... In the prefatory observations of the Analysis of the Returns Relating to Colonial timber, recently issued as a parliamentary paper, the following remarks are made on the necessity for some steps being taken for the preservation of forests in many of our colonies:- The returns exhibit in a striking manner the urgent need for some prompt and comprehensive action to stay [the influences at ...

... THE PORTES AND THE PALACE PERA, Dec. 20, THERE iS, so far, no reason to modify the opinion expressed in this corre- spondence on the appointment of the present Ministry. It is a Cabinet that means to work. It is homogeneous in its views. The Grand Vizier is in many respects ahead of his colleagues, and it may be apprehended that, in proportion as this fact becomes more apparent, jealousies ...

... arivid obeningld new'd. THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN. The Tim:es correspondent at Kurarn, telegraphing yesterday, gives the lofing Particulars of the charges of treachery and desertion brought against sec ral sepots in General Roberts's force Tl; tsill Of the prisoners in the 29th Native Infantry for their conduct on the night te St ullst, and during the action of the 2nd closed yesterday and the ...

... The expedition against the Zukkur Khels, a telegram in the Daily N~ews states, met with a ?? deal of firing from the hill men, and oar loss was one man killed and three wounded. The columns of Colonel Doran and Colonel Txtler advanced along opposite sides of the valley, burning the villages and blowing up the towers, and then returned to Dakka and Ali Musjid. The special correspondent of the ...

... TIlE YEAR i878. AMost of the morning papers to-day devote the chief part of the space usually assigned to leading articles to a survey of the events of the past year at home and abroad. The Timoes, in a review occupying nearly ten columns, observes that the year which expires to-day has been remaikable for a strain of prolonged anxiety, from which the national mind has not yet been altogether ...

... SINCE Mr. Goldwin Smith's recent visit to Europe and his return to his adopted country, he has not apparently improved in urbanity and good- temper. It has been Mr. Goldwin Smith's fate to suffer the pain of parting with a long succession of illusions. Failing to become a political notability here (in spite of the advantage he derived from being almost singular at the time in his personal ...

... Tne Catholics and Liberals in the Belgian Chamber of Represen- tatives have begun a quarrel on a question which profoundly interests the whole Romish priesthood, and which has started a violent contro- ?? and Italy as well as in Belgium. Referring to a large bequest which had been made to the curd of a Belgian parish in order that he might say a certain number of masses for the testator's cocl ...

... FIRST EDITION, 2.30 p.m. TilN \VAR IN AFGHANISTAN. lMuL LVE'S TELEGRAMS;.) (ott ILETI XVTCTOVN OF GENERAL ROIBERTS. IAI('LEl, Dec. 5. General Roberts has gained a complete victory, having captuicd Peiwar ?? and all the enemy's guns. The enemy sustained a heavy loss, whilst on our side there were eighty killed and wounded. Amongst those killed are Captain Kelso, of the Royal Artillery, and ...

... TiiE exvperiments which are now being made with the electric light on the hrnames Embankment and Holborn Viaduct, with the view of testing its- efficiency for street illumination, suggest a few reminiscences of what eccurred at the beginning of this century, when gas-lighting was first biought under public notice. The contrast between the interest with which the probable introduction of the ...

... Sill-WE ALI AND YAKOOB KHAiV. c,, ,ninstancCs of SUIER1E Ai-i's flight from Afghanistan , ?? in some obscurity, the latest news having added less c c k MarIWledge of the facts than to the already accumulated *, - .- C f the conciliatory temper of Russia. From St. Peters- .t is announced that 0no official confirmation has been If d of the news that the Ameer had left with the Russian a for ...

... rar THIJYOR Y OF, PERSECUTION.-II. THETHORYOF - . WHEN religion was considered as a matter of public rather than private concern, the motives of persecution were naturally found in the order of considerations which we have called tribal and political. The wrath of the gods must be averted by the destruction of the blasphemers who provoked it; and the popular impulse to cast out the abominable ...

... There is still no official confirmation of the report of Yakoob Khan's arrival at Jellalabad. The Times correspondent at Lahore says that too much importance may be attached to the flight of Shere Ali from Cabal, and that it is not improbable that the Ameer may have feared that if he remained there during the winter he would be caught in a trap. He released Yakoob Khan only under pressure from ...