The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-08 00:00:00

IMPERT AI PARLIAMENT.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, June 3, lord Salisbury an-
nounced that the German Government had issued invitations
for a Congress to be held at Berlin on the 13th of June for
the discussion of the stipulations of the preliminary Treaty
between Russia and Turkey, aid that the English Govern-
ment, together with the foreign Powers- -Russia included—
had accepted the invitation. (Cheers.) The invitation is as
follows :

.
"London, June 3, 1878.
"The Undersigned, Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni-
poteatiary of His Majbsty the Emperor of Germany, King of
Prussia, has the honour, by order of his Government, to
convey to the knowledge of his Excellency the Marquis of
Salisbury Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Her
Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, Empresa of India, the following communica-
tion
"lii conformity with the initiative taken by the Austro-
Hungarian Cabinet, the Government of His Majesty the
Emperor of Germany has the honour to propose to the
Powers signatories of the Treaties of 1856 and 1871 to meet
In Congress at Berlin, to discuss there the stipulations of.
the Preliminary Treaty of San Stefano, concluded between
Russia and Turkey. The Government of His Majesty, in
giving this invitation to the Government of Her Britannic
Majesty, understands that in accepting it the Government
of Her Britannic Majesty consents to admit the free discus-
sion of the whole of the contents of the Treaty of San
Stefano, and that it is ready to participate therein. In the
event of the acceptance of all the Powers invited, the Govern-
ment of His Majesty propoae to fix the meeting of the Con-
gressfor the 13th of this month.
"The undersigned, in bringing the above to the know-
ledge of his Excellency the Marquis of Salisbury, has the
honour to beg his Excellency to be aood enough to acquaint
him as soon as possible with the reply of the British Govern-
hunt. The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity
to renew to his Excellency the assurance of his highest
consideration. "MUNSTER
Lord Granville was glad that the Treaty was to be dis-
cussed in a Congress, but as he understood the Foreign
Secretary and the Prime Minister were to attend the Con-
gress, he expressed objections to such an arrangement,
whicla would compel the absence of those two important
Ministers from the deliberations of the Cabinet in London,
and he stoked whether there was any precedent for the
Proceeding.
Lord Beaconsfield said the decision of the Government on
the subject had been arrived at after long deliberation; but
he frankly oonfessed that he was not aware of any precedent
In point; still, in this matter the Government must not be
guided merely by precedents, but other circumstances must
be taken into account. "I cannot understand,' said Lord
Beaconsfield, "exactly the reason the noble earl who has
Suit addressed na has come to the conclusion that the
absence of my noble triend and myself from the Cabinet
would reduce our colleagues whom we had left behind to the
position of ciphers, when it seems to me that the conse-
quence of our absence would be rather to increase their
Importance. (Loud laughter and cheers) I can only say that
We have undertaken this certainly very important and
laborious task with the full concurrence and at the
wish and instance of our colleagues (cheers) ; and as our
colleagues feel that in taking this course we are only ful-
filling their wishes, I think the noble earl will hardlyebe
able to persuade this House and the country that we have
slighted our colleagues or placed them in a position in
which their influence and importance may be diminished.
(Hear, hear.) When the noble earl asks for a precedent
I frankly admit that I cannot furnish one; tiut in '
Matters of this kind we must not be guided merely
by precedents. There are considerations which are
quite independent of precedents and which must guide
Us in the course we have to take. In the first place,
I may remark that when the Conference was first spoken
Of there was a general understanding that the Powers
should be represented by the Ambassadors at the diffe-
rent Courts. But that course has not been adopted in
thie instance. It is a fact that the chief Ministers of
Austria and Germany will certainly be present at the Con-
gress; and, as I am reminded, the chief Minister of Russia
Will also be present. We had then to consider that in
the altered circumstances the Government of Her Majesty
Should be represented in a B;fferenl manner. But, my
Lords, on the whole, I can only say that we feel the great
responsibility of the step we have taken; that we look in
these circumstances to the support of your lordships' House
and the country; and that if we fail in our duty—if it can
be shown hereafter that any failure that may occur has
arisen from the mode in which the representatives of the
Government of the Queen have been selected—we shall
abide the consequences which certainly we shall entirely
deserve." (Cheers)
Lord Grey wished to know how far it was consistent with
Constitutional practice that two of the most important mem-
bers of the Cabinet should attend the Congress abroad, and
leave the !vs, of their colleagues behind in this country.
