nbullaurnto.,

The Queen has conferred the Grand Cross of the Bath on Marshal Valliant, the French Minister of- War ; the rank of Knight Commander on Major-General Rose, Principal Commissioner at the head-quarters of the French army; and the rank of Companion of-the Bath on Lieutenant- Colonel Foley, second Commissioner at the French bead-quarters; on Colonel Simmons, British Commissioner with the Turkish army ; and'on Major Claremont, Military Commissioner at Paris.

Mr. James Aytoun of. Edinburgh, who resides much at Paris, instrude- the public, through an Edinburgh newspaper, on the views which military men in Paris take of the attack on the Great Redan. That attack was undertaken as a diversion, in order to give the French time to consolidate themselves in the Malakoff. "Under the circumstances, the taking and retention of the Redan was physically impossible." But General Pills- Bier asked' General Simpson to engage the Russians at the Redan for an hour, so that he might bring up the French reserves and artillery ; under- taking on that condition to keep possession of the Malakoff " Make your assault," said General Pelissier, "and give us, if possible, thatlength of respite. Throw away as few men as possible, but engage the Russiallif for at least an hour, and Sebastopol is ours."

The Administrative Reform Association has, through its Committee, issued a second address to the public. The Committee regard "the move- ment," which they assume to have originated and propelled, as making progress ; in proof of which, they point to the recent measures of the Government directing examinations for junior clerkships in the Civil Ser- vice and cadetships in the Royal Artillery, and the Admiralty instruc- tions with regard to the Dockyards. But as these are uncertain steps in the right direction, and resting only on orders in Council, which may be rescinded, the Committee propose more decided measures.

"It has been determined upon, as the leading principle of the Association, that the system of patronage shall be brought to an end ; that the Repre- sentatives of the People shall be placed beyond suspicion of subserviency to Government or party, in the hope of preferment on their own account, or of places to secure their hold upon constituents; that the control of the Trea- sury over Members of Parliament, by gift of appointments, shall cease ; and that a system of appointment and promotion, based upon character, merit, and proved fitness, shall be established throughout every department of the public service. As a first practical step in this reform, a bill has been prepared, by which, if it become law, the gift of junior clerkships in the Civil Service will be taken from the Treasury, and the whole of the appoint- ments of that class thrown open to public competitive examination." This is but a beginning ; other bills are to be forwarded ; and the con- stituencies are urged to exert themselves to obtain " the best, the ablest, and worthiest men," to find them in their own localities if possible, and at all events refuse to receive the nominees of "great neighbours and great clubs." The Committee also intimates a want of money. Hi- therto the subscriptions have been confined to London ; but henceforth steps will.be taken to collect subscriptions throughout the country.

The Registrar-General remarks that London is healthier than it was in September, and shows that it has been healthier this year than last—.

"13,042 persons died in London during_the thirteen weeks that ended on September 29; so that the deaths during the quarter were at the rata of 1003 a week. This presents a favourable contrast to the state of the public health in the corresponding quarter of last year, when 24,870 deaths, or 1913 weekly on an average, were registered in London." The deatiesduring the week ending.October 6 were only 951.

The ex-Queen Marie Amillie and the Duke and Duchess de ldontpensier have joined the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Cobourg Gotha and the Princes Alexander and Phillippe of Wurtemberg, at-Frankfort.

The Tenn correspondent of the Times says that "the recruiting and equipment of the Anglo-Italian Legion have not progressed with such ra- pidity as might have been desired, and it appears probable that a change in the command will take place before long."

The screw-liner Algesims, launched at Toulon lest week, is to have her name altered to Malakoff.

Sergeant Brodie, who interfered to prevent a duel, or mock duel, among military officers at Canterbury, is no longer in active service : he has been superannuated, with a low rate of pension. His appointments in the regi ment were lucrative, and it is considered that he has been punished for daring to interfere with the freaks of officers. A testimonial expressive of the public feeling has been set on foot ; the Earl of Shaftesbury has sub-. scribed bl. towards it.

Our Post-office authorities contemplate the immediate establishment of a money-order office in Paris.

In consequence of the deficient vintage, the exportation of grape., must, common wines, vinegar, and crude tartar, has been prohibited for another year in the Roman States.

A telegraphic despatch, deficient in particulars, announces that Dr. Lu- ther, of Bilk, discovered a new planet on the bth instant.

It may not perhaps be generally known that by the new Summary Turfs- diction Act the property of persons convicted is not forfeited to the Crown.

The villages on the Austrian military frontier have suffered greatly from the cholera : in one case a third of the population were swept away. There have been a few cameo( cholera among the slaves et Rio dodaneiro energetic measures were taken to combat the disease. No fewer than 14,000 people have perished from cholera in the province of Bahia ; 13,000 of whom were slaves or Coloured people. Some plantations have lost three-fourths of their slaves, and the sugar crop will suffer from. want of hands.

The cholera increases at Madrid. Sefior Sagasti, the Civil Governor of the city, has suffered from an attack.

Our last number contained some facts showing the decline of cholera in Florence : by mistake, the compiler wrote 26th August for 26th Seplem&er. Curiously, however, the deaths from cholera about the 26th August were about the same as aated. Shortly after that date, the epidemic increased in. severity, rising to nearly 150 a day. In September it declined, andoe stated, seemed likely to cease by the end of that month.

Several Aldermen and Councillors of New Toxic have been arrested aka charges of Adel. corraptiort-,-the reoulaingtof bribes.

The Austerlitz, French liner, has lost her captain, M. Laurencin, by a lamentable accident. During a heavy gale he was blown from the netting. into the sea, and efforts to save him or even to recover his body failed. The vessel arrived at Cherbourg with marks of mourning among her crew as well as in the disposition of her flags.

A disastrous shipwreck is reported from Buenos Ayres. The British barque Enterprise, from Callao to Cork, with a cargo of guano, was abandoned on the 16th of July, in lat. 45° South. After being fourteen days in the boat, during which tune three of the crew perished, Captain Gardner and the re- mainder, including Mrs. Gardner and an infant born in the boat, were picked up by the Chilian bark Oriente, and have since reached Montevideo : another of the seamen died on board the Oriente. The account of their suf- ferings is heartrending. In June last the bark Catherine Sharer, from London, caught fire at Port Esperance, in Van Diemen's Land : as the flames extended, the crew and some thirty passengers were landed in the boats; presently, the ship was torn to pieces by a terrific explosion. The Catherine Sharer had nine tons of gunpowder on board ; local journals report that she had also forty tons of limier matches as cargo ; these dangerous articles and the powder having been surreptitiously shipped at Purfieet, and no extraordinary precautions taken to prevent accidents. The passengers, and some of the crew appa- rently, little knew what a volcano existed in the hold.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—Return of admissions for six days ending Friday October 12th, including season-ticket-holders, 24,928.