compelled in their haste to leave the greater part of their clothes behind them. Most of the inmates of the Abbey were obliged to leave their rooms only partially dressed, and were afterwards observed upon the lawn wrapped in such articles of wearing apparel and bed-clothing as they were able in their hurried flight to take with them. A messenger was immediately despatched to Coventry on horseback, and the fire-engines were soon at work. Finding that it was impossible to save the western wing of the building, which was one blazing mass, the firemen directed their attention to cutting off the fire from the eastern part of the Abbey, which includes the drawing-room, library, and other rooms. After the firemen had been at work about an hour and a half or two hours, the progress of the fire was checked and confined to that part of the premises west of the billiard-room, adjoining the dining-room, which was very much damaged. The diningroom, Mr. Petre's private sitting and dressing-room, the housekeeper's room, the nursery, the servants' dining-hall and apartments, and all the bed-chambers in the western wing of the building were completely gutted, and most of the servants lost the greater part of their property. The fire was completely subdued before six o'clock in the morning. After Mr. Petre purchased the estate a few years back important improvements were made upon it, and the mansion was renovated and exquisitely fitted up and decorated. The Abbey is a place of considerable historical interest, and it is believed that Charles I. fixed his station at Whitley Hall when he unsuccessfully summoned the citizens of Coventry in 1643.

23. THE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH and the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna, only daughter of the Emperor and Empress of Russia, was solemnised this day, at the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, with the utmost pomp, and in accordance with the rites of the Orthodox and Anglican Churches respectively. Those who had been invited to be present assembled at half-past twelve o'clock at the palace. There were members of the Holy Synod, and of the high clergy; members of the Council of the Empire; senators and ambassadors; the members of the Corps Diplomatique, with the ladies of their families; general officers, officers of the guard, of the army and navy, and eminent Russian and foreign merchants of the first two guilds. The ladies wore the national costume; the men were in full uniform. The Queen of England was represented by Viscount Sydney and Lady Augusta Stanley. Shortly after one o'clock the marriage procession passed through the Salles des Armoiries, the bride leaning on the arm of the Duke of Edinburgh. On their arrival at the church the Duke and Grand Duchess took their places in front of the altar, where were standing the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and the chief priests, attired in magnificent vestments. The Emperor and Empress were on the right of the altar, the Prince of Wales and the Russian Grand Dukes standing opposite. The most interesting parts of the ceremony were the handing of the

rings to the bride and bridegroom, the crowning of the Royal couple, and the procession of the newly-wedded pair, with the Metropolitan and clergy, Prince Arthur, and the Grand Dukes, round the analogion or lectern, the bride and bridegroom carrying lighted candles in their left hands. On the conclusion of the ceremony the bride and bridegroom were saluted by the Emperor and Empress most affectionately, and immediately all proceeded to the Salle d'Alexandre, where the Protestant marriage was performed by the Very Rev. Dean Stanley, assisted by the Rev. A. Thompson and the Rev. Mr. Kingsford. The bride was given away by the Emperor, Prince Arthur being the best man. The Duke and the Grand Duchess used prayer-books which had been sent them by Queen Victoria, and the Grand Duchess carried a bouquet of myrtle sent also by the Queen from Osborne. Dean Stanley read a special prayer, composed by himself for the occasion. The singing of the Russian choir was magnificent. No instrumental music was performed at either service, in accordance with the rules of the Greek Church. The service was concluded at three o'clock, when the event was announced to the capital by a salute of 101 guns from the fortress, and to the inhabitants of Moscow by special telegram. The marriage register was signed by the Dean of Westminster, the Emperor and Empress, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Arthur, the Imperial Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Germany, and by several of the Imperial family.

The prayer-book from which the Dean of Westminster read the first part of the service was the same volume which was used at the coronation of William IV., and in the after-part of the office Dean Stanley read from the prayer-book which was used at the marriages of George III., Princess Charlotte, the Duke of Gloucester, the Princess of Hesse, the Duke of Cambridge, William IV., the Duke of Kent, and the Prince of Wales. This historic volume is the property of Lady Mary Hamilton.

