A considerable rise in the price of sugar has afforded another argument for the Free Traders against Mr. Chamberlain's scheme of fiscal reform. The opponents of "Cobdenism" have repestec pointed with triumph to the fact that ti. Brussels sunshine and arrived at Chatsworth on} their visit to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in weather such as Dom Carlos has probably rarely experienced, for Derbyshire has experienced the fullest severity of the cold snap. Majesty wont to Chatsworth principally for the shooting, but on Tuesday sport had to be abandoned altogether, and since then the daily programmes' have been much curtlied. However, King Carlos seems to have been enjoying himself thoroughly. As on the occasion of the visit of our own King and Queen Jast year, no attempt was made to keep people at a distance. So long as they did not actually interfere with the sport they wore allowed to come as close convention had falsified the predictions of the thorough-going Free Traders by causing little or no increase in the price of sugar; but latterly the price has been going steadily up, and now the jam-makers and confectioners are loudly complaining that the trades are being ruined by measure which has made sugar much cheaper on the Continent and considerably dearer at home. On the other hand, it is contended, that the rise in price is not due at all to the abolition of bounties, but to the general failure of beet cro) on the Continent; and it is plausibly ar; from this that it is not the abolition of the bounties but the bounties themselves, which ruined the cane sugar industry and made us dependent on as they pleased, and thus _yoster- PO beet sugar, that are responsible for rise. Whatever truth there may day a considerable crowd of intorosted and amused spectators had the unwonted privilege of seeing mona: ch taking part in a merry game of snowball while waiting for luncheon. It is true that although the King began it no one had the temerity to pelt him in return, but they retaliated effectively on his suite. The only pity is that the stately host, who was looking after Queen Amelia, did not arrive on the scone till the fun was over. One would like to know how the Duke of Dovonshire would conduct himself in a snowball match. To-day the King and Queen are returning to London, and to-morrow they go to Wood Norton on a visit to her Majesty's brother, the Duke of Orleans, who is providing his guests on Sunday with a magnificent firework display arranged by the Crystal Palace pyrotechnists.
The Mystery ofa We are still awaiting igning of the Anglo-Russian Convention in reference to the North Sea outrage, and we continue to be assured that in spite of the delays the two Governments are in practical agreement, and there is no ground for uneasiness. In the meantime we have been provided with another little sons tion over the alleged sale by Messrs. Yarrow of a torpedo-boat destroyer, which hes already found its way into Russian hands. Messrs. Yarrow themselves have refused either to confirm or to contradict the report, or indeed to make any statement about it. This refusal may be duo merely to a settled policy adopted since all the newspapers busied themselves recently over an Italian Government contract whichMeasrs. Yarrow are understood to have thrown up in consequence of the grasping demands of rheic own workmen in the matter of overtime; but, however that may be, their silence has convinced most people that the destroyer story is not altogether without foundation. The most detailed account of th transaction is given by the Pari "Matin" which publishes an interview with an Irishman named Serhett, who declares that he bought the destroyer on the pretence that he was acting for a rich American, who wanted to turn into yacht. Supposing the story is in this I do not think the argument will prove convincing to those who feel the burden of dear sugar. The Fr. Traders warned them that the Convention would raise the price of sugar the price has been raised; and it will be hard to persuade the masses that post hoc is not proper hoe.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.