The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-31 00:00:00

RETROSPECT

THE YEAR 1870.

The year 1870 is dying nut as we svelte, and will
en„,n be " numbered with the years before the flood."
It has been indeed an eventful year.

Her Majesty pulsed the earlier part of the year in
the Isle of Wight, and afterwards spent a portion of
the year at each of her other Royal tendencies.

The Prince of Wales has "gone about" this year
perhaps more than during any former year, so far as
our own country is concerned, and it would be a long
and thanklese task to record all the movements of his
Royal Highness, who hu consecutively paid visits to
several members of the aristocracy, anA has passed
much of his leisure time in shooting and hunting,

The Duke of Efinburgh, who tan been a pleat Gs.
yeller for no young a men., has passed a great portion
of the year in India. In January he was at Agra,
and 10 the following month at Madras and Lahore,
everywhere being heartily received. In March he
continued his tour, visiting Bombay and other towns.
In April hie Royal Highness visited Ceylon, and
Mauritius in the follc,wir g month ; and the last news
we have o him is in a telegram from Auckland, New
Zealand, under date of November 7th, stating that
H.M.S. 6-,kiferi, of which the Prince is commander,
will remain there for another month. Prince Arthur,
too, has phased much of Ma time abroad. In January
he paid a visit to Wsahirgton, where he was enter.
tamed by the official dignitaries, and a hall was riven
in his honour. Subsequently he went to New York,
where he was enthusiastically received. Then he paid
a visit to Canada, where he visited the principal towns.
In June the Governor• General invested him with the
order of Ht. Michael and St. George. On the 7th of
July the Prince left for England, where he has since
resideel, chiefly pursuing his professional studies at
Woolwich.

A very gratifying announcement was made in the
autumn, which was afterwarda ratified by an official
notice in the Cavite, that the Queen had given her
sanction to the marriage of the Princess Louise with
the Marquis of Lome, eldest ion and heir of the Hulse
of Argyll. The Princess was born on the 18th of
March, 1848, and the Marquis is • year or two older.
The marriage, it is understood, will take place next
spring, and meanwhile the names of eight bridesmaids
have been published. The marriage will meet with
popular approval, as it is considered that a rigid ad-
herence to the Royal Marriage Act ii now quite
unnecessary, and that moreover we have had quite
enough of royal alliances with German princes. In cow
nection with royalty may also be mentioned the ap-
pointment of Prince Christian to the High Steward.
ship of Windsor.

Parliament was opened on the Bth of February, by
royal commirsion. The royal " meesage " expressed
the Queen's regret that she .iould not open Parliament
in person, as had been her intention at a period of
remarkable public interest." Allusion was then made
to the friendly sentiments entertained towards this
country by foreign Powers, and to the 'growing dis-
position to resort to the good offices of allies in cases of
international difference," Among the measures fore-
shadowed were bills on parliamentary and municipa
elections ; the tenure of land in Ireland ; national
education ; naturalisation of foreign residents; law
reform ; university testa ; the incidence of rating ; the
licensing system; the transfer of land; the succession
to real property ; trades unions; and merchant ship.
ping. Her Majesty also specially referred to the
spread of agrarian crime in Ireland. We need not
elaborately compare this abundant promise with the
relatively scanty performance during the Session, but
will confine ourselves to a brief record of what Parlia-
ment accomplished during the Session of 1870. One of
its first acts was for the House of Commons indignantly
to repudiate the return of O'Donovan Roesa, a
Fenian convict, as member for Tipperary.

On the 15.11 of February Mr. Gladstone obtained
leave to bring in the chief measure of the Session, the
Irish Land Bill. Its principal provisions were stated
to be the increased power of the occupier in regard to
the lease and purchase of land, with aid from public
funds towards such purchase; landlords to be assisted
in improving their property; the legalisation of the
Ulster cturtom ' • compensation in case of eviction;
facilities for the reclamation of land; notices to quit
to be twelve months instead of six ; and county case
to be assimilated to the poor-rates. We need not fol.
low the measure through its tedione stages. How
tedious these were may be seen by the fact that
it was not until the 25th of July that "the Com-
mons' amendments to the Lords' amendment,'
came under consideration. At the fag end of
the Session the bill was ultimately passed, and received
the Royal Assent.

The measure which many people, however, consider
the most important of the Session—the Elementary
Educstionßill—was introduced by Mr. Forster on the
17th February. The provisions of this bill have re-
cently been no fully discussed and brought so promi-
nently before the public during the elections for the
School Boards, that they need not here be repeated.
It was not carried through the Commons without
lengthy debates, and this result wan not achieved till
the fled of July. The Upper House made short
work of it, and carried the third reading on the lit of
August.

