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THE WEEK'S NEWS OaJfADUir. Friday was the twenty-fifth anniversary of tne murder of Thomtu D'Arcy M. '. A yonni; Englishman name.) Rosa com nutted suicide at Manitouon Smiday hy tak ing a d je o. poison. The revenue returns of the Dominion foi the nine month* ending March 31 show .1 surplus of $f>, 1 1 1,7'J I. Prominent member* of the Montreal Board of Trade are opposed lo the ideuol foi in ig a wheat pit in connection with the board. The Trades and Labour Council of Ham- ilton has poised a resolution in favour of opening the reading room of the Free Li- brary on Sundays. The revenue from Chinese immigration a; Vancouver, B.C. , for lust month was ?I,.">OI is con-pared with 93,7-1 for the correspond- ng month last year. The New Brunswick Legislature has jaMr'l a resolution approving of prohibi- tion, and urging the Dominion Government to pa** a prohibitory law. The Newfoundland seal fishery i* a total failure this season. The total catch i* not expected to yield 00,0(10 seals which I* one fourth of last year's catch. Delegate* from tho various Canadian camp* of the Woodmen of the World met at Ixwdon, and organized a Grand Council ol the order for the Dominion, The Canadian party appointed to sur'-ey and locate th* international boundary line between Alaska and Bri'ish Columbia have left Ottawa for Victoria, B.C. The negotiations which promised a settle- ment between the striking tailors and the e.nployer in Winnipeg have been broken ' J, nn t Hostilities are resumed. Siguatureaare now being attached to a petition to the Governor-General praying for the clemency of the Crown in the 'case John K. Arnoldi, now in the Ottawa goal. The shareholders of the Canadian Pacific railway will hold their annual meeting on May 10th. The question will then come up as to the expediency of isnuisif preference slock. It is rumoured that Mr. J. M. Macoun, pri- vate secretary to Dr. D.IWMOU, *ho is en- gagtxl ,n connection with the Behring Sea question, will be made Birthday. a (.'. M. li. next Cook, the English immigrant who ha* been confined in the Montreal civic hospital for aome weeks suffering from typhus fever, has almost completely recovered, and will soon be discharged. The Montreal Presbyterian College has conferred the degree of D. D. on the Rev. Charles Chiniqny, the Rev. W. A. McKay, of Woodstock, (int., and the Rev. J. B. Muir, of Huntingdon, ijuv. Two men, names unknown, are reported to hare reached a Hudson by post neai Stuart lake late last fall. It i* thought the men may tuni out to he Messrs. Clark and Braden, the missing explorers. Senator Sanford has been appointed by the Hamilton (Ont.) Board of Trade the representative of that body at the World'* >it, aud aboir. SO men were cut off by I'.ie l.unes.with very small chances of escape. Mr*. Montague, who was sentenced lost Vpril PI Dublin to a year's iniprixonmciil or having caused the death of her daughter Helen, three years of age, was released on Vednesday. For some light act nf nun- lemeanoui Mrs. Montague fastened tho ittle girl by the arms to a ring in a small lonet, ami whan she came to releate her our hours after the child was dead. I SITU. TATIM. L-iwyerHowe. of New York, has secured >ver thirty Uiousanu name* to petition* to ..... l"iowr to re-open the case of ;'r- ylc Harris under sentence of death for wife murder. Antoma Woode, ihe eleven-year-old mur- derer, who killed Joe ^-niih in Denver, U,L, for hi* watch and revolver, has been | -entenced to twenty-five years in the peni- tentiary. By direction of Secretary Carlisle on Sat- urday the regulation* of the United Suites Treasury Department in relation to the reg- miration of Chinese labourers were greatly modified. J. W. Flood, cashier for Donohue & Kelly, bankers, San FraLcisco, is short Wi.OOO in his account*. He ha* resigned, ind transferred all hi* properly to secure the bank. The usual proclamation prohibiting the taking of seal* or other fur bearing animal* in Alaska or Behring Sea in the season of IVI.'I was promulgated by President Cleve- land on Saturday. There will be no liquor sold in South > .irolma, except by the State, after July I. The Governor and State dispenser are now travelling in the north and west, making arrangements to open the State bar rooms. It is staled the I'niled States has taken vigorous action in regard to the outrage* on 'lie American citizen* at Marzovan, in the Turkiih dominions, and the violation of the mails of the United States legation. The Mormon temple