them in procession to the Tintelleries Gardens. Here refreshments had been provided, and an interchange of speeches took place in both languages, full of expressions of welcome, good-will and fellowship. During the afternoon the Société Musicale gave a concert in honour of the English visitors in the gardens of the Établissement. At ten o'clock the excursionists embarked. The jetties were illuminated with Bengal lights as the steamers left the harbour. When the last vessel passed the pier-head two showers of rockets were let off, amidst much cheering from hosts and guests.

24. RETURN OF THE "CHALLENGER." This vessel, which was fitted out by Government in 1872, at the instance of the Royal Society, for a voyage of scientific discovery round the world, returned this evening, after an absence of three years and five months. Captain G. S. Nares commanded the expedition, and Professor Wyville Thomson, F.R.S., was at the head of the scientific staff. The principal work of the expedition has been deep sea sounding and dredging in the great oceans, and valuable results have been obtained. The principal groups of islands in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans have been visited, and the Antarctic ocean was traversed to within 1,400 miles of the South Pole. The total distance run by the ship amounted to 68,500 miles.

The "Challenger" returned to England under the command of Captain Thompson, Captain Nares having been called away last year to take the command of the Arctic Expedition.

25. MUTINY OF THE "CAswell.”. Another terrible story of mutiny and murder has been brought before the public, and was tried before the Queenstown magistrates this day.

Some time ago the barque "Caswell " left Glasgow for Buenos Ayres, where the crew was discharged, with the exception of the carpenter, the steward, and two apprentices. At the South American port John Dunne, of Bristol, and James Carrick, a Scotchman, were shipped, together with three Greeks, George Peno, Christos and Nicolas Bambos, and two Maltese brothers, Giuseppe and Jasper Pastone. On January 1 the vessel sailed from Antifogasta for Queenstown, and on the 4th the foreigners suddenly mutinied and killed Captain Best, the mate, William Wilson, and the second mate, Allen M'Clean. The Greeks wanted to murder the rest of the crew, but the Maltese insisted on keeping them alive, as they wished to take the ship back to South America. The Greeks, on the other hand, had determined to take the vessel to Greece, scuttle her, and then pass themselves off as shipwrecked mariners. At last the Maltese left in the life-boat for Buenos Ayres, and on March 10 the Scotchmen rose against the remaining mutineers. Peno and Nicolas were killed, and Christos Bambos put in irons. Carrick, who had never learnt any navigation beyond what he could pick up in the forcastle, then made sail for Queenstown, on reaching which Bambos was handed over to the police.

26. PICTURE ROBBERY.-A most profound sensation has been caused by the announcement of the disappearance, during the night, of Gainsborough's celebrated picture of the Duchess of Devonshire, which had been bought by Messrs. Agnew, at the sale of the late Mr. Wynn Ellis's collection, for the astonishing sum of ten thousand one hundred guineas. The picture was cut out of its frame and stolen from Messrs. Agnews' gallery, No. 30в Bond Street, where for the last few weeks it had been on exhibition. It appeared from the account given by Brewer, the porter, that the picture was safe when the gallery was closed on the night of the 25th and the doors secured as usual. On the following morning, shortly before seven o'clock, Brewer proceeded to open the shop-door, and found that the bolts had been tampered with. On entering the Gainsborough room, however, he saw the frame in its accustomed position, but the picture gone. The stretcher, entirely denuded of its canvas, was resting carelessly in front of the frame, and the lower sash of the adjoining window looking into Old Bond Street, half-opened. Information was immediately given to Mr. Agnew, and the police were quickly on the spot, but no clue could be found towards the perpetrator of the theft or the fate of the picture.

Messrs. Agnew immediately offered a reward of 1,000l. for its recovery, and bills were printed and circulated with a photographic copy of Mr. John Scott's engraving.

Mr. Wynn Ellis bought this picture for a very low price-sixty pounds or guineas, it is said. It is a three-quarter length, painted in 1783 or 1784, of a lady who might rather be called a Duchess of Devonshire than the Duchess of Devonshire, whom Sir Joshua Reynolds portrayed about the same time. The Lady Elizabeth Foster, Gainsborough's subject in this and another picture, was a widow at the time when she was thus depicted, in walking dress; and it was not until a later period that she bore the title of Duchess of Devonshire.

27. THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY was kept to-day with more than common public rejoicings in honour of the Prince of Wales's return from India. The "trooping of the colours" was performed as usual on the Horse Guards' parade, in presence of the Princess of Wales, and the young Princes, and several other members of the Royal family. In the afternoon a grand thanksgiving service for the Prince's return was celebrated at St. Paul's. The illuminations in the City and in the main streets of the West End were profuse and brilliant, and in spite of the wet weather large crowds were assembled to witness them. The day happened to be also the birthday of King George of Hanover, who received many addresses and visits of congratulation at Claridge's Hotel.

THE "SULTAN," 12, armour-plated ship, Captain the Duke of Edinburgh, sailed from Spithead at 11 o'clock this morning for a cruise in the Mediterranean and the East. Since her refit and the few changes which have been made in her trim, the "Sultan"

may be regarded as the handsomest ironclad in the navy. The cruise is expected to last three years.

THE "PANDORA" sailed on the same day with letters and papers for the officers and crews of the Arctic ships. The crew consists of thirty-two all told, many of whom were present during her cruise of last year to Franklin's Straits. The vessel is very deeply laden, having been provisioned for two years, as a precaution against being blocked in by the pack, and has 132 tons of coal on board. The principal object of the "Pandora's" cruise is to communicate with the "Alert" and the "Discovery" at the entrance of Smith's Sound, up which Captain Nares hoped to penetrate the mystery of the Pole.

29. THE NEW LIBERAL CLUB.-Earl Granville, as president of the new City Liberal Club, this day laid the foundation-stone of the club-house in Walbrook. The occasion was celebrated by a banquet at the Freemasons' Hall, at which his lordship presided.

In proposing the toast of the evening Lord Granville remarked that what Mr. Canning called the "beneficent enmity" of an Opposition was useful not only to the country but to the Government itself. It was good that they should be alive to the fact that all their actions would be scrutinised, and all departures from right principle be explained to the country. He proceeded to criticise the conduct of the Government with regard to the subject of local taxation and local government, and their financial policy. Among the other speakers were Lord Aberdare, the Marquis of Hartington, Mr. Goschen, Sir Henry James, Sir William Harcourt, Sir John Lubbock, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Samuel Morley, Mr. Locke, Sir F. Lycett, and Sir J. C. Lawrence.

30. THE DERBY DAY.-Thanks to the continued fineness of the weather, the attendance at Epsom exceeded the largest assemblage ever previously seen; the crowd on the Hill and in the neighbourhood of Tattenham Corner seeming to increase every year. A general source of disappointment was the absence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, His Royal Highness being unfortunately confined with an affection of the veins in the leg, from which he suffered for a time in India; but Royalty was not unrepresented, as the pavilion was occupied by the Crown Prince of Hanover and the Princesses Frederica and Mary, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, and the Duke of Connaught. The Prince Imperial was also present, and witnessed the race for the Derby from the Marquis of Anglesey's private stand opposite the winning-post, where his lordship entertained large numbers of the leading fashionables of the Turf at luncheon. Equally the "observed of all observers " were the two venerablelooking aides-de-camp of the Prince of Wales, who accompanied His Royal Highness from India, in their attractive Eastern uniform.

The Hungarian-bred horse Kisber was the victor of the day, the race being as follows:

Mr. Baltazzi's Kisber, by Buccaneer-Mineral (Maidment)

Mr. R. Peck's Forerunner (F. Webb)

Mr. R. Peck's Julius Cæsar (T. Cannon).

1

3

The Oaks stakes were settled two days later by a dead heat between Camelia and Enguerrande, and the stakes were divided.

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.-The preliminary works in connection with the Channel Tunnel have just been commenced at Sangatte, near Calais. Shafts have already been sunk to a depth of forty metres, and the work is being carried on rapidly, the labourers working day and night. A powerful pump has been set up to absorb the water that is met with in rather large quantities. When these shafts have reached a depth of 100 metres below the sea a gallery one kilometre in length will be made in the hard chalk. If this can be done successfully, and nothing occurs to show that the works are impracticable, the tunnel will be definitely commenced.

