the whole nation, and the utmost sympathy was every where manifested for the Queen and the Princess of Wales, for the Pall Mall Gazette of the 9th wrote, "The excitement in London on the publication of the early editions of the evening papers yesterday afternoon was intense. Crowds of eager inquirers gathered round the various newspaper offices, as well as round the shops and stalls of the newsvendors, and earnest conversations were carried on. At Marlborough House the telegrams were watched for by large numbers of persons, who remained standing on the pavement, and out in the street, regardless of the piercing cold, and anxious only to learn the latest intelligence as speedily as possible. As might be expected the excitement here became very great on the arrival of a telegram, and in a few minutes after the messenger had brought in the intelligence the door was opened, the people were admitted, and copies were distributed to the fortunate individuals who were enabled to get near the office. Some one or other of the recipients would then read the document aloud to those who were waiting outside. Immediately on the receipt of one of these messages a copy was despatched to the head office of the metropolitan police in Scotland-yard, and the intelligence was instantly telegraphed to every police-station within the metropolitan district. At all these stations there were numbers of persons waiting during the day, many of whom came from considerable distances, especially in the rural districts. From the provincial towns we learn that equal anxiety was shown all over the country."

By desire of the Queen, the Archbishop of Canterbury issued the following forms of prayer, which were used on and after the 10th, in all churches and chapels of the Establishment.

"O Almighty God and merciful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death, look down from Heaven, we humbly beseech Thee, with the eyes of mercy upon Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, now lying upon the bed of sickness. Thou Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort, our only Help in time of need, we fly unto Thee for succour on behalf of Thy servant. Grant, O Lord, that all the sins of his life past may be done away, and his soul washed in the precious blood of Christ, that it may be pure and without spot before Thee. If it shall be Thy pleasure, prolong, we beseech Thee, his days here on earth, and grant that he may live to Thee, and be an instrument of Thy glory, and a blessing to our Church and nation. Prepare him, O most loving Father, by Thy Holy Spirit, for all that lies before him, in life or in death; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"Almighty and Everlasting God, who guidest the hearts of Kings, and who hast blest and sanctified the bonds of love to knit together the members of all Christian families, look down, we beseech Thee, on thy Servants Victoria, our Queen, and the Princess of Wales, in this day of their great trouble, and on all the Royal Family. Comfort and support them in their present trial, and grant that their hearts may be stayed only upon Thee: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Special forms were used in the Roman Catholic churches and by the Jews. Preachers very generally referred to the Prince's illness in their sermons. Canon Liddon at St. Paul's and Dean Stanley at Westminster Abbey did so at some length.

In India, Canada, and in all parts of her Majesty's dominions within telegraphic communication, the same anxiety was manifested, and prayers were offered up among the different religious denominations according to their several rites, including Greeks, Jews, Mahometans, and even the Parsee fire-worshippers in India. This suspense continued until the night of Wednesday, the 14th, when a slight turn for the better took place in the worst symptoms, and the invalid enjoyed the long-wished-for boon of refreshing sleep. From that time he gradually though slowly mended. On the 18th, one of the Prince's grooms, Charles Blegg, who had taken the same illness, and who for a time had been progressing favourably, died in consequence of a relapse. On the 19th the Queen returned to Windsor, and other members of the royal family likewise quitted Sandringham.

At the annual distribution of the Prince's Christmas gifts, on Saturday, the 23rd, the Princess of Wales, and the Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse were present. General Knollys addressed a few words to the recipients on behalf and by desire of the Prince. Referring to the causes which prevented his Royal Highness being present, as was his practice on these occasions, he said that the Prince returned thanks to the Almighty for his recovery, and he expressed the hope and trust common to all that his restoration to health might continue unimpeded in its progress. The Prince could have wished, had his strength permitted him, to leave his bed and come among them, and he trusted soon to be able to do so.

The last advices of the month from Sandringham reported that the Prince was recovering his health by slow but effective stages. 12. FATAL RAILWAY COLLISION.-A frightful accident took place near the Wortley Station, on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway. A slow passenger-train had just entered a siding where was already a luggage-train, the driver mistaking the lights, when the driver of an express which was following, making a similar mistake, allowed his engine to dash into the break of the slow train, breaking it into fragments and severely injuring the guard. In the first carriage next the break were a man, his wife, and child. The woman was killed, and the child was much injured. Most of the passengers in both trains were very much shaken, and required the attendance of medical men, who were soon on the spot.

A CENTENARIAN.-At Perranwell, Cornwall, a Mrs. Jenny Tiddy died at the age of one hundred years and nine months. The date of her baptism is beyond doubt. The old woman declared that she had never known a day's illness until the Saturday before her death.

14. FIRE AT ROTHERHITHE.-A fire of extraordinary magnitude

broke out at Rotherhithe in the granaries of Messrs. Bennett and Co., some of the largest storehouses of corn which exist in England. No less than 60,000 or 80,000 quarters of grain were said to be stored in the granaries, and the pecuniary loss was estimated by the lowest calculation at 150,000l. One hundred and eighty firemen were employed under the direction of Captain Shaw, and Messrs. Palmer and Hemlyn, in extinguishing the fire. The Salvage Corps also attended, and rendered conspicuous service.

