The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-04 00:00:00

RETROSPECT

YEAR 1872.

Each passing year is full of history. Some are more
eventful than others, but none fails to arbl its deeply
intending chapters to the annals of the World's pro.
grew. The year 1872 has been far from uneventful, es
the following vett( spective glance will abundantly
show.

In this thoroughly loyal country the movements of
the Royal family always possess general interest. At
the opening if the year the l'rince of Wales wire in a still
prostrate condition, though he WAS resovering from
hes illness, and on the 2nd of January the Queen, who
had been watching by the bedside of her son, wax en.
ailed to leave Sandringham for Windsor, from which
she soon afterwards departed for Osborne, distributing
the New Year'. gifts on the Royal estate on the 15th
of the month. On the 22nd of February Her Majesty
left her marine residence for Windsor, and a few days
afterwards paid a visit to Buckiogham Palace, pre-
paratory to the celebration of Thanksgiving Day on
the 27th of that ntonth. The recovery of the Prince
of Wales from his alarrninv illness was fitly acknow.
bilged by a public thankigiving at St. Paul's Cathe•
(Iral. The Queen, the PrOtre, and several members of
the Royal family aasisted, end the metropolitan church
was filled by eminent statesmen, eccleeiastical digni-
taries, members of both HOU'OM ..f the Legislature, and
opresentatives of municipal bodies. The streets
of London presented a brillant spectacle, the people
exhibiting every sign and emblem of rejoicing.
After spending a short time at Windsor, with a
brief visit to Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty with
the Prince Leopold and the Princess Beatrice, paid a
visit to some relatives in 4: ermany, arriving at Baden
on the 25th of March, and quitting that town on the
6:h of ApriL On the 15th of May the Queen with
some junior members of her family, went to Balmoral,
where she held a Council on the 28th, returning to
Windear on the 18th of June. On the sth of July the
Sovereign reviewed some of her troops at Aldershot
iga the 11th she again visited Osborne ; on the 6th of
September paid a visit to the ducal family of riuther-
linil at Dunrobin Castle : on the 12th she retornid to
:ftlmoral ; at the eh se of November retunred to Wind-
sor ; and on the 17th of December left the R
town once again for the marine mansion in the Isle of
Wight.

The Session was opened on the 6th of February with
a Royal message. tier MAjesty referred to the re-
covery of the Prince of Wales, our amity with foreign
Powers, the South Sea Coolie trade. the French
Treaty of Commerce. the American claims, and the
sati.factory condition of Ireland. The chief legislation
foreshadowed had reference to Scotch education, the
regulation of mines, the licensing system, the Courts
of appeal. the ballot, and sanitary matters. We need
but note some of the leading meartires that were en-
acted, taking them in the order of time. Thcoe were
—to legalism and regulate the res,gnation of deans and
canons; to alter the boundaries of dioceses; to ',lnlet*
the Royal parks; to amend the laws as to reformatory
and industrial school.; to repeal the Party Processing
Act (Irelamd) ; to amend the Elementary Education
Act of 1S70; to amend Acts as to the imprco ement of
Irish land.; to amend the laws relating to parlia-
mentary and municipal elections (the Ballot) ; to pro-
tect infant life (baby farming); to further provide for
arbitration between makers and men; to amend the
Public Schools Act of 1868; to amend the Irish bank-
ruptcy ; to provide for education in Scotland; to
amend the bastardy laws (this bill contains an extra-
ordinary flaw which is to be remedied next session) ;
to provide for a Local Government Board in Ireland;
to amend the Merchant Shipping and the Passenger
Acts; to amend the law as to adulteration; to amend
the laws on coal end other mines; ditto on metallb
ferous mines; to protect sea birds; to amend the laws
on public health; to amend the Irish Church Act of
169; to amend the laws relating to pawnbrokers; to
regulate the sale of intmicating drinks; and to pro-
mote the revision of the s.atute law. The session was
prorogued by commission on the 10th of August.

