than one instance forgery had been resorted to, in order to fasten guilt on the unfortunate man.

The second matter which excited the Parisians was the appearance in the columns of the Figaro of the assertion of several experts that the handwriting of the bordereau was not that of Dreyfus, and of the evidence of several trustworthy witnesses who stated that even at the very moment when he was degraded Dreyfus had protested that he was innocent.

In addition to this Captain Cuignet, an aide-decamp at the office of the Minister of War, who was employed to classify and arrange the papers in the Dreyfus Case, testified that one of the main documents used against Dreyfus was a forgery which had been made by Colonel Henry under the order of Colonel Du Paty de Clam. He stated that he saw the original telegram and later the version which was given to the authorities. A member of the courtmartial also stated that it was on this evidence produced by Colonel Henry that Dreyfus was condemned. It is positively asserted that Esterhazy was the man who wrote the bordereau. Handwriting experts declare it to be in his handwriting, and reliable witnesses declare that Esterhazy confessed that he had written it by order of his superior officers.

It is rumored in Paris that the evidence of the Court of Cassation was obtained through Premier Dupuy, who, while he did not actually himself give the information, allowed it to become known through the daughter of one of the members of the Cabinet.

M. Dupuy, it is said, has realized the utter weak

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ness of the case against Dreyfus, and expects sooner or later to be called upon to set him at liberty. He is therefore anxious that the public shall thoroughly understand the grounds on which the application for release will be made.

The Mazet Committee has adjourned for a couple of weeks to enable the members to file their preliminary reports in Albany before the session closes, and also to ask for an extension of time, and larger powers.

The Mazet Committee.

Mr. Mazet stated to the Assembly that the Committee had found so much work to do, so many channels into which the investigators would like to turn, that it would be impossible for the work to be concluded in any given time.

After considerable argument it was determined to allow the Commission to remain in session during the year, and report to the Assembly at the next session, which will be held in February, 1900.

In regard to obtaining more power for the Committee, permission was granted to the investigators to include the county offices in their investigations. The District Attorney's office and every department under the control of Tammany can now be investigated under this new ruling.

One angry Democratic Assemblyman wanted the alleged dark and devious doings of Mr. Thomas C. Platt, the Republican "boss," investigated, as well as the mysterious sources from which Mr. Croker, the Democratic "boss" and Tammany chieftain, derives his wealth. Mr. Mazet replied that if anyone would

make a charge against Mr. Platt, he would be only too happy to investigate his case.

A number of police officers were called before the Committee before it adjourned, in the hope of discovering the truth about the fund which it was alleged had been raised to defeat the police bill in Albany.

No results were achieved. Either there is no truth in the assertion, or else the police officers had been so well drilled that they knew exactly what to say, and what to leave unsaid.

Mr. Richard Croker has been excused by the Committee until August 29, and sailed for England on Wednesday last to keep his racing engagements there.

Our Ambassador in Rome, Hon. William F. Draper, did some excellent work in arranging for an extension of the time allowed to the United Italy and the Cerutti States of Colombia for the payment of the Cerutti claim.

Claim.

This was a claim which grew out of the political disturbances in the Republic of Colombia, South America, in 1885. Signor Cerutti, an Italian citizen was in business in that country under the name of E. Cerutti & Co., and owing to one of those upheavals which are constantly menacing the governments of the South American Republics, his property was confiscated and his business was ruined.

Signor Cerutti appealed to his government, and a claim was put in for damages. The case was submitted to arbitration, and, to begin with, Spain was asked to decide the knotty point. Her award was not satisfactory, however, and the governments of

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Italy and Colombia decided to submit the matter to the then President of the United States, Grover Cleveland. He decided that Colombia must pay $300,000 to Italy.

Colombia was not any too pleased with Mr. Cleveland's decision, but having agreed to abide by it, paid something on account of the $300,000 he had awarded to Signor Cerutti.

When the time for the next payment arrived Colombia absolutely refused to make it, and after some delay Italy sent a warship to Cartagena (Kar-tah-haynah), Colombia, to demand her money at the cannon's mouth. Frightened into submission, Colombia agreed to carry out the full terms of the Cleveland award, and the storm blew over for a time.

A few days ago the whole trouble was revived by a request from Colombia that Italy would not press the South American Republic for payment, but would grant her three months' grace in which to meet the obligation.

The date set for payment was April 13, and when the Italian government received the request there was the most intense indignation. Italy refused emphatically to grant an extension

It was at this moment that our Ambassador did excellent work.

He endeavored to plead the cause of Colombia, but found that Italy suspected the United States of backing up the rebellious Republic, and that she was not willing to allow our interference.

With excellent tact Mr. Draper showed the Italian government that we had not the remotest intention