20. LOSS OF THE "DELAWARE."-This large and valuable steamer, described as "one of the most magnificent vessels belonging to the port of Liverpool," which was on her way from Liverpool to Calcutta, was wrecked off the Scilly Isles during a terrific gale. It appears that about noon the gale was so violent that the ship was unable to make headway, although the engines were working with an average pressure of 14lbs. to 16lbs. of steam. The bearings became red-hot, and measures were taken to cool them, during which time the vessel drifted towards the rocks then in view. Being dangerously close on the rocky island of Mincarlo an effort was made to run her in between that island and the Seal Rocks. At this moment a tremendous sea broke on the decks, carrying away the captain and the bridge upon which he stood. The foremast was also swept away and the decks greatly injured. The vessel then rolled over to leeward, and, righting again, received another sea full on board. This drove the vessel again to leeward, and a third tremendous sea put her entirely out of sight. The spot where she went down was between Mincarlo and Seal Rocks, just outside the shoals known as the Fearing Ledges. The mate managed, on coming to the surface, to get into the damaged lifeboat, into which he drew the third officer. They were drifted on to White Island, where they were found in a very exhausted condition. These were the only two of the forty-nine on board who were saved. They stated that each of the twelve life-buoys belonging to the ship had a man in it when they drifted away, but they were powerless to render any assistance, so fearful was the gale. A third man was seen to land on the rocks, apparently in a state of complete exhaustion, and he was almost immediately washed into the sea again.

23. INSTALLATION OF THE CONSTABLE OF THE TOWER.-Field Marshal Sir George Pollock, G.C.B., G.C.S.I., was formally installed in this office. The day being foggy, the ceremony was performed by torchlight. On arriving at the Tower, Sir George was received by Lord Sydney and other officials, two detachments of troops being drawn up in front of the Governor's house, whilst the Yeomen Warders of the Tower were arranged as a guard of honour. The patents of appointment having been read by the light of two lanterns, Lord Sydney presented the keys to Sir George, saying, "In the name and on behalf of her Majesty I give into your custody, Field-Marshal Sir G. Pollock, the keys of the royal fortress and royal palace of the Tower of London." "God save the Queen," the Yeoman porter cried in a loud voice, and the semicircle of Yeo

men warders responded "Amen." The troops then presented arms, the National Anthem was played by the band, the keys were handed over by Sir G. Pollock to the Fort Major, and the proceedings closed with the formal tender of possession by Lord Sydney to the new Constable of the Queen's or Governor's house.

25. DEATH OF MASTER MAGRATH.-Lord Lurgan's celebrated greyhound, which had three times won the Waterloo Cup, died rather suddenly at Brownlow House, Lurgan. A sort of inquest was held on his remains to ascertain whether he had met with foul play, the Rev. Dr. Haughton, Secretary to the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, conducting the inquiry. It was satisfactorily proved that the dog's illness was a natural one, and that he had received the proper medical treatment.

-WINTER BATHING.-This morning the " All-the-year-round" bathers in the Serpentine, to the number of about thirty, assembled to take part in a swimming-match for a silver cup, which annually takes place on Christmas Day, after which they gathered round a bucket of rum and milk, and drank to the health of the Queen and the Prince of Wales.

26. BOXING DAY.-This being one of the four Bank holidays, under Sir John Lubbock's Act, was kept as a more general holiday than in former years. The weather was wretchedly wet, but at night, as usual, the theatres were crowded. The song of "God bless the Prince of Wales was sung at most of them with enthusiastic applause, particularly at the East End theatres.

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28. THE NEW FOREIGN CATTLE MARKET.-This morning a new market at Deptford, for the landing and slaughtering of foreign cattle, was formally opened in the presence of the Lord Mayor, Mr. Bontems, the chairman, and the members of the Markets Committee, and of a large number of the principal persons engaged in the metropolitan cattle-trade. This market will in future be the only place in the metropolis where foreign cattle will be allowed to be landed, and where the animals will be slaughtered prior to their sale and delivery to the wholesale butchers. Provision is made for the reception of several thousand animals at a time, and every precaution is to be taken for the prevention of contagion. The corporation paid 94,000/. for the land, and have since expended upwards of 100,000. in the construction of the market. In return for this expenditure they will receive all the tolls and dues, and it is expected that in addition to wiping off a debt on the existing market in Copenhagenfields, and paying all expenses, a considerable profit will be made.

30. FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION IN GLASGOW.-A "road steamtraveller," known as "Yuille's Traction Engine," while on its way to the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. John Elder and Company, Fairfield, stopped in Paisley-road, opposite an eating-house. A crowd of children and idlers had gathered round it, when suddenly the boiler burst, and the fragments of the engine were scattered among the crowd. Three boys, aged fifteen, eleven, and nine years, were killed. A little girl six years of age, and a boy about fourteen, died since in

the hospital. About forty other persons, chiefly children, were seriously injured. The boiler itself shot into the air, and fell through the roof of the eating-house, but though there were three persons on the premises, none of them were seriously injured. The engine was employed by Elder and Co., the Clyde shipbuilders, to drag heavy machinery between Govan and Glasgow.