had shut himself up in his study, and consulted the oracle:

"Pray, my dear little finger, pray tell me whether I shall join the seal
conference or no? Yes--no--yes--no": and so on.

He has said "yes" and "no" so many times that it looks as though he had
just come round to the pinkie again at "yes."

After stating that the end of the five years agreed on in Paris was time
enough to consider the seal question, his lordship has now sent word to
our ambassador that England will join the United States in a conference.
The conference is to be held about the same time as the other one, but
is to have no connection with it.

It seems a pity that England will not meet the Russian and Japanese
delegates, because they may have some interesting information to offer.
As we have said before, there was no question of discussing anything
else but the decrease of the seal herds, and Japan has expressly stated
that she will not enter into any other form of the subject.

It is, however, a point gained that England will discuss any part of the
question, and it is to be hoped that this decision is final, and that
Lord Salisbury may not set to work to recount his fingers, and make the
pinkie come to "no" again.

* * * * *

There seems to be a growing desire for independence in Canada.

The French Canadians of the Province of Quebec are urging the people to
demand complete independence from England. They have printed and
circulated an appeal to the people to rise and demand their liberty.

We told you some time ago about England's idea of federating her
colonies.

If this should be done, the mother country would have the right to
demand that the colonies should contribute to her wars, and help her,
and stand by her on all occasions. The federating of England and her
colonies would bind them together in much the same way that our United
States are bound together. They would be under one head and one
government, but each portion of the empire would take its share of the
profits and losses.

It is this which has roused the Canadians of Quebec.

Here is their complaint: "Canada, more securely chained, will be thrown
into the defensive and offensive politics of Great Britain. We will be
called upon to contribute toward the military and naval forces of that
country. We will have to give our money and our blood to defend the
interests of the noble lords who scorn us, the London merchants who
exploit us,