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are in fighting-trim, and while we are getting ready we can prohibit German manufactures from entering the United States. In the event of Germany attempting a blockade we should find in less than sixty days the British fleet on our coast involved in protecting British trade. France would also ha'fe an interest in the matter." Admiral Porter further expressed the opinion that the Government should purchase all the rifled guns obtainable from France and England with a sum of $50,000,000, adding that in sixty days he could soon set an improvised fleet to the work of destroying German commerce.

[Extract from the Times, Friday, 15th March, 1889.] The Samoan Question. Philadelphia, 14th March. The President has appointed Mr. John A. Kasson, Mr. William Walter Phelps, and Mr. George H. Bates Commissioners at the Samoan Conference in Berlin. Mr. Bates went to Samoa for the State Department in 1886, and is familiar with the German operations there. Auckland, 13th March. Intelligence from Samoa to the sth instant received here states that tranquillity continued in the island. There was no change in the positions of Tamasese and Mataafa. The strength of the latter's force was estimated at six thousand, while Tamasese's troops numbered only seven hundred. A proclamation had been issued by the German authorities withdrawing the decree establishing martial law and abandoning the right of searching vessels. The foreign war-ships remained at Apia. Admiral Kimberley, commanding the United States squadron on the Pacific station, who was recently ordered to proceed in the corvette "Trenton" from Panama to Samoa in order to protect American interests, had not arrived when the mail was despatched.

[Extract from the Times, Saturday, 16th March, 1889.] Germany and Samoa. Berlin, 15th March. Eegabding the Samoa question, the Vossische Zeitung writes : "It is to be regretted that the irritation on the other side of the ocean has reached its present extent, and the bitterness is in a large measure owing to the fault of the German officials. But it lies beyond reasonable expectation that the approaching Conference will lead to any other conviction than that there haB been a great deal of unnecessary heat imported into the dispute."

[Extract from the Times, Monday, 18th March, 1889.] The Samoan Conference. Berlin, 17th March. It is stated that the meeting of the Conference on Samoan affairs will scarcely take place before the beginning of April.

[Extract from the Times, Tuesday, 19th March, 1889.] The Samoan Conference. Berlin, 18th March. The Post states that Count JEL Bismarck, Count Berchem, and Privy Councillor of Legation Krauel are not yet appointed to represent Germany at the approaching Samoan Conference to be held in Berlin, and that the nominations will only be made after the arrival of the foreign representatives. The American representatives will be Mr. John Kasson, Mr. William Phelps, and Mr. George Bates. Sir Edward Malet will represent England, but, as the Governments of Germany and the United States will each have three representatives, it is regarded as probable that a special English representative will be sent to act w Tith Sir Edward. Washington, 18th March. It is believed that the United States delegates to the forthcoming Conference on the affairs of Samoa will be unable to start for Berlin before the middle of next month.

The Samoan Confebence. Me. W. A. M'Aethuk asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had seen the statement in the Times of Friday, the 15th March, that Messrs. John A. Kasson, William Walter Phelps, and George H. Bates had been appointed Commissioners for the United States to the Conference on Samoan affairs; whether this information was correct; and whether he could now state the names of the Commissioners who would represent this country at the Conference? Sir J. Fergusson : I have seen the statement, but we do not know that these nominations have been confirmed by the Senate, which is necessary. Mr. W. A. M'Arthur said the right honourable gentleman had not answered the last paragraph of the question. Sir J. Fergusson said he had answered the same question several times. The Commissioners were not yet appointed, but the honourable gentleman might rest assured that they would be appointed in good time.

Samoa. De. Cameeon asked the First, Lord of the Admiralty whether any report had yet been received.at. the Admiralty concerning the seizure of Mr. Gilan, a British subject, on board" the British ship " Eichmond" by an armed guard from the German war-ship " Adler " at Samoa? Lord G. Hamilton : A telegraphic report has been received from the Commander-in-chief on the Australian station from New Zealand, dated the 19th February, to the effect that the Germans had proclaimed martial law at Samoa, and claimed the right of search over British ships, and that British subjects (no names given) had been removed from the British ship " Eichmond " by armed