Our Weekly Budget

of flowers and fruit of every descrip tion . Madrono Liebhart , iu order to make lier concerts as attractive as possible , resolved on inviting our leading horticulturists to entci into competition with one another , prizes to the amount oi three hundred pounds being the inducement she held out

to them . The response was very hearty ou their part , and among thoso who were rewarded for their pains were Messrs . Dick RadclyfTe and Co ., Mr . J . Wills , of Pimlico , aud Mr . B . S . Williams , of Holloway . Wo have already drawn attention to the taste and skill of Messrs . RadclyfTe

and Co . in tho art of Moral decoration , and in the excellence of their garden appliances and fittings . It is , therefore , with the greater pleasure wo refer to tho display made ou this occasion , and tho many prizes awarded to them . They have been adjudged the second prize for

" Artificial Flowers , " class 5 ; first prize for " Best Specimen Fountain , " class 6 ; first prize for " Best Stand of Garden Seats and Chairs , " class 10 ; second prize for "Fountains , Vases , Tiles , and Garden Ornaments , " class 11 ; and first prize for " Best Stall of Garden Tools and

Appliances , " class 12 . The value of theso decorations is estimated afc £ 10 , 000 , and we dotibfc nofc the public will show their appreciation of the lady ' s enterprise by liberall y supporting her . Tho programme on Tuesday included the British Army Quadrilles , by tho late M .

Jullien , and the opportunity was taken of introducing four military bands , which played the French , German , Russian , and Turkish National Anthems , each band being attired in the costume of the country whose hymn it "was charged "with playing . Among the vocalists engaged by Madame

Liebharfc are Madame Edith Wynne , Miss Annie Sinclair , Madame Antoinette Stirling , Madame Anna Bishop , and Miss Julia Elton ; Messrs . George Perren , Yernon Rigby , Lewis Thomas , Maybrick , and W . H . Cummings . Among the solo , instrumentalists are Signor Tito Mattei , Miss Lizzie

Albrecht , and Mr . W . Ganz ( pianoforte ) , Mr . John Cheshire ( harp ) , Mdlle . Bertha Brousil ( violin ) , Miss Frances Thomas ( clarionet ) , and Mr . T . Harper ( trumpet ) . The directors , "who will , of course , wield the baton on different evenings , are Sir Julius Benedict , Mr . W . Ganz , Mr . G . B . Allen ,

and Mr . F . Kingsbury . Another admirable entertainment , which we have taken the opportunity of enjoying on more than ono occasion lately , is that given by the Mohawk Minstrels , who havo had their head quarters in the large Concert Hall of the Agricultural Hall for upwards of four years , and whose singing , both sentimental and comic , is

deli ghtful . Tlie Mansion House Relief Fund is progressing famously , Some £ 55 , 000 had been promised up to Wednesday , of which £ 45 , 000 has alread y been transmitted to Madras , and additional contributions are pouring in daily . Among the latest subscribers are the Earl of Pembroke and

Montgomery £ 500 , Messrs . Watney and Co . £ 105 , Messrs . W . and A . Gilbey £ 105 , Mr . and Mrs . Bazley £ 100 , the London and County Bank £ 105 , the Ironmongers' Company £ 100 , and Messrs . Charrington , Head , and Co . £ 100 . At the Meeting of Grand Lodge , on Wednesday next , Bro .

J . M . Clabon will move that a grant be made towards this relief fund of a thousand guineas , and we hope the motion "will be carried with acclamation . Famine is one of the direst calamities which can befal a nation , and to assist sufferers by such visitation is a duty we owe to humanity .

The Cricket season proper is nearly over , the last great County matches having been played this week . Kent , which , thanks to the energy of its captain , Lord Harris , has risen to something like its former position , has been more fortunate this year than usual , and has scored more

than one considerable victory . We remember the timeit is unfortunatel y a good many years ago—when the match between Kent and England was about the principal cricket event in the year , but that was in the days when Fuller Pilch , Alfred Mynn , Felix , Martingell met old John

Lillywhite , Box , Guy , Parr , and others of equal calibre . There was not so much fuss made about the jnime as nowa-days , but thero was magnificent science displayed . There were fewer visitors to Lord ' s or the Oval , but those who went en ' oved a groat treat . Then Kent headed the list of