The wedding-day was celebrated in the principal towns of Great Britain by rejoicings of various kinds. In Edinburgh the illuminations were especially beautiful, and were crowned by a large bonfire on the summit of Arthur's Seat. In the metropolis the illuminations were scanty, the Londoners reserving themselves for the celebration of the public entry of the Royal pair.

24. TORPEDO EXPLOSION.-During the progress of some experiments with Whitehead's fish torpedo at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, a sad accident occurred, which caused the death of one man and inflicted serious injuries on four others. The experiments were being made on the banks of the canal in the Royal Arsenal, and one of these torpedoes was being prepared for lowering into the water on a trolly or truck in the shed constructed over the canal for that purpose, when suddenly the air vessel at the end of the machine gave way with a loud report, something like the discharge of a gun. The torpedo, which was about eight feet long and made of steel, was completely shattered. The largest

portion of the torpedo remained in the shed, together with most of the smaller pieces, but the end piece, which contained the motive power, about three feet in length, was blown a distance of forty-three yards into the timber-field adjoining. At the time of the accident there were nine men employed at the canal upon these experiments, which were under the direction of Mr. Thomas E. Miller, chief engineer, Royal Navy, a member of the Torpedo Committee. He was in the shed at the time. Edward Baker, who was killed on the spot, was engaged in turning the handle of the screw propeller, while William Fishenden was occupied in oiling the machine according to the orders of Mr. Miller, who was standing next to him. The other men were in various parts of the shed. Fishenden was severely injured, but Mr. Miller escaped unharmed; three others were more or less injured. The poor fellow who was killed was blown out into the road, his left leg being torn off and carried by part of the torpedo into the Royal Carriage Department timber-field, a distance of about fifty yards.

FIRE AT SHORNCLIFFE CAMP.—At about six o'clock on the same evening a fire broke out in one of the large cavalry stables at Shorncliffe Camp, which was occupied by horses belonging to the detachment of the 7th Hussars. The man of the Fire Brigade who was on the look out immediately gave the alarm, and the firemaster, Mr. M'Govern, with his men and engines, was soon upon the spot. An attempt was at once made to rescue the horses, but it was only partially successful, as they could not be induced to move, and out of about twenty-four which the stable contained fourteen perished in the flames. The supply of water was rather deficient, and had it not been for the great exertions of the firemaster and his men, assisted by men of the various corps in camp, the whole of the stables, which are built of wood, with slated roofs, would inevitably have gone; for the one which was burnt was in the very middle of them all. The whole of the horses were turned out of the adjoining stables, and many, breaking loose, rushed frantically away, some through Sandgate into Folkestone, and some in opposite directions. Fortunately the night was calm, and the iron fire screens afforded protection to the adjacent stables; but had one of the south-west gales which have of late been so prevalent at that time been blowing, the damage would have been far greater.

26. OPENING OF THE FRONT OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.-The large plot of ground at the western end of St. Paul's Cathedral, hitherto enclosed by massive iron railings, was formally thrown open to the public this day, and at the same time an additional and long desired improvement in the width of the carriage way at that point was effected. The ground was bought by the Corporation of the Dean and Chapter for the sum of 15,000l. On the same day the corner stone of the new Choir School, in connection with the Cathedral, situated at the back of the Deanery, was laid by the Dean, in the presence of Bishop Claughton, and several of the Chapter.

DEATH OF DR. LIVINGSTONE.-The following telegram has been received from Aden:-"Livingstone died of dysentery while travelling from Lake Bemhe to Unyanyembe; body embalmed and preserved in salt by his Nassick boys, who are conveying it to Zanzibar, en route for England."

Doubts were long entertained by our most eminent geographers of the authenticity of this melancholy intelligence, but it eventually proved to be but too true. A fuller account of the great traveller's end will be found in our obituary.

28. FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.-Another disastrous result of railway mismanagement has occurred on the North British Railway, near Boness and Manuel Junction. The fast passenger train for the North, which is known as "The Flying Scotchman," or, as some call it, "The Scotch Madman," at full speed ran into a heavy mineral train, which stood across the line, in process of being shunted: the other train was known to be due. The collision was of the most terrible kind. It took place underneath a massive stone bridge, half of which was carried away, so that stones and masonry crushed those who escaped having carriages and engines hurled upon them. Of the foremost carriage (a third-class) every passenger was killed at once; fifteen dead bodies were taken up, the driver among others; he was scalded or burned, as well as mangled. Two other persons died shortly afterwards; many sustained severe if not fatal injuries, and two valuable horses were destroyed.

FEBRUARY.

The month opened amidst the excitement of a general election, the history of which belongs to another division of this work. We will, however, chronicle the chief local disasters and disturbances that occurred.

2. FALL OF A CROWDED ROOM DURING AN ELECTION MEETING.A frightful accident occurred at a meeting at Bury in support of Mr. Phillips' election. The meeting was held in a room in the third storey of a quilting warehouse in Paradise Street, occupied by Messrs. Butler and Chadwick. When Mr. Phillips came to the warehouse the knowledge of his presence spread rapidly, and the promoters of the meeting found it impossible to keep the meeting within the limits originally intended; and the room soon became crammed with a very excited audience, principally Irish Catholics. Before Mr. Phillips arrived the crowd, among whom were a great many women, boys, and girls, had almost filled the room, and when he entered there was a great rush, and the room became closely packed with about 500 people. Mr. Butcher was in the chair, and when he saw the crowd he had some fears for the safety

He was

of the building, and was about to propose an adjournment, but this was impracticable. He therefore at once addressed the meeting, intending as soon as possible to adjourn. speaking in eulogistic terms of Mr. Phillips' services, when the audience began cheering, clapping, and stamping, and suddenly the centre beam, 12 in. by 6 in., broke with a sudden snap, and a portion of the flooring, about 27 ft. by 20 ft., gave way, precipitating about 300 people on to the middle floor, which, being unable to bear the strain, gave way in its turn, and the whole mass of struggling human beings fell on to the ground floor, a distance of thirty feet. The scene was terrible in the extreme. A wide chasm separated those who had been left at either end of the room. For a moment a thick cloud of dust obscured the spectacle below, but the air was rent with shrieks. Those at the upper or platform end of the building were entirely cut off from all immediate means of exit, or from opportunity of rendering assistance, but Mr. Butcher, sliding down a gas-pipe, was quickly in the midst of the wreck. Fortunately, a considerable stock of quiltings in the basement floor had helped to break the fall of many of the people, and a large portion who had escaped without serious injury were able to crawl out without assistance. Portions of the beams and broken flooring, however, covered a large number. To get at these a number of men at once set to work. The work of carrying out the injured, dead, and dying, for which purpose the windows were broken in, occupied about three-quarters of an hour, and when the task was finished it was found that no less than eight persons had been killed, and two died soon after; nearly fifty met with injuries of a more or less serious nature. Meantime fire-escapes and ladders were procured, to rescue those who were cut off at the other end of the room. One after another they were brought through the windows, Mr. Phillips being about the last to leave the building. The portion of the audience at the staircase end of the room had, of course, a ready means of exit, and were able to effect their escape without assistance. There were several marvellous escapes. A boy had a portion of his clog torn off, and a policeman saved himself from falling into the chasm by clinging to a post near the wall. An examination of the fractured beam showed that it was not old. It was not broken short, but the fracture extended a considerable distance.

ELECTION RIOTS.-Riotous proceedings took place in several boroughs, especially in the manufacturing counties, during the progress of the elections. At Hanley the mayor read the Riot Act, and telegraphed to Manchester for soldiers, on whose arrival shortly after midnight order was restored. At Wolverhampton, Wednesfield, and other towns, considerable damage was done by rioters armed with stones and timber torn from the fences; and serious personal injuries were caused during the contests between the mob and police. At Askeaton, county Limerick, in Ireland, the results were more fatal, a man named Donoghue being killed in a fray