... ?? Q THE rivalry between PORTUGAL and ENGLAND in CENTRAL AFRICA has entered upon a more serious phase. 'While diplo- matic arguments go on leisurely at home over the respective claims in Mashona-Land and the Zambesi region generally, Portuguese agents in Africa proceed to fresh annexations. Thus Major Serpa Pinto's arbitrary conduct in the Shire highlands complicates the situation considerably ...

... AeOBkERzI' BROWtUNING ON Thinusday, December 12th, the world welcomed a new volume of poems from the pen of Robert Browning-poems which tshowved no abatement of mental vigour on the part of their author. But his bodily strength had long been waning, and on the very same evening he passed away at the Palazzo Rezzonico, in Venice, where he had been staying with his son. Robert Browning was born ...

... SKETCHES IN THE LA WV COURTS-IL OF all the courts, the Admiralty Court is perhaps the least known, and yet the best worth knowing. Thrilling stories of the sea are often told here, and Mr. justice Butt sitting with or with- out the Trinity Masters has no easy task in deciding the rights and wrongs of many a case on the conflicting evidence before him. There is a hearty partisanship anmong ...

... E I - Now that ?? European rulers have opened the winter political season with speeches from the Throne, President Harrson reviews the policy of the UNITED STATES in his Message to Congress. The President reports most favourably on the general situation, both international and domestic. Ile lays particular stress on the satisfactory relations with Great Britain, all Anglo-American iffi- ...

... Mr Frederick Leslie presided at the fourth annual dinner of the Coventry Club, held last Sunday evening at the Criterion Restaurant, when nearly 300 members and friends were present. The orchestra of the Lyric Theatre, conducted by Mr Ivan Caryll, performed a most excellent selectior, of music whilst the dinner was proceeding. Mr .J. Crook conducted his own marci I Aladdin, and Lancers, ...

... DISGRACEFUL SCENE'S. bee Tr extersive peblicity given to the arrangements eup made for bringing off the international prize-fight giv stul betweer Jem Smith (Caarplou of England) and twc Frank Slavin (Champion of Australia) threatened at rem Wi One timne to spoil the whole affair. Had it not been me that the paragraphs, instead of being regarded as ver the trath, only nerved to deceive an over ...

... TO-DAY4 1Lectores-t W. 3 ?? on ATramp in New uiuea, Geographicalg ScietyiL.3o; Mrs. McLarea and Miss Cocybeare on. The Donea leictions, BiEfra Hall, Brixtoh, 8 R dle. Mitacebo on P The Practical Value of Philosophy,' Tovnbee Hall Philo- ?? Society, 8; Prof. Sket On. English Sgelhs p, and, Purl aciation. Londoul Xnettitou, 5; ishop a Of Bedfordon1 1Church work in Rsst-eud, West- 5 ...

... Tbe Indian Iciw TAd send-off, as an AmedIs would call it, to Sir WMWXLLW W3DD=B UN yester&y wnaI every way, an interesi1g a, event It took place at thfe Xati='alrS Clab in the form of a ?? given by Mr YsLs, who presided last year over the la Congress, to ,ir WTn.LT WEDDnu&EfRy wbo is going out to Bombay to preside over the nezt meeting. Although the Isanobeon was given 4l the National ...

... I GRES BRITAIN & PORTUGAL. INTERVIEW WITH TUE PORTU- GUESE FORiEIGN MINISTER. THE INCIDENT OF THE FLAGS.- (FSOM Om' SPROUL CORRUSPONDWT.) 4 USBON, MONDcr Nsowr. I have ?? enough to be able in a conversation on what is the topic of the day here-the radations between England and Por- tngal in Afica-to obtain from Senhor Bsurros Gomes, thjn Minister for Foreign Affairs, an authorit&ive account of ...

... METEOROOGICAL BePORT. - by PAZ: SWb OOFFlrXC RMADINGS TM$ ORMG EU NEGBM'TI AND ZAMBRA'S BAROCKTEP. & S J. 7. l SUq. MON. . U10, l Sl SW. S.W. 31 sil- 31 - 31_ L i tL . A- ?? so 30 _ 0_3 1! I~~~F -. C,-rrefecL to ar1eet ard ~rduced to 32 . F. £F tebleekluSS ahow the heisht of the barometer at I o'lock on thisand heereelo5 mrnigs. he tte line.jdlete the _ ~ ~o _ S The TElel P1E5Tt E inth h apex ...

... A Calumny I Refuted. Is there any one who at this r momeunt is sufferiug from the sup- posed ill-effects of plum-pudding P We fear there may be; but let him learn to be just, and acknowledge that, after all, it was not thepudding's fault. Mr. MATTIEU WILLIES has been lecturing to a Christmas Holiday audience at the Birmingham and Midland In-! stitute, on the Chemistry and Natural History of ...

... ''HE E.X-E.MP.EROR OF BRA7.IL; ARRIAL AT ST. VIGCENT.: (1301 0a coRsPwoNDEITi.) MAnRRE, Suwa ~S ew Telegrams fronm Portugal say that the ap- proaching arrival of the Emperor of Brazil escites great interest in. all classes of society,! anld evenl Republicans speiak ill friendly terS of Domn Pedro, The Government aiad the Royal Family intend to give him a very warm wel- come with a~ll Imperial ...