The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-16 00:00:00

THE ICE CARNIVAL AT MONTREAL.

The ice carnival closed at Montreal on Saturday '
with unexampled brilliancy (says the Evening
S.,:andard). The frozen palace, which had been reared
in fantastic splendour. was lit up with an array of
lamps, tlectric and others, and a final bouquet of
pyrotechnic devices lent the clear, chaste structure all
the warmth and variety of colour of recent sunsets.
Winters in Canada are colder than ours • but it must
be remembered that the cold is dry and healthful,
and more easily borne, all things considered. It is
essentially the enjorlble season of the year. that for
exhilarating ont-of•door pastimes, and nowhere is it
more enjoyable than at Montreal, which shares with
Q rebec the distinction of being the oldeat•looking,
most aristocratic, and picturesque of the cities of
North America. The sleighing and skating, the tobo-
ganning, and snow-shoeing, are just the class of exer-
ciee to expand the lungs, give freshness to the cheeks,
and set the appetite on edge. The fair sex can take
part in them as well as the stronger, which is one of
their great charms; and no prettier sight can be
lin/wined than the graceful damsels, the descendants of
the French settlers, wrapped in furs' careering along
in company with the more robust daughters of our
own nee. The theatre of this carnival, which drew so •
many Nidtors from the United States, is unparalleled
for its spaciousness. Lord Lansdowne appears to have
been right loyally greeted.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Sir W. Harcourt
contended that the question before the House was not one
of Mr. Bradlaugh, but of the right of the constituency oi
Northampton to be represented by two members- and Sir
S. Northcote having deprecated a division, the motion for a
new writ was agreed to.
THE VOTE OF CENSURE.
' Sr S. Northcote, in moving his Resolution :—" That the
House, having read the papers laid on the table by the
Government, is of opinion that the recent lamentable events
in the Soudan are due in a great measure to the vacillating
and inconsistent policy pursued by Her Majesty's Govbrn-
merit," reminded the House that it was not by disclaiming
responsibility that they could avoid responsibility, and
declared that he considered Her Majesty's Government
strictly responsible for the greater part of the proceedings
that had taken place throughout a great part of
the Soudan war. The power they had assumed in Egypt
made them deeply responsible, notwithstanding their dis-
claimers ; and, having assented to the Egyptian Government
sending General Hicks to the Soudan, it they were not pre-
pared to give the material assistance which was required,
they ought to have offered that counsel and advice to that
Government, which was.really in their hand. Their conduct
was not worthy of a British Government, andlit had involved
them in far greater responsibilities than any they could have
incurred by giving proper advice. He charged her Majesty's
Government with culpable neglect, hi mdeavouring to meet
a crisis by dawdling and proclaiming their irresponsibility.
Mr. Gladstone said he met the motion with an emphatic
negative. There had been no vacillation and no incon-
sistency in the policy of the Government, and the whole
argument of the Leader of the Opposition was not directed
A telegram to the Paris Monde from the Roman to supporting his motion, but to proving that the Govern-
Catholic Bishop of Tonquin states that a large number ment had adopted a wrong policy in regard to the question
of Cbrietians have been massacred. The Bishop appeals of the Soudan. The present situation in Egypt he traced
for help. He does not state where or when the back to the establishment of the Dual C intro' by the late
Government, and pointed out that in dealing with it
meta-acre s occurred. her Majesty's altaisters had selected the best instruments
A Vienna telegram says that, as a wedding party they could find for carrying out reforms and establishing
were crossing the ice on the river Theiz, near peace and security in Egypt, with, up to November last,
Domrad, on Monday, the ice broke, and thirty-five satisfactory r2sults. They had from the first absolutely de-
clined to aid the Egyptian Government, either materially or
people were drowned. by advice, in the reconquest of the Soudan; and after the
An influential meeting has been held in Bombay, at defeat of General Hicks no time was lost in enjoining that
the instance of the Chamber of Commerce there, at Government to evacuate the Soudan. General Gordon had
which it wart resolved to send a memorial to e?•en deFP4elled an a pacific mission, to effect the evacn-
Indian authorities urging the construction of from and the withdrawal of the 29,000 !ireops scattered over
the Sondem As to the garrison of Shnkat, it was impor.ible to
to 3000 maws of railway annually during the nest
have relieved it after the defeat of ker Pasha, bet Admiral
ten veara, Hewett had endeavoured to negotiate for its extrieatiea and

IM=l=l

bad failed. With the follettrrenCe (A General Gordon a t3rltM3
force had been ordered to Suakim to effect the relief of timi
garrison of Tokar. In cotictusion the right hon. gentleman
contended that the speech of the ;Leader of the Opposi•
Hon if it meant anything, meant a policy opposed alike to
prudence, to humanity, and to Justice; and he appealed not
merely to the indulgence, but to the sense of Justice of the
House for that acquittal which the Government felt they
were entitled to.

Lord It. Churchill observed that the right hon. gentleman
had mistaken the whole point of Sir S. Northcote's speech.
Reviewing in detail the policy which the Government had
pursued in Egypt, he declared that It was full of Inconsis-
tencies and vacillation to the last degree, and might be sum.
marised in the two words "too late.'

The discussion was continued by Sir G. Campbell and by
Mr. E. Stanhope, who) taunted the Government with per.
sistent evasion of the responsibility which they had incurred
and warned them that their callous indifference to the
sufferings of the unfortunate garrisons of the Soudan was
not shared by the country.
On the motion of Sir W. Lawson, the debate was ad-
journed.

Other business was disposed of, and the House adjourned
at Ave minutes put one.