Rive way, the whole of the twenty-one Irish members present stood up aad shouted, "Privilege! Privilege!" Their cries were met with howls, yells, and oheering which made a general uproar. Mr M'Carthy at length walked out of the House, followed by the remainder of the Irish members in single file. Each one bowed to the Speaker as he left, and the aotion called forth derisive laughter and cheering. The Speaker then put the question that leave be given to bring in the Bill, and leave was at once given. Mr Forstcr brought the Bill up to the table, and it was read a first time, all these proceedings being accompanied by a hurricane of applause such as has as seldom been heard even in that chamber. More oheering greeted the announcement of Mr Gladstone that he will today propose resolutions to facilitate the transaction of urgent business. At half-past nine o'clock the House adjourned, the departure of the Speaker, escorted by the Sergeant.-at-Arms, being the signal for a final cheer, amid which a sitting of forty-one hours came to an end.

On the House resuming at 12.30, and after some routine business, Mr Labouchere, amid cheering from the Irish members, then rote and asked whether in bringing the debate to a close the Speaker acted under any standing order of the House, and if so which. The Speaker replied, " I acted upon my own responsibility, and upon my sense of duty to the House." The answer, delivered with gravity and decision, was listened to with profound silence, but when the Speaker resumed his seat a tremendous burst of applause followed. Some disoussion followed, and then Mr Sullivan rose to move that the House disagree with the ruling of the Speaker, but was reminded by the Chair that if he took this course he would be disregarding the authority of the Chair, and must take the oonsequenoes. Loud cheering followed this announcement, after which Mr Sullivan rose again, and inquired whether there did not stand on the records of the House motions for disagreeing with the ruling of the Speaker. The Speaker replied that there might be such cases, and Mr Sullivan might make the motion he proposed, but not forthwith as a matter of privilege. Mr Sullivan again rose and asked if similar motions had not been brought forward on the instant, and the Speaker having replied that he was not aware, without searching for precedents, Mr Sullivan rose to move the adjournment of the House, so that time might be given to make the search. He was warned that if he moved the adjournment to oall attention to what occurred " yesterday," bo would be entirely out of order. Mr Sullivan, promising to keep within the forms of the House, went on to give reasons in favor of the adjournment, being several times interrupted by the Speaker and once by the Prime Minister on points of order. Mr Gladstone, in studiously [moderate tones and in his quietest manner, said motions for adjournment had never been ruled to be absolutely disorderly, but they had been stigmatised by the universal opinion of the House as public nuisances. To the suggestion that the tendency of the

