The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-12-30 00:00:00

RETROSPECT

THE YEAR 1871.

'l'he year 1071 has loon in litany respects a remark-
able one, and if net mernentous so far as cur own
w lot mein. crable on many
country is concerned,
=events its the following retrospect of its leading
features will show.
At the commencement of the year Her Majesey
and Kollle of the younger members ccf the Royal family
were staying at Osborne. On the 7th of February
the Court removed to Windsor. The Queen left the
Castle cm Menclay the 20th of February, for Bucking-
hem palice, where Her Majesty stayed Blithe following
Friday, and then returned to Windsor, having on the
intervening Tuesday held a Court at the Palace. On
the 16th of March, the annivereary of the death of the
Duchess of Kent, the Queen and Royal Family visited
the Duchess's Mausoleum at Free-more. On the 30th,
Her Majesty held another Court at Buckingham
Palace. On the 6th of April the Queen left Windsor
for Osborne, and on the lot of May returned to Wind-
sor. At the beginning of May Her Majesty spent a
few days in London, and on the 17th of that month,
incompanied by Princess Beatrice and Prince Leopold,
left ‘v incisor for BahnoraL Here the Royal birthday
was celebrated by a ball and supper, the Queen, the
Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Leopold, the Princess
Beatrice, and the ladies and gentlemen of the Court
Icing present, the moot muneroue guests being the
thcyal tenantry. On the 20th of June the Sovereign
returned to Windeor ; on the following day she
opened St. Thomas's Hospital on the Thames Em-
bankment ; and on the 22nd she gave a garden party
at Buckingham Palace:. On the 30th ef that month the
Queen reviewed the Household Troops at Bushey
Park. On the sth of July a royal visit was paid to
the Emperor of Brazil at Claridge's Hetet clideu,
during which the Order of the Garter was conferred
upon hire. On the 7th the Queen attended a garden
party given by the Prince and Princess of Waite at
Chiswick : and on the 10th her Majesty reviewed the
troops at Aldershot. On the 12th ehe left Windsor
for Oeborne, where she held a Council on the 27th.
On the Irith of August the Queen left her marine re,i-
&nee for Bahuoral, where, owing to illness, she I.
a longer stay than she had intended. Favout,. e•
accounts of the health of her Majesty were, howev
at length received, and on the 30th of November she
was welcomed back to Windsor, from whence she pro-
ceeded to Sandringham, to v isit the Prince cif Wales,
then lying seriously ill. Her Majesty remained at
Sandringham during the dangerous illness of the
Prince, together with several members of the thiyal
family, and on the leth ef December returned to
Windsor, intending to spend Christmas at the Castle.
The Prince of Wales held a leve,e at St. James's
Palace, on the 20th ccf April. On the 10th of July the
Prince and Princess left London for Germany, to
recruit the health of the latter, which had been very
delicate for some time previously. His Royal High-
ness speedily returned to England, leaving the Prin-
cess, whose health gradually improved. In August
the Prince of Wales and Prince Arthur, together with
the Princess Louie: and the Marquis of Lorne, peid
sleet visit to Ireland, where they were enthusiastically
received. On the 9th of the month the Prince of Wales
left London to join the Princese in Germany, return-
ing to Marlborough House on the sth of September.
The Prineeee arrived at the some place from the Con-
tinent on the 24th, and early in Oetober they paid a
brief visit to her Majesty at Balmoral. subsequently
going to Sandringham. The Prince had intended to
pee a visit to the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh towards
the end of November, but the v ieit could not take
place owing to an attack of typhoid fever which, it was
muectmced on the 22nd, confined him to his room.
Scscu afterwards the malady beoame very serioue, and
bulletins were issued twice it clay. The course of the
disease, however, was very favonrable. and on the Oh
of December it was announced that "there lea regular
ti-ugh gradual decline in the symptoms." The tele-
grams regarding the condition of the Prince had for
,cuce time been more or less favourable, and at 10 p.m.
en Thursday, the 7th of December, his physicians
announced "It is not necessary to issue another bulletin
this evening." Ent on the following morning the sad
intelligence was flashed by the telegraph that the Prince
had passed an unquiet night, end that there was con-
siderable increase in the febrile symptoms. From that
element the deep feeling and anxiety of the public
were painfully manifested throughout the country ;
the funds fell ; business was seriously affected ; and
the elle absorbing subject occupied almost exclusively
the mind and heart of the nation. 1-1, to the 14th of
December the public anxiety was intense, that being
the date on which the Prince's father died in 1561, and
the illutrione son having for many days having been
:feet aim miegly ill. But on that very day a decided
nerevement in the condition of the Prince was an-
neunced ; on the 15th and 16th further improvement
was telegraphed; yet further progress was selee-
, ccc etly tee tified ; on the list it was announced that
his strength gradually invert-a ; and at the time of
cecil vt this Retrospeet (the 26th inst.), there legeed
el,' for hope that the nation's brighteet hopes will

