OUR HOME LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3434, 24 December 1879, Page 2

OUR HOME LETTER.

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London, November, 1879. Prussia's Budget shows a deficit which will hare to be met with a loan. Of course this deficit is caused by the keep* ing up of her immense military system, and is there any help for it • Oar mutual friend, Enoch, whose publication some* times reaches this benighted country, assures us that the mi [lonium is nigb, then I would ask, why is it that the armaments of t-ie different countries in Europe are continually increasing? Maybe they are preparing for the battle of Armageddon. There is also a great agitation in the naval world. Take the different nations in detail: France, who has been under a cloud for some years, is again devoting attention and spending largo sums on her navy, Prussia is developing a system of small, but yery fast steaming Teasels, armoured, but only to carry one gun each, that to be a heavy one, however. A nice nest of wasps she will possess in a few years' time. Buiiia is increasing her fleet in the Pacific largely by seeding out armoured and armed vessels which are nominally traders, bat there is no attempt to disguise the fact that if war breaks out, tbey are at once to become Russian war vessels,, and attach our Australian and New Zealand ships. Is'nt that a happy prospect? Italy is very ambitious, she builds ships as large as our largest, and mounted with heavier guns; the . Dandalo and the Duilis, which are now afloat, have each four 100-tons guns; our heaviest is the 81-tonner. Fancy how Nelson or any i other of our old wooden three-decker 1 admirals would look if they saw these monsters fired. England is building large and small, armoured and unarmoured ships and special attention has been devoted lately to the torpedo service. God forbid that a war should break out, but if it does Gnat Britain must be the real mistress on the seas, whoever else may be master on shore. The great political event of the last month hail been the treaty between Germany and Austria. For a long time it was not believed in, but now there ia no doubt of the matter, and it appears generally to be taken as a food sign for the maintenance of peace. All ordinary readers of newspapers fare aware, in' fact convinced, that Great Britain does not wish to add an inch to the territoiy she already poasesset and yet there are people in other countries who declare that she addi more yearly to her possession than any other nation in the world. Now it is too bad to put this as if we really wanted it when it is to apparent (to Englishmen) that it comes naturally, and then consider also'the blessing to the countries attached. The Transvaal is no use to us, of course it may become so, Cyprus is only a small island in the Mediteranean, and at for Afghanis* tan, well Afghanistan is rather large certainly, and important also, but you readers of mine, you know with all Englishmen that we did not want it, but that circumstances were too strong for ua aud so it came to pass the other day that British rule was duly proclaimed at Cabul, and we arc to administer and rule the country for a considerable period, and all people found with arms in their possession will be put to death. Bebels we call them, is it not prebable that other countries may have another name, " Patriots." There are usually two ways of looking at every question. Most people have heard of the celebrated Argyll Booms, the resort of ladies and gentlemen who " would'nt go home while morning " &c. An application for a dancing license was refused by the Magistrates the other day, notwithstanding that a fortune has been expended upon them, but no doubt the fortune has been recouped with interest long ere this. Remarks have been made as to the propriety of the Attorney-General appearing for the application, but a fee of two hundred guineas which I have heard said, attended the brief, will stand a few remarks being made. That little fight, Lawson (Daily Telegraph) v. Labouchere (Truth), I gave you particulars of last month has duly come into the Police Court as I supposed it woutd, and the end is not yet. Adjournment after adjournment, perhaps £ shall be able to let you know the sequel in my next. Trade is most certainly on the move for the better, but whether it be merely a spurt or reality of better times no one likes to say positively. Tin and iron are higher in price; blast furnaces are being biown in that have been out for months, and there, is generally a very hopeful feeling that things are going to be better. Strikes also are commencing, and that also is a sign, but one that we could very well do without. Provisions-of all kinds are rising in price... Our harvest has been bad, the same in France, and in that country also the sugar has failed. In tea I see a calculation that -there will b.s a deficiency of about 15,009,000 pounds. This is very serious, but we mu»t hope for better things next year. -

Smitbington's wife is not kind in double harness and not suitable for a gentleman to drire. Smitb.in.gton was talking to Potts about tho way people went on—and off nowadays.—" What wonld you do," ■aid Potts, " if some fellow ran away witb your wife?"—"l shouldn't hesitate an initant," said Smithington.—" You'd kill her?"-— "No; I think I should refrain from unmanly violence."—" Well what would you do then P " —" Make friends ■with the victim right oil", and giro, him some real testimony of my esteem. But, if I inyited bim to dinner, be should come alone. "