9. VICTOR EMMANUEL, King of Italy, after a severe and sudden illness of only a few days' duration, succumbed to an attack of inflammation of the lungs.

On January 7, came the intelligence that the King was ill. Whether his malady was from the beginning of so dangerous a kind that medical aid must in any event have proved vain cannot be said, but it had been noticed with apprehension that the King was submitted to the same treatment which proved fatal to the greatest of modern Italian statesmen, the Minister to whom Victor Emmanuel and Italy owed so much--Cavour. The King was copiously bled in the course of January 7. Cavour was also bled, and in the opinion of the medical world the blood-letting killed him.

For some short time previously to his death His Majesty was aware that his end was drawing near, and having received the sacraments at the hands of a priest he sent for Prince Humbert and the Princess Margherita, with whom he conversed for some minutes. He afterwards saw some other persons with whom he had been in constant communication, and a few minutes later breathed his last. The deceased King had nearly completed his fifty-eighth year.

After his death Prince Humbert was proclaimed King of Italy, and confirmed the present Ministers in their posts.

The event has caused great emotion in Rome, while in Paris people have remarked on the singularity of its occurrence on the anniversary of the death of Napoleon III.

The deceased King was the son of Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, and of Queen Theresa, daughter of the Grand Duke Ferdinand of Tuscany, having been born on March 14, 1820.

He received at his baptism the names of Marie Albert Eugene Ferdinand Thomas Victor Emmanuel. He was carefully educated in science and military tactics, and married on April 12, 1842, the Archduchess Adelaide of Austria, who died on January 20, 1855. He took an active part, as Duke of Savoy, in the events of 1848, accompanying his father to the field, and behaving with great bravery at the battles of Goito and Novara. On the evening after the latter (March 24, 1849), Charles Albert signed his abdication in the Bellini Palace. Little was then known of his son and successor, who assumed the title Victor Emmanuel II., except that he was a dashing hunter, somewhat haughty, and a reputed opponent to Liberalism. He succeeded in obtaining from Austria terms less humiliating than those imposed on his father; but the treaty of peace was not signed till August 1849. On mounting the throne of Sardinia he endeavoured to reorganise the finances, the army, and the system of public instruction, concluded with England several treaties of commerce, established railways, and promoted free trade. He indignantly refused the offer made by Austria for the cession of Parma, provided he would abolish the Constitution. Genoa having revolted, and expelled

his garrison, he sent an army against it, recovered his former rights, and his efforts for the prosperity of his kingdom were generally successful. He had, however, one great struggle throughout his reign with the Court and clergy of Rome. Guided by Count Cavour, he confiscated much Church property, and took away many clerical privileges. He concluded, in January 1855, a convention with France and England, to take part in the war against Russia, and despatched to the Crimea an army of 17,000 men, under General della Marmora, which distinguished itself by a victory on the banks of the Tchernaya. Sardinia took part in the Conference of Paris, where her Ambassador laid before the representatives an able paper on the state of Italy. In 1855 the King lost his mother, wife, and brother, and was brought to the verge of the grave by fever. After his recovery he visited France and England, where he was received with great enthusiasm, and was created a Knight of the Garter and Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.

In the early part of 1859 the King, whose relations with Austria had been for a long time the reverse of friendly, announced in the Chamber that a storm was impending, and Count Cavour detailed the grievances of Sardinia against Austria in a diplomatic circular. Lord Derby's Government used its best endeavours to avert a war which seemed imminent, but without effect. Austria summoned Sardinia to disarm, but in vain; and the Austrian army crossed the Ticino. The Emperor of the French despatched a powerful army into Italy, and having assumed the command, joined the Sardinian forces, and defeated the Austrians at Montebello, May 20; at Palestro, May 30 and 31; at Magenta, June 4; and at Solferino, June 24-the Emperor and the King being present in person. The Austrians were expelled from Lombardy, the princes from Naples, Tuscany, Parma, and Modena; and the Treaty of Villa Franca, concluded July 11, confirmed by the Treaty of Zurich, November 10, terminated the war and established Victor Emmanuel as King of Italy. The Parliament, assembled at Turin, March 17, 1861, formally established the title, which was recognised by England March 30, and by France June 24. A treaty for the transfer of the seat of government from Turin to Florence, and the evacuation of Rome by the French in two years, was signed September 15, 1864. The Court was transferred to Florence in 1865, and the French army was withdrawn from Rome in 1867. In 1866 the King of Italy, making common cause with Prussia, by a treaty signed May 12, declared war against Austria. The Italian army was defeated by the Austrians at Custozza, June 24, and the Italian fleet sustained a reverse off Lissa, July 20: but in consequence of the success of the Prussians peace was signed at Vienna, October 3, by which Venice and the territory of Venetia were ceded to Italy, and Victor Emmanuel made his public entry into Venice, November 7.

