The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-14 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN GOSSIP—Jan. 13.

Have your readers noticed the new agitation which has
just commenced in British Columbia for the annexation of
that colony to the United States ? Taken in connection
-kith the suggestion made in the United States
Senate, that England should cede the colony by
way of set off to the Alabama claims, it is clear
that we are entering upon a new and serious phase
of the American difficulty. It is now twenty-four years
since the treaty was signed defining the frontier line
between British America and the United States. Every
one knows how, in consequence of imperfect maps,
a dispute arose as to the channel through
which the boundary line ought to be drawn.
We said that the only channel marked on the
map was the line intended : the United States insisted
that a channel discovered subsequently was the one that
ought to be adopted. The difference involved the most
momentous consequences—nothing less, in fact, than
shutting us off from the Pacific, the first step towards,
what Mr. Seward has described as " crowding " Great
Britain out from that ocean. But the Pacific will, before"
long, become the highway to Japan and China, and ex-
perience of Morrill tariffs has taught us that the Washington
Govet nment will most certainly prevent our Eastern trade
passing through any United States port without paying
a heavy import duty. It is, therefore, essential to us if
we would maintain our trade with the East to retain
some good port on the Pacific. To do that we must
keep the island of San Juan, which General
Harney forcibly invaded in 1859, thereby nearly

involving the two countries in war. This island
would be ours if the boundary line which we claim were
established. About fourteen years ago commissioners were
appointed by the two Governments to settle the question,
and it was while the matter was still under consideration
that General Harney adopted the high-handed course of
landing an armed force on San Juan. It was only by the
extreme forbearance of Governor Douglas, and Captain,
now Admiral Hornby, that bloodshed and a revolting war
were prevented. The commission continued their labours
until the civil war broke out. England magnanimously
forbore to press her claims during the troubles of the
United States, and it was not till 18618, when peace bad been
restored,that negotiations were renewed. This magnanimity,
so different from the conduct of the Emperor Napoleon in
attempting to found a " Latin" Empire in ➢lexico, ob-
tained no recognition and called forth no thanks. It was
proposed by the Clarendon-Johnson convention to refer
the matter to the arbitration of the President of the
Swiss Republic; but we all know what became of that
convention. Viscount Milton says, in a volume just pub-
lished, " The San Juan Water Boundary," and which
every one should read who desires to understand the
matter, " Great Britain believes her rights to be so clear
that she does not fear the result of a fair arbitration; the
people of the United States, on the other hand, sem to

think their right to the disputed territory to be so extremely
clear that it ought not to be submitted to arbitration."
The word " seem " is a very appropriate qualifica-
tion. Most persons who have read the despatches
which Lord Milton has published—many of them for the
first time—will not only agree with him that the English
people ought not to be any longer kept in ignorance of
this important question, but that the more the matter is
explained, the less chance will there be that the claim set
up by the Washington Government will be approved even
by that Government itself. It is, no doubt, this conviction
which has induced the proposal that we shall cede
British Columbia as a set-off to the Alabama claims; in
other words, shut ourselves out from China and Japan
in order that all the trade with those countries may pass
through the United States—a very costly mode of paying
the Alabama claims, even were they twice as heavy as
they are.

My expectation that Mr. Bright would reveal no State
secret when addressing his constituents has been fulfilled,
and the announcement made by the Morning Post and the
Observer that he would make important disclosures has
been falsified. There is one revelation, however, which
the President of the Board of Trade made—a personal but
not a State revelation—viz., that Mr. Bright can make a
speech as moderate and unaggressive as any ever made
by the suave Mr. Cardwell himself. It is most
satisfactory to find that the right hon. gentleman has
at last comprehended the difficulties of a Cabinet
Minister. He no longer talks, as he did less than a year
ago, of a measure which will settle the Irish land question
at once. He admits that the question becomes more diffi-
cult the more closely it is approached. He no longer calls
upon the Government to undertake four or five first-class
measures in the same session, as he would have done if he
had still been a private member. Even if Mr. Bright
should quit office to-morrow he will have profited for the
rest of his life by this short taste of official labours and
responsibilities.
Two important political incidents are reported in this
morning's papers. The first, and most important, is a
speech by Mr. E. A. Leatham to his constituents at
Halifax. Now, this gentleman is an advanced Liberal,
and is brother-in-law to Mr. Bright ; yet he has declared
against one of the main principles of the Birmingham
League—compulsory education. This is but one fact out
of many to shew how little agreement there is among
the Liberal party as to the education question, and how
unlikely it is that the programme of the extreme
reformers will be passed. If a settlement of
the question were to be postponed for some
years, it is possible that the League might
prevail; but as by common consent the question must be
settled by next year at the latest, there is little proba-
bility that the League will be able to bring the majority
of politicians to accept its programme. The other incident
is the speech made at Christchurch by Sir H. D. Wolff, the
late Conservative candidate for that borough, in which
he denounced the new cry for reciprocity. Lord
Malmesbury was one of the speakers, and seems
to have approved Sir Henry's sentiments. It is
noticeable, too, that the audience consisted mainly
of farmers. It is no longer the agriculturists who ask
Protection, but working men in the towns ; and it is no
longer the squires who proclaim it, but men like Mr.
Odger.

