Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

The Address was agreed to in the Lords without a division.-In the Commons Mr. Gladstone declared that nothing that was yet known would justify a demand for a money vote. Mr. Mitchell Henry moved an amendment to the motion for an Address, to the effect that the national demands of the Irish people should be considered in a wise and conciliatory spirit, and a discussion on Irish affairs followed, which was ultimately adjourned until to-day. Amendment rejected next night by 301 votes to 48.

17. The remains of King Victor Emmanuel interred in the Pantheon, transformed by exquisite art into a "Chapelle Ardente." Light was excluded by the Star of Italy, veiling the roof. The side chapel of Clement XI. was walled in and draped with gold and crimson velvet. At nine o'clock the coffin was placed on the funeral car. The procession was an hour and a half in passing a given point. Contrary to the arrangements previously announced, there were no pall-bearers. The costumes were gorgeously magnificent, and the effect of the spectacle was heightened by the display of seventy tattered banners. Lord Roden represented the British Court.

Earl Derby, who had been ailing for some days, is now announced to be recovering. Fall of houses in the Haymarket; one person killed.

18.-The Turkish plenipotentiaries received by the Grand Duke Nicholas, but only to be told that conditions of peace must be discussed at Adrianople. The Turks agreed to this, and immediately telegraphed orders that the town should be evacuated.

20.-The Russians occupy Adrianople. GeneralStrukoff reported from Mustapha Pasha that a constantly increasing panic prevailed at Adrianople. The Turkish governor and the garrison had withdrawn, after blowing up the powder magazine and ammunition depôts. General Strukoff heard the explosion from his headquarters. A fire, accompanied by disturbances, broke out in the city after the departure of the troops, and five persons of different nationalities came to General Strukoff, entreating him to hasten to Adrianople to restore order.

22.-The Prince of Wales unveils the memorial statue of the Prince Consort set up in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

Questioned on the subject of her Majesty's direct appeal to the Emperor of Russia, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said:"I did not feel myself able to answer that question at the moment; but I can now state to the House exactly what took place. Her Majesty having received from the Sultan a direct personal appeal, sent by the advice of her Ministers, the following telegram to the Emperor of Russia :

-

"I have received a direct appeal from the Sultan, which I cannot leave without an answer. Knowing that you are sincerely desirous of peace, I do not hesitate to communicate this fact to you, in hope that you may accelerate the negotiations for the conclusion of an armistice which may lead to an honourable peace. (Cheers.) Mr. Dillwyn: Might

[ocr errors]

I be permitted to ask has any answer been received to that telegram? The Chancellor of the Exchequer : The communication addressed by the Sultan to her Majesty was a private and personal, and direct communication. So also was the communication to the Emperor of Russia; and I think it would not be convenient or right that all the correspondence should be brought before the House. But as her Majesty's communication to the Emperor of Russia was given on the advice of her Ministers, and as there might be some misapprehension as to its character, I have received her Majesty's permission to make the announcement I have made. I think the matter must remain there.

22.-The Times publishes a telegram of Cape news of this date, received by way of Madeira. The Kaffirs, the despatch says, have been hunted out of Chichaba Valley by a joint movement of the troops and auxiliaries under Colonels Lambert and Glyn and Captain Brabant. Large quantities of stock were captured. The Burghers under Frost had a brush with them, and killed 100. The enemy

are now in the fastnesses of Kabousie and Kei. The natives to the west of Kaffraria are unsettled. Two thousand mounted Europeans are under arms on the frontier.

23.-Instructions regarding movements of the fleet. Admiralty, January 23, 1878, 7 P.M., to Admiral Hornby, Vourla.-Most Secret. Sail at once for the Dardanelles, and proceed with the Fleet now with you to Constantinople. Abstain from taking any part in the contest between Russia and Turkey, but the waterway of the Straits is to be kept open, and in the event of tumult at Constantinople you are to protect life and property of British subjects. Use your judgment in detaching such vessels as you may think necessary to preserve the waterway of the Dardanelles, but do not go above Constantinople. Report your departure, and communicate with Besika Bay for possible further orders, but do not wait if none are there. Keep your destination absolutely secret. -Acknowledge. Admiral Hornby, Vourla, January 24, 1878, 6.10 P.M., to Admiralty (received 5.12 A.M., January 25, 1878).— Orders received. Sail at 5 P.M. to-day for the Dardanelles and Constantinople. Orders left for Alexandra and colliers to follow. Admiralty, January 24, 1878, 7.25 P.M. to Admiral Hornby, Vourla, Koumkaleh, Chanak.-Annul former orders, anchor at Besika Bay, and await further orders. Report arrival there. Admiral Hornby,

