umpire was at last obtained." The remedy suggested
is one put forth by Major Williams, that should the
arbitrators not be able to agree upon an umpire within
a certain number of days, the nomination shall be left
to one of the judges. With the view of insuring greater
uniformity in the awards, the committee suggest the
appointment of two experienced engineers to consider
the rates which should be paid for services rendered to
the post-office, "which, though not exactly suited to
each particular case, might be generally fair to all
parties." The report contains an interesting view of
the average number of letters, book packets, newspapers,
and bags, forwarded by the night-mail from London for
distribution throughout the three kingdoms. The
letters average 217,500 in number, and weigh 1 ton 16
hundredweight; bookpackets 865, weight 6 hundredweight;
newspapers 124,333, weight 10 tons 19 hundredweight;
the bags are 1085 in number, and weigh 1 ton
6 hundredweight; total weight, 14 tons 7 hundredweight.
The newspapers, which go free, represent 76
per cent. of the whole weight.

A new line of Communication by Submarine Telegraph
between England and Ireland has been opened.
The Electric Telegraph Company, whose unsuccessful
efforts on a former occasion to accomplish this object are
known, having resolved to renew the attempt, gave
instructions to Messrs. Newal and Co., of Sunderland,
to prepare a telegraphic cable of a similar nature to
that with which London and the Continent had been
connected by way of the Hague last autumn. A cable of
about 200 miles in length was accordingly prepared.
This cable consists of one wire only, which is encased
in a tubing of gutta-percha, and the whole is bound up
in a hempen rope of about 3/4 of an inch in diameter.
Sufficient cable has been manufactured to extend three
times across the channel, but for a short time experiments
will be made with the single line only. All
arrangements for the laying down of the cable having been
completed, the Monarch steamer, accompanied by a tug-
boat, left Holyhead harbour on the 4th inst. at half-past
five in the afternoon, and steamed at the rate of between
five and six miles an hour, paying out the cable as she
proceeded with the greatest regularity. At six o'clock
next morning the Monarch arrived off Howth Head,
where she waited some time for the rising of the tide,
and then proceeded to Balscadden Bay, where the
requisite quantity of wire was paid out. A boat was
here in readiness, and by its means the cable was
safely landed and imbedded in the sandy beach to the
depth of about two feet. The Monarch, on the wire
having been landed, hove round and steamed for
Holyhead. The wire was brought into contact with a
galvanic battery of considerable power, and messages
were exchanged with the central offices in Lothbury,
London. Instantaneous communication was thus effected
in the most satisfactory manner. The proceedings at
sea were conducted under the superintendence of Mr.
Edwin Clarke, engineer to the company, and Mr. C.
Segrave directed the operation on shore. By taking
the telegraphic wire to Howth, instead of to Kingstown,
an important advantage is gained, namely, the shortening
of the distance by somewhere about four miles,
Howth being but fifty-eight, whilst Kingstown is sixty-
two miles from Holyhead. The remaining portions of
the cable will, it is stated, be shortly laid down.

The Liverpool and Manchester Agricultural Society
held their annual show at Altringham on the 8th inst.
There was a dinner in the evening at which the Earl of
Stamford and Warrington presided. The principal
speaker was Mr. Mechi, who condemned the Lancashire
system of farming, as starved and illiberal; and
recommended the establishment of an Agricultural College in
the county, better farm-buildings, and more attention to
the raising of stock. He dwelt on the advantages of
proper manure. He had himself laid down two miles
of piping on his own farm for the purpose of conveying
liquid manure. He assured them it would pay. He
could bring down liquid manure a distance of five miles,
throw it down like a shower, and spread it on the soil
for three farthings a ton. The Almighty had this year
blessed us with a bountiful harvest, and consequently
Consols had gone up and money had become cheap.
Labour would be well employed, and he would therefore
tell the Lancashire and Cheshire farmers to do all
they could to mitigate the vicissitudes of the seasons,
which are sometimes so frequent here. They could
only do that by proper drainage and other similar means
—by putting on water where it is dry, and taking it off
where it is wet. They ought to be the richest agricultural
country in the world, because they not only
consume all they grow, but they also import every
imaginable thing that is good for man. At the close of
his speech, Mr. Mechi made an extremely handsome
offer to the agriculturists of England:—His farm, he
said, was open to every gentleman who might choose to
carry out these great and important measures, so
beneficial to the agriculturists. Let the farmers here send
their men to inspect his farm. Let them work with his
men; let them save all the cost of the inquiries which
the introduction of the new system involved. They
were quite welcome to come and minutely look over his
farm; for he should be glad to offer them every facility,
on public grounds.

A meeting, for the establishment of a Reformatory
School, to be incorporated with the Devon and Exeter
Refuge for Discharged Prisoners (an Institution
established in 1836), has been held at Exeter on the
requisition of Earl Fortescue and the principal county
gentlemen. Among those who prominently took part
in the meeting, were Sir Stafford Northcote, Sir Thomas
Dyke Acland, the Reverend Canon Rogers, the Reverend
Chancellor Harrington, Mr. Sillifant, Mr. S. T.
Kekewich, and Sir John Kennaway, County
Magistrates, and Mr. Gard the High Sheriff, who filled the
chair. Earl Fortescue sent £100 as a donation, and at
the close of the meeting the subscriptions had
reached £700.

The Chipping Norton Agricultural Society held
its annual show on the 15th inst. At the dinner, the
principal speaker was Mr. Henley, whose remarks on
the subject of Free Trade derived additional weight
from his being a converted Protectionist. Referring to
that topic he said, he would not reopen the controversy
which had come to an end. The problem had been
solved. Twice within seven years the country had been
on the verge of famine, and it is quite clear that in
future it will depend on the quantity of corn and meat
of home growth brought into the market whether the
people shall obtain their food at reasonable and fit prices
or not. He urged upon the agriculturists the duty of
increasing their exertions to keep pace with the
increasing population in the supply of food. Between
the manufacturer and the farmer all ground for jealousy
has gone by.

The Inauguration of St. George's Hall, a magnificent
edifice at Liverpool, newly completed, took place
on the 18th inst. This building has four fronts; the
chief being a majestic portico on the south side, rising
ninety-five feet to the pediment, which is upheld by
twelve columns, eight without and four within. The
chief purpose of the structure is the administration of
justice. In the centre there is a great hall, surrounded
with galleries; the Nisi Prius and Crown Courts, with
Grand Jury rooms occupy the north and south of the
building, on a level with the galleries. There are also
a concert-room, a library, and court-rooms for the
Duchy of Lancaster and the Sheriff. The inaugural
ceremony was simple. Mr. Lloyd, the mayor,
accompanied by the Corporation, walked in procession to the
building, through a great crowd. Within, they found
some two thousand persons assembled; among whom
were the Earls of Derby and Sefton, and the Bishop
of Chester. The National Anthem having been sung,
and a prayer offered up by the Bishop, the Mayor
proclaimed St. George's Hall opened. Then followed a
performance of the "Messiah" of Handel—the first of
a three-days' musical festival.

The 24th annual meeting of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science commenced at
Liverpool on the 20th inst. The Earl of Harrowby,
the President, delivered the inaugural address, which,
as usual, touched upon the various topics which at
present engage the attention of the scientific world.
The customary vote of thanks, moved by the Earl of
Derby, and seconded by Sir Charles Lyell, was carried
by acclamation.