20.-Announcement made that Sir Travers Twiss had resigned his ecclesiastical appointments under the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London, as also the office of Queen's Advocate. He was succeeded in the office of Chancellor of the Diocese of London by Dr. Tristram, and as Vicar-General of Canterbury by Dr. Deane, Q.C. The office of Queen's Advocate was not filled up.

The motion for the second reading of Mr. Fawcett's bill for the abolition of tests in Dublin University "talked out." On the 26th the proposal for a second reading was carried by 94 to 21 votes.

Lord Granville replies to Mr. Fish's answer to a former "friendly communication," that the British Government had never recognized the indirect claims.

- Fire at Düsseldorf, destroying the Academy with its rich art treasures, and much other property.

22.-The Gazette contains the long-threatened "denunciation" of the French Commercial Treaty in the form of a communication from the Duc de Broglie to Earl Granville. This treaty, it was said, was the first of some others which had arrived at a term when it could

be regularly annulled. "We can no longer even reckon with any certainty on the possibility of modifications which would be necessary to us. We are, therefore, obliged to prepare for its cessation by denouncing it now. Confident in our intentions, resolved to use only with great moderation the freedom which will be restored to us, either by negotiation of new conventions, or rather by our own legislation on our commercial régime, we have taken this step under the pressure of a public interest which cannot be misunderstood.

Bach's "St. John" Passion music performed for the first time in England in Hanover Square Rooms.

23. The Queen leaves Windsor Castle for Gosport on her way to Baden.

University Boat-race, Cambridge winning by half a length, amid a heavy snow-storm. 25.-Bust of Mr. Grote, historian, unveiled in Westminster Abbey.

The agricultural labourers of Warwickshire commence an agitation for increase of wages.

25. Mr. Lowe introduces the annual Budget. The revenue for the current year, estimated at 72,315,000l. had realized 74,535,000l., being an excess of 2,220,000l. On the estimated expenditure there had been a saving of 1,016,000l. For the ensuing year Mr. Lowe estimates the revenue at 74,915,000l. and the expenditure at 71,313,000. With the surplus at his disposal he proposed extending the present exemptions from the inhabited house-tax to shops, offices, or warehouses, which would cost 50,000l. a year; to reduce the duty on coffee and chicory to about one half at a cost of 230,000l.; to extend the principle of abatement in respect of incomes chargeable with income-tax from 2007. a year to 300l. a year, and to increase the amount to be deducted from the assessment from 60l. to 80%. Lastly, and most important of all, he would take off the extra twopence of income-tax imposed last year, reducing this tax from sixpence to fourpence at a cost to the revenue of 2,700,000l. The Budget was generally thought to be simple and felicitous, showing judicious finance, a sound fiscal system, and a just regard for the interests of the people.

27.-Fire in Glasgow, destroying the extensive range of warehouses and shops occupied by Messrs. Fraser and M'Laren in Argyll and Buchanan Streets and McGeoch's ironmongery stores in the courts adjoining.-Two days later the Lancefield Spinning Company's mill in the same city was destroyed by fire.

William Rodway sentenced at Kingston assizes to twenty years' penal servitude for stabbing Ellen Carrington, Farnham, a woman with whom he had at one time lived and been engaged in business with.

30.-Eight young girls suffocated in a fuzee factory near Camborne, West Cornwall, by the unexpected ignition of a heap of recently-spun fuze.

April 1.-Died, at the house of his nieces, the Misses Sterling, Bolton Row, London, aged 70 years, the Rev. Frederick Denison Maurice, M. A., Professor of Moral Philosophy at Cambridge, and author of many popular volumes on theology and morals. His remains were interred in Highgate cemetery on the 5th, in the presence of a large number of his friends of all opinions.

