3.-Violent earthquake shocks in Algeria. In one village 32 were killed and 14 wounded. The residence of the French Administrator fell in, burying several Europeans in the ruins.

4. The polls declared up to this date show that the Liberals are just four short of the Conservatives and Nationalists combined, the totals being-Liberals, 283; Conservatives, 226; Nationalists, 61. The seats filled to-day numbered 41, of which 22 are Liberal, 13 Conservative, and 6 Nationalist. Not a single seat fell to the Conservatives in Ireland.

5.-Speaking at Matlock, Lord Hartington said that the present attitude of the Conservatives towards the Parnellites was unworthy the confidence of the nation. Whether they had sought Mr. Parnell's aid or not, they had certainly accepted it in silence. When it was open to them to say that the support tendered by the Parnellites was given upon erroneous conclusions and erroneous suppositions they had not said a word. Comparing the policies of the two parties, he said Lord Salisbury had dropped his Newport programme, and had marched to the present conflict with nothing but the old and well-worn ensign of "the Church in danger. On the other hand, the policy of Mr. Gladstone, which the Liberals had accepted as a sufficient and adequate policy, contained proposals necessary for the welfare and prosperity of the country. Lord Hartington denied evading the question of Disestablishment, when he said it was not ripe for solution; had he gone farther, he said, and declared once and for all either for or against the Church, he would have raised the question as one for present settlement, which was just what he thought ought not to be done.

8.-Treasure sunk in the Spanish mail steamer Alphonso XII., off Grand Canary, and amounting to £100,000, nearly all recovered.

Died suddenly, at his residence Fifth Avenue, New York, aged 64, W. H. Vanderbilt, "Railway King," son of the famous 66 "Commodore " " of the name, who was said to have left to his heir four-fifths of his estate, estimated at £20,000,000.

10. With the pollings published to-day the interest in the General Election may be said to have come to an end, for though the voting in Orkney and Shetland and the Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities do not take place till next week, the results in these

The

two constituencies could not alter the position of parties in any appreciable degree. total now stood-Liberals, 333; Conservatives, 249; Nationalists, 86; being a majority of 2 to the combination of Tories and Parnellites.

10. The election of sixteen Peers to represent Scotland in the House of Lords takes place at Holyrood to-day. Before the business of the meeting was taken up the Marquis of Queensberry made an objection to the "loose and careless" way in which the election was conducted. He was proceeding to refute an allegation that he had denied the existence of God, which he said had been made with the view of preventing his election, when he was interrupted by the chairman, and left the hall. The election then went on, Of the sixteen Peers chosen, nine sat in the last Parliament.

11. An interesting ceremony takes place at Largo, Fifeshire, the Countess of Aberdeen unveiling a statue to Alexander Selkirk, best known as the prototype of Defoe's worldfamous creation "Robinson Crusoe." The statue was the gift of a Largo manufacturer, Mr. David Gillies, one of the representatives of the Selkirk family, and erected in front of the place where the cottage stood in which Selkirk was born. The statue was handsomely finished in bronze by Mr. T. S. Burnett, A.R.S.A., and bears an inscription recalling Selkirk's solitary stay on Juan Fernandez.

Died at Shepherd's Bush Green, aged 81, James Fahey, one of the founders of the New Society of Painters in Water Colours.

It was

12.-Rumour current that communications had been recently exchanged between Mr. Gladstone and the leaders of the Irish party with a view to joint action in the new Parliament. The Home Rulers were said to contemplate moving an amendment to the Address, demanding Home Rule for Ireland. further alleged that Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Chamberlain, and Sir William Harcourt favoured the idea of an understanding under which the Irish members might transfer their support to the Opposition, but that, on the other hand, the Moderate Liberals still looked with repugnance upon any such compact.

his two sons and 10,000,000 to each of his daughters, besides a handsome provision for his widow.

12.-Died, aged 76, David Cox, an Associate Exhibitor of the Society of Painters in Water Colours.

13. A terrible calamity occurred in the early hours of this morning in Plymouth. A fire broke out in a tenement in one of the oldest parts of the town, where several families, numbering thirty-one persons in all, resided. Some of the inmates succeeded in making their escape by means of a ladder, and others dropped from the windows, but twelve of them were not so fortunate, and were either suffocated or burnt to death. In the case of one family the mother and seven children were suffocated in their beds, while the father dropped from the window of the top storey and landed head foremost on the street, badly hurt.

14.-To-day being the twenty-fourth anni. versary of the death of the Prince Consort and the seventh of that of the Princess Alice, her Majesty, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family, attended a special service at the Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore. The exEmpress Eugenie was also present.

