The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-12
LONDON LETTER..
VI O..
From our regular Correspondent


We are treading close upon the heels of the
London season What, then, are the prospects
for trade and pleasure during the coming
months, when the metropolis will be turned
into one huge fair, the streets crowded, the road
ways blocked with carriages, the day time al
most too brief for the fulflment of innumera
bic engagements, night literally turned into
day, and society hurrying to and fro between
dinner party and ball, cricket match and flow
er show, park and opera, afternoon reception
and French play? The most confirmed grum
bier can scarcely look with janndiced eyes on
the summer programme that is already issu.
ing. On all sides there are signs ofencourage.
ment and promise. The youthful are cheerful,
fully determined to face the fatigues of society
and the mIddleagcd follow their lead. The
Prince and Princess of Wales with their popu.
lar boys safe and sound from their seatrlp, are
prepared as ever to devote themselves to the
service Of the public, and will be found wher.
ever there is a good work to be inaugurated or
a deserving charity to be encouraged. Philan.
tropy, science art literature, music and the
drama-none of these things will be neglected
by the Heir to the Throne of England, whose
genial countenance will most certainly be seen
wherever his presence can promote what is
useful, and wherever his assistance is requisite
for the better development of manly sports and
exercises. Meanwhile, political antagonIsm
and doubt are at an end. The new Parliament
a Al.
of the Session got into good working order.
New brooms will do their utmost to sweep
clean; work and play will be cheerfully alter
mated and as there is vast amount of labor
to be accomplished, IN order that promises
may be duly fulfilled, there is every prospect of
a busy Session, which means season prutract-
ed far into the sultry days of summer.
Notwithstanding the severe prohlbltory reg
uations that restrict the traffic, the importation
of cattle from foreign countries has OF late gone
on increasing. In 1878 the number of foreign
animals landed at the six privileged ports was
1 ,200,323. In 1879 it was 1,24l SAT; and if, as
most people expect, trade continues to i'm
prove and wages RISE the import will, Of course,
grow rather than fall off. The fact that some
$4,000 cattle are killed every week at the Dept
ford landing place ought to indicate that not
only is the foreign cattle trade a large one, but
that the regulations enforcing slaughter at the
port of debarkatlon must certainly raise the
price OF beef 1t may thus come to be grave
question whether it would not he possible to
relax the restrictions now placed upon the i'm.
port Of cattle from the United States. There is
no vlrulent type of disease ragingln that coun.
Try. No case of plague can be discovered with
IN its frontiers; and, although sometimes cat
lie from American ports show symptoms OF
pleuro-pncumonia when they are landed, yet
Il must be borne in mind that when brought
over alive they are exposed to weather OF the
worst sort and deprived Of exercise in captivi.
". The strongest and healtheSt animals, in
such circumstances may contract pulmonary
disease, but, for all that, it may very well lie
hat no pleuro pneumonia was among them
when they were pun On board ship If this he
the case-and there is good scientific author. |
ty for saying that it Is so,-Mr Mundella
should set about making the foreign cattle
trade as free as is compatible with general safe
". He should put America on the same foot |
ing as Spain and Portugal.