New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-16
CURRENT TOPICS IN LONDON.

CURRENT TOPICS IN LONDON
HRRE MIsHAPs TO THE GOVERNMRNr-MR. GLAD
STONE KxCITEs A LIVELY DISCUSSION by HIS
AUSTRIAN LETTER DRAMATIC AND SOCIAL
EVENTS.
[BY CABLE TO THE TRrBUNEl
LONDON Saturday. May is. 1880.
This has been an unucky week for the Govern
nent. Three separate events have considerably im'
,o,rod ;ts nrestige-Sir William Harcourts defeat
Mr.. Fawcetrs enforced retroctiOn OF his mistaken
,baroe AGAINST the late Ministry, and Mr.. Glad
tone,s apolopv to Austria Sir William Harcoures
lefeat is really of little consequence and was Que
,artly to his personal unpopularty and partly TO
he tbirstness of the Oxford electors and the good
,uality of Halps beer. Nothing is yet settled re-
meeting Sir William Harcourts future seat, but
here are plenty Offering. Mr.. Fawcetts mistake
.rose from trusting unofficial information though
proceeding from the India Office He spoke heed
hssly, without acquainting Lord Harrington OF MS
Intention, and rightly asserted the existence OF
deficiency but he wrongly accused the Ministers OF
having knowledge of that deficit before the elec-
nons. Lord Harrington Immediately informed Mr.
Fawcett that he was mistaken, and insisted that ne
ihould publish a letter acknowledging the error.
which Mr.. Fawcett did in grudging terms, making
bad impression.
Mr.. GLADSTONE AssAIIED
Mr.. Gladstone was vastly surprised on discovering
that his letter TO Count Karoyi was regarded as too
Iubmissive. He attached slight importance to the
apologetic portion especially as it was not teie-
rraphed before he had extracted the important
pledge from Austria that she would not attempt to
90 beyond the limits prescribed in the Berlin Treaty.
In the Balkan Peninsula. He still insists that his
excuses to the Emperor only express his regret 1or
utterances based on alleged words which he now
finds were unspOken. He repudiates the notion that
he forgot the dignity of a British Prime Minister.
Nevertheless the Liberal journals defend their chief
only feebly; the general feeling among Liberals
being one of regret that Mr.. Gladstone allowed
himself to use expressions capable OF derogatOry
interpretation. The Tory Journals hSve been filed
oil the week with passionate denunciat1ons OF Mr.
Gladstone for bringing abject humiliation on Eng
land. The same journals reproduce many columns
of Continental comments. mostly unfavorable to
Mr.. Gladstone many asserting that never before
was similar apology wrung from the chief OF a
great nation. Mr.. GladstOne's friends say that
better impression will be produced when Count
KaroIyi's letter is published, and admit the mis-
take of not publishing both together.
AUSTRIA PLAYING DOUBLE.
Meantime the Austrian semi-Offlcal journal is en-
gagged in endeavOring to prove that the supposed
pledge from Austria invalid alleging that this
was purely private correspondence between Count
Karolyi and Mr.. Gladstone and denying that the
Austrian Premier was party to the transaction
still less is Austria herself bound by the expression
of Count Karolyi's opinion. The English Govern
ept will not tolerate this evasion and undetermined
TO hold Austria to her Ambassadors declaration.
RIVAL GAzETTEs.
John Morley assumes on Monday, the Editorship
of The Pail Mall Gazette, yielding to the persuasion
of eminent Liberals. He will conduct the paper as
an independent organ of advanced Liberal opinions.
Mr.. Greenwood publishes the prospectus of the The
81. James Gazette, describing it the old Pail Mall
under new name. 1t will appear next week.
Mr.. LOWELL IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
Mfr. Lowell writes on Thursday, that he had ar
rived at Fernside House-a residence which he has
taken near Southampton-having made the journey
with all the success he could have hoped for; his
wife is no worse, and he intends to stay at Fern
aide few days to complete his housekeeping
arrangements. He leaves his wife there, and will
arrive in London not later than Monday.
Mr.. F1sKE ABOUT TO LECTURE.
John Fiske arrived in London to-day with his
Uife they are the guests of Professor Huxley. lie
beeus on Tuesday of three lectures, at the
Royal institution, on American Political Ideas
from the Standpoint of Universal History" He
$ilI repeat the course later, in the provinces
SOCIETY MORE ANIMATED.
There has been some social animation during the
weak. There were two drawng-rooms on Tuesda
and Friday; the first was crowded, at the second
the attendance was moderate.
POPULAR INDIFFERENCE FOR THE QUEEN.
The Queen actually remained in London nearly
four days, and returned to Windsor yesterday.
saw her drive through hyde Park, from Bucking-
ham Palace to Paddiugton Station, through an i'm
mense concOurse Of people aud carriages. The
oaeen was in an open barouche with outriders,
john Brown occupying the dickey. The escort were
Life Guards. She drove from Hyde Park Corner to
Victoria Gate through double lane of carriages
filed with fashionable people, and dense crowds
of the lower classes concentrated at different points
Gentlemen raised their hats ladies bowed. but not
a single cheer was given along the whole route.
The Queen seemed to be in extremely good health
notwithstanding the protracted fAtgues Of her stay
in London, having been two hours in attendance at
her own drawing rooms.
rHx CHINESE AMBASSADOR GIVES PARTY.