NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2221, 9 April 1881, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

ALLEGED PLOT TO BLOW UP WINDSOE CASTLE. The reports from Windsor regarding the alleged plots to blow np the Castle, include both a contradiction of the rumors and a statement of incidents which suggest that there were grounds for some alarm. It appears that on the night of February 11th a stranger entered a public house in Park street, within a few yards of the Palace lodge, at the end of the Long Walk, and taking a caudle went into a passage at the back, which is separated from the palace by a wall, and can easily be scaled. When about to close his house the landlord remembered that he had not seen this man leave the place. A police constable was called, and a search was made in the yard and rooms, without avail; and it was then conjectured that the stranger, who was dressed like a groom, had climbed over the hack wall into the Queen’s private grounds. The Castle guard were accordingly informed of the affair, and the shrubberies at gthe rear of the houses in Park street were thoroughly searched by the police and the soldiers without any trace being found of the supposed intruder. Another suspicious occurrence took place on the previous night. Just as it was getting dark, two strangers, supposed to he Irish, called at a cottage in Lammas avenue, a narrow court leading from opposite Clewer House to the road near All Saints’ Church. A tall man asked the landlady ** if she could keep a secret for a few hours, or till it got dark.” She replied that •• It all depended upon what it was,” wnereupon a second and shorter man came forward. One of the strangers said, “ Can you tell us which is the east or south side of the Cavalry Barracks ? ” She observed that she could not, and they then inquired if there were not some fields leading round the back of the barracks near the officers’ mess, saying that they wanted to get to the officers’ quarters without interfering with the front gate ; but the owner of the cottage, in response, observed that she did not know. One of the men then asked—“ Will you allow me to leave this in the wash-house till we can call for it ?” and placed upon the ground a bag containing something like a four-and-a-half gallon cask. He added that she must not he inquisitive or interfere with the bag, and observed that if she would lock the door of the wash-house and let him have the key they could fetch the hag without disturbing her. He offered to pay her for her trouble. They also asked if she knew where they coaid find an empty house to stay in till it got dark, as they were strangers there. After asking for some matches, which they did not obtain, both left the cottage, one of the strangers carrying away the cask on his shoulder, under his cape. The person alluded to watched them down the court, and then informed a police-constable of the occurrence.

The above incidents have been supplemented by an occurrence which happened daring the night or early morning immediately after the return of the Court from Osborne, and have led to increased vigilance on the part of the authorities. At the northwestern end of St. Albans street stands the vicarage, and adjoining this are some empty houses. In almost close proximity to these are two old cottages known as 5 and 6 St. Alban's street, the latter (No. 6) being situated at the north-east corner of Church street, a narrow way leading from the Castle wall down into High street. The corner cottage faces the head quarters of tbe Windsor Volunteers, is only a few yards distant from the Castle wall, and has been vacated a little over a week. Between one and two o'clock on the morning of Feb. 18th Mrs Groves, at No. 5, who was lying awake in bed, was much alarmed at hearing the rattling of glass, and the opening of a window of the next tenement, which someone entered, shortly afterwards quitting the place. Next morning Mr Superintendent Hayes and the officer in charge of Royal Household police were informed of the occurrence, and upon entering tbe lower room of the empty house a train of powder, extending from the middle of the apartment to the wall near the window, was found upon the brick floor. Lying below the window was a brown paper parcel, which, it is stated, also contained some powder, while a small quantity was scattered npon the sill, as if it had been dropped in haste by someone escaping through the open casement into St. Albans street. A portion of the jjowder strewn over the floor was examined, and exploded upon the application of a light. In connection with this affair it should be stated that about seven o’clock on the night of Tuesday week two strange and suspicious-looking men called at the house of Mrs Groves, and, pointing to the empty houses higher up the street near the vicarage, asked how they could obtain admission. Mrs Groves suggested that the proper way would be to obtain the key from the agent, but the men, in reply, said that tills would not do, and went away. THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. The match between Hanlan and Laycock was rowed on February 14th over the usual championship course. The time fixed for the start was two o’clock, and at ten minutes to the hour the two, stake boats were anchored opposite the Star and Garter, in the place where the University boat race commences. Two or three minutes past two o’clock Hanlan put off from Phelp and Pcater's boat-honse, and, crossing the river, paddled steadily down under the Middlesex shore to the Aqueduct, in the Canada, a boat built by Warin, of Toronto, and the same craft in which he defeated Trickett in November last. She carried on her bows an oblong

