LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3767, 24 January 1881, Page 2

LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

;1 London, Jauugjjy 16. Attempt to bum the Custom * House, London. 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 design of Fenian agents. Attampted Assassination of Bradlaugli. A plot to murder Charles Bradlaugb, M P., was discovered and frustrated. HanUn sprains Himself. - Hanlan, while going through some training exercise yesterday, slightly sprained his ami. ; He is*reported to be in splendid form, and iv uo way affected by the slight sprain to the arm. He practices daily in company with Ross, orer whom his superiority is so marked that backers are now freely offering 4 to 1 on him. Laycock also is in excellent condition, and is reported thoroughly game. Both he and his friends are confident he will pull a great race to the finish. He is reported to be absolutely without any fear, and fully satisfied he can win,. Sir John A. McDonald, Premier of Canada, has addressed a letter to the miners of Staffordshire, remonstrating with them for bargaining with their employers in connection with liability to accident.

In the House of Lords, Lord Lytton, late Viceroy of India, instituted^ £jtifebate upon the policy of the GroreYifßent in regard to Afghanistan, which he sere rely criticised. '"-'^i Earl Granfille warmly defende^Jlpfc PtHcff&C .the Governmeut, ,. ■. ■ jf^ of Gffßeral Roberts was Wmv eulogised from both sides of the hoaiijg r . A prizefight took pla(^j^|W|Hr yesterday between two iiiiJirppTi iTH'iijlm and Longen, which proved to be a very severe encounter.. The combatants fought fifty- two rounds, and the fight lasted an hour and a half. Both men were severely punished. They were rery evenly matched, and fought till they could scarcely stand. Longen was fearfully beaten about the face, and at length was so* exhausted that he was unable to respond to the call of time. His,sup- ?- porters acknowledged his defeat" in the usual fashion, %ud Taylor was accordingly declared the winner.

In the House of Commons, the Solicitor General likened the Irish Land League to an octopus, aud Lord Hartingtoiyleclared the Irish land miscreants itiflecL the real feelings of the Irish people. * The Home Rule members cheered references made during the debate to the unde£epted agrarian crimes in Ireland. The weather continues cold and frosty The bracing atmosphere has stimulated the champion scullers, Hanlau and LayQQGk, whose daily exercises and trials are watched by a large number of deeply* interested persons. The Irish Land League is financially in a flourishing condition. Its weekly receipts are i<i,ooo. -