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Here, as blow, pipes, perfumed nar- gilehs, and sweetmeats were the order of the evening, and fair damsels puffed ener- getically and blew clouds of Latakia smoke through their nostrils with equal grace and gravity. It was very late when we left, and the jealousy of our unfortunate friends we had left below was vehemently kindled when they learned our happy fortune. â€"â€"â€"â€"‘“<QW*â€"â€"- Bee Notes for January. If well cared for, the bees will need no at- ention this month. Those that are in the cellar will become uneasy, if not keptat the right temperature, and well ventilated, During warm days, the bees may be carried out to their summer stands, and permitted to fly. If the bees are quiet, it is best to leave them undisturbed in the cellar. VVin- ter is atime of leisure for the bee-keeper, but it should not be a time of sloth and in- dolence. If the apiarist makes his own hives, sections, etc., this is the time for such work. But as these are constructed so cheaply and well at the factories, it is gen- erally best to buy them unless one is skilful with tools. It may be well to get the ma- terial in the “knock down,” and then put up the apiary. This saves freight, and gives work for winter. Now is the time for studying up apiarian subjects. Read the literature of the past year, study good books on bee culture, think well of what is read, and in the light of such information plan the work for next year. Every bee- keeper should experiment some, as this makes his advancement greater, and gives added interest to the business. Now, in January, is the time to plan experiments for the coming year. Honey should be kept during winter in a dry, warm room. When thus stored, the comb honey will not break badly, and the extracted does not ferment. Even comb honey often ferments in a cool, damp room. Winter is a good time to build up 21. mar- ket. For extracted honey, use attractive péjls and jars, with neat labels, which state the kind of honey, and the name of the per- son that produces it. Neat pyramids of these packages, in the stores, will attract buyers. The size of the vessels should vary We are bound over to perfect secrecy as to our visit, but; found the ladies much nicer to look at than to talk to, being as ignorant and ill-informed as children, but full of curiosity, and excessively loq‘lacious. They were habited in eastern costume of the rich- est stuffs, exposing the bosom, and substitu- ing baggy trousers of silk (shiniz/ans) for petticoats and skirts, while in their braided hair shone jewels and golden coins. They seemed to enjoy as a rare frolic the presence of two bearded men among them, and no doubt talked it over, as a belle would her first ball. Not representing a European power, I took the responsibility of retaining and pro- tecting these people in Egypt, and was rank- ed among the PhiLHcllenes throughout the whole cast therefor, besides being made a knight of the order of San Sauveur by King 0tho. As the Greeks are scattered every‘ where throughout the east, and keep up a constant intercommunication and strict bonds of sympathy, this stood me in good stead. Among other benefits, it procured me on this evening the View of one of the loveliest women I have ever beheld in any part of the worldâ€"the daughter of our entertainer at J affa. Although the Greeks are most fanatical Christians, yet in many customs they, as well as all other native Christians in the east, follow many of the Moslem usagesâ€"among others, the absolute seclus- ion of women from the sight of strangers, either at home or on the streets. While walking out thev wear impenetrable veilsâ€" at home they are jealously restricted to their own apartments, into which no man is ever admitted. save the owners of their own household. Even the happy bridegroom is not allowed to see the face of his bride until after formal betrothal. His female relatives inspect and report her charms, on which he must form his judgment. It was therefore by a special and extraordinary favor by which I was permitted to look on the un- veiled face of this lovely Greek maiden, whese beauties the eye of no unmarried man had ever viewed before, save her future hus- band, who that day had first been granted the privilege. “Les extremes se touchent.” For here in J afl'a was practiced the marti- monial brokerage which prevails in France â€"-the queen of modern civilization. Mrs. Prime had been passing the evening in this Christian harem, while we men creatures were solemnly smoking and stuffing our- selves with eastern sweetmeats in the men’s apartment below, and were getting sleepy trom the smoky atmosphere. repletion, and the conversation uder difficulties, diluted and strained through several languages, when a messenger mysteriously beckoned Mr. Prime and myselt into the sacred pre- cincts of the ladies’ bower, where we found Mrs. Prime surrounded bya bevy of damsels of all ages and sizes,from the full-fedpropor- tions of the matron down to the slender-waist- ed gazelle-eyed girls of 