in Salt Lake City, which was commenced forty years age, was dedicated in tho presence of an immense crowd. It covers over twenty-one thousand square feet, and the architecture of the building i* without a known parallel in an- cient or modern times. The United States Naval Department go- itself out of a delicate position as to w inch nation should lead in the Columbus review in New York harbour by deciding that the position of honour should be awarded lo the firct representatives who arrived. This has been secured b> ihe Russian men-of-war. The Law and Order Society in Pittsburg, Pa., ha* issued summonses against the pro- prietor* of Sunday newspapers anu paper* on which work i* done on Sunday nipht for their Monday issue for profanation of ^iin day, and it i* contemplated Uit the news paper men will retaliate by bringing action against itreet can, ferries, and railways which run on Sunday. Rmisia is again suffering from the ravage* of cholera, aud the death lateis reported to be very high. Snnert and Hermann, ih* Anarchist*, were sentenced on rriday at Eerlin to six and three months' imprisonment rcpective- Congress of Commercial Houses lo be held i i v . in ( hicago during the approaching summer, j An earthquake shock was felt in many Mrs. Catherine 3chmelz, ninety years of age, an inmate of the Elgin house of in- dustry, St. Thomas, fell from a third-storey window at th- instituion Tuesday morning, and received .njuries from which ue died aboui two hours afterwards. The Nova Scotia Provincial House of Assembly passed the second reading of the Woman s Suffrage bill by a vote of seven- teen to nineteen, and it was senl to com- mit' tee. All the members of the Govern- ment and the leader of the opposition voted against the second reading. The will of Mr. '.>. Bird, wno died at Lon- don, Ont., about a month ago, is to he pro- tected by hi* daughters, who charge collu- SIIHI. Mr. Bird had been employed by R. C. McKie A Co., and hi* will was made in favour of Mr. J. B. Laidlaw, bookkeeper at that ettablisment, and of a young woman named Kitzhenrv- On Wednesday "'gj? 1 ' '' week, a police- man found Mr. V Tetu, a civil servant, lying senseless in a drain in Rideau stre t. Ottawa, aud coming to the conclusion that he waa drunk had him taken to the police station, where he lay insensible all night. Yesterday morning a medical man naiil h<* was suffering from a paralytic stroke, and so much valuable time hod been lost that hi* recovery was very doubtful. It is reported from Ticoma, Wash., that for some time a number of citizens in Van- couver aud New Westminster, B.C., ha\e been agi tati ng against the pressn t provincial Government, osicnmbly because tne Minis- ters failed to bring in a redistribution meas- ure. It is now learned that a huge scheme i* on foot to bring about the separation of the mainland from the island and establish the former as a separate province. At the Assize Court in Kingston. Out., on Monday, the ca*o of Robert Shaw, a lawyer, against Police Constable Snodden, for unlawful arre*t, the latter having taken the former into custody because ho persist- ed in asking questions at a political inert- ing, was decided in favour of the plaintiff. The City Hoard of Police Commissioners will now be asked to instruct the police thst they are not remind to do duty at public meetings BR1TI-II. The Cnmme cial Bank at Melbourne has resumed busirt xs. Baron Hoighton, Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland, hi.s issued an order limiting the importation of arms and ammunition into Ireland. A British cruiser boa seized a dhow sail- ing under French column* and having on board sixty children, who had been kid- napped from /,ui/.ibar by Arab* under French protection. In reply to tgueition in the House of ( 'nmr.ions yestorday. Colonial I'mlir - tary Hilton silted thai the Berlin treaty providing for a joint control of the Samoaii islands was still m force. The situation in Hull is quite gloomy for the strikers, and to ju Ige from present in- loiii the shipping fedeintion will win in it* trnggl<* to smploy such men, union or ii n, its :nem*ien please. Ther was a fearful mining accident at, , I'u.t'l, Wale*, Tuesdnymoriiing. A engine ignited the i(os n. tne dis'.ricl* in Servia, Monday morning. In woitern Servia the ihook w*i especially severe. The famine in the European part of the Government of Perm, Russia, is worse than ever before and the poor are dying by hundred*. The condition of affairs in Armenia i* be- coming more serious daily. It is estimated tb.vi ucnrly two thousand Christians are in Turkish dungeons. Dr. Hsffkiue has written from India to the Russian paper* that he ha* conquered cholera by iiis inoculation method and that on his return he will publish hi* cure. Much excitement has) been caused in Madrid by a despatch to the effect that Japan has seized the Pclew islands, s group in the North Pacific claimed to belong to Spain by the right of discovery. 