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men, who carefully conveyed them to what shelter they could afford, and attended to their wants till assistance was obtained through the owners of the Hibernia.

25.-Mr. J. A. Froude elected Rector of St. Andrew's University by a majority of 14 over Mr. Disraeli.

26. Explosion in the north-west section of the Hindley Green (Arley) Pit, Wigan, causing the death of 61 of the 70 people engaged in that portion of the workings. As the shaft was comparatively uninjured, and the pit free from fire, a descent was soon made, and the most of those in the other sections relieved. Of those killed, the great majority had fallen under the influence of the choke-damp. Fifteen at least appeared to have lost their life in the confusion resulting from the first alarm of the explosion. A few found near the shaft were presumed to have been burnt to death by the flames from the pit furnaces, which were forced by the temporary reversion of the ventilation into the adjacent roads.

At Cairo, Lord Napier of Magdala invests the Viceroy of Egypt with the Order of the Star of India.

27.-Collision of II. M. S. Crocodile with the Canadian barque John Dwyer, from Callao to Antwerp. The latter sunk, with four of her crew; the rest, eight in number, were saved in boats from the Crocodile.

28.-The Gazette of this date confirms a rumour current for a few days, that Mrs. Disraeli had been elevated to the peerage, with the title of Viscountess Beaconsfield of Beaconsfield. 29.-Republican demonstration in Madrid.

Died at Angerville, aged 78, M. Berryer, a brilliant orator of the French bar, and foremost of the Legitimist politicians. Headdressed a note to the Count de Chambord as his sovereign a few hours before his death.

30. The elections being now nearly over, it was seen that the greatness of the Liberal majority placed all doubt as to the fate of the present Ministry at an end. To-day it was calculated at 121, or 60 over the majority understood to be available in the last Parliament. The numbers were thus made up :-English boroughs, 213 Liberals, 94 Conservatives; Scotch burghs, 25 Liberals, o Conservatives; Irish boroughs, 28 Liberals, 13 Conservatives; English counties, 50 Liberals, 114 Conservatives; Scotch counties, 23 Liberals, 7 Conservatives; Irish counties, 34 Liberals, 24 Conservatives. Lancashire showed a majority of two to one in favour of the Conservatives, Northumberland about the same for the Liberals, and Durham more than five to one. In North Lancashire, where the houses of Stanley and Devonshire were understood to be interested in the contest, the Marquis of Hartington, representing the latter, was defeated by about 1,500 votes. The most extraordinary Liberal victories were, however, gained in the

Scotch counties. Perth and Dumfries were carried by unknown strangers against Government candidates of great local influence. MidLothian, the centre of the Buccleuch influence, and North Ayrshire, a new division, were also won by Liberals.

December 1.-The Italian Deputies approve of a bill granting civil and political rights to all Italians of the provinces of the peninsula not yet united to the kingdom of Italy.

Four more men sentenced to death at Rome for participation in the insurrection of October 1867.

The new City Meat and Poultry Market opened for business.

The Spanish Provisional Government issue a circular warning civil governors to be on their guard against disturbances springing from reactionary plots.

Mr. Gathorne Hardy has an interview with a deputation at the Home Office for the purpose of receiving an Address to the Queen from the Church and State Defence Society. This was understood to be the last official act of the Home Secretary.

2.-Resignation of the Disraeli Ministry. This morning the Premier proceeded to Windsor, and had a consultation with her Majesty. He returned to town in time for a Cabinet Council, which sat an hour and a half. In the evening, Mr. Disraeli addressed his statement from Downing-street to the London papers. After a recital of the circumstances which led to the dissolution, he wrote :