1..A1y in the year great preparations were made at
IViLd-or for the approaching marriage of the Princess
Louie with the Marquis of Lorne, eon of the Duke
of Ao„ryll. The announcement of the royal sanction
had given great satisfaction to the Queen's subjects.
On the 10th f February, the anniversary 14 Iler
Majesty's own marriage, the Queen sent a message to
Parliament, inviting the Legislature to take into con-
sideration a fitting dowry for the Princess. There had
been in some quarters a manifestation of displeasure
at voting any public money for ouch a purpose, but
the House of Commons cheerfully voted the same
dowry as the other Princesses, the Princess Royal ex-
cepted, had received. The marriage took place in the
(lapel Royal of Windsor, on Tuesday the 21st of
March. The chapel presented a brilliant appearance,
_

being crowded with members of the Royal Family
and favoured members of the aristocracy, her Majesty
being prominent among the number. After the cere-
mony there was a grand wedding breakfast at the
Castle, and then the bride and bridegroom drove
through the town en rode for Claremont, which
hii.d been prepared for them as a residence.
Among the presents made on the occasion of the mar-
riage were, for the Princess, a splendid Bible n
morocco, with gold mountings, from the maidens of
EnAand ; a diamond bracelet from the inhabitants of
Windsor ; and a necklace from the Balmoral tenantry;
while the Marquis received a silver table-decoration
from the county gentlemen f Argyleshire, and two
stmilard gold brooches from the officers of the 91st
Ar.ryleshire Highlanders. Several splendid presents
were also made by members f the royal and ducal
fandlies, by the bridesmaids, members of the Queen's
household,

During the session a section of the British public
manifested considerable dissatisfaction at the proposal
to glt e l'rince Arthur an all..wance of f 15,000 is year,
but the malcontents gained no Byrnpatily from the
great mass of the people, and the grant was made as a
matter of course. There had' been similar antagonism
to the dowry of the Princess Louise, hut with a like
reglllt, and we may here mention, as a fair deduction
from innumerable fats, that the Boyal family
h., during, the year gained increased affection frost
11 I:yal nation.

The public mind has been more or less excited at
cart its periods during the year by the agitation of
Pepub!leans, and by the movements of the Inter-
national Amociation. In London, Birmingham, and
other towns, meetings have been held and reso-
lutions of an extreme character have been paused.
Sir Charles Mike considerably added to this uneasiness
by a ,pceeh lie made at Newcastle, in which he
el:J.,rutely attacked the monarchical sy6tem and the
.penes of tout functionaries. The speech created
great excitement, and on several occasions when he
again attempted to address an audience there were
scenes of riot and disoril.T.
The firstof aseries of annosl International Exhibitions
NVILA opened in the metroqt .Ls on the lot of May by the
Prince of Wales. It comprised four grand divisions
the tine arts, woollen and wonted fabrics, educational
appliances, and machinery in motion. The war cast its
black shadow over the preparations for the Exhibition,
and even over the opening ceremony, end for a con-

eiderable period the public did not take a deep interest
in the great intentional chow, but by degrees it ac-
quired more popularity, and towards the eloce eight or
ten thousand percons a day s 'sited it. in connection
with the International ExhiLition. rray I,e mentioned
theopening of the Royal Albert 1611, by her Mrs.jesty,
—., , .

on the 2'Jth of March. the Queen was attenchsehy a
splendid retinue' with all the pomp and pageantry of
State ceremonial, which in our unolermaistrative nation
so rarely to be witnessed. The Prince of Wales as
President ,f the Provisional Committee of the Albert
Hall, read an address to her Majesty, to which the
Ipie.o appended a written reply, adding verbally, " I
Isvllll,ll pleasure in expressing my admiration for
t!,i+ 10-autiful hall ant zny earneet wishes for its cone
.pbte ~leecs," The hall is generally admired as one of
the tined, in the kingdom, and has been frequently
us, I duriler the mummer and autunin for grand
concerts.

The se4sien Wa,..4 opened by Ifer Majesty in person,
Sr 'no 9th of February, the Queen 'N speech
1..41'4 read by the Lord Chancellor, The chief
features ot the session are the lengthy debates
on the Army Bill, and its final acceptance in a
modified form IT the house of Lords, as well as the
long diocuasions in the Commons on the Ilallot ThU
and its rejection IT the Upper House, on the ground
that it came to them tA.I. late to consider so important
a measure. Great complaints were made about its
being a" barren se-in," bat there were no less than
117 laws passed nevertheles+. We OM but note a few
of the more important f these. To make provision
for bank holidays ; to empower the Lord-Lieutenant
of Ireland to apprehend versons suspected of belonging
to the Ribbon Society (the WeAucath Act) ; to alter
the law relative to tests at ()shirt, Cambridge, and
Durham ; to amend the law relating to trades unions ;
to amend the Criminal Law ; to amend the Burial
Acts; to amend the law relating to the Tables of

