The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-08-29
FOREIGN.
The British Parliament Prorogued.

The British Parliament Prorogued.
LONDON, Aug. 27.-The last proceeding of
the session in the House of Commons, prelim-
mary to propagation this afternoon, was the
moving of writ for an election in Cambridge
shire, to fill the vacancy caused by the retire
ment of Mr.. Benjamin I'll. Rudwell. Only
about forty members were present. and they
were summoned to the House of Lords SO soon
after the Speaker took the chair that various
questions on trivial subjects of which notice
had been given by Mr. Bggar and others,
could not be put. In the House OF Lords the
Commons having been summuned, the Lord
High Chancellor, Lord Selborne, read the
Queens speech proroglDg the session. only
three peers besides the Royal Commissioners
listened to it. The speech declares that the re-
lations with foreign powers are amicabe and
cordial Satisfactory assurances have been re-
ceived from France regarding TuniS. Self
government has been secured TO the Transvaal
which it is hoped will traDquilize South Afri-
ca. The withdrawal of British troops from
Afghanistan is not expected to lead to any
trouble on the northwestern frontier of India.
Although negotiations have been temporarily
suspended, the best efforts will be made to con-
clude commercial treaty with France. In
reference to Irish affairs the Queen says it is
her earnest hope that the new land act may be
productive of benefits commensurate with the
care given to the measure 1t has been the
study of Her Majesty to use the exceptional
powers confded to her in Ireland with vigi-
lance and frmness, but with discrimination.
The desire is expressed that the condition OF
the country will SO improve that the use OF
these extraordinary powers may be dispensed
with or abated.
The Movements in Gold.
The Economist says: The stock of bullion
at the Bank of England is believed to be about
cit 100000 of British coin and 100000 in
foreign, principally French. The remainder
is only in bars. The bank does all that can be
legally asked in meeting the demands on it in
British coin.
The Paris correspondent of the Economist
says: Exports of gold to the United States
have commenced. Steamers sailing from
Havre have taken about 10000 francs in
gold during the last week and as much more
will probably be sent to-day. So far, however,
the exports by French houses are principally
made from London nd Amsterdam. The
Bank of France doles out gold very gradually
and as napoleon's are light they are for the
present of very little use for export.
The Times, in its financial article this morn
ing, says the Bank of England at the same
time has refused TO sell any more bars and re-
duced the price of imperials and napoleons to
" shillings 10a pence and " shillings 81 pence
per ounce, respectively.
Severe Storm in Switzerland.
A Genoa dispatch says that thunder and
hail storms have occurred in several districts
in the cantons of Berne, Fryeburg, Vaud and
Savoy, Switzerland. Many buildings were
destroyed by lightning, and vineyards were
much damaged
The American Arctic Search.
NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-The Arctic steamer
Rodgers arrived at Petropaulowski, Kamschat-
XII, July 19th all we'll. The Russian corvette
Sherlock was in port with orders to aid the
Rodgers in every way possible The Rodgers
secured AT dogs and large quantity of fur
clothing. She would sail on July 9th, and
expected to reach Wrangel Island by the latter
part of August.
Foreign Notes.
The Zurich Gazette states that the chiefs of
the principal Socialists, societies on the Con-
tinent have just held a secret conference in
the ruined castle of Wyden, in the canton of
Clargau, Switzerland.