natural refuge, the poorhouse. Do not go out to Australia to become a nuisance and a pest there.” Then, in more forbearing language, I would amicably advise young men in England of mere clerical attainments, who can at best only hope to be bookkeepers or shop assistants, to think twice, nay thrice, before they travel thirteen thousand miles to find a country where the native youths equal, if they do not excel them in the ability demanded by the requirements of the counting-house and shop-counter.’ FOREIGN COMPETITION. Sir John Brown, of the well-known firm of John Brown & Co., has said that he ‘feared England had almost, if not altogether reached the summit of her prosperity, and that she must not again look for any material prosperity such as the last thirty or forty years had displayed.’ English trade was being nibbled right and left by Germany, Austria, Prussia, and the United States. Illustrating this, Sir John stated that his large ship-building Company at Hull had recently taken their supplies of steel plates from Germany at prices varying from ten shillings to twenty shillings per ton below the prices at which Sheffield could supply the material. The same was true of ship-building firms at Newcastle and other places. Notwithstanding the cost of carriage, rails were sent more cheaply from Germany, by Antwerp and the German Ocean, to Hull and Newcastle than they could be made in England. A process of cold-rolling is known only to certain French and American houses; and it is curious, but not altogether creditable to ourselves, that steel is sent to Paris to be cold-rolled, and is afterwards returned to this country. BONNIE DRYFE. Bonnie Dryfe, my native stream, I have loved thee lang and dearly, Glancing in the sunny beam, Glinting through the bracken clearly. Wayward, wandering, mountain bairn, Dancing down thy glen so grassy, Leaping light by cliff and cairn, Gleesome as a muirland lassie. Singing by the Roman moat, Neighbours ye’ve been lang together, Sadd’ning memories vex thee not, Lilting blithely through the heather. Seaward wandering, bright and free, Dreaming not of Old World story; Fallen empire’s nought to thee, Older thou than Roman glory. I have roamed by silver Tweed, Stately Clyde majestic rushing, Strayed where Highland rivers speed O’er their rocky channels gushing. Nane can sing a sang like thine, Nane can dance so light and airy, Nane can cheer this heart o’ mine Like thee, thou merry mountain fairy. WILLIAM GARDINER. * * * * * Printed and Published by W. & R. CHAMBERS, 47 Paternoster Row, LONDON, and 339 High Street, EDINBURGH. * * * * * _All Rights Reserved._