An important fact, from a political point of view, has
been the adoption of the Ballot, both for parliamentary
and municipal elections, and the result has been one at
which politicians of all parties may rejoice. It is uni-
versally admitted that there have been far more order
and quietude under the new sy-tem than under the
old, while bribery and Mtimi.lation have sensibly
diminished.
There ham been considerable political activit
throughout the United Kingdom quite indepeneentl
of its manifestation during the session of Parliament.
Conferences in many large towns have been held on
the direct representation of labour, on the equalisation
of electoral districts, on the right of women to the
suffrage, on local tscxstion. and on other political sub-
jects. Much of this activity may be traced to the
general impression that the coming session will be the
last of the present Parliament, and to the certainty
that a di•solntion cannot be much longer delayed.
Numerous considerations tend towards the probability
of the al proaching session being an active and im-
portant one, and it is certain that earnest politicians of
all parties will he on the qui rice in anticipation of the
next general election.
An event which excited intense indignation and
seeroW, was the aasaiisination of Lord Mayo, t I overnor.
Get anal of India, on the Bth of February. He was on
a visit to Post Blair, in the Andaman lelanos, aid
here he Was suddenly stabbed in several places by
Shere Al!, • mad bramed pi licical zealot, who was
captured, tried, aid executed. The lamented Lord
Mayo was succteded in his high office by Lord North.
brook.

Another event which aroused not only lmlignaticn
but contempt and irritation, was a pitiable atto-mpt,
happily unsuccessf nl, to frighten her Majesty tinder
thee. cubism* o.f assassination. On the 29th o f Feb-
ruary, as the Queen was enterirg Bnckingham Palace,
Arthur 0 Connor, a youth, whose Fenian sympathies
had turned whet litt'e brains he ever had, rmohed at
her carriage and presented in one hand a petition for
the release of the Fat iat s, and in the other an unloaded
pistol. Ile was immediately seized, was subsequently
tried, and was sentenced to a year's imprisonment and
24) stripes uith a birch rod.

The commercial ard trading prosperity of the country
throughout the year has hem n very marked ; capital
and enterprise have had full scope ; and labour has
been very largely employed. Consequent on this sic.
tivity there bay, been numerous contests between em-
ployer and employed, the latter in many department.
of trade or manufacture demanding either an increase
of wages, a slimier-16in of the hours of labour, or in
some cases both. In some instances the demands of the
men having been refused they have had to e ice way
and make th, best of the old arrangements ; but in far
more numerous instances the men have gained the
vfotory. gad on the whole the prices of skilled and un-
skirled labour have considerably riven. One remark-
able strike is worthy of special mention because it be-
came the subject of an important decision by one of
her Majesty's judges in the Central Crimmal Court. A
man belonging to the London II se-Sta.,rre Union
having been dismissed by the manager of the company
at white works he way employed, his fellow-workmen
demanded that he should be reinstated, and this being
refuted they struck, and the strike spread to most of
the metropolitan companies. Considerable alarm was
at one time felt lest London should be suddenly left in
darkness at night. Other men, however, came for-
ward, and the strike speedily csellapeed. Several of
the men who had struck wire brought before the police
magistrates, and eentencel to short terms of imprison-
ment for leaving their work without notice, whits five
other men were committed for trisl at the Central
Criminal Court on the charge of cons; 'racy, and were
eltimately sentenced to a year's imprisonniert !eve.
The extraordinary activity of the iron and coal
trades has been a remarkable commercial feature in
the history of the past year, and the high prices °renal
and iron are gennally regarded as having had an im-
portant influence cm the mime of commodities generally.
From various dietrfote we continually heard of a flee,
and another rise in wages. sr d of advances in the prices
of coal, iron; and other AI ticles immediately connected
with them. That pricey, both as regards the products
and the workers in them, were forced up to an arti-
ficial point in now pretty generally admitted, except of
course by those who naturally take an interested view
of the matter. In November there were in several
districts] indications of falling prices in coal and iron an
well an among the wages of the colliers and iron
workers, and subsequently there have been reported
falling market, in the chief districts for these impor.
taut trades--a fact which, however it may effect a
section of the community, must be regarded as favour-
able to the country at large.
Considerable agitation sprang up amongst the agri-
cultural labourers in several districts in the spring, and
was prolonged during the summer and harvest months.
The demand of the men for higher pay appeared to ob-
tain public sympathy generally, and several influential
gentlemen encouraged th-ir movement in this direction.
One result of this was that in numerous inetances the
farmers acceded to the demands of the men, and
another result was that emigration among the agricul.
tural labourers, soon after the ingathering of the her-
veet, took place t• a considerable extent. The Emperor
of Brazil appointed agents lit re to facilitate emigration
to that country, and the Government of Ontario sent
over Commissioners with the same object. 'With such
Inducements, a considerable number of farm labourers
and their families have emigrated to Canada, Brazil,
Australia, and New Zealand, an I this has naturally
had the effect of bettering the position of those of
their clam who remain behind, though it is painful to
add that subsequent accounts from Brazil skew that
fettering proud-es have not be n fulfilled. Altogether
the prospects of the farm labourer are brighter at
the close of the year 1872 than they were at the end
of 11,71.
bineatisfaction has been for some time past increas-
Irg in regard to the Income-tax, end the discontent
has culminated in the f. rmation of a National Anti.
Income Tax League. The resolve to form this league
was arrived at on the occasion of a great meeting in
Loudon, with the Lord Mayor in the chair, at which
meeting there were repre-entatives from numerous
towns throughout the country. At this meeting, as
Well as by several assemblages in various party of the
kingdom, especially since the prorogation of Parlia-
ment, the Income-tax hag been unanimously condemned
as /sing litijmtt in Ito incidence and assessment, and
as offering great temptations to dishonest returns, and
also as bong an unnectattary tax in time of peace, it
having teen originally imposed as a war tax. It is
thought by the well-informed that when Parliament
moets the opponents of the incorne-tax will pretsent
rather formidable phalanx.
----- - • ••

