No doubt, too, the internal troubles of France have contributed much towards a peaceable settlement of this grave question. On the day of the fall of the Brisson Cabinet, and_ yesterday during the opening proceedings in the Court of Cassation in regard to the Dreyfus case, it was abundantly evident thet no one in Paris was inclined to give a second thought to Fashoda. The arrival of Captain Baratier in Paris occasioned very little demonstration, and the Sirdar's simultaneous appearance in the French capital passed quite unnoticed. Although the Dreyfus case does not directly affect this country in any way, the proceedings of the Court of Cassation are followed with absorbing interest; and it was with intense relief that most of us found that Maitre Bard, unintimidated cither-by the army or by the mob, had brought an impartial judgment to bear upon the papers entrusted to him for examination" and fearlessly exposed the shameless illegality of the whole proceedings by which Dreyfus was condemned and Estethazy acquitted. Major Esterhazy, by the way, is still in London but I hear that he has taken no further steps in regard to his' action for libel against the Observer. Unfortunately, the circumstances of Esterhazy's confession of the forgery and subsequent withdrawal of the confession do not reflect much credit on the correspondent who obtained the confession. Esterhazy, in fact, was ready to make at open confession if he were paid for it; but not getting what he wanted he refused. Fortunately the proceedings in the Court of Cassation give hope that Esterhazy's guilt will be proved whether he confesses or not.
THE SIRDAR'S RETURN, There had been much anxiety in Dover as to the time of Sir Herbert Kitchener's arrival. Hoe had intimated that it was imperative that he should arrive in London on Thursday evening, and a delay en route might therefore curtail his stay at Dover to 4 very brief period. & projected banquet at the Town Hall had therefore to be abandoned for a lunch at the Lord Warden Hotel, and there was a grave doubt whether the Sirdar would be able to attend even this. But fortunately all went well, The French mail steamer was punctual, and so was the Channel steamer. At half.
two yesterday afternoon Sir Herbert itchener—Lord Khartoum as it is supposed he will soon be called—landed on the Pier at Dover amid. " demonstration of welcome such as no conquering hero has received in this country for many a year, The Sirdar has jocularly remarked that by regards the lionising which he is about to undergo as more formidable than another Battle of Omdurman; but he boro himself nevertheless with absolute self-control, albeit with all becoming modesty. At Victoria Station the crowds were so enormous that the police were quite unable to control them, and the platform was stormed. The Sirdar was, however, smuggled into the royal waiting room, and after he had exchanged greetings with the Princes and notabilities who had come to welcome him, he managed to slip away and escape the crowds gathered outside. All London will, however, have an opportunity of seeing and salating him during his triumphal progress to the city next Friday.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.