The Biß for Legalising Marriage with • Deceased
Wife's Sister, introduced at the beginning of the Ses-
sion, was read a second time in the Commons on the
16th of February; it pawed through committee on the
27th of April, but was ultimately rejected by the House
of Lords, by 77 to 73.
Mr. Jacob Bright's Lill to Remove the Electoral
Diiabilities of Women was brought in on the 16th of
February ; the second reeding was carried by a majority
of 33 on the 4th of May, but on the 12th of that
month it was thrown out, on the motion to go into
committee.

The Naturalisation Bill, conferring rights and pri-
vileges on aliens, was passed by the House of Lords
on the 18th of March, and, after passing through the
necessary stages, became law.

Mr. Morgan'e Burial Bill, modifying the law relat-
ing to the burial of Dissentern in coneecrated ground,
wae read a second time on the 23rd of March, and
referred to • select committee.

Mr. P. A. Taylor's Bill to pay members of Parlit,
ment was refused admission by 211 to 24.
Mr. Lowe's Budget, brought forward on the 11th of
April, showed a surplus of 1:4,400,000. He was en.
abled therefore to propose the reduction of several
small duties, to abolish the impressed stamp on news-
papers, and to reduce the postage to one halfpenny;
to equalise the duties on railways, to reduce the
income-tax to fourpence, and to halve the sugar
duties ; all which propositions were in the main carried
out.

Mr. Russell Gurney's Married Women's Property
Bill (the main provisions of which are, that money sc.
quired by the wife eeparately from her husband is
deemed to be hers, and that property, not exceeding
41200 coming to a married woman is to be her own), was
read a second time on the 18th of May; a third time on
the 30th of May, and in due course was adopted by
the Lords.

The University Tests Bill was read a eecond tune
in the Commons by 121 to 66 on the 23rd of May; It.
third reading was carried by 247 to 113, on the sth
of July, but had ultimately to be abandoned in the
Lords.

The Mines Regulation Bill, Introduced by the Home
Secretary, received its second reading on the 21,4 of
February. It provided for the inspection of mines,
the exclusion of children under 12, and compulsory at.
tendance at school. The measure was, however, ulti.
mstely withdrawn.

Lord Chelmsford's Sunday Trading Bill was read a
second time on the 22nd of February, and passed
through Committee on the 28th. It aroused a great
deal of opposition out of doors, and was finally aban.
cloned, after being read a second time in the Com.
coons.

Mr. Hibbert's measure to enable clergymen to retire
and become laymen was brought in on the 25th of
February; passed Ito second reading on the 25th of
May, and was ultimately passed by the House of
Lords.
Mr. M`Laren's Church Rates (Scotland) Bill wa
thrown out on the second reading, on the 9th of March
by a majority of 117.

The Preeervation of Peace (Ireland) Bill was Intro-
duced by Mr. C. Fortescue on the 17th of March (St.
Patrick's day) ; providing for vigorous repressive mea-
&urea in districte proclaimed by the Lord-Lieutenant,
for press prosecutions, and speedy trial and punishment
without jury. The second reading was carried on the
22nd, by 425 to 13; on the 26th the bill wan read a
third time without a division; on the 28th it WAB read
a 6r.t. time by the House of Lords • on the following
day a second time; and on the 31st it wan panned.

--
The Game Laws Abolition Bill was brought In by
Mr. P. A. Taylor on the 16th of March, but was ulti-
mately withdrawn.

Mr. Leatham brought in a Bill for taking Elections
by Ballot, but it was afterwards withdrawn at the
instance of the Marquis of Ilartington, who on the 9,1
of May brought in his Ballot Bill, but this bill in
turn was finally abandoned.
The Permissive Prohibitory Liquor Bill was thrown
out by the Commons, on the motion for second read.
lug by 121 to 90.