The 300th anniversary of the capture of Briel celebrated in Holland

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3.-Mr. Disraeli, on a visit to Lancashire, addresses a large audience in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. He spoke of the Constitution, which it was the special object of the Conservative party to maintain, of the House of Lords, Church and State, and, slightly, on contemporary politics. On foreign politics Mr. Disraeli remarked that although persons were apt to put them aside, yet the most vital consequences have been occasioned by mere inadvertence. He illustrated this point by two anecdotes. Since he had been in public life there had been for this country a great calamity and there was a great danger, and both might have been avoided. calamity was the. Crimean War. On that subject Mr. Disraeli observed: "I speak of what I know, not of what I believe, but of what I have evidence in my possession to prove that the Crimean War would never have happened if Lord Derby had remained in office. had the present Government treated the demand of Russia for the modification of the Treaty of Paris? Having first threatened war, they threw over their plenipotentiary, and agreed to arrangements by which the violation of that treaty should be sanctioned by England, and, in the form of a Congress, they showed themselves guaranteeing their own humiliation." Regarding the future policy of the Conservative party, Mr. Disraeli remarked: "If I may venture to give such a hint, let us take care not to allow ourselves to be made to any extent the tools of the ambition or of the discontent of extreme politicians on the other side. I tell you what I mean. It may very likely be the game of the Radical party to try and turn out the present Ministry if they can and to put a Conservative Government in its place, that Conservative Government being in a minority, hoping that by so doing they shall be able to reconstruct their own party upon a new platform, pledged to more extreme and more violent measures, and then to have a Cabinet formed of the most thoroughgoing Radicals. These may be their tactics. But just because it is their game it ought not to be ours."

Antioch destroyed by an earthquake, and as many as 1,600 persons reported to be killed.

4. Replying to a deputation representing the National Association for Freedom of Worship, Mr. Disraeli said: “I look forward

to the Church as I look to churchmen, as the maintainers and upholders of the institutions of the land; but I wish as much as possible to divest that natural connection of mere party feeling, and I am prepared upon all occasions to act with churchmen heartily and cordially for the great ends which they propose, without any reference to the immediate necessities of the political connection of which I am proud to be a member." To another deputation representing a Church Defence Association, the leader of the Opposition expressed a hope of being able to defeat the Burials Bill if active exertions were at once made to petition against it. "That is the practical counsel I give you, and if we succeed in defeating that measure I think the tide will have turned, and that we shall have arrested the progress of these invasions which have been successful in too many instances, as much from the negligence of churchmen as really from the enmity of the assailants of the Church."

4.-Mr. Vernon Harcourt's motion for reducing the national expenditure rejected by 78 to 35 votes.

6.-At Bristol Assizes the Mayor of Exeter recovers ten guineas in name of damages against the Times, for publishing a letter insinuating that he had used official influence to obstruct inquiry regarding a disorderly Permissive Bill meeting, where Bishop Temple was rudely treated

7.--Regarding the Constitution, Mr. Bright writes to a correspondent: "As to opinions on the question of monarchy or republicanism, I hope and believe it will be a long time before we are asked to give our opinion; our ancestors decided the matter a good while since, and I would suggest that you and I should leave any further decision to our posterity. Now, from your letter I conclude you are willing to do this; and I can assure you I am not less willing."

8. Mr. Dodson retires from the Chairmanship of Committees, and is succeeded by Mr. Bonham Carter. The House afterwards went into Committee on the Ballot Bill, a stormy discussion arising on clause 2, fixing the manner in which the poll should be taken. proposition for marking the ballot paper with a view to detect personation, was rejected by 168 to 128 votes.

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Opening of the German Parliament, Prince Bismarck reading a message from the Emperor, declaring that the power acquired by Germany through becoming united in one empire is not only a safe bulwark for the Fatherland, but likewise affords a strong guarantee for the peace of Europe."