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Although the general election has elicited, in the decision of numerous and vast constituencies, an expression of feeling which, in a remarkable degree, has justified their anticipations, and which, in dealing with the question in controversy, no wise statesman would disregard, it is now clear that the present Administration cannot expect to command the confidence of the newly-elected House of Commons. Under these circumstances, her Majesty's Ministers felt it due to their own honour, and to the policy they support, not to retain office unnecessarily for a single day. They hold it to be more consistent with the attitude they have assumed, and with the convenience of public business at this season, as well as more conducive to the just influence of the Conservative party, at once to tender the resignation of their offices to her Majesty, rather than to wait for the assembling of a Parliament in which, in the present aspect of affairs, they are sensible they must be in a minority. In thus acting, her Majesty's Government have seen no cause to modify those opinions upon which they deemed it their duty to found their counsel to the Sovereign on the question of the disestablishment and disendowment of the Church They remain convinced that the proposition of Mr. Gladstone is wrong in principle, probably impracticable in appli

cation; and, if practicable, would be disastrous in its effects. While ready at all times

to give a fair consideration and willing aid to any plan for the improvement of the Church in Ireland, to the policy which they opposed last session-rife as they believe it to be with many calamities to society and the State-they will continue, in whatever position they occupy, to offer an uncompromising resistance."

2.-Paris. Anniversary of the coup d'état. A demonstration was attempted at Baudin's grave, but the cemetery gates were closed by the police, and several people who resisted their authority apprehended.

Paul's.

Dr. Mansel installed as Dean of St.

3. In the Court of Exchequer Chamber the Lord Chief Justice delivers judgment in the case of Grinel v. Bristowe, raised to recover 800l. and interest, the amount of a call of 10/. per share upon eighty shares in Overend, Gurney, & Co. (Limited), made after the sale of the shares by the plaintiff to the defendants, who were stock-jobbers and members of the Stock Exchange. The shares were transferred by the plaintiff to the nominees of the defendants, but these nominees having omitted to execute the transfers or to cause themselves to be registered as the owners, and the plaintiff thus remaining the registered holder of the shares, he had been compelled to pay a call since made. The plaintiff then brought an action against the defendants to be indemnified in respect to these payments. The facts were turned into a special case, and argued in the Court of Common Pleas, when the majority of the judges gave judgment for the plaintiff. Against that decision the defendants appealed. The Lord Chief Justice now reversed the finding of the Court of Common Pleas, and directed a verdict to be entered for the defendants.

4. In obedience to a royal summons conveyed to Hawarden Castle by General Grey, Mr. Gladstone proceeded to Windsor and had an audience of her Majesty this afternoon. He was then understood to have accepted the commands laid upon him to form a Ministry. Mr. Gladstone returned to town about six o'clock, and met several of his colleagues.

The Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral, acting upon her Majesty's congé d'elire, unanimously elect Dr. Tait, Bishop of London, to succeed the late Dr. Longley as Archbishop of Canterbury.

The King of Wurtemburg opens his Parliament with a speech, in which he promised the introduction of various measures of reform, and avowed that he would "defend the independence of Wurtemburg, protect the national interests, and fulfil faithfully and in a patriotic spirit his duties towards the whole Germanic Fatherland."

5.-Insurrection at Cadiz. The outbreak gradually acquired such importance as com

pelled the Provisional Government to lay a portion of the fleet alongside the city, for the purpose of bombarding it if necessary. The Republican party were ultimately put down by the Government troops.

5. Panic at London Stock Exchange caused by untruthful rumours of the sudden death of the Emperor Napoleon.

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Mr. Gladstone had made such progress in the construction of his Ministry that he is able to wait on the Queen at Windsor this afternoon, and submit a list of names for the more important offices. What had hitherto been a vague rumour concerning the presence of Mr. Bright in the Cabinet now obtains general credence.

Through Lord Stanley Mr. Peabody makes another donation of 100,000/. in aid of the London poor, bringing the gross sum given by him for that purpose up to 350,000.

7.-At a meeting of Congress to-day it was agreed to present a joint resolution to the President asking for the recall of Mr. Reverdy Johnson from the English embassy.

Turkey despatches an ultimatum to the Greek Government, demanding explanations of the past, and reassuring guarantees for the future, as regarded Crete. Vienna news of the 24th made mention of a Conference to be held, for settling the dispute between the two countries.

