... rm- _ orbs . The fifth centenary of the death of Italy's greatest lyrical poet is at present being celebrated at Avignon, a locality adapted in more than one respect to this festive occasion. For it was in the Chiesa di Santa Chiara of that city that the fatal meeting took place between him and the beautiful Madonna Laura, since immortalised by the poet's song. Moreover, in the vicinity of ...

... IN spite of rumnours to the effect that an adjustment of the Agricultural dispute was likely to be arrived at, nothing has yet been done. Sir E. Kerrison, Sir Willoughby Jones, the Hon. Mr Brand, and other gentlemen have been at some pains to persuade the farmers to adopt a conciliatory course, but without success. The suggestion made by Mr S. Morley and others that the Amalgamated Labour ...

... NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Paris Figaro has been taught that the National Assembly will permit no one to threaten it with grape-shot except Marshal MacMahon. On seeing the insolent message in which be had warned the Assembly that it had made itself powerless to dethrone him for seven years, and that it would do well to mind its own business, the most licentious, the most trifling, and the most ...

... NOTES AND COMMENTS. | The commotion excited by Mr. Gladstone's pamphlet is far from having yet subsided, though little that is fresh is now being elicited, and it does not appear that there is much more to be said about it. The Pope has disclaimed the remarkable description of Mr. Gladstone as an intoxicated viper that had attacked the barque of St. Peter; it must have been an audacious ...

... NOTE S. WE reserve until our next number two articles on the character and influence of Strauss and Michelet. WE understand that Dr Strauss's 'Life of Lessing 'is in the press, and that arrangements have already been made for its translation into English. The preface to a new edition of The Old and the New Faith, in which Dr Strauss replies to Air Gladstone's attack upon him in his speech at ...

... CORRESPONDEN CE. -0- I WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE V. SO3E WOMEN'S PRIVILEGE. Sir,-Although Mr Jacob Bright's Bill would probably have given a vote to no married woman, it imposed no special disability, as Mr Forsyth's does, upon wives, as such. Women are in no way responsible for the Common Law disabilities of wives, and for the infamy of the Law of Coverture; and there are many men who abhor that ...

... -0- NVOMIEN'S Sl'FFRAGE VeYfiS~s SOMIE WOMEN'S PRIVILEGE. Sir,-I learn with grief and dismay that the Central Com- mittee of the Women's Suffrage Association have resolved to support Mr Forsyth's Bill, which, while professing to be a Bill to remove the Electoral Disabilities of WOMEN, pro- vides that no married woman shall be entitled to vote.' As I was unfortunately absent from town at ...

... C 0 M Ml E N T S. On Friday, the 17th inst., the Lords agreed to an address to the Crown, concurring in tue grant of 225,0001. to Sir Garnet Wolselev. In the Commons Mr Baillie Cochrane drew attention to the case of the widows and orphans of civil servants who die in the | service of the country. The Chancellor of the Exchequer complimented the hon. member on his speech, bht pointed oat the ...

... CO M ME N T S. The Home Secretary has brought himself and his Colleagues to a regular fix. He first proposed to close the public-houses in small towns and country districts at ten p.m., and to keep them shut on Sunday afternoon, throughout the country, until seven p.m. These two provisions, if they had been adhered to, would have proved more grievous to the publicaus and the public than the ...

... N O T E S. * M. THIEBLIN ('Azamat Batuk'), for whom Messrs Hurst and Blackett will shortly publish his notes of a nine months' residence in Spain, contributes to our pages in this number the first of a short series of sketches of the men whom the Madrid crisis has just brought into greater prominence. These sketches will, of course, be drawn from the life. WE are obliged to withhold until ...

... NOTES' AND OOMMENTS. The Church Congress has been meeting in Brighton, under the dome of the Pavilion raised to the memory of George IV., Defender of the Faith. The town is crowded with clergymen-High, Low, and Broad-but, of course, mostly High. The Congress is trying to build a break- water of words against Science, Atheism, Dissent, and all other deadly sins. It has been improving sacred ...

... CUTRRENT EVENTS. TnE COUNCIL of the National AgriculturalLabourers' Union has held its annual meeting at Leamington during the week. Mr George Dixon, M.P, presided, being supported by Mr Edward Jenkins M.P., Messrs J. C. Cox, of Belper, Mr J. S. Wright, of Birmingham, Joseph Arch, President of the Union, and other prominent leaders4of the move- ment. The following resolutions were adopted:- ...