All the States of the Church were now seized by the Sar

dinian troops, with the exception of Rome, Civita Vecchia, and certain districts that were occupied by the French army. When war broke out between France and Germany in 1870 the Emperor Napoleon found it necessary to withdraw the French troops from Rome. Accordingly, the last detachment left the Pontifical territory August 8, 1870, and on the 20th of the following month, notwithstanding the agreement which had been made by King Victor Emmanuel not to invade the Pope's dominions, the Italian troops, under General Cadorna, entered Rome after a short resistance from the Pontifical troops, who ceased firing at the request of the Holy Father himself. In September 1873, King Victor Emmanuel visited the Emperor of Austria at Vienna, and the Emperor of Germany at Berlin. His family consists of the Princess Clothilde Marie Thérèse Louise, born March 2, 1843, and married January 30, 1859, to Prince Napoleon; Prince Humbert Rénier Charles Emmanuel Jean Marie Ferdinand Eugène, heir apparent, and Prince of Piedmont, born March 14, 1844; Prince Amadeus Ferdinand Marie, Duke of Aosta (formerly King of Spain), born May 30, 1845; and Princess Maria Pia, born October 16, 1847; and married October 6, 1862, to Louis I., King of Portugal.

12. GREAT FIRE IN THE CITY.-An extensive fire destroyed several large warehouses between Watling Street and Cheapside. It was caused by the upsetting of a workman's spirit-lamp. Messrs. Crocker & Sons, calico printers, who had most extensive premises in Watling Street, extending up Friday Street, were having additional premises completed at 81 Watling Street, and these were quickly in a blaze. The site is no very great distance from the Fire Brigade Station, but between the station and the burning premises the road was "up." While the engines were being brought round, however, and carts and waggons were being removed, the brigade men ran to the hydrants, and, having fixed the hose, began to play upon the flames, there being, fortunately, an excellent supply of water. The premises on fire, however, burnt with great rapidity, and the flames spread to the adjoining houses on the west and in the rear. Captain Shaw and the staff at Watling Street head station were on the spot at once, and all the engines which could be brought into play poured volumes of water upon the flames, which threatened not only the whole block between Watling Street and Cheapside, but even the blocks across the narrow thoroughfares of Friday Street and Bread Street. As fast as it was possible the divisions of the brigade from other parts of London came to the spot, and gave able assistance. All the premises were five storeys in height, and nearly all of them were stored with textile fabrics. After about four hours the premises of Messrs. Crocker in Friday Street fell with a crash. Captain Shaw was struck on the hip by a falling beam, and several of the brigade had narrow escapes. The details of the fire show that 81 Watling Street, a building of 25 feet by 100 feet, was burnt out.

The next houses from 82 to 87 Watling Street, and from 51 to 54 Friday Street, belonging to Messrs. Crocker & Sons, all adjoining and communicating, were burnt out, buildings and contents, and parts of the buildings have fallen into the street. Nos. 79 and 80 Watling Street, and 13 and 14 Bread Street, all in the occupation of Messrs. Wilks, linen warehousemen, were damaged by fire and water. Nos. 14, 15, 16, and 17 Watling Street, on the opposite sides, had their fronts scorched by the flames. No. 12 Bread Street was only kept from bursting into flame by the efforts of the brigade, and, as it was, the building and contents were damaged. Nos. 10 and 11 Bread Street, No. 55 Friday Street, in the occupation of Messrs. Shaw & Beeton, and other tenants, No. 56 Friday Street, and Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 Friday Street were in danger from the flames, and their fronts were severely scorched. Lesser damage was sustained by Messrs. Cooke, Sons & Co., at 12 Friday Street, Messrs. Ellington at 13, Messrs. Hampton at 14, and E. Crute at 15. The total loss is very great, that of Messrs. Crocker & Sons amounting, it is stated, to nearly 200,000l. A workman is missing, and it is feared he did not escape. Messrs. Crocker, Son, & Co. state that both stock and premises are fully insured.