12 or 13 years of age just ripening into womanhood. Then first I knew where the prophet had drawn his visions of the future state, and where on earth its houris might be seen. For those women were of rare and Witching loveliness, yet a loveliness of earth earthlyâ€"save those who were very young, around when vet 11n- gered the grace and purity of childhood. The soft, bright light of intelligence, culti- vated by education and thought, refined by knowledge. poetry, and music and feminine accomplishments, was wanting in those full, dark brilliant orbs, which shyly lifted up from under the long fringed lashes, shot a ray of light into your own, then were bent down again. Yet there was much to at- tract the senses in the sweet faces and wil- lowly features of the younger damsels, the bride-expectant being a very paragon of loveliness. The Beautiful But Ignorant Creatures Wno Graced the Establishment of a. Wealthy Resident of Jafl‘a. Writing of life in the Orient in Frank Leslie’s Sunday Magazine, Edwin De Leon says : One evening we passed in the enjoy- ment of the hospitalities of a rich Greek who resided in the town. It had chanced that in my official capacity I had been able in Egypt to accord protection to the large colony of Greeks residing in Egypt during the Crimean war, when an edict for their expulsion from the Ottoman dominiona had been issued from Constantinople by the sub- lime porte, and sanctioned by the Christian powers of Europe potential there. ' A CHRISTIAN HA REM. Seal-brown plush mantlescome in the same shape, only in them there are not box plaits in the back portion ; the side seams are open and filled in with plush fan plaitings, across which are looped rich festoons of cord tipped with handsome tassels, the topzr est one com- mencing at the sleeves under a rich chenille ornament. The front is securcd with cords and tassels. K magnificent Wrap is of seaiskin, with the back of the skirt arranged in large plaits, While the sleeves are in kangaroo shape. No trimmingis used on the garment, except the rich brandenbergs with which the front is fastened. The cloak is lined with satin quilt- ed in diamonds. In France New Year’s day is celebrated more as it is in this countrv, by a. round of visits being made between relatives and friends, and an exchange of bon-bons, and sweet-meats, It is a contest of politeness, which shall start earliest, and make the first call, but sugar-plums must always be presented either in fancy boxes or baskets, or simply wrapped in paper. A dinner is generally given by some member of the family, and the evening Concludes with a social gathering. :â€"-â€"“90<'O>ooâ€"â€"â€"~_â€" Furs for Gifts. In Europe the fashion of giving real lace l y the bridegroom-elect to his bride has gone out, and in place furs are presented, and no corbeille is considered complete without a sealskin pelisse, trimmed either with beaver or Kamschatka seal. The peliase fits the figure closely, and sometimes it seems divid- ed in two partsâ€"a. jacket and a tunic. It is also considered high-twned to present a pair of sable tails, muff and trimmings, at usual- ly great expense. And neither neéi yoifr Icheesévor bread." It must be a. hard-hearted person indeed who can refuse a. trifle to these bonny lads and Iassies. In Scotland, on the last day of the 01d year, the children go from house to house, asking for bread and cheese, which they call “VVogâ€"money.” They make their re- quest in these wordsâ€" “Get up, gude wife, and binno sweir (be not lazy), And deal your cakes and cheese while you are here. Fo‘rrthe time will game, when ye‘ll_be dead The~§irl§ meanwhile were also having their sport, going about from door to door. singing verses in honor of the season, and bearing the wassail bowl, agreat bowl deck- ed with garlands and ribbons, and filled with a. composition of ale, nutmeg, sugar, and roasted c. abs or apples, called “ Lamb’s Wooi.” Those visited, drank each other’s health in this mixture, repeating W as-hm‘lle, or drinc-lmil, rwhich are the same as our “Come, here’s to you 1” or “I’ll pledge you!” They generally bestowed upon the maiden wassailers, asmall coin, or a. little gift. An orange stuck with cloves, appears to have been a favorite New Year’s gift in the olden time, as well as gilted nut/megs, an'd KNent'_sh Bippins': The requisites of a good bee-feeder are, that it will hold from one to five pounds of houey or syrup ; that it can be placed im- mediately above the cluster of bees, so that they can visit it on very cool days in fall and spring ; that it can be closely covered with a quilt or chaff pillow; and that it shall be so made that fee ing can be done without in the least disturbing the bees. In the cool days of spring and fall, the feeder can be entirely covered by a. quilt or pillow, and no heat will escape, while as itis direct- ly over the cluster, the bees will be able to take the feed on very cold days. Of course as the honey is turned on to the wire gauze, this will be stickyâ€"American Agricultum'st. «9.40% New Year’s Customs. Some odd New