The Landgrave of Hesse Homberg has abdicated in favour of

the next collateral heir, the Grand Duke of Hesse Darmstadt. The hereditary Prince of that little country died at Bonn last winter, and the Landgrave's brother is the next heir; but, on account of ill health and a state of per- fect misanthropy, he resigned his rights of succession several years ago; and the present Landgrave has ever since the death of his only son been in a similar state. He is in possession of an immense private fortune.

The Austrian Ambassador and the Countess Dietrichstein left London for Germany on Thursday; not to return to this country.

The Quebec papers report that the Countess of Elgin was in a delicate state of health, insomuch that she had been advised to proceed for a time to Riviere du Loup. On her way, Lady Elgin was to stop for a fortnight at Beaumont, with Lord Elgin; who would accompany her thus far, and. then return to Montreal.

The sale of the Duke of Buckingham's property at Stowe commenced on Tuesday, and has been continued daily. The Morning Post—which we select as being the friendly apologist of the Duke—states the general cir- cumstances that have led to the sale. " The horde fide debts of the Duke are variously estimated, but I believe about one million and a half sterling is within the mark, and may be considered approximating to the true amount. The creditors for this enormous sum are, as I understand, with scarcely an exception, amply secured on mortgages, which extend over every acre of land on the family estate, (with the single exception of the Chandos property,) amounting to about 17,0001. per annum, as well as on the mansion of Stowe itself."

The Post represents the Marquis of Chandos—a young man of five-and- twenty—as urging his father to the most ample sacrifice of the entailed property, the most direct courses and the most manly openness. Daring the past week, Stowe was thronged with visitera of every degree, from the ducal carriage-rider to the suburban butcher in his taxed cart. On Mon- day, rough measures were required to extrude several persons who had got in without authority. The articles sold on the first days have been princi- pally china ware and objects of vertu. From the terms of the advertise- ment, it appears that the sale is expected to last at least till after the 25th of September.

The augmentation of the Royal Artillery, announced in March last to be applied for in the Ordnance Estimates of the present year, has been effected on the principle originally stated, although not to the full extent. Instead of twenty companies, sixteen companies is the number finally settled; and the arrangement was promulgated on Wednesday: the four additional companies are expected to be added in October next. The six- teen companies now added are apportioned by giving two to each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth battalions; and one company to each of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth battalions.

The London Gazette of the 15th August contains a formal notification to Lord Palmerston, by the Danish Minister, that the King of Denmark "has decided to blockade, from the 15th of this month, the rivers Elbe, Weser, and Jahde, as well as the Eastern entrance of the port of Stralsund and of Griefswalde. Neutral packet-boats will be able freely to keep up the regular postal communication heretofore established, upon condition that they do not carry contraband of war."

The local accounts of the crops are less gloomy on the whole than might be expected. The wheat crop of the North would seem to be under the ave- rage quantity, but of promising quality. Much the same accounts come from the Northern English counties, with the addition that the potato disease is

more seriously mentioned: it seems to be threatening much harm there. In the Midland counties, the harvest has commenced, and the reaped grain is suffering by the wet weather, but not seriously. In the Southern coun- ties, the damage seems to have been considerable, both from wet and wind; but the crop is spoken of more favourably in point of yield than before the cutting began. From Scotland they write favourably. Such is the general character of the reports that we have seen during the week; most of them, however, written some days back.

Private advices from France give accounts of a progressive improvement in commerce and manufactures. At Havre, Rouen, Lyons, and indeed throughout the country, the people are pretty well employed at remunera- tive wages; and there are satisfactory indications of a better state of things being near at hand.—Morning Chronicle.

The Calais branch of the North of France Railway was opened on Tuesday. Paris is now, by the Dover route, brought within ten hours of London; by the Brussels route, within eight hours.

Immigration is pouring into the United States a tremendous tide from almost every country of Europe. As a body, the emigrants now landing are far superior, in point of education and wealth, to those coming amongst us in former years. Welsh, Scotch, Germans, and Irish, swarm the holds and decks of our packet-ships. Not a vessel enters our harbour from a foreign soil without bringing more or less of them; and, from a careful exami- nation of statistics; the daily average arrival of emigrants at the port of New York is not less than 1,000, or upwards of 350,000 per year. Of these, this year more than formerly, the Germans furnish a large share. Very few of them are paupers, very few settle down in our cities; but all rather strike out at once for a farm, a homestead, and independence.— New York Sun.

Advices from Newfoundland, to the 26th of July, continue to furnish favourable reports of progress in the fisheries. The French had been equally successful with our own crews. The only drawback experienced was the scarcity of salt, the supply being insufficient to carry out effectively the process of curing.

Our readers will recollect, that in May last the Bank of England, and City bankers generally, closed their business at four o'clock, instead of five as formerly. The experiment having been completely successful, we are authorized to state that the West-end bankers are about to adopt the same hours, viz, nine to four.—Morning Chronicle.