Was it possible to imagine that the Cabinet at home would
overrule the decision of two persons in the position of Prime
Minister and Foreign Secretary? asked the noble Earl. He
thought that k'arliament should have some security that
questions of the deepest importance to the country should
Sot be decided in the Congress except On the collective re-
sPonsibility of the whole Cabinet. (Hear, hear.)
Earl Granville wished. to put a question, of which he
had given private notice, to the noble marquis the
Secretary for Foreign Affairs. It was with regard to the
tearful attempt that had been made for the second time
On the life of the Emperor of Germany. He wished to
know whether Her Majesty's Government had recently re-
ceived any information as to the state of the Emperor's
health. (Hear, hear.)
The Marquis of Salisbury: My lords, I have to say that
we have had the great satisfafition of hearing from the
German Ambassador that the latest accounts which have
been received as to the health of the illustrious victim of
this abominaide attack are satisfactory. (Cheers.) It is,
Of course, too soon to use any stronger language now, but
from all I have heard in the matter I trust that Europe
May have the joy of soon welcoming back one of its most
respected Potentates. (Renewed cheers)
Replying to a further question by Earl Grey, the Foreign
Secretary said the statements which had appared in an
evening paper on Friday last as tb certain points having been
agreed upon for submission to the Congress were wholly un-
authentic.
Lord Bury, replying to Lord Waveneee said militia artillery
were, treated on the same principle as militia infantry in
reference to embodiment.
Lord Elphinstene, in reply to Lord Dorchester, who asked
clUe Along respecting the steps taken to raise the Eurydice,
aescribed the measures already adopted for that -purpose
Slid the great difficulties which attended the operation.
The Medical Act (1858) Amendment Bill passed through
Committee.
The Acknowledgment of Deeds by Married Women (Ire-
land) Bill was read a third time and passed.

Their Lordships then adjourned.
In the Horn oF COMMONS, Mr. Hanbury gave notice that
dri going into Supply he will call attention to certain
Attasages in Mr. Gladstone's recent article in the Niryteenth
Century relating to the movement of Indian troops to Malta,
and will move a resolution declaring that such language on
the part of one of Her Majesty's Privy Council is much to be
Condemned as highly inopportune and calculated to create
'edition in Her Majesty's Indian Empire,
The Chancellor of the Exchequer communicated Ito the
Reuse the Despatches which have just passed between the
Governments of Germany and Great Britain relating to the
Congress, which is to be held at Berlin on the 13th inst.
,e
tihe German Government, in its invitation addressed to all
the Signatory Powers of the Treaties of 1856 and 1871,
sPecifies as the ohject of the Congress "the discussion of the
stipulations of the preliminary Treaty of San etefano con-
cluded between Roesla and Tutkej," and it states that
it understands that "in accepting it the Government of Her
berltannic Majesty consents to admit the free discussion of
,ce whole of the contents of the Treaty of San Stefano, and
'that_ it is ready to participate therein." lifer Majesty's
‘*overnment accepts the invitation on the understanding that
It has been sent in the same terms to the other Powers,
,add that they, in accepting it, assent to those terms.
ee'dls communication was received with cheering
both sides, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Went on. to state that this country would be represented
't the Congress by Lord Beaconsfield, Lord Salisbury,
!rid Lord Odo Russell, but the cheering with which the
ete—a.nle of the Prime Minister was received was confined to the
suunsterial Benches. Referring then to the attempted asses-
'bastion of thp German Emperor, the Chancellor, amid
mneral cheers, said he was sure the House would wish him
, give expression to the herror and detestation with which
it regarded this criminal act, and also to its earnest hope
that no serious consequences would follow from it.
lsfr. Bourke then read the latest telegrams which have
been received by the Foreign Office at the German Embassy,
t!`orn which it appears that on the whole the condition of the
sl'idneror is satisfactory; that there is no fever and no in-
nimation; that none of his wounds are considered dam
fts!rous in themselves, and that his Majesty is calm and has
udoWn great self-possession throughout.
