elsewhere, but these are totally new. At a short distance from Teneriffe, in a depth of a mile and a half, a rich and extremely interesting haul of sponges and coral was obtained, but the latter was unfortunately dead. It is a white species, as large and as heavy as the pink coral of the Mediterranean. There are great hopes of obtaining a specimen alive. The nature of the bottom brought up and the way the trawl and dredge frequently catch in being dragged along prove, undoubtedly, that the bottom of the sea, even at great depths, is not so smooth and free from rocks as has hitherto been supposed. A conclusion drawn from this fact is that a considerable movement of the water at the bottom must be going on. The "Challenger" will remain at New York until the 25th inst., and at Bermuda until the mail arriving on the 8th of May, after which she will sail for Madeira, carrying another section line across the Atlantic.

18. MR. MILL ON LAND TENURE.-A meeting of the Land Tenure Reform Association, under the presidency of J. S. Mill, was held in Exeter Hall. The hall was by no means full; a large number of seats had been reserved, but their blank desolation just before the opening of the proceedings was so conspicuous that the body of the audience were invited to fill the vacancy, and thus save the speakers from the depression of speaking across empty benches. There was a remarkable number of very young faces; and, though genuine working men were present, it could not be supposed from the appearance of the meeting that it in any way represented the working class as a whole. It was, moreover, not a little significant that the most demonstrative part of the audience evidently cared but little for mere land reform unless accompanied by more drastic measures. Whenever a speaker, imagining himself to be addressing hearers with the ordinary political instincts of Englishmen, assured them that he did not mean to advocate anything revolutionary, he was promptly informed that some of them would have liked him better if he did. The warnings of Professor Thorold Rogers, who was induced to be far more urgent in deprecating revolutionary measures than in recommending his own, were somewhat coldly received, and were cut short by cries of "Time." Altogether there was a lack of sympathy between the association and those to whom it appealed.

Mr. Mill said that the two chief points of the programme of the association were:- First, no more land, under any pretext, to become the private property of individuals; secondly, taxation on the land, in order to give the benefit of its natural increase of value to the whole community, instead of to the proprietors, these being allowed the option of relinquishing the land at its present money value." The speaker concluded by saying, "We demand the recognition of the principle that a kind of property which rises in value while other kinds remain stationary or fall, may justly, on that account, be subjected to special taxation. When it is notorious that rents have increased, and are increasing, not only where there

has been improvement by the landlord, but where there has been no improvement, or improvement solely by the tenant, a tax which takes from the landlord no more than that increase is within the just rights of the State. It might be necessary to have a periodical valuation of the rental of the country, say once in ten or once in twenty years. The landlords could easily keep a record of their improvements. Let them retain all increase which they could show to be of their own creating, make a fair allowance for any diminution of the value of money, give them the benefit of every doubt, and lay on the remainder as a tax to the State. If the country continues prosperous, this tax would in time produce a considerable revenue, to the great relief of the taxpayers, while any landlord who thought himself harshly dealt with could avail himself of the option of resigning his land on the terms originally offered-namely, at the price he could have obtained for it before the introduction of the new system. This is our doctrine of the unearned increment, and you may depend on it that the difficulties which people are afraid of would prove, when fairly faced, to be little more than phantoms."

Among the other speakers were Mr. Joseph Arch and Mr. J. Thorold Rogers. Resolutions approving the programme of the association were adopted. An amendment supported by some members of the Land and Labour League, affirming the principle of "restoring to the State the property in the land," was negatived by a large majority.

22. THE GREAT STRIKE IN SOUTH WALES is at an end. On Monday, the 17th, the Dowlais miners determined to make peace for themselves, and accordingly sent a deputation to Mr. Menelaus. He offered them the same terms as had been accepted at Ebbw Vale -10 per cent. reduction till the 24th inst., and then the December rate. This was gladly closed with, and the Dowlais pits started again on Tuesday. Settlements took place on Tuesday between Mr. Crawshay, of Cyfarthen, and his workmen, and between Mr. Fothergill's manager at Plymouth ironworks and his workmen, colliers and miners. In both cases deputations waited upon the employers, and offered to resume work immediately upon the Dowlais terms, which offer was accepted. The men afterwards held a mass meeting, at which resolutions in favour of immediate work were passed, and work will accordingly be resumed by from 10,000 to 15,000 workmen in Merthyr to-day. There were great rejoicings; bands paraded the town and cannons were fired. The strike is now virtually ended, as only one or two small works remain to be settled with.

Unpleasant news comes, however, from another quarter. On Monday the Board of Conciliation met at Wolverhampton to adjust a scale of wages, to take effect when the present agreement expires, at the end of this month. The masters stated that they could offer no advance on the current rate-12s. 6d. per ton-which is the highest that has ever been paid for puddling. The representatives of the men answered that they could not recommend the acceptance

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of such terms. After a long discussion, the men were invited to make a proposition on their side, and in view of this the meeting was adjourned for a week.

An exciting riot has occurred at the mining village of Portobello, near Wolverhampton, where the English and Welsh miners do not appear to fraternize well with their Irish associates. About 3000 men engaged in the mêlée, and some serious wounds have been inflicted.

The correspondent of the Times estimates the cost of the strike at two millions of money, the loss to the work-people alone having been at least three-quarters of a million, even after allowing for the 40,000/. contributed by the Colliers' Union, and for 50007. collected for the relief of the sufferers. The manner in which the struggle has been conducted is truly surprising.

