The War—Aid To The Sick And Wounded.

A society in aid of the wounded of both nations has been formed at Brussels under the auspices of King Leopold IL , and the Queen of the Belgians . It is entitled " L'Association Beige de Secours aux Miiitaires Blesses Comite Central Montague

de FOratorie No . 7 , Bruxelles . " The society has already sent off surgeons , dressers , and nurses to both belligerents , and their appeal for further assistance is often renewed in the Independance Beige . Madame La Baronne de Crombrugghe de

Lovringhe is at the head of the ladies' committee , Dr . Henri Yon Holsbeck , the secretary general . Cheques can be sent to him . Donations of old sheeting ' , rags ( clean ) , bandages , sponges , spirits , & c , sewn up in strong canvas or matting , and

directed the " Jardiu Britanque Bruxelles , " will be most thankfully received . Each packet should have a red cross painted upon it , and be clearly directed to the above p lace , where the stores are situated . The London , Chatham , and Dover

Eaiiway carry parcels thus marked free of charge . The President of the German Association in Aid of the Wounded and Destitute in the War of 1870 , ac-¦ iiiOiVledges the receipt of a large sum of money , amounting to near £ " 30 . 000 . J . 11 . W . Von Schroder .

the chairman , of 1 S 5 , Leadenhall-street , writes as follows : — " Sir , —As President of the German Association in aid of the wounded and destitute in the war of 1870 , I have to acknowledge with much gratitude the receipt of very large and numerous donations ,

amounting up to this date to about £ 27 , 000 . But , large as is this sum , I fear the mass of human suffering and misery resulting from this dreadful war will demand larger , much larger aid then we are likely to have it iu our power to render , and consequently I

appeal with all earnestness , but with all confidence , for further liberal aid from the general community of ihis country . " I doing so I think it right to state that one member of our committee has since the outbreak of the

war been on the scene of operations to advise our committee as to the nature of the aid required , and in what direction it should be sent . " Already we have sent forward large supplies of all necessaries for the wounded- —bedding , blanketing , air and water cushions , lint , together with surgical

instruments , and an entire hospital , consisting oi 20 touts , each containing ton beds . Further we have distributed money where urgently needed , so that the effects of our work are already felt through all parts of Germany—in tho Ehine country , Baden , Wuriemberg , Bavaria , the Palatinate , & c . "To aid still further the judicious distribution of

The War—Aid To The Sick And Wounded.

our relief another member of our committee is on the point of starting on the same noble errand , and our earnest desire is to strengthen the hands of these gentlemen as much as lies in our power . " Already we have expended upwards of £ 18 , 000 , aud I am sure the English public will not allow our

efforts to flag for want of means , especially when they are assured that their bounty will not only relieve the anguish of the suffering Germans , but also the wounded of the enemy , of whom , through force of circumstances , so many have already passed into

German territory . " The German artists resident in this country have determined to hold an exhibition of oil paintings , water colour drawings , sculptures , sketches , & e . The proceeds from sales and admissions will be applied to

the relief of the widows and orphans of Germans killed in the war . Among the committee are the names of J . W . Bottomley , L . Cartar , Count Gleichen , Carl Haag , E . Hulludan , W . Kiimpel , G . Pope , W . Frantsehold , J . Wolf , and J . B . Zwecher . Herr Broemel , 4 , Harley-street , and T . J . Gulleeh , 39 , Old Bond-street , are the Secretaries .

English Gilds. *

ENGLISH GILDS . *

( Continued from page 165 . ) The French division of Dr . Brentano ' s essay , brings us to the consideration of the Craft-Gilds , whicli everywhere in the fourteenth and fifteenth century , either snatched the government of the

towns from the hands of the Oldburgher Gilds , or at least obtained a share in it by the side of those Gilds , and the ori g in of which has been the subject of considerable controversy . In spite of the absolutel y independent origin and

development of the handicrafts in the Germanic states of the Middle Ages , and in spite of their character being entirely different to that of the Eomans , some authors , finding in the Eoman collegia opifcum institutions which may in some degree be

compared to the Craft-Gilds , have derived from them the unions of the handicraftsmen that sprung up with the handicrafts . But this view needs rather to be proved historically by its adherents , than to be refuted b y its opponents . It would be

much more probable that the Craft-Gilds descended from the companies into which , in episcopal and royal towns , the bond-handicraftsmen of the same trade were ranged under the superintendence of an official , or that they took their origin from