The unparalleled feat of travelling from San Francisco to London in fourteen days is accomplished to-day by several passengers who reached Liverpool in the Cunard steamship Umbria.

A fire, said to have originated in the sun-light of the Chemical Lecture Hall, broke out in the Yorkshire College of Science and Art at Leeds, recently erected at the cost of £100,000. The efforts of the firemen saved all the buildings with the exception of the two lecture-rooms and their offices.

15.-The Crown recovered in the Court of Queen's Bench £1,986 penalties for smuggling against a Leeds tobacconist. The tobacco was brought to Hull in coffins and hollow pieces of timber.

Died at Lisbon, aged 62, Ferdinand Augustus, King of Portugal, who had sucIceeded to the throne on the death of his father, Dom Pedro, in 1861.

Died at Bray, near Dublin, aged 83, Lieut.-General Sir Arthur P. Phayre, C.B., formerly Chief Commissioner at British Burmah, and otherwise known as an accomplished scholar.

16. The Pontypridd magistrates give a final decision in connection with the test case brought by direction of the Home Office to determine the legality of shot-firing in collieries whilst the men were at work. After somewhat lengthened litigation, Mr. Thomas, manager of the Standard Colliery, Ynyshir, was fined £1 and costs, amounting, it is understood, to nearly £100.

17.-Rumours, promptly repudiated, attribute to Mr. Gladstone a scheme for satisfying the demands of the Nationalist party by granting a Parliament in Dublin, with complete control of Irish affairs, the Crown having the right of veto only on the advice of the Irish Ministry; Ireland to be represented at Westminster for all purposes of Imperial legislation; the police organization to be under control of the Irish Government; and, finally, Mr. Parnell to furnish "adequate guarantees" for the protection of the loyal minority and the safeguarding of the legitimate interests of landlords.

Banquet at Birmingham to celebrate the return of seven Liberal members. Mr. Bright was unable to attend. Mr. Chamberlain in responding to the toast of the evening, contended that it was the advanced programme which had won and saved the Liberal party from defeat. In the new Parliament the Radical party would be more numerous and resolute than ever. He did not say it would force the pace of the party, but it would not be hindered by laggards half inclined to join the enemy. There would be no great eagerness among the Liberals to turn out the present Government. He wished the Tories to drink to the dregs the cup of humiliation they had filled for themselves; and there was a still stronger reason-at present he could not see a sufficient certainty that the place of the Conservatives could be taken by a strong Liberal Government. A Tory Government resting on the support of its opponents was for Liberals a much better thing than a weak Liberal Government existing only with support of the Tories.

Act of Settlement in the Caroline Islands dispute signed at the Vatican by Cardinal Jacobini and the representatives of Germany and Spain.

One of the piers of the Pont Neuf, over the Seine at Paris, sunk as if into mud, and the other piers fell out of plumb, breaking the gas mains, &c. The foundation was laid by Henri III. in 1578.

18.-Results of the final pollings in Scotland completing the new House of Commons, announced to-day. For the Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities, Mr. J. H. A. Macdonald, the Lord-Advocate, was returned by a majority of 387 over Mr. Erichsen, the numbers being: Macdonald, 2,840; Erichsen, 2,453.

In Orkney and Shetland Mr. Leonard Lyell the Liberal candidate, defeated Mr. C. Dundas by a large majority. The numbers were:

Lyell, 3,352; Dundas, 1,940. Parties in the House of Commons now stood thus: Liberals, 334; Conservatives, 250; Nationalists, 86.

18.-Henry Graham, formerly chief secretary to Lord Chancellor Cairns, appointed clerk of the Parliament, in room of the late Sir W. Rose.

Died, at Rome, aged 73, Morris Moore, whose name has been for many years associated in Italy with that of Raphael, by his purchase of the painter's house, where he founded a

museum.

19. Died at Sydling Court, Dorchester, from the effects of an accident in the huntingfield the previous day, Dudley Francis North, seventh Earl of Guilford, aged 34.

Died, at Liverpool, Stephen B. Guion, founder of the well-known line of Transatlantic steamers which bears his name. Mr. Guion was born in America, but came to this country early in life, and was a naturalized British citizen.