[blocks in formation]

Attempt to poison Baker Pasha, Captain Burnaby, and others, at Gumerjina, near Lagos, in the Ægean. It appeared that while the gentlemen named were at dinner at the Greek Archbishop's konak the wine was discovered to be poisoned. Fortunately, only ,a few had drunk any of it, and these immediately had administered to them copious draughts of salt-and-water by Dr. Scotchley. The poison on being tested by the Stafford

House doctors was found to be arsenic. The Bishop was fully exonerated, but the servants who attended, habited as monks, were suspected.

24.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice that on Monday the 28th in Committee of Supply he would move a supplementary estimate for naval and military purposes. In the House of Lords, the Duke of Argyll, referring to the statement of "great gravity and importance" which had been made by her Majesty's Government in another place, asked Lord Beaconsfield whether he meant to submit any communication to their lordships upon the subject. Lord Beaconsfield replied that it was customary for Parliament to wait when a notice of this kind was given until an explanation was made in reference to it by the proper Minister.

[blocks in formation]

at the Isle of Wight. Verdict for plaintiff, damages 500l.

25.-The Porte having accepted the Russian conditions, peace is regarded as virtually concluded. The Russian conditions were not yet officially known here, but it was rumoured that they greatly exceeded the Conference programme, and stipulated, both for territorial concessions and the payment of a war indemnity by Turkey.

In reply to the Earl of Sandwich, the Earl of Beaconsfield said it was the fact that instructions had been given to the fleet to proceed to the Dardanelles and Constantinople. At the same time that orders to this effect were given by her Majesty's Government they prepared to telegraph a despatch to the European Powers, including, of course, Russia and the Porte, stating that in the course the Government had followed there was not the slightest deviation from the policy of neutrality they had from the first announced and maintained; that the British fleet went to the Dardanelles to defend British subjects and British property, and to take care of British interests in the Straits.

On

In the course of a personal explanation in the House of Lords, the Earl of Carnarvon said he would make no charge, or impute blame to any of his colleagues, but circumstances had arisen which had rendered it incumbent on him to take the course he had named. He dissented from the resolution for sending the fleet to the Dardanelles, and also to the supplementary vote which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had proposed to take on Monday. He considered that such a vote ought not to have been mooted until the terms of peace had arrived and become known. On the 2nd of January he had occasion o address a reply to a deputation, and it would be remembered that he made a speech on that occasion in which he expressed his views in regard to the state of affairs in the East. the following day in the Cabinet-and he had the Queen's permission for saying it-the Prime Minister condemned severely the language he used, He (Lord Carnarvon) took time to consider the course he should take under those circumstances, and, as there was no public disavowal of the language which had been used, he felt justified in sending in his resignation. He still maintained that he had not in any way misrepresented the intentions of the Government.Lord Beaconsfield expressed his regret at having been deprived of the services of Lord Carnarvon, and, referring to the impossibility of wholly avoiding differences of opinion among gentlemen so situated, declared himself unable to appreciate the force of the reasons which had induced Lord Carnarvon to retire from the Cabinet.-Lord Granville having asked whether more than one member of the Cabinet had resigned, Lord Beaconsfield replied, "I need not say that I

myself am in a responsible position; but as regards any other member of the Cabinet, I always thought it a high, valuable, and ancient privilege of any one retiring from a Government that he should announce the fact to Parliament himself in the first instance. On that privilege I will not trench." The subject then dropped.

25.-In the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying to the Marquis of Hartington, remarked that, as to the supplementary estimate, the details are, at the present moment, being drawn up by those conversant with the departments; but I may state to the House generally that the estimate itself will be laid on the table this evening, together with the particulars; and it may be convenient that I should say at once that the amount to be asked for will be 6,000,000l."