JUNE.

1. "CONSPIRING TO MURDER."-An extraordinary charge which has been tried at the Old Bailey, before Mr. Justice Mellor, was brought to a conclusion this day. The prisoners, William Kimpton Vance, aged twenty-four, medical student, and Ellen Snee, aged twenty-nine, a married woman, were jointly charged with conspiring together to murder Ellen Snee, and also with conspiring to murder some person unknown. Mrs. Snee, who is the wife of a commercial traveller now absent on business, with whom she appears to have lived on affectionate terms, some time since inserted in the Daily Telegraph an advertisement addressed to medical men, or persons conversant with chemistry, stating that a person engaged in "an interesting experiment" was willing to pay for assistance. The prisoner Vance answered the advertisement, and Mrs. Snee then replied that she was desirious of committing suicide, because her death would be of advantage to some other person. A number of letters passed between the prisoners, and an arrangement appeared to have been entered into by which Vance undertook to supply some deadly poison to Mrs. Snee, he advising her at the same time to give it out amongst her friends that she was in the habit of taking chloral to induce sleep, so that when death ensued it might appear that the poisoning was accidental. The letters passed under initials, Mrs. Snee writing as if she were "William Quarll," and were addressed to different post-offices. The affair was discovered through one of the letters not being sent for: it was opened by the Post-office authorities, who upon discovering its contents handed it over to the police. Both prisoners

were easily traced and taken into custody. The defence was, that there was no real intention on the part of Mrs. Snee to commit suicide, and that Vance never really intended to assist in causing the death of any person, but intended to get the money that was offered. Mr. Justice Mellor decided that the count charging the prisoners with conspiring to cause the death of one of them could not be supported; but on the other charge they were convicted, the jury recommending them both to mercy, Vance on the ground of the high character he had received, and Snee on account of her illness and the frequent absence of her husband. Vance was accordingly sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment, and Mrs. Snee to six months.

SIR SALAR JUNG BAHADOOR, one of the Hindoo chiefs who took the most prominent part in the hospitable reception accorded to the Prince of Wales in India, arrived on a visit to England this day.

Every endeavour had been made by the South-Eastern Railway Company to give a fitting reception to the visitor at Folkestone, and a salute was fired. The Hon. Mr. Byng and Mr. Alexander Beattie, directors of the South-Eastern Company, proceeded on board the steamer, which presented a very interesting appearance to the hundreds of spectators who had assembled. It was crowded with the suite and attendants of the Prince, fifty-two in number, and the deck had a large amount of luggage, consisting of various bundles and packages. Sir Salar Jung was accompanied by Mr. Oliphant, his private secretary, and several Indian attendants. By a covered way the party proceeded to the reception-room, which was carpeted with crimson cloth and decorated with flowers. Here he was introduced to the Marquis of Tweeddale, the Mayor of Folkestone, and the members of the Corporation. The Mayor then read an address of welcome, very beautifully illuminated, to which Sir Salar made a cordial reply; and he then proceeded to London. He was unable to walk, having met with an accident in Paris, which detained him there a long time. By a curious coincidence the divers at the "Strathclyde" recovered a parcel addressed to Sir Salar Jung the very day of his arrival.

A BOA CONSTRICTOR.--A large boa constrictor has been captured on board the ship "Surprise," just arrived from Port Natal, laden with wool and hides. It appears that while at the port she went within the bar to load, being a small vessel, and consequently was close to the bush. One evening, after her cargo had been shipped, while the crew were having a little jollification among themselves, one of the sailors, who happened to possess a concertina, was playing various tunes for the amusement of his companions. It is supposed that the music attracted the "boa" on board, and being disturbed, it must have found its way into the hold, as the hatches were off at the time, and concealed itself among the cargo, as it was not discovered till the ship was well on her voyage home. When she arrived in dock the question arose as to how the animal