,The Marquis of Hartington said he was sure the Hones
a"ld cordially re-echo the Chancellor of the Rxchequer's
egurige in regard to the attempt on His Imperial Majesty's
e—'s, Commenting on the other portion of the statement, he
;ettdarked that the proposed representation of this country
the Congress was entirely without precedent and involved
;es..tter for serious regret. If the Congress were to meet
hi:94 to ratify conclusions already arrived at, he could
t_t tree why two of the zhief officers of State should be
itTnt from the country for that purpose, but if it was to
ce‘tlat and decide upon matters of momentous im-
e7r"ance it was undesirable that our representatives should
2 deprived of the assistance of the Cabinet at home, as
litayld be the case if this arrangement were carried out.
firdir country was not accustomed to be governed entirely
due or two men, however eminent, but by "her Majesty's '
esilllsterg " after consideration and deliberation, and under
arrangement it would. be impossible for the Cabinet at
rifle to exercise any control over the two Plenipotentiaries.
;se_ thought it also an additional objection that neither of
• s Plenipotentiaries was a member of the House of Corn-
and likely to be acquainted, therefore, with its views.
1,111„ e Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that the whole
r eY involved in the meeting of the Congress had been so
4,1 and anxiously deliberated upon by the Cabinet that
m:Ze. Nvaa a complete understanding among them, and the
„ lvantages anticipated by Lord Ilartington could not
eceur- The question of representation had been very fully
ts'tiered, ape; the Cabinet had come to the cenclueion thet
ittr beeEmee of reasons on the whole was in favour of the
ishea4ts 'tent which bad beep made. Germany and Austria
Wl' .bly Russia, would be.represented by their Prime
, and France and Italy by their Foreign Secretaries;
tile Government believed that tt.e course it war taking
,ess best calculated to bring about a speedy and satisfactory
lielusion of the Congress.
tht fter some observations from Mr. Newdegate, who asked
de,,Government to consider whether there was any prece-
os 011 which the house could act to signify its detestation
sne attempted assassination of the Emperor, the subject
'll)Ped.
eftanswering a question by Mr. Clare Read, the Chancellor
Uxchequer intimated that the County Government
totoee hwei withdrawnta ilig for
highways
se Session:r au but It
Bills lsh hoped
the
er is to be committed pro ferma on Friday.
et !re* W. E. Forster gave notice that an the Second Reacting
lee:i's Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill he will move a
•Dogution declaring that the slaughter of fat cattle at the
the °.f importation will restrict the supply and increase
Debile)noe of meat, and should pot, therefore, be made com-
fit: tt_.rY by Act of Parliament.
,710 re proceeding to the Orders of the Day,
thell's Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the Honse
bcz it had been the intentiou of the Government to pro-
ilineea, public funeral for Lord Russell—to whose dis-
trersded public services he paid a fitting tribute—but it
Ist, dot in accordance with the feelings of his family or
°an direction.
Tw4iel
ettnetA —er
artington said a few words in recognition of Lord
great position as a statesman,
the moticil for going into committee of supply, Mr.
filerbassett reeenied the dis.aUssion of the Irish tJeiver-
nee,cineetion, which bad bieu prematurely and unfortu-
leer ant short on Friday evening, when the O'Conor Don
W tillit,.°Ved a resolution affirming that the preser.t condition
;Ltd lVersitY edneetion in Ireland is most unsatisfactory,
de
beetattnds the irnmediate attention of Parliament, with
lite "w of extending more spaerally and equally the Irene-
Of such .a education.
kted6s reaolutiou received support from Mr. Erriugton, Mr.
Mr. King Harman, Mr. Synan, Major Nolan,
monis, llr. A. Moore, Mr. 0 Shaugheessy, Mr.