Among tip v'sits of dlatinguiched inliv'duala to thii
country we m!iy mention !ho, of he King of the Bet-
the Queen of the N•therla,M4 the Etrlttwo ot
Germany, and likewise these of the Bwremee etubsesy
and of s-veral Jlainere gent'etrnm of 1.4.41 rank, who
came to ativiv our manners and custom!, and lit on on
the 14th of December.
Several so-sailed demonstrations have taken place in
Hyde-park during the rummer and autumn, and have
excited considerable indignation on the part of the
public and ill feelmg on the part (4 Grote whom the
Government has thought it its duty to prosecute.
Certain rules for the controlling of these demonstra-
tions having been set it &flume, • number of Fenian

sympathisers were prosecuted at a London police court,
the came of one man being taken am a test case. This
man having been fined £lO, a case was granted for
appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench. It is the
general hope that next seadon Parliament will make
definite regulations on the subject, and that these re.
gulations will be enforced.

One of the most agreeable epioodes of the year's
histoiy is the discovery of Dr. Livingstone by Mr.
Stanley, sent out to discover the discoverer, by the
enterprise and liberality of Mr. Bennett, of the New
York Herald. With indomitable energy and endurance,
and with conviderable tact arid Mr. Stanley pursued
his arduous journey. and at last had the pleasure Of
seeing the Doctor, surrounded by a group of Arabs,
and mildly asking the memorable question, " Dr.
Livingstone, I presume?' The narratives which Mr.
Stanley subsequently wrote, as well its the intrepid
traveller's own letters, were read throughout the
oivilised world with the deepest interest, and Mr.
Stanley was received in this country with rapturous
enthusiasm. After a short stay amongst us. be left for
New York. where he arrived on the tiOth of November.