In his Message to Congress, President Johnson states that the Alabama claims are not yet quite arranged. Certain portions of the protocol not approved of by America were returned to England, and the resignation of Mr. Disraeli's Ministry had for the moment put a stop to negotiations. The Senate refused to hear the Message read, and adjourned.

Severe storm in and around London; destructive also at sea, the North Briton being cast ashore on the Long Rock near Penzance. 8.--Stormy meeting of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge at Freemasons' Tavern. A proposal made to grant 2,000l. to the Bishop of Capetown was negatived by 765 to 674 votes.

9.-Her Majesty holds two Privy Councils -the first at one P. M., when Mr. Disraeli and his colleagues attended to deliver up the seals of office; the second at three, at which Mr. Gladstone and the new Ministry were sworn into office. Besides the new Premier, there were present, Sir W. Page Wood, Lord Clarendon, Lord Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Mr. Lowe, Mr. Bright, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Childers, the Marquis of Hartington, the Earl De Grey and Ripon, Lord Kimberley, Mr. Fortescue, Mr. Bruce, &c, who had an audience with the Queen, and received the seals of office. At this Council Mr Childers and Mr. Bright were sworn in as Privy Councillors, and took their seats at the board accordingly,

10.-Banquet at Fishmongers' Hall, attended by the Lord Chancellor and other members of the new Cabinet. Sir W. Page Wood expressed the pleasure he felt in now being able to give an active support to Mr. Gladstone; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a humorous reply for the House of Commons, intimating his intention to do all he could to remove from the country the burden of taxation, so that we might enjoy the best institutions in the world without having to pay for them.

The first session of the eighth Parliament of Queen Victoria opened by Royal Commission. On the motion of Sir George Grey, seconded by Mr. Walpole, the Right Hon. J. Evelyn Denison was unanimously elected Speaker. The swearing-in of members was proceeded with next day.

The Rev. Mr. Macrorie, the rival of Dr. Colenso for the Bishopric of Natal, leaves England for the Cape.

The Premier issues his address to the electors of Greenwich, stating that he was actively engaged "in the endeavour to form an Administration, which may, I trust, deserve the confidence of the country; and will certainly use every effort in office to give effect to the great measures which, out of office, its members generally have agreed in recommending to the country."

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The Gazette announces that the Queen had been pleased to create the new Lord Chancellor, Sir W. Page Wood, a baron, with the title of Baron Hatherley of Down Hatherley in the county of Gloucester.

11. The Speaker of the new Parliament presents himself at the bar of the House of Lords to obtain her Majesty's approval of the choice made by the House of Commons. This approval was expressed through the Lord Chancellor, who had also her Majesty's commands to confirm the Commons in all their rights and privileges.

15. In the House of Lords to-day the Lord Chancellor read a Royal Message, informing members that "since the time when her Majesty deemed it right to call you together for the consideration of many grave and important matters, several vacancies have occurred in the House of Commons. It is therefore her Majesty's pleasure that an opportunity may now be given to issue writs for supplying the vacancies so occasioned, and that, after a suitable recess, you may proceed to the consideration of such matters as will then be laid before you." The Lord Chancellor took the oaths and his seat as Lord Hatherley, after which the House adjourned till 11th February.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Ayrton moves the issue of new writs for the election of as many members of the new Government as had been returned twenty-one days. These were-Greenwich, in the room of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, First Lord of the

Treasury; Oxford, in the room of the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, Secretary for War; the University of Loudon, in the room of the Right Hon. R. Lowe, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Pontefract, in the room of the Right Hon. II. C. E. Childers, First Lord of the Admiralty; Birmingham, in the room of the Right Hon. John Bright, President of the Board of Trade; Southwark, in the room of the Right Hon. H. A. Layard, First Commissioner of Works; Halifax, in the room of Mr. Stansfeld, Third Lord of the Treasury; Plymouth, in the room of Sir R. P. Collier, Attorney-General; Exeter, in the room of Sir J. D. Coleridge, Solicitor-General; Bradford, in the room of the Right Hon. W. E. Forster, Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education; Ripon, in the room of Lord John Hay, one of the Lords of the Admiralty; Truro, in the room of Captain Vivian, a junior Lord of the Treasury; Wareham, in the room of Mr. Calcraft, deceased. The case of Mr. Göschen gave rise to a short discussion. His election had been petitioned against, but the House had no official knowledge whether the seat was claimed. Sir R. Palmer pointed out that all the House required was information from one of its members, and the mere fact of the writ being moved for was proof sufficient that the seat was not claimed. The writ was therefore ordered to be issued with the others. Several notices of motion were afterwards given, and the House adjourned till the 29th. The elections were in all cases unopposed, and took place in most instances on the 21st.