Madame Riel found murdered in her residence, 13, Park Lane. Her daughter, a member of the French Company performing at the St. James's Theatre, arrived from Paris early this morning, and on presenting herse!{

at Park Lane was informed that her mother

was absent. It was soon discovered that certain doors were locked, that the keys were missing, and that the cook could not be found. This led to an examination of the house, when the dead body of Madame Riel was found in the pantry, opened with duplicate keys in possession of the young lady. Her death appeared to have been caused by strangulation, as the tightened rope was still round her neck, though there were marks of extreme violence on other parts of the body. An examination of the safe showed that the murder had been accompanied by the robbery of gold, banknotes, French bonds, and railway shares. Suspicion at once fixed upon the cook, Marguérite Dixblanc, a Belgian by birth, but some time resident in Verdun, and in Paris for a short period during the reign of the Commune. She was known to have been in the house alone with her mistress on the forenoon of Sunday the 7th, left it stealthily in the evening, and was traced as a passenger to Paris by the Continental mail train. A further clue to her movements there was soon obtained by a letter written a day before the murder, wherein Dixblanc indicated to the Sieur Dubois that she expected to be in Paris soon. It had been misdirected to Rue Saint Denis instead of Rue du Port St. Denis, and was in ordinary course opened by the post-office authorities, for the purpose of being returned to the writer. On the detectives presenting themselves at the house of Dubois, Dixblanc was found engaged in the task of measuring out charcoal, and talking at the same time, it was said, of the horrors of the Park Lane murder. She sought to evade apprehension for a brief period, but in the end confessed having committed the crime, and even gave an account of the manner in which it was accomplished. "I first tried,” she said, "to conceal the body in the dustbin, but I could not. I then took it by the feet, but being unable to drag it, I got a cord and passed it round her waist. Finding the body bent double, I put it round her neck. At this moment the housemaid, who was out on an errand, knocked at the door. I sent her away for beer. Then I tried to drag the body upstairs, but could not, and hid it in the cellar." Dixblanc described the robbery as an afterthought, suggested, she said, by the keys falling from Madame Riel's pocket. Extradition treaties having been complied with, she was brought over in custody to London, and after various examinations committed for trial.

8.-The Bishop of Lincoln having written to the Archbishop of Canterbury requesting an explanation of the remark made by his Grace in Convocation, to the effect that nobody believes in the damnatory clauses of the Athanasian Creed, the Archbishop writes: “I am confident that it is only in a modified sense, with such modifications as you allude to, that these clauses of the Creed are retained by the Church, and though I see no inconsistency in subscribing the words with such acknowledged

qualifications, I still feel that it is in itself an evil to use words which require such explanation. If these clauses remain they will always be used with such qualifications as you have alluded to, whether an explanatory rubric distinctly stating the qualification be adopted by the Church or no.'

8.-The Queen arrives at Windsor from the Continent.

9.-Mr. Fowler's motion condemning the entail and strict settlement of land, rejected by 103 votes to 81.

10.-Petitions presented to the House of Commons, and ordered to lie on the table, praying that means might be provided from the public funds for defending the Claimant in the event of Government carrying out their intention of prosecuting him for perjury. To a charge upon two indictments-first, that he was the eldest son of Sir James Doughty Tichborne; second, that he was not Arthur Orton -the Claimant, at the Central Criminal Court to-day, pleaded "I am not guilty." He was

then removed in custody till bail could be arranged pending the issue of the trial, now removed by writ of certiorari to the Court of Queen's Bench.

11. Came on at the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Arthur O'Connor, charged with unlawfully pointing a pistol at her Majesty, intending to alarm and cause a breach of the peace. The prisoner pleaded guilty on being first brought up on the 8th, but it was now stated his friends were anxious to establish a plea of insanity. This, however, was overruled, and O'Connor was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and 20 strokes from a birch-rod.

The steamer Oceanus blown up on the Mississippi above Cairo, the wreck afterwards taking fire and burning to the water edge. Out of one hundred on board, sixty were reported to have lost their lives.

12. In reply to Earl Stanhope, Earl Granville said that Government had determined to present a case excluding the indirect claims, and accompanied by a declaration to the Geneva tribunal, abiding by the position taken up by her Majesty's Government in their correspondence with the United States, and expressly reserving the right of Great Britain to withdraw from the arbitration should the present difference with the United States not be removed by the 15th of June. A similar statement was made by Mr. Gladstone in the Commons in reply to Mr. Disraeli.