cedar windboard about 18in in length and sin in which prevents the stern of the boat paying °“ when there is a side wind, and keeps her straight much better than a rudder which has to be worked by the feet, and which is consequently liable to be used unnecessarily. Turning just about the Aqueduct, the Canadian took a short spin at top speed up the river as for as Simmond's yard, and then returned to the starting njaoo, Laycock was now seen coming away from his boathouse in his Swaddle and Winship boat, which had a rudder affixed to it, and he reached the Aqueduct at ten minutes past two o’clock, the wind by that time having increased considerably in force and blowing nearly half a gale, but as it was from the south-east and on the back of the tide the surface of the river was comparatively smooth and the force of the flood increased. At a quarter past two o’clock both men were at the starting boats ready to commence the contest, two pilot cntters being in attendance, George Drewett, of Chelsea, being in the bows of one to direct the course of Hanlan, while Edward Trickett, of Sydney, officiated in a like manner for Laycock. The latter sculler then paddled to the raft of the Bells, his training quarters, and stripped for the contest, wearing a thin sleeveless pink Jersey, while Hanlan, as is his custom, appeared in a dark blue one. Both men then took up their positions, Hanlan, who had won the toss, taking the Middlesex stake boat, with his opponent on his right hand ; but as a matter of fact there was little to chose between the stations, as the boats were moored well out in the strength of the tide. Laycock, after taking a short spin of 100 yards up river, returned to his post, and the two rival scullers then prepared for the start. At twenty-five minntes past two o’clock they got away by mutual consent, starting very steadily, and Hanlan, who sculled thirty-five strokes daring the first minute to the thirty-eight of Laycock, at once commenced to forge ahead, and half-way between the Star and Garter and Simmond’s boatyard was nearly clear of his adversary, and sculling with apparent ease, though he did not clear the water with his sculls as well as he used to do. Between Siramond's yard and the London boathouse Hanlan had increased his lead to two lengths, a length of daylight intervening between the two boats as they passed the upper end of the clab-honse, and shouts were already raised on board the steamers that the race was ns good os over. Half way up the concrete wall, Hanlan, having taken the measure of his opponent, slackened his stroke to thirty-two ,while Laycock was still doing thirty-six, and at Craven Cottage the Canadian was upwards of 2\ lengths in advance. Just beyond the little creek at the upper end of the Cottage garden he hod increased his advantage to three lengths, and looked round as ho opened out Crab Tree Reach to see what the water was like. Half way between Craven Cottage and the Grass Wharf Laycock pulled his left hand, and thus early commenced to make over for the Surrey side of the river. By doing this he caught sight of Hanlan and quickened up to thirty-seven strokes a minute, but the Canadian was not to ho hurried, and though he was only pulling thirty strokes a minute the speed of his boat did not fall off, and he reached the One Tree, a mile from the Aqueduct, in 4min. 48sec., llsec. in advance ot the Australian. The latter, as he neared Rose Bank, spurted, and as Hanlan was in midstream in the roughest part of the river and. a little troubled by the waves, not being able to clear his sculls well, Laycock reduced the Canadian’s lead by perhaps half a length. Opposite Rose Bank Villa, however, the rough water troubled the Australian quite os much as it had done Hanlan, and the latter, drawing away again, was fully two and a half lengths in advance at the Crabtree. Just below the Soapworks, Laycock, encouraged by the shouts of the people on the bank and the factory hands, redoubled his exertions, and for a moment or two it seemed as if he was actually gaining on Hanlan. After passing the Soapworks Wharf, however, there was a change, the Canadian drawing away again, and as the Australian was rather close in under the Surrey shore, Hanlan had no difficulty in maintaining his lead without any extra effort. Both men had now to make over towards the middle of the river in order to pass through the centre arch of the Suspension bridge, in accordance with the articles, and their speed naturally fell off. Hanlan, however, still kept in front, and reached the bridge in 9min. 19sec,, about two lengths or a trifle more in advance of the Australian, whose time was some 9sec. or Bsec. slower. After passing through the bridge, Laycock, being on the inside, had the shorter course, and he gained a little on the leader, loud shouts being raised by the crowd on the tow-path shore, who thought he was going to row his opponent down. At Biffen’s boatyard, however, Hanlan, who was laughing, again increased his lead to three lengths, and opposite the Doves stopped for a second or two and looked round to see if the course was clear. From this it was quite evident that he was sculling well within and though Laycock spurted he did not decrease the lead of the Canadian, who quickening up to thirty-two strokes a minute to the thirty-four of his opponent, was still three lengths in advance at the Oil Mills. Here Laycock, remembering that it was about this spot that he had rowed down some of his opponents in his former matches, spurted, but Hanlan without any effort kept away, and odds of 100 to 2 were offered on him. Passing Chiswick Eyot, Laycock was rowing thirty-four strokes a minute to Hanlan's thirty, but ihe latter not only had the speed of his opponent but could evidently stay better, and it was clear that the race was now virtually over, as he kept his load without any difficulty. Chiswick Church was passed by the Canadian in 14min. 54seo. with a lead of nearly four lengths, Laycock’s time being lOaec. slower. In Horse Reach the Canadian, sculling thirty strokes a minute, kept well in front, and though he had to stop to consider whether he should go inside or outside of a stream of barges which were being towed up river opposite the Bull’s Head, he reached Barnes' Bridge in 21min. 13sec , upwards of three lengths, or llsec, in advance of Laycock. After passing the bridge the Canadian drew rapidly away, being nearly six lengths ahead at the Limes, but he then eased up, and ultimately passed the winning post in 25min, 41sec., four lengths in advance of the Australian,

