... 00 e~ >'7THS OURWT N THE QUEEN has been giving a succession of military dinner parties at Windsor, all the chief officers engaged in the late Egyptian campaign being entertained in turn, while at the end of last week Her Majesty held an Investiture of various Orders at the Castle in order to decorate those who had specially distinguished themselves. A dinner party followed, the band of the ...

... I'd VERY rose-coloured statements of the success of the Salvation Army were made at a series of meetings-morning, afternoon, and evening-held in Exeter Hall last Monday to commemorate the dedication of lox officers about to be sent to India, Africa, America, Sweden, and all parts of the United Kingdom. The success in India was described as likely to overshadow the Army's greatest triumphs at ...

... ( (5, kg I THE ST. BERNARD CLUB DOG SHOW THERE has always been a halo of romance about the dog of th2 St. Bernard Hospice, and the numerous stories of his intelligence in finding out travellers who have been lost iir the snow, and bringing the good monks to their aid, have caused him to be regarded as a very superior being indeed to the ordinary run of dogs. Until recent years, however, he was ...

... LONDON, EleIDAY, December 29. In the French Chamber yesterday the grant a for the mission of M. de Brazza to the Congo Iwas passed almost without opposition. In the Senate the grant for the occupation of Tunis was also passed. I Our Paris Correspondent says it is scarcely . possible nowz to doubt that M. Gambetta ie very ill. The Thlemgrape states that four sur- ,geons set yesterday evening to ...

... SHQM2, SwEtt HOiME T1O Tf flISoS OF no DAMY NEWm SIR,-It is to be hoped that the article which appeared in your columne of Saturday last under the above title will be the means di drawing the attention of some practically benevolent persons to the subject of the dwellings of the very poor, and will lead to some re- sult for their benefit. The very poor-those who' form the very lowest grade ...

... ORAL ISTRUCTION OF THE DESAD | I I ~~DUMB. An examination of the children who are being taught upon the oral system at the Asylum for the e: Deaf and omb in the Old Kent-road was held last f evening before several members of the committee of a that institution. The system hitherto adopted in this GM country is the French, which is teaching by signs nd thefinger alphabet. Though this s tem has ...

... 7 EB, - -L I a O x ?? OFW,,A FD3MG. NXEWS (TMoUGH ZutnM's ABMSOtY) K 8. GAM3BEfl4.. , 'PA.RIS, DEa. 13. M. Gambetta is now chnvalescent, and wi t-1 morro onsfor e nfirsttm: TEE OATa IN T - MADRID, Dna, 13. Thse Committee to whom the ChabrcoDepnties has raferred tho Bill for the Partial sndiicain of the Parliametairy oath; have not yet come toweagree- meat. The Government proposa to amit elthar ...

... BOXING DAY AND BANY HOLIDAY. Christmas cones but once a year is a line from that ancient and somewhat musty poet Thomas Tosser, which since his day has been pressed into the service of all manner of Christmas minstrelsy. Christmas brings with it Boxing Day, like the old moon in the ballad of Sir Patrick Spens bringing the new moon in t, her arm; and Boxing Day is now established, as it were; ...

... I GMBAL FOREIGN NEWS. (TSRtOUGH RXUER;}'8 AGENCY. - >^ ME MARQUIS OF LORNE. S.AN FRANCISCO, DEc. 10. Her Majesty's corvette Comus arrived here to-day with the Marquis of Lorne and Princess Louise on board. Salutes were fired in honour of the Viceregal party. M. GAMBETTA. ' ?? DrE. 1 1. M. Gambetta left his bed to-day for the frst time Since he was wounded. |3OURSE SPECULATIONS MN GERMANY. ...

... TS GREAT FIRE IN WOOD-STREET. . LATEST PARTIMtRLAR re re ESTIMATED DAMAGE. ?? 0 - ?? tic The excitement and alarm attending the out-E break of fire on the premises of Messrs. Foster, to Porter, and Co., having in a measure subsided, - a better idea can be formed of the actual c damage occasioned thereby. The reports which Q appeared in a great part of our early and in our at second editions ...

... LONDON, MO.NDAY, Reambeo 25. On Saturday the Emperor William had a Iong conference with Prince Bismuarck. His Majesty wished to know, it is stated, what importance was to be attached to the recent alarming re- ports. It is generally believed in Berlin, our Correspondent says, that there is little chance of the peace of Europe being disturbed inl the near future, and that slight importance ...

... -4- ( By T2LEGRAPH AND XPR=& ) I'BIRINGHAM Mr. Mundella has consented to open some new Board schools in l3irminoharn on January 15. The President of the Board of Trade is also expected to take part in C ihe ceremony. Both Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Mun- della'have consented.to attend a public neetiu- in the Tow n Hill on the snme evening. With te new schools the Board will have accomenodatiou for ...