grumblers (laughter), in spite of parties on either side of politics who wish to make political capital out of every little disaster, I believe that the navy is now in as good a position as it ever occupied in the history of England."

After the toast of the evening, "Prosperity to the Scottish Corporation," had been duly honoured, the Secretary read a long list of subscriptions, including one of 200 guineas from Sir Richard Wallace, which amounted at the close of the evening to between 45007. and 46007.

OPENING OF THE DERBY MEMORIAL SCHOOLS.-These schools, attached to the district church of St. Peter, Great Windmill-street, which was built by the late Earl of Derby, have been erected as a memorial to him, and in furtherance of the work of education which he had been active in promoting. The opening ceremony was performed by Lord Francis Hervey. The incumbent, the Rev. Arthur Mozley, stated that the district consisted of nearly 6000 working men, chiefly artisans, tailors, shoemakers, and others-a far more respectable class than would be found in some other districts of East London. Dr. Stanley, Dean of Westminster, and the Rev. J. E. Kempe, Rector of St. James, Piccadilly, spoke on the

occasion.

DECEMBER.

2. THE BROWN INSTITUTION.-A hospital of a novel character was opened to-day. About twenty years since, a Mr. Brown of Dublin left the residue of his estate in trust to the Senate of the London University to accumulate for a certain number of years, for the purpose of founding a hospital for the study and treatment of the diseases of quadrupeds and birds useful to men. The building erected for the purpose is situated near the Vauxhall station. commodation is provided for ten horses or bullocks, sheds or folds for twenty animals, such as sheep, kennels for dogs, hatches for smaller animals, besides hatches for poultry and an aviary for birds. The stalls, loose boxes, and kennels are all warmed by hot air, are paved with asphalt, and are fitted with every thing that can conduce to the comfort of their future occupants. The post of Professor Superintendent of the Institution has been conferred upon Dr. Burdon-Sanderson, the Professor of Physiology in University College, who is widely known for the good work he has done, and especially for his researches into the ultimate pathology of contagion.

FIRE AT LEITH.-Between 800 and 900 yards of the West Pier, at Leith, was destroyed by fire. The pier, which was to a great extent of wood, was being covered with pitch, when the vessel con

taining the liquid boiled over and set the pier in flames. Four or five fire-engines were got on board steamers, from which they were worked. The fire lasted all day. The communication with the docks was cut off, so that the shipping escaped. The pier was a favourite promenade.

- LOSS OF A VESSEL.-The fishing lugger "Norfolk Hero," of Yarmouth, was lost off the Norfolk coast, with a crew of eleven hands. 3. FIRE AT WARWICK CASTLE.-Early in the morning a fire burst out in the private apartments of Lady Warwick, situated in the east wing of the building. The Earl and Countess, and Lord Brook, were absent at the time. Some workmen had been engaged the day before in decorating these apartments. The steward's boy was the first to perceive the fire; he roused up two footmen. The alarm-bell was rung, and messages for aid were sent to the town, and to Leamington, Coventry, and Kenilworth. Engines and troops of firemen speedily arrived; but the whole of the east wing was consumed before they came. A few books from the library and some of the most valuable pictures were secured and carried into the courtyard. The castle stands upon an eminence, sloping down to the Avon. The front part was inaccessible to the firemen, from the great height of the burning apartments above the ground. They had, therefore, to play upon the building from the courtyard. For hours their efforts to check the flames appeared hopeless, and destruction seemed to threaten the whole structure. The grand staircase, with its richly-carved wood-work, conducted the fire to the grand hall, a magnificent apartment, 60 ft. by 40 ft. and 26 ft. in height. The Gothic wooden roof was richly and elaborately carved, in 1851, from designs by Mr. Poynter, of Westminster. The walls were panelled with carved oak, and hung with antlers of deer, armour, swords, and matchlocks. Here were exhibited Cromwell's battered helmet, and the doublet in which Lord Brooke was killed at the siege of Lichfield, in 1634. The grand hall and its contents are wholly destroyed. The blackened walls and the charred fragments and ashes of the gorgeous roof alone remain. So rapidly did the flames extend towards the state apartments, where were stored the most valuable pictures, tapestries, and other works of art, that preparations were made for the worst. The flames were already licking the massive doors of the Red Draw. ing-room, which adjoins the Great Hall. The pictures by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vandervelde, Lely, Teniers, Murillo, and other famous masters, and the Vandyke portraits of Charles I., the Duke of Montrose, and Prince Rupert, were first removed into the courtyard. Then every thing else portable was removed, leaving only the furniture that was too large or too heavy to be carried away. The pictures were torn out of the beadings on which many of them were inlaid in the walls; the tops of costly marble tables were taken off; the rich old tapestry in the state bed-room was wrenched off the walls; and Queen Anne's bed, presented to the Earl of Warwick by George III., was pulled down and carried away piecemeal.

