Queex Victoria's Birthday,

London, May 24. - The church bells are ringing merrily and flags are flying over England, Scotland, and Wales, and in the loyal sections of Ireland in honor of the queen's 79th birthday. By request of her majesty, however, all public celebrations have been dispensed wlth out of respect to the memory of Mr. Gladstone. The queen herself is at Balmoral, in company with Princess Beatrice and her granddaughter, Princess Henry of Pruss-ia, whose husband is now in command of the Germán squadron in Chinese waters. The usual large number of congratulatory messages were received during the day from the heads of almost every gwernment, as well as from all the foreign representatives at the court of St. James. The cabinet dinners and receptions whicti it is customary to hold in honor of the anniversary will not be given.