Lessons and the Palter; to enable clergymen to resign
their benefices; to repeal the Ecclesiastical Titles Act;
to constitute a Local Government Board; to protect
the Goods of Lodgers against distraint; to amend
Charles the Second's Sunday Observance Act; to
restrict the granting of public-house licenses for a
limited time; and the Army Regulation Bill, including
the abolition of the purchase system. Parliament was
prorogued by commission on the ?Ist of August.
The twelfth annual gathering of the National Rine
Association at Wintbledm, passed off very satisfac-
torily, the Prince Imperial of Prussia, Prime Edward
of Saxe-Weimar, Earl Duck, Earl Spencer, and other
distinguished persona axsiging at the contest for
honours. The prises were distributed on the 22nd of
July, by the Princess Louise, accompanied by the
Marquis of Lorne, Prinee Arthur, kc. The Queen's
prise was presented to Ensign Humphrey, of Cam-
bridge Univerdty ; the Elcho chailtar4e shield t 4., the
English " team," headed by Mr. Wells. After this
ceremony, there were a review and sham tight, under
the command of General Sir Richard Airey.

The loss of the M. fide./ troopship demands special
mention. This iron-plated steamer, it is said, was
put to sea in a very unsafe condition. She was found
to leak, and all attempts to stop the leak having
failed, Capt. Thrupp determined to run her on the
nearest shore, then 1,000 miles distant. She was ac-
cordingly run aground on the 19th June, on the island
of St. Paul, in the South Pacific. The captain and
crew here endured great hardships. On their ultimate
return they were court-undialled and honourably ac-
quitted. Subsequently a Royal Commission was
appointed to make full inquiries into the official
history and condition of the vessel, which commission
has not yet completed its investigations. AN a kindred
item, we may notice the stranding of the Minna/et on
the Pearl Rock, near Gibraltar, respecting which an
otlicial inquiry was made.
The year has been specially remarkable for the
number of disputes between employers and employed.
The larger proportion of these disputes has ari-en Ginn
workmen demanding a reduction in the hours if labour;
in mine casea an increase of my has been dentand.l ;
and in comparatively few cases both demands have
been made. We cannot give even an outline of these
battles between capital and labour. It must suffice to
any that in many instances the request fiat a reduction
of tins- has been acceded to. Several disputes of this
nature are pending at the time of writing, but the nine
hours' movement has undoubtedly made considerable
progress during the past year, and Lids fair to make
still further progresa. Indeed, many firms commence
the reduction with New Year's Day.
The most remarkable trial during the year— a trial
which is really a rouse retetre, and which has excited
and will continue to excite great interest, has been the
i r un.e ease. It commenced in the Court of Com-
!! on the 9th .4 May, before Lord Cldef Jno-
1. ml a special jimmy. It was nominally an
• •trisect, to recover Tichborne House, and
.•,ljacent, situated near Southampton, but
• it i evolved the whole luestion of claim to
I'.roe title and estates. Ile plaintiff claims
: !. •i. It. D. Tichbonie, the heir to Life baronetcy
i /la. property ; the defendant, Mr. Inshington, is
. !-tee for an infant. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine and
"ruttier counsel are for the ehuniant •, the Solicitor.
tuners! and four other counsel for the defendant; and
there are two counsel for the Doughty tractors. The
property involves!, is iaid to be about 1.25,000 a-year.
The proc:olings have been unprecedentedly volutni-
nous, and the whole affair has been continuously kept
before the public. We need, therefore, but add that on
the 21st of December, the iOth day of the trial, it
was adjourned till the 15th of Januaa y, lti72, and that
no one seems able to fonn a definite idea when the
marvellous case will be brought to a conclusion.