Year’s customs formerly prevailed in the rural portions of England, and in remote parts, may still be found to some extent. One of the most curious of these is called the “ Apple Howling,” which, besides giving the boys 3. frolic, was sup- posed to secure a good crop of iruit for the coming season. On New Year’s Eve a troop cf these sturdy country urchins. armed with strong sticks, would visit all the orchards in the neighborhood, and en- circling the apple trees, repeat in chorus the following words: “ Stand fast root, beer well top, Pray God send us a. howling Crop. Every twig, apples big, Every beugh, apples enou‘. Hats full, caps full, Full quarter sacks full.” One of their number accompanied this chorus on a cow’s horn, and during the ceremony the boys rapped the trees with their sticks. We can imagine that “ Apple Howling was a very appropriate name. In one case, in 'Texzfs, the yield of a singlé colony and its increase, has been reported as_13200 poqus. ‘ The past season has been a. wry remark- able one as to the honey yield. In parts of Ohio and the East, the honey crop has been very light. In Iowa, Illinois, Texas, and other Gulf States,the product was immense. A writer on bee culture makes a point in wintering which may have force. He calls attention to the fact that honey, the winter food of the bees, is almost purely a. hydro- carbon, and so needs little digestion, before it is absorbed into the nuritive fluid from the stomach. Then it is assimilated, an 5. passes off as water and carbonic acid. Thus the excretion, in winter. is by respiration. That this may go on freely, the air must be dry. The writer thenzasserts, that in those winters most remarkable for the bee mortality, the air has been very moist. We have the data. whereby this can be determined, as in this place the condition of the atmosphere as to moisture 'has been recorded daily for 19 ye m. If this is true, it shows thl why dry earth ventilation has been so successful, as by that method the air is kept from getting moist. The appearance of bees that die of “dysen- tery” is also favorable to this view; they look dropsical, and seem fairly oozing with liquid excreta. “Combvhoney should be put ina. neat case, so as to show off to the best advantage. The case ought to bear the name of the pro- ducer, aud the kind and grade of the honey. Bee-keepers can not be too careful about grading their honey. In creating amurket, nothing will take the place of neatness and care in putting up the honey. If it is pro- perly arranged, every dealer will be only too glad to give it a showy place in his etore. from one-half a pound to those that will hold five pounds. The label should state that the granulation is no injury, and, in- deed, is the best assurance of purity. It should also tell how to restore the liquid condition, Without; harm to the honey, by apRlying_ heat not to exceed 180 ° F. The naked trunk of a man was found in the River Columbus, Ohio. The head and limbs had been chopped off, and a foul mur- der is suspected. Great inconvenience is felt for the want of a bank in Rat Portage It is surprising that a bank has not been opened before this. considering the amount of business carried on. One merchant alone, turns over $100,- 000 per nnnum and now there is in course of erection two sawmills, a. paper mill and the lumbering industry ; there is no doubt such an institution would not only be a conveni- ence to the public, but would also be profit~ able for any bank which may chose to open a branch. It is hoped that a branch of a bank will be opened before long. Banks are in less business localities. There is at present a great amount of railway travelling between Winnipeg and Rat Portagc,so much sothat it has beenneces- sary for the Canada Pacific Railway to put three passenger coaches on the daily train. Large crowds of men arrive each evening for the new saw-mills about to be erected on the Lake of the Woods. The accomodation is limited and the Ridout House is crowded each evening, so much so that no sleeping accommodation can be had. The train which started from Pembina Mountain Junction on the South-western branch of the C. P. R. on Wednesdaygfailed to reach Winnipeg until Saturday. Several passengers, among whom was W. H. Harder, C. P. R. assistant; traffic manager, had to drive from Morrls to Emerson, and reach Winnipeg by train from the south.