masterpiece of Forster's friend Maclise, "Caxton in the Printingoffice in the Almonry of Westminster Abbey, showing Edward IV. the proof-sheets of the First English Printed Book." This fine painting was not only the work of one friend, but was left as an heirloom to another, the present Viceroy of India, who has kindly lent it to the Museum during his absence. Forster is painted as Kitely in Ben Jonson's "Every Man in his Humour," as played by certain famous amateurs, such as Mark Lemon, Dickens, and others. Macready, another of the "set," is painted by the same loving hand as "Werner," in Byron's tragedy. There is a gem by G. S. Newton, so small that it may be called a miniature, of Sir Walter Scott; Thomas Carlyle, by G. F. Watts, painted in 1868; Charles Dickens, by Frith; and Walter Savage Landor, by Sir W. Boxall. There is also a head of Keats, by Severn, in water colours. A head of Swift is of interest on account of Forster's biography.

MIDHAT PASHA.-The late President of the Council in Turkey, Midhat Pasha, has arrived in London, by way of Folkestone.

- WHIT-MONDAY.-About 600 members of the working men's clubs of London went to Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park, at the invitation of Earl Russell, and were received on the lawn by Lord and Lady Russell and some members of their family. The noble earl, who, it is stated, was well wrapped up and occupied a wheeled chair, spoke a few words expressive of his pleasure at receiving them to those who were near him, and then, as he could not make himself heard by all, requested Mr. Hodgson Pratt to read an address which he had prepared, in which he expressed his gratification at finding that every measure which he had supported, by which more power had been placed in the hands of the artisan class, had "justified the hopes of those who had fought their battle, and given the lie to the fears of those who foretold from each reform the downfall of the Constitution and the ruin of the country."

22. AN INTERESTING DINNER PARTY assembled at the Star and Garter, Richmond, in honour of a live centenarian, Mr. Edward Morgan, of Brougham House, Willesden, who has just completed his 106th year. There would seem to be no doubt as to the accuracy of the statement. Mr. Morgan was born at Bristol on May 21, 1770-the date is attested in a very old family Bibleand the old gentleman was present at the dinner, in vigorous health, we are assured, to give further attestation, if it had been necessary. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren number 102, of whom 67 had assembled to wish him "many happy returns of the day." He was the founder of the firm of coachbuilders of that name in Long Acre, and retired from business only a few years ago.

HALF A CENTURY.-In the seclusion of Balmoral Her Majesty to-day (Thursday) celebrates the anniversary of her birth; while British subjects in the United States will assemble at Petersburg, in Virginia, to celebrate the event in a manner that

D

may convey the lesson which fifty-eight years of progress is calculated to teach. There never was such a half-century as that from 1819 to 1869, and there never were such opening years as the eight years completed to-day. Only twelve others of the reigning Sovereigns of Christendom (out of thirty-eight in all) have attained to this age. The oldest on the list is the Pope, who was 85 on the 13th of the present month. Of temporal princes, the German Emperor has seen the greatest number of years, his eightieth birthday having been reached a few weeks ago. The youngest reigning Sovereign is Alphonso XII. of Spain, who, if he were a British subject, would still be an infant in the eye of the law, and continue so till November 28, 1878.

LUTHER'S BIBLE.-The Academy states that the Director of the Ducal Archives at Zerbst (Anhalt) has discovered the second part of Luther's Old Testament translation in the Reformer's own handwriting. It dates as far back as 1523, and on 216 quarto pages gives a translation of nearly the whole Bible text from Joshua to Esther, while Part I. contains the Pentateuch.

26. THE RIDSDALE JUDGMENT.-The only secession as yet resulting from this has been, oddly enough, the secession of an Evangelical. The Rev. Dr. Gregg, Vicar of East Harborne, who gave his parishioners to know some years ago that he was unhappy at the toleration of Ritualism which the Ecclesiastical Courts sanctioned, has now finally seceded, and has accepted the charge of a Voluntary church and congregation, the members of which have recently ceased to worship in the Church of England.