One by one the Red Drawing-room, the Cedar Drawing-room, the Gilt Drawing-room, and the Boudoir, or State Dressing-room, were thus denuded. The flames up to six o'clock appeared to defy the exertions of the fire-brigade. Happily, their efforts at last got the mastery of the fire, and the west wing of the castle, with the state rooms, the chapel, the collections of sculpture, pictures, armour, and curiosities, was saved. The plate and jewels were also preserved; and the famous Warwick vase was in a greenhouse, out of harm's way. A footman named Everton did a brave act. He rushed into the gun-room as the flames approached and carried off upwards of 500 cartridges which had been stored there in anticipation of a shooting-party. He became seriously ill in consequence of his exertions.

4. SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE-SHOW.-In spite of the prevalent epidemic, the foot and mouth disease, which caused many of the beasts brought up for inspection to be ejected from the exhibition, this year's show was as a whole fully up to the usual standard. Cattle numbered 234 entries; sheep 145, and pigs 59 pens. The Devons and Herefords were both numerous and good classes, notwithstanding these two breeds suffered most by the rejection of the infected animals. In the class of young Devons, her Majesty received the first prize, Mr. Senior the second, and the Prince of Wales the third. In the older class Mr. W. Smith was first, in the oxen, Mr. Bond. In the cow-class, Mr. Davy's Actress came first. The class of Hereford oxen was commended by the judges. Mr. W. Heath was first. Her Majesty's heifer Victoria Alexandra was at the head of the heifer class, which was commended.

Mr. Stratton's white ox took the 1007. plate as the best beast in the hall. Mr. Bruce's black-polled heifer took the cup for the best female.

Some useful Sussex cattle were exhibited; Mrs. Coote and Mr. Steere were first with oxen, and the Right Hon. H. Brand and Mr. T. Smith with cows and heifers. The Scotch polls had Mr. Bruce's fine black heifer at their head, and Mr. Postle was first in steers with one bred in Norfolk. The cross-bred and extra-stock cattle were numerous and good, an immense black-grey ox of Mr. W. Brown taking the 257. prize.

The 50%. cup for the best pen of sheep falling to a lot of Lincolns caused some excitement among the breeders. They were a remarkably fine pen, weighing 84 cwt., and bred by Mr. J. Byron, from the Kirkham flock. Mr. Rigden took the 207. cup. The Leicesters were not numerous; but the late Lord Berners' were good specimens, and won two first prizes. Lord Chesham took two first prizes and the cup with Shropshires; and the Duke of Marlborough won with Oxfordshire Downs.

There was a good show of pigs, and a fine pen of small whites from Windsor were first in a large class; but among the blacks Mr. J. Biggs won the first prize and cup with three of immense size. The confined space in the galleries restricts the display of

implements; but the usual makers had stands, with but few novelties. The show of roots and cabbages was numerous, and some immense specimens might be seen.

-APPOINTMENT OF SIR ROBERT COLLIER.-The late AttorneyGeneral took his seat for the first time as one of the members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. His appointment as connected with his preliminary nomination to a judgeship in the Court of Common Pleas, which he only held for a day or two, as a necessary step to the higher office, was a subject of much discussion and blame in legal circles. The Act passed recently (34 and 35 Vict., cap. 91) declared " any persons appointed to act (on the Judicial Committee) under the provisions of this Act must be specially qualified as follows-that is to say, must, at the date of their appointment, be or have been judges of one of Her Majesty's Superior Courts at Westminster," &c.

