The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-01 00:00:00

Hos P E c

OF THI

YEAR 1886:

THE STOURBRID

the opposition to which may be said to have led to
the birth of a new party. The day after the first
reading an extraordinary demonstration took place
at the Haymarket Opera House. Lord Hartington,
Lord Salisbury, Mr. Goschen, Lord Fife, and Lord
Cowper were on the same platform to protest teeniest
a separate Parliament for Ireland. Consequent upon
Mr. Gladstone's Bill were the following resignations:
TnE whirligig of Time has brought us again to the
Mr. Heneage, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster;
period when it is not only interesting, but instructive
Lord Morley, First Commissioner of Works; Lord
to take a brief retrospect of the immediate past. The Cork, Master of the Horse; Lord Suffield, Master of
year 1886 will be notable for many remarkable occur-
the Buckhounds ; Lord Rilcoursie, Vice-Chamberlain,
rences—lmperial, political, and social. In it has
1 and the Earl of Kenmare, Lord Chamberlain of her
occurred the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen's ac-
Majesty's Household. The text of the Home Rule
cession; strange mutations of political parties have
Bill was published on the 15th, and meetings com-
been experienced, whilst attempts have characterised
menced to be held throughout the country for and
this closing epoch of history designed, though not
against the measure. On the 16th Mr. Gladstone
calculated to accomplish the design, to revolutionise
introduced the Land Purchase (Ireland) Bill, as a
the whole social fabric. Early in the year (on the necessary adjunct to the first measure, and
20th of January) the Queen, accompanied by Prince after a long and lively debate it was also
and Princess Henry of Battenberg, came to London
read a first time. The Easter recess was
co attend the opening of Parliament. Concurrently,
the Prince of Wale , with his two sons, visited Liver-
politically one of the stormiest of recent times.
Reassembling on the 3rd of May, little interest was
pool, and opened the Mersey Tunnel, that triumph manifested in the routine of Parliamentary work;
of engineering skill which now connects on terra but excitement ran very high on the night of the 10th,
firma the chief port of the world with Birkenhead.
when the secend reading of the Home Rule Bill
The Queen's appearance in the metropolis was only
an earnest of what she intended to do during the was moved by the Prime Minister. The modifications
he teed made in the measure were designed to intro-
year in the matter of "coming out." Rightly or
duce intermittently the Irish members into the House
wrongly, most of her Majesty's devoted subjects have of Commons. These modifications, instead ol coin.
long felt that the reigning Monarch should emeree
from her voluntary seclusion, and take a more
ciliating Mr. Chamberlain, who had demanded the
sacrifice of the clause excluding Irish members, ex-
prominent personal interest in things going on cited him to more vehement opposition. Lord
within her immediate Kingdom. It was natural, Hartington moved the rejection of the bill. During
therefore, that the announcement that Victoria was
the period the debate lasted meetings of the various
about to come more among her people should create a political leaders and their respective followers were
thrill of loyal enthusiasm throughout the country.
frequent. The Cabinet held conferences, at one of
On the 21st of January her Majesty opened the which (on May 25th) the decision was arrived at
session of Parliament with full state ceremonial: the against abandoning... Clause 94, although Mr. Gladstone
Prince of Wales, his two sons, and the Duke of Edine said that he saw his way to further " modificet ions."