20.-Rumours being presently rife concerning the intentions of the Liberal party with reference to Ireland, Lord Hartington writes to the chairman of his electoral committee stating that "no proposals on the policy to be adopted by the Liberal party in reference to the demand of a large number of Irish members for the legislative independence of Ireland" have been communicated to him, and he sees no reason to depart in any degree from the declarations which he made and the opinions which he expressed, in his speeches during the election. What these opinions are may be gathered from the extracts given elsewhere. It is reported that Lord Hartington's letter was issued immediately after a conference with Mr. Goschen at Devonshire House. In a memorandum circulated on behalf of Mr. Gladstone it was stated that if the right hon. gentleman "should at any time have any plan or intention to announce on the question of Irish government, it will be done in public and on his own responsibility, and not by He anonymous irresponsible declarations." further assures his political friends "that he is bound to none of the ideas entertained in his

affairs, the Orange body sought to prove, by their demeanour towards those with whom they have minor differences, that the charge of bigotry which was so commonly made against them is wholly unfounded, and that they welcome with cordiality all those who will assist them in keeping intact the bond which unites Ireland to this great Empire. They believe that the truest interests of the Empire at large are involved in the continuance of the existing connection between the British Islands. The relaxation of the ties which connect Ireland with England must lead to ultimate separation, and to the establishment at the most vulnerable point of the Empire of a drill-ground for hostile armies and a dockyard for foreign fleets.

21. Speaking to his constituents at Newcastle, Mr. John Morley said he had been forced to the conclusion that before many weeks were over they would see Parliament driven to consider the question of giving Ireland some plan of extended government, whether Lord Salisbury undertook the task or whether he shrank from it. Parliament had a terribly rough journey before it, and the task would be a long one. It would stir passions, and might destroy a great party, but whatever the outcome, it was the duty of every Liberal to view it calmly and steadfastly.

At the Cork Assizes to-day Timothy Casey and Daniel Daly were charged with moonlighting on the 13th November last, when Mr. Curtin, of Castle Farm, Castle Island, County Kerry, was shot dead. jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the penal servitude. prisoners were sentenced to fourteen years'

The

The ninetieth birthday of Professor Ranke, the well known historian, celebrated at Berlin. The Emperor William sent his portrait and a congratulatory autograph letter; the Empress also wrote, and the Crown Prince called to felicitate the distinguished nonagenarian.

22.-First passenger train run through the Mersey Tunnel, the chairman and contractors being of the company.

Suicide from Clifton Suspension Bridge, being the nineteenth occurrence of the kind since the old Hungerford structure was swung across the Avon.

23.-Telegrams from Upper Burmah state that the country is in a very disturbed state. Armed boats were reported on the Irrawaddy above Minhla, and one of them captured by a steam launch commanded by the civil officer in charge of Minhla. It was now thought certain that three officials of the Bombay-Burmese Corporation-Allan, Roberts, and Moncurewere killed while captives in the Chindwin River.

23.-Disastrous colliery explosion at Ferndale, near Pontypridd, South Wales. Seventyfour were killed in the workings, and one expired after being brought to bank. All the bodies were soon recovered with the exception of one, buried under a fall. The cause of the explosion was unknown, though it was noted that the conditions of atmospheric pressure were similar to those observed at several previous accidents.

Died, in Whitehouse Terrace, Edinburgh, aged 70, Sir George Harrison, M.P. for the Southern Division of that city and formerly an active popular Lord Provost.

24.-Highbury Fields, 27 acres in extent, thrown open as a public recreation ground. The land was purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works and Islington Vestry for £60,000.

Sad accident at Devonport. The two daughters-in-law of Mr. St. Aubyn, the Misses Fitzroy, had dressed for a ball, and when leaving the room to join the carriage the younger sister's dress was found to have taken fire. Her elder sister at once closed in upon her and sought to extinguish the flames. She herself, however, became enveloped, and received such frightful injuries before her heartrending cries brought assistance that she died next day. Her sister, Miss Ella, also succumbed on Jan. 11th.

four years Professor of Mathematics at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth.

29. The three men committed for the Netherby Hall robbery and the subsequent murderous attacks on the police again examined before the magistrates at Carlisle, in order that the deposition of Police-constable Fortune, of Forthe Carlisle city police, might be taken. tune described the attack made upon him, and evidence was given of the finding of the remainder of the stolen jewellery in the river Lune, at Tebay. Fourth prisoner arrested by the London police on suspicion of being concerned in the crimes was released, the witnesses failing to identify him.

30.-General regret expressed at the announcement made to-day that Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P., was lying at Torquay in a most critical condition. According to the latest reports he was quite unconscious, and although he might live a day or two longer, the medical men in attendance on the right hon. gentleman were of opinion that he is rapidly sinking and that his recovery is hopeless.