according to the decision of Mr J, Moore, the jn & e result of the race was quite in accordance with the previous practice of the scullers, and Layoock, though he sculled with great pluck and determination, had no chance against his more skilful fipponent. The latter now becomes the absolute owner of the Challenge Cup presented by the proprietors of the "Sportsman.” lEISH AFFAIES. The Irish Coercion Bill is now practically through the House of Commons. It emerged from the ordeal of Committee on Monday, February 21at, the House having first voted by a majority of 415 to 63 —a motion of Mr Gladstone's, declaring "urgency," and enabling the Speaker to apply the new rule under which there Ig no debate on amendments coming on after a certain hour, but the amendments are proposed and divided on without any word of comment for or against. To-night, Febrnary 24th, Mr Gladstone is expected to moke a statement in the House of Commons as to the course of public business. The Arms Bill, which originally supplemented the measure for the suppression of the Habeas Corpus Act, will, it is thought, not be brought forward, and the Prime Minister is expected to announce that the next subject of discussion will be the Army Estimates, and that immediately after these are done with the Irish Laud Bill will be brought forward. Although the Irish members continue to interpose as many delays as possible to the despatch of Parliamentary business, there can be no doubt that a decisive blow has been dealt at the authority of Mr Parnell and his confederates, both in the House of Commons and in Ireland. In the House of Commons they have had to yield to the superior force of the Speaker’s new rules ; in Ireland the secret of Mr Parnell’s influence lay in a belief that be could dominate Parliament, and that he was superior to law. This idea has now been proved delusive. On Sunday last Mr Parnell delivered a speech at a Land League meeting, in which he advised evicted tenants to plough up their pasture grounds so as to prevent cattle being turned into them. On Thursday, February 22nd, the Attorney-General said the Government were giving this passage in Mr Parnell’s speech their serious attention. Yesterday, February 23rd, the papers contained a letter from the Land League leader addressed to the secretary of the meeting, withdrawing his advice, on the plea that he had been informed of its illegality, and that he had no wish to incite any of his hearers to the transgression of the law.