Readers of Livingstone's interesting letters v.ill re
member how eloquently and indignantly he speaks of
the slave traffic of the east coast of Africa, Mr.
Stanley did a generous and noble work in seconoing
Cite doctor's efforts to arouse England to the suppres
sion of this traffic. The energetic young American
was the leading speaker at a great meeting hell at the
London Maneion House to stree,gthen the hands of
;overnment in their entleavoure to suppress the trole.
Sir hartle Frere has been chorten as chief of the expe-
dition for this purpose. He left London for Paris,
en route for Brinebei and Zanzibar, on the 21st of
November, ti arrange with the Sultan of the latter
pace as to the terms on which this shameful and cruel
trade is to be suppressed, and we earnestly hope that
his humane ruiesion will be crowned with success.
Ireland hats throughout the year been comparatively
tranquil anti decidedly prosperous. Two subjects
have to 'tome extent preduced nneweinese—Home Rule
and Fenianism, but neither the Home Rule nor the
Fenian mos salient has Made; regress; on the contrary,
they appear to have retrograded, aid will certainly do
so as the country becomes, al we may fairly hope,
increasingly presperous. As a rmu t of some of the
Fenian meetings, deputations have waited on the
Government, or letters ha.. been aidmesed to the
Premier, urging the liberation of "the remaining
Fenian primal ere ;" but 'Mr. Gladstone he, ueiformly
replied that all those men whose offences were purely
political have been already lit crated, and that exc. ;it
tit nal clemency cannot be shown o those who have
committed civil crimes. The Galway election necessi-
tated • trial, in giving judgment iii which Mr. Justice
Keogh, a Roman Catholic, severely condemned the
conduct of conic of the pr. este. This cautted some irrita-
tion which led to rioting and lotie of life in Belfast.
There have also been acme agrarian outrages in the
country, but on the whole Ireland has been peaceful
and content. As illustrating the politically calm state
of the sister island at the close of the year, it may be
mentioned that the anniversary of the closing sit the
gates if Deiry—formerly an occasion for Tiot and even
bloodshed—was celebrates! on the 18th of December
without the slightest ditorder.
Among the minor social and political events of the
year, we may mention the telegraphic union of Eaglet d
with Austra ; the retireu sot if Mr. Evelyn Dentition
from the Speakership of the Home of Commons, he
being succeeded by Mr. H. It. Brent; the Autumn
manionvres in Hampshire, in September and October;
the Social Science Congress and the Church Congress,
both held at Leeds ; the influential movement, likely to
be crowned with success, fer the establishment of a
Hospital Sunday in London ; numerous meetings to
protest against the Game Laws as one of the leading
Causes of the high price of food ; the enthusiastic pil-
grimage of Sergeant Bates, an Americ an, carrying the
flag of his country from Gretna Green to London, he beim g
everywhere received along his route with cheering and
welcome, and being Wet-lee:ibis arrival in themetropolis ;
the raid upon several betting clubs in London, the
prosecution of some of the bookmakers and the inflic-
tion of heavy fines upon some of their number; the
voluminous correspondence relative to the fagging and
"tending" at our public echoed! ; the marriage of the
Emperor of China with circumstances of great pomp,
and the deterrituation of his Celestial Majesty to
make an unprecedented " progreert" throughout his
east dominkns ; the great famine which raged in Persia
in the spring, causing serious loss of life, and arousing
not only the sympathy but the generone subscriptions
of our country; and the futile attempt to assassinate
tee Bing and Queen of Spain; and from the long rata-
logue of disaster and calamity which always forms FO
prominent a feature in our newspapers, we will but
select for brief reference the colliery explosions at Oak-
wood, Atherton, Feleall. and Morley; the hurricane
at Pallazzo (1,000 families unhoused, and 32 persons
killed) ; at Mea-ina (35 persons killed); and at Zanzibar
(damage two millions sterling); the eruptions of
VehtiVilliS (200 people burial); earthquakes at Antioch;
(400 eople killed); in California (30 killed) ; and fire.
at Ching Sing (600 people killed or injured) ; the
whole village of Lernetz, Switzerland, 115 houses
icing destroyed; and the hurling of the EscuriaL

In one own and several other countries the autumn
was rbarscterieed by heavy deluges vf rain, resulting
in serious floods in numerous districts. in Denmark
the inundations were unequalled by any that hod taken
place for 200 years previomly. Ihe sea made its in-
road for five miles on to the roasts, sweeping away
houses and farms and destroying vegetation to a seri-
ous extent, and drowning two or three hundred people
and hundreds of head of cattle, while wreaks of vessels
were found lying on what were formerly fertile fields.
In Italy, too, the floods were mcrit disastrous. The
first accounts stated that some 80,000 people were ren-
dered homeless; about 400 miles of Lountry were sub-
merged; and property, including cereal stores and
growing aLd mown crops, was destroyed to an immense
extent. Late' accounts, which will be fresh in the
memory of our readers, stated that the floods con-
tinued, that the banks of several rivers had been
broken down. awl that further disaser to a consider-
able extent had occurred. Germany, France, Belgium,
and Holland, have also seriously suffered. The sym-
pathy of our country was aroused ly these disasters,
and subscriptions to a large amcunt were raised for
the relief of the sufferers, with whom we cgulil sym-
pathise all the more keenly owing to the heavy and
..ontintions rainfall having caused considerable Ines
at brine. There were also, towards the elute of the
vear, some terril le gales, which caused numerous
disasters both at sea and on land.

