Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-18
From Our Regular Correspondent. !
Our European Letter.
LONDON, Emo. ,Julv

LONDON, Eng, July 4, 'S3.
Matters in parliament have been very
lively during the week. While the debate
was raging in the House last night on the
Free Fish Hooks bill spectator cried out
to Mr.. Bratherstone, who represents a
borough in Nottinghamshire, Stag the
downy cove" Mr.. Burjoyce sprang to his
feet and shouted: 81 see strangers in the
gallery. Wherenpon the speaker order.
ed the galleries cleared. At this juncture
Lord Randolph Churchill came in wearing
new pair Of mauve trousers and sat
down on an inkstand which bad been care
Icssly left on bench by the Hon. Mr..
Chump. For moment itlookedas though
there would be dismal disturbance, but
the chancellor of the eschequer gave Lord
c. an order for new pair of trousers and
The matter was adjusted.
About forty years ago this government
converted considerable portion of its
debt into what are called annuities. That
is to say, it agreed to pay the holders of
these annuties certain income annually
during fixed number of years, after
which they were to receive nothing more.
The amount thus agreed upon was about
e5,0OO,000. or s25,O00000. a year, and
the term during which it was to be
paid will expire in April, 1885. Conse.
quently, the government will then have
1000 600. at its disposal out of the pres.
ent fixed appropriation for the public
debt, and it is considering scheme for
using it to liquidate a portion of the
outstanding principal.
Without going into details, the scheme
the creation of fresh series
otannuities, and either exchanging them
for ccnsols or selling them for money, and
with the proceeds paying off consuls at
par on giving years notice, as provided
by law. 1t is calculated that in this way
at the end of twenty years consuls will
have been cancelled to the amount of
$500 600, 900, or about three seventies of |
The present outstanding deb. of Zoo ,00O,. |
900. If the results should be found to |
answer the expectations, the process will |
be continued, and as the rate
OF interest will fall as the principal dimin-
ishes, owing to the competition among
investors, it is not impossible that by the
year 1925 the debt of Great Britain, which
has so long been pointed GU: as colossal
burden upon the nation, may have been
extipguished.
l understand that the prince of Wales
won 100000, at the Ascot races this week.
He has paid off several of his old debts.
All the Americans who met him are
delighted with his plain unostentious man
Ter. Those of US who have known him a
great while are really very much attached
10 him. By the way, the prince has just
iuished colorirg a new meerschaum pipe.
he gift of the crown prince of Sweden. l
need hardly add that it is beauty.
Mr.. Folger's treasury statement for the
iscal year just ended, is discussed here with
great interest, both as Indicating the great
of the United States, and as
holding out hope of an early and impor-
ant reduction in custom duties. The
Times devotes much space to the matter,
md expresses its firm conviction that the
system must shortly be
,bandoned in America. As l told you
would be the case last season Sunday
parties are all the rage. do not mean
merely male smoking concerts, but dinner
PARTIES and evening parties with singing,
ecitations and supper, often followed
fter midnight by dancing. In this, as
n other things, Marlborough house has
ct an example, which, it would seem,
ociety was eager to follow. Last
sunday l was present at very large
arty of this kind, aud am engaged for
very Sunday to the end of the season. i
he more timolous hold their parties at
ireenwch and Richmond, but the true
,rm is to give them at ones own house, :
nd, if possible, secure the presence of
.oyalty. 1t is odd, this protest of the t
PIPER classes. who are mainly ritnalistic |,
pglicans, against the Sabbatarianism of ,
lie vulgar. 7