THE TIDAL WAVE which lately caused so much destruction at Iquique extended to other portions of the western coast of South America, and a telegram from Valparaiso announces the total destruction of seventeen vessels on the Peruvian coast, while forty more have been more or less seriously damaged. Of those lost fifteen are known to have been laden with guano, and it is probable that the remaining two were. The total loss of property is esti mated at nearly 300,000l.

VESUVIUS is at present in a state of considerable activity, emitting smoke by day and flames by night-a spectacle which attracts many foreigners to Naples.

28. THE RIDSDALE CASE.-There was a crowded congregation at St. Peter's Church, Folkestone, yesterday, when, in defiance of the recent judgment,' the Rev. J. C. Ridsdale wore the forbidden vestments. Candles were lighted on the altar, and the Communion service was conducted in the same manner as before the judgment. Mr. Ridsdale said he was aware of the responsibility he incurred in taking the course he now pursued, but he resisted the monition affirmed by the highest Court, so far as it was contrary to a plain order of the Church. He was convinced that the law of the Church commanded the use of vestments, and the two lights on the altar were likewise sanctioned by the Rubric. Although on

'See Trials.

some points he might be disposed to yield, peace was now no longer possible. His reason for pleading in the Court was if possible to secure peace for the Church, in the hope that the law of the Church would be legalised by the civil law, but that having failed he was bound at the expense of resisting the State to obey the Church. During the day a meeting of parishioners was held, when an address to the rev. gentleman was presented, approving the course he had taken.

-THE BISHOP OF TRURO.-Dr. Benson, recently appointed Bishop of Truro, held his first ordination service yesterday in the Pro-Cathedral, Truro. Much interest was manifested in the ceremony, as this was the first Cornish ordination for upwards of 800 years. The sermon was preached by the Rev. J. R. Cornish, Vicar of Veryan. The Bishop was assisted by Chancellor Phillpotts, Archdeacon of Cornwall, and the Revs. C. F. Harvey (Rector of St. Mary's), J. R. Cornish, and G. J. Athill.

29. OLD-FASHIONED HIGHWAYMEN.-The police have been excited by the perpetration of a daring highway robbery on Blackheath, the equal of which has scarcely been known to the present generation. This evening Mr. W. H. Hodgson, one of the solicitors to the Treasury, who resides at 8, Granville Park, Lewisham, visited his brother-in-law, the Rev. W. M. Thompson, of Nightingale Terrace, Woolwich Common, in company with his sister and niece, and at half-past 9 o'clock at night they left in a carriage to return home. To reach their destination they had to cross Blackheath by a rather lonely road. It was about 10 minutes to 10 o'clock, and in a dark situation close to the gravel pits, when two men rushed to the horse's head from the side of the road, seized the reins with such vigour on both sides that the horse, which had been in a brisk trot, was thrown back on its haunches, and each presenting a pistol at the head of the driver, threatened to blow out his brains if he spoke or moved. Mr. Hodgson, who opened the carriage window to inquire the cause of the delay, was confronted by one of the highwaymen, while the other simultaneously opened the opposite window, and introduced his head. The two robbers, who were masked, presented their pistols and sternly demanded "Your money or your life." The gentleman handed to the highwaymen the loose silver which he happened to have in his pocket, about 58. This, they told him, would not satisfy them, and they asked for his purse, which he delivered, with its contents-two 5l. Bank of England notes, and about 77. in gold. Immediately on receiving the purse, and without waiting to ascertain its contents, the thieves ran off in the direction of Greenwich, and soon disappeared in the darkness. It is understood that the police have no clue to their discovery.

AMBULANCE MANOEUVRES.-A novel and instructive exercise has been carried on during the last few weeks in the garrison of Dresden. Detachments of troops have been sent out almost daily, deployed into attacking formation, and ordered to advance against

an imaginary enemy. In rear of them followed parties of sick bearers, for whose especial instruction the drill was carried on, while further to the rear again a number of ambulance waggons, distinguished by the red cross, were drawn up, together with some country waggons, specially prepared for the transport of sick and wounded men. As the assaulting lines moved forward, certain men were ordered to fall down from time to time as though wounded, and were directed to take up appropriate attitudes on the ground. After a while, the attack having been supposed to have been successfully executed, the field was searched by the sick bearers, the wounded men were discovered, their injuries temporarily and hastily attended to, and they themselves transported to the conveyances in attendance. Each sick bearer was provided with an album, in which were plates showing how dressings should be applied in various cases, and also how means for carrying wounded men can be improvised out of swords, rifles, branches of trees, and so forth.