burgh, the Doke of Connaught, the Princess Beatrice, A meeting of members of the Liberal party who were
and other Royalties were present. Subsequently the desirous to vote in favour of a legislative beey in
Prince, who had come from Eaton Hall to the cere- Dublin, was held at the Foreign Office, and was ad-
menial, returned to the Duke of Westminster's hoe- dressed by Mr. Gladstone, who, it was thought,
pitality. An unfortunate incident put a damper on had created such a favourable impression as
the loyalty of the Chester people. The Prince to secure the second reading. SuLsequent state-
returned on the 22nd, and the ancient city was gay ments, however, upset this prognostication, and finally
with bunting to bid him welcome. Owing, however, the hopes of a Ministerial victory were; demolished by
to disturbing rumours, supposed to be founded on the decision of Mr. Chamberlain's supporters on
expressions of resentment against the Duke of West- May 31st, rind Lord Eartingtonie fotiows-es on June
minster on account of his utterances on the Irish Ist to vote against the Government. Tile crucial
question, the programme was suddenly altered. His division was taken on the 7th of June, with the
Royal Highness, with Prince -Victor and Prince . result that the Ministry were defeated by a majority
George, alighted at a small wayside station about t
' of 30-311 voting for the bill, and 341 against. Ten
four miles from Chester, and thus avoided meeting
Liberals, one Home Ruler, and two Conservatives
with any hostile encounter. The visit to Eaton Hall were absent from the division. This result, as was
was brought to a close on the 25th, when boundless
understood, led to her Majesty being advised to die-
enthusiasm was manifested at the Chester Rail- ,
solve Parliament. Earl Kimberley made this announ ce-
way Station on the departure of the Royal
party. On the 13th of February the Duke of Edia- meat in the House of Lords on the 10th of June,
entertained at a banquet at the London
burgh was entertained with a statement to the same effect
from the Premier in the .Commons. On the 26th
Mansion House on his appointment to the command t
of the Mediterranean fleet. The Queen, on the 26th, ' le official proclamation was issued, and another Par-
liament was ordered to assemble on August sth. Thus
attended the performance of Gounod's "Mars et it happened that two general elections took place
Vita, 'at the Royal Albert Hall, and on the following within the space of seven months, and what was more
day the Prince of Wales (who was now on the Con- remarkable still both were upon the same register.
tinent) laid the foundation-stone of the proposed The :sole questions submitted to the constituencies
monument to the late Duke of Albany at Nice. Mean- were the Irish Bills. Mr. Gladstone's supi orters
while the Princessof Wales, whose health was sorcewhat
were designated Gladstonian Liberals, or Sepa-
impaired, visited the Duchess of Sutherland at Tor- -
ratists, whilst the followers off,Lord Hartington and
quay, returning on the 3rd of April "greatly improved Mr. Chamberlain joined the Conservatives under
and quite convalescent." March 17th (St. Patrick's the description of Unionists. On the conclusion of
Day) was remerkable in the annals of the Royal all the polls the state of parties was as follows:
Family for the birth of a daughter to the Duchess of England 151 Gladstonian Liberals, 1 Parnellite,
Connaught at Buckingham Palace. The Queen, as 289 Conservatives, and 54 Liberal I.Tnoinists. Scot-
might be expected, hurried to town the same day to land (in the same order)-43, 0, 12, 17. Ireland—
see her new grandchild. Five days later the Couet 0, 84, 17, 2. Totals—for "Home Rule and Glad-
left Windsor for Buckingham Palace, and on the stone," 279; against 391. Under these circumstances
24th her Majesty laid the foundation-stone of the of defeat it was decided on the 20th of July, at a
new Medical Examination Hall at the Savoy. On ICabinet meeting, to place the resignation of the
the 22nd of April, the Princess Victoria of Wales was
Government in the hands of the Queen. A messenger
confirmed at Sandringham by the Archbishop of was sent to Osborne accordingly with Mr. Gladstone's
Canterbury, and in the following month (May 3nll
- ' "dutiful communication." Lord Salisbury having
another Princess was confirmed by the Bishop of Ox- been " sent for," consented to form a Ministry, whicb
ford—viz.' Victoria Louisa Augusta Marie Christiana was completed by the first week in August, an under-
Helena. Perhaps the most popular function of the standing having been arrived at between the Unionist
year at which the Queen officiated was on May 4th, leaders and the new Premier that a qualified support
when she came from Windsor to London to open the would be accorded the Conservative Administration
Indian and Colonial Exhibition. Two days after-
on assuming the reins of office. The sth of August
wards her grandson, Prince Albert -Victor, opened was notable for the opening of the twelfth Parliament
the Edinburgh Exhibition, and was presented with of the present reign, for the re-election of Mr. Peel as
, the freedom of the city. May was quite a Royal Speaker, and for the cohesion of Mr. Chamberlain
Exhibition month, for on the 11th her Majesty opened and his party with that of Lord Harlington, and the
that at Liverpool. On the 20th of June the fiftieth recognition of bls lordship as their leader. Perna-
anniversary of the Queen's accession was celebrated ment assembled on the 10th, when the Queen's
'in the London churches. The Prince of Wales, next Speech was read by Commission. In reply to
, day, attended with the Princess the ceremony of lay- questions relating to Ireland, Lord Sal ic-
ing the foundation-stone of the new Tower Bridge bury, in the House of Lords, said that time
, over the Thames, and on the 28th their Royal was necessary for inquiry and consideration. On the
Highnesses paid another visit to the East-end of subject of the Irish land question it was proposed to
1 London, and laid the atone of the People's Palace. issue a Commission. In the House of Commons Mr.
On the last day of the month the Queen opened the Gladstone initiated a debate on the subject, which was
Royal Holloway College at Egham. It would be ime continued in various forms for several nights, until
steessible within the compass of a brief retrospect to on the 2nd of September the Address was agreed to.