[blocks in formation]

Greenock election (rendered necessary by the retirement of Mr. Grieve) carried by James Stewart (Liberal), with 2,183 votes ; Sir James Fergusson (Conservative), 2, 124; Donald Currie (Liberal), 1,648; Scott Moncrieff (Radical), 108.

Died, aged 71, Dr. John Doran, a . genial and prolific author, whose "London in the Jacobite Times" had been published quite recently.

The King of Spain and Royal family, accompanied by the foreign ministers and special envoys, attend a bull-fight at Madrid, the finest held there since the Royal marriage of 1836. The toreros engaged in the arena were gentlemen amateurs, for whom Spanish grandees acted as seconds. The exhibition, which was witnessed by 16,000 people, passed off without accident.

+

26.-Statue of the late John Stuart Mill (by Woolner) unveiled on its pedestal, Thames Embankment. Professor Fawcett delivered an address on the occasion.

The Grand Duke Nicholas arrives at Adrianople by railway from Hermanli, and is enthusiastically received by the Russian Guards. Deputations from the Christian clergy and the Bulgarian, Greek, Armenian, and Israelite inhabitants passed in procession, bearing flags and chanting hymns, to receive his Imperial Highness on entering the town. The Grand Duke took up his quarters in the

governor's konak. The Russian vanguard occupied Bobaski, Haskioi, Demotica, and Kirk-Kilissa.

26. It is now stated that one-third of the children in Merthyr and the suburbs are relieved daily by public charity. A visitor who officially investigated the distress at some parts of South Wales described the state of the people residing at Maestog as deplorable. Here, owing to the irregular pay at the Tandu and Llynvi Works, men had only a few shilings given to them when their draw or pay day came round, and there had been no draw since Christmas.

27.-M. Gambetta entertained to a banquet by his constituents at Belleville, and makes a speech in which he recommended the Republican party to persevere in the course of order which had already done so much for them. He also expressed his confidence that the Senate would ultimately be found on their side.

[ocr errors]

Died, in London, aged 66, Sir Edward Creasy, late Chief Justice of Ceylon, author of "The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World."

28. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in moving for a supplemental estimate of 6,000,000l. towards increasing the armaments of the country, stated, that an unofficia statement of the terms of peace had been communicated by Count Schouvaloff to Lord Derby. The terms, so far as he understood them, were:-(1) Bulgaria within the limits of Bulgarian nationality to be an autonomous territorial province, with a governor to be appointed by the Powers. (2) Independence of Montenegro, with increase of territory equivalent to the military status quo. (3) Independence of Roumania with sufficient territorial indemnity. (4) Independence of Servia. (5) Autonomous administration to be secured to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (6) Similar reforms for the other Christian provinces. (7) Indemnity to Russia either in money, in territory, or in some other form to be decided hereafter. (8) An understanding for protecting the interests of Russia in the Straits. "Whether these were good or bad terms for Turkey they were," said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "of a sweeping character, as they would completely separate Constantinople and the Balkan territory from the European dominions of Turkey.' Bright inquired whether the money was wanted in order that England might go into a conference of peace with shotted cannon and loaded revolvers; and Mr. Gladstone called upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to tell the House what foundation he had for saying that a Russian prince might be made the Ruler of Bulgaria. He hoped that he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) did not wish us to infer that he intended to lay down the doctrine that Russia was bound,

Mr.

having obtained great success in warlike operations, to limit her demands to the terms for which she was originally to keep the peace. Debate adjourned.

28.-Lord Sandon, Vice-President of the Council, succeeds the Earl of Carnarvon as Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The Right Hon. Russell Gurney, M.P., is announced as intending to resign the post of Recorder of the City of London, which he had held for more than twenty-one years. Mr. Gurney, who had for a few months previously held the office of Common Serjeant, was elected to the Recordership in December 1856, upon the resignation of Mr. Stuart Wortley, made Solicitor-General in that year.

