neasiness generally, in respect to personal
safety in railway travelling. In the first six months of the year,
according to parliamentary returns, one hundred persons were killed, and
an equal number more or less injured.

In September an interesting event occurred in connection with the memory
of the great national poet. In pursuance of the will of the deceased
owner, the house at Stratford-upon-Avon, popularly known as the
birthplace of Shakspere, was sold by public auction. When the writer of
these lines visited the place, the house had nothing very remarkable in
its appearance. It was old, of course, but did not look so venerable
as might be expected. It was situated in the High Street of the obscure
little town. It had been originally a mansion, but, at the date of its
sale, part had been removed and the rest was let in small tenements. It
was "knocked down," in auctioneers' phraseology, for the price of L3000,
the purchasers being a committee appointed by an association formed for
the purpose of obtaining possession of the building. The house was given
to the government in trust to be preserved as a public memorial of the
great man who first saw the light beneath its roof. This proceeding was
very creditable to the national feeling, for though no certain proof
exists that Shakspere was born there, still, as it was in possession of
his father before, at, and after the birth of the great dramatist, there
is probable ground for believing that it was his birthplace. It had been
purchased from the descendants of the original possessor for L250, by
the gentleman under whose will it was put up to auction.

During the autumn and winter, numerous disasters occurred at sea,
especially on the east coasts of England and Scotland. By these wrecks
many lives and much property were lost.

Few events in England excited such general interest among all classes as
the arrival of Jenny Lind, the celebrated vocalist and actress. She made
her first appearance at the Italian Opera House on the 4th of May, and
was received with an enthusiasm never before lavished on any performer:
during her stay in England this enthusiasm never abated.

Under the head of "General Home Incidents," seems hardly the most
suitable place to record the proceedings of the Hudson's Bay Arctic
Expedition. Yet, as it did not belong to the foreign or colonial affairs
of the country, and as the expedition had been determined upon and
ordered at home, this may be