The Session was closed on the Bth of August, by
commission, her Majesty stating that she had assur-
ances of peace and friendship from all foreign Powers
and expressing • hope that when Parliament next met,
hostilities on the Continent would have ceased.
The records of the year which deal with casual-
ties and calamities, include —noting them in the
order of tiros —• fire and loss of six lives in Sandwich-
street, London ; the loss of the steamer Bare, with ii;t
hands but one, in a collision off Piamborough Head; the
explosion of • quantity of powder at Bayswater, kill-
ing two persona and injliring others ,• an explosion on the
stearntug Corona, on the Danube, killing six persons ;the
drowning of three young ladies on Loch Leven, through
the breaking of the ice; the explosion, through fire, of
a cask of oil at Clifden, Ireland, setting fire to a house,
and causing the deaths of three persons, and
injury to others; the explosion of • kitchen boiler
at Worksop, killing two persons; • panic from the
cry of " fire " at the Roman Catholic chapel of
St. Joseph's, Liverpool, resulting in the death
I of fifteen persons and injury to several others;
a gas explosion at Knowle's colliery, near Man-
chester, seriously injuring sixteen persons; the
destruction of the breakwater in Wick Bay,
during • terrific storm, which carried away •
large proportion of the fine stone wall, the damage
being some £15,000; the destruction by fire of St.
John's Church, Bethnal-green, London; an explosion
of powder at the Mona colliery, Wale*, resulting in the
death of 23 persons, with injury to several others,
while 29 hoists were also killed; a fire at a shop in
Camberwell, causing the loss of several lives ; the loss
of the City of Boston steamer (Inman lire), with about
200 persons en board (due in tetruary from New
York, tut never afterwards heard of) ; a fire at
6 siventon, Texas, with loss to the amount of • million
of dollars ; the burning of the Mississippi steamer
Emma, riesiting in lin lon at 70 line an wiplosies

of gunpowder mills at Rothsay, testat.ing In the loss of
five liven and considerable destruction of property; the
collision between the steamers Mary, of Grimsby, and
the Normandy, the latter ainking, with a losaof 32 lives;
the collision between the U.S. corvette Oneida and the
P. and 0. steamer Bombay, off Yokohama, the Oneida
sinking. resulting in the loin of about 120 lives ; the fire
at the Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond, in which Mr.
Lever, the manager. was burnt to death; a holler explo-
sion at Southeea, killing two persons and injuring others ;
a Pre at three lace manufactories at Nottingham, re-
sulting in a loss of about £30,000; a fire in a coal-pit
near Bathgate, Scotland, resulting in the death of
seven men; the burning of the Glamoman Hotel,
Cardiff, four persons toeing their lives; a fearful hur-
ricane in Buenos Ayres, resulting in danger to ship-
ping and property to the amount of about £160,000,
besides about 20 persons liming their lives; an explb.
sion at a linen Manefactory near Brussels, causing the
death of eight or ten persons, and serious injury to
many others; a great fire inManilia,resultingin loss to
the amount of about a million and a half dollars; aboller
explosion at Warrington, killing five men; the falling.
in of the floor at the Capitol at Richmond, Virginia,
when 200 persona were killed or injured ; the destruc-
tion by fire of the Alexandra Theatre, Glasgow ; the
railway collision at Miles Plnting, when five per-
sons were injured ; a boiler explosion at Kolas.
grove, Staffordshire, killing 12 persons ; a tire
in a suburb of Quebec, destroying about five
hundred houses ; the great fire at Pera,
Constantinople (June 5) destroying the British
Embassy and about 7,0P0 houses, several hun-
dred lives also being sacrificed; an earthquake in
Mexico, upwards of 100 lives being lost and much ,
property being destroyed; the loss of eight persons by
the upsetting of a pleasure boat at Hastings, and on
the following day (June 7) the lose of four lives from a
similar accident at Ramsgate; injury to several ballet-
girls by the falling of some scenery at the Alhambra,
London; several earthquakes in Japan, destroying a
number of villages; an accident to an excursion train
at Newark, when several lives were lost; an explosion
at Waltham powder-milla, resulting in the death of
five persons and injury to others; a colliery explosion
at Silverdale, Staffordshire, when 19 miners were killed;
an accident to the Scotch mail train at Carlisle, when
several persons were killed or injured ; six children
burnt to death in the Waterloo-road, London; the fall
of part of a colliery at Llansamlet, Wales, when 19
miners were killed ; a colliery explosion near Wigan
when 19 persons were killed and several injured; the I
loss of H.M.S.'. Captain, which capsized in the Pay of
Biscay, about 520 persons losing their lives ; the wreck
of the Cambria steamer, from New York, near Ireland,
when 175 lemons perished; a collision on the London
and North Western Railway, at Harrow, an express
train running into a goods train, resulting in seven
deaths and several persona being injured; a collision at
Brockley Whinns, on the North-Eastern railway,
causing the death of four persons immediately, another
shortly afterwards, while others are not expected to
recover ; the awful explosion at Means. Ludlow's cart-
ridge manufaltory, Witton, near Birmingham, (Dec.
9) causing the immediate death of several persons, 49
being numbered dead up to Deo. 23, and several others
not being expected to recover; and a collision on the
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway at
Barnsley, killing 12 people on the spot, and seriously
injuring about 20 others, some of whom subsequently
died ; and on Dec. 26, just as the old year was dying
out, and as if to sadden its few lent days, an accident
occurred on the Great Northern Railway, near Hat-
field, by which eight persons were killed on the spot,
and several others severely injured.
The records of crime at home and abroad are, as
usual, lengthy, and we gladly throw a veil over them,
indulging the hope that, with the spread of education,
the records of crime in future years may prove that is
is far cheaper and better to teach the child how to
grow up in industry and usefulness, rather than to
punish the adult when crime has made him the very
enemy of his kith and kin.