1 majority of the House was to domineer over the minority, tho Premier replied, amid cheering, that, so far as he knew anything of the history of the last few weeks, the minority had been masters of the proceedings of the Honse, and until half-past nine o'clock that morning the majority lay helpless and hopeless in the hands of the minority. As the motion disagreeing with the ruling of the Speaker could not be taken that day, there would be plenty of time to searoh for precedents. After a long discussion the question was put at twenty minutes to six o'clook, and the motion for adjournment negatived by 278 to 44. When the numbers were announced it was five minutes to six o'clock, and as no opposed business oould then be taken, the debate on the Irish Bill stood further adjourned until next day. Mr Biggar and_ Mr Finigan, who sat on the front Opposition bench, objected to any further business on the paper being prooeeded with, and the House rose at six o'clook, the Irish members chv erinjj as they passed out. The following is the text of Mr Gladstone's resolution respecting the business of the House, as finally adopted, with the amendments incorporated : " That, if upon notioe given a motion be made by a Minister of the Crown that the state of public business is urgent, upon which motion such Minister shall declare in his place that any Bill, motion, or other question then before the House is urgent, and that it is of importance to the public interest that the same should be proceeded with without delay, the Speaker shall forthwith put the question, no debate, amendment, or adjournment being allowed ; and if, on the voices being given, he shall without doubt perceive that the Noes have it, his decision shall not be challenged, but if otherwise, a division may be forthwith taken, and if the question be resolved in the affirmative by a majority of not less than three to one, in a House of not less than 300 members, the powers of the House for the regulation of its business upon the several stages of Bills, and upon motions and all other matters, shall be and remain with the Speaker, for the purpose of proceeding with such Bill, motion, or other question, until the Speaker shall declare that the state of public busineas is no longer urgent, or until the House shall so determine, upon a motion | which, after notice given, may be made by any member, put without amendment, adjournment, or debate, and decided by a majority." The " Home News" gives the sequel as follows :—When tho House met on Thursday, February 3rd, it was plain that the announcement that the Government had arrested Michael Davitt—a ticket-of-leave man—had exasperated and excited the Irish members. The prolonged murmurs of indignant disapproval from the followers of Mr Parnell when Sir William Harcourt stated that Davitt had violated his ticket-of-leave, was the premonitory note of the uproar which was to follow. When Mr Gladstone rose to bring forward his resolution, Mr Dillon aleo rose. He declined to sit down, the Speaker named him, he was suspended, and removed by the Serjeant-at-Arms. After this incident Mr Gladstone again resumed his speeoh, but was interrupted in the same way by Mr Parnell, who was similarly ejected. Then came Mr Finigan's turn. The Irish irreconoilables refused to leave the Honse while the division on the motion for the expulsion of Mr Finigan was taken. They were warned by the Speaker; they disregarded the warning, and eventually twenty-eight of them were suspended en masse. Several single suspensions followed, and eventally thirty-six Irish members were ejeoted. After these incidents, which occupied about four hours, Mr Gladstone submitted to the House his resolution for the better conduct of public business. " The adoption of new rules," he said, " had become a question of honour or dishonour, and in that sense a question of life or death." The force of this plea was admitted by Sir Stafford Northcote, and the chief critioism which the resolution received was on the ground that it transferred too completely to the Speaker the responsibility which ought to be iu the hands of the Government. Several amendments were made in the resolution with the view of obviating this defect. Sir Stafford Northoote'i suggestion that the Minister should be required to state the reasons for urgency was accepted, and the resolution was then allowed to pass. The Irish Coercion Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday, February 9th, by a majority of 303 — 359 to 66, —and went into committee last night. The proceedings in the House of Commons sinoe the disturbance of Thursday week, February 3rd, have been decorous and dull. No new arguments against the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act have been advanced, while most or all the old arguments in its favor have been confirmed. The real justification for the action of the Government is this—at present the whole machinery of the Queen's law in Ireland has broken down, the only law known is that of the Land League. The Government declare that with the present means at their disposal they cannot reassert the anthority of the true law of the country. If the Land Leaguers are not to be allowed to remain masters of the position, it must be reasserted, and without such a measure as the Coercion Bill that is impossible. This is the pith and essence of the Government case, and nothing has been said during the debate in any way to disturb it. It has been alleged by the opponents of the Bill that the aooounts of the constabulary, on which the Government rely, are untrustworthy, and that the Irish magistrates are the representatives of the landlords. As regards the former, the Government have completely vindicated their voraoity ; as regards the latter, Mr Forster has pointed out that the magistrates cited as authorities by the Government are stipendiary magistrates, and not those juotioes of the peace who are also owners of the soil. MISCELLANEOUS. Information is stated to have been received by the Government which justifies the supposition that some infernal machines have been despatched from America for some part of the United Kingdom, and precautions have consequently been taken to prevent their being put to nefarious uses. On February 7th a disastrous and fatal explosion oocurred at Whitfield colliery, the property of the Ohatterley Iron and Coal Company, near Ohell, North Staffordshire. A number of men and boys were on night shift, and one of the boys mischievously set fire to a quantity of waste in the blacksmith's shop at the bottom of the workings. This set fire to the ooal dust in foe workings, and the men in the pit, seeing the danger, triod their best to put out the fire by stifling the roadways ; finding this impossible, a man wont to the surface and sent for the manager of the colliery, who, his two sons, immediately went to the colliery, and sent directions to the bottom of the pit. Some time after, finding the fire oould not be got under, one of the sons got into tho cage to descend, when a terrific explosion was hoard, and fire and smoke immediately rushed up the shaft with a noise like thunder. The force of the fire lifted the cage some distance in the air, causing serious injury to the young man. The flames, which continued to burst forth at intervals, destroyed the whole of tho head-gear, and set fire to the enginehouse, and the burning head-gear, falling on some coal trucks near set fire to them. It is feared that several lives have been lost by this calamity. A gale of great severity, causing much damage and some loss of life, prevailed throughout England on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 7th and Bth. Oa Tuesday also there was a very heavy snowfall. Houses have been unroofed and trees torn up. In Derbyshire haystacks have been swept away with other agricultural produce. A wall and portion of the roof of the Ellenshaw weaving shed at Blackburn fell in and buried a number of people. Five women and a man were seriously injured, and a girl named Lightboyn, who was not released from the ruins for many hours, Is not expeoted to reoover. Many persons were treated at the metropolitan hospitals for injuries, principally scalp wounds, received in the gale. While Mr Bradford, the secretary of the Bank of British North America, was leaving his house at Sutton for the City on Tuesday morning, the roof was blown off, and he was killed by the falling rubbish. In Warwickshire there is a recurrence of disastrous floods, caused by the overflow of the rivers. Vast tracts of land arc under water, while roads are in some places impassable to people on foot. In North Derbyshire the Valley of the Derwent, by Ohatswortb, Bastow, Rowsley, and Matlock, is one vast sheet of water. The Valley of the Wye, for four miles, is a deep lake. The railways are inundated, and roadways oovered to the depth of four feet. At Edinburgh, on the night of the 4tb inst., a commercial traveller, his father and sister, were shot by two men whom they met in the street. Later on the same mei wounded three policemen, who saw them near

