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back walls of the cells are each formed by a single slab of stone, and blocks of stone corresponding in size and figure to the openings were found on the floor in front of them. These have been used to close the entrances of the cells. The four walls of the chamber converge towards the top by the successive projection of each course of the masonry, commencing about 6 ft. above the level of the floor, in a manner exactly similar to the construction of the so-called Picts' houses of Quanterness and Wideford-hill. By this means the chamber would be brought to a narrow space of probably a few feet square at top, and then completed by slabs laid across the opening horizontally or on edge. The upper portion, however, has been removed at some former period, and the highest part of the walls is now only about 13 ft. from the floor. At that point the opposite walls have approached to within 10 ft. of each other; so that the ruins of the chamber are now 15 ft. square at the floor, and about 10 ft. square at the top of the walls as they now stand. Its original height has been probably 19 or 20 ft., and the clay has then been piled above the roof to a height of several feet.

A large buttress stands in each angle of the chamber to strengthen the walls and support them under the pressure of their own weight and of the superincumbent clay. These internal buttresses vary somewhat in dimensions, but they are on an average about 3 ft. square at the base, and are from 9 to 10 ft. high, with the exception of one, which is now only 8 ft. high; and one of the sides of each buttress is formed by a single slab.

VOL. CIV.

The most interesting circumstance connected with the explorations was the discovery of 700 or 800 Runic characters on the walls and buttresses of the chambers and on the walls of the cells. They are in general very perfect, and only in one or two instances do they appear to have become illegible. No doubt, when they have all been cast and copied they will be found to yield valuable information. The figure of a winged horse is beautifully cut on one of the buttresses, and displays great spirit and artistic skill. Beneath it are other figures, one of which has a resemblance to a serpent twined around a tree or pole.

The walls of the chamber are built with large slabs, which generally extend the entire length of the wall, and the whole building displays great strength and skill in the masonry, and has a very imposing effect.

There is every reason to believe that the building was originally erected as a chambered tomb for some chief or person of great note, and probably long before the arrival of the Norsemen in Orkney. That it has, however, been entered by them is proved by the Runes; but that it was very likely becoming ruinous when they found it appears from evidences on the stones of their perishing condition when the Runes were cut on them. The deciphering of the Runes by competent persons will be looked for with much interest.

THE WEATHER.-The leading facts disclosed in the Registrar's returns for the spring quarter are of a mixed character; they are favourable generally as regards the health and growth of the population, but they are not without

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indications of a diminished prosperity in important districts of the country.

The weather was extremely variable. From the 24th March to the 7th April there was an excess of warmth of 5o above the average; from the 8th April to the 8th June the weather was unusually warmon some days from 12° to 13o in excess of the average; thence to the end of the quarter there was a defect of 4°. The highest temperature marked at the Royal Observatory was 81.5°, the lowest 26.70; but in the sun the mercury went up to 103°. The highest temperature recorded in the country was 84.5°, at Diss, the lowest 22.1°, at Allenheads. The rain-fall was very considerable, being 7 inches-exceeding by 1 inch the average of 43 years. 14.7 inches fell at Stonyhurst, but 5.1 inches only at Grantham.

The marriages during the spring quarter of the year were below the average. In the corresponding period of 1860 the number was 43,777; in 1861 41,966; this quarter they fell to 40,771. The whole of England, with the exception of the metropolis, has been affected more or less by the operation of circumstances unfavourable to marriage; but in the eighth division, which comprises Lancashire and Cheshire, the decrease is, as was to be expected, most striking. In Lancashire, the marriages, which in the spring of 1860 were 6331, and of 1861, 6126, fell in 1862 to 5484a decrease equal to 12 per cent. In London only was there a small increase, of 1 per cent.

The number of children born during the quarter was 185,638, or 3.666 in 100 of the population.

In the spring of 1861 the number was 184,718.

The deaths during the quarter were 107,555. In 1861 they were 107,721; in 1860, 110,869.

As the births in the quarter exceeded the deaths by 78,083, the natural increase of the population would be at the rate of 858 persons daily; but 14,296 persons of English origin emigrated during the period.

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The average price of wheat was 56s. 8d. per quarter about 4s. higher than in the spring of 186061. Potatoes were 190s. per tona very serious rise upon an article of food so necessary to the lower ranks; for, in the spring of 1860, they were 142s. 6d. per ton, and, in 1861, 130s. per ton.