There are rumours that Mr. Lowe will be able to
shew a magnificent surplus, and that he will bring
in the Budget very early in order to announce the
good news as speedily as possible, and so counteract
the irritation which the demand for the payment
of taxes in advance is causing. It is even said that the
surplus will be between five and six millions—a splendid
bonne bouche, which will pacify even the irate British tax-
payer, and induce him to refrain from looking the
Chancellor's fine gift-horse in the mouth.
The Conservatives have not yet overcome the difficulty
about the leadership in the Upper House. A little while
ago it seemed pretty nearly certain that Lord Derby would
be the man, and those who ought to know are certain that
he will be still. But it would appear as if Lord Derby him-
self desired to defer his acceptance of that very
onerous and not very cheerful office until he has
had time to feel his feet. When three such questions
as the land, education, and university tests are coming on,
it may be that so liberal a Conservative as Lord Derby
may desire to see what the Government propose to do
before he undertakes to lead the Opposition. Lord Cairns
will, therefore, not only meet Parliament in his capacity
of leader, as I mentioned last week, but will, in all proba-
bility, continue to hold that post until Easter. This will
give Lord Derby sufficient opportunity to see how
far he is en rapport with his party on the great questions
of the day; all the more opportunity because Easter is
late this year, and all the great Government measures are
likely to be introduced before that date.
Let me relieve these political matters with incidents of
a lighter kind. Your readers may remember that after
the opening of the last session of Parliament a bracelet
was discovered in the Peeresses' Gallery. It was ad-
vertised, but though it was very massive, and contained
some splendid stones, it was never asked for. It was then
taken to a jeweller's, who at once pronounced the hand-
some ornament to be a sham—a sufficient reason why it
was never demanded. Here is another similar incident,
of which the explanation is not so apparent. A large crush
party was given in one of the West-end squares a little
while ago. After the visitors were gone a bracelet was
found, and, as in the other case, notice was given of the
treasure to all the guests and friends of the giver of the
entertainment. But none of them claimed the bracelet.

It was taken to a jeweller's, who declared that it was worth
about £lO, and was therefore worth claiming. Why was
it not claimed ? Why has it never been claimed to this
day? I suspect that the explanation is to be found in
an incident mentioned in the obituary notices of the late
Lady Palmerston. It was stated that her ladyship used
often to see at her receptions in Cambridge House people
whom she had never asked. She never took affront, but
would say that if such people liked to come uninvited
they would do her no Wm. Now, it is by no means an
unusual thing for persons in London, fond of going out
and of boasting of the grand houses to which they kive
the entrée, to make their way into a house where they
;Fie a regular crush party going on. It does not signify
that they are not able to get near the hostess;
it would he rather awkward if they were able. So they stand
on the staircase or in the ante-room, and experience all
t'ie delight of being jostled by countesses and honourables.
The game is a tolerably safe one, only if the intruders should
happen to drop a bracelet they could not very well call
for it afterwards, and thus unless due caution is exercised
the amusement may be a little costly.

From time to time the papers have announced the
speedy opening of the Alexandra Park and Exhibition
building on Muswell Hill. The building was erected out
of the inaterials which constituted the International Exhi-
bition of 16/1.. Eutkoine sayears thusrorkhaa Ineuxhag.