Warned of the approaching cholera, the authorities at Manchester have resolved to establish cholera hospitals, with a medical staff for the attend- ance of patients in their own homes. A good example.

The following instructions concerning the cholera were addressed to the country people in Russia by authority of the Government. "It has been remarked, that just before the appearance of the cholera in a dis- trict, the inhabitants are troubled more than usually by diarrhceas and other com- plaints, trifling under ordinary circumstances, but which in the presence of the epidemic are apt, if neglected, to degenerate into real cholera cases. It is well known from the experience obtained in 1830 and 1831, that the cholera is in itself generally not contagious, but that it may become so, like some other diseases, if many sick are kept crowded together. The cholera has been found to be most de- structive in villages situated on low and marshy grounds, or near bogs and stagnant pools, and particularly where the inhabitants are confined within narrow space and live unmindful of cleanliness. It has been further observed, that those de- lected in spirits and easily alarmed are more subject to cholera than those who live in confidence and are of good courage. " The preceding remarks having been made, the following are the precautions recommended for observance against cholera. "To beware of catching cold, and particularly to protect the stomach from cold; for which purpose, to wear a broad belt of cloth or stoat flannel upon the skin around the waist; not to lie upon the bare ground, nor to sleep at night in the open air. After sleep or hard labour, when in perspiration, to drink no water or other beverage cold; to drink no acid beverage, and never much at a draught; to beware of all things of intoxication; to use light food and moderately; to eat no bread insufficiently baked, no crude vegetables, no unripe fruits, nor meat or fish not perfectly fresh, and to abstain from salted meats and pickled fish that provoke thirst; to keep the person and the dwelling clean; and to allow of no sinks close to the house to admit no poultry or animals within the house, and to keep it airy by ventilation. Where there are sick let not the place be crowded.

" Notwithstanding the best precautions' the cholera may at times break out. The following are its symptoms, and the treatment to be pursued with perseve- rance and confidence.

"A person in good health may be suddenly attacked by cholera; at first sick- ness, the eye-sight dimmed; then, after a shiver and rumbling in the bowels, vo- miting and purging, with acute pains below the breast, under the ribs, and on the left side, attended by quenchless thirst. If the patient be not quickly succoured, cramps ensue in the legs and arms, which become of icy coldness; extreme weak- ness comes on, and a deadly paleness; the whole body becomes cold, then a hic- cough, and other signs oil approaching death. "On the appearance of the first symptoms, let medical aid be immediately called; but if that cannot be obtained, the treatment necessary is as follows.

"1. Let the patient be warmly covered. 2. Let his whole body be well rubbed with warm vinegar or brandy; likewise his hands and feet and pit of the stomach with clean tar, or, if none can be had, with strong brandy. 3. Let the patient take, in frequent and small quantities, a warm and light infusion of mint, or of the essence of mint, one or two drops at a time with sugar. 4. If there be no abatement of pain on vomiting, a blister of mustard should be applied to the pit of the stomach. 5. If all the same symptoms still continue, and the patient be of a strong constitution, then apply leeches to the same place, twelve to twenty for an adult, and for children six to ten; but if of a weak constitution, let no leeches be used without the advice of a physician. 6. A warm bath, if ready and near' may be used with benefit; otherwise a vapour-bath may be prepared at home, thus—Heat some stones or bricks, and over them place a bedstead with a netted bottom, upon which let the patient be stretched, well covered; then throw the vinegar upon the hot stones; whence steam will arise conducive to perspira- tion, aided by the frictions, which must not be discontinued. For want of this vapour bath, place around and in contact with the patient bags of heated sand or ashes.

" Obscreations.—During the present epidemic, no applications have been found 20 efficacious as strong frictions, either with the naked hand, with a cloth, or with a brush, using clean tar or some other irritant. The essence of peppermint may be used more freely than heretofore prescribed.

"Great care must be observed during convalescence; for the cholera is often followed by typhus fever."

Mr. W. Edkins, Second Master in the City of London School, has been ap- pointed to the Gresham Professorship of Geometry, vacant by the death of the Reverend Dr. Birch. The Money-order department of the Post-office continues to extend in its opera_ tions. In the quarter ended 5th April 1889, the number of orders issued or paid in London was 9,423, and the amount 17,4011.; but for the quarter ended lith January 1848 the totals were respectively 384,987 and 797,0421 In the quarter ending at Lady Day 1847, the number of persons relieved under the Poor-law in England and Wales was 1,471,188: the cases of out-door relief amounted to 1,244,554. The total expenditure for the year ending at the same period was 4,674,5691.; the cost of out-door relief, 2,971,1801

At Falkirk tryst, Mr. Balloch, an elderly gentleman, has been the victim of a swindling trick by no means noveL An Englishman accosted him, and said he want. ed to buy a certain horse, for forty pounds; but that the owner, a Captain Some- body, would not sell it to him; the Captain's servant came up at the moment, and said his master would not allow him to sell it to the stranger. The latter asked Mr. Balloch to buy it for him, and he would repay him the money. The gentleman paid the cash to the servant, who then departed' Mr. Balloch turned to his new acquaintance to get his money returned—he too had decamped. The horse be- longed to a person who knew nothing of the transaction. The rogues have been taken at Glasgow, on their way to Lanark fair.