env thing like a list of the multitudinous The 3rd was a night of special interest to the Irish
•'- ' -- natronised by the Royal family party in the House of Commons. Mr. Dillon made
ei the e- nf October, many a motion calling for remedial measures for Ireland.
lectation of
.. —egnates, -.J were very Mr. Parnell afterwards announced that he had in
_
' preparation a measure of a temporary character to
i outh Kensington. In August (the meet the difficulties of the coming winter by allow-
mg of Portugal visited London, taking up 1 ing leaseholders to apply for the benefit of the Land
ereence at Buckingham Palace. On the leen of 1 .
c.,
A authorising the revaluation of the rent fixed
setober Prince Albert -Victor opened the Victoria 1 prior to last year on the basis of market prices, and
Flospital at Burnley. Passing over some of the I
empowering the Court to suspend proceedings for
less significant occasions upon which Royalty ejeccieeet, on ra.rmocub of three-tourtne ~e ti-us old
has been to the front, we come to what was, rent. The hon. member intimated that if the Govern-
perhaps, the most important event of the year meat would undertake t 3 give the House an oppois.
in her Majesty's domestic circle. On the 23rd of tunity of expressing its judgment on the measure he
November the Queen's favourite daughter, Princess
would urge Mr. Dillon t withdraw his amendment.
Henry of Battenberg, gave birth to a son at Windsor o
Lord Randolph Churchill (the Chancellor of
Castle. The christening of the infant took place on
the Exchequer) said the Government stood upon
the 18th of December, in the presence, amongst views they had already laid before the House
others, of the dethroned Prince of Bulgaria— on the Irish land question; but if the hon.
Alexander, brother to Prince Henry of Battenberg. member desired before the Session closed to make
The baby was given the names of Alexander Albert
V ictor. a detailed statement of the manner in which he would
deal with the land, the Government would be prepared
The political history of the year has so distinctly to meet him to that extent. Mr. John Morley, in the
and transcendently had reference to Ireland, that for name of the Liberal party, expressed satisfaction with
the sake of something like sequence we devote the the noble lord's decision, and Mr. Dillon's amendment
parliamentary retrospect first of all to our legislative
relations with that country. So early as the 2nd of I was withdrawn. Mr. Parnell introduced his bill (the
. Ti nants Relief Bill) on the 11th, and on. the 20th he
January the Cabinet was engaged in council in moved the second reading. Mr. Gladstone gave it his
Downing-street discussing the question of local self- :
I
support ; but it was opposed by the Government and
government for the Sister Isle. On the 12th the ,
the Unionists, and on the division, which was taken
Cabinet was again occupied with Irish affairs, the on the 21st, the bill was negatived by 297 to 202.
majority being against coercion in the sense of extra- 1 02.
Parliament was prorogued on the 25th, and now
ordinary legislation, but equally opposed to any sub-
stantial concession to Mr. Parnell. On this day stands summoned to reassemble on the 13th of
January. The year closes without any alteration in
also the new Parliament, being the eleventh of the attitude of parties so far as the Irish question is
the Queen, was opened by Royal Commission. The aoneerned, and the alliance of the Unionists with the
Lora oneeeenor took roe oath in the House of..i Government was again emphatically emphasised at a
Lords, and in the Lower House Mr. Peel was conference in London on the 7th of December.
re-elected Speaker. It was announced the following The miscellaneous Parliamentary and political inci-
day that Lord Carnarvon would retire from the Irish lents of 1886 may be thus epitomised: Early in the year
Viceroyalty at the end of the month. In 'reply to :,he Government had under earnest deliberation the
deputations of Loyalists from Ulster on the 19th, Lord Provisions of a measure of local government reform.
