same metals for a short distance. Just after the up-train was despatched the Hastings train appeared round the curve beyond the station. It being impossible for the drivers to pull up in time, the two trains came into collision. The passengers in the Hastings train appeared to feel the shock most, several of them being injured, and a young lady, Miss Mary Constance Girling, of Holloway, so severely that she died two or three hours afterwards. The Rev. Mr. Bere, of Sunbury, sustained concussion of the brain. Mr. Frederick Simpson, a gentleman who was on his way to Brighton, and Miss Ranger, the daughter of a builder of Lewes, were cut on the head and much shaken.

Another railway collision occurred late on the night of the 25th, at Dodworth, on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, distant about two miles from Barnsley. It being Barnsley Feast, there were excursion trains to London, Hull, Grimsby, and Manchester. The return train from Grimsby arrived at Dodworth shortly after eleven o'clock. It was closely followed by another excursion train from Hull. Whilst so situated, the excursion train from Grimsby was run into by a goods train going to Barnsley and the south. No one was killed, but a great many persons were seriously injured, and Humphreys, a guard, was not expected to survive. The engine of the goods train was thrown across the rails, and in its course dragged several carriages along with it, all of which were smashed to pieces. The rails were torn up for a considerable distance, and the traffic was entirely stopped for more than nine hours.

By an accident which occurred at the Virginia Water station of the London and South-Western Railway, on the 25th, three wellknown race-horses were killed, and two jockeys who were in charge of them have been seriously injured. A horse-box, containing three horses, was placed on the Chertsey siding opposite the station, for the purpose of being attached to the down train due at Virginia Water, and, owing to some fault in the points, the train, instead of keeping on the main line, ran into the siding, and came into collision with the horse-box. Two jockeys named Spencer and Cornery were looking after the animals. Spencer was taken from the van in an insensible condition, and Cornery was much hurt. A stable lad named Lake was on the step of the van at the time, and was thrown up the embankment several yards. The horses-Druid, Queen Mab filly, and Virgin Queen-were so much injured that they had to be shot. They were to have run at Oxford on the following day.

About noon on the 27th, as a heavy goods train was ascending an incline between Colwyn and Llandulas, on the Chester and Holyhead Railway, the axle of a waggon broke, and a number of trucks were pitched across the metals, damaging the permanent way and delaying the traffic about four hours. The Irish mails up and down had to transfer their passengers and mails.

SEPTEMBER.

2. THE PILGRIMAGE TO PARAY-LE-MONIAL.-On this day (Tuesday) nearly 500 English Roman Catholics left Victoria Station by special train at 6.30 a.m. for Newhaven, on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Marguerite Marie Alacoque, at Paray-le-Monial.

Prior to their departure early mass was celebrated at many Roman Catholic chapels in the metropolis. Some hundreds of spectators assembled at Victoria Station to witness the departure, but there was no procession or formal ceremony, as had apparently been expected. The pilgrims all wore the badge of the Sacred Heart, and the different Roman Catholic orders and brotherhoods each sent their representative.

They carried with them but little of this world's goods, as their luggage was strictly limited to such bags and bundles as could be stowed in the netting of the carriages they sat in.

Nearly half the throng were women, dressed chiefly in sombre colours, though not in actual mourning; and nearly half of the men were priests, dressed in ecclesiastical garb, varying from the mere white collar and long black coat to cassocks and hooded cloaks surmounted by shovel hats. Many of the pilgrims had begun their pilgrimage in the north and west of England, or on the other side of the Irish Channel, for the general hubbub was traversed by a rich vein of brogue. Lord Walter Kerr, Monsignor Capel, and other members of the committee were present and travelled by the train, but the presiding genius was Mr. Cook, inquired for on all hands by good Catholics come by night train from Manchester and other places, and anxious at the last moment about their vouchers. Archbishops and bishops may have their day, but on the railway platform the tourist agent must reign supreme. Sisters of Charity, in their black stoles and corpse-like face-cloths, came by twos and threes, and as these friends and nurses of the poor passed towards the train the men raised their hats, according to the point of religious courtesy. Banners in long brown-paper parcels and flat deal boxes were safely stowed away, to be unfurled and carried in splendour at the crowning moment. Despite a very distinguished committee, numbering among its members that trump card of English Catholicism, a Duke of Norfolk, Lords Denbigh and Herries, Lady Lothian, Lady Herbert of Lea, and ecclesiastics of high rank, the lay contingent of pilgrims seemed to comprise but few persons of the upper class. It is understood, however, that many such persons have been liberal in subscribing, and have thus not only enabled others to become pilgrims who could not have afforded the expense, but have themselves made the pilgrimage by proxy, and, to quote the express words of the manifesto, have " shared in the graces of this national Catholic act of homage."

