again drew their boat forward, until at the end of two miles they were leading by six lengths. The race was now virtually over, as the leaders were rowing well within their power. Nearing the finish they eased, and ultimately rowed under Scotswood Bridge easy winners by from nine to ten lengths. Time, as taken by Benson's chronograph, 26 min. 22 sec.

17. THE CONFERENCE.-The Black Sea conference assembled at the Foreign Office at one o'clock, Lord Granville presiding. Austria was represented by Count Apponyi, Italy by Signor Cadorna, Prussia by Count Bernstorff, Russia by Baron Brunnow, and Turkey by Musurus Pasha. No representative of France was present. The proceedings were of a formal nature, and the meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, 24th January, in order to afford an additional chance for the arrival of a French Plenipotentiary.

The apartment of the Foreign Office in which the sitting was held is called the Smaller Conference Room, in contradistinction to the magnificent hall known as the Conference Room.

-THE "INTERNATIONAL."-Sir R. Phillimore gave judgment in the case of the ship "International," which had been seized on the ground that she had on board a cable which was to be used in the military service of France. It was to be laid along the French coast between Bordeaux and Havre. He decided that the telegraph company had made out their claim to have the ship released, for although the cable might be used for military purposes, primarily its object was of a commercial character. At the same time he was of opinion that there was reasonable and proper cause for detaining the vessel and cargo, and he therefore made no order as to costs or damages.

23. DEMONSTRATION IN TRAFALGAR-SQUARE. A demonstration called in Trafalgar-square, to protest against the bombardment of Paris, and against the inaction of the English Government in the war, was held despite the miserable weather, and for nearly two hours a very large throng of persons stood in the rainy and windy night, listening to bitter denunciations of the English and Prussian governing powers. The organized procession started for Trafalgarsquare from a back thoroughfare of the Farringdon-road, the headquarters of the "Pioneers of Liberty," led by a brass band playing the "Marseillaise." Some fifteen flags were carried, and these of a peculiar character. Many were simply red, with a cap of liberty, of very bad workmanship and ugly shape, surmounting each pole. One of those not simply red was decorated with stars, and dedicated to the "United States of Europe;" another to the "Universal Republic and France," while a third distinct flag had the inscription, "Long life to Gambetta and Jules Favre." The bearers had red ribands about their arms, and some, in addition, wore sashes of the same hue about their waists.

The procession draggled rather than marched through the back streets of Hatton-garden, crossed Leather-lane, and debouched into Holborn from Brook-street, and then proceeded towards the square

by way of St. Martin's-lane. It was more a drifting crowd than a procession. There was a crowd in the square waiting for the procession, and full possession was taken of the usual platform-the foot of Nelson's Monument, on a level with the lions-some time. before the procession reached the spot. The crowd was a very large one, and there was a full muster of the rough element present, ready, apparently, for any mischief. They cheered lustily a halfdrunken soldier who pushed his way to the front and called, "in the name of the English army," for three cheers for France.

The meeting was formed on the side facing Cockspur-street, and great pains were taken, with indifferent success, to light the spot by means of the "flamers," the peculiar out-door lights used by costermongers. A large number in the crowd were, to all appearances, practically acquainted with the use of the flamers, and this knowledge led to two disadvantages, for at one period of the evening the costermongers shouted out instructions how the lights should be managed, and so disturbed the proceedings; and in the after-part they gave their assistance, and tumbled the framework on which the lamps were hanging, the lamps themselves, and the burning fluid among the assemblage.

Mr. Odger occupied the post of Chairman; and among the resolutions proposed and carried was one condemning the action of the Government in dismissing from their corps all Volunteers who took part in the demonstration, and proposing that they should have their names inscribed on a golden flag, while the names of commanding officers who dismissed them should be inscribed on a black flag.

25. AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE came before the Irish Court of Common Pleas, on a motion for the postponement of a trial in which a gentleman named Captain Poynter sought to recover 10,000. damages for an assault. The motion was made on behalf of the defendant, Mr. John Grey Vesey Porter, of Belle Isle, County Fermanagh, to obtain a postponement of the action for damages until the sittings after next term, the object being that in the meantime a divorce suit should be heard in which Mr. Porter was petitioner and his wife respondent. Mr. Porter admitted the assault, but pleaded in mitigation that Captain Poynter had seduced his wife. Mr. Poynter was the son of a gentleman of property in the county of Kent, and an officer in the 16th Regiment. He was popular with the gentry of the county, and made the acquaintance of the defendant, a gentleman of position and of large means, who lived at a picturesque spot on the margin of Lough Erne. After the plaintiff's commission had been sold he remained for some time at Enniskillen on a visit with the officers of his regiment, by whom he was much liked. On Saturday, the 3rd of December, he had made arrangements with his own company to have a photographic group taken. At ten o'clock in the morning he was in his own bedroom, when a man named Oldcroft, the defendant's butler, called and told him that Mrs. Porter had sent him to say that she wished to see him on the Dublin-road, near the Model School, which was on the main

land about a quarter of a mile from Enniskillen, and in the direction of Mr. Porter's residence. He replied that he could not go. Oldcroft came a second time with a more pressing message, and again he refused to go. At two o'clock the butler returned and said that Mrs. Porter was surprised that Captain Poynter did not go to her, and that if he went then she would not detain him five minutes. The place to which he was invited was on the coach road to Dublin. When the third message came he was engaged in the barrack-square, and he told Oldcraft that he would go, and walking down the road he met the butler coming for him again. Oldcraft told him that Mrs. Porter was in a boat under the bank at Killyhevlin, a pretty country seat within a mile of Enniskillen. After he had proceeded about 150 yards down an avenue leading towards Killyhevlin, five men sprang out from behind a clump of trees, and surrounded him, cutting off his retreat. One of them then gagged him with a strap, another garrotted him, seizing him by the throat from behind, and they also tied his wrists with a rope. They carried him to a boat, in which he saw Mr. Porter with two guns, which he afterwards saw were capped. Having flung him to the bottom of the boat, they threw a rug over him and rowed away. The defendant held the strap, which served as a gag. He succeeded in getting the strap from across his mouth, and asked the defendant what that treatment was for; that he had never done him any harm. The defendant replied, "Lie down, you blackguard, or I'll strike you. You know what it is for; the unfortunate woman has confessed." He made no reply. The defendant struck him repeatedly with his fists during the passage down the lake to Belle Isle. Both his eyes were blackened. They were fully two hours in the boat. The defendant called for a pair of scissors, and, taking them in his hand, said, "Now, I am going to put the Belle Isle mark on you." At that time he had pulled Mr. Poynter towards him, and had his head fixed between his knees. He cut off the plaintiff's hair, and while so engaged remarked, "Perhaps you would like to send a lock of your hair to your lady friends at Enniskillen." He was then put back to his former position in the bottom of the boat. The defendant flung water on him from a tin pannikin repeatedly during the passage to Belle Isle. On arriving there the men unfastened the ropes, and walked him up between them to the terrace in front of the house, where two large upright beams had been erected with a transverse one connecting them. Mr. Porter told his servants to keep the big bell ringing, and that the bugler of his band should sound the assembly. The plaintiff was then secured to the transverse beam, his feet barely touching the ground.. Two whips were brought, with one of which Mr. Porter commenced to flagellate him. He broke the whip against one of the upright posts, and then got the second, saying as he took it, "Now I will show you what I am going to do to a blackguard English officer." He flogged him for about ten minutes, and then went away, after saying to his men, "Boys, this is the best day's work you have

done yet; I will give you each 57., and, Oldcraft, I will give you 107." During the flogging one of the bystanders said, "Oh, Master John, that is enough."

This remarkable act of summary vengeance formed the subject of a long and exciting investigation, which ended in the disagreement of the jury who had to try the case.

SIR RICHARD MAYNE.-The ceremony of unveiling a monument erected to the memory of the late Sir Richard Mayne took place at Kensal Green Cemetery, in the presence of a large number of members of the metropolitan police force. The monument bore the following inscription:-" Sir Richard Mayne, K.C.B.; born November 27, 1796; died December 26, 1868. The officers and constables of the metropolitan police have raised this monument as a record of their high appreciation of his great ability, independence of character, and unswerving integrity as commissioner of the police of the metropolis during a period of nearly forty years from the foundation of the force in 1829."

