PART II.

GL

CHRONICLE

OF REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES

IN 1871.

JANUARY.

1. On this day closed the connexion between Church and State in Ireland.

2. THE PREMIER AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.-The following petition was issued by some of the constituency in different parts of the borough of Greenwich, calling upon the Premier to resign his seat as one of the representatives of the borough:-"To the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, M.P.:-We, the undersigned, electors of the borough of Greenwich, approach you with that consideration which your exalted position and talents necessarily command, and, in respectfully soliciting from you the restitution of the trust reposed in you, of representing us in Parliament, we beg briefly to place our reasons for so doing before the world. From the time you became member for Greenwich you have never visited the borough, nor has a single interest connected with it engaged even your passing attention. Our trade has completely departed, our dockyards are silent-a fact of which Russia seems cognizant-and, in a word, your ill-timed and miserable economy has converted this old historic place into a scene of pauperism and desolation. When we turn from this dreary contemplation of our own affairs to the country at large, we find less reason to place confidence in you. The whole of the last two Sessions were occupied in passing two measures affecting the sister country-namely, the Irish Church Bill and the Landlord and Tenant Bill-yet Ireland remains dissatisfied and discontented. Such has been the result of your domestic policy; and, on looking to foreign affairs, we find still less reason for congratulation. It was reserved for the veteran leader of the Whigs, Earl Russell, to sound the alarm trumpet, and to demand the immediate enrolment of 100,000 men for the defence of the country. In the beginning of last year, when all looked so calm and serene, that Earl Granville

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thought no cloud darkened the political horizon, you commenced that disastrous reduction in all departments of the State which enabled the Chancellor of the Exchequer to form a plausible, yet deceitful Budget for the country. Now that the horizon is not so clear, whether we look at the serious complications of the Russian question, or the terrible and altered state of the European questions, we still find you in the same state of suicidal apathy. This word 'apathy' does not express to our minds the full measure of your shortcomings, because your War Minister, Mr. Cardwell, had the audacity to state in the House of Commons that he had in store. 300,000 breechloading rifles—a statement which he must (officially) have known contained the grossest misstatement of facts ever attempted to be foisted on the House of Commons. Such are our reasons-political, social, and local-upon which we respectfully, yet firmly, demand the restoration of our abused trust."

THE EMPRESS EUGENIE'S NEW YEAR'S LEVEE.-The Duc de Persigny, the Marquis de Lavalette and his son, Baron Jerome David, M. Rouher, M. de Bouville, and fifty or sixty of the principal French families now residing in this country, were received by the Empress of the French at Chiselhurst.

THE LONDON DEMOCRATS AND THE EDUCATION BOARD.-The various sections of London democrats held a remarkable gathering at the Hole-in-the-Wall, Kirby-street, Hatton-garden, to celebrate, with feasting, speech-making, and other joyous observances, the return of Mr. Lucraft, working man, to the London School Board. Mr. W. Odger, the late "labour" candidate for Southwark, presided, and among those present were many well-known members of the organizations which had existed since the Reform League agitations.

LADY STUDENTS.-The question of the admission of lady students to the ward of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh came up for discussion at the election of managers for the year. Two lists were submitted, and at the close of a long discussion, in which Mrs. Henry Kingsley and Miss Jex Blake took part, 100 voted against the admission of ladies, and 96 in favour. The votes were to be scrutinized.

3. THE FIRST CASES UNDER THE NEW LAND ACT came before Mr. Otway, Q.C., chairman of the county of Antrim, at the Quarter Sessions of Ballymena. Mr. Hill, a tenant on the Glenarm estate of Lord Antrim, claimed 7507. as compensation for disturbance of occupancy. The claim included 4007. paid by the tenant on coming into occupation, 1007. for manuring 20 acres in 1870, 67. for laying down grasses in 1870, 1507. for continuous improvements in 1870, by liming, manuring, draining, fencing, and general cultivation. Against this demand the landlord had a cross claim of 7007. for deterioration of the farm through bad cultivation, general injury to the entire farm, dilapidation of buildings, breaking up old leaground, and exclusion from the possession after the 1st of November last. The case sought to be made on cross-examination was that the first tenant was extravagant and unfortunate in his farming, and

that the land had been deteriorated and injured during the tenancy of the claimant. At the close of the case, Mr. Otway announced that he would give judgment at the Land Sessions of Belfast.