29. Mr. Layard telegraphs from Constantinople to the Foreign office :-I have been categorically and distinctly informed by the Grand Vizier that the Porte sent by telegraph to the Turkish plenipotentiaries at about 2 P.M. on the 23rd instant orders and full powers to accept the bases of peace as submitted to them in writing by the Grand Duke Nicholas. The Porte has telegraphed to the plenipotentiaries three times since the despatch of these orders to ask them to report the result, but no answer whatever has been received from them. The Grand Vizier cannot admit that any delay or procrastination in the matter on the part of the Turkish plenipotentiaries is possible.

The English brig Arethusa wrecked on the island of Tabosca, off the Constantine coast; seven lives lost.

30. Speaking at Oxford, on the occasion of a meeting of undergraduates to celebrate the formation of a Liberal Palmerston Club, Mr. Gladstone said, "It is the persistent, neverfailing will, always watching the opportunity, and working at the Foreign Office through a man in many respects to be greatly regarded by the country, but not of the strong purpose, not of the determined character, of Lord Beaconsfield. It is Lord Beaconsfield's will that takes effect, fitfully and with fluctuations, in the policy of the Government, and that from time to time succeeds in bringing the country into danger." The sending of the fleet into the Dardanelles was a subject, Mr. Gladstone said, of which more would be heard. It was one which legal authorities would have to discuss; but he was afraid it would be found that it was an act of war-a breach of European law committed by her Majesty's advisers. He had been accused of being an agitator, and with regard to the last eighteen months that was true. To his own great pain, and with infinite reluctance, but under the full and strong conviction, he might say, of political old age, for the last eighteen months he might be said to have

played the part of an agitator. His purpose had been to the best of his power, day and night, week by week, month by month, to counter-work what he believed to be the purposes of Lord Beaconsfield. The proposed vote of credit, Mr. Gladstone said, appeared to him to be the most indefensible proposition that had ever, in his time, been submitted to Parliament.

30.-Numerous meetings held regarding the Eastern Question and the proposed vote of credit.

Roman telegrams mention that the Pope has ratified the plans of the Propaganda for the reconstitution of the Scotch hierarchy. The Right Rev. Dr. John Strain, Vicar Apostolic, becomes Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, and the Most Rev. Dr. Eyre, Apostolic Delegate for Scotland and Administrator Apostolic of the Western District, is to be Archbishop of Glasgow, without suffragans. Dr. Strain will have four suffragans-namely, Rev. John_Macdonald, Bishop of Aberdeen; Rev. George Rigg, Bishop of Dunkeld, with episcopal seat at Perth; Rev. John MacLachlan, Bishop of Galloway, with seat at Dumfries; and Rev. Angus Macdonald, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, with the seat at Oban. The Pope is to hold a special consistory shortly to give palliums to the two archbishops.

The Prince of Wales writes to the Chairman of the Council of the Society of Arts regarding the deficiency in water supply of small cities. "While (wrote his Royal Highness) the larger populations are striving, each independently and at enormous cost, to secure for themselves this article of prime necessity, the smaller localities must make the best shift they can, and in many instances are all but without supply at all. Under these circumstances, I would draw the attention of the Council to the subject, and suggest whether at the present time, great public good would not arise from an open discussion of the question in the Society's rooms, with a view to the consideration of how far the great natural resources of the kingdom might, by some large comprehensive scheme of a national character adapted to the various specialities and wants of districts, be turned to account for the benefit not merely of a few large centres of population, but for the advantage of the general body of the nation at large."

31.-In the Commons Mr. E. Ashley wished to know if an official correspondence existed on the subject of certain letters addressed by Mr. Gladstone to Mr. Negropontis, a Greek merchant at Constantinople, and if a copy could be laid upon the table; also whether Mr. Layard had admitted that he was the author of statements in respect to the contents of those letters which Mr Gladstone had publicly contradicted. The Chancellor of the

Exchequer said the correspondence would be laid on the table forthwith.

31.-In compliance with the request of Queen Victoria, General della Rocca is charged to present to Her Majesty a souvenir of the late King Victor Emmanuel.

Bases of Peace and Armistice Convention signed at Adrianople by the Grand Duke Nicholas and the Turkish plenipotentiaries. The conditions, as given in Constantinople telegrams, were substantially the same as those communicated to the English Government by Prince Schouvaloff.

