... 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 ...

... 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 appointment of M. Chabaud Latour and M. Bodet has had a bad effeet on the immediate fortunes of the Republican party. So long as the Cabinet contained two powerful Bonapartists, many of the obsequious Pre- fects were openly Imperialist also, and the Royalists became so frightened, that they were almost ready to vote for Al. Casimir-Perier's resolution, and thus for ...

... -0- VIVISECTION. Sir,-I feel tempted by the recent correspondence in your columns to protest against the rather extravagant way in which some most respected ladies, and one or two men, who ought to be more careful, have attacked Dr Ferrier and other able gentlemen who have used vivisection to clear up some difficult points in physiology or disease. Mrs King and Mrs Kingsford are, doubtless, ...

... DJLST AND ASMES. Sir,-Nuisances of all sorts will need no defender so long as England is blessed with her bench of bishops. Expose any existing enormity, and the gentlemen in silk aprons are sure to start forward in its support. Let slavery continue by all means, and unrighteous wars ravage Europe. Is not the one an institution of the Old Testament, and international murder by wholesale a ...

... POLITICIAL AND SOCIAL. E OTES AND COMMENTS. The Comte de Chambord has again flung into the midst of the French factions one of those manifestoes Lehich might seem to have been written in a cloister by a political monk to whom the French Revolution is only a passing gust of impiety. ?? has intervened because the French people ' appear. to be on the eve of rushing into fresh hazards -which ...

... CO R R ES P OND EN C E. VIVISECTION. Sir,-I regret to find in your columns a repetition of Mr Hutton's stale calumny against Dr Ferrier. 1 F. P. C. says, Mr Hutton had read an extract from that gentleman's own accounts of his method of operation upon various dogs and cats, thoroughly conscious of their tortures, which drew groans and cries of 'shame' from the audience. We all know that ...

... . A great art critic who happened never to have learned dancing in his youth, and learnt it instead when he was a man and had put away childish things-especially childish conversation-thus lightly addressed the partner of his first dance in ?? Such-and-Such, Rome may be considered in three aspects (set to partners) Rome Mediaeval, Rome Pontifical (ladies' chain), and Rome Artistic. Now it is ...

... CORRESPONDEN CE, -0o- A DAY IN THE COUNTRY. Sir,-The teachers and friends of the Hackney Juvenile Mission are desirous of taking free of charge about 400 of their scholars and children connected with the Mission Ragged School, &c., for a day's holiday into the country, and providing them with a substantial free tea, and feel that it is hardly possible to over-estimate the value of a day in the ...