The ecclesiastics were so distributed that each compartment was

an oratory with its allotted priest, ready to lead the devotions appointed to be begun the instant the train moved. Like any other congregation, the pilgrims took the matter more and less seriously; the Sacred Heart on the coat lapel did not deter some young men from a newspaper and a cigar, and some young women found that pleasant conversation went very well with the holy emblem and the occasion. It was quite impossible that the pleasure of a trip to Paris should be altogether lost in the profit of a trip to Paray. Nevertheless, the demeanour of the pilgrims was on the whole serious, and a certain joyousness which seemed to an outsider ordinary good spirits was, no doubt, religious enthusiasm. A good crowd of friends and strangers gave the pilgrim train a hearty, though somewhat incongruous, cheer. This was answered from the carriage windows, but most of the pilgrims immediately turned their faces down to the formidable "manual" issued by the committee. There was, indeed, no time to be lost, for between Victoria and Newhaven the Itinerarium, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, seven Paters and Aves for the Pope, the persecuted Bishops, and the Church, and the five joyful Mysteries of the Rosary were appointed to be said.

The train duly arrived at Newhaven in a couple of hours, where the London contingent found many of their co-religionists, most of whom had gone on board the " Marseilles" before the arrival of the special train, the ladies occupying the interval of waiting by reading their prayer-books, while the men enjoyed their cigars.

The party arrived only ten minutes before the time fixed for the departure of the boat, and the attractions of breakfast at the hotel had consequently to be passed over unnoticed. The embarkation took place with the least possible delay, Monsignor Capel being especially prominent in superintending all the arrangements. As might have been expected, the "Marseilles" proved inadequate for the reception of all the pilgrims, and many of them had to be content with a passage by the ordinary boat, the "Alexandra." As they were embarking, the flag of the Sacred Heart was run up at the mainmast of the "Marseilles," an incident which evoked a hearty cheer. In half an hour the steamers had got under way, the "Alexandra" having the advantage of the start by a few minutes, and as she went by she was cheered by the passengers of the "Marseilles." A crowd of spectators witnesssd the departure from the pier, and as the steamer moved off one man rushed to the front, and, shaking his umbrella at the departing pilgrims, shouted after them as his malediction: "You are a disgrace to your country!" Others took up the cry, but it was received with no counter manifestation from the steamer. As soon as they were fairly on their way a "Pilgrimage Hymn," composed for the occasion by Lady Georgina Fullerton, was very effectively sung.

French priests met the pilgrims when they landed at Dieppe. Unfortunately, the proprietor of the buffet at the railway station could provide only 120 covers, and the great majority of the passengers had to rest contented with what they could get; indeed, many

who could not speak French had to go altogether without. The pilgrims left Dieppe in two special trains, the first of which arrived in Paris at nine p.m., and the second fifty minutes later. Devotions were said on the way, but most of the pilgrims were too tired to pay much heed to these holy exercises. The arrival of the first train was awaited by a crowd of about 500 persons, who regarded the pilgrims with much curiosity; but the number of spectators diminished considerably before the arrival of the second batch of travellers, who were treated with complete indifference.

Prior to the resumption of the journey from Paris on September 3rd, mass was celebrated in the church of Notre Dame des Victoires by Dr. Vaughan, Bishop of Salford. The special train left the Lyons Railway Station at seven o'clock in the morning, and did not arrive at Paray till after ten at night. The engine broke down for want of water.