• ruler Fewer, end Mr. Mitehell Henry.
b yresolution was opposed by Mr. Minket, and later
taeht'• Lowther, who maintained that concurrent enclose-
bsoe, 'would never be granted by the House of Com-
liaaj4pa add that the reason why ,the question had re-
,stsem.";, so long unsettled was, ti-iat the demands put
get ;Were impracticable; at the same time, he did
11;e0 eitilittiaroelinhat the status quo was perfection. The Govern-
ire in reference to intermediate education would
o a eet, t need in the other House, and he hoped would come
Lt
° the Commons in time for discussion this Session ;
ke, to the specific question before the House, the Govern-
-._ .-tst not hope to deal with it, and, therefore, he
the resolution would be withdrawn.
*hilt" POther discussion took place, and the House divided
Itanlttibee following result—For, c 7; against, 200; minority
s 133,
litlj'ol,-6 °titer business having b 2 disposed of, the House
'med at ten minutes past one.'
thld the II
hobie OUSE OF 1;01:15S, June 4, Earl De La Warr asked
hethe lord representing the Admiralty in that House
• be r 030 Eurydice might not have been part i slly raised
eans e oe an-ironclad, so as to be towed into shoal water.
-"de question to satisfy the inquiries of others, while

believing himself that everything that was advisable had
been done in the matter by the naval authorities.
Lord Elphiestone had heard it said that had the means
to which the noble earl referred been adopted the Eurydice
would have been raised before now; but, perhaps, the
best way in wined he could answer the question was by
illustration of the very small power of even one of our
largest ironclads to move a weight at rest. "fake, for
example, the Hercules, a ship of 7,200 tons, with a nominal
horse-power of 1,200, but capable of working up to between
7,000 and 8,000. She would be unable to move a body at
rest of more than from 40 to E.O tons. This enormous mass,
exerting a force of 7,000 or 8,000 horse-power, would be, as
it were, anchored by a weight of between 40 and 50 ton!;
and so in the case ef the Eurydice, when she sank she repre-
sented a weight in iron and stores of from 160 to 180 tons,
and that was, therefore, the weight that thus had to be
moved. Suppose, for the sake of argument, they had been
able to get the ends of her two lower cables up the dayafter
she sank, the breaking strain of each cable was equal to 64
tons; they Would, therefore, have been together unequal to
a strain of more than 120 tons, the weight to be moved being
150 to 180 tons. It was perfectly clear, therefore, that even
supposing we had been able to get at the cables, which was
not the case, they would have been quite insufficient to move
the ship in the way suggested.
On the motion that the Public Health Act (1875) Bill be
cousidered in Committee,

Lord De La Warr moved as an amendment to refer the
Bill to a Select Committee, for, as the measure was drawn,
lie thought that it would operate unfairly in those districts
where cottages were let at low rents.

After a short conversation the amendment was withdrawn,
anti the Bill was then considered in a Committee of the
wnole House, and the several clauses of the measure were
adopted alter some discussion, with various amendments.
The Medical Act, 1858, Amendment Bill was reported with
amendments.

In reply to Lord Ripon, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon
said that it could scarcely be supposed that the Government
would now legislate during the present Session in reference
to the report of the Select Committee on Conservancy Board,
considering the various bodies and the different authorities
interested in the matter. He could only say that the sub-
ject would come under the consideration of the Government,
who would deal with it if, on a lull consideration of all its
bearings, they should find it possible to do so.
Their lordships then adjourned.
The HOUSE OF COMMONS had a morning sitting to forward
the Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Bill.
Mr. Fawcett asked the Under-Secretary of State for
India whether it was intended to raise fresh troops in India
to take the place of those that have been despatched to
Malta.

Mr. E. Stanhope: No intimation has been received here
that it is intended for the present to raise fresh troops in
India to take the place of those that have been despat..:hed
to Malta. Should the service, however, be prolonged, the
Government of India, who are responsible for its peace and
security, may think it necessary to complete their normal
military establishment.
Several questions acre put in reference to the Congress.