Salisbury said that it had been painful to bear of the Upon the assembling of Parliament on the 12th of
work of the tremendous instrument of intimidation Tanuary the first whip issued had reference to Mr.
wielded by an association overshadowing the law, and Bradlaugh and the oath e but on the following day the
he assured the deputation that in view of the sorrow- 3peaker refused to intervene, and merely remarked
ful facts laid before him the Ministers would not be lint the member for Northampton took the oath at
untrue to the responsibilities which were upon the 3is own risk. On the 16th Mr. Chamberlain presided
bead of the Government of the -United Kingdom. it a dinner given at the Criterion to celebra'e
The Right Hon. W. H. Smith was appointed Chief die return of Mr. Joseph Arch as the first
Secretary for Ireland, the official announcement being lirect representative of agricultural labour; an
made on the 21st, on which day the Queen opened ronour which, however, did not sit leng upon Mr.
Parliament in person. In the House of Commons on erch, for he was deprived of his seat in the subse-
the Address in reply to the Speech Mr. Gladstone in- ;tient election in July. In the middle of January
timated that be reserved his freedom of action on the ?arliarnent was chiefly occupied with the swearing-in
Irish question, but insisted upon the rights of the , if members, but occasionally bits of official informe-
Irish representatives to have their claims fully con- ' ion were dropped as to contemplated acts of the
sidered. Mr. Parnell commended Mr. Gladstone's 3.evernment. It was sinnoit need at this time that the
attitude, and contended that there was no insuper- Government bad decided to bring in a measure to
able difficulty in meeting the claims of the Irish amend the law of copyright, and to enable this
people to self-government. During the debate on the country to become a party to the International Copy-
Address the Chancellor of the Exchequer an- right Union. Col. Stanley also stated to a deputation
nounced (January 26th) that the Government from -serious emigration societies that the Treasury
would introduce a bill for the suppression of had assented in general terms to the principle of
the National League to be followed by a measure official dissemination of intelligence as to emigration
dealing with the Irish land question, pursuing in a to the Colonies. The new Rules of Procedure, for
more extended sense the policy of the Land Purchase which the Governmentasked urgency, were published,
Act. On the same date the amendment of Mr. iand it may be appropriate, in view of coming events,
Jesse Collings was carried against the Government by
to recapitulate the substance of them here. The
331 votes against 252—a Ministerial defeat which changes proposed were far-reaching in their nature;
was the precursor of Lord Salisbury's resignation,
communicated by his lordship to her Majesty at it was suggested that on all days on which Parlia-
ment met, except Wednesdays, the sittings should
Osborne on the 28th. The Queen accepted the re-
signation and sent for Mr. Gladstone, who went to the commence at two o'clock ana close not later than
1 12.30, with an Interval of two hours between seven
Is'e of Wight on the first of February. The outgoing
and nine; that the principles of Grand Committees
Ministry delivered the seals of office to the Queen on
should be extended, whereby every public bill not
the 6th, the incoming Government receiving them the i being a ways and means bill should be referred, after
same day. Ireland and its affairs were next brought c second reading, to the Public Bill Select Committee, and
to the front by interrogatories in the House of Lords
that Parliament should adjourn in July and meet again
on the 26th, when Lord Spencer declined to make .
in October for autumn sessions. Other proposed
any statement as to the policy of the Government.
changes had reference to counts-out, the putting of
On the 4th of March Mr. Holmes moved a resolution
questions, raising debate on a motion for adjourn-
in the Commons calling upon the Government to ex-
ment (100 instead of 40 to be necessary) and taking
plain what policy they intended to adopt for the divisions. The first division of the New Parliatnent
restoration of social order in Ireland. The motion was taken on the 25th on an amendment to the
was rejected by a majority of 364 to 204. Matters,
however, address proposed by Mr. Barclay, calling for reform
Mr. Gladstone of the system of land tenure. The a.nendment was
dwere brought to a head on the 13th, when
laid the draft of his Irish scheme
negatived by 211 votes to 183. On the 30th of the
before the Cabinet. It involved a guarantee of
£120,000.000 for the expropriation of such month the Irish members secured the first place for
Irish Bills on 15 Wednesdays. In the change of
Irish landlords as wished to sell their estates, Government referred to above, consequent upon the
and a Statutory Parliament in Dublin. Mr. Cham- adoption of Mr. Jesse Collings's amendment to the
berlain and Mr. (now Sir George) Trevelyan objected Address, Mr. Chamberlain was offered the post of the
to the scheme at the outset, and on the ltth they First Lord of the Admiralty, but he declined it. Both
threatened to resign if the scheme was pressed as it houses reassembled on the 4th of February under the
stood. The throat they carried out on the 27th, Mr. new Administration formed by Mr. Gledstone, and
Stanefeld being appointed to Mr. Chamberlain's office writs were issued for the bye-elections caused by the
and seat in the Cabinet, and Lord Dalhousie to Mr. ministerial appointments, and in each case the result
Treyelyan'te April the Bth will always be a memor- was the return of the old member. On the 19th the
able day in Parliamentary history. Excitement in second reading of the Parliamentary Franchise Bill
London and the country was at fever heat. Mr. was accepted by a majority of 161; on the 2nd of
Gladstone had to pass through thousands of people in March, Mr. Bradlaugh's motion was agreed to, that
going from Downing-street to St. Stephen's, where immediate stops should be taken to ensure a full
in a speech occupying three and a-half hours in deli- and accurate collection of labour statistics; on
very, and comprising 24,000 words, he introduced his the 3rd, the Labourer's' (Ireland) Acts Amend-
Home Rule Bill. Briefly stated, the bill proposed to merit Bill, and the Mines Regulation Act
establish a statutory Irish Parliament at Dublin; to were read a second time, and on the sth Mr.