France bet been passing through a political crisis
which became very Seli.us towards the close of the year.
A strong party iv the Notional .4 ssembly had become
dimatisfie with the conduct ard attirude of M. Thierr,
especially with reg-rd to his alleged .-ornplicdy with
the policy of M. Gambetta General Chao garnier, a
lead er of this party, conerequently b• ought f, ow ard a mo-
tion, the avowed object of which was to express the As-
rembly's disapproval of the language adopted by he ex-
director Gambetta in his att -ck upon the manse, hical
part'; but the gist of this motion ware that France
required rmasouring, and that this re ass owe must
come from M Th era. After • mod exciting debate,
there bring crowds of peorde round the Assembly
Ifroye, the following amendment to General Chan-
garnis r'm motion was peered : "'the Notional Amenoldy.
confiding in the ener,:y of the Government, and reprov.
ing the doctrines! pried •lined at the Grenoble banquet,
r.adses to the order of the day." This was carded by
2017 to 117. I hi. was PO far a vote of confidence in the
President, but he demanded more than this—nothing
less than a distinct and gen, ral vote of confidence, de-
eming that if this were carried by a sufficieit majority
he wonlri imme.riately bring forward his constitutional
plans, bid that in the con•rary case he would deign.
Following upon this a committee was appointed, at
the head of which was M. de Kerdrel, which woo
avowedly hostile to many of the views of M. Thiere.
The committee having reported and made several im-
portant propositions which, had they been adopted by
the Assembly, would have imperilled the President's
position, and would have facilitated monarchical
intriguers, M. Thierm made a firm stand against the
report, and the Asdembly appioved a resolution moved
by M. Dirfanre, the Minister .4 Justice, irk opposition
to the policy of the Rerdrel committee, by 370 votes to
314. Thus the l'reaident for a tims triumphed, but
the crisis continued. On the 30th of November there
IMP a very stormy meeting of the Assembly, and
M. Lennie, the Home Minister, having been censured,
he at once tendei e I his resignation. On the 2nd of
December, there having been in the interval throats of
further resignations, there was a Cabinet Council,
which ended in M. Tbiers saying that, thonah much
diedouraged, he would not abandon his efforts to
govern the country, and the ministerial resignations
were all withdrawn, with the exception of that of
H. Isefranc. A committee IMP entesequently ap-
pointed, on the proposition of M. Dufarire, to regulate
the powers of the Executive and the ImAolature, and
decide the conditions of ministerial responsibility, the
majority of this committee being opposed to the policy
of M. Thiera The situation of affairs was reodered
more critical hv an alliance sprineing up hetwera the
Bonapartist., Or leanista, and Legitimists, though ther•
seems no probability of any ',avoided action, and the
political affairs of France at the close of the year have
become further complicated by an agitation ern the
part of the Left for the dissolution of the Narional
Assembly. This body, however, decided egainat Its
own dissolution by 490 to 201, and the country has
subsequently been more tranquil.
The expulsion of Prince Napoleon from France
aroused consideralsle excitement among his empoortere,
and was in the main condemned by the British press.
'the Prince entered France with a passport duly Mal,
and made no secret of his jerorneykrgA, being accom-
panied by his wife, Princess Clothinie, daughter of the
King of Italy. The ostensible object of the Prince
was to select • school for his children in Park but the
French Government, maintaining that he had inten-
thom hostile to existing institutions, ordered him to
quit the country, and, with due respect, they conducted
him over the frontiers of France and Switzerland, the
Princess choosing to accompany him. Prince Na-
poleon protested, and 'subsequently male great efforts
to bring the affair hefore the French law courts, but
this has been devird him, and every application for a
summons against this or that official has been refused
by the Procureur•Wnlral, because, he says, the police
acted under instrurtiono from the Minister of the
Interdsr, who is inviolable as a deputy.
Prussia, reposing from the fatigued and the victories
of war, has herin developing the arts of peace, and has
been throughout the year eminently prosperous, though
her internal political affairs have Idren far from quies-
cent. With a view et strengthening the privileged
orders, the Einperer towards the dome of the year re-
sorted is tie extraordinary course of nominating
twenty-five new peers, clowen from among State
functionaries, military officers, and landed proprietors,
I The policy of contiolidation of the empire of Germany
1 has b-en atrocity pursued and maid, sited in many
ways, not tire least la makable inotance of which is the
retirement of Prince Bismarck from the presidency of
the Prussian Ministry. This resignation is regarded
here and abroad as indicative of the approaching real!.
sati in of LI. complete ealurgida,U,,u of toe German
empire; besodea which a leg d. code for all Germany
is now in course of preparation.

