The finding, in a state of abject destitu- tion, forty one years after Trafalgar, of tho man who, with his own hands, hoisted Deleon's signal on board the Victory, is a pathetic little story. It was quite acci- dental, and through a medical man, then living in South London, the son of the sur- geon of another old Trafalgar man-o'-war, the Tonnant. The doctor, as he himself relates, bad a practice in the then respectable neighbourhood of Upper Stamford- street, Black friara, when one day, in the winter of 1816, something prompted him to take notice of "an old and broken-down man who made a scanty livelihood by crying watercress and red herrings through the streets." He had often seen the old man, who appeared to be a quick, sharp-witted old man, and had a gTeat reputation for sagacity among the lower class of neighbours. Becoming interested in him, the doctor in due course, had some inquiries made, during which a surprising fact came out "We discovered that be was an old sailor named John Roome, and that ho had served with Nelson at Trafalgar— in fact, that he was then a signalman on board the Victory. That led to further inquiries,and one day the old man was called indoors and questioned, with a view of seeing if anything could be done to better his position. "I at length," says the doctor, "took the opportunity of calling the man in, and then seating him before me, asked him : Who was the signal officer on board the Victory at Trafalgar 1 He replied : Mr. Pasoo, sir. Did you serve under him ? Yea. Who, then, hoisted the signal 'England expects every man to do his duty' 11 did. I bad felt somewhat prepared for this answer; still, as it was uttered I could scarce- ly refrain from a demonstration ,of reverenca towards the old embarrassed signalman, who sat uneasily before me."

Old Roome was then 63 years of age. Ha had been a seaman from his early youth, although be had served only three or four years in the Royal Navy. His intelligence and smartness as a lad got him rated A3, soon after entering the Navy, and then he became a signalman. After Trafalgar unfor- tunately he had deserted, ad the "K" (Run) against his name debarred him from pension. The case, however, was brought to the notice of Captain Pasco (Nelson's flag-lieutenant at Trafalgar), then filling the post of captain of the Victory, and be took up the cause of "my old shipmate," as be called Roome, warmly, and in the end so successfelly that be was able to get Roome admitted to Greenwich Hospital as in-pensioner for life. At Greenwich old Roome lived for thirteen years in comfort, and making a "good thing," we are told, out of the ' tips" given him by old naval officers and their friends. He died in December, 1860, in the same month that saw the launch of the first ironclad ever built for the British Navy, the Warrior.

Roome's discovery and arrival at Green- wich Hospital, it would appear from all accounts, was not received very warmly there. It spoiled a pretty little game that had been^going on for years, and' seriously affected a very profitable little business that Some of the Greenwich pensionera had long carried on at Greenwich in the neighbourhood of the Hospital, particularly with country visitors to the place, who were always asking to be shown "the man who hoisted Nelson's signal. The pensioners, we are told, were always ready, to oblige. Some "Greenwich canary"—as pensioners in disgrace for getting drunk on Sunday, who wore the punishment dress of a long, yellow coat with red sleeve*, in place of the ordinary dark wine uniform coat— was, it is on record, as a regular thing palmed off on the gaping visitors ss the very man. It wss added, to improve the occasion and draw more coppers, that the peculiar garb of the ' canaries," of whom there were always three or four to be seen about, was "worn as a special Admiralty privilege exclusively by men who had foughton board the Victory at Trafalgar!" It is on record furthermore, indeed, that some- times two or three of the "canaries" themselves would be showing people round at the same time, each touring his own little party of country visitors, and passing himself off as the one and only Trafalgar signalman in existence.

The British Cotton Growers' Association's exhibition of cotton grown within the limits of the British Empire was,-opened in Man chaster last week by the Lord Mayor. The exhibition includes a'l specimens which were displayed some time ago at the Imperial Institute, with many additions. There was on view Sea Island cotton from the West Indies tree cotton and Egyptian cotton from India Egypitian and American cotton from Eat Africa, and native and American cotton Iron West Africa. Mr. J. A. Hutton, vice president of the association, said visitor to the exhibi- tion could see for themselves the truth of the assertion that cotton suitable for Lancashire could be grown in the British Empire. The samples were taken from shipments represent . ing the production of thousands of acres. The bad already received this year over 4,0O0 bales from the West Indies, over 3,000 from West Africa, and ever 500 bales from east Africa representing a value of well over £100,000 Large shipment were coming in every week, and then was every reason to hope that before the end of the year we should have received over £200,O00 worth of cotton, every pound of which was due to the work of the association.