13. FOUR RELEASED MILITARY FENIAN PRISONERS arrived in Dublin to-day. Their arrival was witnessed by a vast multitude of people, and the streets of Dublin were crowded. On landing at Kingstown, the late prisoners were presented with an address of welcome. The four liberated Fenians were:-Colour-Sergeant McCarthy, who was convicted by court-martial, in May 1866, of a breach of the Articles of War, "having come to the knowledge of an intended mutiny in Her Majesty's troops, and not giving information to his commanding officer." He was sentenced to death, which was commuted to penal servitude for life. He has been twelve years in prison. Corporal Chambers, 5th Dragoon Guards, convicted at a court-martial in Ireland, in June 1866, of breach of the Articles of War, "mutinous conduct and desertion," and sentenced to penal servitude for life. Private John Patrick O'Brien, tried by court-martial in June 1867, for a similar offence to that of Corporal Chambers. Michael Davitt, tried at the Central Criminal Court, London, in June 1870, together with an Englishman named Wilson, for supplying arms to the Fenian organisation. Wilson got five years' imprisonment, which he served out. Davitt's sentence was fifteen years' penal servitude. Sergeant M'Carthy died at Morrison's Hotel, Dublin, on January 15, the cause, it is believed, having been heart disease. The event caused so serious a shock to Corporal Chambers, that his life was put in danger.

14. THE TELEPHONE.-Professor Bell and Colonel Reynolds exhibited the operations of the telephone before the Queen at Osborne. Having given a brief explanation of his invention, the Professor proceeded to hold a conversation with Mr. Ormiston,

at Osborne Cottage; Her Majesty then took the telephone, and conversed with Sir Thomas and Lady Biddulph, who were at the cottage; and a request having been made that Miss Kate Field, who was also there, should go to the piano, she sang "Kathleen Mavourneen" into the telephone, for which the Duke of Connaught returned the Queen's thanks. The same lady subsequently sang into the telephone, "Comin' thro' the Rye," and the cuckoo song from "Love's Labour Lost," with surprising effect. Later in the evening experiments were made at Cowes, Southampton, and London. From the first town came four part songs; from the second a bugle retreat that elicited the Duke of Connaught's commendation; at the third there was clear and fluent conversation, and from which also "God Save the Queen" came from an organ. Her Majesty and the Royal family evinced much interest in the several experiments.

The Queen, in a letter of thanks written by Sir Thomas Biddulph to Professor Bell, subsequently has expressed her surprise and gratification at the exhibition of the telephone at Osborne. Her Majesty having also expressed a wish to purchase the two instruments used, Professor Bell has offered to the Queen a set of telephones to be made expressly for Her Majesty's use.

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.-A match for the Sculling Championship between John Higgins, of Shadwell, and Robert Watson Boyd, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, for 2001. a side and the Champion Challenge Cup, was rowed to-day, over the usual Tyne course, from the Mansion House to Scotswood Suspension Bridge, a distance of nearly four miles, and unfortunately resulted in a foul after the two scullers had rowed about half a mile. The referee, however, was clearly of opinion that the foul was the fault of the Tynesider, and consequently awarded the stakes to the Thames sculler. The result is most unsatisfactory, as there will still be doubts as to which is the better man of the two, though there can be none as to the propriety of the referee's decision. Previous to this race, Higgins had thrice beaten Boyd. John Higgins is thirtythree years of age, and scaled 10st. 13lb. Boyd is twenty-three years of age, and scaled 10st. 3lb.

As the hour fixed for the start approached an enormous concourse of people assembled on the river banks all the way to Scotswood, and some dozen steamers heavily laden were ready to accompany the contest. Great excitement prevailed when the men stripped at the mark, Higgins especially looking as hard and as healthy as his best friends could wish. The two scullers started after a little delay by mutual consent, and Boyd, getting a trifling advantage at the start and going away with a wonderfully quick stroke, shot out and gained a length's advantage in the first 200 yards. The Northerner then pulled his right scull, and going across in front of Higgins, took his water, with barely a couple of feet of daylight between the boats. Higgins was sculling splendidly in the broken water, but, despite his efforts, Boyd drew out with