... 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 ...

... 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; ...

... 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 ...

... FREE l A S ON Pt . Royal Masonic Institution for Girls. Ois Monday evening the 235 girls in the Masonic Girls' School at St. John's-hill, Battersea Rise, were treated to an entertainment by Br Michael Mullen, of Bradford. The enter- tainment, which is styled 2sMirth, Music, and Mimicry, and received a favourable notice in The Eta of March 21st, 1880, consists of some capital delineations of ...

... ArOTICE.-AION7DA Y ANEXT beh~zof Clrizslitas Day, thc PALL HALL GAZETTE will not be Publishced. THE HEALTH OF M. GAMBETTA. (SPECIAL TELEGRAAM.) PARIS, Saturday.-None of the Opportunist morning papers speak of M. Gambetta's health, but the Gautlois says that he yesterday had violent crises, and for a quarter of an hour the doctors abandoned hope of bringing aim through. M. Allain Targe ...

... . From the Rte2istrar-general's return we r learii that during the week ending Decem- ber 16 the annual rate of mortality in 28 great towns of EnglandandWales averaged 2611 per 1,000 of their aggregate popula- i tion, which was estimated at 8,469,571 uer- sons in the midaale of this year. The rates I of mortal2ty in the several towns, ranged in order from the lowest, were as follow:- t Bristol ...

... -- FOREIGGN TELEGRAMS. _. - 4-- THE EXPLOSION AT PARIS. EXECUTI[ON OF OBERDANX. FRANCE. Paris, Dec. 20. The JoTrnal des D~bats to.day publishes Icalgty article on the subject of the French expedition to Tog quin, which concludes as follows:- The real danger this matter is our own indecision. We must render oi protectorate over Tonquin effective, and send thither sufficient troops to destroy ...

... IRELAZZL The work of 4organizing the National League is pro. ceeding Steadily, and new branches are being formed every week. Meetings for the purpose were held at Mulliugar, Tullamore, Drogheda, and Kilrush. At Mul- lingar the Reev. J. Gaughran presided, and in his open. ing speech he exhorted the farmers to meet the labourers in a kindly spirit, remembering that to them wias due the success ...

... THE ST. ALBAN'S CONTROVERSY. To the EDITOR of t11e PALL MALL GAZETTE. SIR,-Permit me to offer a contribution to the controversy about St. Alban's, and that from the pen of another. Mr. Mackonochie's torttiosities in obeying and disobeying the ecclesiastical law of the land conteniporaneously with the extremest language of contempt for the authority of the State over the Church and of rebuke ...

... ?? TsE CHRISTMAS FAT STOCK SALES this year are being marked by good prices. The London market had a show of 7,370 cattle against 8,150 in 188i, and prices ranged from 4s. 6d. to 6s. 41., being 4d. to 6d. advance on the year, and the highest quotation since 1875. The Arundel Show was remarkable for unusually fine cattle and sheep, though the number of animals shown was disappointingly small. ...

... NAVAL A MITARY. CHATEAM, anw. 24. It is expected that some importoost changes will be carried out amon; the sha7 at the Various docliyards at the coshmencement of the nelw year, in accordance with the recom- mendhtiona of tie Committee which Las been sitting witk reference to the re-organisation of the dockyaxl staff. A cer- tiu number of the chief constrmcftoi will be called upon tq retire, ...