Among the political and social features of the year,
we may briefly note the following :—Ths residence
amongst us of the exiled Emperor Napoleon, the Em-
press, and their son, and their favourable reception
wherever they have gone ; the visit of the Emperor
and Empress if Brazil to this country, his Majesty
displaying marvellous energy in making himself ac-
quainted with Ipur commercial and social aspects the
judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy
Council. in the case of the Rev. C. Yevsey, aceusedof
heretical doctrines, and whom the I %mien deprived of
his position and stipend as a clergyman ; the judg-
ment delivered in the case of " Hibbert r. Purchan " (the
Brighton ritual case), the defendant having been
chai ge! sith using unlawful vestment'', the juilgment
being that he should be admonished and pay costs ;
the Illilllll,lol prosecutiens for Sunday trailing, chiefly
promoted by the Rev. Bee Wright—prosecutions which
nearly all fell through, and which led to a legislative
moditicatiJu of t 'harks the I L's Sunday Trading Act ;
the Volunteer Review at Brighten, on Eastet Monday,
under the command id Sir II ipe Grant ; the marriage
of Captain Martin Van Buren Bates and Miss Anna
Swan, the giant and giantess, at St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields. London; the winning of the Derby by Baron
Rothschild's "Eavonius," of the Oaks by the Baron's
"Hannah," of the Ascot Cup by Mr. Lombard'e
" Morterear," and of the Goodwood Cup by Mr.
Mouncey s "Shannon ;" the Oxford and Cambridge
boat-race, won by the latter; aml the enormous wealth
of Mr. Thomas Brassey, railway contractor, who died
wt oth £3,200,000. And among. notable incidents abroad
we may here note the assassmatii in id Chief Justice
Norman, at Calcutta ; the terrible Orange riots in New
York, during which 50 persons were killed and about
UM were wounded, the riots being speedily quelled by
by the military ; and, one of the most pleasing items of
ft (reign news, the opening of the Mont Cenis Railway
'funnel between France and Italy.
The year hiss been remarkable for the outbreak and
ravages of that painful and fatal malady, the small-
pox. It raged specially among the poor in the crowded
tenements of our large towns. The Medical Depart-
ment of the Privy Council and the medical authorities
of our poor law unions exerted themselves to promote
vaccination, and the re-vaccination of people who had
already melergene the operation WM largely resorted
to. On the other hand, however, a :ion: deal of oppo.
sitiim to vaccination was manifested: and imuihms
pert ins were tined, or even imprisoned, for refusing to
permit their children tube vaccinated. The reports of
the Registrar-General, however, have ineontestibly
proved that the discovery of Or. Jeuner is invaluable
in mitigativis the ravages of this disease, and the
malady -which during the year committed such havoc
has brought easnl out of evil. In the autumn the
disease considerably declined, amid further decreased
towan IR the else of the year.
The year 1571 was a Census year, the "numlxvingof
the people" taking place on Monday, the 3rd of April,
having reference to the facts of the previous day. The
operation was carried out with the utmost carefulness,
awl the total population of the United Kingdom was
finmil to be 31,e17,10e, being an increase of 2,524,637
as compared with the year 1661.

The Autumn Mano euvres, or campaign in Hamp-
shire, commence' on the 4th of Sept. ant continued till
the 22nd. A large body of the regular troops and
several regiments of volunteers took part in the en-
campment and evolutions, the chief command being
confided to General Sir Hope Grant. The Po ince of
Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward of
Saxe-Weimar, and many other distinguished officers
also assisted, and many distinguished foreigners were
present. The manoeuvres excited a good deal of public
interest, and the whole affair went off well, for though
there were some mishaps the conduct of the men was
admirable, and the Autumn campaign is generally
regarded as having done much towards their efficient
training.
-
_ .

