23 OCTOBER 1886, Page 1

The Vienna correspondent of the Daily Chronicle reports a rumour

prevalent in that capital on Thursday, that the Czar had been assassinated, and is confirmed as to its currency by .the Daily News. The rumour is, however, incorrect, and has been officially denied. The correspondent thinks it was based on an incident which he clearly believes to have recently occurred. Count Reutern, aide-de-camp to the Emperor, was on duty in a room next his Majesty's, and, overcome by the heat, had unbuttoned his uniform. The Emperor suddenly entered, and Count Reutern hurriedly. sprang up, and began fastening his uniform buttons. The Emperor, always on the watch against assassination, believed he was feeling for a weapon, drew the revolver which he always carries, and shot the aide- de-camp dead. Palace stories of that kind are rarely true ; but the fact that such a narrative could be sent from Vienna by telegraph, and so circulated over Europe, is sufficient proof Of the general belief as to the condition of the Czar's mind. That belief is, of course, no proof of his mental condition, partisans in a certain stage of excitement receiving any story of insanity with the most stupid credulity. Mr. Gladstone has been mad, in Tory belief, at least half-a-dozen times, and every dreaded agitator is always, while he is im- portant, mad for his enemies. When he ceases to be obnoxious, he again becomes sane.