In answer to Mr. liayter' the Chancellor of the Exchequer
said that as it was not known for certain how the other
Powers would be represented, he could not say whether the
Prime Ministe, and the Foreign Minister of any other
Power would be at the Congress; out there was certainly no
precedent for the course which Great Britain had taken As
to the motive which had induced the Cabinet to make this
arrangement be could add nothing to what he had already said
on Monday. In answer to Sir J. Kennaway, Mr. Bourke said
that the Treaty of San Stefano would make it necessary for
the case of the Armenian Christians to be taken into con-
sideration by the Congress; and in answer to Sir C. Dilke,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the invitation to.
Greece must come from the Congress itself, and the subject
would be brought before the Congress with a view to an in-
vitation being sent.
- -

Answering a question from Sir C. Forster, Mr. Bourke
read the latest telegrams as to the condition of the German
Emperor, from which it appeared that he had passed a good
night, and suffered less pain, and that his state was con-
sidered satisfactory by the doctors. In answer to Mr.
Newdegate, the Chancellor of tne Exchequer said he had
not been able to find any precedent of an Address being
agreed to in the case of .an attempt on the life of a
Sovereign, although this course had been taken on
the assassination of President Lincoln, and he was not
in favour of creating a precedent which it might not
be convenient always to follow. What had been said by
himself and Lord Hartington on 3.10uda7, ratified as it had
been by the emphatic cheese from all slues, testified to the
unanimous feeling of the House, and the Foreign Secretary
had since addressed a despatch to the German Government
expressing the sentiments of the country en the occasion.
In answer to Mr. Rylands, Mr. Hanbury said he had in-
tended to bring forward his vote of censure on Mr. Gladstone
on Thursday next, but as he understood that gentleman was
in Scotland he would bring it on next Thursday week, on the
meeting of the House after the Recess.
The usual motion for adjourning over the Derby Day was
made by Mr. Chaplin, and a lengthy and animated discussion
arose. On a division the motion Was parried by 225 votes
against 95, and the result was received with cheers.
The House was in Committee on the Roads and Eridges
Bill for the remainder of the sitting, and agreed to the
Clauses up to 23 inclusive. The Committee was then
adjourned until the 18th inst.
At the Evening Sitting Lord It. Churchill moved for the
appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the con-
dition, revenues, and management of the endowed achools
of Ireland, with instructions to report how far those endow-
ments are at present promoting or are applicable to the
promotion of intermediate education, without distinction of
class or religion.
The motion having been seconded by Mr. Chambtrlain,
Lord C. Beresford proposed as an amendment that the Com-
mittee should also inquire into the practicability of esta-
blishing schools upon the denominational system. After
some discussion, the motion and amendment were both
withdrawn, on the promise of the Chief Secretary to appoint
a small commission to inquire into the management and
expenditure of the schools.
The contract with the South-Eastern Railway and the
Lon'clon, Chatham, and Dover Railway Companies for the
conveyance of the mails between Dover and Calais was ap-
proved after a short discussion.
The House then went into Committee on the Racecourses
(Licensing) Bill, but was immediately counted out at ten
minutes past twelve o'clock.

A CRITICAL PERIOD.
(From Monday's Times,)
Seldom has there been a time when the agricultural
prospects of the year have been so important as at the
present juncture. When there were DO rocks ahead,
either at home or abroad, when England, and perhaps
the whole world, had set in for a steady run of pros-
perity, the possible failure of a crop or the difficulties
of a classeeeemed small in the comparison with general
abundance and facility. There were the more fortu-
nate to be fallen back upon, and they could afferd
to bear the loss or divide it with the immediate
sufferers. The present is . not a time for making
light of any possible addition to our troubles, for
they are enough already. Trade is bad; there is
war, or, at least, all the sftects of it, abroad, between
our own friends and allies, and we are not quite yet
out of the, danger of being drawn into it ourselves.