1 1 m officially stated in Lisbon that the reports of the attempted assassination of King Carlos of Portugal are untrue, the stories having their origin in the antics of an insane Jew, who labours under the de- lusion that he is the brother of the King. The Khan of Khelat, who recently caused five of hi* wives whom be suspected of in- fidelity to be cruel! v put to death, has liber- ated his surviving prisoners at the demand of the British Indian Government, and has submitted to atine of forty thousand rupees. It is reported that the Popo will shortly end a letter to bishop* requesting them to enforce upon their flock* a more profound limy of the Bible, urging the necessity of keeping on ihe track of modern dincovery in order to adapt Catholicism to the need* of the day. It is stated ihat the Turks iu Armenia are doing a large trade in kidnapping Christian girl* and telling them as harem slaves, and when enquiries are trade it i* Hated that tho girls have embraced Ma- hommedaiiiim, which closes all further in- vmligation. Prli-r, fer nbr.,1. It is interesting to note that the prospect of higher prices fcr wheat, notwithstanding the depression previously referred to a* likely in other products of the farm, are improving. The United States or j; report lor Apt il, just issued, i* quite bullish and had the affect of advancing the July option over a cent in Chicago. The condition of the wheat crop in the United States as shown by this report was 77.4 per cent. This is the lowest percentage in ten year* with tho exception of ISS6, when tho con- dition was shown as 70.!! per cent. Last year the report for tho corresponding month gavo the condition as SI. 2. Then th no price of wheat in Chicago was three cents below the highest price touched yesterday. In thin province the market is not without signs of improvement, and sale* of winter wheat arc reported thin week for export at several cents in advance of sales made a week or ten days ago. The reports of tho growing crop in Ontario, especially in the southern counties, are not coniidered very favorable. Some damage ha* resulted from the unusually severe winter, and already prediction* are made that tho next crop in thia province will be smaller than that of hut year. It is, however, too early to oh- tain irior nation on which it would bo safe to ',ac an expression of opinion that would lie of any value. TO OBLITERATE SIN. taOCIFIED A8 WAS CHRIST. The Terribly trvrrr frmnmtt in Whlrh IUr frnllrulr, Hul>)rrl I llrm.rl v -* How many Americans know, nays the .uiv.M'.i rxaminer, that in their own country is au order whose mem- ber* yuarly represent Christ's journey to his crucifixion by bearing crosses of crush- ) my weight along paths 01 cruel stone* and cue I us to a imiiri t'*lv:iryT How many know that Aim-ru-Aii voter*, men who help to choose the President of I lie United Stale*, are crucified, are- bound by biting lining*, are nailed to cro>e, aud suffer unto dealh ' The village of Tao, in northern New Mexico, for many years the home of Ku Canon, i> one of thj strongholds of the Penilenlos. Hidden > in a little valley among the Heckles, sluu olf from the rail- road on the cat by cvcnty-five mile* of mountain* and eparalod from the iron h.(!liw.iy on the we*t ..y thirty-live mile* of roest* aud the awful canon of the KM llrande, tins little hamlet of Mexivans.wiMi scarcely ,i doxeu American* among them, in not of the nineteenth ciuury, aud feel* few | of Hi influence*. Taot aud it* neighborhood are (aid to have alxui I, KM) I'enitentes, in- cluding many women, aud here their prac- tice* are carried to the extreme. Among the residents i* a Methodist imuiounry who wa an administrator of the estate of Pablo Orteqa.a Penitenle wlio died near Antonito, I'ol. Among the dead man'* effect* were found book* explaining the rite* of the order, and the nuuionary ha* since made a careful nudy of this curious (analicum. Tiie name ol the order i* " Lo* Hermanns Penitent**" (the Penitent Brother*). They are popularly known liy the Dingle word i Heinl<*iiit. The order waa established in Spain three or