Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-16
From Our Regular Correspondent
Our European Letter.
LONDON, Eng, March %. 1879,

amongst the nation is undoubtedly one of
the foremost questions of the day. There,
perhaps, never existed an evil for the cure
Of which there have been so many proposed
remedies as that of drunkenness. 1t is,
therefore, somewhat lamentable to find
that the annual amount spent in liquor
shows little or no diminution, in spite of
the numerous efforts made in different
ways to stem the growing evil in this
country. One of the latest ideas, and one
which has been attended by no small
amount of success. is the introduction of
coffee taverns, by the help of which the
publican is, to some extent, fought on his
own ground. Amongst the various socie-
ties which have. been started with view of
checking intemperance. there is one which,
although it has only come into prominence
in this country during the last 10 years. is
tolerably familiar TO most people through
the enormous growth it has attained in that
period. 1t is true that internal trouble
and fraternal strife has somewhat impair
ed the strength of the Good Templars as
a united body, but as matter of fact
their influence is, perhaps, greater than
ever. l do not know whether the Tenn
plars are aware of the fact, but very
curious notion has been hit upon by the
pot-house interest to supplant their organ
ization. Already an order has been nau-
gurated by the Bungs, under the title of
" The Free Templars.' and the three great
watchwords of the society are Liberty,
Moderation and Charity. In the absence
of any exact information beyond the in
timation conveyed on placards in the
windows of the various grog-shops that
the oath of membership may be taken at
the bar inside, am unable TO give my
readers full information as to the funda-
mental objects of the new Templars. l
assume, however, that the liberty enjoyed
by its members will be that of getting
drunk as often as they like. at their own
expense; that the moderation enjoyed is
only to be observed when drinking at the
expense of any one else; and that the
charity alluded 10 is the aid which its
members will receive in their old age
through the poor-law board Mt the expense
of the rate-payers.
Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess
Beatrice, and attended by General II. F.
Ponsonby and suite, is expected to leave
Windsor Castle on Tuesday next for Italy.
The queen on quitting Windsor will, it is
understood, proceed by special train to the
coast, and embarking on board the Victo-
ria and Albert yacht, will cross the chan
mel to Cherbourg harbor, travelling thence
by another special train over the Chemn
de fer de rQucst to Paris. On arriving at
the French capital it is believed that the
queen and princess will stay for a night at
the residence of the English ambassador.
After this short rest the royal travellers
will quit Paris, and resuming their jour-
ney will proceed by railway over the most
direct route through France and via
Mount Gems and Turin TO Aroma, and
thence to the Villa Clara, the residence of
Mr.. c. Henfrey, between Bavens and
Stresa. Sir Augustus Berkeley Paget, X.
c. b., Ohe British ambassador and Lady
Paget will, it is expected, be in attendance
at Aroma to receive her Majesty upon her
arrival. The Italian Villa, in which the
queen and princess are about to pass a
portion of the spring. is said to be very
picturesquely situated opposite the Borro-
mean Islands, the grounds around it are
extremely beautiful, and the spot com.
m ands magnificent prospect of the Lago
Maggiore and the charming scenery in its
vicinity. Her Majesty will probably re-
side at the Villa Clara about three weeks
and will then quit Italy on her return
to this country. An official annouce-
ment has been made that the queen S
journey is taken with the object Of
procuring rest and quiet, of which, after
her late trials, her Majesty stands much in
need. The queen intends to preserve the
strictest incognito, and will travel under
the name of the Countess of Balmoral.
St. Patrick's Day was not celebrated in
London by any of the open-air demon
strations by which the day has hitherto
been usually marked, but several Irish
societies and clubs gave concerts and en-
tcrtainments. The benevolent society OF
St. Patrick celebrated its sixty-fourth an
niversary festival by dinner at Williss
Rooms, under the presidency of Sir James
Hogg, M. P, and the London Home rule
club gave dinner at the Hoborn restau-
rant, Mr.. A. M. Sullivan. NJ. p, in the
chair. The day passed off very quietly in
the provinces. In Dublin the day was
observed by the usual festivities, and was
unattended by disturbances, but a serious
riot took place at Belfast. In opposition to
| the advice of their leaders the Nationalist
! walked in procession, and on being pre-
vented by body of constabulary from
proceeding to part of the town where
they would have encountered political
opponents, Il disturbance occurred. Stones
were thrown and pistols discharged ut the
police, who were obliged to fire upon the
procession in turn. Ten constables were
wounded some of them seriously, and
about thirty persons had wounds attended
to nj the hospital. An outrage was com.
mitted at Derby in the evening. Aparty
of Catholics were holding soiree in a
large room in Bishops street, when a
missile was thrown in through the glass
roof and Immediately exploded. 1t was
found to be II cart.axle which had been
filled with powder, strapped with wood,
and fired before being thrown. The heavy
glass of the roof injured several persons
one girl was cut in three places on the
head, and her boots were torn off her feet
by the violence of the explosion. She
was conveyed to the infrmary.