The Prince and Princess of Wales left Vic- toria on Thursday, last week, en route for India. The King and Queen and other members of the Royal family, as well as the more imme- diate friends of the Royal travellers, assembled to bid them God-speed, while the station I, approaches were lined with a large crowd I anxious to give them a hearty send-off. The train left the station amidst rousing cheers shortly before noon, and arrived at Dover boat 1.25, the departure for Calais being made a few minutes later. The Royal patty reached Genoa on Friday evening, where they embarked forthwith on H.M.S. Renown, which , is to convey them to India. f i The Renown is doe at Port Said at 8 a.m. on the 27th inst, and at Sues at the same time .on the 29th

Final instructions have now been received at Simla with regard to the Royal tour, and General Beatson will leave Simla shortly to complete the details of the reception of the Prince and Princess of Wales at different places. He will go first to the Khyber Pass, where he will superintend the arrangements in connexion with the Prince's inspection, and will then proceed to Lahore, Indore, and Bombay.

The recent rainfall has removed anxiety, I and preparations throughout India are pro-1 ceeding apace.

During their stay in the coutry the Royal travellers will have more duty than pleasure, bat owing to Lord Carton's splendid command of detail and his wonderful knowledge of the highways and byways, the Prince aDd Princess will travel easily and fare sumptuonsly, while all unnecessary fatigue will be avoided. The Royal train is a marvel of comfort, and is charmingly decorated. In arranging cere- monial visits and durbars the strictest regard has been paid to. the privileges of the native chiefs, and the local governments are heartily co-operating in assuring the success of the I functions.

A State ball will take place at Caloutta on January 4, and H.M.S. Renown -will leave | for Rangoon on January 10

The Prince of Wales has sent strict orders regarding the careful hobservance of the Sabbath, I and when their Royal Highnesses are travelling on that day the train will be stopped daring the time of Divine service.

During the tour every facility will be afforded to the representatives of the Press, Several of whom have already arrived.

Sir Clements R. Markham, late president of the Royal Geographical Society, last week inaugurated a course of geographical study Cambridge University, and gave instances of mistakes made by statesmen through lack of geographical knowledge.

It was on one occasion essential to the inte- rests of our country and of the natives of another that in settling a boundary a certain region should be kept within the British fron- tier. The matter came before a former Prime Minister, which, seeing that a meridian line on a map appeared to bring the region in question within the British frontier, decided that this imaginary line should form the boundary. He did not enquire whether the line was correctly placed, bat thought it was all right because it was on the map, just-aa the old woman thought a story was true because it was in print When the country came to be surveyed it was found that the chosen meridian did not give us the | required region, and much injury and embar- rassment were the consequence. No future Prime Minister, who had gone through a course of surveying and map-making at Cam bridge, could be guilty of snob a blander. Another illustration of the disastrous consequences of ignorance was afforded by the Foreign Office. Great Britain possesses a great dependency in the East, but on its coast there is a small district occupied by a foreign power about two miles in extent Absolutely useless to its possessor, it was a serious incon- venience to us because malefactors constantly escaped over the border, and could not be brought to justice. During the war this district was taken by us, and became part of oar great dependency. But when terms of peace were arranged our Minister for Foreign Affairs, in total ignorance of its position and of the importance of its retention, ceded it to the Power that had previously held it He did so thinking it was a small West Indian island of no consequence. Thus the incon- venience of the proper administration of the country was continued.

A much more recent instance of the urgent need that a knowledge of geography should it be possessed by oar raters was shown in the case of the Chumbi Valley, respecting which Sir Frank Young husband made a well considered treaty with the ruling lamas of Tibet Thin "excellent clause in the treaty was disallowed, and its adoption was censured at home because Ministers were ignorant of the position and history of the Chumbi Valley, and of the race to which its inhabitants belong. They thought it was in Tibet It has been occupied for some if years by aggressive lamas, bat is entirely or the Indian side of the Himalayas, wedged in between Sikkim and Bhutan, and the inha- bitants are not Tibetans. -This disastrons reversal of a wise and far seeing arrangement was, in the opinion of Sir Clements Markham? detrimental to the interests of our Indian Empire.

Established 1825.

Accumulated Funds £11,300,000

Bonus Year, 1905.

The next division of profits will be made amongst participating Policies in existence at 15th November 1905.

All With Profit Policies effected on or before that date will be entitled to share in the Division.

The Company have already declared Bonus Additions to Policies to the amount of more than Seven Million Sterling.

Head Office for Egypt: Sharia Kasr-el-Nil, Cairo.

B. Nathan & Cl, Chief Agents for Alexandria.

A. V. Thomson, Secretary for Egypt.

Captain L. 0. FitzM. Stack, Border Regiment Military and Private Secretary to I the Sirdar, has been given the local rank of Major whilst so employed.

