New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-11
LONDON NOTES.
ENGLAND'S DEPENDENCE ON AMERICAN
BEEF-AN ANCIENT PRIVILEGE.
London. December q.

the Tory squirearchy, TO put n summary end 10
the importation of American cattle, the prctcNt
that gross cruelty was practised upon the animals
aboard ship, have entirely disappeared. For 'he
recent bad weather the Atlantic, which tended
to keep the ships back, and thereby limited tie
supply, has led to a heavy increase in the price
of beef. IL has demonstrated to the Administra-
ton the extent TO which Great Britain is de-
PENDENT upon the United States for her supply
of meat. and has furnished the people with n
slight idea of the disastrous results that would
cnsuc from any cessation thereof. OF the 100000
steers imported by England every year, more than
threc-ffths are obtained from the United States
the balance being shipped by Canada and by
Denmark. lnasmuch. however, as the Canadian
shipments are limited to the mildcr seasons of
the year. England is forced to rely almost eX-
cusivey upon the United States for her winter
supplies of meat. Nor is there any chance that
American refrigerated beef would take the place
OF the meat of beasts which have been brought
over alive and slaughtered arrival FNr the
prejudice among the middle and lower classes of
the people against refrigerated meat is SO strong
that the trade is being rapidly abandoned and
will soon disappear
An important proclamation has lately appeared
in The Official Gazette" with reference TO the
gold coinage. 1t announces that by virtue of
recent order of the Prvy Council no gold coins
OF the realm coined prior 10 the Queens ac-
cesson will be regarded as current legal
tender within the United Kingdom after February
rs next. The proclamation is calculated TO create
even more perturbation abroad than here in Eng
land. For both on the Continent and in the
Orient there are numerous families which, re-
tanning the old-timc dstruSt Of banks and tinan-
cial institutions. have been accustomed for many
generations past to hoard their wcalth-nOt IN
Al h.. - oh. #
ancient British gold pieces. An interesting illus
ration of this popularity was afforded short
zine ago in Egypt, when an Engishman who had
sold a piece of property to Persian merchant
established at Cairo aSt0undcd TO receive
the entire purchase money, amounting TO some
$500, in gold Georges Of the time of the American
War of Independence.
The ineYment last week of the Duchess Of
Northumberland in Westminster Abbey has re-
called to mind the almost forgotten privilege
claimed by the House of Percy to be buried within
The walls OF that venerable fame. Formerly there
Was number OF great families which possessed
shis right But they have either become extinct
or have allowed the privilege TO lapse into
oblivion, and only the Duke Of Northumberland
remains 10 exercise his right. This was however,
not conceded by the present Dean and Chapter of
the Abbey without some hesitation For the
patronymic of the Duke SmihsOn instead of
Percy, and his only connection with that ancient
and celebrated house is through the female line,
the ducal title having been revived by George III
in favor of Sir Hugh Smithson, wealthy banker
who had married one of the daughters of the
last surviving member of tie Percy family The
Northumberland vault is situated beneath tie St
Nicholas Chapel OF the Abbey, and contains al
ready five and twenty collins, leaving SINAI! space
for any newcomers The father of the late
Duchess Henry DrummOnd, of Albury, was one
of the great supporters of the Catholic Apostolic
Church." founded by Edward Irving, and she
brought up strict 1rvingitc, and remained true
TO the tenets Of her fathers faith until the end.
Elaborate preparations being made for
the dccennial census OF the British Empire which
Is TO be taken this year Buildings have been
specially erected at Whitehall for the use of the
staff eriplt yed upon the work. II is predicted
by experts that the coming census Will show de-
cline in the general of increase Of the pOpu-
lation. and that the textile industry will main
tain the foremost place which it attained in the
census Of 1852 as employing the largest number
of people.
The publication Of Mr.. Jameson's diary has
only served TO increase the popular l-feeling
toward Mr.. Stanley. The comments, both Of the
press and of clubland upon the book tend 10 eX-
culpate the author of deliberate completely in
the act Of cannibalism which has excited 50 much
controversy 1t is generally recognized
that Mr.. Jameson was only indirectly aud
inadvertently associated with that deed
II native testimony is 70 he accepted as
worthy of belief, it will he found to prove as in
furious TO Mr.. Stanley himself as TO his dead
subordinatcs For the diary contains a story
likewise vOuched for by native testimony, accord
ing to which Mr.. Stanley once ordered his men
10 fire upon boat containing eight men, a woman
and baby, and aftcrward directed the baby TO
he thrown into the river OF course no one at
taches much credence to this tale but Mrs. Jane
Son scores point when She draws attention 10
the fact that Mr. Stanley was ready TO accept and
publish the statements Of equally untrustworthy
natives sufficient evidence of the atrocities i'm
put"d to her husband and to Major Barttclot. If
native testimony is good in one case it must he
good in another. and Mr. Stanley cannot be sur
prised if he Is judged upon the same basis with
his hcutenants.
Another cause OF complaint has been found by
The Australian colonies against the home Govern
ment, and inasmuch as il is one which has been
originated and put forward by the ladies of the
Antipodes, it demands more than ordinary atten-
ton and consideration the part of Lord Sails
bury and his Cabinet. The subject of the COM
plant is the absence from Australia of every one
of the Governors wives The latter are as i'm
portant personageS in the colonies as their hus-
bands and the entire social life Of the dependency
revolves around Her Excellcncy" Inasmuch as
Lady HopetOun, wife of the Governor Of Victoria,
and Lady Jersey, wife Of the Governor OF New
South Wales both in London, while Lady
Kintore, Lady Norman and Lady Robinson who
occupy similar positions in South Australia,
Queensland and Western Australia, respectively,
are on their way TO England, the social life in the
An:ipoGcs has TO StandstilI and much dis
content prevails in consequence, not only among
the colonial Danes but among the shop-kecping
fraternity of Australia.
Sir Edward Bradford, who succeeded Sir Charles
Warren as Chief Commissioner OF the Metropolitan
Police has been more successful than his prede-
ccssor in securing rise IN the pay Of his men.
CnnStahes ON mining the force will in fntnre 70