The subject of baby•farming attracted a great deal of
atttlition when two women, Mn. Waters and Mrs.
Ellis, sisters, were charged with causing the death of
several infants through neglect. Ten infants had been
found at the house of the former in a very emaciated
state. The two women were committed for trial, in
the interval some of the babies, who had been removed
to the workhouse, having died. Ultimstely the two
women were tried, Waters for causing the death of the
infant child of Misa Cowan, and Ellis for wilful fraud.
Both were found guilty; Waters was executed, and
Ellis it undergoing 18 months' Imprisonment.

Al a consequence of the Education Act passed in the
session f 1870, the ratepayers throughout England
were called upon to elect representatives to sit on their
several School Boards. Many borough candidates
were reduced by mutual agreement to the requisite
number, and these were returned without opposition.
In the majority of instances, however, there were con.
tested elections The first election of this kind was
that for Manchester, on the 25th of November, when
Mies Becker, author of 'The Two Sexes of Man,"
was returned, with fox:atom other members, among
them being six churchmen, two Wealeyano,two Roman
Catholics, one Presbyterian, one Dissenter, and two
Secularists. The elections for the various districts
excited considerable interest, and on the whole the re-
presentatives may be said fairly to bear out that cha-
racter in regard to the country generally, all sects and
parties having their nominees. In the metropolitan
boroughs the elections took place by ballot on Michael.
ruas day, and, with trilling exceptions, were con-
ducted in an orderly way. We trust the new Educa-
cational Parliament may prove itself equal to the great
task confided to it.

An interesting event in iteelf, and tending more
cloeely to cement the bonds of friendship between
England and America, was the formal transmission of
the remains of Mr. Peabody from the one country to
the other. The body was consigned in the Monarch, •
British man.of•war. which arrived at Portland on the
30th of January. Here it wan transferred to the U.S.
steamer Leyden. The coffin was eubeequently landed
and borne by ten British seamen, and delivered to the
Governor of Maine for burial. Comeiderable pomp and
ceremony marked the funeral, at which Prince Arthur,
among other!, amaisted.

Ireland has on the whole throughout the year been
somewhat more calm and prosperous than she has
frequently been in previona years, the important site.
rations effected by the Irish Church Act and the Land
Act, no doubt materially contributing to this happy
result; and the announcement, in the middle of
December, by Mr. Gladstone, that the Government
had determined to releaae the that
prisoners, war
received with general satisfaction both in England and
Ireland.

The moat memorable event of the year, and that
which will fill many a sad and dark page of future
history, is the Franco-Prussian war. 'What we have
called an event has been indeed a series of important
events, startling in their rapidity and momentous con-
sequences, affecting not only the two great nations
chiefly concerned, but the whole continent of Europe,
nay the whole world. These events have crowded so
much one upon another, and have been so full of
incedent, that their narration would fill volumes, and
the merest outline of them would extend to an imprac-
ticable length, and a description of which would weary
rather than edify the reader.

One great object which the King of Prussia and bin
Ministers had in going to war was undoubtedly the
consolidation of a "United Germany," with Prussia
at ita head, and probably enough the crowning of the
King as Emperor of Germany. Steps towards this
result were taken when Baden and Hesse Darmstadt
formally agreed to enter the North German Cm
federation, and Bavaria and Wurteruberg loon followed
the example. In the beginning of December King
Leopold of Bavaria addressed to the King of Saxony
a letter in which the royal writer proposee that the
King of Prussia shall aasume the imperial crown of
Germany, and invites the King of Slxony and the
other German Princes to urge King William to take
the title of Emperor of Germany. Thu King of course
is "nothing loth," and events are tending in this
direction.

Throughout this disastrous war the people of Great
Britain end Ireland have on the whole maintained •
staunch neutrality. Exceptions may be pointed out
In the dispatch of arms and ammunition to the French
from come of the manufacturing towns of England,
" In the way of business ;" in the enrolment of an
Irish Brigade to aid the French, which Brigade, how-
ever, completely collapsed; and In a few demonstra-
tiona in favour of the French Republic; but all this
was as nothing compared to the pervading feeling of
sorrow at the existence and continuance of the War
and the strong desire to aid the sick and wounded of
both nations. Immense efforts were made in the latter
direction. The National Society in Aid of the Sick
and Wounded raised an enormous amount, and sent
out agents with stores and medicines, providing also
efficient help in the persons of medical men and nurses.
The Society of Friends did also a great deal in the
lame way; and the Daily Neu% having raised • con-
siderable amount for the especial relief of the French
peasants, sent out its almoners to sdminlater thin
relief. No human organisation could cope with the
immense amount of suffering caused by this War, but
by them means much of it was alleviated.

