both bullet and shot wounds on the heads of the murdered men. Three persons were arrested on suspicion of having committed this fearful deed. One of them was a brother, another a nephew of the murdered man. It seems that the Shaws held three farms, and that there had been a violent family quarrel with reference to these holdings. The two Shaws had expressed great apprehension of violence from the nephew, and for this and other reasons had not taken their clothes off for some years. As no evidence appeared, calculated to connect the persons apprehended with the murders, they were discharged. The Shaws, who were wealthy and penurious, were in the habit of lending to their neighbours small sums at high interest, and had lately obtained decrees against some defaulting debtors. It is suggested that some of these retaliated by murdering their creditors. Considerable sums are supposed to have been hoarded in the cottage; but there had been no at, tempt at plunder.

In the King's County, one Shiels, who had made money in Australia, had had the rashness to take a farm at Ballinakill, from which a family of Rourke had been formerly evicted, and who had, subsequently, almost beaten to death the next occupant. Soon after Shiels took possession, he received a notice from the Rourkes, "that they would not be beating him as they did Hickey, but that one finger would do the job for him." The unfortunate man, although he had been repeatedly apprized of the danger to which he was exposed, retained possession of the land, and he was heard to say to his wife, "that the Rourkes would never beat him, but they might shoot him." On the

evening of Saturday, the 2nd of February, he had returned from Philipstown about 6 o'clock, and in about two hours after his return he was sitting with his wife, putting a coal to his pipe. The wife says she heard "a noise like a clap of thunder," and he fell over. She exclaimed, "Oh, Pat, jewel, you are not struck?" He sat up, and, as she describes the fearful scene, he looked stern at her for a moment, and as she ran over, throwing her arms round his neck, the blood gushed out from between her fingers, and he was a dead man. A charge of slugs had lodged in his skull. The unfortunate woman, after the death of her husband, was refused assistance, by all the neighbours.

On the 16th of April a man named Edward Gourman was mur、 dered within two miles of Gormanstown, as he was returning from the races at Clankelly. It was thought that four persons were engaged in the crime.

In June a respectable farmer, John Drineen, was shot dead on a road leading to his own house near Callan, county Kilkenny. He had been seen in company with a man who carried a gun, and who had now disappeared.

Beside these accomplished murders, many were the attempts that proved abortive. In February, a tenant of Lord Digby's, at Gorteen, county Kilkenny, hearing a noise about his house, got up to ascertain the cause of alarm. He was fired at immediately on his appearance, but happily the shot passed by him.

In March the Rev. W. Archer, rector of Croagh, Limerick, was shot at while sitting by his own fire-side with his son and daughters.

The appalling massacre of the

Callaghans, at Ballymote, will be found under its date. It may be mentioned here that Joseph Dwyer, the youth who attempted the extraordinary murder of Mulholland, at Dublin last year, has been sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude. STEAMER DESCENDING NIAGARA RAPIDS. All visitors to the stupendous Falls of Niagara will remember the little steamer the Maid of the Mist, which used to carry the least nervous of travellers into the very foam of the Falls. The passage of the scarcely less formidable Rapids of the St. Lawrence by this frail bark is of hardly less interest. "The monotony of life at Niagara Falls," says a letter, "was broken to-day by an episode. It was rumoured that the little steamer Maid of the Mist was about to attempt an exploit. Report said that Mr. Buchanan had sold her to parties on Lake Ontario, to be delivered on that tranquil sheet of water. The idea that anything made of wood could outlive a voyage down these terrific rapids was regarded as absurd. The prospect of its being tried, however, drew at drew at least 300 or 400 people to the banks of the river. All day there had been a bustle of mysterious preparation on board the steamer. Hatches were being nailed down and everything made taut. A little past 3 she was cut loose from her moorings about a quarter of a mile above the bridge, and steamed gallantly up towards the Falls. A murmur of disappointed expectation ran through the crowd, when suddenly, as she reached a point about half way up she turned with a graceful curve and headed downwards. There were on board her engineer, Robinson, famed for deeds of

daring in these parts, and three others. The Maid came down with the current, and hung, quivering, but otherwise motionless, just opposite her dock. It seemed as if the daughter of the spray were undecided. The moments were long before she made up her mind. In an instant, before a spectator could wink, the die was cast, and she puffed a farewell to her home under the cliffs. Another second, and she swung in the sinewy grasp of the mighty river, speeding like an arrow down the stream. There was a rush of excited beholders for the bridge, and looking up thence it was a brave and thrilling sight to see her coming down and dipping like a water-fowl under the spray.

