imposed upon nature, by which new and definite species, under definite conditions, emerge from a latent and potential being into manifest existence. The Axolotl, or Mexican eft, is an existing sample of the evolution process. This animal exhibits occasionally a transformation as remarkable as sudden : the whole structure is metamorphosed in a most marvellous manner, and the animal, zoologically speaking, actually changes its genus. The more general form possesses characters of immaturity, but the rare, fully-developed adult is absolutely sterile, the race being kept up by the immature Axolotls.

In a few lines towards the end of his book, the "case for the defence" is well put by Mr. Mivart, and if his premises are granted, the conclusion is obvious, that no natural process will account for the origin of the human body, just as no natural process will account for its entirely different kind of soul. Mr. Mivart has at least demolished the gorilla hypothesis. With whatever genus of ape the preponderance of resemblance to man may rest, it is not with the gorilla, "which is essentially no less a brute, and no more a man, than is the humblest member of the family to which it belongs." Mr. Mivart's little book is an admirable account of the resemblances of the apes amongst themselves and to man. That he has conclusively settled the question of man's descent from the apes we cannot say; but he has pointed out the many defects of the hypothesis; and so far the facts, and consequently the weight of the argument, is on his side. We have but one fault to find with his book-a fault that can be remedied in a second edition, which we think will be speedily required-and that is, the unusual number of typographical errors for a work of this class.

CHRONICLE

OF REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES

IN 1873.

JANUARY.

1. THE IRON TRADE STRIKE.-The most extensive strike ever known in the iron-works of South Wales, and collieries which are connected with them, has begun. Nearly 70,000 men and boys, one-third of whom belonged to the collieries, have stopped working. Every large establishment in the counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth, including those of Dowlais, Cyfarthfa, and Plymouth, near Merthyr Tydvil, with Rhymney, Tredegar, Blaina, Nantyglo, Ebbw Vale, Blaenavon, Llynvi, Maesteg, and Cwmavon, has been closed for an indefinite time. The cause of the dispute is the refusal of the workmen to submit to a reduction of ten per cent. in wages, of which the iron-masters gave notice on December 7, and which was followed by most of the coal-owners. The iron-masters allege that this reduction of wages was necessary in consequence of the state of trade. This was denied by the workmen, and the controversy went on till it was arranged that there should be a conference between the masters and delegates of the men to talk it over. The conference took place at the Royal Hotel, Cardiff. Mr. R. Fothergill, M.P., accompanied by Mr. Crawshay, and Mr. Menelaus, manager of the Dowlais Works, who was in the chair, endeavoured to convince the delegates of the true state of the case. They refused, however, to submit the whole question to an arbitration. This was followed by a mass meeting of the workmen next day, at Merthyr Tydvil, when the proposals of the masters were rejected and the strike commenced. On Saturday evening, the 4th, the leading works paid off their last account. At Dowlais, Cyfarthfa, and Plymouth the men were settled with up to date. In every instance the cottageholders under the respective companies were obliged to include in

A

their last account the rent of houses for the forthcoming month, the medical relief and school account being also deducted. At Cyfarthfa Works the number of persons paid off was about 4700. The Dowlais Works also paid off on Saturday evening. There no less than 11,000 men were employed, and 10,0007. per week paid in wages. The Dowlais Company in full fire keep sixteen furnaces in blast, whilst at Cyfarthfa they have nine in blast. On the other side of the parish the Plymouth Iron Company's Works form a branch of the concern, under the direction of Mr. Fothergill, M.P., and about 5000 men are usually employed there. The unsettled state of affairs formed a subject of comment on Sunday in the chapels. The preachers fervently invoked Divine aid to avert dissension and strife, to which the congregations heartily responded. The colliers of the Forest of Dean held a meeting on Saturday night, and decided to assist their brethren on strike in South Wales. At the same meeting it was resolved by the Park-end Coal Company's colliers to demand the weight of their coals on the pit-bank, as proposed at the termination of their strike fifteen months ago. The iron-workers of South Staffordshire and Worcestershire have agreed to go on working at present prices for three months longer.

9. DEATH OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.-This Thursday morning, at forty-five minutes past ten, the Emperor Napoleon died at Camden House, Chiselhurst. His Majesty had during the last few days twice undergone the operation of lithotrity while under chloroform, and the bulletins daily issued encouraged the hope that the most favourable results would ensue. The tone of the latest bulletin of Wednesday, which was to the effect that the local symptoms were more severe, and the subsequent report of Sir Henry Thompson, at nine o'clock in the evening, that "the situation was then the same," gave rise to grave apprehensions; but so very sudden a termination to the sufferings of the patient was hardly expected. That there was great danger attending the case was admitted, and every symptom, whether aggravated or otherwise, was keenly observed. Up to past ten o'clock on Wednesday night there was no marked improvement in the Emperor's condition, but later on he had some quiet rest and sound sleep. At a quarter to ten o'clock yesterday morning a consultation took place between Sir Henry Thompson, Dr. Conneau, Dr. le Baron Corvisart, Mr. Clover, and Mr. Foster, at which a third operation was considered desirable, and it was decided that it should take place at noon. At eleven o'clock, however, the following announcement was published at the lodge at Camden House :

"Camden Place, Chiselhurst, January 9, 11 a.m. "The Emperor was visited by his medical attendants at eleven o'clock last night, again at 2 a.m. by Dr. Conneau, at 4 a.m. by Dr. le Baron Corvisart, and at 6 a.m. by Sir Henry Thompson, each of whom found him sleeping soundly and materially better than on the preceding night. Pulse between eighty and eighty-four. At 9.45 this morning his Majesty was seen by the above-named, and

also by Mr. Clover, and an operation at noon was decided on. The pulse was then eighty-four, strong and regular, and the local symptoms improved. At 10.25 signs of sinking appeared, the heart's action suddenly failed, and he died at 10.45.