exclude Irish members from Westminster; and to Labouchere submitted his motion, which had been
substitute for the present fiscal unity of the three looked forward to with some interest, declaring it to
kingdoms a contribution by. Ireland to the Imperial be inconsistent with the principles of representative
revenue of a sinking fund of £3,650,000. The record government that any member of the Legislature
of this occasion would be incomplete without the note should derive his title to legislate by right of heredi-
that the scene within the House of Commons on that tary descent. The motion was negatived by 202
day was unparalleled. Many members took their votes to 166. The Crofters' Bill was read a second
seats in the House so early as six o'clock in the time on the Bth, the Manchester Ship Canal Bill
morning; every seat being "reserved 1 in the passed the second reading on the 9th, on which date
traditional manner long before noon. The also Mr. Dillwyn's motion for the Dieestablishment
bill was read a first time on the 13th, Mr. Gladstone, of the English Church in Wales was carried by 251
in his renly on the debate, having promised to modify to 152. Mr. Labouchere succeeded in 'seising his
the clause excluding the Irish members from the motion on the 11th, throwing the cost of maintenance
House. Much surprise was occasioned among many of the London parks on Londoners, and on the 15th
of the Liberal party at the provisions of the measure, a long debate took place on Lord Chas. Beresford's
. ,
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proposal to spend £5,577,000 extra on tie navy. Lord
Charles had 100 supporters, while 24.5 voted against
him. On the 16th, after many yeara of agitation,
Mr. Stansfeld had the satisfaction of carrying his
resolutiqn unanimously, demanding the 'repeal of the
Contagious Diseases Acts. The Repeat Bill was read
a second time on the 25th. In the House of Lords
on the 19th Lord Thurlow's resolutioa for opening
the British Museum and the National Gallery on
Sundays was carried by 76 to 62; in the Commons on
the same date Mr. H.Richards's motion that it was not
just or expedient to embark in war or to add terri-
tories to the Empire without the consent of Parlia-
ment, was carried by 115 votes to 109. The Marriages
(Hours of Solemnization) Bill was read a second time
on April 6th. On the 15th of April the Chancellor
of the Exchequer made the annual financial statement
reckoning the total expenditure of the present year at
£90,428,599, which was £1,725,245 less than the ex-
chequer issues of last year. Taxes were left unchanged,
exeepting that cottage brewers' licenses were abolished.
The deficit was to be met by suspending a part of the
Sinking Fund. The House of Lords on reassembling
after the Easter recess, appointed the Duke of Buck-
ingham chairman of committee in place of Lord
Redesdale. In May a variety of bills were advanced
during the intervals of the Home Rule debate. One
peculiar circumstance was the rejection by the House
of Lords of the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday
(Durham) Bill on the third reading (May 25th), by
a majority of 97 votes to 90, after it had passed
the second reading. That "hardy annual," the De-
ceased Wife's Sister Bill had suffered its usual fate
kilo previous day in the Upper House, 127 voting in
favour and 149 against. The impending dissolution
of Parliameu t which was decided upon in June, led
to a general hurrying for ward of measures upon which
there was no vital party difference, and to the advance-
ment of others that had passed the first or second
readings, or were in committee. From them the fol-
lowing may be enumerated: the Medical Acts
Amendment Bill; the Parliamentary Election (Re-
turning Officers) Act Amendment Bill; the Intoxi-
cating Liquors (Sale to Children) Bill; the Consoli-
dated Fund (Appropriation) Bill; the Public Works
Loan Bill; the Westminster Abbey Restoration Bill;
the Shop Hours' Regulation Bill, &c. Altogether 107
bills (public and private) received the Royal Assent
ere Parliament was dissolved. In add Won to the
incidents of the election already mentioned it may be
added that during the first week of the campaign con-
siderable excitement was caused by the rejection of
Mr. Goschen by East Edinburgh, and subsequently by
the defeat of Sir George Trevelyan for the Border
Burghs, the rejection of Mr, Joseph Arch
by his former constituents, and the defeat
of the Whips of the Unionist Liberals, Mr.