Italy haul not abscrted much tttantinn throrighout
the year, excmt in reference to her disastrous inunda-
t otos elmwhisie refirr,il to. There °lvor, r, been
at various tiuma considerable agitim ion in the country.
1 he extreme Radical party caused the Government
considerable unemineaa, and a great political demon-
stration in Rome having been organised for the 24th
of November, ostensibly for the advocacy of universal

suffrage, the Prefect of the Eternal City had to forbid
the inseting, declaring that the real object was to op.
lice the present form of Goverment and the funds-
mental institutions of the State. Au in the ease of
France, extreme political parties mar the quietude of
the country, but it is to be hoped that in both coon-
trits avund constitutional principles will triumph.
! Spain has been in an unsettled state, especially to.
wards the close of the year. The illness of the King
in November created some political excitement, and in
various parts of the peninsula there wdre distur-
hances among the Republicans or revolutionary party.
Riots amid which there were shouts for a Republic,
occurred at Santander, Velez, Malaga, Gijon, and other
places, but they were repreesed by the military; not,
however, before the revolutionary movements had as-
awned some importance. Federal insurgents pene-
trated the town of Murcia and attacked the rpyalist
troops, eight ('ivil Guards being killed and Meveral
soldiers wounded. There was skirmishing also at
Linares, at Arcoe, and in Andalnnia, and in every ease
the insurgents were defeated. The Red Republicans,
in foot, raised the standard of revolt in various parts
of the ccamsry, but their movements were without
any concerted plan, and their detached and desultory
character at no time gave promise of important vic-
tories. Carhst bands also added to the tumult into
which the distracted country was thrown. Spain, in
fact, finds herself at the close of the year in a state of
tumult and disorder, and, though we are continually
told that this or that outbreak has been suppressed,
there is little probability of quietude for a long time to
Come.

One of the most pleasing events of the year has been
the final settlement of the American claims on us lin
refeience to the depredations of the A I aP,anta and other
Confederate cruisers. Thie happy result was not
arrived at without lengthy deliberation and negotiation
The United States; Senate having consented in May to
fresh negotiations on the "indirect claims," commis-
sioners from the two countries, a. well as representa-
tives of some foreign Powers, assembled at Geneva, on
the 15th of June, but towards the end of the following
month they decided that they could not entertain the
" kdirect claims," but only the direct. Considerable
alarm was then felt as to • possible hostile attitude on
the part of America, where the action of the Geneva
Con veuthat excited at lint great irritation. Discussion
and calmer judgment, however, triumphed, and the
American authorities became more conciliatory. The
award was given on the 14th of September, and was
against us, England being mulcted in damages to the
amount of more than three millions sterling. Our
countrymen generally are, however, well content to pay
this, and thus secure peace and amity detween the two
gr. Englieb-speaking nations. In c nnection with
three facts it may be added that the Emperor of Ger-
many decided the San Juan boundary question in
favour of America and against us.

The electit nof President f the United States ea-
ch,' considerable interest not only in that country
hut on the Continent and in the United Kingdom.
The chief contest lay between General Grant and Mr.
Horace Greeley, and the result waft tht.t the former
was re-elected. It is thought that the discouragement
which Mr. Greeley received during his canvass seriously
affected his health, and political events no doubt histl
something to do with Ms Plums, which was aggravated
by watching by the bmisids of a sick wife. The malady
of this eminent nian, best known as the proprietor and
editor of the New York Tribune, ended fatally, and he
died at the close of the month of November. He WM
eminently a self-made man. In his message to Con-
gress, Preshlent Grant congratulated his country on
It. peace and prosperity; alluding to the arbitration at
Geneva as having disposed of a question which jeopar-
dised the Treaty of Washington, and threatened to
involve Great Britain and America in unhappy rela-
tions; referred to the San Juan decision as leaving the
two Governments without a shadow on their friend-
ship ; and expressed the friendly feelings of the United
States towards all the nations of the world.

