College, yet, for all that, its £500 a-year should go to the best man.

WE learn that Sir James Martin has resigned his seat on the Senate of the University. The Ultra-Protestant majority of that irresponsible body will, possibly, take the opportunity of proving their loyalty to their convictions by electing Pastor Allen to the vacancy.

THOUGH War is on the cards, we still think that peace will be preserved; and should it be so, the credit will be as much due to Russia's moderation as to anything else. It is certainly humiliating to hear of the doings of the British Government, of the indifference paid by Europe to British views, and of the loss of prestige brought about by the vacillation and bounce of the Beaconsfield Cabinet. As the last Fortnightly to hand puts it- -" The Czar seeks the assent of Europe now to a settlement, which commended itself to him long before the court party, or the military party, or any other mysterious phantom of our alarmists, could have been flushed with victory,' or intoxicated with the insolence of success,' or otherwise driven out of the course of sound and justifiable policy." What Russia asks for no more than the due of her who alone among the nations ventured upon the invidious, but necessary, task of stamping out Ottoman misrule in Europe.

We think Mr. Hurley has fairly made out his case, and that no reasonable argument has yet been advanced against the opening of the Museum and Library on Sundays. Every visitor to Sydney must be struck by the unusually large number of young men of idle dissolute habits who congregate at the corners of the streets, to the annoyance of passers-by. What do

these young roughs do with themselves on the Sabbath? To listen to their language is enough to convince anyone that they never open a book, much less the Bible, and that they are subject to no softening or refining influence. How do they spend the Sabbath, we repeat? Surely it is worth while to endeavour, by offering them opportunities of harmless recreation, to lead them to higher and purer thoughts in connection with the day of rest. Then again, why cannot the public houses be closed absolutely. there anything to prevent it? Are the Government so weak that they dare not rigidly enforce the observance of the rule, because by so doing they would offend some of their supporters. Out upon such

Is

a puny administration! It is idle to talk about Sunday desecration in connection with museums and free libraries when the back doors of public houses are left ajar, and those whose business it is to watch over the morals of the citizens are content to wink at the scenes of intemperance which they know are going on under their noses.

THE Russians are coming, oh dear, oh dear! is now the cry. War alarmists have at last something tangible on which to hang their fears and surmises. A suspicious-looking stranger in the shape of a man-of-war has been seen cruising about in the vicinity of Bateman's Bay, no doubt on the look out for a landing place on our defenceless coast. Of course she is a Russian, and of course she is here on a warlike mission. Here is a sensational occurrence; it beats the burglar epidemic all to fits. The alarm is spreading fast. On Tuesday evening last the Ashfield band gave a performance at Croydon, and the sound of the drum was immediately connected with the Russian ship. We got into conversation with a gentleman the same evening, and he proved to us conclusively that this is just the sort of game the Russians have been playing for years and years. They care neither for treaties nor torpedoes, only territory and train oil. So we are in for it it seems, unless our gallant artillerymen can give a good account of the enemy. The mountain is in labour, and we wait anxiously to see what it will bring forth, with an uneasy feeling that the office of "Once a Week just the position to receive favours in the form of shells or cannon balls.

is in

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Victor.-"How Jack's mate paid the Doctor," in our next.

Isabel.-Your sketch is very nicely written, and the proprietors of a weekly paper would probably be glad to publish it. For ONCE A WEEK, and would require to be condensed, so that the essence only would appear in one short chapter, and this we have not time to do. We shall be happy to return the M.S.S.

Subscriber.-New subscribers desiring to have back numbers of ONCE A WEEK forwarded to them through the post, are requested to remit one penny extra for each number.

Several contributions held over.

OPINONS OF THE PRESS.

"SYDNEY ONCE A WEEK."—It is a neat, well-printed little pamphlet, containing twenty-four pages of reading matter. which consists of short original papers, written in a light free style, and of a few extracts from other publications. Its purpose is to give its readers "a good sixpennyworth of literary pabulum, composed of ingredients at once sparkling, amusing, and original, and so arranged as to avoid a suspicion of dulness.' Taken as a whole, the magazine, which is edited by Mr. C. H Barlee, is a very creditable production, as well to the publishers as to the authors, and if conducted according to the plan indicated in the few words above quoted, it will be an acceptable addition to our colonial literature.-S. M. Herald.

The Echo says:-It is a very readable publication, and, while it cannot aspire to rank as the equal of the most popular English magazines, it deserves to find favour on account of the local interest which attaches to its papers. The original papers, of which there are several, are written in a light, easy style, and with considerable ability. We should like to see the magazine prove to be a success, for the desirableness of building up a respectable colonial literature will hardly be denied by any one. and the establishment of a good magazine is one of the means towards that end. The publishers. Messrs. Gos, Shallard, and Co., are entitled to commendation for the admirable way in which they have got up the magazine.-Echo.

THE NEW MAGAZINE.-Sydney Once a Week Magazine for Town and Country Readers is the title of a new weekly, edited by Mr. C. H. Barlee, issued from the Sydney Press, which bids fair to secure a good share of public support. Its moderate price, its handiness, the entertaining reading it affords, and the concise, pleasing manner in which the various topics of the day are touched in its columns, must naturally render the Sydney Once a Week a welcome visitor in every house, and an agreeable ompanion to every reader.Southern Argus (Goulburn).

"SYDNEY ONCE A WEEK," a magazine bearing the above title, has made its appearance in our city. It is edited by Mr. Barlee, formerly a member of the literary staff of he Melbourne Argus, and a

humourist of some note. The work contains sketches, tales, and articles, along with the usual miscellanea of a magazine. Judging by the contents of the first number, we think the magazine stands a better chance of succeeding than many of those publications which are born but to die, and which, in some cases, are disgraceful to the literary efforts of our city. Evening News.

The Singleton Argus says:-The number is very readable, is well printed by Messrs. Gibbs, Shallard, and Co., and contains a varied selection of original and extract matter. We wish the proprietor every success with his venture, and trust that his efforts will do something more substantial to encourage a taste for colonial literature than those of others who have trodden in the same uncertain path, have succeeded in doing. We hail with pleasure all respectable efforts to establish a republic of letters in this colony, which at present is too much confined in its patronage to newspaper literature only. Mr. Barlee's venture is the best effort in this direction that we have seen for some time.

"ONCE A WEEK."-Under the title of Sydney Once a Week," the first number of a neatly got-up octavo of over thirty pages has just been issued. It is edited by Mr. C. H. Barlee, who is, we understand, assisted by a numerous staff of able contributors. The contents of this new publication are varied and interesting-too varied, in our opinion, for the space at the disposal of the editor. If we may be permitted to offer a suggestion with regard to the future, we would recommend that everything in the shape of "news" items should be omitted. We heartily wish the proprietors success in their undertaking, and certainly are of opinion that the excellence of "Once a Week" well deserves it. - Yass Courier.

THE Contents of the new venture give promise of a deserved success, should it ever be attained. There is an attractive variety about the articles, and the tastes of every class of readers are consulted. Thus we have a trenchant article, short and pithy, on the political status in quo, a couple of spirited domestic sketches, some comic matter, and some chapters especially intended for boys Among the last is a scholarly commentary on a passage from theParadise Lost"-intended for the use of University candidates-a elever set of