â€" Winni- peg Commercial. It is is estimated that about fifteen dif- ferent engines died out on different portions of the C. P. R. owing to the late severe cold. The rapid construction of this com- pany’s lineahasvoutgrown their water-tank accommodation, and the construction of quite anumber of frost-proof Watering ar- rangements will be completed as quickly as possible, so as to prevent a repetition of the state of affairs mentioned. The Review of a, recent date says, the sale ofistamps at Portage Post ofiice here for the months ending November 30th amounted to $1,773.50. The gross business of the money order department for the month of Novem- ber amounted to $9,092.21. RAT PORTAGE. The Canadian Pacific Railway are erect- ing at present a. large round house which will be capable of accomodoting fifteen en- gines. The foundation f0: 3. large paper mill is be- ing carried on. It is well known that the water power of Rat Portage is the largest in the North-west. Messrs. Jarvis & Berridge of Winnipeg, and the Rainy River Lumber Company axe in course of erecting two large sawmills, and when completed will employ about 200 men each. The lumber business is very brisk at present. Mr. McIllvanie is evidently gcing to have some trouble in securing a supply of water at his paper mill. Boring operations have now been carried to a depth of 100 feet, and no adequate supply of water has yet been struck. The club was most scuceessfully opened on arecent night. It is one of the hes in Canada. and reflects great credit on its pro- moters. Brandon can boast that the branch of the Imperial here is the third largest agency of that institution. This is good showing for a town only seventeen months old. PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE. The cold snap of this week has given quite a boom to certain branches of business, and merchants have been doing a good town trade. A slight check was placed upon the grain receipts for a few days, but rain is by no means scarce. A slight disagre‘e’rnemt has taken place between the Wheat buyers of the town, and prices have gone up a little to the profit of the farmer. 78c. was reached on the 8th for No. l hard,and next week 800. will in all probability be paid. The rise does not afi'ect other grains, and oats still sell at 400. to 42¢. ; barley, 450. to 550. ; po- tatoes, 750. to 800. The fight is between the Winnipeg millers and the local buyers and may grow into a bitter struggle. A project is on foot to build a railway from Souris city to this city. It is thein- tention of its promoters to ask Brandon for abonus for $50,000, and the country of Brandon for $100,000. This line will be a link in the branch from Emerson, to this point, which will be built by the C. P. R. A by-law was carried on Monday em- powering the city council to raise $150,000 for permanent improvements in the city. Business was somewhat suspended during the stormy weather. It, however, booms again ; the aleighing being good has brought in a. large number of farmers. While all the gas about inovincial rights has been blowing off during the last two weeks, sensible Mayor Carney has been ac- complishing some good for the city in Ottawa. He has prevailed upon the C. P. R. syndicate to commence at once the con- struction of their branch from Emerson to West Lynne to connect with the South- western branch. ’l‘he work is to be com- pleted by July next, and the trade of Southern Manitoba will then be tributary to the dual cities as far as the South-western branch is extended. Interesting Notes of that Frozen Country â€"Readn.ble Things for Everyone. EMERSON. The cold snap of the past week played fast and loose with the trains and mails of this city, and considerably lessened the number of farmers’ teams coming to town. The business done by merchants was not lessen- ed, however, as the intense cold compelled purchases that would otherwise not have been made. The quantity of grain coming to town has not diminished materially, and the number of cars leaving by rail have been almost as great as the previous week. Wheat was sold at 700. to 750. according to quality. Oats are worth 40c. to 420.; barley, 45c. to 55c.: potatoes, 800. and dry cord wood $6. Merchants say that collec- tions have been very easy during the week, and trade generally is in a prosperous state. MANITOBA NOTES. BRANDON. Many historical events will derive fresh interest from the opening of the new Law Courts in London. The King(or Queen) is technically both the fountain of justice and head of the judicial bench. King John and several of the Henrys and Edwards sat and heard cases in the Court of King’s Bench, and the English monarch of to-day can do the same. But, though themonarch can try any cause. he or she is by the Constitution debarred from deciding any question that comes before the court. It is matter of his- tory that James I. sought to push his pre- rogative to the extent of deciding cases in court. The Judges refused to allow this, and their dignified rebuke silenced themed- dle some petulance of the King. When the body of a. men was taken into Christ Church, at Hillier, Ontario, the Rev. John Halliwell, who had been deprived of the right to ofliciate by his Bishop, was found there with his surplice on and book in hand. TheRev. Mr. Loucks, the rector of a. neighboring village, had been brought over to read the burial service, and he met the procession at the foot of the aisle in the usual manner. So did Mr. Halliwell. Both ministers began to read. Then Mr. Loucks stopped, led the mourners to the grave, and there completed the service, leaving Mr. Halliwell in possession of the church. Mr. Parnell is so busy with private and public afl'airs that he will pmbxbly be un- able