13.-Died at Manchester, aged 84, Samuel Bamford, author of "Passages in the Life of a Radical."

15.-Proposed new Court of Appeal. In the House of Lords, the Lord Chancellor moves a resolution-"That it is expedient that one Imperial Supreme Court of Appeal le estab lished which shall sit continuously for the

hearing of all matters now heard by way of appeal before this House or before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and that the appellate jurisdiction of this House be transferred to such Supreme Court of Appeal." It was intended that the new Court should constitute one tribunal sitting in two divisions-one representing the House of Lords, and the other the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the members of either division being able to sit in the other. The first division would consist of all peers who had filled the office of Lord Chancellor or any high judicial office for a specified time either in Great Britain or Ireland, and would also include all peers who had actually practised at the bar, and Privy Councillors now capable of being appointed upon the Judicial Committee. In each division there would be no fewer than three nor more than five judges, who would be paid 6,000l. a year; and peers who had filled the office of Lord Chancellor and who accepted the obligation to attend, would have their pensions augmented from 5,000l. to 6,000l. a year. The Lord

Chancellor would be at the head of both divisions of the Supreme Court, and among the members of the second division would be the Lord Chief Justices of the Queen's Bench and Common Pleas, and the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. The Lord Chancellor concluded by proposing that the motion be the order of the day in immediate priority to the second reading of the Bill constituting the Supreme Court of Appeal.

15.-James Nicholls, shoemaker, Maida Hill, murders four of his children and then commits suicide. In the afternoon a boy who I lived in the house called the attention of one of the neighbours to a stream of blood running from under the door of one of the rooms occupied by Nicholls. A policeman was called, and on bursting open the door of the front room he found three of the children-Louisa, aged three; Rosina, aged five, and James Henry, aged fourteen months- with their throats cut. The back room, which had been used as a workshop, was in great confusion, every article of furniture being out of its place. In it were discovered the body of the eldest daughter, Eliza Nicholls, aged nine, who had also had her throat cut, and the body of Nicholls himself, who appeared, after murdering his children, to have sat down at his bench and cut his own throat in a desperate manner. The coroner's jury found that Nicholls was of unsound mind.

· Mr. Harcourt's amendment to omit the word "wilfully" from Mr. Leatham's proposal to make the exhibition of a voting paper by a voter penal, carried against the Government by 167 to 166. Government was again in a minority the following evening, Sir Massey Lopes carrying his resolution on the subject of local taxation by 259 to 159.

-The English and American counter-cases presented to the tribunal at Geneva.

16.-Lord Kimberley introduces the Govern ment Licensing Bill into the House of Lords. In explanation of some of the clauses it was stated that licences granted by county magistrates would not be valid until confirmed by a special committee to be appointed yearly by the court of quarter sessions. In boroughs where there were not more than nine magis. trates the jurisdiction would remain with them as a body, and where there were more than nine a committee would be appointed to grant licences, which, however, would not be valid until confirmed by the whole body of justices and the Secretary of State. The bill also dealt with the adulteration of liquor, and provided for closing public-houses in the metropolis from twelve at night to seven in the morning; in towns under 10,000 inhabitants from ten to seven; and in towns with larger populations from eleven to seven. On Sunday licensed houses would not be opened until one o'clock; and the hours of closing on that day would, in the three cases mentioned, be eleven, nine, and ten o'clock respectively. After a few words from the Duke of Richmond and Lord Redesdale, the bill was read a first time.

Died at Oxford, aged 76, the Rev. Dr. Norris, President of Corpus Christi College.

Japanese Ambassadors arrive in Liver pool from New York.

Derry Castle, situated on the shores of Lough Dergh, near Killaloe, destroyed by fire.,

The remains of Alexandre Dumas, detained at Pays since December 1870, in consequence of the Prussian occupation of the Seine Inférieure, were laid to-day, in accordance with the novelist's last wishes, in the little cemetery of Villers-Cotterets, near which he was born in 1802.

18. Edward Mitchell, sculptor, while labouring under mental irritation, commits suicide by first stabbing himself with a sharppointed graving tool, and afterwards throwing himself from the upper story of his house.