Brand going at Cardiff and Mr. Albert
Grey at Tyneside. Lord Hartington secured his
return for Rossendale, though by a diminished ma-
jority. There was the usual bestowal of honours on
the change of Ministry,which, of course, resulted from
Mr. Gladstone's defeat at the polls, Lord Salisbury
assumed power under the circumstances epitomised
above. Soon after the assembling of the new Parlia-
ment questions were asked in connection with the Bel-
fast Riots, and interrogatories were also put to the
Right Hon. W. H. Smith imputing gross irregulari-
ties in the Ordnance Department. An inquiry is now
proceeding on this head. Considerable de-ate,
wearisome in extent, was indulged in on the Esti-
mates, which were ultimately disposed of on the 16th
of September. On the 22nd the Chancellor of the
Exchequer intimated that it was the decided inten-
tion of the Governmisnt to recommend the House to
devote its attention next session to the consideration
of alterations and modifications of the methods of
conducting public business. With this announcement
the Legislative body separated for the year.
Turning to the more promiscuous incidents of the
year, the most interesting in the first month were the
proclamation at Rangoon of the annexation of Upper
Burmah to the British Empire, and the capture of
Bishop Hannington (who subsequently suffered
martyrdom), of the Church Missionary Society, by
the King of Uganda, in !East Equatorial Africa, on
the first of January; shock of earthquake in the
valley of the Dart on the sth; the appointtnent of
Dr. Moorhouse, Bishop of Melbourne, as Bishop of
Manchester on the 14th; the sentence of John
Magee at the Old Bailey to seven years' penal servi-
tude for eendine a threatening letter to the Prince of
Wales, on the 15th; and the fall of several houses at
Holloway, London, by which five persons were killed
on the 30th. In January also a strong agitation
was initiated in Wales for legislation on the land
question in the Principality. On the 2nd of February
Miss Gladstone was married to the Rev. Harry Drew,
and Lord Alwyne Compton and the Rev. E. Bicker-
steth were consecrated bishops respectively of Ely
and Japan. It was on the Bth of this month that the
organisation of "Social Democrats" came into
notoriety. A meeting of the unemployed was con-
vened in Trafalgar-square, London, when resolutions
were passed miring that public works should be
started and facilities rendered for the employment of
British capital. Subsequently the "Social Demo-
crats"—Only a section of the assembled mul-
titude—marched along St. James's-street, Pall.
Mall, and Piccadilly, smashing windows, wreck-
ing shops and doing esanch damage, for
which subsequently the rates were surcharged.
The panic created by what is now historically known
as the West-end Riots continujscl for several days. It
wee repartee that bodies of the unemployed were
marching upon London from Greenwich, Deptford,
and other places with the objest of pillage; in con-
, sequence of which shops were extensively closed and
business suspended. Owing to the confusion of the
police arrangements on the occasion of the demon-
stration, an official inquiry was instituted with the
eveneual result that a re-organisation of the Metro-
politan. Police was effected. The Chief, Sir Edmund
Henderson, resigned, and was succeeded by Sir Charles
Warrens on the 13th of March. On the Bth of February
also the triple execution took place at Carlisle of three
' men for the murder of a policemaa at Netherby Hall.
A public subscription for the relief of the unemployed
in London was opened by the Lord Mayor on the
10th. On the 12th considerable excitement was
created by the case in she Divorce Court of Crawford
v. Crawford and Dilke, in which Mr. Justice Butt
decidod that there was no evidence against Sir
Charles Mike, but that the petitioner was entitled to
a decree nisi for divorce. Public indignation at the
result ran very high, more particularly on account of
the fact that the co-respondent did not enter the
witness-box and deny the allegations upon oath.