A new Irish grievance has been discovered. The Land Leaguers have reason to believe that their letters have been opened at the General Post Office, and questions have been asked on the subject in the House of Commons by Mr T. L. Sullivan, Mr Labouchere, and Mr Cowen. Sir William Harcourt —for as the subject is one of police regulation rather than of postal arrangement, it comes within the province not of the Postmaster-Genoral but of the Home Secretary—declined to state whether any letters had been opened, bnt citpd the Act of Parliament which, sanctions the opening of letters when they they are suspected of containing treasonable matter, declared that the gravity of the responsibility which the law thus imposed upon the Secretary of State was deeply felt by him, and protested that the responsibility should be withdrawn from the Minister altogether, if it was not to be exercised in a suitable and effective manner. Obviously, if the men who or© believed, or are known by the Government to be engaged in treasonable practices, were to be informed by Ministers of the steps taken to detect them, it would be as well for the Government to do nothing, AFGHANISTAN. The Candahar correspondent of the “Times,” telegraphing on February 20th, says : —The rumor of a very early departure of the British garrison being universally credited, the people of the outlying districts already decline to nay taxes to their departing masters, not unnaturally believing that they may have to pay them again, or, perhaps, may be able to evade nayment altogether. In consequence, all officials have been withdrawn from distant places, and no attempt is now being made to assert authority beyond the home districts of Candahar. The two forts of Girishk and Kelat-i-Ghilzai are, however, still held in our interests, the former by Sirdar Gnl Mahomed Khan and the latter by Mahomed Sadyk Khan, a chief of the Tokhy Ghilzais, which tribe inhabits the neighbourhood. On the latter’s account there is nothing to fear, bnt the Sirdar’s position at Girishk, though he has great local influence, is somewhat precarious, and he has, I believe, received permission to withdraw whenever he ; thinks it advisable to do so. The country is as yet, however, quiet, and the roads remain ©pen. A few families of Farsiwans and Hindoos have already left for India, and many more will follow when the signs of immediate evacuation become apparent, hut the decision of the majority of these classes and our friends among the Dnrania will mainly depend upon our successor. If the Ameer sends a Governor and troops from Cabul, all the Duranis and a great many Hindoos and Farsiwans will remain, knowing that the new Government, like our own, being dependent on its armed force, will be glad to take supporters wherever it can find them. Should Ayoob Khan, however, come in, it is feared that any guarantee he may give for the protection of the lives and property of our adherents will be, to say the least, very difficult to enforce in face of the thirst for which is sure to animate his turbulent Candahari soldiery and the numerous Afghan fanatics in the country. Such fears are probably exaggerated, but it will be wise for our more prominent adherents to keep out of the way till affairs are somewhat settled. As I have mentioned, we know nothing certain concerning our departure, but it may he predicted with tolerable accuracy that it cannot be before the middle of March or after the middle of April. The necessary amount of conveyance cannot arrive from Sibi before the former date, while to extend our stay beyond the latter date would make it impossible to get European troops to India before May, when the climate of Scinde is such as to prohibit travelling, even by rail, without great risk to life, not to speak of the terrific heat of the Bolan Pass. Thug the evacuation of Candahar after the 15th of April would involve the retention of the entire force in Quetta and Pishin during the summer—an arrangement the expense of which would be only equalled by its unpopularity among the troops. The dislike to service in Afghanistan has

been mil eh exaggerated, or, at least, misrepresented. Caudahar is by no means unpopular, even among the Sepoys, at all events of the Bengal army. They have a bazaar to go to, and, getting free rations, save all their pay. What they detest is prolonged service on the two lines of communication, or in the isolated posts abont Pishin. If the army has to stay on this side of ihe Bolan at all, it would much prefer remaining at Candahor till it is time to clear out of the country altogether.

MISCELLANEOUS. The Albanian League has offered to ploce 20,000 men at the disposal of the Porte in the event of the outbreak of war with Greece, and there are several other indications that the hostility of the Albanians towards the Turks is more apparent than real. M. Stoicbeff, the Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Affairs, who has arrived here, on his way to Vienna, has stated, in the course of conversation, that if war were to break out a dangerous agitation would very possibly show itself amongst the Bulgarians of Macedonia, and might threaten to disturb order in Bulgaria itself. The “Standard’s*' correspondent at Athens is “authoritatively informed” that the Porte has communicated to Germany and Austria the ** extreme limits ” of the concessions she is prepared to make to Greece. The terms she has consented to are as follows The Sultan will cede to the King of the Hellenes tho province of Thessaly entirely, in conformity with the conclusions of the Berlin Conference. Of Epirus His Ottoman Majesty is prepared to give up that portion lying to the east of a line running in a southerly direction from the Thessalian frontier at idonnt Peristeri, crossing the River Arta to Mount Sideri, following the mountain ridges thence to Mount Kilberini, and from that point passing along the bed of the River Arta to the Gulf of the same name. The Porte distinctly refuses to part either with Janina, Metzovo, or Prevesa, with its harbor. So far as I am aware, continues my correspondent, these terms have been entirely unknown to the other Great Powers. Up to the present moment the arrangement has remained a secret between Turkey and the Anstro-German allies. I have the best authority for stating that these terms are the maximum Turkey is willing to concede. The English Government however, will, it is expected, be sure to insist on the cession of the sanjak of Prevesa if Greece consents to abandon her demand for Metzova and Janina. Meanwhile the preparations for war continue on both sides. A Constantinople telegram says that no pause will be made in the military activity shown of late until 110,000 men are assembled in Mace-

