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marching through the town. In Limerick, where a band was passing through Cecil-street, Mr. Kelly, a retired sub-inspector of constabulary, who was in his own parlour, was fired at. The bullet grazed his temple and lodged in the opposite wall. Mr. Kelly had been fifty years in the service, and had just retired on a pension. He had made himself obnoxious to the Fenian party in Limerick during the late risings, and had displayed considerable activity in tracking out conspirators.

13. MR. ALFRED WIGAN.-This eminent actor was entertained at dinner in the Douglas Hotel, Edinburgh, on the occasion of his approaching retirement from the stage, by a number of his friends. and admirers. Lord Neaves acted as chairman, and the SolicitorGeneral of Scotland as croupier. Lord Neaves, in proposing "The health of Mr. Wigan," remarked that that gentleman was an honourable member of an honourable profession. A demoralizing sentence had never issued from his lips, and he had never in his performances overstepped "the modesty of nature." Sir Alexander Grant gave "The health of Mrs. Wigan ;" and during the evening a humorous song, in reference to Mr. Wigan's personation of Achille Dufard, was sung by Lord Neaves.

17. THE BISHOP OF LONDON'S PRIMARY VISITATION.-His lordship paid his first official visit to St. Paul's on Monday, the 13th. The first four days of the week were devoted to services, and to the reception of clergy and other officials. On Friday, the 17th he delivered the primary charge to the clergy of his diocese. His lordship touched upon a variety of subjects, including the parochial system, the want of additional churches and clergy, pew-rents and free churches, the mode of dealing with the working classes, lay co-operation, sisterhoods, episcopal authority, ritualism, and the power of ecclesiastical courts. In dealing with the revision of the Prayer Book, and with the complaints made with respect to the violation of the rubric, the right rev. prelate asked for the co-operation of those who, sensitive, often to excess, of ritual in others, either from jealousy of it, or from carelessness, allowed themselves to neglect rubrics which had their use and obligation still. The Bishop counselled the surplice as the preaching vestment; and concluded his charge with an earnest appeal for unity amongst Christian bodies, so that they might work together for the common good.

IRELAND.-At a meeting of the Statistical Society in Dublin, Mr. Justice Lawson delivered an address on the steadily growing prosperity of Ireland. He attributed the decrease in population partly to the use of machinery in agricultural operations, which diminished the number of labourers. Wages had increased fourfold. The deposits in savings' and other banks had increased considerably within the last two years. The value of live stock had augmented in the year 1870 by 1,240,9887. Other branches of trade and industry showed also satisfactory figures. On the other hand, he considered that, though higher education was satisfactory, the intermediate education was the reverse; and that drunkenness

was decidedly on the increase, although the contrary might be said of crime in general. He was of opinion that there should be a more complete assimilation of laws in Ireland with those of England. In conclusion, he said, "Trade should be free; the transfer of land should be easy and simple; ignorance and crime should be treated as enemies to the commonwealth; reformation and prevention should be regarded, and will be found as well more effectual as more economical than punishment. These, with just laws firmly and impartially administered, constitute mainly what Government can do to promote the welfare of a people; and yet all these will prove insufficient to make us happy or contented, unless we are animated as a nation by the spirit of religion and the influence of brotherly love."

18. EARLY SEVERE FROST.-The frost set in with very unusual severity for this early period of the winter, and for a few days the ornamental waters in London were crowded with skaters. The frost yielded on the 23rd; but the temperature continued much below the average during the remainder of the month.

21. LIQUOR TRAFFIC LAW.-Several meetings were held about this time by supporters of the National Association for Promoting Amendment in the Law relating to Liquor Traffic. At one held at Adam-street, Adelphi, under the presidency of Sir Robert Anstruther, the following resolutions were adopted :-" Waiving all questions of abstract right to compensation on the part of licence-holders, it appears to this conference that the proposal which emanated from the brewers and publicans, that compensation should be provided from a licence-rental on houses which retain their licences, may be accepted as a safe basis for legislation." "That this conference is of opinion that it is expedient to introduce into any licensing law the principle of progressive limitation of the number of licensed houses with reference to population and area, and that, after such limit has been attained, the granting of new licences should be on the principle of public tender, as contemplated in both cases in Mr. Bruce's bill of the present year.

