... , EMPLOYEES OF MESSRS PRATT & KRITH's PARCEL DEPARTMENT.-The employees in Messrs Pratt & Keith's parcel department held their tenth annual pie-nic yesterday at Inverurie, whither they journeyed by train. The day was pleasantly spent in sports, and in tbe course of the afternoon the eompany dined together. The ex- pense of this annual outing is generously borne by the firm and their assistants, ...

... The secoud annual snow of the Bauohory Casnine Society was held in the Town Hall yesterday. The entries numbered 119; but although slightly reduced from last year the showr in point or merit excelled that of its predecessor. Amsisig the competitors wore such well-known breeders as Mesers B. 0. F. Thomson, Inverness; John Gil zean, Edinburgh: George Stephen, cuparstone House, Aberdeen; John ...

... VANITY FAIR AT HER MAJESTX7S ThEATRE. The recently produced society comedy Vanity Fair, by G. W. Godfrey, was given in Her Majesty's Theatre last evening by Miss Kits Santley and a capable London company, and to say that the piece was warmly received by a well-filled house is putting it mildly. It caught on exueea- ingly well. It is very clever and up-to-date, and notwithstanding the fact ...

... Part TI. of SPORTFOLio (Geo. Newnes,Limited, London) is, if that were possible, brighter, more interesting, and more varied than the previous number. The cricket heroes include J. A. Maclaren, who, it will be remembered, last season placed all previous records in the shade by compiling against Somerset the gigantic score of 424 ; J. T. Brown, the hero of last season's Australian tour, and at ...

... I C 2C:IARLEY'S AUNT. Aft;;er:&s most sutcensfal inn of the pantoiniwe, we are this week being treated to a visit from Mr Penley's Company in Charley's Aunt,- which has been described as the most mRrvel. lons success of modern times. So much hade been beard of the piece that One expected a good house, but certainly nothing like that witnessed at the rising of the curtain 1ast nogot. It is a ...

... A CELEBRATED ABERDEEN I. 1 FAMILY OF ARTISTS. THE BROTHERS ROBERTSON, MINIATURE PAINTERS. ANDREW ROBERTSON'S WORK IN ABERDEEN. 427 MINIATURES IN EIGHT YEARS. ?? In the previous article we brought the e history of the Robertson family down to the end of last century, at which period Andrew r Robertson, the youngest, but ultimately the r most distinguished of the three brothers, . was preparing ...

... LITER AT RE, I The Modern, HousetWif, or Menagere: comprising nearly One Thousanad Receipts for the ?? aind Judicious Prepara- tion of every oeoal of the Day, and thase for the Nursery and the Sick Room; with Huintte Directionsfor Pamily Manage- meaC fin att itd Branichteg Illutrhatedl wyith Engravings, includ- fty the Modern Houseie'Jos Unique Kitchen, and Maygic Stove. By ALEXIS SOYER, ...

... . I: 1 THE SEASONS. A blue-eyed child that sits amid the noon, OP'rhung with a laburnum's drooping sprays, Sidging her littlo sons, while softly round Along the grass the chequered sunshine plays. All beiaaty that is tlronod in wonanliondh Pacing a snmmer garden's fountaolnd walks, That stoops to smooth a glossy spaniel down, .To-hide her flushing chock from one who talks. A happy mother with ...

... CH UELTY TO ANIMALS TO THE EDITOR OF THE MERCURY. bez to be allowed to offer a few remarks on a fact which must force itself oa the observation of many of your readers, frequency with which the spirit of the law against to is with impunity infrieged. It seems to be pretty generally understood that open vio- lence, blows, and infuriate torture, are necessary to constitute “* either an act of ...

... Naval tutelliqence. Woolwich, April 22. APPOINTMENTS. Masters.—John G. Mugford (1841), to the Amphion, 34, screw steam. frigate, of 300-horsepower, advanced war steamer, at Sheerness; Stephen Spain (1846), to the Cyclops, wheel steam-frigate of 320-horsepower, advanced war steamer, at Sheerness, Second Master Henry W. Inglis (1849), recently serving in the Vulcan, screw steam troop-ship, to ...

... deep interest in the social condition of our countrymen in the Highlands and Isles of Scotland, may I beg a place in your journal for the follow- ing observations. These may not be altogether consonant with your economical views, but I trust to your well known liberality for a fair hearing. Famine and destitution were at one period, and that no late one, as unknown in the Highlands and Isles ...

... MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. Commerce or France.—The official returns of the trade and navigation of France with her colonies and forcign coun- tries, during the first six mths of the present year, have just been published, the resultd of which, as compared with the same period in the previous year, are very favourable. Thus the total duties receivell upon importations have been 69,002 ...