... SEAL ROCKS AT SAN FRANCISCO PATAGONIAN SEA-LION (Olania fitbatl), SHOWING THE MANE SEALS AMI) SEA-LIONS BY MAJOR J. FORTUNE NOTT A NOTICEABLE fact in connection with the animals which have attracted so much public attention in England and America during' the last few years, and which have been the source of some political friction between the two countries, is that so very little is known by ...

... kes F aster of tte Ncur nlmbs ONE of the mild subsidiary excitements of the past few months has been the question of the abolition or retention of the pack known as Her Majesty's Buckhounds, a pack which is a very favourite one in the home counties, and with a large number of sportsmen who are kept in London by pressure of work, but who 'seize every opportunity of getting away into the country ...

... 9?t faltlibling Fospital IN the square in front of the Foundling Hospital the boys and girls are playing, their playgrounds separated only by the broad gravel pathway and by the rule which, I believe, restricts them each to their own square of turf. The girls seem to have no game of higher aspirations than touch ; but some of the boys are kick- ing a football about, and a few are prolonging ...

... 9fe ?? doultrib ',ia in ffointittrr BY HENRY W. LUCY MR. CHAMBERLAIN is back from the Bahamas, arriving at Westminster on Monday. - It-is -curious to note-the universal ex- pectation that his return will mark a revivification of debate in the House of Commons. Perhaps it may; hitherto opportunity has neither presented itself nor has it been made. It is true that on Tuesday Mr. Chamberlain ...

... Caurt anb (flub BY MARMADUKE HOST (heartily): Well, my boy, th:s is something like wine, isn't it? TESTY GurF.W-h-t- -es,-iWhat wi ittis t2! - THIS might be made to apply appropriately to our present ?? degrees of heat, a settled blue-grey sky, a fiery sun, and five months' of almost continuous drought ! Ye gods, what is it' anyhow ? Tallyrand I think it was that once wittily wrote to a ...

... court ajj? (Sub BY MARMADUKE SONIE nine or ten years ago I happened to visit Devonprt A rilissioledjosto an e thear Waomthe Cnde- the time Admiral Sir William ose Cok- ( ?? there, and he kindly conducted me over th declykto yard shwin mewhatever there was therewhich was MOatlieyt my, bsoltelyuselss fr prysiclf warfae! ind to be co' interest a mere civilian like msf. Amogs ohe o thet thighs ...

... 35me E£b) THE NEW FINANCE PROPOSAL Mr. GLADSTONE has issued the text of his New Financial Proposals in connection with the Home Rule Bill. The public revenue of Ireland is to be divided into general revenue and special revenue. The general revenue is to consist of: (a) The gross revenue, (6) The portion due to Ireland of the hereditary revenues of the Crown, and (c) An annual sum for the ...

... brow THE POLITICAL SITUATION.-It is always ominous when the man in the street asks, Is the Government breaking up ? That question has been a good deal heard in political circles during the last few days, and although Gladstonites scoff at the idea, there is unquestionably a certain degree of uncomfortableness among them. Nor did this sense of a bad time coming lessen when Mr. Gladstone used ...

... D)orme Auto IMPENDING BN-ELECTrONS AT last, after a long spell without a single change in the House of Commons, there is a promise of one or two by-elections. The elevation of Sir Hussey Vivian to the Peerage will create a vacancy in the Swansea District, and the resignation of Mr. Peter McLagan will bring about a contest at Linlithgow. This latter seat the Unionists have some hope of gaining, ...

... Ifraps THi IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, which the Queen will inaugurate on May lc, already counts over 6,ooo Fellows. . BRITISH WORKMEN agitating for an eight hours' day should-go off forthwith to. New.South Wales, where the desired limit has just been fixed for work in coalmines arid collieries. A SENSATIONAL HISTORY OF THE PANAMA SCANDAL is shortly expected in Paris. Mdme. de Lesseps intends to write ...

... dourt aub dhib BY MARMADUKE I n T3rGUI.A is a king-dusky, no doubt; somewhat inexperienced A 'cstern ways; and, possibly, not fulfilling our sublime standard Iht a monarch should be. Nevertheless, even though he be ; tenth-rate kind of sovereign-a royal half-sovereign-this ;Ies me in referring to him here. The Chartered Company of to \frica has incurred much expense with respect to the ...

... . Ghe dflurt THE QUEEN'S RETURN HER MAJESTY is expected back at Windsor next Tuesday. The close of the Royal stay in the Highlands has been enlivened by much coming and going of guests, together with a little gaiety organised by the Queen's grandchildren at Balmoral. The Princess of Wales has stayed with Her Majesty for two days, being suc- ceeded by the Princess Louise, and during their visit ...