four hundred yean ago, and It i* laid that originally it* incinlnr* did not practice scourging and crncifymg. The i-:ii mi of xr f whipping seem* to have been borrowed from the Flagellautes, and the fanatic* of the New World have elaborated the *y*tem of penance until men are actual- ! Iv nailed to the rros*. The I'eni'.entea for a long time used the I churchea for their meeting*. Of late the I Bishops have forbidden thi*. and now the j brother* hare their " mor.vla ' outside the town. During moit of the year the I'enitentei are so i|uiet that their silent " moradaa," with h-oken crone* scattered about them, ; sre the only evidence of their xi*tenoe. I With the beginning of Leu* they renew their : activity witli ceremoniet and processions, I which reach their climax during Holy Weak. In those exercises liable to be *een by spec- I taton the brother* doing penance try to con- i ceal their identity by black cloth* thrown over the head and tied about the neck. Of late year* the younger generation ha* devel- oped many unbeliever*, whose acoth'ng seems to hurt the Penitent** more thanaslt- imposed tortures. The brother* may also hare some fear of the dupleasure ol the Church, aud it i* quite probable they wuh I to mystify the people, but it is generally I known among their friend* who the peni- tent* are. During the early part of Lent the per- formance* of the Penitent** are compara- tively mild, but in Holy \\eek all the hor- ron of thi* peculiar order are pit into practice. On a hillock at aome diilaace from the brotherhood house i* painted a crow to represent Calvary. The crowning event occurs on Holy Friday, when the anniversary of Christ's death is celebrated with a drama of the crucifixion. The event open* with a procession from the " roorada" to the hillock representing Calvary. There are cross-bearers, flagellant*, and numerous women and children, all led by the lifer, while the reader of prayers i* some) where in their midst. The procession halm at i short interval* to " make the station* of the cross," and the women and children kneel while they repeat a short prayer. At Calvary the crow- bearers lie at ml! length, with the heavy beams laid upon their ba-.-ks while the " pitcro" pipes and the attend- ant* IU'PH. Then the procession return* to the " morada," the brothers going inside for a few minutes' meditation and the wom- en waiting outside. These pilgrimages are repeated until afternoon, when the cli- max of this strange drama is reached. When the time for the crucifixion has arrived the "hermano mayor" (chief broth- er) and an assistant enter the " morada" and return with the victim. He is entirely naked except for n pair of cotton drawers and a bag over hi* head. He i* led to the place of ':ruci6xiou, perhaps a newly se- lected Calvary, and the procession follows. At Tims he is a volunteer. In some place* he i* (elected by lot. " El Celvario ha* been prepared for the ceremony. A huge cross lies upon the earth, and at its base i* an excavation. The victim walk* firmly to the cross and lies down upon it at full length, his back to the standard and his arms outstretched upon tbu cros* beam . Several ' ' Hermanns de l,n/. " (Brothers of Light, who .it tend flag- ellants but do not scourge themselves) take a stout hempen rop anu lash the arms and leg* of the prostrate Pemtenu* to the cross. They draw the bands so tightly that the strand* sink into the tloh, but not a whim- per is heard. If he [^particularly courageous and fanat- ical he may rebel at this method of under- going the ordeal. He may cry out: "For the love of God, do not dishonor me ' Not with a rope ' Nail ma ! For the love of (!od, nail me I" In former yews it was a common practice to spike these deluded l/eiiigg to the cross. Death* among the cnicili*a were not un- common then, and on Holy Friday within the past decade four Penilente* were killed in this manner at points not far from Taos. Public sentiment has slowly modified thi* custom. The chief brothet DOW determines whuthor or not the subject (hall ho nailed, in I in most places it is no longer permitted. It is probably within the bounds of trnili to say that nailicg to the cross is now practis- ed only in a few Mexican hamlet* so remote from railroads as to be outside the pule of modern influences. At T&os several Mexioans'are pointed out a* Penitente* who have been crucified wilhapkos and survived, aosl the statement Ims corroboration in small scars on the hand*, which may be seen by an investigator with sullk-ieut patience to watch for oppor- tunities. Hopes aro wound about the top of the oross to serve later as K*Jjra, and several Brothers of Light slowly ra*(e t-he ponder- HUM beam into an upright position. Its bass slips into the eio***>t*on, and as it neat* the perpendicular drop* into the hole with a sluk-i that mu*t cause the crucified one excruciating pain, but lie gives forth no sound. 