to exist in the SL Petersburg Treasury to the amount , of 980,000,000 roubles. These doubts so disturb the loan market that M. Kokovtsoff, Minister of Finance, has tele- graphed...

of fresh Russian disasters, it is clear that the Russians are still retreating, and that though the pressure of the Japanese on their rear and flanks has diminished, the...

by the enemies of General Kuropatkin, and has superseded him in the supreme command of the armies in Manchuria. It is asserted, and denied, that the General himself requested...

Wednesday, the occasion being the unveiling of an equestrian statue of his father. " When I came to the throne after my grandfather's Titanic age, I swore a soldier's oath...

has fluttered diplomatists and roused extravagant hopes at Fez by proposing to visit Tangier. His semi-official Press denies that he is seeking anything; but William IL rarely...

out. The proposal to impose a kind of tribute on the Transvaal was one which we condemned from the very first as likely to prove a source of friction and danger. The scheme ran...

Norman as to the Army stores scandal, Mr. Arnold-Forster made a detailed statement on Monday as to the history of these transactions. He explained that as the result of the...

salt of the earth, but we must also prove ourselves worthy of this high calling." That is a proud saying, but the worst of Biblical quotations is that every one knows the...

Seely, to enable the Colonial Secretary—who had blundered badly over his statement in regard to the premiums on the proposed Transvaal loan—to explain the situation in regard to...

Office on Wednesday is highly favourable. Owing to im- provements in the receipts from the railways, from opium, from salt, Excise, Customs, and other minor sources, the net...

Britain, France, and Holland all complain of the violent ill-treatment of their subjects, generally for pecuniary objects, and constant rumours are circulated of the...

during the discussion on the Vote on Account in the Commons on Monday by Mr. McCrae, who asked the Govern- ment to inform the House and the country why the first instal l ment...

Mr. Chamberlain's Fiscal policy as embodied in his proposal to impose a 10 per cent. duty on all imported manufactured articles. He was seconded by Mr. Richard Cavendish, who,...

two predecessors at the Admiralty for their kindly criticisms, and readily admitted that the Opposition approached Naval questions in no party spirit. Once France was the only...

said they had seen in the attitude of the Government towards Fiscal agitation the successive stages of the closed door and the side door, and now finally had come to the stage...

in which he states that the majority of the party- i.e., the Tariff Reformers—are not merely justified, but required by their duty, to make every effort to have their views...

the League of Young Liberals held at the Queen's Hall on Monday night. He illustrated the distractions and dissensions in the Cabinet by the differences at the Board of Trade,...

was one of the few illuminating discussions which we have had this Session. Both Houses are at their best on a Naval question, and certainly nothing could have been more...

" P Epolicy of laissez faire consists in bringing matters to a crisis and then allowing them to take their own course." The schoolboy who produced this brilliant definition hit...

the Russian armies in the Far East has produced much sharp criticism of a Government which has ventured, in Mr. Lincoln's phrase, to " swap horses while crossing the stream." As...

have played so large a, part in the newspapers during the past week is their unreality. Though leader-writers and public speakers debate gravely what the Liberal party could do,...

in the Middle Ages • but one feature in the new embarrassment is that they distrust the appeal to force, which can be carried out only through men in uniform, who out of uniform...

whom he lives and whose welfare he is charged to promote. Up to a certain point, of course, this is just what the Government wishes.- It is to ascertain these views that it has...

Telegraph during the concluding three months of last year—or rather a selection therefrom—has been republished in book form (Hodder and Stoughton, 3s. 6d.) The subject was...

TN the current number of the North American Review the -L first place is given to a curious piece of political writing by Mark Twain, in an article which he calls "The Czar's...

say lately on the uselessness of " passive defence," A has always been in favour with a large percentage of the animal world, from mammals downwards. Those which adopt it do not...

P Sin,—Hoping that my career, embracing Rugby, Sandhurst, six years a subaltern struggling to live on his pay and ending in inevitable resignation, then ten years in the United...

THE WAR OFFICE AND THE VOLUNTEERS. [To THE Einem OP THE "SPECTATOR. "] SIR,—The whole nation is in your debt for the vigorous steps you are taking to restore the War Office to...

State for War (Spectator, March 11th) puts the number of Militia who served in South Africa at 1,691 officers and 43,875 men, but he has forgotten to include the Militia...