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At a subsequent meeting in the same place, Archbishop Manning took part. At Exeter, on the 22nd, the Bishop presided at a similar meeting, and in the course of his speech observed, "that if they could not make men sober by Act of Parliament, they could, at all events, prevent others from making them drunk, and tempting them away from their virtue, under the authority of an Act of Parliament. He had no doubt whatever that the association must succeed, in the course of a very few years, in very seriously diminishing the present temptations to intemperance. Sunday closing," he said, "was one of the subordinate battles they had to fight in the general cause of sobriety and temperance; and all who cared any thing for the service of God knew how great was the value of Sunday to the whole Christian world. Those who watched human life, and saw what Sunday had done for it, would feel that whoever robbed the people of the Sunday, would indeed rob them of a priceless gift.”

Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., at a meeting held in St. James' Hall for the same object, affirmed that there was no country in the world where there were such facilities for the obtaining of intoxicating liquors as in this country, and in no country was the traffic let alone as it was here.

23. ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.-The Prince of Wales was unable to fulfil an engagement to visit the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, on account of a feverish attack, which soon assumed a grave aspect. A bulletin, signed by Drs. Jenner, Gull, Clayton, and Lowe, stated that the Prince was suffering from typhoid fever, but that there were no unfavourable symptoms.

24. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.-An alarming accident occurred at Wigan to the train known as the "Flying Scotch Express." A train from Manchester was being arranged by the Wigan officials on the main line, when the Scotch Express, which was half an hour behind its time, came down the incline to the station at great speed. A dense fog prevailed, and the driver did not notice until too late that the station was blocked, so that a fearful collision took place, the Manchester train being driven 50 or 60 yards along the line. None of the passengers in the Scotch train were injured; but of those who were seated in the Manchester train seventeen were medically attended by local surgeons, who were quickly on the spot. Some of the passengers were very seriously hurt.

The more alarm was created as it was known that the train conveying the Queen from Balmoral to Windsor was to pass the station in a few hours. The line was cleared in time for her Majesty's journey.

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25. THE ROYAL FAMILY.-The Queen, accompanied by Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice, arrived at Windsor, having left Balmoral the previous evening. It was announced that her Majesty's health was quite re-established. The accounts of the continued illness of the Prince of Wales from typhoid fever determined her Majesty to repair to Sandringham on the 29th. She left Windsor at 11.5 a.m., and was met at King's Lynn by the Duke of Edinburgh, who escorted her to Sandringham, where she arrived about 3.30. The Prince's three elder children, and those of Princess Louis of Hesse-who, with their mother, were at the time on a visit at Sandringham,-were despatched to Windsor. Princess herself remained to share the watching and anxieties of the Princess of Wales. It was remembered by the nation how assiduous the Princess Alice had been exactly ten years before in her attentions to her lamented father, during his mortal illness from a fever of the same nature as that which now laid the Prince of Wales low; and public anxiety was perhaps enhanced by the recollection, in spite of the reassuring bulletins which were constantly published by the doctors in attendance, and eagerly secured by all classes throughout the country. It was popularly imagined that the disorder might have been contracted during the recent visit of their Royal Highnesses at Londesborough Lodge, near Scarborough,

as several of the party assembled there to meet them had been indisposed slightly; and the Earl of Chesterfield, who was among the number, was attacked by the fever in so severe a form that he sank from collapse, on the 1st of December. The medical attendant of Lord Londesborough's family stated, however, that the sanitary arrangements at Londesborough Lodge had been thoroughly examined before the Prince's visit, and were in perfect order. A groom in the establishment at Sandringham was also attacked with the fever.

ELECTION RIOT AT DOVER.-There was great excitement at Dover on the occasion of the re-election of Mr. Jessel, Q.C., who had vacated his seat in consequence of taking the Solicitor-Generalship. At the conclusion of the poll, Mr. Jessel was found to have a majority of 88 votes over his competitor, Mr. Barnett, a Conservative. The numbers were 1231 to 1143. After the election, the mob of Mr. Barnett's supporters smashed the windows of some of the Liberal newspaper offices, and of the Dover Castle Hotel-where Mr. Jessel was staying,-and the Royal Hotel. The bands of the rival candidates came into collision at the corner of a street, and much damage was done to their instruments. Four or five of the ringleaders were taken into custody; and the riot subsided early on the following morning.