'Itie Croat is then steadied by the guy ropes, and perhaps loose rocks are thrown into the excavation. It i* usel. i perhaps for one * ho has not suffered them to attempt to describe the agouiea of the crucified man. Hardened a* Un- I'l-nitentooaretocuch scenes, an intense i hash falls upon th<< group standing about with eye < It i ted in reverential awe to the '. central figure. The afternoon sunbeams on Ihesoeue with Southern fervency, the hills Innd their solitude to thedrama, and there is, seldom a b r 1 or even a cricket in this land of barren rock and fruitless sand to break the silence. The weight of the hanging man causes the binding ropes to sink deep in'o the i arms and UK*. The surrounding flesh well* into great, ghastly puffs. The blood j stop* circulating. The skin assume* pur- i pie hue, then turns slowly to a black. Some of the onlooker* kneel, aud their lips move in silrnt prayer. Near by a penitent broth- er may be lying on a bed of cactus, or *uf- fering aoinu other torture without a sound. From the brows of the officers, clasped m ' crown* of cactus, drop* of blood '.fickle , dowu and mnear their faces. The mometits drag along with painful wearines*. They Koem to have lengthened into hours, but in reality it may be only twenty or thirty . niittt* until the chiet brother gives the sign to lower the cross. The Brothers of Light q'lickly loose the | bonds of the crucified one, and the prisoned liliMi.t leaps through the thirsty veins. The motionless form is picked up by two assist- ants, ea>-h putting a shoulder under one arm, and the march to the "morada " is be- Rtin. Perhaps the body gives evidences of life and consciousness. The legs slowly move as though to walk, but the effort is too feeble for any practical use, except to show that the spirit of life still animate* the swollen, bruised, blackened body. At the "morada" the crucified brother is rudely nuned into strength. Sometimes the body picked from the cross gives no sign of life and is never seen in public after it is carried into the " morada. " The Russian Government, according to all accounts, must be in a very amiable and peaceable mood just r.t present. From Ber- lin it is reported thr.t really friendly rela- tion* now exist between I'ussia and 'Ger- many, and that them are bjing embodied in a treaty which is on the point of comple- tion. Simultaneously come* a despatch from London that Russia Is seeking *n ami- able agreement with Great Britain in regard to the preservation of seal* jn the Raster n Pacific Coast, and that the relations of the two I lover n incuts were uevr more amic- able. For Russia to be on good terms with the British and German Government* at one and ike same tine is an unprecedented cir- cumstance. Generally, when Russia has succeeded, in making terms with her neigh- bors on her western borders, she has seixed the opportunity to quarrel with her Asiatic neighbor* and seize territories on their fron- tiers. Whenever trouble threatened Russia in the west, Kugland has had a more peace- ful time in India and on the Afghan fron- tiers. Russia* policy *mce the time of Peter the Great has Iwen to get to the sea al Constantinople, at the Persian Gulf, at the Sea of Ja|>an, even at Calcutta and Bombay. When she is not making advan- ces in the west she is generally found en- croaching upon the south or the east. Thus, *inc* Germany and Austria have been block- ing the road to ( 'onstaniiuople, Kngland has bad to check Rmmia's advance* upon Persia and Afghanistan. If Ruisia, therefore, comes to good terms with Germany and Knglsnd aud ceases herktucroachinenls both intheeatt and wt, there will he cause for interna- tional rejoicing. Russia has a dispute with China in regard to the Pamirs, which it is safe to say she will have to back out of. China has ceased to argue diplomatically with Russia on the question of the owner- ship of the North Kutern Pamirs, and has bugtin to move her swarming force* in that direction, just a* *h* did whin by more dint of overwhelming nnmbrrs she forced back tho Russians from Kuldja. Since that tune Russia has had an undisguised respect for Chinese powor in Central