s
Briefly may be noted the more important of the
casualties and catastrophes that have occurred in
the United Kingdom, as follows : —Explosions at
the Leycett colliery, near Newcastle, resulting
in the loss of five lives and injury to several other
persons; at the Renishaw Park colliery, near Shef-
field, atuing a loss of twenty-six lives; at the
Wheatley-hill colliery, killing five men ; at Ebber
Vale. killing 19 persons ; at is mine at Pentre,
South Wales, killing 36 persons ; at the Bryan Moss
colliery, near Wigan, resulting in a loss of 70 lives;
and at a gun-cotton manufactory at Stowmarket,
musing the loss of 21 lives ; the destruction by fire of
Messrs. Anceats' cotton mills, at Manehester, the
estimated loss being upwards of £50,000; a similar
calamity at the warehouses of the Heywood and Roch-
dale, Cannal Company, the less being estimated at
£100,000; and a fire at Mocker Hall, a seat of the
Duke of Devonshire, destroying property valued at
£50,000; a terrible storm, in February, off the
north-east coast, causing disaster to eighteen or twenty
vessels, and the loss of about forty lives ;
an accident on the Stoner Valley Railway, by wlich
30 persons were injured; the wreck of a -French
vessel re/ St. Male, with a loss of 50 lives ; and a boat
accident off the fishing village of Avoch, Moray Firth,
whereby 19 persons were drowned.
The following are the most noteworthy of the catastro-
phes that hase occurred in foreign countries - Explo-
sions on a steamer on the 51issiro1spi,caming the loss of
SO lives; at a cartridge factory in Paris,killing about 100
persons; at arcartriilge manufactory at 1 amkirk,France,
causing the death of 60 persons, an. I injuring others; a
railway casnality near Toulon, a waggon-load of gun-
powder having exploded, killing about 60 persons, and
injuring about 100 others ; a railway accident at Colom-
bier, France, killing 22 persons and injuring some 70
more ; a petroleum train on the Hudsen River Railway
taking lire and setting fire to a passenger train which fell
into the river, causing the loss of several lives ;
the ravages 1.1 the yellow fever in Buenos Ayres,
during March, April, and May, 400 deaths in
is day sometimes being reported ; the loss of 33
American whalers in the Arctic Ocean, but, strange
to say, without any loss of life, the crews escaping on
the ice ; fires at Bremen, destriding property
to the amount uf £250,000; at Banda,
destroying 3,060 houses ; in a colliery at Fasten,
Pennsylvania, with the loss of 19 lives ; and the burn-
ing of the Coolie ship, Don Jima, in the China Seas,
with a loss of SCO lives ; earthquakes in North China,
destroying an immense amount of property,
together with sonic 2,000 lives, and at
Brintage, in the Eastern Archipelago, causing the
loss of 400 lives ; a typhoon on the Japanese coast,
causing the ilestruetion of £lOO,OOO worth of property
' and the loss of 400 lives; hurricane at St. Thomas's
and Antigua, W. 1., in which about 150 persons were
killed or injured, and a large amount of property de-
rtroved ; the inundation of the Vistula, placing about
20 villages under water, and causinggreatdestruction to
pro' ierty and revere loss of life; and the breaking away
of the bank id thi river at New Orleans, resulting in
the inundation of a great part of the city.
In respect to Irish affairs, it is sail to have to note
that though Ireland has on the whole been prosperons
and peaceable, a section of her violent politicians have
given the Government much trouble, and created con-
siderable uneasiness among loyal subjects of the
Queen. Towards the close of le7o, several ',mime
had been condemned and imprisoned, butat the begin-
ning of the follown26, year the royal clemency was
granted to several of these, including O'Donovan %visa,
on rendition that they would emigrate to America, but
this kindness has not met with a very gracious return.
Numerous outrages, several of them of an agrarian cha-
racter, have unhappily taken place in Ireland, West-
meath in Ws respect haling been specially scourged,
and the agitation Lir Home Rule Las tended to keep
the country in a state of disquietude, though the great
mass of the inhabitants have no sympathy with the
agitators.

The disastrum Francutrumian war WaR in full
activity when the year opened. At the heithming of
January we had newe of the fall of Mezierne, the con.