On their arrival, the pilgrims, fully eight hundred strong, were met by a large procession of Catholics, carrying wax tapers, who had marched to the railway station. They warmly cheered the English pilgrims, who responded by shouts of "Long live France!" and "Long live Catholic France!" A short address was then delivered by a priest, and a procession was formed to the parish church, the banners being very effectively displayed. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the spire of the Town Hall and several houses were brilliantly illuminated.

As the English pilgrims descended, each received a taper, for which he was afterwards invited to pay twopence sterling. The gorgeous banners previously prepared in the railway carriage were quickly brought, and the procession was formed. As pioneers marched a contingent of priests, the leader of the column being six feet six high, and as lean as his bishop is fat. Behind the foreign priests was Monsignor Talbot, with the banner of the Sacred Heart. After him the Duke of Norfolk struggled gallantly with the English banner, assisted by Lords Dormer and Arundell of Wardour. The females followed three abreast. Lord Walter Kerr bore the banner of Scotland, and the English priests formed the rear.

The proces

sion, flanked by files of nuns with lighted candles, moved slowly up, the lane of light resembling a moving fire, and singing "Magnificat anima mea Dominum." As the solemn strains of the chant rose in the evening air, one forgot the paltry wax figures of the painted shrine, and acknowledged the solemnity of the scene. The chapel having been at length reached, the pilgrims all knelt in the dust before the open doors, revealing the glories of the illuminated shrine within the church, to receive the benediction and offer thanksgivings. All night long and throughout the morning a changing army priests were saying masses at the twenty altars. It was hard work, and was faithfully executed. One priest fainted at the altar and was carried out, but his place was soon filled. In the darkened corners of the church and the recesses between the pillars a succession of kneeling figures made confession and got absolution. At ten o'clock

of

there was high mass, followed by a short address from the Bishop of Salford. At the afternoon service Monsignor Capel preached, surpassing himself in eloquence.

The second procession to the shrine in the afternoon was intended to eclipse the night's, but fell short of it in effect-nineteenth century pilgrimages not being picturesque in sunlight.

It may be well to repeat here the story which has given rise to this strange pilgrimage:

Marguerite Marie Alacoque, the saint whose shrine is now being visited, was born in 1647, and in her early life gave signs of the intense devotion which afterwards was her marked characteristic among human beings. At the age of twelve years she slept on the hard floor, in the depth of winter, engaged in prayer and meditation. In due time she became a nun, and in the parish church of Lhautecour the poor emaciated girl alleged that she had been personally and pointedly addressed by Jesus Christ, who promised that if she followed Him faithfully He would manifest Himself to her. At Paray, according to Marguerite's statement, the following transpired:-"One time, being before the Holy Sacrament, I found myself invested with the Divine presence so powerfully that I forgot myself and the place where I stood, and abandoned myself to the Divine Spirit, delivering my heart over to the force of His love. He made me repose for a long time upon His Divine breast, where He disclosed to me the marvels of His love and the inexplicable secret of His sacred heart. He had always kept it hidden from me before, but now He opened it for the first time, and in a manner so effective that He left me no room to doubt. And this is how it seems to me this interview passed :-He said to me, 'My Divine heart is so full of passionate love for men, and for you in particular, that it can no longer contain within itself the flow of its hardened lovingkindness. It is necessary that it should be distributed by your agency, and that it should manifest itself to mankind, in order to enrich them with the precious treasures that I show you, and which contain the sanctifying and saving graces necessary to their salvation. I have chosen you for the accomplishment of this design, as being in the depth of indigence and ignorance; everything will be done by myself."" The Saviour then, she alleges, asked her for her heart, and she begged Him to take it. He did so, and put it in His own, in which she saw hers burn like an atom in an intense furnace. When the heart was returned to its place, and the wound closed up, there was left a legacy of pain-the wound and the pain to continue-lest she should in time come to look upon the gift as a mere freak of imagination. She then also received the designation of "Disciple of the Sacred Heart." Seventy visions the happy girl had in all. Her pain was often intense, but her pleasure was unbounded, and to her was committed the burthen, or gift, of confirming belief, and arresting unbelievers and sinners, and turning them to the right path.

5. SUSPECTED MURDER AND MUTILATION OF THE BODY.-It is