The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-08-06
OUR LONDON CABLE LETTER.
RUMOR CIRCULATING THAT THE
QUEEN WILL ABDICATE IN
FAVOR OF WALES.
PREPARING FOR Il HUNG Chang.
He Will Be Given a Warm Reception
in England-Recent Maneuyres
Show Britain's Naval Bull
wark Not Impregnable.

London, Aug. L. 1.-(Copyrighted, 1896,
by the Associated Press 1.-The persistent
rumors circulated in regard to the
health of Queen Victoria and her inten-
ton to retire almost Immediately i'll favor
of the Prince of Wales have caused quite
n sensation in court and other circles.
While it is admitted that reports have
become current frequently i'll previous
years, there is no denying that her
maiesty's declining health is causing
much anxiety to her encourage and 1t Is
believed that her retirement from public
life is only a question of short time.
According to the program the queen,
while not on the continent. will reside
either at Osborne or ut Balmoral, and.
will turn over Windsor castle and Buck
ingham palace for the use of the Prince
and Princess of Wales. The prince may
not be declared regent but may exercise
the duties of such Il position to all III
tents and purposes, according to the re-
ports in circulation. 1t is believed that
the rumors of the approaching retire
ment of her majesty gained much
strength from statements attributed TO
her during the occasion of her last visit
to this city at the time of he marriage
of Princess Maud. The queen was then
said to have repeatedly stated that 1t
was her last visit to London. and to this
cause is attributed her majesty's deep
emotion when acknowledging the cheers
by those lining the route to the railroad
station. Tears were seen to be cOursln%
down the queens checks and there was
other evidence that she was keenly
affected by the loyalty and sympathy ils-
played OH all sides.
Preparations for the reception of III
Hung Chang continue and her majesty.
in spite of the precarious condition OF
her health. is said to be especially inter-
ested in the coming of the Chinese am
bassador extraordinary, who has been
made so much of in Russia, Germany
and France. The Chinese statesman is
booked to arrive in London on Monday
and he will be escorted to Lord Ions
dale's splendid mansion on Carleton
House terrace, this city, which has been
reserved by the government for the ac-
commodation of Ii Hung Chang during
the month which he is expected to spend
in England. An elaborate series of en-
arranged in his honor.
Augustin Daly's production of Love
on Clutches on Tuesday was received
with the greatest favor by the press.
A successful ballard of rip Van
Winkle" with the jefferson plot and
Planjucttc's music. was introduced mt the
Alhambra on Wednesday.
Yycttc Guilbert has signed an engage
mcnt for another American trip, by
IL; IL. in In, ,,pin ri
cities of the United States and Canada.
The first Saturday sitting of the house
of commons continued today, and it is
announced that parliament Will be pro
rogucd on Saturday. August IL. The
work which Mr.. Balfour proposes to do
during the coming fortnight is immense.
and il is doubtful whether the catalogue
of bills can be pushed through The
commons did brisk work during the past
pending which are looked upon as lound
to meet with considerable opposition.
a measure dealing with auto-motor
cars passed its committee stage on
Thursday and is expected to become Il
law during the present session. IT per
mits auto-motOrs to run on English
highways at a speed not exceeding fifteen
miles an hour.
The house of lords burned midnight oil
llSL evening DplOGt lllt 1IISH lullu DIl
passed its second reading by that body.
The Marquis of Londonderry, the Earl
of Winchelsea and the Duke of AbercorA
were the leading spOkesmen for the
landlOrdism and their structures promise
amendments in committee which are
likely to cause some trouble when the
measure is returned to the house of COM
mons.
The Chronicle says:
Unless the government has given
ntegorcal pledges to the Irishmen in
trturn for their support. what is to save
them from a great betrayal? If the
landlord majority in the cabinet refuse
to allow Mr.. Balfour to destroy the land
lord amendments the Irish will be
caught in a cleft stick and it will be too
late to defeat the bill. A single night
must finish the debate, and the govern
ment forces will ioyfully unite to give
the landlords their triumph
A big assembly of noble danes listened
to yesterdays debate in the house of
lords. including the AIarchioness of
Salisbury and the Duchesses May of
Londonderry and Rillsdale.
The Marquis of Salisbury displayed
his personal interest in the Irish measure
by slumbering heavily while Lord Lans-
dOwne moved its second reading. Once
the premier's head inclined to rest on
tne luke OF DeVOnSnlfe shoulder and
the latter hastily arose and stroled to
the bar of the house until the marquis
awoke.
Lord Bray's suggestion TO make Sep
tember % a bank holiday in order to
celebrate the fact that Queen Victoria 5
reign will then have lasted longer than
that of any other English sovereign. has
been declared by the Marquis of Sails
bury to be incOnvenient and impractical
this year. 1t is understood that the
conclusion Of the sixty years reign nexe
year will be the occasion of a national
celebration similar to that of the jubilee.
The committee appointed to inuuire
into the raid Of the Transvaal is to be
| composed of four radicals, four liberals
and al Irish nationalist, and it is ex.
pected, in spite of denials, that the sec
retary of state for the colonies Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain, will eventually de.
| eide to preside over the deliberations OF
| the committee
The government. after n strong resist
] ance, has assented to Mr.. Laboucheres