It is said that the Cubans have been concentrating their forces in and around Havana Province for some time past, and that the troops who served under General Rivera, some 7,000 men in all, are waiting in Pinar del Rio until Gomez gives them the signal to join him. Pinar del Rio is at the west of Havana Province. In Matanzas, at the east of Havana, more insurgents are said to be gathered. It looks as if the Cubans were really closing in on Havana for a definite purpose. Spain is trying to raise a new loan to meet the cost of the wars in Cuba and the Philippine Islands. There is a report that the health of General Rivera is failing. It is said that, for want of proper care, his wounds are not healing, and that he is suffering a great deal from them. Senator Morgan's bill for recognizing the belligerency of Cuba has been debated in the Senate. No progress has been made with it, however. Some of the Senators spoke very warmly in its favor, and reminded the Senate of the time when we, too, were struggling for our liberty, and needed and obtained the support of other countries. Other Senators tried to get rid of the bill by sending it to the Committee on Foreign Relations, which would mean a long delay before it could be brought to a vote. The chances are that nothing definite will be done for the present, and that the Cubans will not receive any help from the United States. The Navy Department has refused to send any more vessels to patrol the seas for filibusters. There are now three ships detailed for that duty, and more have been asked for. Mr. Long, the Secretary of the Navy, says that he thinks three are plenty, that the rainy season is at hand, and very little fighting will be done in Cuba after it once sets in. * * * * * The death of the Duke d'Aumale has just been announced. This gentleman was a personage of very great interest to Europeans. He was the fourth son of Louis Philippe--the King of France who was deposed in 1848. The Duke d'Aumale was trained to be a soldier. He loved his profession, and made great progress in it, winning honors for himself when but a lad of nineteen. The French people idolized him, and declared that he would some day be to France what Wellington was to England. His father was then King, and the Duke induced the King to send him on active service, and for six years he was in various campaigns, always distinguishing himself for his bravery and soldierly qualities. At the end of this time there was a revolution in France. The King was deposed, a second republic declared, and the whole Orleans family exiled. The King and the princes went to England, and purchased some fine property near London, at a place called Twickenham. Here the Duke lived, devoting himself to literature and study.