FEBRUARY.

7. A PARIS BALLOON IN SURREY.-The following letter appeared in the Times. "The following has been addressed to the editor of the Surrey and Hants News, by the Rev. A. B. Alexander, Vicar of Chirt, Surrey: "-" Sir,-I was walking over one of the hills of the romantic village of Chirt to-day (Monday), when I was attracted by an object which seemed to be a woman with a striped petticoat, picking up sticks. I approached it with mixed feelings of curiosity and surprise. It turned out to be a beautiful little crimson-and-white oiled silk balloon, half full of a filthy gas. Tied to its mouth were two letters. One was addressed in English, French, and German as follows:-To the finder of the Last Hope' balloon.' Its enclosures were as follows:-'Noissy-le-Sec, midnight, January 26th, 1871. To the Finder.-Please oblige an Englishman, compelled by untoward fates to remain in this village with no means of communication with those outside. We expect now shortly the fall of Paris; but as it is important the letter attached to this balloon should somehow reach America, the finder will have my eternal gratitude if he will kindly post it and return the balloon to my agents, Parker and Co., 10, Cheapside, by whom all expenses will be paid. Trusting the finder will do this at once, I remain, for the present here. F. A.' The Conde de Grannula sends a letter which runs thus:- Noissy-le-Sec, midnight.-I write in haste, as I am going to the ramparts. The city is in a state of confusion. The cry of all is for Peace. Jules Favre is hastening to Versailles, there to make the necessary arrangements for peace and await another opportunity to pay those brutal Prus

sians out and their horrid old king. I send this by a little balloon belonging to a friend of mine, and I trust it will get to England safely. Conde DE GRANNULA.' Of course, the letter alluded to was at once posted and (at the cost of a halfpenny) the balloon despatched to the agent.

-A MILLIONAIRE.-The will of Thomas Brassey, Esq., late of Lowndes-square, contractor for public works, was proved in the London Court. His personalty alone, exclusive of his vast landed estates, amounted to six millions and a half. Of this gigantic, and during the existence of the Court probably unparalleled sum, three millions passed to his children in equal shares, and the remainder was settled in trust to their equal benefit.

8. THE DOWRY TO THE PRINCESS LOUISE.-A crowded public meeting of working men and others was held at the Wellington Music Hall, Brooke-street, Holborn, "to protest against the proposed grant, and to support the withdrawal of all pensions to the German princes." Mr. Lees, compositor, who, in the absence of Mr. George Odger, occupied the chair, said it was the duty of Englishmen to look after their own pockets. He complained of the apathy of the working men, and considered that meetings should have been held long ago to protest against the payment of large sums of money to the royal children. Mr. Horton moved the following resolution:-"That this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived when it is necessary for the working men to demand the withdrawal of the annuities now paid out of the taxes to German Princes and to English Princesses married to German Princes, and also that no further endowments be made to any of the royal family." Mr. Osborne moved the addition of the words to the resolution, "with the exception of the Princess Louise." He said he did not see why the Princess should be punished because she would marry an Englishman. Princes. Teck, Hesse and Christian received grants with their wives. If the Princess had her grant it would not make a difference of half-a-pint of beer to the working man. Let her have the 30,0007., but it should be distinctly understood that the other Princes should get nothing. Mr. O'Hennessey and Mr. Shipton and others addressed the meeting. The chairman said he wished it to be known that they did not object to the dowry because the Princess was going to marry a Scotchman. They objected to dowries altogether, whether for English, Scotch, or German. The resolution was then carried, with one dissentient. Mr. Weston moved a resolution calling a monster meeting at an early date to elicit the opinions of the working classes, and that in order to carry out the foregoing resolution a petition to Parliament be prepared. He suggested that the meeting should be called in Hyde Park. Mr. Bright seconded the resolution, which was carried. A committee was appointed to carry out the demonstration.

11. CHARGE OF HERESY AGAINST MR. VOYSEY.-The Lord Chancellor read the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the appeal by the Rev. C. Voysey, rector of Healaugh,