4. THE FLYING SQUADRON, comprising the screw-frigates "Narcissus," twenty-eight, Captain W. Codrington, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Beauchamp Seymour, C.B., Admiral in command of the squadron, and the "Immortalité," twenty-eight, Captain F. W. Sullivan, C.B.; and the screw-corvettes "Cadmus" and "Volage sailed from Plymouth Sound for Lisbon, Madeira, Barbadoes, and several other of the British West India Islands, including Jamaica, whence the squadron, probably calling at Havannah, was to proceed to Bermuda, where the "Pylades" screw-corvette was expected to join. The cruise was to occupy four or five months, but a great deal of latitude to be allowed both as to ports of call and the duration of the visit. The squadron left Plymouth with a fine easterly breeze.

5. A PUBLIC MEETING was held at the City Terminus Hotel, to express sympathy with France, and to discuss the expediency of calling upon the Government to take the initiative in promoting peace. About 1000 persons were present, and Mr. Lockyer, jun., was called to the chair. The speaking was begun by Mr. Merriman, who blamed the King of Prussia and the Lord Mayor equally. Two resolutions were adopted; one-"That we, citizens of London, in public meeting assembled, declare our abhorrence of the war now waged by Prussia in France. We do so in the interest of both countries, as well as on behalf of peace, justice, and humanity; and, in the conviction that equitable terms can be more easily arranged at the present than at any future stage of this devastating conflict, we call on her Majesty's Government to press for effectual negotiations between Prussia and France, with the view of procuring an honourable and lasting peace." The second, moved by Sir Henry Hoare, was to this effect:-"That we, citizens of London, are compelled to record our reprobation of the policy of Prussia, since the surrender of Sedan, in continuing the war for territorial aggrandisement, and prosecuting it with a severity alike unwise and unmerciful."

Another meeting for the same object was held in the evening at the New Hall of Science, Old-street-road, Mr. Austin Holyoake presiding. Messrs. Bradlaugh and Odger were the chief speakers.

7. THE BRITISH VESSELS SUNK AT DUCLAIR.-An inquiry was held by Mr. Candlish, M.P., and Mr. R. M. Hudson, respecting three of the vessels, the "Jane Tindell," the "M'Laren," and the "Alice," belonging to Sunderland.

Captain Embleton, the master of the "Alice," stated that he arrived at Duclair on December 19, when he was hailed by the Prussians, and let go his anchor. He had his English ensign flying at the time. He did not see any of the Prussian authorities that day. On the following day he, with the other captains, saw the chief military authority, and asked for permission to proceed

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down the river. They were told they could not do so, but had better go back to Rouen, and received a permit to do so. When they were leaving, the officer said to them, in English, "Take my advice, go back to Rouen, for this is not a safe place for you." They returned to their vessels, and found the "Ann" sunk, and the "Sally Gale" being towed out to be scuttled. The " Alice was prevented leaving for Rouen on account of the darkness, and on the next day (21st) nine or ten Prussians went on board and took full possession of the ship. The commander of the soldiers, in the best way he could, gave him to understand that he was going to sink the ship, saying, "I am going to couler (sink) your ship; the general will come and give you a paper for the gilt." When the officer took possession, he told him the vessel belonged to a neutral country, and showed him the flag; but it was no use, they towed her away and sunk her. He afterwards saw one of the military authorities on shore, who asked him the price of his ship. He received a paper, properly signed and sealed, in German, certifying that the officer had "requisitioned" the " Alice," whose value was estimated at 24007. He did not ask for money. He got part of his clothes. A note was sent to the British Vice-Consul (Mr. Herring) at Rouen, who went to Duclair, and went on board the Prussian steam-tug to protest against the sinking of the ships. After the ships were sunk, the crews got leave to go to Rouen (a distance of thirty miles), there being no shelter at Duclair. They went part of the way in their boats, which were afterwards chopped up by the Prussians. They were afterwards sent on to London. The Prussians did not behave badly to them, nor rob them, and his ship was not fired at.