Second only in deep interest to the Franco-Prussian
war was the revival of the "Eastern Question" by
Russia; but as this vexed question has been so fully
discussed, it will suffice to say, that the negotiations
terminated with the gratifying announcement that
the Powers had agreed to the proposal that • Con-
ference should be held in London.

With reference to America in her relation. to our-
selves novery important events have occurred, but we
regret that another year has passed without the unfor-
nate Alabama dispute being settled. The position of
tale dispute is referred to hereafter. The United States
Government hes been making efforts towards the
annexation of San Domingo, but the negociations
have not yet succeeded. Arrangements, however, have
been made for admitting Virginia and Georgia into the
Union. The lawlees restlessness of the Feniann gave
the American Government some trouble, and in May
President Grant lamed • proclamation against the
Illegal military expeditions which were being fitted out,
enjoining all U.S. officers to employ all lawful &litho.
rity to defeat such proceedings and bring the offenders
to justice. These meaaures were successful, and though
Fenian movements throughout the remainder of the
year have continued, they have produced no alarm.
Correspondence connected with the Alabama claims
hse been carried on, and it is believed that it was in
connection with this subject that Mr. Motley was
recalled from the Court of St. James's, though not in
an ostensibly unfriendly spirit. President Grant de.
leered his annual message on the sth of Deoember.
The two features in It which are of special interest to
ourselves, are the allusions to the Alabama affair and
the Canadian figheries. On the former, after alluding
to our Government declining to admit their negligence
or the performance of any act of which the United
States have reason to complain, the President recom-
mends Congress to appoint a Commission to take
proofs of the amount and ownership of the claims, and
that authority be given for the settlement of such
claims by the United State., so that the Government
shall have the ownership of these private claims, as
well as the reeponsible control of all demands against
Great Britain." Bow far this will promote the settle-
ment of the dispute remains to be seen, but of coarse
our Government cannot be bound by any Inch Com-
mission. Meanwhile, it is satisfactory to note • pacific
tone in the American press at the clone of the year.
With regard to the other subject, the President says
that the come adoyeed by Oeoede muting the