donia, Thessaly, and Epirus. Tho chief command has been given to Dervish Pasha, and five marshals serve under him. Twenty-eight ships of war have been commissioned or are being fitted, the command of which will probably be given to Hobart Pasha. A royal decree will be issued calling out the reserves, computed at 18,000 men. The troops in the Morea are gradually moving northward. Both the French Chambers met on February 14th. The Senate commenced the discussion of the Customs tariff. M. Foray, president of the committee, and M. Fresnan, a member of the Right, made speeches in favor of protection. In the Chamber the Press Bill was discussed on the second reading. An amendment providing that foreign journals should not be excluded from France except by decision in Cabinet Council was referred to the committee. An amendment proposed by M. Marcou, imposing three to twelve months’ imprisonment for vilifying the Republic, the Chambers, or the Presidency, was opposed by the Irreconcila>: les, M. Clemenceau insisting that no line could be drawn between vilification and argument. Insults to morality or religion had, he said, been expunged; and, he added, “Yon will not irotect Qod, yet you want to protect the Repnbio." M. Maigne defended the proposal on the ground that the way was paved for the coup d’etat of 1851 by holding up the Assembly to odium. The committee recommended the punishing only of insults on the President, and this was agreed toby 288 votes to 195, insult to the Republic and the Chambers being struck out by 264 votes to 217. At this point the discussion was adjourned. The latest news from Persia docs not promise quiet times in that empire. The eldest son of the Shah, who bears the title of Zil-es-Sultan, or " Shadow of the Shah," has left his seat of governorship of Ispahan, and has gone to Teheran, ready, it is stated in telegrams, to lend his father a large sum of money he requires, upon condition that certain powers of government are granted to himself. From the other side it is reported that there are complaints against the government of the Crown Prince at Tabreez. The Shah long since notified to the Powers that his second son. the Governor of Tabreez, had been nominated heirapparent, to the exclusion of his eldest son, the Governor of Ispahan. The reason of this is that in Persia it is usual to select as heir the son of the highest-born mother; and the Shah’s second wife was a princess, not the first; but the Zel-es-Snltan, who has racked Central Persia for years for his own advantage, and has acquired great wealth by great tyranny, is much the more determined of the two young men; and little doubt is felt that the powers he is now asking from the Shah are to be made the basis of an attempt to grasp the Imperial succession at the death of the present Shah. That event might, in the opinion of some who are well acquainted with Central Asian politics, lead to a civil war of North against South in Persia, a war in which it would be very difficult to avoid the protection of Russia for the northern belligerent, leading to that of England for those who contended for empire in the south. The division of Persia under such patronage into north and south is regarded as one of the possibilities of the future which this fraternal quarrel may bring about. The “ Odessa Vestnik," just received from Russia, states that (a few days ago a riot occurred among Nihilists confined in the prison at Nicoloeff. The prisoners overcame tho warders, and refused to obey the command of the officer of the guard to surrender. The latter, thereupon, gave orders for the soldiers to fire, and several of the Nihilists fell severely injured; among them being Eli Kovalsky, brother of the Nihilist leader who was hanged at Odessa in 1879, for conspiring to blow up the Czar with a torpedo as he landed at Nicolaeff Pier.

It is reported from Lima that, prior to the capture of that city there hod bean several engagements, in which both sides suffered severely. After burning Miraflores, Chorillos, and Borranco, the Chilians organised a municipal government for Lima. Before Pierola’s flight, he directed the officers commanding the Peruvian ships to get away if they wished, but none attempted to do so, and on the surrender of Lima and Callao the ships were blown up or burned. Several forts were also blown up, with considerable loss, it is said, to the invader.

The German Parliament was opened on Febmary 15th by Count Stolbery Wemigerode, the ViceChancellor. The speech from the Throne said that among the European Powers there was not only complete concurrence in the wish to maintain peace, bnt no difference of views existed in principle concerning the essential objects of the negotiations pending between them. The Emperor hopes “ that the unity of the Powers will succeed in preventing even partial breaches of the peace in Europe, or at any rate so limit them as that they neither affect Germany nor its neighbors.”