tinned bombardment of Paris, and the silencing of
snake of her forts, and f the probable capitulation id
the city. There were also mat battles in the north
of France, mainly to the disadvantage of the French.
News soon afterwards arrived detailing the severe
sufferings of the besieged Parisians from disease and
scarcity of food. And here may be fitly mentioned
the generous efforts of the people of Great Britain and
of several other nations, in subscribing large solos of
money forthe relief of the inhabitants ,if Paris, of the
distressed peasantry of France, and of the many
French towns that hail been desolated by the war.
Subscriptions to tke Mansion House Fund and to other
funds for the relief of this distress poured in thick and
threefold, and the relief was admirably administered.
The misery and suffering produced by the war were
beyond all hope of being wholly removed, but an im-
mense deal was done towards their mitigation— on the
battle-field and in the litopital, in towns awl villages
in the home of the peasant, and for those who had no
homes. These generous efforts were continued after
the war hail ceased, and served to sweeten the blessings
of peace when it at last conic. But meanwhile the
war was ruthlessly continued. In the middle of
January some hotly-contested battles were fought at
Le Mans, Lombron, and La Chapelle, resulting in the
defeat of General Chaim'', and the capture of some
15,000 French prisoners. The bombardment of Paris
was vigorously continued, while disasters fell heavily
elsewhere on the French arms. The town of
Peronne capitulates!. General Faidherbe was utterly
defeated at St. Quentin, losing 7,000 prisoners.
General Bourbaki, at the head of 100,000 men, strove
hard to raise the siege of Belfort ; but, after three
days' fighting, he was disastrously defeated by General
Werder. Had the G ermans previously entertained any
misgivings as to the issue of the war, none could exist
after such events as these, and, forestalling complete
victory, the King of Prussia was proclaimed Emperor
of Germany. Ahuost immediately afterwards the
news arrived that Count Bismarck and Jules
Favre had had a meeting, followed by a council
of war, under the presidency of the Emperor,
and on the 2Sth of January it was temissflieially
announced that the Count demanded, as conditions of
peace, the surrender of two French provinces and one
colony, twenty vessels of war, and 160 milliom of
pounds sterling, as a war indemnity. But to facili-
tate the discussion of these or any other terms of
peace, it was arranged that an armistice for the whole
of France should be at once declared. On the 26th of
the month, M. Jules Favre returned to Paris to settle
the terms of the capitulation of l'aris, and on the
following day the Germans ceased firing against the
city. They, however, took possession of the forta
round the devoted town ; and although protests were
made in several French towns against the armistice,
and M. Gambetta issued a stirring manifesto in favour
of the continuance of the war, it must have been gene-
rally felt in France that such a course was hopeless.
But while Germans and French were laboriously
settling the terms of peace, France began to be
I afflicted with an internecine war. A French Consti-
tuent Assembly was elected on the Bth of February,
and, under the name of the National Assembly, it held
its first sitting at Bordeaux on the 12th. A few
days afterwards M. Thiers was appointed the
chief if the Executive Power, and he hail the
painful pleasure of signing the preliminaries of peace
on the 26th, the tenon including the cession gif Alsace
and Lorraine an,l the payment of £200,000,000 sterling
indemnity. Con.siquent on this the German troops :
occupied a certain quarter of Paris, pen ling the carry-
ing nut of the terms of peace, on the let of March ;
on the 7th they evacuated the forts round the city ;
on the 12th they left Versailles ; on the 17th the Em-
peror of Germany and his staff set out for their native
country, but it was not till the 16th of June that the
German troops triumphantly entered Berlin, amid
general rejoicings. But meanwhile many troublous
events had occurred in France. From the moment
there was a prospect of penis) between French and
Germans, the ultra-Republicans and Communists had
begun to manifest wild excitement, and on the 18th
of March there broke out an insurrection in Paris,
during which Generals Thomas and Leeinnte were shot
by the insurgents. The National Guard declared on
the side of the insurrection. and established a Central
Committee at the IlOtel de Ville, whereon the 28th the
Commune was formally proclaimed ; and on the 30th
the red flog floated from the public buildings of
Paris. During April, France continued in a
dreadful state of dis,irganisation ; the Govern-
ment and the Communist troops fought severely
on several OVCOOSiOIIei, the city of Paris being
mice more invested, and the forts being Once ainun
bombarded, but this time by Frenchmen.
"merry month of May" was a sail mouth for the
Parisians. Civil war continued rampant, among its
incidents being the cspture of }orb, lay and
Vanvres by the Government troops ; the destruction
if the house of 51. 'riders ; lighting on the ramparts;
of Paris ; the overthrow of the coliunn of the Place
VendCnie ; the entry of the city by the Government
troops ; the firing of the palaces and other public
buildings by the Communists ; and the shooting of 64
hostages, including the Archbishop of Paris, by the
mine revolutionary fanatics. On the 28th of the
month, however, Marshal MMahnn, who had under-
taken the command of the Government troops, was
enabled to announce a complete victory over the Com-
umnists. During July, August, and September,
France remained in a very unsettled state, disturbed
by political intrigues and socialistic and democratic ex-
travagances; but throughout this time M. Thiers
exercised a potent and beneficial influence on the
country, and on the list of August he was formally
declared President of the French Repnblic. Sub-
sequently to this, as well as during some months pre-
ceding, -France displayed wonderful energy and re-
cuperative ismer, in istyiag id her heavy indemnity
anti in deVeloping her commerce and trade winch hail
been vi much injured dining the war. One of her
greatest difficulties lately has been Communism,
against which the Government has vigorously directed
its energies. For their share in the insurrection,
Colonel Bosse], Ferri% and Bourgeois, the former a
man of rare ability, were shot on the 27th of Novem-
ber ; some men of less note lILIVP subsequently been
execute,!, and a large number of insurgents still re-
main in prison. One of the most nets" In participators
in the doings of the Cinomune was Mane. Michel, a
schoolmistress, who, being found guilty of inciting to
assassination, was, in the middle of December,
sentenced to transportation for life. Another great
difficulty against which the Government has to con-
tend is the holding the meetings id the Assembly in
Versailles, apparently not daring to enter the capital ;
a• that France at the close of the year remains in an
unsettled state.

The attitude of Russia at the close of the Franoo-
Prussian war caused some uneasinetet owing tes the
rumoured probability of hir forming an offensive and
defensive alliance with France against Germany, but
the course of events did not warrant the rumour, and
indeed, the Czar, speaking at a banquet in November,
alluded favourably to the German Empire as a guar-
antee for peace. The relations of Russia and Germany
have latterly become very friendly, and a coolness has
sprung up between France and the former.
Perhaps the most momentous event of the year WU
the terrible conflagration at Chicago, the largest town
in the state of Illinssis, and one of the most impfs tint
commercial cities of the United States. It was one of
those great events which proverbially spring from
little causes. A boy took a lamp into a cow-house to
milk a cow; the cow kicked over the lamp, and a
large proportion of a splendid city fell a prey to the
flatness, while some persons were burnt to death or
killed by falling ruins. Chicago was a wealthy busi-
ness ; it watt the centre of the railway system of
Americo. Its principal streets were broad, handsome,
and regularly built; its houses were in their bright-
ness somewhat similar to those of Paris, but they also
reminded one of the larger business premises of London
or New York. Its shops and warehouses, its banks
and stores, its hotels and theatres, were grand and
spacious; while it's suburbs were luxuriant in their
beauty. The fire broke out on the night of Sunday,
October Sth, and spread with uncontrollable rapidity,
destroying all the finer parts of a splendid city, and
canning the loss of a great many lives. Large sums of
money were raised in Englansl and immediately dis-
patched to America, and the city is now being rapidly
rebuilt. More than a month, however, after the fire,
the Mayor of Chicago, writing to the Lord Provost of
Glasgow, said that 100,000 half-famished and shelter-
less persons had been thrown on the funds, adding,
"Even now we are providing for 13,000 families, com-
prising more than 60,000 distressed and indigent men,
women, and children."