Writing to the Times on the subject of Home Rule, Earl Cowper, a former LordLieutenant, said he does not think Home Rule for its own sake was really desired by anybody. Even, however, though it were desired by the Irish, he did not for a moment admit that it could be granted without interfering with Imperial interests. He contended that the grievances of the Irish were connected with rent, and not with politics, and that the secret of Mr. Parnell's power lay in the fact that he appealed to the farmers' pockets. Speaking at Ryde to-night, the Attorney-General said that, whatever Lord Salisbury's programme might be, it would certainly not be in the direction of granting Ireland a Parliament of her own with control of the police. There would be no truckling to Mr. Parnell.

1886.

January 1.-Lord Dufferin's proclamation, announcing in name of the Queen Empress the annexation of Upper Burmah to the British Empire, read at Rangoon this morning in presence of the troops of the garrison and a large concourse of the natives.

The inauguration of the new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr. T. D. Sullivan, proprietor of the Nation newspaper, takes the form of a Nationalist demonstration. The utmost order prevailed throughout the proceedings.

2.-Confirmation received from Zanzibar of the seizure of Bishop Hannington by the King of Uganda. Sir John Kirk was said to have entered into negotiations for the Bishop's release.

General Sir Donald Stewart, G.C.B., arrived at Osborne, and is invested by Her Majesty with the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Star of India, receiving also the honour of knighthood.

It was reported that fox-hunting had been altogether abandoned in Tipperary, in consequence of the continued poisoning of foxes and hounds. In Limerick County the members of the hunt decided, after a long discussion, to discontinue hunting.

3.-Twenty-fifth anniversary of the Emperor William's accession to the throne of Prussia celebrated in Berlin amidst great rejoicing.

Died at Alexandria, aged 50, Professor Sheldon Amos, English Judge of the Native Court of Appeal in Egypt.

Died at Brougham Hall, aged 90, William Brougham, second Lord Brougham and Vaux, younger brother of the Lord Chancellor.

4.-Detailed confession published of George Herbert Thackray Nelson King, who says he and another man named Sullivan murdered Mr. John Broome Tower in Stoke Newington on the last day of 1883 or early the following morning. The body of Mr. Tower was found in a reservoir, and considerable mystery surrounded the murder, the police entirely failing to throw any light upon it.

Sir John Macdonald, Premier of Canada, entertained at St. George's Hall, London. Responding to the toast of his health, he said he had often been questioned respecting the loyalty of the French Canadians, and he replied that if there was a loyal body of men within the bounds of the British Empire they would be found among the French Canadians. Their feeling respecting the execution of Riel was a natural one, and did not affect their loyalty. The French Canadians became subjects of the British Crown before the French Revolution. All their feeling was connected

with the old Monarchy of France, and they had no sympathy with the modern infidelity and rabid democracy of France. Touching the question of Imperial Federation, he said this must take place, and, speaking for Canada, they were quite ready to accept increased responsibility.

5.-At the fortnightly meeting of the Irish National League in Dublin to-day, it was announced that during the fortnight the sum of £3,834 15s. had been received for the various purposes of the association. Of this sum £3,000 came from America and £500 from Australia, leaving £334 15s. as the contribution raised in Ireland itself.

Died at Philadelphia, aged 70, Joshua B. Lippincott, the well-known American publisher.

6.-A heavy fall of snow, extending over the greater part of Scotland and England, rendered traffic, especially in London and the large towns, difficult. The telegraph wires were seriously injured, and much damage done to timber-trees throughout the country by weight of snow. In Scotland and the north of England the snowstorm was accompanied by a severe gale, which on the coasts occasioned great loss of life and shipping.

The "chapel bell" signal put into requisition at Carrickmore, near Dungannon, on the arrival of a process-server. In answer to the summons a mob appeared, who not only effectually prevented the service of ejectment notices, but afterwards attacked the police barracks, and had to be dispersed at the point of the bayonet.

7.-Speaking of the Irish question to-night, at a dinner in Chelmsford, Mr. John Morley, M.P., said that for his part he wanted two things-order in Ireland and power_in the House of Commons at Westminster. The real mischief was not in the motions, speeches, and resolutions of the Irish members; it was that they were able to weaken our policy, to turn out our Ministers, and to reject bills from motives which were not those of national patriotism in the English sense. Do what they would with the rules of procedure, they would not restore its virtue to the old British Parliament-they would not give to the British people the power of being master of their own House until they had devised some scheme whereby they would remove the Irish members from the British House of Commons. Nobody was better aware than he of the enormous difficulty of framing a constitution either for Ireland or anywhere else, but he would rather bestow a new constitution on Ireland than destroy the old constitution of Great Britain.