[To TIM EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] Sin,—The article " Words and Deeds " in the Spectator of March 11th should make every Free-trader realise the serious responsibility laid...

you permit me very heartily to thank " An ex-Volunteer Officer" for his letter in the Spectator of March 18th ? He suggests that the system of nucleus crews should be introduced...

read in the Spectator of March 18th that amongst the perplexities which await Unionist candidates at the General Election is the desire which will be evinced by the electorate...

with a fair amount of public time Mr. Balfour has not met the Opposition on these lines." May I be forgiven for saying that this reads more like a lady's political novel than...

SIR,-4 am surprised at the statement made in the Spectator of March 18th by " Senior Assistant-Master " that " there is in every boarding-house a suite of sick-rooms for patient...

Sra,—It is constantly said that it would be too great a humiliation for the Czar to stop the present war without further and further efforts, and that he should risk the...

understand why Mr. Montefiore (Spectator, March 18th) should affect so virtuous an indignation towards the writer of the interesting article entitled "A Dual People" that...

away, my lad, Come, choose your road and away ! We'll out of the town by the road's bright crown As it dips to the dazzling day. It's a long white road for the weary ; But it...

Assistant-Master" in the Spectator of March 18th. I note that he says that in every boarding-house there is a suite of sick-rooms inspected by authority, and fitted for the use...

up to March 23rd amount to £1,020, besides £100 promised. Among those who have recently consented to become patrons of the Exhibition are tho Bishop of Manchester, Mr. Alfred...

ME. PEEL has followed up his analysis of England's isolation with a study of the household she has gathered round her for defence. Like his former book, it is an admirable...

SAMUEL PURCHAS is in most respects inferior to Hakluyt, whose name he usurped, and whose papers he inherited. He had neither the lofty style nor the epic touch which...

appreciative biographer than Mr. George Russell, the last of the Whigs ; and Sydney Smith the wit could have found no more faithful chronicler than the author of Collec- tions...

countrymen would wish to have his experiences and impres- sions of travel, and his expectation has been fulfilled. The Press has noticed his book with a promptitude and a...

entirely the echoes of our social annals which insistently reverberate throughout its pages. Approached from this standpoint, The Marriage of William. Ashe is an elaborate and...

6s.) —Mr. Norris breaks some new ground in this novel, and though he cannot altogether keep away from the calm and polished paths of " county society," yet his most prominent...

the Chair of New Testament Criticism and Exegesis at orthodox Yale. His book will make the student think, and so far will be of service ; but he is not a safe guide, for he is...

(Macmillan and Co. 3s. net.)—The sub-title of this book is "Notes on Bishop Westcott's Teaching." The reader, accordingly, has set before him considerations as to the Bishop's...

(E. Howell, Liverpool. 6s. 6d. net.)—The "King" is, as might be supposed, the "blessed martyr, King Charles L" Mr. Crowe exhausts him- self in praise of him, and in vituperation...

[Under this heading tee notice such Bodo of the week as have not been reserved for ravine in other forms.] A Day at Dulwich. By A. H. Gilkes. (Longmans and Co. ls. net.)—The...

(P. S. King and Co. 6s. net.)—Dr. McCleary gives us some striking statistics. The death-rates, to begin with, are not a little startling. The general death-rate in the five...

The Lady of Shalott." Stana, a poor maid who has but her necklace, her spindle, and her house with three nut-trees in front, loves the " Valiant Voivodo " as he rides by. A...

(Longmans and Co. ls.)—This pamphlet contains an address delivered on Degree Day at the University of the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Sargant gives what is practically a history of...

Is. Gd. net.)—This volume may be described as a companion to the same publisher's Book Prices Current. It gives the prices realised at auctions during the year 1904 for pictures...

by L. G. Wickham Legge, M.A. (S.P.C.K. 4d.)—We venture to say that of the hundreds of thousands of people who have read about the difference between the French Government and...

Hackney Wick, N.E. 3d.)—Those who wish to con- sider the story of the effects of the Sugar Convention on the con- sumers of sugar, whether as food or for manufacturing purposes,...

D.D. (T. and T. Clark. 6s. net.)—This volume is a reprint of the article "Jesus Christ," contributed to Dr. Hastings's " Dic- tionary of the Bible." It is intimated that the...