Food is the dearer and trade the less because there is
war; and if it reached ourselves, food would he dearer
still and trade still worse. Were our harvests to fail,
we should then have that accumulation of disasters
which in all ages has been azsooieted with loeg and
ruinous war. Of course, we all fondly hope and
believe that with our money we can pull through
eveeything ; but other states have thought the same
and found themselves mistaken in the end. At the best
there will be losses, as in a victory won against odds
and under difficulties. Then how do we stand for
the terrible contingency which we are not yet clear
of? A fortnight ago nature never seemed more our
friend. The season was said to be the most forward
ever known. A mild winter, a dry March, and
alternate shower and sunshine had brougnt our
meadows so forward that there was more grass already
than in some years ever at all. We believe we may say
that all the crops were looking well. The excess of rain,
however, during the last fortnight has changed matters
for the worse. Continuous sunshine will very soon
be wanted to ripen the grass, and to enable us
to convert it into hay and got it under cover.
Even before that our farmers will want fine
weather for some of their many sowings now due
at almost every season. Of the two great events of
the year, the hay harvest and the harvest of cereals,
the most sagacious forecast may prove wide of the
mark, While good harvest weather may almost atone
for the mishaps of a whole year, two weeks of stormy
weather, coming just at the critical time, may lay
millions of acres and set the wheat germinating, and
spoil the barley for the use it is mostly put to. If the
hay is not got in well, the cattle. will not thrive on it.
They will fall out of condition, and the horses will not
be equal to their work. All this is possible, even after
such a spring as we have bad; and with this possi-
.bility are the political possibilities and the commercial
certainties, both as serious as well can be.
With the reserve that summer is the real mistress of
the year, and that spring is but her hand maid, all may
yet turn out well. Year by year we depend more on
our dairies, our pastures, and our green crops, and less
on the grain crops that used to be the turning-point of
every private and public calculation. England has
accepted the position, once thought the acme of folly,
that she impoeta as much wheat as she grows at home,
and literally depends for half her bread on the winds
and the waves and the uncertain elements of the
political atmosphere. Now for half a century
and more the plough has been receding from
our towns. Itnetica arriving from vast plains of
arable land, whether alluvial or reclaimed down,
find themselves for the first time among green fields
and hedgerows as they come within the sight of tall
chimney-stalks. But the change of husbandry has
spread over the whole island. The milk-can now
travels fifty and even a hundred miles, and other dairy
produce comes as regularly as the post from the Land's-
end and every corner of the sister island. Every break-
test table and every nursery is now supplied with
a cheapness and profusion which fifty years ago was
unknown except in gentlemen's houses and the
better class of farms. What people are used to they
depend on, and the dairy has become a necessity to
the consumer, and therefore to the producer. Eight
years ago a general and long-continued drought
stopped the growth of the grass, and, consequently,
the 3 jell of milk. Of course, the cattle themselves
starved, and did not soon recover their condition;
the dairy farmers could not pay their rent, and the
British public had to pay more for a less quantity
of what to them had been a necessity of life. The
,total loss was probably not less than fifty millions
sterling, happily falling most on those who could
manage to bear it. With our present cultiva-
tion of cereals, it is not likely that any failure
of our grain crops will ever inflict on us so great
a loss and inconvenience. Even if the yield be a
few millions wider the average and the quality
inferior, the total loss will be far short of the
sum we have named as the measure of a drought
in our dairy lands. It would, however, be only
tho old folly of running from one extreme into the
other if we made arable merely subsidiary to pasture.
The simple fact that even under our watery and ever-
changing skies, as we regard them, we may suffer
one of the old-world famines, and for months have
the earth iron and the sky brass, warned us not tube
too much of one thing--not to carry all our eggs in
one basket. But, as a matter of fact, we have gone
very far in this direction, and thus fir without sign of
danger, or more than a passing inconvenience.
England, formed and placed by Nature to be the
emporinm of all nations, and to command all
seas and continents, seems but to follow the law of
her own destiny in submitting to be dependent on all
nations for her daily bread. There have, indeed,
been ideas ef independence which would not permit
even a necessary interchange of vital necessities. A
self-contained Power of this sort is the dream of a
hermit wishing to rob the world of the social functions
for whieh ha is himself unfit, and which be cannot
combine with his plan of personal perfection.
We derive our climate, it is said, from all
quarters ; we enjoy the products of all soils ;
eve pay for all with the fruits of our own
industry. The dream of insular independence
has long since passed away. Is there, then, no
I
, danger whatever of our carrying too much sail
and too little ballast?: Danger, indeed, there would