On the motion that the Commons go into Committee of Supply on the vote for 6,000,000l., Mr. Forster moved the following resolution:" That this House, having been informed in her Majesty's gracious Speech that the conditions on which her Majesty's neutrality is founded had not been infringed by either belligerent engaged in the war in the East of Europe, and having since received no information sufficient to justify a departure from the policy of neutrality and peace, sees no reason for adding to the burdens of the people by voting unnecessary supplies." He disclaimed, on the part of himself and the Opposition, any desire or intention to hinder the voting of supplies in case they should be shown to be necessary. But he contended that nothing within the knowledge of the House made it appear that they were necessary. If the Government would go into conference with the other Powers determined to maintain the real interests of England-among which he mentioned not only Egypt and the Suez Canal, but equal access with Russia to the Black Sea, and an improvement in the condition of the Christian populations-they would be supported by the united voice of the people. Mr. Cross replied on behalf of the Govern

ment.

Debate continued and adjourned.

City demonstration in favour of the government. The City Neutrality Committee called a meeting at the Cannon-street Hotel for three o'clock to protest against the vote of six millions; but an hour before that time a crowd opposed to the object of the meeting forced their way into the building, occupied the corridors and stairs, and created so much confusion that the police had to be sent for to clear the hotel, and the proposed meeting was abandoned. A hurried adjournment of Government supporters was made to the Guildhall, where at a meeting, presided over by the Lord Mayor, resolutions spoken to by Mr. Palmer, governor of the Bank of England, and Sir Robert Carden, were carried amid great enthusiasm. Strong feeling was also displayed at Lloyd's to-day. In answer to the resolutions the Prime Minister wrote next day :-"Such a decided and spontaneous expression of opinion in favour of the foreign policy of her Majesty's Government by so

important an assemblage will strengthen her Majesty's Government in their endeavours to preserve peace, to support the honour of our Sovereign, and to secure the interests of our country.

31.-The steamship Metropoiis, from Philadelphia for Para with 250 engineers, labourers, and material for constructing the Madeira and Mamore Railway in Brazil, gets ashore during a storm on the beach at Carrituck, North Carolina. About 100 lives lost.

February 1.-In answer to a question by the Marquis of Hartington as to the nature of the rumoured peace negotiations, the Chancellor of the Exchequer states :-"The information we have received on this subject is contained in a very short despatch which will be laid on the table to-night, and which I will read. It will be sent by Lord Derby to Mr. Layard, informing his Excellency that 'the Turkish Ambassador communicated to me to-day a telegraphic despatch from the Ottoman Government to the effect that, according to advices received from the plenipotentiaries, the general bases of an armistice and of peace would be signed yesterday at Adrianople.' We have no information that they have actually been signed, and we have no information at all as to their nature." After business hours at the Corn Exchange in Mark-lane, the merchants present held a meeting, and passed a resolution of confidence in the Government by a large majority. In the evening a deputation went to the House of Commons and presented the resolution to Mr. W. H. Smith, to whom they were introduced by Mr. Hubbard, M. P. Mr. Smith thanked the deputation, and said that there was no doubt that such manifestations of opinion greatly strengthened the hands of the Government, for the resolution which had been passed afforded a pretty good indication of the state of public feeling in the City of London. He hoped that the country would accept the assurances that had already been given that the Government were sincerely desirous of obtaining a pacific solution to the present difficulty, and he trusted that the negotiations now pend. ing would lead to peace.

[ocr errors]

- Died, after a long illness, at the advanced age of 89, George Cruikshank, artist. His career as a caricaturist extended back as far as the early years of the present century. Among his best-known works, were the Illustrations to Pierce Egan's "Life in London," Dickens's "Oliver Twist," and the "Comic Almanack," a set of plates entitled "The Bottle," and his large picture, "The Worship

of Bacchus." Mr. Cruikshank was interred in Kensal-green Cemetery, on the afternoon of the 9th, the pall bearers being Lord Houghton, Mr. George Augustus Sala, Mr. Samuel Carter Hall, General McMurdo, Mr. Charles Landseer, and Mr. E. Ellis. The body was afterwards removed to St. Paul's.

« VorigeDoorgaan »