An event which recalls the memory of the great fire
of Chicago, in October, 1871, is among the records of
the calamities of the succeeding year. On the 9th of
November last a fire burst out in the noble city of
Boston. It is supposed to have been caused by the
over-heating of an engine-room in some premises in
Sumner street. The conflagration, in spite of heroic
efforts to suppress it, soon raged with terrible fury,
being aided by a breeze which sprang up, as well u by
the mansard roofs of most of the houses being con-
structed of wood. It was in the finest business
por-
tion of the city that the tire effected its ravages, and
splendid pile sifter pile fell a prey to the flame*. The
building in which the fire commenced was one of the
newest and beet c.f the monster granite buildings which
were the pride of Boston, and the flames ate their way
through iron and granite, in spite cf their presumably
indestructible character, till the heart of the city PAO
eaten out. When at bat, after the efforts of two
days and nights the conflagration was quelled it was
found that the scene of devastation covered an area of
some 60 acres, an-! the losses were subsequently
estimated, after careful examination, at nearly 100
millions of dollars, or 20 millions eterling, large
quantities of wool, grain, and produce being consumed.
The greater portion of the property was insured, but
the losses being so ion' den and so enorraotm, the in-
surance offices have been unable to meet it, the pro.
Imbility being that they will be able to cover about one
half the damage. The Bostonians, however, have been
generously aided by subscription. in America and our
own country, Chicago being the first to come forward
with empathy and help; and it is pleaaing to find
that the good coy of Boston is rapidly recovering her-
self after the manner of "the lumber city "that suf.
fer-ol an even greater calamity of the same kit d.
What may be caged • supplementary fire burst out at
Ii ,on on the 18th of November, a large grain ware-
hon. e heir g destroyed, and the loss being estimated at
200,000 dollar..

The Obituary of the year is not, we believe, quite so
mumentum am that of many a previous year, but it con-
tains 'natty names of note. From the upper ranks of
society we have lost the Duke of Bedford ; the Duke
of Loins; the Marquis of Londonderry.; the Earl of
Lonalale ; the Earl of Carystort ; the Earl of Clan-
carty ; Lord Clerina ; Lord Hastings (Rev. D. L.
A•tley); Lord Mayo, Governor-General of India; Lord
Harris. G. C. S. I. ; Lord I uch iquin ; Lord Southampton;
Lord Dolling and Bolwer, G.C.B. ; Lord Kensington;
Viscount Boyce; Baron Audley ; on Gifford ; Hon.
M. C. Maxwell; tho Countess of Shaftesbury; Laxly
Seaton, widow of Field Marshal Lord Seaton; Lady
Hannon, wife of Sir James Hoene's, Judge; Lady
Doughty, aunt to the claimant of the Tielaborme estates;
Lady Beaconsfield. wife of Mr. Disraeli; Sir IL E.
Lambert; Sir D. Eliott, K.O S. I. ; Sir Edward St.
Arihyn ; Sir T. Beckatt (aged 96) ; Sir E S. Gooch;
Sir G. S. Abercromby ; Sir F. Crossley, M.P. ; Sir H.
FL Bacon, Premier Baronet of England ; Sir 1).
Baxter; Sir Jarees O'Corinel (brother of Daniel) ; and
Sir A. C. Duff Gordon. The army has lent Field
Marshal Sir G. Pollock, G.C.8.. Governor of the
Tower; General Sir P. Montgomerie, K C. B.; General
Pennefather, Governor of Greenwich Hnepital ;
General Ashburnham, CD.; General Sir A. Lindeay:
General T. It. Chesney; Major General Daveney ;
Major General Scott ; Lieut.-General Slade; Colonel
J. U. Leckie; Colonel Burns, son of the poet; Colonel
J. S. Du Verney; Colonel F. R. Palmer, C. B.;
Colonel Sykes, H.P. ; Lieut.-Colonel Aliens;
Colonel Beamish ; Lieut.-Colonel Spedding ; Lieut.
Colonel R. Wyllie; Lient. Colonel Stephenson;
Lieut.-Colonel T. J. Soady ; and Captain R. N.
Boyee, Military Knight of Windsor. The "Navy
Limt " is little altered, but from it has to be struck nut the
names of Admiral Sir .1. Scott,; Admiral Sir E. Col.
lier ; Admiral G. A. Eliott ; Admiral H. 0. Love;
Admiral Sir T. J. Cochrane ; Admiral Lyons ;
and Lieut. S. Diskenn, son of the novelist. The
Church of England has lost many of its brightest
ornaments, and other Christian churches have suf-
fered the logs of eminent men. We note the
deaths of the Right Rev. S. Hinds, formerly
Bishop of Norwich; Right Rev. R. Daly, Bishop
of Cashel ; Right Rev. T V. Short, formerly Si chop
ef St. Asaph ; Right Rev. C. H. Terrot, Bishop
of Edinburgh; Very Rev. S. Hood, Dean of Argyle;
Very Rev. J. A. Jerernie, Dean of Lincoln; Right
Rev. Dr. Goo, Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool ;
Very Rev. Monsignore lionomi, R. C. Vicar-General
of Clifton; Canon Moeely ; Rev. Chancellor
b.rd; Rev. F. D. Maurice, Professor of Theo-
logy ; Rev. H. Haines ; Rev. G. W. Adderley ;
Rev. D. L. Astley, Lord Hastings; Rev. Dr. J.
Bisset, formerly Moderator of the General Amen-
bly ; Rev. Norman M'Leod ; Rev. J. B. Owen,
chairman of the Polytechnic; Rev. J. Pureleas,
Brighton ; Rev. Dr. E. Nash (Wesleyan); Rev,
J. Wells (Bapti-t) ; and Rev. W. Ellis, mis-
sionary. Among men of legal eminenee, we have lost
the Right Hon. Sir J. S. Willem, Judge of the Court
of Crampon Pleas (imicide while in a state of unsound
mind) ; Lord Kinloch, Judge of the Court of Session;
Mr. M. Davenport Hill, Recorder of Birmingham;
Hon. D. Lynch, Judge of the Landed Estates
Court in Ireland ; and Serjeant W. Payne. Among
thorn who had made therneelves a name in seieece,
art, or literature, we have to chronicle the
deaths of Sir J. owring, LL.D. ; Profeseor R.
Wtstrnscott, sculptor; M. Jules Nelaton, painter ;
Mr. Charles Lever; Mr. Horace Meybew ; M. A. W.
Fonblanque, editor of the Spectator ; Mr. A. H.
Forrester (Alfred Crowquill) ; H. Theophile Gau-
tier, journalist and critic ; and Mrs. Mary Somer-
ville. And in the obituary of the year are also
recorded the following names of mate Charles
XV., King of Sweden; Prince Albrecht, younger
brother of the Emperor of Germany; the Dowager-
Princess Hohenlohe-Langenberg, half sister of Queen
Victoria; General Juarez. President of the Re-
public of Mexico; the Due de Persigny, French
Ambassador ; Baron Beanlieu, Belgian Minister in
Louden; M. Gnmeppe Maazini ; Sir Donald Macleod,
killed while endeavouring to enter a railway carriage;
Mr. W. 11. Seward, formerly Secretary of State, TJ S.;
Mr. Horace Greeley ; Mr. Janice Fisk. the leader of
the Erie Ring, aasassinoted ; M. Arles Dufour, leader
of the French free trade party; Mr. E. 'l'. Bainbridge,
formerly M.P. ; Mr. F. Doulton, formerly M.P. ; Mr.
F. Dundati, M.P. ; Mr. J. Pea., philanthropist; Mr.
J. Peel, M.P.; Mr. .T. Platt, M.P., eminent ma-
chinist; and Mr. J. Gillott, the first manufacturer of
steel pens by machinery.
• • •