If over-indulgence in drink at times, leading to irregularities of work and other abuses, was one of the gravest faults in prosperous times, the moment the cloud gathered over the men they began preparations to meet the storm. The drink was sacrificed and the grocer's bill cut down. The steady men, who foresaw that they would be involved in the strife, practised the severest economy, and when at length the evil day came it found thousands with a friend in their own pockets which would enable them to weather the storm for a while; but at the same time it found thousands helpless, friendless, and in dire distress. From the latter class came the cry of distress, and bitter indeed it was; from their ranks also issued the army of mendicants which spread over the country for miles in all directions, and lived week after week upon private charity.

"From the first day of the strike to the last, however, the quietness of the people has been something to excite astonishment and admiration. In the midst of the severest weather which we have experienced in this part of the country for many years, with neither money, food, nor fuel, except what others gave them, thousands of hungry people, men, women, and children, have preserved the utmost order and propriety of behaviour. Not a single policeman has been sent to assist the ordinary force; and though exposed by their impoverishment to the strongest temptations, yet there has been an absolute dearth of business at the police-court; and as for drunkenness, it has been a rarity-a fact which may account for the utter absence of disorder or disturbance of any kind. Nothing, indeed, could exceed the decorum of the workmen or their good feeling I may even say their pleasant feeling; for when the trial was sorest they still spoke kindly of their employers, and those employers and their managers and agents moved among them as freely as though they were simply enjoying a holiday. I think these are features of this extraordinary contest, when men by the thousand were sustaining such heavy losses, which do them infinite credit, and which will certainly not lessen the esteem in which they are held by their employers."

There was still another striking circumstance mentioned. "Not

even the poorest among them would sacrifice his independence by accepting the relief of the poor-law guardians; and, contrary to general expectation, the strike has made no appreciable difference in the burdens of the ratepayers. On the other hand, this position has been maintained by a large proportion of the men at the expense of a heavy discount of their credit. Shopkeepers' accounts are in arrear; rents are in arrear-indeed, it may be taken as a rule that no rent has been paid by the majority of the men since the strike began. I know that it is the case with those who live in the companies' cottages-no application has been made to them for rentand the majority of cottage-owners tell the same story. Of course, these arrears will have to be liquidated, but it will be a work of time, and for many months-in some cases, where there are heavy families to support, it will be two or three years-the strike will leave its burdensome legacy. The struggle, however, has been fought out with admirable temper on both sides. The masters have shown no rigour towards those whose distress they might easily have aggravated; and the men, on the other hand, have been throughout distinguished by their respectful attitude towards their employers. If there were no other feature in the contest, this alone would make it memorable. It has closed amidst general rejoicing, and the impression exists everywhere, among all classes, that it will be many years hence before the district is visited by another such

commercial disaster."

29. THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE.-Never was there a more glorious day than this for the Inter-University Boat Race, which year by year seems to grow in public favour; and the contrast between the brilliant sun and summer warmth of that day and the sleet and snow which prevailed last year was extraordinary even in our uncertain climate. The attendance was, of course, enormous, and it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that half London lined the banks of the Thames from Putney to Mortlake. As the time for the start approached, Cambridge rose rapidly in popular favour, and on board some of the steamboats as much as three to one was laid on her chance. Precisely at 2.20 p.m. Oxford paddled down to the Aqueduct, and, having won the toss, took up the position on the Middlesex side. On such a beautifully still day there was little or no advantage in having the choice; for, though Oxford gained about a length, yet Cambridge had the full strength of the tide, which made matters about equal. The "light blues" were only a few minutes behind their rivals, and were received with tremendous cheering. Everything being in readiness, the eights took up their positions at the two watermen's skiffs, which were moored higher up than usual; and Mr. Searle, who always acts as starter, having received no answer to his question, "Are you ready?" said "Go!" and the race began.

The start was perfectly level, yet though the Cambridge stroke was only rowing thirty-eight to the minute, while Dowding was setting his men forty, the favourites had a lead of a quarter of a

length before reaching the Creek. Cambridge now dropped to a fine, steady thirty-seven to the minute, and yet fully maintained her advantage; indeed, in making the shoot below the Soapworks her lead had increased to nearly a length. In spite of every effort on the part of the Oxonians, this advantage was maintained to Hammersmith bridge, which was reached in the very quick time of 7 min. 26 sec. Here it was clear that nothing but an accident could prevent the success of Cambridge, and as much as ten to one was offered on her. Just off the "Doves," Dowding called on his men for a spurt, and, rowing forty-two to the minute, they picked up some of their lost ground; but it was an expiring effort, and the Cantabs, who were only rowing thirty-six, drew rapidly away again. The race was now over, for the leaders passed through Barnes railway bridge fully two lengths to the good, two or three of the Oxford crew being completely rowed out at this point, and finally won by three lengths. The time was 19 min. 35 sec., by far the fastest on record; so the sliding seats, which were used for the first time in this race, must be pronounced a complete success, and will doubtless be universally adopted.

We append the names and weights of both crews:—

1. THE WRECK OF THE "ATLANTIC."-This terrible disaster, attended with a far greater loss of life than even the sinking of the "Northfleet" at Dungeness, was made known to us by submarine telegraph a few hours after it happened, which was at two o'clock on the morning of the 1st. It took place on the coast of Nova Scotia, fifteen miles from Halifax, the ship running on the promontory of Meagher's Head, at the entrance to Prospect Harbour, then rolling into deep water and sinking in a few minutes. The cause was, beyond question, an error in reckoning the distance run, and the course and position of the ship, with the mistake of one lighthouse for another. The ship's boats were not used, but some of the men scrambled ashore over the rigging; 442 persons were saved, while about 560 perished, including all the women and children.