- Persian famine increases in intensity, the news from Teheran to-day being that bread had risen to 6d. per pound.

19. Christie and Manson commence to dispose of the famous Gillott collection of paintings. The sale continued till May 4th, when the total amount realised was found to be 180,000 guineas. Twelve drawings by Turner brought 16,430 guineas.

23. Mr. Candlish's proposal to repeal in the interest of the Nonconformists the 25th clause of the Elementary Education Act, rejected after a debate by 316 to 115 votes.

The Court of Probate pronounce for the will of Miss Cordelia Angelica Read, known as the "eccentric old lady" of Stamford Street, the owner of ruinous houses in that street, and in other parts of London. By her will, executed in 1858, she bequeathed the whole of her personal estate, amounting to about 100,000l., to the Brompton Hospital.

A miner named Lease, living at Charterhouse, on the slope of the Mendip Hills, beats his wife to death in a fit of passion excited by jealousy, several of the neighbours witnessing the savage attack through the windows, but too terror-stricken to interfere.

24.-Another group of Communist prisoners tried for being concerned in the murder of the hostages in May last. The woman Guyart was condemned to death; the girl Cailleux and Léopold Viel to transportation to a fortress; Victor Charton to penal servitude for life; Feltesse to ten years' penal servitude; four others to various terms of imprisonment; and twenty to imprisonment for two years.

Discussion in the Lower House of Convocation on the Athanasian Creed. The variety of opinions expressed was fully indicated by petitions previously sent in and thus arranged: -For retention of the Creed in an unaltered form, 35,271; for investigating the text and a new translation, 561; for the removal of the use of the Creed, 10; for the omission of the Creed from the Prayer-book, 6; for delay in the removal of the Creed, 25; for omission of the damnatory clauses, 30; for making the use of the Creed optional, 83; for the retention of the three Creeds, 96. After a learned and animated debate extending over four days, divisions were taken on the various proposals. The first was on an amendment by Mr. Kempe, of St. James's, to confine its recitation to the shortened and occasional services provided by the Bill now before Parliament: this was rejected by 60 to 10. Stanley then proposed to make its recitation permissive by inserting a rubric after the Apostles' Creed, allowing it as an alternative for that Creed on the appointed days: this was rejected by 60 to 12. The Dean's next proposal, placing its use at the discretion of the Ordinary, was rejected by 54 to 13: after which Lord Alwyne Compton's motion, that the Creed should continue to be used in its integrity, was carried by 62 to 7. A proposal by Canon Blakesley, that it should be treated as a Hymn or Canticle, met with somewhat more favour-being negatived by 42 to 19. Archdeacon Denison then carried a rider by 42 to 12, that the Creed should be said on no fewer days than at present.

Dean

The Spanish Cortes opened by King Amadeo, who expressed a hope for a prompt

termination of the insurrection, praised the discipline and services of the army and the Civic Guard, and concluded by stating that he would seek in the deliberations of the Cortes a guide for his conduct and a way to identify his feelings with those of the Spanish people. "I will never (he said) impose myself on the Spanish people; but neither will I allow myself to be accused of deserting the post which I Occupy by its will, nor of forgetting the duties which the Constitution places upon me, and which I shall fulfil with the loyalty and constancy which I owe to the honour of my name.'

Madame Dubourg dies in the hospital of La Pitié, Paris, from wounds inflicted by her husband in a fit of jealousy, caused by the discovery of an intrigue in which she was concerned.

`27.—The Duke of Edinburgh presides at a meeting in Willis's Rooms, called to consider the propriety of raising a memorial to the late Lord Mayo. Mr. Disraeli was present, and spoke highly of the many merits centred in the Viceroy, "whose noble presence, cordial manner, the magnificence of his life, his active accomplishments, his extraordinary power of physical endurance, combined with an intuitive knowledge of mankind, inexorable love of justice, which was only tempered by the abounding generosity of his heart, produced such an effect upon those whom he ruled that all at once willingly acknowledged that he was born to command."