F the Custom House and challenged them. One of the men then ihot himself through the | head and the other attempted to do the same, [ but was prevented and captured. When charged with the offence he refuaod to give any aooount of himself or his companions. Their names are said to be Grant and Seymour. They are stated to have belonged to Kelly's gang of bushrangers, and after that gang was broken up to have come to London from Australia to assist the Land League or other Irish agency. The three policemen and the persons shot in Edinburgh, it is believed by the same men, are likely to reoover. The New York papers are full of descrip. tions of the fixing the Obelisk in the Central Park, whioh was successfully accomplished on January 22nd. The work was more difficult than the erection of Cleopatra's needle on the Thames Embankment, for not only was the Atlantio to be crossed, but the Obelisk, whioh weighed 219 tons, or 34 tons more than the needle, was oonveyod over two miles by hand. It was landed at New York on September 17tb, and it took two months to convey it to its present site in the Oentral Park Its maximum rate of progress was 180 ft in the twentyfour hours. Lieutenant-Commander Gorringe appears to have successfully surmounted every obstacle with great skill and indomitable perseverance, and fortunately the enterprise was unattended by any loss of life. The Obelisk now stands at 101 ft elevation above high-water mark, and weighs, with its pedestal and foundation, 356 tone. The Irish members who were expelled from the House have issued a manifesto to the Irish people. The document refers to the expulsions which were effected "in violation of the laws and liberties" of Parliament; , and, having noticed the arrest of D-ivitt, " a counsellor of tolerance, restraint, and pruI denoe," and the "arbitrary arreßts" and suppression" of meetings in Ireland, it oonoludes—" We adjure you in the midst of these trials and provocations to maintain the noble attitude that has already assured your ultimate victory. Beject every temptation to conflict, disorder, or crime. Be not terrorised by a brief reign of despotism. If you are true to yourselves your triumph is oertain." The manifesto, which is signed by the thirty-six expelled members, has been telegraphed to America and Australia. The "Scotsman" gives an account of an almost incredible scare of which the people of Skye have recently, been the victims. A Free Church minister made the startling announcement on Sunday morning that the Russians had invaded England, and ho warned his congregation to betake themselves at once to the defence of their hearths and homes. The Russian invasion war further deolared to be prompted by domectio treason, and the Queen, acting on her own responsibility, had committed Mr Gladstone to prison for complicity therein. The story was accepted in good faith by the simple islanders, and their consternation was unbounded until some superior person discovered it to be a hallucination. The explanation of the whole affair was not that the minister had been hoaxed or had gone mad, or had played off a practical joke upon his people, nor was the story of Mr Gladstone's imprisonment a distorted version of reoent events in the House of Commons. The innooent cause of the scare was an English comic paper, containing some sorry jest about the Bussians invading England and Mr Gladstone being sent to the Tower. It had somehow found its way to Skye, and, falling into the hands of the minister, was mistaken by that worthy man for a serious newspaper. All Scotland ' is laughing at the joke and wondering how many ministers of like simplicity are still to be found in the Highlands or in the Free Kirk.

The inconvenience among the officials of the House, whose services are commensurate with the length of the sitting, has (the " Daily News" says) been exceptionally great. Between Monday and Tuesday the Speaker was in the ohair for thirteen hours without other interval than the usual quarter of an hour " for tea." On Tuesday he sat for nearly nine hours. The Sergeant-at-Arms kept watoh about with the DeputySergeant since four o'clock on Monday afternoon. The doorkeepers began to keep single tides only when nearly exhausted. The custodian of the Ladies' Gallery remained on duty the whole of the night. The policemen were on duty for eighteen hours at a stretoh, with intervals of six hours for rest. The Post and Telegraph Offices were open all night, and ub no arrangements were made for reliefs, the clerks were practically on duty for twentyfour hours. The engineer in charge of the ventilating and warming apparatus had at midnight been on dnty for thirty • three hours.

A parliamentary return shows that the total number of judgments for the recovery of land entered up in the High Court of Juetioe (Ireland), from the Ist day of January, 1880, to the 31st day of August, 1880, upon foot of which writs of possession have not been issued was 76; and the total amount of rent in arrear in respect of which the judgments were marked was£Bsos 17s 3£d. The number of ejectment decrees granted at the late Michaelmas Sessions for all Ireland, in eases of ejectment for non-payment of rent, was 674 ; in cases of ejectments for overbading and on title, 252; total number of decrees granted, 926. The total amount of rent in arrear in respect of which these decrees were granted was £21.970 16j 3d. The total number of decrees granted in Lainster was 227 ; in Munster, 205 ; in Ulster, 359 ; in Connaught, 135.

The Lancashire miners' strike has not como to an end. Last week the men manifested a disposition to resume work, but they were again summoned to stand out for a rise of 12$ per oent. and weekly pay. Several mass meetings have been held, at whioh resolutions to remain on strike were unanimously adopted. The strike has now lasted five weeks, and it is estimated that in the Wigan district alone the amount lost in wages by stoppage of work mey be put down at from £60,000 to £70,000. Troops still remain in the disturbed district, and the magistrates of the Manchester Division of Lancashire have decided to proclaim the colliery districts. All persons will be required to desist from assembling for unlawful purposes; and minors who may be desirous of returning to work will be protected. On Monday 1000 miners turned out on strike at the collieries in the Chirk district, near Buabon, having given notice of an advance in wages of 25 per cent., whioh notioe expired on Saturday, and has been rejected by the masters. Notice of an advanoe in wages had also been given at several other collieries in Ncrth Wales, together with a request for weekly payment, and a strike is impending.