Sir Augustus John Foster, a Privy Councillor and G.C.H., has committed sni- cide, at Branksea Castle in a fit of insanity. Fpr months he had been suffering from disease of the heart and lungs; and delirium frequently occurred. One evening he was found dead, with a razor in his band, and two gashes in the throat He was in his sixty-eighth year.

Mr. Munro's term of imprisonment for killing Lieutenant-Colonel Fawcett in a duel terminated on Tuesday; and he was then liberated.

Mr. Charles Frederick Birch, a gentleman cadet of Woolwich, in his nineteenth year, was drowned there on Saturday afternoon. At the inquest, it appeared that the deceased and Mr. Heberzlen, another cadet, went to bathe in the canal in the Arsenal; Mr. Birch, who could swim a little, entered the water first, but soon af- terwards he appeared to be drowning; and his companion tried in vain to save him. There is an order that the cadets shall not bathe unless a sergeant be present; but the two young men were not aware of this. Verdict, "Accidental death."

Mr. Bungrey, a solicitor of Stockbridge in Hants, has been killed on the East- ern Counties Railway, near Lea Bridge station. On Tuesday night, he had got on to the rails as a train was approaching; the whistle was sounded, but the gentleman seemed unconscious of danger; the buffer of the locomotive struck him, he fell beneath the machine, and the fire-box crushed him. He died soon after he had been conveyed to the London Hospital.

On Saturday last, a labouring man named Fell killed himself, at Barrow, in Low Farness, by incautiously drinking a quantity of cold water whilst in a state of perspiration. He had scarcely got the pitcher from his mouth before he drop- ped lifeless to the ground.—Cemberland Peeper.

A girl, eight years old, has died, in the vicinity of the New Kent Road, from illness produced by fright. Her mother had four children at a birth, three still- born, and the fourth living only a few days. From the evidence at the inquest, there seems no doubt that, through terror at the strange occurrence, the girl was seized with vomiting and diarrhoea, which ended in death. The Jury gave a ver- dict in that sense.

A few weeks ago, when the Fourth Royal Irish Dragoon Guards were stationed at Nottingham Barracks, two of the privates quarrelled, and one bit the other in the finger. The wound festered, and at length the man's whole body became af- fected; the bones, denuded of flesh, protruding through the skin. The sufferer lingered until Monday, when he was relieved by death. Orders have been issued for the arrest of the soldier who bit his companion.

Samuel Whittle an engine-driver on the East Lancashire Railway, has com- mitted an act of atrocity amounting to madness. Being left behind by his engine which had been ordered away in his absence, he constructed a strong

barricade of stones, iron bars, and timber, across the line in the way of its return. The engine maid not be stopped soon enough to avoid collision, and it was nearly

upset. A clergyman, who rode on the tender, by his presence of mind mitigated the shock; but the stoker was thrown on the line under the wheels of the engine, one of his arms was cut off, and both his thighs were broken. Whittle is com- mitted for trial.

An extraordinary pedestrian match came off on Thursday, at Sepson Green, near Hounslow. A nobleman having made a bet with another member of the aristocracy that he could not produce a man to walk twenty miles in three hours, Charles Westhall was chosen for the task. He accomplished it in two minutes and a half under the time; and though he suffered at the close from cramp in the legs, he soon recovered.

Some inconsiderate person has been playing off a hoax at Brompton. He ad- vertised for a clerk and a housekeeper, personal applications to be made at a house in Sydney Street, ou Saturday last. The occupant of the house was pestered all day by crowds of men and women applying for the situations: there was an "ex- citement," some anger, and much jocularity; at the same time the victims of the hoax were put to great inconvenience, and in many cases to expense.

On a sign-board in Harrogate is the following inscription—" Hodson, umbrella- maker, town bellman, optician, dealer of tobacco, lodgings, baker."

Results of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the

week ending on Saturday last— Number of Summer

deaths. average.

— ,-.--

Total (including unspecified causes) 1059 971 . The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 95.0° 111 the sun to 87.0° in the shade; the mean temperature by day being colder than the mean averse temperature by 8.2°. The mean direction of the wind for the week was Soap' south-west.

Zymotie Diseases Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat Tubercular Diseases 462 25 182 ....

....

• • • • 257 45 194 Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses. 106 • . • • 120 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 25 • • • • 28 Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration 53 .... 80 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 64 .... 79 Diseases of the Kidneys, Sc

s ....

8 Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, Sc, 7 .... 10 Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, &c.

s • • • •

7 Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, Sc 4 .... 1 Malformations 2 .... 3 Premature Birth

sa ....

2:1

Atrophy

sa • .• • ..r.s

Age 26 . • • • 20 Sudden 7 • • • • a Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 19 • • • •

31