Asia, If Riunia comes to terms with Germany, it will be a blow to France which will then lie completely isolsled in Kurope. England ha* done her besi to keep nn friendly term* with her nearest neighbor, but France, in the fervor of her friendship for Russia, and in reliance upon it* continuance, has reject- ed all overtures, and has even none out of her way on occasions, as in the Morocco affair to oppose and thwart Rutland's de- siam. These are dark days for the Repub- lic but this much must be said for the French people, never have they in any single na- tional crisis been so patient, Vi stc*dfast,so self-controlled as they have shown them- selves during the protracted series of crises through which their country has been pass- ing for some years. A new kind of wire for telephone use, having an alun imii n-hron/e core with copper-bronze envelope, is being experi- mented with in Germany. It is said i j have a low resistance and great tensile strength. The business partner of one of the direc- tors of the company formed to build the telegraph line from the Cape to ('aim has given a Pall Mall Gazette reporter some in- teresting information. Capital has been suosoribed to the extent o' 140,000, which is considered sufficient to carry the line as far as Uganda. The material* are now be- ing ordered in London, and will be shipped shortly. The poles are to be of iron of light construction, in order to outinaincuvre the white ants, who would eat away wooden pole*. From Fort Salisbury the line is to M carried to Tete, on tho Zambesi, and from thence to Blantyre. There Consul Johnston will report the result nf hi* sur- veys as to the best manner of proceeding on to Ugajda, and the constructing party will have to come to terms with the natives and Arabs by subsidizing the chiefs and others of influence. There will be nothing in the way of impenetrable undergrowth* or rank vegetation to contend with, as the line will avoid the low country and keep to the high plateau the entire distance. There are two alternative route* for the conveyance of the materials. There i* good transport from the Transvaal to Fort Salisbury, or a short- er route would be adapted if material* were shipped direct to Beira, carried along i he- railway now being built as far as it extends and then conveyed the rest of the distance by ox-wagonn. Tho scheme is being pusned forward with great activity now. TUB lim n*ll A BMW 9f T s>4 V. I lir Horn, nllil Korcl^u Carrr Ihr Bcrrsjll*. Ilir tuoil and < llbln K . Ibe Ml- i iu t.r War. Twenty years ago the new British army system wa inaugurate-! under Lord (laid- well. The changes included the abtUitipn of the purchase of commissions, the introduc- tion of short terms of enlistment, the local- izing of the orgauieations, top establishment of t'ic reserve, the reorganizing of the in- fuitry, and the uniting of the control of the regular and auxiliary force* These changes were effected after stubborn opposi- tion trom a ccnservati*mwhic!i dreaded any interference with the ancient order of things. The recent speech, however, of Mr. Campbell- Baunerman in the House of Com- mons on the army estimates, and on the provision for l.'.l,4-42 men of all rank*, in- nist* that the reforms then made have lieen justified by experience. In treating of what remains to be done the Secretary of Stale for War propose* chiefly to equalize the battalions, which has not hitherto been properly done, and in the cavalry to allow recruits to be enlisted not for particular regiment*, hut for special branches of the cavalry, such as the Lan- cen, Hassan, or Dragoons, an the cam may be. These men can then be senl to any regiment in the branch selected, and au also be changed from one regiment to an- other, which will be of advantage when troops have to be sent out of the islands ti foreign service. Another point mentioned i* that very re- cently the army corps system for foreign service ban been abandoned, and instead ol holding in readiness for immediate embark- ation the First Corps and line of communi- cation troops, a body has been substituted which is made up for the probable demands of au average small war. Itincludesa divison of infantry, a brizade of cavalry, a battalion of mounted infantry, three batteries of lield aud two of horse artillery, aud special force*, such as bridging and telegraph troops, the balloon section, and the bakery column. The total force ray be put at JO,- 000 men and 8.700 horses. This field force ban its stores ready at all times, so that it can start as soon as ship* can take it. The recruits for the year under consider- ation numbered 41. IKUi, and (Jen. Fielding 1 prosecuted toe recruiting with much energy. I .Special enlistments, both in cavalry and in 1 infantry, werefirat ohecked and then diBpenn- i ned with at the <md of February. The height ' standaid of th. Guards was raised to 5 feet inches, tlsat ol artillery gunners to ."