fisheries was very unfriendly, and that "if the
Dominion authorities attempt to enforoethe unwarrant-
able jurisdiction over the fisheries assumed by their
Statute., it will be his duty to take steps to protect
the rights of American citizens." These utterances
have produced an unpleasant feeling in this country,
but it is generally thought that the Canadian fisheries
dispute, at all events, can be amicably settled by
negoolatioo.
In Canada there was considerable excitement during
the spring at the anticipation of • Fenian raid into the
Dominion from the United States. The Fenian" in
America were known to be collecting money and arms,
and it was thought by many that they would tske the
field, and give a great deal of trouble, though their
ultimate success was everywhere considered doubtful.
The Canadians, however, made arrangement' to give
the Feniatur • warm reception by militia regiments
should the threatened raid take place. The Habeas
Corpus Act was also suspended, and the anticipated
raid resulted in a fiasco, the Fenian" being easily de-
feated by the volunteers, and the so-called " General "
O'Neil being captured.
The commencement of the year was marked in
France by • change of ministry. The Government,
healed by M. Pomade de in Roquette having resigned,
M. 011ivier wag called on to form a ministry. On
the occasion of its formation the Emperor addressed a
letter to the new Prime Minister, stating that the
Imperial desire was "to bring into regular working
constitutional system." As the Emperor also ex.
pressed his with that the new ministry should carry
out the Senatus Consultum, M. Schneider, the Presi-
dent of the Legislative Body, remarked that the Im.
penal letter " affords the noble spectacle of a
Sovereign relinquishing a portion of his powers while
continuing to enjoy the confidence of his people." In
reply to the Papal Nuncio, the Emperor expressed •
hope of peace for the opening year—a hope, alas!
bitterly belied. The French Government now had
to contend against rather serious political difficulties
arising out of home politics. MM. Rochefort,
Grommet, and Derense had been sentenced to linpri.
eonment for political offences, and being ordered to
surrender, the former announced through his paper,
the Marscillaiat, that he would not do sc., and that if
he must be taken, force must be wed. On the 7th of
February he was arrested, and somewhat serious dis
turbances followed. Barricades were erected in the
streets of Paris, and several collisions took place be-
tween the police and the Garde de Paris on the one
band, and the rioters on the other. There were many
persons killed, and a larger number injured during the
riots. For three days and nights Paris was kept in a
state of disorder and alarm, and it was not till the
evening of Wednesday, February 9, that even external
tranquillity was partially restored, after the arrest of
a number of the rioters. The number was subsequently
stated by M. Jules Fevre to amount to 400, and of
these 1101330 were accused of conspiring against the
Emperor's life, and others of conspiracy to overthrow
the Government, Of this number, 119 were discharged
on the 21st of February. In March others were dis-
charged, while ethers, brought to trial, were sentenced
to merely nominal punishments; a few' however, who
had resisted the police, being sentenced to six months
imprisonment. Towards the end of the month, the
Emperor addressed • letter to M. 011ivier, Prime
Minister, in which the Imperial writer said that
he desired to adopt all reforms required by the con-
stitutional got, moment of the empire, in order to
put an end to the immoderate desire for change
which existed in certain quarters. lie gave the
first place to the reforms affecting the Senate, and he
added, "I therefore request you to come to an under-
standing with your colleagues, and lay before me the ,
draft of a Senatus Consilium which shall divide the
legislative power between the two Chambers, and re-
store to the nation that
.portion of constituent power
it had delegated to me.' Subsequently M. 011ivier
presented a Senatus Consnltum to the Senate. The
main objecta were to metrict the personal rule of the
Emperor, modify the action of the Senate, and give
rather more power to the Legislative Body. This
Senatus Consultum was submitted to a Plebiscite on
the Bth of May, though meanwhile the ultra-Liberal
party had made several demonstrations, intended to
show that the proposed reforms were inadequate to the
requirements of the country. On the date mentioned
the people were called to vote oui or non to the fol-
lowing proposition :—" The people approves the
liberal reforms affected in the Constitution since 1860
by the Emperor with the co-operation of the great
bodies of the state, and ratifies the Senatus Comultuna
of the 20:1 of April, 1870." The result was that the
affirmative was voted by 7,267,322 persons, while the
negative was voted by only 1,530,382. Following
upon this there were serious disturbances in Paris, and
barricades were erected, but the military and police
ultimately restored order. Meanwhile a conspiracy to
assaminate the Emperor had been discovered, and
severed arrests were made. Among the persons implicated
were MM. Gustave Flourens ; Renard Lepet, an iron-
founder who was said to have made the bombs which
were to be the implements of destruction ; Grenier, also
seamed of being the maker of the bombs; Roussel, at
whose house they were found ; and there were several
other persons accused of complicity. They were tried at
Blois, and on the Bth of August several of them were
sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Mean-
while war had broken out, and toe leading events of
the remainder of the year are noted elsewhere.
Turning to the other great Continental Power,
which, during the year, has occupied so much public
attention, we may here note that the King of Pruseia
opened the North German Parliament on the 14th of
February. Alluding to the relations between North
and South Germany, he said that the treaties which
connected the two were " • security for the safety and ,
welfare of the common German Fatherland." Re'
(erring to his relations with foreign States, he said : I
" When I spoke to you last year from this place, I ex- I
pressed myself confident that my sincere efforts to cor-
respond with the wishes of nations and requirements
of civilisation by the avoidance of any disturbance of
peace, could not, with the help of Providence fail of
success. lido-se my heart good to be able to announce
to-day from the same place that my confidence was
fully justified." Alas! how Ivan were these hopes
destined te be disappointed 1 Parliament was closed
on the 26th of May, and about this time it was noticed
that Prussia had been making great efforts tostrength en
her defensive position. We must now refer to the
summary if the leading events of the war, merely add-
ing here that the North German Parliament was closed
on the 24th of November, the royal " message " being
an elaborate defence of the conduct of Prussia ; and
that in December Count Bismardc isue tl a circular
stating that as Luxemburg had violated the conditions
of neutrality, PlllB4ills no longer considered herself
bound by the L licion treaty of 1867—a declaration
which is still anxiously disowned.