In connection with the conflagration at Chicago
should be mentioned the terrible Forest tires in
America, which began br fore the Chicago tire, and
continued after the flames in the doomed city had been
subdued. The scene of these Forest fires was in the
territory including the States of Wisconsin and
Michigan. The entire town of Manistoe, Michigan,
was destroyed, and in the Paine State the city of Huron
and a number of villages fell a prey to the roaring
flames; and several villages in Wisconsin were also
burnt. The losses in house property, cattle, horses,
winter stores, /he., were immense, but still WONe was
the loss of life. In the villages on the banks of the
Green Bay river, Wisconsin, the Names raged with
terrific fury; hundreds of people were driven into the
river anil drowned, and hundreds of others were burnt
to death.

With the exception of the terrible calamities above
referred to, America has had a year of undoubted
prosperity, President Grant in his message to Con-
gress, is enabled to refer to the abundant harvest and
to the general activity of trade and commerce, while
the financial report of Secretary Boutwell is one of the
most cheering ever presented to Congress. It shows
receipts for the fiscal year to the amount of Ul
millions of dollars, an expenditure of only 292 millions,
and a reduction of the N ati,nal Debt by $6 millions;
consequent on which, a large remission of taxation is
recommended. The most important fact relating to
America al,o intimately concerns ourselves. " This
year," says President trant, " haswitneased two great
nations. having one language and lineage, settling bY
peaceful arbitration, disputes of long standing, which
were liable at any time to bring nations to a sangui-
nary conflict." He refers, of course, to the Alab,inta
claims, which are in process of peaceful settlement by
the Joint High Commission, under the Washington
Treaty. This is a powerful argument for the friends
of arbitration as opposed to war.
The Italian Senate having, by • large majority, de-
cided te transfer the capital from Turin to It one, in
September the arrangements for carrying this out were
confided to Signor thubla, Prefect of Rome, and public
feeling in the country became considerably excited at
theantieipated change, especially on the 20th of Sep-
tember, when the inhabitants f Rome celebrated the
anniversary of the entry of the Italian troops—strange
anomaly ! On the list of November, King Victor •
Emmanuel arrived in Rome, amid the acclamations of
the people, and on the 27th he opened the Italian Parlia-
ment, commencing his oration with the words, "Italy
is restored to herself and to Rome, and we have re-
gained • oir pines among the nations of the world." It
need scarcely be added that all this gave great offence
to the Papal party, but the country, so long afflicted
with political agitation is now consolidating her insti-
tutions and gives evidence of progress and prosperity.
Spain has not played an important part in conti-
nental affairs, and the chief items of news she has con-
tributed to current history relate to internal political
squabbles, which have no interest for the general reader.
Persia has suffered most severely from famine, of a
character perhaps unparalleled in modern annals, but
England, ever prompt to relieve distress wherever it

•

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may exist, raised a lam gum of money, mut the cala-
mity was thus materially mitigated.