The vacant majority in the King's Royal Rifle Corps has been filled by the promotion of Captain Richard Byron, D.S.O. Major Byron has had a variety of active service since he joined the "Green Jackets" in May, 1890. His first was in the Hazara Expedition, 1891, when he was a subaltern of the 1st Battalion, now at Cairo (medal with clasp), and the same year ho was in the Miaranzai Expedition, including the actions of Bangor and Mastan (clasp), and the following year it was farther service in the Isaui Expedition. Ha was orderly officer to Brigadier-General Kinloch in the Chitrail Relief Expedition, 1895, including the capture of the Malakaland Pass, and the engagement at Khar (medal with clasp). He was adjutant on the 9th Battalion (North Cork Rifles) in the late Boer War (mentioned in despatches, medal with four clasps, and D.S.0.)

It is stated that the Admiralty is about to make soma very important experiments with I motor-propelled torpedo boats and possibly ''destroyers." One of the drawbacks of these craft is the smoke and flame which belch forth from their funnel* when driven at fall power. This especially after night, when they are most useful, indicates their presence, and of coarse detracts from their striking powers. The ap- plication of a suitable motor would remedy this defect, whilst creating a new one, (or petrol is a ticklish cargo to carry in any dam of ship. It would be more so in a torpedo I boat Russians have experimented success- fully.

One of the best known cruisers in the fleet, the Calliope, presently moored in "Rotten Row,'' at Mother bank, will, it is believed, shortly change hands, as the Spanish Ad- miralty is negotiating for her purchase with I the view of using her as a training ship for naval cadets, a duty she long discharged in our own navy.. The name of the Calliope came into prominence whilst attached to the Pacific Squadron in 1889, by the gallantry and seamanship her skipper, Captain Kane, displayed in tho awful storm at Apia, Samoa Islands, in the March of that year. Captain Kane steamed out to sea in the teeth of the typhoon, and weathered it, whilst the German and Yankee ships, which remained in the har- bour, were blown ashore, or lost The staunch little cruiser which performed this deed was invariably an object of the keenest interest at the ports she visited during her training ser- vice and recruiting service. If only from a sentimental point if view, she should be retained in our fleet as a monument of the seamanship of her Irish captain and the im- plicit obedience of her crew in a crisis which called forth all that is brave and loyal. To I weather the storm her boilers were loaded practically to the bursting point.

HALLS "BOAR'S HEAD" BRAND.

Guinness's Foreign Extra Stout

Bass's India Pale Ale

T.B. HALL & Co. TRADE MARK. THE "BOAR'S HEAD" BRAND of ALE & STOUT. LIGHT SPARKLING PALE ALE.

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G. MARCUS & Co.

ALEXANDRIA, CAIRO and TANTA.

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Continental Hotel Buildings CAIRO.

St. David's Buildings, ALEXANDRIA,

and 35 - 37 Noble Street LONDON, E.C.

English Tailors, Drapers and Outfitters.

TRAVELLING REQUISITIES: COMPRESSED CANE TRUNKS. SOLID LEATHER OVERLAND TRUNKS. GLADSTONE & KIT BAGS. SUIT CASES, RUGS, &c.

ATHLETIC GOODS: A VARIED STOCK, INCLUDING Slazenger's Doherty "E.G.M." Demon. AND Ayre's Central Strung Racquets.

TENNIS BALLS FRESH SUPPLY WEEKLY.

BOOTS & SHOES.

All the newest shapes in the best English makes:—

BUCKSKIN TENNIS BOOT AT £1 A SPECIALITY.

Owing to the increased business in this Department a new Showroom has been fitted up where better attention can be given to Customers.

CLOTHS: The largest Stock in Egypt of Cloths of the best British Manufacture : TROPICAL TWEEDS, FLANNELS, DRILLS, & c., & c

All garments cut by experienced English cutters. Fit and style guaranteed.

GENTS' OUTFITTING: The newest Shades in Crepe de Chene Ties. Cellular, Oxford, Zephyr Shirts and Pyjamas in great variety.

Special Attention paid to Shirts Made to Measure.

HOSIERY AND UNDERCLOTHING IN THE BEST MAKES.

PANAMA, STRAW, & FELT HATS CORK & PITH HELMETS. CAPS.

HOUSEHOLD LINEN AT SPECIALLY CHEAP PRICES. TABLE CLOTHS, NAPKINS, SHEETS, AND PILLOW CASES. FLANNELETTES, VIYELLAS AND CEYLON FLANNELS.

SOAP, PERFUMERY, RUBBER SPONGES, BRUSHES, STUDS, MIRRORS (Hand & Shaving) FOUNTAIN PENS, &c., &c.

Davies Bryan & Co., Cairo & Alexandria.