Having thus noted the salient features of the history
of the year 1872, it needs not to be said that those fea-
tures are varied as are the chairiitg seaeone, or as the
incidents in human life, that web whicli is woven with a
"woof of sorrow and a warp of gl .dness." May the
year 1873 be memorable in the world's history for the
triumphs of civilisation, and for the mr ral end intel-
lectual pmgross of humanity; and may it lbt to each
and all of our readers
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

FAMILY GATHERING AT THE LONDON MAN-
SION Hots.—On Christmaa day a very remarkable
entertainment in its way was given by Sr Sydney
Waterlow, the Lord Mayor of London, in the Egypian
Hall of the Mansion House. The Chief Magistrate
of the City invited the whole of his rdationn. 210 in
number, to dine with him, and 186 of them accepted
the invitati. n and were present on then •ension. His
father, now in h;s 83ld year, had the peculiar gratifi-
cation of dining at t.e same table with his 13 sons and
daughters, 49 el.:init.-hill, en, and 14 great fraud-
childrs n. The Lord Mayor was supported by his fonr
sons and four daughters, his four brothers and sin
sisters, 17 nephews, 22 nieces, '29 cousins, and one
grandnen. On the other hand, the Lady Mayoress
was surrounded by her stepmother, four brothers,
three sisters, 12 nephews, 12 nieces, sad 41 cousins.