"HENRY THOMPSON.

"DR. CONNEAU.

"DR. LE BARON CORVISART. "J. T. CLOVER"

When it was apparent that the last moments were arriving, the Empress Eugenie and suite were summoned to the sick-chamber, and, with the exception of Count Clary and the Duc de Bassano (who were absent from the house at the time), all the household were present. In the meantime, the Prince Imperial was sent for from the Royal Academy, Woolwich, where, we understand, he was found at drill, but the carriage which brought him did not return to Chiselhurst till after his father's death had taken place. This naturally occasioned the Prince much pain, and appeared to increase the intense grief of the Empress. There were but slight indications of consciousness towards the last moments of the Emperor, but we understand that once or twice he addressed some word to the Empress in a low and feeble tone. The next day (the 10th) the post-mortem examination of the Emperor's body was made at Camden House by Dr. J. Burdon Sanderson, in the presence of Dr. Conneau, Dr. le Baron Corvisart, Sir Henry Thompson, Mr. J. T. Clover, and Mr. John Foster. Death took place by failure of the circulation, and was attributable to the general constitutional state of the patient. A cast of the head and face of the Emperor was taken by Signor D. Brucciani. On Saturday the body of his Majesty was embalmed, after which the Emperor was clothed in the uniform he wore at Sedan, and was placed in the coffin, which was lined with white satin. The Prince of Wales and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein arrived at Camden House to offer their condolences, but the Empress was too prostrate to be able to see their Royal Highnesses. Prince Napoleon, Princess Clotilde, Princess Mathilde, Prince Lucien, Prince Murat, and other members of the Bonaparte and Murat families, also arrived at Camden House, together with many leading Bonapartists. On Monday (13th) the relatives and intimate friends of the Emperor paid their last homage to his Majesty, the remains having been enclosed in three coffins, the outer one of which was covered with purple velvet, mounted by silver nails, the lid ornamented by the Imperial crown, the cipher "N," and a Latin cross in silver, and a silver plate, bearing the following inscription "Napoléon III., Empéreur des Français. Né à Paris le 20 Avril, 1808; Mort à Camden Place, Chiselhurst, le 9 Janvier, 1873. R.I.P."

The coffin, which had been removed to the hall, which was fitted up for the lying in state of the Emperor, was edged with bunches of violets, and at the foot was a wreath of the same flowers, with the letter "N" in immortelles. The Emperor's face looked calm,

and almost as it was in life. The hands were crossed, and his rings remained upon his fingers; upon his breast was a rose, placed there by the Empress, with an ivory crucifix and a sprig of box. The grand cordon and the plaque of the Legion of Honour were across his Majesty's breast; and he wore also the cross of a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, the médaille militaire and the médaille d'Italie; the Order of the Garter lay on the bier.

On Tuesday the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh were present at the lying in state of the Emperor. Their Royal Highnesses were received by the Prince Imperial, Prince Napoleon, and other members of the imperial family. The Princes had a short interview with the Empress. The lying in state was witnessed by between 25,000 and 30,000 persons, all of whom observed the utmost decorum. A large proportion of the assemblage was French.

The Emperor was buried on Wednesday (the 15th), in a mortuary chapel within St. Mary's Church. The funeral procession left Camden House in the following order :-Deputation of French workmen (carrying the tricoloured flag of France); the cross-bearer, followed by French clergy; the undertakers and bearers; the hearse, drawn by eight horses in black velvet trappings and feathers, the hearse being hung with the imperial arms emblazoned on an escutcheon, and the imperial crown on each side; the Prince Imperial; Prince Napoleon and Prince Lucien Bonaparte, and Prince Achille and Prince Joachim Murat; the representatives of the Queen and the Princes and Princesses of England; various members of the English nobility; the representatives of the Italian army and of the foreign Sovereigns and their Attachés, the Lord Mayor of London and other civic dignitaries, various English officers, cadets from Woolwich belonging to the same company as the Prince Imperial, the Marshals and Admirals of France, the former Ministers of the Empire, Prefects of the Seine and Police, members of the French Corps Diplomatique, General Officers of the French army, military officers of the household of the late Emperor and Empress, senators and deputies of the Corps Législatif and National Assembly, Councillors d'Etat, &c., the rear being closed by adherents of the Empire and a miscellaneous crowd of friends. The mourners, with the exception of the Prince Imperial, walked to the chapel four abreast, and all were bare-headed. Nearly 40,000 persons witnessed the spectacle. Two hundred persons were seated in the church, including Princess Clotilde, Princess Mathilde, Princess Murat, and many ladies of the French nobility, with the ladies of the imperial household. The Bishop of Southwark met the body and performed the funeral ceremony. The Prince Imperial was painfully affected when taking the last look at the coffin. Upon the return route to Camden House the Prince was greeted with intense enthusiasm, and shouts were raised of "Vive l'Empéreur !" "Vive Napoléon Quatre!" "Vive l'Impératrice!" The Empress, with the Prince, appeared at one of the windows of the house and acknowledged the cheers by bowing. Sir Henry Thompson and