... - .1. OWA- THE WAR IN EGYPT THE ACTION AT ICASSASSIN, SEPTEMBER 9 ON September 9, Arabi, manifestly thinking our force at Kassassin weaker than it really was, made what has been called a reconnaissance, but what manifestly was an assault on our camp. General Graham, however, had been strongly reinforced since the fight of August 28, as the whole army had been gradually movring up to the front, ...

... K FRANCE.-M. Gambetta has had what the Americans would call a bad time of it this week. The Committee appointed to consider his Revisionary proposals was almost unanimously opposed to them, and in particular to the restoration of the Scrzdins de lisle. M. Gambetta was summoned before it on Saturday, and was well baited by the Radical members. He held to his point, however, with characteristic ...

... THE SPECTROSCOPE AND WEATHER FORECASTYNG Is the spectroscope, with its rain-bands, of almost priceless value in the science of weather forecasting; or are its indications for the most part utterly misleading, and worthless to the meteorologist ? These are the alternatives suggested by some recent correspondence on the subject of the rain-bands. It is well to remember that it is no new thing in ...

... IN these days, when Scotch moors are rented so highly that only the very rich can afford to spend an autumn holiday grouse shooting, it may be something to know that excellent sport of another kind can be had in abundance in the North at this season of the year, and that for nothing. During August. September, and November, the sportsman of limited means has only to buy a cheap return boat or ...

... TO THE GREAT NECROMANCER who wrote the Lady of the Lake and Waverley, Scotland is under a bheavy load of obligation. The work that Scott did has poverfully helped the land that he loved so well. His writings have made Scotland and Scottish scenery familiar and endeared to all wanderers in search of the picturesque from southern and sunnier climes. The cloud-topped hills, the streams that ...

... THE satisfaction with which the traveller reaches the crest of either St. Bernard the Great or Little must be damped by certain considerations connected with his temporary home. Here stand the hospices, that on the Great St. Bernard famous in song and story for its succour of snow-wrapped travellers. As the average tourist avoids these highways in winter weather he knows of the monks' life ...

... its OF f6 Ill ?? o ak. ..11 .'A4'A - THE PHCENIX PARK MURDERS. Writing as we neces- sarily do so long after the event, expressions of sympathy and abhorrence appear stale, flat, and unprofitable. Every- thing of this kind which can be said has been said already by hundreds of newspapers, and by thousands of speakers, public and private. Murders of an agrarian or political type are ...

... :v7 ?? ?? -I'v -- 4 ?? 'I 'S , I 1-1 o T'IE CRISIS IN EGYPT continues to attract a large share of public attention. The gathering last week at Willis's Rooms, to which admission was by ticket, and which has, therefore, been scoffed at as a mere party move, was nevertheless of a significant character. Mr. E. P. Bouverie, M.P., presided, and amongst the speakers who severely criticised the ...

... 1 R~uF.AL J'OTES rW. ,R ,, 4o THE SEASON.-March has been a genial month thus far, and the rainfall has been very welcome. To see the pastures in March as green as in ordinary seasons they are at the beginning of May, is a sign of the singular character of the season; but it does not indicate necessarily that the hay crop will exceed an average. Early fecundity too often means a premature ...

... RURAL .NOS MIDWINTER.-A Scotch correspondent assures us that on Christmas morning boys were skating on his ponds, the ice being fully two inches thick. On the same day three roses were in bloom in the garden, and many wild flowers, the dandelion, and the daisy. The black and flowering currant-bushes are in full bud in many places. CROWN LANDS for 1881 show a return of 370,oool. against 390 ...

... R.RAL ANOTES AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.-A correspondent writes us fromn Nottingham, The high drying easterly winds have reduced the stony clays into a case-hardened state ; hence it has been a very difficult task, and an extremely irksome proceeding, to obtain any- thing like a suitable seed-bed. The wheat plant on sandy soils still leaves something to be desired, but on the stony wet clays the ...

... I AUS ERIAN TOADS are largely imported into England for killing insects, &c., in gardens. They fetch from 31. to 41. a hundred, and are sent over in wooden boxes stuffed with moss. PRINCE IISMIARCK has founded two patrimionies for his sons. The one consisting of his large possessions in Lauenburg, with the title of Prince, will go to Count Herbert ; while Count Bill will inherit the ...