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ACROSS THE OCEAN

OUR FOREIGN LETTER-BRITISH PARLIAMENT AND DIGNITARIES

The Adjournment of the Session--Tourists Returning Across the Briny--Theatres of London Open For the Year--Criticism of the Great Naval Parade.

Special Correspondence of the Sunday Register

LONDON, August 17--The Houses of Parliament have closed for this session, and the law givers of England have left the city on their summer vacations. The heat of Juner and July does not bother the members, as their working hours are at night, between eight and three o'clock, and sometimes business extends until breakfast hours.

The ocean steamers are over-crowded this summer, and the unfortunate American visiting in Europe who fails to purchase a round-trip ticket when he starts on his journey, finds when looking for his return passage that rates have materially advanced. The ship owners can hardly be blamed for their doing, as it is business. "If you would a tourist he, you must pay for the sights you see."

The theatres of London are open the year round and large audiences are a rule. A number of the plays now on the boards contain scenes and acting of interest to Americans The enterprising manager are aware that a great deal of their patronage at this season of the year is derived from the "Yankees" and they are on the alert. One abominable feature of attending

THEATRES IN LONDON

is that you have to pay for the programmes of the plays. An American would laugh if he were asked to pay four cents at a home theater for a simple piece of paper containing the names of the players and their parts. It is little things like this here and there that disgusts the average visitor. You can't ask a question or occupy a vacant seat in some of the places of public congregations without felling someone. Even if you take a dinner for a quarter, the waiter (who is paid by the day: expects a few cents from you.

The papers of the United States are prone to praise the navy of England and say sarcastic things regarding the several ron-clads of which the United States possesses. The press of London (at least part of it) does not think the British navy is what it is reputed. The Fall Mall Gazette, speaking of the matter, says in substance Suppose the mimic battle manoeuvres Her Majesty has been having had been real ones, wouldn't the navy have made a very bad showing Three boats were disabled from petty causes.

TWO IRON-CLADS COLLIDED,

and a gun burst on one of the ships, and the two weeks' work of sham action almost worried the members of the boats to death. This when Victoria's navy playing, what when it is in real service?

There is hardly a person who is acquainted with London but who knows the section called "Petticoat [word?]." Tea Hebrews continue to swarm at this place, and the money made by them in business is something great to contemplate. A $50,000 annual income is twenty times more numerous among the London Jews that the rest of the population The Hebrews in question are noted for their fine appearance and healthfulness. Their wealth has always been traditional. These people close their shops on Saturday to observe the Sabbath, but on Sunday everything is on in full tilt again.

Brighton is the resort of the aristocratic English people, and that place is at present entertaining several thousand Londoners each day. The city is about fifty miles from London and fast trains convey passengers there and back at all hours of the day. Brighton has an elegant beach, but there is not a tree along it. How much pleasanter it would be to have

A SHADY RETREAT

at intervals rather than the hot rays of "old Sol" continually. Margate, down the Thames river and Lemington, between London and Liverpool, are also summer resorts. There is more "jolly, good fun" at Margate than either of the places.

Although one or two attempts have been made to stop "Buffalo Bill" on the ground that it is a nuisance to the residents near-by, the energetic showman still holds sway. The American exhibition is in the same grounds as the Will West and is a miserable failure, and it is my candid opinion that if it wasn't for the Indian and Cow boy show the American exhibition given at Manchester, England, as present, is a good one, and although it is a local, display, it vies well with the Great World's Show held in New Orleans in 1831 85- DICKENS