Your readers know how Niagara looks just under and just below the bridge. The giant offspring of four lakes writhes there like a chained monster. The water, where it is not a mass of angry foam, seems as hard as iron, and wears a hue of sickly green, ominous, voracious, deadly. There is the force of an angry ocean pent between these narrow prison walls, as the water, tortured into foam, dashes down the staircase of rocks. No one thought she could live through it, but after the first moment of hesitation she leaped into the gorge as though Niagara had been her father. As she passed under the bridge the crowd rushed to the other side and trembled for the safety of the daring crew, for the critical point was yet to be reached. Again and again she shot overhead in foam, and again and again, as she all but disappeared, it was thought that the river had claimed its own. But the Maid was native to the cataract and bore a charmed life. With one

blow of a seething breaker her smoke-stack was levelled with the deck, and then everybody gave her up. At last she had run the terrible gauntlet, and emerged dripping and quivering upon the calm water of the whirlpool. That Charybdis was easy after the Scylla she had weathered. A wide sweep with the current, and she was lost to sight."

This was the first long voyage of the Maid of the Mist, as she was built in the comparatively still water between the Falls and the Rapids.

PICTURES BY ENGLISH MASTERS. -The collections of English Paintings brought to the hammer this season were very numerousand some of the most highly-esteemed productions attracted a competition rivalling that of any former year. Of the collection of Mr. Gambart, Madlle. R. Bonheur's famous painting of the "Spanish Borriqueros crossing the Pyrenees," brought 1900 guineas; the same lady's "Mare and Foal," 430l., and "Horses taken to Water," 2101. Leslie's "Fencing Scene between the Bourgeois Gentilhomme and his Housemaid, "a small and spirited version of the picture at South Kensington, 5257. 10s.; Mr. Millais' "Apple Blossoms," 4831. The whole of this fine collection produced 17,7501. At another sale-comprising a portion of the collection of the late Sir John Swinburne and some cabinet pictures once belonging to Chantrysome Portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds brought great prices; that of Miss Carnac, whole length, 1710 guineas; of Garrick and Mrs. Garrick seated in conversation, in a landscape, mentioned in Boswell's work as being exhibited at Somerset House, 850 guineas; Sir A.

Callcott's "Southampton Water," 1205 guineas; Mulready's "Punch," thirty figures, 10027. 15s.; Wilkie's "Errand Boy," 435 guineas; Holman Hunt's "Hireling Shepherd," 6057.; Turner's "Loch Katrine," 750 guineas; Sir Edwin Landseer's "The First Leap," 730 guineas; Stanfield's "Homeward Bound," 5281.; "A Coast Scene," 5047.At another sale of the property of an amateur, Landseer's "Deer in the Lake," produced 1600 guineas. At a sale of a select portion of the collection of Mr. Wallis, the dealer, Landseer's "Uncle Tom and his Wife for Sale," 5901 (The sale of this picture for 8087. 10s. is recorded in the volume of last year); his "Two Pug-Dogs" fetched 590 guineas; Frith and Ansdell's "Keeper's Daughter," 380l.; Constable's stable's "Opening of Waterloo Bridge," 462. At another sale,

Frith's sketch for his famous "Derby-Day" sold for 5771. 10s.; and at a sale of Mr. Flaton's collection, Frith's "Old Woman accused of Witchcraft " brought 440 guineas. "The Coming Summer," by Frith and Cooper, 490 guineas; "Canterbury Meadows," a chefd'œuvre, by Lee and Cooper, 400 guineas; Frost's "Wood Nymphs surprised Bathing," 360 guineas; and the "Temple at Edfou, in Upper Egypt," by David Roberts -bequeathed by Frank Hall Standish, in 1841, with his other pictures, to Louis Philippe, and restored to the Standish family after the abdication of the King390 guineas.

MODERN FRENCH PICTURES.While the high prices brought at the London auctions by the works of British artists show how highly the school is appreciated at home, it must not be forgotten that the modern French and Belgian paint

ers have attained a very high degree of excellence. It is unnecessary to refer to such great artists as Paul Delaroche and Madame Rosa Bonheur, for the high prices for which their works have been sold in England have been repeatedly chronicled here. The sale of the fine work of Henry Leys, of Antwerp, "Mary of Burgundy relieving the Poor," for 10501., has been mentioned in the notice of the Uzielli collection. At a picture sale, at Paris, Rosa Bonheur's Sheep (Scotland)," produced 611. 12s., Cattle," 361. 148.; Decamp's "Turkish Sentinel," 1050l., “Italian Workmen," 6591. 8s.; Marilhat's Bazaar," 672.; Meissonier's "Soldiers playing at Cards," 11761. At another sale Decamp's "Children going out from an Egyptian School," 14281.; (a Water-Colour Drawing), "Defeat of the Cimbri," 10501.; a small Landscape by Marilhat, 2691.; the "Student," by Meissonier, 5631.; “Artist at his Easel,"

4717.