to go to America. to atbeni the forth- coming convention. It; is stated that the French Government has ordered the press to maintain silence re- garding the relations of Russia, Austria and Germany. Telephone communication has been suc- cessfully established between London and Brighton, England, a distance of 47 miles. The Paris journals are becoming less hostile to England, mid now advocate a fresh French, English and Italian alliance. Three more deaths have occurred in con- sequcnce of the explosion of the cartridge factory at Mount Valerian. Gene”! Stone, late chief of the staff of the Egyptian army,has resigned his commission. He intends to return to America. The commander of H. M. S. Clyde has been dismissed the serv1ce for mAsappropri- ating the ship’s stores. Albert Victor, eldest son of the Prince of W'ales, has been entered for Oxford Uni- versity for the next term. The calico print works of Dalgleish& Fal- coner, Glasgow, have been burned. Loss £20,000. The Greeks are excited over alleged in- dignities suffered by their co-religionists in Roumania. 05mm Pasha, accused of intriguing with Halim Pasha against the Khedive has been released. The Attorney-General has commenced an action against the City Bank of Rochester on behalf of the people, It is stated that R. Harris, dry-goods merchant, at Corry, P3,, who recently failed, lost $40,000 through speculating in oil. The Mayor of Chicago will not interfere with the parade of armed Socialists when Herr Most arrives, unless a disturbance oc- curs. The French Cabinet have adjusted their differences on the Tonquin expedition. The Detroit Post and Tribune, will appeal to the Supreme Court against the verdict; 1n the Battrick case. It is probable that letter postage in the Umted States will be reduced from three to two cents after January. John Cummings a laborer in the employ of the New York Street Cleaning Depart- ment claims to have found a $19,000 Go’v- ernment bond in a. dirt heap. GENERAL. The Belgian deficit is estimated at twenty- five million francs. It is reported that Cardinal Donnet, Arch- bishop of Bordeau, is dead. It is stated that reinforcements will be sent immediately to occupy Tonquin. It is thought desirable to remove Gam- betta. to Paris at the first opportunity. Prince Krapotkin, the Nihilist chief, has been arrested at Lyons. Prof. E. Stone Wiggins is about to write to the Governor-General not to let the Prin- cess go to Bermuda. during the early portion of March, when he is going to bring on his big storm. The faculty of Albert College has rein- stated the expelled junior class“ The Mercy Hospital at Big Rapids, Mich. was totally destroyed by fire on Wednesday. J ames Gordon Bennett, of the New York Herald, has decided to lay two cables across the Atlantic. Louis Hudon, and Charles Sixby, Canadi. ans, once well known in Montreal, were killed by Apache Indians on Rock Creek, Arizona. At a. sale of timber limits at Ottawa. re- cently, 30 square miles on the Dumoine River, Upper Ottawa regicn, were sold at $2, 600 per mile. The roof of a. building at Brantford, own- by the VVaterous Engine Works Company, caved in, owing to the heavy weight of snow and rain. General Manager Van Horn states that the Canadian Pacific Railway wiil en- deavor to reach the summit of the Rockies next year. General Manager Hickson is reported to have said that the Grand Trunk Railway does nota: present; entertain any project for entering the N orth-west. Summary of Foreign, Domestic and War Itemsâ€"Concise, Plthy and Pointed. DOMESTIC. Earnes Mallou, son of a. wealthy French wine-grower, was found stealing jewellery at a fashionable boarding house iu Montreal. NEWS IN A NUTSHELL. Oscar Wilde has returned to England. Five Mmutes’ Select Reading. UNITED STATES. While we have of late been experiencing all the seasons of the year in the course of a. single wee k, surf bathing is still being en- joyed at; Santa. Monica, Cal. The water is as warm as in midsummer. The Queen brought out agood deal of en- thusiasm at the recept royal review in Lon- don. \Vhen the Foot Guards, headed by the Duke of Connaught, marched past, the Queen stood up in the carriage, waving her handkerchief again and again, She re- membered she was a. mother as well as a- Queen. A man at Kingflon found 33 on the street and he advertised the find to the extent of $7 and made theloser foot the bill. It is sometimes disagreeable to meet with an honest man. The question Whether a, railroad carriage comes under the definition, “an open and public place,” where gambling is penal, has been just decided in the London High Court of Justice. It is such a place. Readable Notes From all Parts of the Globe. The Lancet says that women often wear a. weight of clothes such as few men would care to carry. The Queensland, Australia, Government asks for Legislature for, $1,250,000 for emi- gration. In future the assisted emigrants will lie bound, under severe penalties, to re- main some years in the colony. up, and was told that an officer had waited until the appomted hour, and, not receiving the Khedive’s reply. had returned on board. At the council the Khedive gave orders for our troops to occupy Fort Agami. and reelst the landing of British troops. I explained to His Highness that the infantry could not go, as the place was too exposed to the fire of the ships, and, besides, that it was liable to be out ofi‘ from Alexandria. Th9 Khedive was very angry and said, “Why do you call yourselves soldiers if you cannot prevent the landing of an enemy on our country?” I went with Ragheb Pasha. to his house on the Mahmoudieh Canal, and we discussed the matter as to Why the Khedive had been so angry and how anxious he had been that Fort Agami should not fall into the hands of the English.