Sir Charles Dilke had acted apon the advice of his
counsel; but the verdict was regarded by the outside
world more a technical victory than a moral acquittal,
upon which Sir Charles Dilke made strenuous efforts
to have the cause re-opened. A re-hearing took place
In July, and the result arrived at on the 23rd of that
month was that the decree was upheld. Rioting
took place at Leicester on the 12th of February in
connection with a strike in the hosiery trade, and at
Birmingham on the 26th in connection with a strike
at Nettlefolds. The incorporation of Burmah with
the Indian Empire took place on the 3rd of March;
on the 14th the Cunard steamer Oregon was sunk off
Long Island by collision with a schooner, and a riotous
demonstration of the unemployed took place at Man-
chester on the 18th. The Oxford and Cambridge Boat-
race took place on the 3rd of April, Cambridge
winning by two-thirds of a length, after a very close
contest. On the sth Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P. late
Chief Secretary for Ireland, died; on the 13th the
Earl of Shaftesbury committed suicide by shooting
himself with a revolver while driving in a cab in
Regent-street, London; on the 17th a remarkable trial
terminated at the Central Criminal Court, London,
in the acquittal of Mrs. Bartlett, who was accused of
having poisoned her husband, a well-to-do London
provision merchant; on the 24th the Cardiff Savings
Bank suspended payment, and on the 28th three lives
were lost at a fire in Beak-street, Golden-square,
London. The greatest event in May was the opening
of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition at South Ken-
sington on the fourth. The exhibition, which was the
fourth and concluding one of a series, was open over
six months, over five million and a half persons
visited it, and before the close honours were distri•
buted wholesale among the Indian, Colonial, and
English officials. On the Bth of May Philip Gosset,
late managing director of the Jersey Banking Com-
pany, was sentenced to five years' penal servitude for
misappropriating nearly £40,000 of public money; a
commercial treaty with Spain was signed on the 10th;
on the 25th a statue of Sir Erasmus Wilson was un-
veiled at Margate; and on the 29th the new bridge
across the Thames at Putney was opened by the
Prince of Wales. lathe month of June there was serious
rioting at Belfast which was renewed. The 19th was
notable for the death of two distinguished men—Hobart
Pasha and Sir Charles Trevelyan. Towards the end
of June the French Princes were expelled from
France, and on the 24th the Comte de Paris arrived in
London. In July (on the 15th) a serious riot oc-
stirred in Dublin. An English cooper, named
drahana, of Buffalo, successfully shot the Niagara
rapids on the 11th, in a barrel he constructed for the
purpose. On the sth a terrible railway collision took
place near Holytown, on the Caledonian Railway;
carriages were wrecked ana passengers injured. Two
deaths from excessive heat were reported to the
coroner for East Surrey on the 19th; on the 12th
two Protestants were killed in the Orange riots at
Belfast. Prebendary Wilson, for fifty - four
years vicar of Islington, died on the 15th;
fourteen sailors belonging to her Majesty's
gunboat Goshawk were drowned at Port
Royal, Jamaica, July 19th; Mr. J. P. Knight,
General Manager of the London, Brighton, and South
Coast Railway, died on the 22nd; Mr. W. Morris,
Socialist, was fined at the Marylebone Police-court on
the 24th for causing an obstruction in several streets,
and on the 29th Mr. J. H. Blackburne won the first
prize in the chess tournament. FashiopeF•le "'lmes
were somewhat excited ar e Znd of Augu t by
the trial of Lord LonsdalelA Newcastle for an assault
on the husband of Miss Tiolet Cameron. His lord-
ship was fined. Among other celebrated causes were
the divorce suit of Cooksoii r. Cookson and the Rey
Finlayson (Aug. 6th) resulting in a decree nisi; and
the action in the Chancery Division of Andrews v.
Uthwatt in which the plaintiff claimed an estate in
Buckinghamshire said to be worth £BO,OOO. The
question was as to the legitimacy of the plaintiff, and
the court held (August 10th) that he had not made
out his title. At the Middlesex Sessions on the 13th,
two Socialists, 'Williams and Mainwaring, were fined
£2O, and ordered to enter into their own recog-
nisances in the sum of £5O to be of good behaviour
for six months. Williams went to prison. On the
same day an explosion took place a Woodend