Austria has not during the year occupied much
public attention. In March the Anglo-Austrian treaty
of Commerce received the sanction of the Government,
and subsequently a commercial treaty between Austria
and Spain was signed. In May, Count Benet sent a
circular to the Austrian diplomatic representatives
abroad, announcing a proposed constitutional reform
in "the establishment of a popular Parliament secure
from future mutations by virtue of its election by
direct suffrages, and which shall embody the nation's
wishes within the limits of the present constitution."
In the autumn the attitude of Austria with regard to
the Russian repudiation of the Treaty of 1558, was
watched with interest, but it is satisfactory to find
that at the end of the year she bids fair to assist at the
London Conference in a fair spirit.
Italy has undergone great change.. On the 7th
of March the Pope ordered the "distribution of
a schema, proposing a definition of infallibility," thus
originating the (Ecumenical Ccuticil. As France
maintained that this would be of political importance,
a French representative was chosen in the person of
the Puede Broglie. The other Catholic Powers resolved
not to send representatives. The Council soon after-
wards cogan to assemble, the chief point discussed being
the doema of the personal infallibility of the Pope. In
April, in the general congregation of the (Ecumenical
Council the entre text of the Constitution of Faith was
put to the vote, M 5 bishops voting unreservedly, and
83 conditionally on the measure as it then stood, no
opposing vote being tendered. Italy was considerably
disturbed by brigandage in the spring of the year; and
the capture of Messrs. Moens and Murray excited
great indignation in our own country. Many of the
brigands implicated in this crime were apprehended ;
the chief and two others were condemned to death, and
several others to various terms of imprisonment. Con-
sequent on the declaration ot a French Republic, great ex-
citement prevailed in Rome, ands movement was made
to unite that city with Italy as its capital. Tki e question
was put to a plebiscite in Rome, and carried in the affir-
mative by an overwhelming majority. Are, olution was
thus quietly effected, and the Italian Parliament at
the close of the year was engaged in making arrange-
ments for the formal establishment of Rome as the
capital, instead of Florence, and to secure 'the in-
dependence and free spiritual authority of the Pope."
The Italian Parliament was opened by King Victor
Emmanuel on the sth of December, The King re-
ferred to the crowning of the national edifice by the
union of Rome to Italy ; declared that the promises
with regard to the freedom of the Church and the in-
dependence of the Pope should be fulfilled; and, in
alluding to the approaching removal of the seat of
Government, said that this must incite the Govern-
ment to "the improvement of the military organisa-
tion and of the national defence, guided by the
experience of the present war." He then expressed
his desire for a speedy peace between France and
Prussia, and his hopes for the prosperity of Spain, to
the throne of which his son had been elected.
Greece has during the year given our Government
coneiderable trouble, and the chief event Lionnected
with her recent history has been the cause of much in-
dignation in our own country. In April intelligence
was received that on the 11th of that month a band of
brigands had seized a party of ladies and gentlemen,
and that having released the former they kept the
latter in order to secure a heavy ransom. The fol-
lowing were the captured party : Lord Muneaster,
Lady Muncaater and her sister. Miss L'Eatrange ;
Mr. Vyner, brother of the Countess de Grey ;
Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Herb'ert, secretary of the English
Legation at Athens; Mr. Boyl, secretary of the
Italian Legation ; and some servants. The ransom that
the Greek scoundrels demanded was first £50,000 and
then £25 000, together with a free pardon from their
own Government. This nefarious capture created
considerable sensation In our own country, partly
owing to some of the victims being aristocratically
related. The party bad set out from Athens for
Marathon, under the promise and assurance of
safety on the part of the Greek Government, and
this fact aroused great indignation at the time,
and the subject was vigorously discussed in
I both Houses of Parliament. The result of this was
that the Greek Government acted with more zeal than
discretion, and sent troops after the brigands, although
the latter had declared that if there were any attempt
to capture them they would put their captives to
death. At lest premed by the troops, the brigands
murdered Mr. Herbert, Mr. V-yner, Mr. Lloyd, and
Mr. Boy!. The soldiers continued to harms the
brigands, several of the latter being killed. The
beads of seven of these were brought to Athens, and
exhibited sea terror. The Bing and the members of
the Government paid all possible honour to the remains
of the deceased victims of Greek brigandage. In
December it was announced, much to the surprise of
most people, that the arrest of Mr. Noel, an English-
man, had been ordered by the Greek Government, on
a charge et =watt, "kb brigands but a tale'