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SALE OF WORKS OF ART AND VERTU. The wants of luxury and the extravagances of taste have of late been freely ministered to by the dispersion of several collections of rarities in London and Paris. At a sale of the collection of the late Mr. Fish of Sidmouth, a matchless ruby, enchanting the eye with its gorgeous beauty, set round with brilliants, mounted as a pin, obtained the great price of 1570l. A brilliant of regal size and lustre, set in chased gold, as a pin, 520. Another large brilliant of tempting beauty, set in a richly-chased gold ring, 3331. A musical and mechanical bird-box, adorned with costly and pleasing devices, most charmingly and ex

quisitely fashioned, 1121. 10s. At another sale, a pair of old Sèvres, Campana-shaped vases, of a fashion so exquisite that they are considered to be "unique," brought the high sum of 500 guineas, and a pair of handsome old Chelseaware vases, sold for 406 guineas. At a sale of Captain Spencer Ricketts' collection, a superb gold` snuff-box, enriched with medallion subjects of the time of Louis XV., found a purchaser at 221 guineas. Another box, of a similar description, embellished with most elaborate allegories, 1911. This brilliant collection of snuff-boxes and other rarities produced no less a sum than 10,650l. A life-sized marble statue of Venus, by John Gibson, from the collection of the late Mr. Matthew Uzielli, realized 7471. 12s. At Paris, the famous collection of Prince Soltikoff was distributed to the public in a sale containing 1109 lots, and occupying 12 days. In many instances, astonishing prices were obtained. A shrine in ivory and enamel, in the form of a church, with a dome in the centre, realized 51,000 francs. A group in ivory, representing the Coronation of the Virgin, 30,000 francs; an ivory statuette of the Virgin and Infant Jesus, 15,200 francs; a plate of Palissy ware sold for 10,000 francs, and a salt-cellar and sweetmeatbox of Henry II. ware, realized respectively 6100 francs and 10,201 francs. A pascal candlestick, of rare beauty, made for the Cathedral of Gloucester in the 12th century, and supposed to have been given by Thomas à Becket to a church at Le Mans, where he resided from 1164 to 1170, sold for 15,300 francs. A large carved oak cabinet of the 16th century,

16,500 francs. Another, bearing the date of 1580, 12,500 francs. A magnificent toilette of iron, damasquined with gold and silver, and of 16th century, 30,500 francs. This lot and the two preceding cabinets, were productions of the Lyons school. A ewer and basin, in Limoges enamel, produced to gether 37,200 francs. In four days' sale a sum of 750,000 francs, or about 30,000l., was realized.

THE HOT WEATHER. The month of June this year was extremely hot. On the 14th, the thermometer reached 82° in the shade, and on one day, 108° in the sun. The consequences of such an extremely high temperature were the deaths of many persons, some owing to direct exposure to the sun, others to the fevers induced by the heat. As the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Fusilier Guards were on their march from Kingston to Guildford, a private staggered forward and fell to the ground insensible. He died that evening. Two other privates fell senseless, but were recovered; many fell out of the line of march quite done up. At Bulcote, Notts, the parish church was struck by the electric fluid, and the whole building fell to the ground, a mass of ruins. Thunderstorms were frequent, and persons were killed by lightning. At Highbury, two men who had taken shelter under trees, and held an open umbrella, were struck. One was killed instantaneously, the other very much hurt. The bodies and clothes of both were strangely scorched and torn. At Bere Regis, a man, who was sitting in his bedroom, was killed by a flash, which appeared to be attracted by the

bed-irons. In July, a party of excursionists were enjoying themselves in Trentham Park, Staffordshire. A storm came on, and the whole party sought shelter under the noble elms. A blinding flash of lightning, followed by a deafening clap, struck seven of the party to the ground. The others ran away, and could not, for some time, be persuaded to approach their companions. It was found that one young woman was killed. The others were insensible, and some had sustained serious injuries.

At Staleybridge, many persons were struck. A farm-house at Staley was struck. A child was found dead. She was sitting in her little chair in the natural attitude of life, but was lifeless, having apparently been killed by the electric fluid. At Darlington, an old lady and her niece who were taking tea together, were killed side by side.

Two other persons

in the house were injured at the same time.

In July, a labourer and his three children were hoeing turnips. A storm coming on, they took refuge under a tree: the whole party were struck by lightning, the man and two of the children were killed, the third was stunned, and it was some time before she was sufficiently recovered to crawl away and state what had occurred.

At Darlington, an old man, frightened at the thunder that rolled overhead, took refuge in a recess formed from a fire-place. The lightning struck the chimney, passed down into the room, and killed the poor man.

There were very heavy rain-falls in especial localities. At Birmingham, the fall, within four hours