30. THE DERBY.-A good beginning of the Epsom week was followed by a continuation of all those favourable influences without which a Derby day, or any outdoor festival, is marred for the multitude of holiday-makers, who lose sight of the business of racing in the pleasures of a race. The weather was splendid, and was highly appreciated by, among others, the Chinese Ambassadors, Kuo ta jen (Principal Minister), Lin ta jen (Assistant Minister), attended by Li Shu-Chang (Secretary of the Legation), Yao Yu Wang (Chancellor), Mr. Halliday Macartney (English secretary), interpreters, and attachés, for whom a saloon carriage in the Royal train was provided.

The result of this, the ninety-eighth Derby, was as follows:

Lord Falmouth's Silvio, by Blair Athol-Silverhair, 8st. 10lb. (F. Archer), i; Mr. Mitchell Innes' Glen Arthur, 8st. 10b. (Dodge), 2; Mr. J. T. Mackenzie's Rob Roy, 8st. 10lb. (Custance), 3.

JUNE.

1. THE OAKS.-A complete change in the weather rendered the Oaks day one of the most unpleasant that we have endured this year. Heavy rain fell in the morning, and there was such a gale of wind that a portion of the roof of Barnard's Stand was blown away, and a great many of the booths and other temporary erections were completely destroyed.

The field, which numbered nine, was a small one, Placida, Lady Golightly, Belphoebe, and La Jonchère, formed a quartet of very smart fillies. The story of the race is easily told. The flag fell at the second attempt, and Placida at once went to the front, and

showed the way at a merry pace, Lady Golightly and Belphobe bringing up the rear. When they had gone half a mile Plaisante was out of it, and the others constantly passed and repassed; but Placida was never caught, and though Belphoebe made a great effort in the last hundred yards, she was beaten cleverly by three parts of a length. Muscatel was a good third, and then came Lady Golightly, Quickstep, La Jonchère, Astree, and Mirobolante, in the order named, Plaisante being beaten off.

COVENT GARDEN.-A correspondent writes in Notes and Queries:-"Next Friday, June 1, should be looked to by the Duke of Bedford, if he would not lose his Covent Garden Charter, a peck of green peas having to be sold in Covent Garden Market for 6d., agreeably to an ancient custom, the Charter being held by the circumstance of selling at that price on the 1st of June."

2. W. CAXTON.-A special service in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the introduction of printing into England by William Caxton was held to-day in Westminster Abbey. Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise was performed by a numerous choir and band, and at the close of the solo and chorus, "The night is departing, the day is approaching," Dean Stanley preached a brief sermon from the text, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." At the conclusion of the sermon a collection was made for the Caxton Memorial Fund of the Printers' Pension, Almshouse, and Orphan Asylum Corporation. Mr. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., has consented to preside at the opening ceremony of the exhibition at South Kensington in connection with the anniversary.

A HISTORICAL PARALLEL was drawn by Baron Henry de Worms in an address delivered at the Onslow Hall, a day or two ago. Referring to the fact that the Emperor Alexander declared war against Turkey at the moment when she had adopted a Constitution, the speaker pointed out that in 1792 the Empress Catherine of Russia made war against the kingdom of Poland under circumstances strikingly similar to those which preceded the present struggle. Catherine began by taking up the cause of the members of the Orthodox Greek Church in Poland, just as Alexander II. did in Turkey; but in both cases it was not until a Constitution had been adopted by the neighbouring State that Russia declared war against it. The establishment of the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791, which Burke described in the House of Commons as "a masterpiece of political wisdom," and "a glory to humanity," was alleged by the Empress as one of her reasons for sending her troops into Poland, on the plea that the principles of this Constitution were "totally opposed to social and political order, and provoke disobedience by weakening the respect which good citizens owe to their Sovereigns." She added, in much the same words as those of the present Czar, that she had no motives in declaring war "but such as are generous and disinterested."