The tables of pauperism continue to exhibit heavier totals. The number of indoor paupers, in 1860, was 107,050; in 1861, 117,802; and in the present quarter 127,863. The persons receiving out-door relief were, in the spring of the same three years, 692,384, 713,785, and 781,858.

MONETARY AFFAIRS. BANK RATE OF DISCOUNT; LOANS.—The fluctuations in the value of money in England during the past halfyear have been few, and, considering the elements of disturbance existing in foreign countries, unimportant. The rate of discount offered by the Bank of England at the commencement of the year was 3 per cent.; the stock of bullion 15,961,4397.: on the 9th of January (the day on which the news of the surrender of Messrs. Mason and Slidell became known), the rate was reduced to 2 per cent., at which price it continued to the 22nd May, when it was raised to 3 per cent., the stock of

bullion being 16,344,9407. The discount rate of the Bank of France was considerably higher throughout the period. On the 1st January it stood at 5 per cent.; on the 21st January it was reduced to 4 per cent. On the following day M. Fould, Minister of Finance, introduced his masterly résumé of the financial position of France. On the 28th March the discount rate was reduced to 3 per cent.

During the half-year several loans of magnitude were successfully negotiated, both on English and foreign securities. On the 13th January, in conformity with the terms of a convention between the British Government and that of the Emperor of Morocco, proposals were issued for a loan of 501,2001., at 5 per cent. at 85, secured by an hypothecation of 50 per cent. of the customs duties of the empire, to be paid into the hands of a British commissioner. The proposals met with great favour, the biddings greatly exceeded the amount required, and the scrip immediately rose to 6 premium. On the 22nd January 1,600,000l. of Victoria 6 per cent railway debentures were issued. The sums offered by 900 bidders amounted to 6,100,000l.; 14-15ths of the offers exceeded the fixed minimum price, 102, and were taken at prices varying from 1021. 16s. 6d. to 1057. 11s. In February an Italian loan of 1,338,000l., at 5 per cent. was offered at 74, for the completion of the Maremmana railway. The whole was subscribed, but the stock shortly fell to a considerable discount. On the 25th March, a Turkish 6 per cent. loan of 8,000,000l. was

negotiated at 68-equivalent to 5,440,000l. sterling-secured by the hypothecation of revenues estimated at 1,885,2201. yearly; the principal to be redeemed by a sinking fund in 23 years; a discount of 6 per cent. to be allowed to those who should pay up the instalments in one sum. This important transaction was based upon the report of the English commissioners, Lord Hobart and Mr. Foster, sent to investigate the financial position and resources of the Turkish empire. This report was so favourable that the loanthe proceeds of which are to be applied to the redemption of the floating debt and depreciated currency of that country, under Lord Hobart's superintendence was eagerly competed for. Applications were made for sums amounting to 35,000,000l., and the scrip arose to a considerable premium. On the 4th April proposals were issued for an Egyptian loan of 2,195,2001. (or 1,811,0401. sterling) in 7 per cent. bonds at 821, secured by the hypothecation of the revenues of the Delta, yielding 600,000l. per annum, redeemable in 30 years; 7 per cent. discount for pre-payment. for pre-payment. The applications amounted to 9,635,2007., and the scrip was quoted at 2 to 21 premium. On the 28th April, about 10,000,000l. of a Russian loan of 15,000,000l. was offered in the public market (the other 5,000,000l. having been privately negotiated); interest at 5 per cent.; price 94. The amount applied for in London is estimated at 4,600,000l.; the offers in all the European money-markets amounted to about 15,000,0001.

JULY.

WRECKS AT SEA.-Intelligence has been received at Lloyds' of the loss of some fine merchant vessels. On the 7th June a fine barque of 780 tons register, the James Gibb, was lost on the Seska Reef, in the Gulf of Finland. Her cargo consisted of 1135 tons of coal, and her crew of 19 hands. She sailed from Hull on the 21st of May. On reaching the Gulf of Finland the master appears to have become bewildered, for he seems to have navigated the ship among dangers such as to render it wonderful that her loss was not predated. After leaving the Hogland light such a course was steered as infallibly resulted in putting his ship on the shoals of Seska Island. Nor does this negligence appear to have been redeemed by any skill or energy in saving the ship, which accordingly became a total wreck. The master's certificate was suspended for eighteen months.