gram from Athens of the 11th, says that he took to
flight on learning of his intended arrest.
At the betenning of the year Spain found herself, as
she had been ever since Sept,- naber, 1868, without a
sovereign, or any recognised form of Government.
Candidate after candidate for the throne came for-
ward, and numerous Intrigues among their several
partieane, to which it is not worth while here to refer,
, kept the country in a perpetual state of ferment.
I It should be mentioned, however, that the Prince of
Hohenzollern was among the candidates, but that
France declaring she would not permit him to accept
the throne, his candidature was withdrawn. At
length, on the 16th of November the Corte. proceeded
I to the election of a sovereign, there being, however, in-
cidentally the question to he decided whether they
should have a king at all. The number of repreeenta•
I tient in the Cortes being 344, it was agreed that the
I elected should receive not lean than 173 otee, being
more than half of the whole. All the members did
not vote. The foil 'wing was the result: for the hoc
d'Aosta, 191 ; Duke de Montpenaier, 27 • Duchess de
Montpeneier, 1 ; Eapartero, 8; Federal Republic, 60;
Spanish Republic, 2; Republic, I. The Due d'Aoeta
was therefore declared elected, his title being Amadeus
the First, King of Spain. In accepting the Crown.
al. the commencem-nt of Decern'er, the King delivered
a speech, in which he said,—" To make myself worthy
of my election I have but to follow loyally the
example of the constitutional tr iditions in which I
have been brought up. A soldier in the army, I shall
at the llama time be the first citizen to the repres,nts,
tires of the nation." The oration was received with
cries of "Long live the King of Spain !"
With regard to China, the year opened with a new
treaty between her and ourselves, of a character
favourable to our relations with her. It guaranteed a
modification of transit dues, the opening of two new
ports, the working of coal mines by English appliances,
a reduction of duties, the right of navigation on inland
waters, arid the right of foreigners to temporary resi-
dence in any part of the country. Great indignation
was manifested in our own country and in France at
the news that on the 21at of Jane several French
missionaries and sisters of mercy had been massacred
at Tien-tsin. After long delays the accused were
brought to trial in October, and twenty Chinese were
ordered to be executed and two magietratee to be
exiled. On the 11th of December the Foreign Office
received a telegram from Mr. Wade, our ambtuseador
at Pekin, stating that all was quiet in China, and that
foreign residents would remain at Pekin as usual.
The long-continued war between Brazil and
Paraguay came to an end early in March. 'the
Buizilian cavalry attacked Lopez, the President of
Paraguay, who had 1,000 men under him, and Lopez
being called on to surrender, and having refused, was
shet dead. Several Paraguayan officers and soldiers
surrendered. The news was received with great re.
juicing in Buenos Ayres, and was joyfully received in
our own country.

An event which at one time bade fair to be of int.
memo importance, but which was followed by no
little disappointment, was the discovery of diamonds
at the Leila of Good Hope. The diamond-bearing dis-
trict is confined to the Vaal Valley and • portion of
the Orange River. Several diamonds of considerable
value have been found, one of 40 carets, another of 80
carats, and several of smaller value.

We may briefly note the more important events, not
elsewhere referred to, connected with foreign countries.
We give the occurrences in order of time.—There was
an awful massacre in the Fiji waters. Some natives,
to the number of 280, had been shipped on board a
French barque, for Queensland, but the islanders rose
en masse, and killed every white man on board, the
mate excepted. The natives then jumped overboard,
and about 250 were drowned. The village of Sardon,
France, was almost wholly destroyed by fire.—Arising
out of a challenge sent by ?if. Henri Rochefort to
Prince Pierre Bonaparte, the latter shot dead M.
Victor Noir, who called upon him, and attempted to
shoot M. de Fonvielle, but failed. The affair created
great excitement in France and elsewhere. The Prince
was subsequently tried by the High Court of Justice
at Tours, and acquitted. A deputationof Englishmen
who had paid a visit to Brussels, to present the King
with an address, inclosed in a silver casket, were most
hospitably received and entertained by the King and
Royal family. The visit was mainly to thank the
Belgians for their kindly treatment of our volunteers
on • previous occasion. A rebellion in the Red River
settlement broke out at an early period of the year
but though it gave rise to • good deal of correspondence
it was not of a very serious character, and was ulti•
mately settled by the annexation of the territory te
(Amide. The Sutz Canal was opened in February.
A duel with pistols was fought in Spain, in March,
detween the Duke de Montpensier and Don Henri de
Bourbon, when the latter was shot dead. The Duke
was afterwards seuteoced to a month's banishment and
6,000 dollars fine. In the spring of the year there was
a serious strike of miners at the works at Creuzot,
France, and considerable rioting and disorder ensued.
Groups of men on strike threatened violence to those
who declined to join them, and in some cases outrages
were the result, but the military authorities having
taken decided oats uree, the riots were ultimately
quelled, and a compromise was affected between em-
ployers and employed. News of a native rebellion
in New Zealand was received in the spring, hit it was
not of a very serious character, and was ultim itely
repressed by the vigorous measures of the military
authorities. Throughout the remainder of the year
the solony has not "made history."
_ .

-
The Obituary of the year is not specially remarkalsle,
pernaps, but it contains many eminent names, and
we regret that our limited space precludes us from
giving a detailed list of those who, by their birth,
Intellect, industry, or philanthropy, have left "Foot.
prints on the sands of time," and who have passed
away—esme in the vigour of manhood, and others
when their work was done.

We close our retrospect with the remark with which
we entered on miniboom—that the year 1870 ham been
indeed an eventful one, hut we may heartily add that
we wish the reader "A Happy New Year,"