27. MURDER OF BISHOP PATTESON.-The melancholy intelligence of the death of this excellent and energetic missionary bishop reached England by telegraph. The accounts from Sydney, with the date of November 4, stated that both he and the Rev. Mr. Atkin had been massacred while landing on the island of Santa Cruz by a Melanesian native in revenge for kidnapping outrages by slavers. A short account of Bishop Patteson's life will be found among our obituary notices.

Another sad catastrophe among savages, which resulted in the death of Mr. Andrew Weguelin, was notified to England by telegraph on the 17th. He was killed by Indians while on a visit to the colony recently founded in the Grand Chaco, in South America. He was intercepted on his way to give alarm to a surveying-party of the approach of eleven armed Indians. A letter says, "Thus has been suddenly carried away one of the bravest and best-hearted fellows that ever landed in this country. He was one of the few whom to know was to esteem."

-TRADE DISPUTES.-The first general meeting of the newlyelected Trade Council was held at the George Inn, Blackheath, to receive the reports from various large works as to the progress of the nine hours' movement. The chair was taken by Mr. Barnes, who stated that the principles and objects of the Council were to unite working men of all trades, whether society or non-society men, socially, morally, and intellectually, for the advancement of their class. Delegates from several large firms attended, announcing that the men had determined to make a stand for the reduction of hours of labour, some of them asking advice and guidance of the

Council. It was announced at the close of the meeting that the Great Eastern Railway Company had conceded the nine hours to their employés.

30. THE SCOTTISH CORPORATION DINNER.-The Scottish festival, which takes place annually on St. Andrew's Day at the Freemasons' Tavern, was this year unusually well attended, from the circumstance of its being the first public opportunity in London of welcoming the Marqius of Lorne since his late marriage. There were between 400 and 500 Scottish noblemen and gentlemen at the tables, among whom were Sir Sidney Dacres, Lord Elcho, and Dr. Norman M'Leod. The Marquis of Lorne presided. In proposing the health of the Prince of Wales, the Chairman said,

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My lords and gentlemen, the next toast which I have to introduce to your notice is that of 'The Prince of Wales and Duke of Rothsay, the Princess of Wales, and the other members of the Royal Family.' I think I had better begin at once by telling you that which you will all be most anxious to hear-namely, about the health of the Prince of Wales. You will, I am sure, all be delighted to hear that the Prince has passed a quiet and favourable day. There cannot, of course, but be great anxiety produced by such an illness, but we have well-grounded hope that, with God's blessing, it will come to a favourable issue, seeing that his strength remains good, and that he has at length been able to take more rest. You all know that his Royal Highness is president of this corporation, and you must remember the courtesy, dignity, and kindness with which he presided at your festive meeting two years ago. I am will mingle most fervent prayers with your cheers that the Princess of Wales may shortly see the Prince have a complete, speedy, and perfect recovery."

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The Marquis's speech was received with repeated cheers, and the toast was drunk with three times three.

Admiral Sir Sidney Dacres, in returning thanks for the Navy, said,

"It is always with great pleasure that I return thanks for the service in which I have spent half a century. It is a toast which is always received with kindness and genial feeling, and God grant that that feeling may long exist. Nothing stirs the sailor or the soldier of our services so much as the knowledge that he is appreciated at home here in England. We live in a time of great change. (Hear, hear.) We have new ships, new guns, and new men. I do not mean to say that our men are all of the character of the seamen which made our navy famous in the history of the world. There is a great change in the morale of the seaman. He is now, for the most part, a discreet, prudent, thinking, and well-disposed person as compared with what he was even in my time; but that change has been effected by education. It is an important fact that we have now nearly 4000 boys being educated for the navy-a fact that must hereafter have its effect. But be that as it may, and in spite of the deprecatory remarks which we hear, proceeding chiefly from

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