The Lord Chief Justice, Sir A. Cockburn, addressed a letter of remonstrance to Mr. Gladstone, in which, after recording his emphatic protest against the course adopted, he maintained that the proviso in the Act was intended to secure the appointment of those who had gained experience as Judges of Superior Courts, and that no exception was made in favour of a law officer of the Crown. Mr. Gladstone in reply, having stated that he had referred Sir A. Cockburn's letter to the Lord Chancellor, "as the transaction had been a joint one," the Lord Chief Justice rejoined, "You assign as a reason for transmitting my letter to the Lord Chancellor, that the transaction is a joint one, and that the completed part of it to which I object was the act of the Lord Chancellor. I cannot allow an impression so wholly erroneous to remain without seeking to remove it. I have not objected, and could not object, to the appointment of Sir Robert Collier as a judge of the Common Pleas. If it had suited his views to accept a judgeship, I should have been the first to welcome his advent to the bench. My objection to the present appointment of Sir Robert Collier is not an objection to the appointment in se, but as being intended to create a factitious qualification for a seat on the Judicial Committee. It was because its ulterior object was to be your act that I took the liberty of addressing myself to you. Had I objected to the part of the transaction already completed, I should have addressed my observations to the Lord Chancellor."

The Lord Chancellor wrote: "The appointment has been made with a full knowledge on my part of the intention of Mr. Gladstone to recommend him (Sir Robert Collier) for appointment as a member of the Judicial Committee under the Act. I have thus acted advisedly, and with the conviction that the arrangement was justified as regards both its fitness and its legality. I take upon myself the responsibility of thus concurring with Mr. Gladstone, and am prepared to vindicate the course pursued. You will not, I trust, think that I am wanting in respect if I reserve my explanation for a more suitable opportunity than could be afforded by a correspon

dence with yourself, either directly or through the medium of Mr. Gladstone."

The Lord Chief Justice, in the letter to Lord Hatherley which closes the correspondence, after expressing the "mingled surprise and regret " with which he has received the information conveyed to him, said that his only object was to bring under the consideration of the Government the very serious objections to this appointment which presented themselves to his mind, to record his protest against what he honestly believed to be a violation of the spirit and intention of an Act of Parliament, and, therefore, a degradation of the judicial office. He concluded by declaring that he reserved to himself the right to make public the fact of his protest and the grounds on which it was founded.

8. STRIKES.-The agitation among various bodies of operatives, engineers, colliers, &c., continued to manifest itself throughout the country. On the 3rd of the month the servants of the railway companies which run their lines into London held a meeting at the Winchester Arms, Southwark, and set forth their grievances, especially their sufferings from the length of working hours, which in many cases it was averred amounted to fifteen hours a day, Sundays excepted. These men formed themselves into a society to be called "The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants."

The strike that most affected the public convenience whilst it lasted was one among the telegraph clerks of the Manchester, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Belfast post-offices. An association had been formed some time before called the "Telegraphic Association for the Protection of Employés;" this coming to the knowledge of the Post-office authorities, they regarded it as a manifestation of disaffection, and punished nine clerks in the Manchester district who had joined it by suspension. Their refusal to reinstate these men led to the strike of the 8th. Mr. Scudamore, second secretary to the General Post-Office, offered to take back all who would express in writing their regret for their insubordination and return to their work on the 12th at noon. Some complied with the conditions, and those who failed to appear at the specified time were dismissed, but the majority of them were reinstated subsequently after expressing regret for their misconduct. At Dublin the men yielded after holding out four days.

ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.-The typhoid fever with which the Prince was attacked last month, continued to run its usual course without any alarming complications during the first week in December; but on the 8th of the month, a very serious relapse occurred, and for some days the life of his Royal Highness was in imminent danger. Her Majesty, who had returned to Windsor from Sandringham, on the first of the month, having received an alarming telegram on the 8th, hurried thither again, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Louise.

Prince Arthur arrived at midnight, and the other members of the Royal family on the following morning. Gloom was cast over