Year: 1871

nred that august chair BY this time no doubt, Lord
stanhope's letter Of invitation is on Its way to cam
bridge Mass fear it viii scarcely be welcome guest
in that most charming of New-Engand houses Wash
ngtons old headquarters which has the honor OF calling
your great poet lord. His habits quiet ana to
Judge from his last visit here his horror OF the stump 20
intense, that scarcely hope for an acceptance
However the intention was good and hope Will result
in something like an alienation in the future OF your
best authors and ours Presidents. Whatever
else may be special between the Two ma
tions, our Iteratures, at any rate nre common
property; and If you your way, as hope you
may soon to altering your copyright laws our standard
works win always belong TO the whole race, and the
great literary gathering should he before all others
AngloAmerican. Then again on the Attn OF July there
were three Cabinet Ministers and know not how
many other distinguished English Of both sexes at Gen.
Schencks reception. Last year only two Englishmen
asked to the American legation and only one put
in an appearance There quite little explosion In
certain select circles at the notion OF Cabinet attend
ing the celebration OF the calamity Of hundred years
ago at invitation of the representative of our re-
votcd colonies There talk of motion on the
subject the House OF Commons; but you may sup
pose common sense prevailed. The select circles who
still regard the event Of l776 calamity are rapidly
narrowing.


The session and the London season drawing rap
idly to close and the former, fear is likely to prove
a great failure in many ways. OF all the important





Throne only one-the University Tests bill-has gone
through and become law. The Army Regulation bill,
shorn of its fair proportions and reduced 10 measure
for the abolition of purchase and for vesting the control
of the militia in the Crown, forced through the
Commons with much difficulty, and has now been de-
bated in the Lords for two nights Several Of the old
whg leaders notably Lord Russell and Lord Grey
have gone over to the Opposition, and done their
best TO throw the bill ont. But the
other hand the Commander-in Chiefthe Royal George
he profanely caedhas declared his acceptance of
IT, and his willingness to do his best to make the system
Of selection work WELL ana 70 carry out the consequent
reforms Loyalty; and Lord Derby, with his usual hard
sense, has read their Lordships an excellent
lecture on what they and what they cannot do In
these times. SO far therefore, the leaders 20, one
might hope that the decision of the Upper House would
be prudent and patriotic; but told that the whips
both sides 0he hest authorities, after ALI on such
point declare that there will he large majority against
the bill. Their Lordships are playing hazardous game
and Democracy laughs in its sleeve and bdes its time
Meanwhile the Government have introduced Their
other big measure in the Commons, and have met
with a kind Of opposition which is quite unprecedented
After weary debate of four Nights the principle Of
the bill and repetition od nGuSepm OF arguments Tor
and against open voting, large majority of the House
affirmed the principle, and voted the bill into Com
mitee 1t is generally supposed that the discussion is
then closed and that the attacks in Committee shoud De
confined to details in the present the party Of
precedent have thrown all precedent to the wind ana
have raised the main issue over and over again In
Committee using every trick for delaying progress which
the rules Of the House admit To meet these tactics the
Cabinet gathered their supporters in solemn caucus at
which Mr.. Gladstone suggested that the opposition
should be met by silence The Cabinet to leave the
Minister who has charge of the measure, MI Forster
to do all the official talking. He would be ready to dis
cuss the hundred and odd amendments which we're on
the paper in the Of Liberal members with those
vrIo them. so such could DE accepted


might be Incorporated in the Government measure with
ont loss time. This proposal was received most 10y
ally by the party, and seltdenyng ordinance was se-
cordingly carried neD CON. The next day when 'he
House went into Committee the Liberal members left
their seats by hundreds leaving the case in Mr. FOrsters
hands but remaining the library and the lobbes and
ON the Terrace so as TO be within hearing OF the division
bell The Opposition were, however, by no means
abashed brought to They rallied at the pODcy
of abstenton, and one after another to speak
against tme and the consequence is that the middle OF
July is here only the third clause OF the
bill Even if the sefdcnying ordinance holds II is very
doubtful whether the clauses be put through before
the end OF the month"; and, in that case there is very
small likelihood OF getting the Lords to take up the bill
this year. They may fairly plead that they have no
time to consider so important measure properly; and
in that case IT, too Will share the fate of many another
good measure he thrown to the session of 1872
If so this year will only be marked with US by one white
sone-the Washington Treaty; but that is such a big
bowder, and white that we may well be content with
| the net result.


The chief event Of the coming vacation so far as we
can see at present will be the Scott Centenary and the
gathering of the British Institution at Edinburgh, which
are to celebrated in the Northern capital at the
tme / am GLAD to hear that great number of Amcri-
cans including Gen. Schenck have accepted invitations.
Here again shall he common ground, as Sir Walter
is as much at home iu America England. The great
day Will be the 9th of August, and this may have some
influence the session Of Parliament, number Of
our legislators bound TO be present


The great Tchborne stands adjourned til Noyem
ber to the great scandal of the nation. The lawyers
fairly struck work The Chief Justice declared he should
break down. and the counsel stood like one man against
any infringement Of their statutory right TO the long
cation There talk Of passing short act TO enable
the Court TO sit de die in de but in the face Of such
decided professional opposition the proposal fell TO the
ground Consequently the great mystery remains un-
solved to the distraction Of all methOdica people, who
live in wretched of discomfort at not being able
10 make up their minds who the claimant really
is. He for his part has not been broken down by the
three weeks crOsseKamnatiOn, far his chief con
tenOn goes. Indeed, the attempt of the defense to
that he is the Mapping butcher Arthur Orton has
hitherto failed and consequently his chances have I'M
proved But the details of the life which he and his
Wrapping associate led Australia elected in cross
examination, have made IL abundanty clear that the
stout claimant, who sat day after day In court and
exchanged amenities with the SOicitOTGeneral,
will in no case prove desirable addition
10 the landed gentry Of England. The pent-
up curiosity Of the profession has been breaking
out in OF and cOnundrums round the
cause eelebre. will give you specimen in
clusion from which, fear, you will rot gather very
high notion of the forensic wit Of England must pre-
mise that the firm OF Baxter, Rose Norton are the
solicitors Of the claimant;


Messrs. Baxter, Rose. Norton


DENY that this is Arthur Orton.


They ca MT deny what's more important,


That Arthur did what Arthur OrtOn'L


Onqht,tt Mr. Punch himself to be indicted for such
prOlusioni T. H.