18.-Consols quoted at 92 ex dividend, being the lowest point touched during the year, with the exception of Jan. 1, when they opened at 91 to 92.

20.-Lord Mayo, the new Viceroy of India, lands at Bombay; and also Lord Napier of Magdala, to reassume his command of the troops there.

21.-Addressing an assembly of cardinals to-day, the Pope is reported to have said:

"The King of Sardinia has abased himself so low as to ask the pardon of two assassins-the King of Sardinia, who saw no guilt in the murders of the two priests at Siena-the same, who had not the smallest coin for the sufferers by the floods in Upper Italy, but who gave 5,000 francs for the widow of an assassin. This king, whom you know so well, and whom you recommend to our Lord, demands the pardon of two male. factors worthy of the last punishment."

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by the present system for perfect freedom in the giving of the vote-(loud cheers)-in the giving of that vote which has not only not been conferred as a favour, but has been imposed as a duty, by the Legislature upon the members of the community. Upon that subject, gentlemen, I will only say that in my opinion the occurrences which have marked the recent elections-especially in some portions of the country, and most of all, perhaps, in the large borough of Blackburn, situated in the county with which I have the honour to have some connexion-those occurrences, I say, ought to form-in the hands, probably, of independent members of Parliament rather than of those of the Government representing a party-the subject of a searching and impartial inquiry. (Cheers.) I have at all times given my vote in favour of the method of open voting; but I have done so before, and do so now, with this important reservation, that, whether by open voting or by whatever means, free voting must be secured. (Loud cheers.)" The second point calling for immediate attention was the grievance suffered by the compound householder, which had been, he said, most needlessly he would not say wantonly-inflicted by the late Government.-Mr. Bright said that when Mr. Gladstone asked him to join his Administration, "I have reason to know that he made that proposition with the cordial and gracious acquiescence of her Majesty the Queen." Explaining that the state of his health prevented him undertaking the arduous duties of the India Office, he passed on to speak of the necessity that existed for an Administration working harmoniously together. "It is therefore possible that in seeking the maintenance of this harmony the members of the Administration may appear at times to take a different line to that which they have taken when unconnected with the Government. If there should be any such occasions-if any one of my constituents should find that I have on any occasion to come been in a lobby different to that in which at some former period I have been found, let him have such patience as he can; let him understand this, that until I say I have changed my views, my views remain unchanged; and that the different course which I am compelled to take is one which does not affect principle so much as time and opportunity, or that it is a temporary and inevitable concession to the necessity of continuing harmony of discussion amongst the members of the Government. I must ask you to look always at the general result." Regarding the ballot the right hon. gentleman said :—“I am very glad to tell you that when I went up to London last week I found, I was going to say, almost nobody-(laughter and cheers)--professing to be on the Liberal side of the House of Commons who was not in favour of the ballot. (Hear, hear, loud and prolonged cheers.) Those who had previously been in its favour were strongly confirmed by recent transactions; and many, and some important persons, who

heretofore have withheld their countenance from it, now admit with the greatest freedom that what they have seen of late has entirely changed their opinion, and that they believe with our present wide suffrage-I don't know why it should be more just in the one case than in the other-the adoption of the ballot is not only proper, but is inevitable.' He had not aspired at any time, he said, to the rank of a Privy Councillor, or to the dignity of a Cabinet office. "I should have preferred much to have remained in the cominon rank of the simple citizenship in which heretofore I have lived. There is a charming story contained in a single verse of the Old Testament, which has often struck me as one of great beauty. Many of you will recollect that the prophet, in journeying to and fro, was very hospitably entertained by what is termed in the Bible a Shunammite woman. In return for the hospitality of his entertainment he wished to make her some amends, and he called her and asked her what there was that he should do for her. Shall I speak for thee to the King or to the Captain of the Host?'-and it has always appeared to me to be a great answer that the Shunammite woman returned. She said, 'I dwell among mine own people.' (Great applause.) When the question was put to me whether I would step into the position in which I now find myself, the answer from my heart was the same-I wish to dwell among mine own people. (Great applause.) Happily, the time may have come