The obituary of the year contains many eminent
names. Connected with royalty we find those of
Wilhelmina Frederica, Queen of Sweden; Prince
Dietrichstein of Nicolaburg ; Count Mensdorff
first cousin to her Majesty • Prince Alexander John
Charles Albert, third son an:l sixth child of the Prince
of Wales ; Princess Letitia Bonaparte, daughter of the
late Lucien Bonaparte, Prince of Canton, and relict of
Sir Thomas Writ:" K. C. E. Among the deaths of the
members of the aristocracy are recorded the names of
the Marquis of Hertford', KG. ; the Earl of Aylem
foil ; the Earl of Dunraven ; the Earl of Chi,tvr-
field, one of the company at Scarborough on the occa-
sion of the visit of the Prince and Princx.ss of Wales
to Lord Londestorough at Scarborongh (typhoid
fever, Dec. 1) ; the Earl of Miltowu ; the Countess
of Lietowel ; Lord Churston ' • Lord Dormer ; Lord
Ile Blaquiere ; Lord Henry Bentinek ; am! Lady
Burgoyne, widow of Sir John. The Chmeh has lost
the Very Rev. Dr. Alford, Dean of Canterbury; the
Very Bev. 11. L. Mansel, Dean of St. Paul's ' • the
Rev. H. Melvin, Canon of St. Paula; Dr. Jelf,Prin•
cipal of King', College ; the lice. W. Vernon Harcourt,
father of Mr. Vernon Harcourt, M.P. ; and Dr.
Mortimer, many years Master of the City of Lon-
don School. Ij mm the official lists iif the Army
and Navy will now have to be struck out the names of
Field-Marshal Sir J. Burgoyne ; Major-General Sir IL
Durand, Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjaub ; Sir
J. G. Scarlett, Adjutant-General of the Forces ; Sir
John Kirkland, Agent-General for the Recruiting
Service ; Sir A. C. Sterling, KCAL ; Lieutenant-
General Paulet, CB. ; Admiral Arbuthnott ;
Admiral Kingeome ; Rear-Admiral Burridge ; and
Vice-Ml*lnd Pearce. The ranks id those emi-
nent in literature, science and art, have been thinned
by the lose of M. Auber, the celebrated French
composer ; IL Thaffierg, composer ; Mr. Uipriani
Potter, composer ; Mr. J. B. Chattrnton, harpist
to the Queen; Sir. R. I. Murchimn, President
of the Geological and Geographical Societies ; Sir
John i Herschel, astronomer, and Master of the
Mist; Professor de Morgan, mathematician ; Mr. C.
Babbage' mathematician • Mr. George Grote, the his-
torian; M. Paul de Kock, novelist; Dr. Albert
Barnes, American commentator ; Mr. Robert
Chambers, publisher and author; Mr. David Cham-
hers, youngest brotherof the foregoing ; Mr. G. ROl5COe,
author; Mr. L. Mast, for 10 years editor if the Obserrer
Mr. J. Sowler, one of the proprietors of the Manchester
Courier; Dr. T. Mayo, for seine time President of the
Royal College of Physicians; Mr. S. Solly, surgeon;
Sir George Hayter, principal painter in ordinary to the
Queen ; Mr. T. W. Robertson, dramatist ; Mr.
Frank Matthews, actor; and Mr. Paul Bedford,
comedian. The year's obituary also contains the
following names, which will all be more or less
familiar to the general reader :—Omer Pasha, Grand
Vizier and Commander of the Forces in Turkey;
Aali Pasha, Grand Vizier of Turkey; Schamyl,
the Circassian warrior; Monseigneur Darboy, Arch-
bishop I d Paris, shot by the Paris Communists ;
Baron Tegetholf, Vice-Admiral of the Austrian Navy;
Baron Earns, Minister of Public Instruction in
Hungary; Sir John Rolt, Lord Justice of Appeal;
Mr. Norman. Chief Justice of Bengal (assassinated) ;
Master Park, Protl 1111 l otary of the 4 'mut of Common
Pleas; Mr. .1. Davison, Judge Advocate General;
Sir John Lister Kaye, Bark ; Sir Oswald Morley,
Bark ; Sir Richard 17tif ton, Bart. ; Baron Plunkett,
; son of the celebrated orator; Mr. Charles Buxton, NI. P.,
; son of Sir I'. Vowel] Buxton; Sir T. D. Aeland, v.;
I Mr. Vincent Scully, M.P. ; Mr. Pollard-Urquhart,
M.P. ; Mr. W. F. Knatchl RIB, M.P.; Ma 'P. Salt, ban-
ker, member of the firm of Stevenson, Salt & Co. ; Mr.
Mid,, banker ; Alderman Sir T. G. Moon ; Mr. George
Wilson, chairman of the National Reform Union, whose
name will be familiar in connection with the Anti-Corn
Law League; Right Hon. G. A. Hamilton, Secretary
to the Treasury ' • Mr. Numa Han-tog, senior wrangler
at Cambridge, who h-id an official appointment in the
Treasury ; Mr. Patrick Bell,-n, lord Mayor of Dublin ;
Mr. IL 'Bentley, publisher • Mr. Apphaiarth, inventor
of the printing machine ; Mc. j. It. Jeffery, head of
the firiu of Cionpton 11111Iiie, Liverpool; Mr. W. Ewings,
for many years manager of the London and West-
minster Bank ; Mr. George Haddon, the "Railway
King ;" and James Benforth, champion oareman of
the world, while rowing the St. John's crew, New-
foundland.

On the whole, the year 1 A7l may fairly he regarded
as a prosperous and happy year for this country. A
vreat impetus has been given to national education in
the working of the School Boards, the establishment
of many new schools, ;mil the development of others ;
the trade and commerce of the country have beeu
active, and the condition of the working classes has
undeniably improved. May we " thank liod and take
outrage," and way the year 1a72 be, to every reader of
this Retrospect oi the past,