Counties , a position she may Lope to recover with so hardworking a chief as now presides over her destinies . Her career this year is concluded with a brilliant one-innings victory over Notts . Gloucestershire , which stands where

once Kent stood , at the ton of the list , has won its Inst match with Sussex by eight wickets . It was sharp work , for the Western County had 52 runs to make , and only three-quarters of an hour to make them in ; bat tho feat

Our Weekly Budget

was accomplished , Dr . E . M . Grace making It ) , and his brother , the champion , carrying his bat out for 25 , the other not out being Mr . Gilbert . Mr . G . F . Grace was c . and b . Lillywhite for 0 . Several of the South Coast Regattas have been held this week , among them

Weymouth and Hastings . At the latter , tho sea was so rough that in one of the sailing- matches some of the boats got into the surf and were capsized , and the last four-oared race had to bo left out of the programme , as it would havo been dangerous for the boats to put out in such rough weather .

Several meetings , political , scientific , and other , have been held , within the last few days . On Tuesday , for instance , thero was a grand Liberal demonstration at Bradford , the opening of a new Liberal Club-house affording the

opportunity for tho gathering . Earl Granville presided at the interesting ceremony , and his speech , and one by Mr . W . E . Forster , created a very favourable impression among the audience . Several other Members of Parliament and

prominent politicians wero present . Then tho opening meeting of the annual Congress of tho British Archaeological Association was held on Monday , at Llangollen , Sir Watkin W . Wynn , Bart . M . P ., who is the President for the year , occupying tho chair . On Tuesday , the annual mcetine ; of the Institution of Naval Architects was

opened in the Corporation Galleries , Glasgow , the address being delivered by Lord Hampton the President . Mr . Reed M . P ., Mr . Samuda M . P ., Mr . Scotfc Russell , and others interested in naval architecture were present , and took part in the proceedings .

We are glad to see thafc the magistrates are mefcing out severe punishment to tho brutes who maltreat their wives . Two such cases were recorded in the morning papers on Thursday . In one , a labourer of the name of Knight

struck his wife in the face , knocking her down , and then jumped on her face twice , the result being a pair of black eyes , and several bruises caused by the brute ' s heavy hobnailed boots . Mr . Mansfield sentenced the fellow to six

months' hard labour . The other case occurred in tho eastern part of London . A labourer named Wright , aged 50 , assaulted his wife so severely as to render her insensible for a long time , and Mr . de Rutzen very properly condemned him to six months' hard labour , and at

the expiration of that period to find one surety of £ 10 to keep the peace for a further six months . If it had been possible for the magistrates to have added a dose of cat in both cases we do not think many people would have regretted it .

We must go back to the clays of the great American Civil War , to the time when McClellan led the northern host against the Confederates at York Town , and after

seven days' fighting had to take shelter under the guns of his fleet , for a parallel to the fighting which has been going on in the Shipka Pass during the last ten days in August . Suleiman Pacha is determined to either cut off the Russians

and compel their surrender or exterminate them , and though the latter still hold out , it is by no means unlikely the Turk may accomplish his purpose . The loss on both

sides must be very terrible . The Russians acknowledge to close on three thousand wounded , who have been sent to the rear ; and the Turks speak of having buried another three thousand dead . What the Turkish "butcher ' s bill "

amounts to we have not heard ; but as Suleiman has been the assailant during the greater part of the fighting , it must be a formidable one . It is becoming daily more and more apparent that the Russians have their work cut out for them , and can with difficulty maintain themselves .

As for marching on Constantinople , that , according to every account we have read , seems onfc of question during the present campaign . The Imperial Guard and the other

reinforcements which have been ordered up to the scene of war arrive but slowly , and it may be another fortnight before the Grand Duke is able to resume the offensive , even if he be able to do so then . And when he does think himself

strong enough to move , he will find probably that the Turks aro equal to him in point of numbers , for reinforcements pour info Constantinople daily ; while as to their fighting powers , both offensive and defensive , when led by such in en as Osman and Suleiman Pachas , the Grand Duke

lias learnt too well , to his cost , afc Plevna and in the Shipka Pass . Again , Me cmet Ali , who is said to be'in command of over 100 , 000 men , has defeated a Russian force on tho Lorn . Indeed , everywhere where there has been fighting in Bulgaria the Russians appear to have been

getting the worst of ifc . It is quite ou the cards that eyery