â€"â€"Ahmed Arabi, the Egyp- tian, in the Nineteenth Century. The Council again met at 3 p.m. (July 10th) and sat for an hour and a half. After y u. long discussion on the subject of the Ad- miral s demand, it was agreed that it would be altogether shameful and dishonorable to remove the guns from a position they had occupied for more than 50 years. We had ‘ been always particularly careful to avoid i fighting with any power, and especially with England, but in this case we decided to do it in defense. but not before the English fleet had first thrown five or six shells at us. The Khedive now showed apparentl great en- ‘ ergy and courage, and repeate ly said that should war take place he would himself carry a rifle and be to the front with the troops. The Khedive and Dervisch Pasha both telegraphed to the Ports that resist- ance had been decided on. After dusk the Khedive, with Dervisch Pasha and all his family, went to Ramleh. Next morning at the appointed hour a shot was fired from the fleet, which was followed by 15 others. Then we decided to reply, and so the war began. The bombardment lasted without interruption for ten hours and a half, 'and until most of the forts were wholly or par- tially destroyed. A portion of the Res-el- Tin Palace was demolished, besides several other houses in the town, and particularly those near the railway station, which lies in a line with Fort Demas, where mv staff and I were. The shells came over the fort and into the station. During the bombardment, messages were continually sent to us by the Khedxve and Dervisch Pasha, by Mooheddin Effendi encouraging us to defend the place, offering us many congratulations andexhort- ing the gunners at the forts to do their best, which they did with guns which were, as it turned out, no match for those of the Eng lish. We were much astonished afterward to see the Khedive at the Ramleh Palace where he remained as if no war was taking,r place between his Government and the Eng- lish. After the bombardment was over I went myself to Ramleh about sunset, taking with me the Council, and informed the Khe- dive of what had taken place on that day, and he cordially thankedthe soldiers for their steady'and energetic behaviOr. I also ask- ed his Highness for instructions relating to the forts which were sti'l standing. A council was held, attended by his High- ness, Dervisch Pasha, Toubla Pasha, some of the other Ministers, and Ismail Hakki Pasha, to decide what course to take after all the forts were destroyed, and whether the war should be carried on or not. It was agreed that, should the Engiish again fire, a flag of truce should be hoisted to prevent further damage and to open communications for peace. Toulba. Pasha was to be sent next morning to Admiral Seymour to in- form him that the Egyptian Government had nothing against England and did not wish for war, even supposing that we were strong enough to oppose her. I gave insruc- tions for the forts to hoist flags of truce, and then went to Bal el Sherki for the night. Next morning, (the 12th July,) about two hours after sunrise, the ships resumed bom- bardment of the town. The white flags were immediately hoisted on the forts, but the firing continued until they had thrown 25 or 30 shells. Toulba Pasha thenwent in a boat to see the Admiral, and was received by one of the officers. He informed the Ad- miral of the I(hedive’s submission, &c., and was told that the Admiral required these forts to bo occupied by British troops, viz., Agami, Fort Mex. and Fort Arab, and re- quested that the thdive should give orders to this effect by 3 o’clock p. m., failing which the firing would recommence and the forts would be taken y force. Toulba hurried to Ramleh and I followed him with’the Prime Minister. \Ve had only an hour and a half in which to decide, therefore a coun- cil was held at2z30 pm. under the Presi- dency of the Khedive and Dervisch Pasha, there being also present Ka'lri Bey, Bagheb Pasha, Keshid, Ismail, Hakki, Abu, Gabal, Toulba Pasha, and myself. The decision arriv ed at was that, as the Khedive had no right to cede Ottoman territory to a foreign power, it was necessary to communicate with Constantinople. In the meantime, Toulba was sent again to the Admiral, but he did. not arrive at the beach until the time was The Bombardment of Alexandria. ITEMS OF INTEREST. {AV