Captain Adamson, of the "Jane Tindell," said he left Rouen on December 17th, with a properly stamped permit for England. After being once overhauled by the Prussians, the vessel arrived at La Fontaine on the 19th. There was a strong breeze, and he anchored to prevent the ship leaving the channel. His anchor was on the ground when the Prussians shot twice over the ship; one shot went over the bows, and, the ship swinging at the time, the second went between the masts and into the river. He considered they fired across his bows, which was the usual signal to bring up; they did not fire at him. No one boarded him, and three-quarters of an hour afterwards, in consequence of the wind counteracting the tide, he dropped down the river without any hindrance. He arrived at Duclair on the 18th, and took in ballast until mid-day of the 20th, when, although he had a permit, he went and asked the authorities to permit him to proceed to England. The official wrote something in German on his permit, and gave him to understand he could not go to England, but must proceed to Rouen, as it was not safe to remain at Duclair, the French gunboats being expected. In returning to his ship, he found that the schooner "Ann" was sunk. On the 21st, about three o'clock in the afternoon, the Prussians took possession of the ship, the soldiers cut the moorings, hove up the

anchor, and jumped into the hold with augurs, to scuttle her. All this was done without asking any questions of him. He was afterwards asked to haul down his flag, but he declined. The ship was then sunk. The vice-consul got him an agreement to pay 18007., the value of his ship, from the Prussians.

Captain Hodgson, of the "M'Laren," related a similar story. The consul got him permission to go the extent of the Prussian lines to take in his ballast. He left Rouen on the 14th, and having been twice overhauled by the Prussians, arrived at Duclair on the 19th, when he commenced to take in his ballast. He detailed the interview with the official who gave them the pass to go to Rouen, when they were prevented doing so by the state of the tide. On the 21st about a score of Prussians went on board, and called upon him to haul his flag down, but he would not, and to the best of his belief the ship went down with it flying. The consul protested against the proceedings, and obtained him an assessment of 20007. for the ship. He never saw the flag trampled on.

This concluded the inquiry, and Mr. Candlish stated that he would render them every assistance in bringing their claims before Government.

-THE FENIAN PRISONERS.-Five of the released Fenian prisoners -O'Donovan Rossa, O'Connell, Shaw, M'Clure, and Devoy-left the Mersey for New York, on board the Royal Mail steamer "Cuba," as first-class passengers. Some of their friends witnessed their departure. A mere formal recognition only and a waving of handkerchiefs were allowed. The released prisoners left London accompanied by Captain Griffiths, deputy-governor of Millbank, and four warders. Rossa and M'Clure were to be expatriated for twenty years, and O'Connell and Devoy for four and five years. On the vessel's arrival at Queenstown committees from Dublin and Cork went on board, and furnished each of the men with an outfit and 207. Mrs. Rossa joined her husband there. The prisoners expressed themselves satisfied with the terms of their pardon and their treatment by the Government.

9. MR. GLADSTONE'S CONSTITUENTS.-A meeting was held in the Lecture Hall, Greenwich, in support of the requisition requesting Mr. Gladstone to resign his seat. The Liberals of the borough repudiated all connexion with the affair, although the bills calling the meeting were printed in the colour and style adopted by them. Long before the time at which the meeting was to commence, the hall-which holds about 1300 persons-was filled to overflowing by two distinct parties, one composed of artisans and men of the tradesmen class, the other of about sixty "roughs," headed by prizefighters. Captain Dominy took the chair, but the meeting refused to hear him, and called upon Dr. Bennett to preside. Captain Dominy was heard by the reporters to declare that the requisition had been signed by 4000 persons.

Two resolutions-one expressing want of confidence in Mr. Gladstone as a Minister and as a member for the borough, and another