Count Moltke has written a letter with respect to the laws of war which has attracted considerable attention. The Count thinks that perpetual peace is an illusion of the imagination, and that the occa-

sional occurrence of war is part of the scheme of Government established by the Divine Author of the Universe. With regard to the conduct of war, the Count thinks that all things are lawful which tend to subdue the enemy, and he objects to conceding to the civil populations of invaded countries the rights of belligerents. The Count is farther of opinion that international law is a useless code, as there is no power to enforce its decisions. The Count may be right in considering perpetual peace impossible in the present imperfect condition of human society, but it is obvious that his assumption of Divine ordination with respect to a state of war savors more of the mystic than the hard, practical statesman and soldier. When the Count assumes that civilians ought to be deprived of belligerent rights, he is evidently thinking that Germany will always be the invader, and never the invaded country, otherwise he would not advocate an arrangement which would press hardly on Germany in the event of defeat. Count Moltke’s letter is not calculated to convey a very high opinion of the author’s judgment when brought to bear on other subjects than strategical plans for the invasion of foreign countries, and for the defence of his own. The great object of modern civilisation is to soften the rigours of war as much os possible; but Count Moltke’s doctrines, if carried out, would, on the contrary, increase them.

The details of a frightful railway accident on the Erie railway, by which five men were burned to death, recall the ghastly memories of the Abergale disaster. The night mail train from Buffalo to Jersey went off the line, from some unexplained cause, near Owego, when travelling at the rate of thirty-five miles an hour. The first six cars rolled over and over down an embankment. In the postal car were four men sorting letters by the light of twelve kerosene lamps. The lamps broke. In a moment the car was in a blaze. Rescue was impossible, and the awestruck passengers stood helplessly around the fire in which four fellow creatures were being burned to death. An express car caught fire, and efforts were made to extricate its solitary occupant. A hole was cut in the door, and the man’s head appeared through the opening, but he could not force himself out. “The hole created a draft, upon which the fire seized, and it suddenly shot up the legs and body of the man, surrounded his head in one great sheet ef flame, and he sank back and was literally roasted to death before the eyes of the horror-stricken spectators. When his body was finally rescued from the wreck it had lost all semblance of human form.’*

Joubert, who has been appointed commandant by the revolted Boers in the Transvaal, was formerly a clerk in Melbourne, Australia. He arrived there from the Cape, and finding Australia too slow for his ambition, soon returned to the place from whence he came. It is stated that owing to differences between the company and the contractors, the progress at present being made with the Great St. Gothard Tunnel is so slow that its completion can hardly be looked for before October,

The yonng Queen of Spain came very near being made a hapless widow a few days since. King Alfonso was skating near the Casa de Campo, when the ice suddenly broke under him and he was precipitated into the water. He was quickly and safely rescued, escaping with a ducking. A shocking accident occurred the other morning to the driver of a train from Wimbledon to Waterloo. As the train was approaching the Wimbledon platform, the roan was attending to his duties

before the furnace, when the fire suddenly burst forth and enveloped him in flames. His clothes, being greasy, blazed fiercely, and the passengers waiting at the station were horrified to see the driver hanging over the side of his engine shrieking for help. The brakes were applied, and one of the guards"going to the engine managed with his cloak to put out the flame. As soon as the train arrived at the terminus the sufferer, who was in great agony, was at once conveyed to St. Thomas’s Hospital. It was observed that Mr Gladstone, previous to his great speech on the new rule of debate last week, brought in with him a bottle, which ho placed on the table in front of him, along with his papers. This bottle contained the famous composition of sherry and the white of eggs, without which the Premier has never ventured of late years to make a great set speech, and which is becoming more necessary to him than ever now that his magnificent voice shows signs of breaking. As it happened, the Premier had no occasion to resort to his mixture during the delivery of his speech. A preliminary sip of the magic fluid cleared his throat —rendered it, as the French say, velonte-—and from first to last hia voice remained clear as a hell, with lust that suspicion of weakness at times which has begun with tne post two years to manifest itself. The project ot forming a Chamber of Commerce for London is in a fair way of proving successful, all the leading men in the city being unanimously in its favor. It is somewhat anomalous that, while the movement has spread with success through the great commercial centres of England, it has never yet been established in the city of London, where surely it ought to have originated. The present suggestion was made by the Lord Mayor, and has recived its greatest preliminary impetus from members of tne banking community.