> feet 1 64 inches, that of artillery drivers to ."> feel 4 inches, thin Isst being n gam of au inch. I Men have ueen encouraged to pass from the arm;- to tne raeerve when sufficiently train- ed and of good character, if they have Iwen able lo (how that their parents needed their assistance at home, aud mat they had a prospect of employment when they got 1 there. Mr. Campbell Rannerman said that be could " conceive nothing more unfortun- ate for the army than that a man in that condition should be held to his bargain when hi* interest and his duty to his own fanulv strongly pull in the other direction. " This declaration may have a certain inter- est for ihuse who discuss the value ni our recently adopted system of purchase hy dis- charge, although, of ooiirsr, th* cases are not parallel, our army having no home re- serve. Much attention, it appears, ha* recently been paid in ihe British service to improv- ing the food of the soldier, particularly as regard* cooking. Mr. Campbell- Banner- man taid an inspection "of the stock-pota, aud the other novel culinary implements, and the nature of tew food produced," would give an idea of the great steps for- ward in this direction. In the matter of the etniliict of troops he was also U le to make i a satisfactory report : I find that the proportion of eonrte- martial per thousand, which was ill in INN I, had fallen lo .">.'! m 1801. The proportion of minor punishments had fallen from 1 .'.'to to 1.033 : the total number of trials for drunkenness m and off duty from 4.SOt to -.11, ^ ; the total number of trials for desertion and absence without leave from 4,8!K) to .1, !<_'. These are the returns lur 1 KM I, more recent figures not being yet available, but I believe the improvement is still going on. Generally speaking, as re- gards the military prison*, one-third of the accommodation is unoccupied, and, owing to the decrease in the required occupation during the last few years, it has been pos- sible to reduce the accommodation at Brix- tou Prison from 493 to l.'iti. The health of troops, both at home and abroad, ha* also been i;ood. There will be some slight changes m the pay, while as to the clothing, a subject discussed from time to time m our own navy, instead of having April I the date of issue, a soldier will re- ceive hi* outfit on enlistment, nnd his annual refit as nearly as possible just a year later The clothing would cease to be the prop- erty of the .State in the sense that a man will be allowed to dispose of it when worn for the due time on his discharge to a com- ] rade. He will also receive compensation for any garments he may not require when the anniversary of issues recurs; but he will Mill remain liable to provide any clothmp which his commanding officer may order to be renewed between the regular dates of issue. Those are tho main principles, aud I cannot but believe they will les/i greatly to the comfort and contentment of the sol- dier, although it throws a certain amount of expense upon the public exchequer. The reserve is in a flourishing condition, containing 77,000 men, with a prospect next year of 80,000, which i* the maximum under the system. The militia is also doing well, its total last year being IKS, 288 against 10H.U3-2 for the year preceding. The yeo- manry has, an usual, not Iwen satisfactory, but some reorganization is to be mode which will give it one more chance for greater afh'ciency and for "making it lean an amuse- ment and more a real business occupation to those engaged in it." The volunteers have alto done well, a force of I'l.'KMl of them being mobilized lasi year nt Alder- shot. They now have in their charge ninety batteries of position equal to 382 guns. Mr. Brookfield, during the debate, put the vol- unteer force at 163,000 infantry, 40,000 ar- tillery, nnd 1*2,600 engineers. As to munitions of war, it appears that .146,1)00 magazine rifle* have been made, and ihat "Mi, i UK' I are in tho hand* of troops and 70,000 are in India. " The new oavalrv car- bine will soon be issued, while) no fewer than So' batteries, including 53 a> horn* and :ct in India, are armed with U*M .i guns.