New-York tribune., 1881-11-20
LEADING TOPICS IN LONDON

birthday. General MeIllU' 10
American Consulate in London.
LEADING TOPICS IN LONDON'
am WILLIAM uARCoURr REBUKEs THE LoNpoN
scuoo1 BoARp-M. REMAIN MAKES NE" DE-
PARrUKE-FAILURE OF BoUCICAULr Ne " 1 -1N -
rBr CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl
LONDON Nov 19-This weeks politics rcqu''o'
little attention Interest is still centrlhe oh '"0
Iisb Land Courts where but one startling noVeiT
occrrred nor has there been any appeal yet heard
touching the disputed principles on whioh tne uo-
cisions of the sub-commissons are based lneS0
latter continue cutting down rents, oDserVs III 'ii0
majority of cases as much moderation as is cons'S
ent witba determination to satisfy the tenants ITO
fessor Baldwin. who declared at Belfast that no
.,or,d dotormine the value of land with refer
ence solely to the capacity OF the present 'en"n''
has himself revoked that astonishing dlctuin' an
nouncng now that the capacity of the lano unHer
the tenants average skill shall be the measure Oh
the rent The novelty of the week is the decision ol
the Limerick Sub Commission reducing the rent oi
tbe BIake farm owned by Lord Clarina, 20 per cent
though it has been paid regularly Tor 1or'y 'iii'0
wears the landlord bearing half the cost OF improve
ments. and the evidence showing that the lana Is
fully worth the existing rent. Landlords connu0i
the decision as ominous of determination to en-
force reduction in class of cases hitherto deemed
outside the Land Act.
THE STAFFORD ELECTORAL CONTEST.
The expectation of winning the Stafford election
has much excited the Tories, who insist that the
constituency is sufficiently representative to indl-
cate the opinion of the country on the Ministerial
policy in Ireland. The Torres have strong candi-
date; the Liberals rather weak one.
BRITISH LAWYERS AsroNIsHED.
The reports of Guiteau's trial excite the utmost
astonishment among English lawyers that such
continued violations of decency are permitted IN
Court; nor do Englishmen understand how the
criminal is enabled to communicate with the pub
lie through the newspapers
THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD AssAIIED.
The practical effect of the exposure of the cruel
ties at St. PauPs Industrial School has put the Lon
don School Board on trial. That body, which Is
charged with the educational interests of the whole
metropolis has hitherto failed either to make itself
popular OF to create absolute confidence in the WIS
dom OF prudence of its policy whether with refer
ence TO the organization of new system or to ex-
penditure The present case reveals both cupa-
BILE carelessness in supervision and a strange will
lingness to sti1e inquiry. Sir William Harcourt's
official letter conveying sharp rebuke to the
Board proves TO be of the most popular acts Of
his energetic administration. The controversy is
still raging in the newspapers. The Board has held
n meeting at which the members strove to defend
themselves ungenerously attacking their colleague,
Mrs. Surr to whom the Home Secretary pays public
ly deserved compliment for her rescue of the tor
tured children.
JOHN BRIGHT's POPULARITY.
The celebration of John Brights SEVENTEEN birth
day presented no feature more remarkable than the
nfIectionate relations existing between Mr. Bright
and the 800 workmen in the employ of his firm,
which were shown equally by their enthusiastic
demonstrations and his reply to them. AT Roch-
dale. notwithstanding the terrible Storm the people
turned out EN- masse. Many Friends from other parts
of the Kingdom were there. The tone of the press
in discussing Mr.. BriclIs career. is for the most
part Justly euogisic but traces OF the ancient ami
mostly are visible in The Times and few other
journals.
A SCIENTIST PROTECTED.
The failure of the attempt of the Anti-VivisectiOn
Society TO prosecute IN police court the eminent
Psychologist, Professor Ferrier, on charge of cruel
ty draws attention to the state of the law permit
ting such proceedings. savants say that physiolog
ical research in England is yearly becoming more
difficult Nearly all important discoveries arc now
made abroad. Englishmen wishing retirement
are obliged to reside ON the Continent.
RENAN's MARCUS AUREnUs."
Renans Marcus Aurelius" appears in Paris,
with preface announcing that this volume con-
rndes his history of the of Christianity, be-
gun with the life of Jesus; but Renan now consid-
srs not Jesus, but the Jewish prophets, especially
Isaiah as the real founders of Christianity, saying
that all Jesus did was to repeat in popular, charm
ing language what had been said $50 years before
in classical Hebrew. Renan intends, therefore, to
reconmence his History of Christianity at that
date, bringing it down to the time of Jesus.
INACTIVITY IN THE BOOK TRADE.
The English publishers are producing novelties
slowly; nothing important this week. The
three hooks of the season thus far are Darwin's
.Eartbworrns,n Moriey's Life of Cobden," and
Rossetti,s Ballads" Both of the latter went to q
second edition Immediately on publication. General
opinion pronounces Morley's "Cobden" master
piece of biography. Not few critics have begun
asking whether Rossett as a writer of ballads and
sonnets has any living superior.