On the 14th of June the barque Valleyfield, from Liverpool to Cape Town, was wrecked on the rocks at the entrance to the bay of that place. The instant she struck, her main and mizen masts went overboard with a great crash; and at the same moment the master, Captain Burton, was washed overboard. The port is provided with the mortar and rocket apparatus ; but these were ineffectual. A small boat was then launched over the rocks and succeeded in approaching the wreck, and rescuing the second mate and seven seamen, and the master's son; but the master himself, the first officer, and nine seamen perished.

In July a fine Dutch bark, the

Johanna Wagner, was wrecked in False Bay. She was laden with a valuable cargo of tobacco, sugar, and coffee. The vessel and cargo were totally lost, but the crew were saved. In the same month the British ship Perekop, with a general cargo and passengers, was wrecked at the Cape, near the Argulhas light, while on a voyage from Freemantle to London. She struck upon a concealed rock, and received so much injury that the water could not be kept under; she filled, and was in imminent danger of sinking with all her crew and passengers, when a ship hove in sight, and took them all on board.

On the 17th June the fine iron ship James Pilkington, 1350 tons, with a general cargo of great value, was lost near Bassein, about 25 miles from Bombay. The vessel went to pieces immediately, and in a few hours not a vestige of her was to be seen. The crew, except two men, escaped. The ship was valued at 110,0007.

On the 11th July, the Pacific Steam Navigation Navigation Company's steamer Lima was wrecked on the coast of Bolivia, while conveying the mails between Panama and Valparaiso. The passengers and crew, the mails, and specie were got safe to land.

On the 19th of August the African Steam Ship African Steam Ship Company's mail steamer Cleopatra was wrecked at the mouth of the River Shebar, or entrance to the Sherboro River. The steamer, which was of 1279 tons gross tonnage, left the Bonny, on the west coast of Africa, for Liverpool on the 6th of August. She carried a large general cargo, a large amount of specie, and the mails. On the 19th she got among the shoals at the entrance to the Sherboro, and struck. With

the exception of the chief engineer, who was drowned, all the passengers and crew were got safe to shore; but the vessel became a total wreck, and the specie and mails were lost.

In September the Flying Mist, which was conveying to Otago, New Zealand, a valuable cargo of 1760 choice sheep, was wrecked at Bluff Bay, within a short distance of her destination. Of the sheep about 1000 were drowned-a loss of great consequence to an infant colony.

In October the bark Campbell, of Liverpool, foundered at sea, while on her voyage from the Brazils for that port. The fate of the crew was dreadful. They left the ship in two boats; one, the longboat, with the captain and eight seamen; the other, the pinnace, with the mate and four men. On the second day the long-boat capsized, and all her men were drowned. Three of the men in the pinnace perished from exposure. The two survivors were picked up by an American ship; but the mate died from the hardships he had suffered before reaching land.

DESTRUCTION OF SHIPS BY FIRE. -The British underwriters have recently suffered severe losses by the destruction of merchant ships by fire.

The Indian Empire, a paddle steamer, was originally built for the unfortunate Galway line of steamers to America. She was of 1800 tons burden, and was a fine specimen of the ships that traverse the Atlantic with so much speed and certainty. She had subsequently been sold to Mr. Z. Pearson, of Hull, and was probably intended to run the blockade of the Confederate ports. She had undergone repair, and was lying off

Deptford, when on the night of the 23rd July it was discovered that she was on fire. The flames rapidly spread over her whole hull, seized upon the main and mizen masts, the deck cabins, and the cabins below. The glare of the flames illuminated the whole river and shipping, and caused great consternation among the river-side dwellers, who supposed that one of the docks was on fire. The powerful floating engines from Rotherhithe and Southwark bridge and those from the dockyards came alongside, and poured enormous volumes of water upon the burning mass, but without any apparent effect. Then attempts were made to scuttle her by cutting holes in her sides. But this expedient also failed, for the ship rose as her materials were consumed, and the apertures rose above water. The fire was extinguished at a late hour of the following morning by filling her with water by the unceasing efforts of the fire-engines. She then sunk into the mud; and when the receding tide left her partially dry the water was pumped out, and she was ultimately got afloat. But the interior was quite destroyed.

A fire threatening the most destructive consequences was discovered on the evening of the 26th September to be raging on board the barque Southern Cross, 700 tons burden, lying on the north side of the import basin of the East India Docks, Blackwall. She was chartered for a voyage to Bombay, and had nearly completed her loading of a general cargo. About 4 P.M. the mate and an officer of the docks who were on deck, were suddenly startled by a strange crackling noise, and a strong sulphureous smell, and red flames burst up from the after-hatchway. The

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