I trust it has come-when in this country an honest man may enter the service of the Crown, and at the same time not feel it in any degree necessary to dissociate himself from his own people. (Great applause.)"

21.-Congratulatory address from the clergy of the diocese of London presented to Dr. Tait, upon his elevation to the primacy.

22. Madame Rachel liberated on bail, pending the result of the arguments on a writ of error granted to try the right of Mr. Commissioner Kerr to sit as a judge in the Central Criminal Court.

On

23.-Lord Cairns delivers the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the case of Martin v. Mackonochie, involving the legality of the ritualistic practices observed in the church of St. Alban, Holborn. both the charges opposed against--the kneeling or prostrating before the consecrated elements, and the use of lighted candlesLord Cairns decided against Mr. Mackonochie. Lighted candles, he held, were not ornaments" within the meaning of the Rubric. Mr. Mackonochie was also condemned in the costs of appeal as well as the costs of hearing in the court below. At a meeting of the Ritualistic party held afterwards with reference to this judgment the opinion was very generally expressed that the time had come when the church shonld demand to be deli

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vered from the burden of its connexion with the State.

24. The Marquis of Bute received into the Roman Catholic Church at Nice, by Monsignor Capel, an English priest.

Died at Greenwich, aged 82, Abraham Cooper, the oldest Royal Academician.

26. In reply to an Address from the Sacred College Pius IX said:-"Many Popes were persecuted, imprisoned, exiled, but they came out of prison with glory, and returned triumphant from exile. Such are the lessons of history which our contemporaries seem to have forgotten, but which, for all that, are not the less true. In considering the present state of Europe, in seeing so many thrones overturned, they believe that the Church also is to fall. But if even we were entirely isolated, if we should be deserted by all, which I do not believe we shall be, the voice of the Roman pontiffs will always find an echo in the world, because it is promised that support of which you have full knowledge.'

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took place in the English Channel, attended with loss of life. At Rochdale next day a building used as a place of worship was blown down, and about sixty people injured.

27.-Died, aged 72, Sir Richard Mayne, chief of the metropolitan police force.

29.-Conference of the great Powers for the settlement of the differences between Turkey and Greece arranged to meet in Paris early in January.

Treasury minute issued relating to the bankruptcy or insolvency of members of the Civil Service. Pecuniary embarrassment occasioned by imprudence to be punished by forfeiture of all claim to promotion or increase of salary until the offender shall have relieved himself from the discredit of such a position.

Parliament reassembles in pursuance of the last adjournment, and the newly-elected Ministers take the oaths and their seats. Writs having been moved for the additional seats rendered vacant by acceptance of office, a further adjournment was made to February 16th, 1869.

ADDENDA.

The following were omitted by accident in their proper places.

1838.

October 1.-Lord Auckland issues a "manifesto " from Simla, stating the reasons which had induced him to direct the assemblage of a British force for service across the Indus. "After much time," it was said, "spent by Captain Burnes in fruitless negotiation at Cabul, it appeared that Dost Mahomed Khan, chiefly in consequence of his reliance upon Persian encouragement and assistance, persisted, as respects his misunderstanding with the Sikhs, in urging the most unreasonable pretensions, such as the GovernorGeneral could not, consistently with justice and his regard for the friendship of Maharajah Runjeet Singh, be the channel of submitting to the consideration of his Highness; that he avowed schemes of aggrandisement and ambition injurious to the security and peace of the frontiers of India; and that he openly threatened, in furtherance of these schemes, to call in every foreign aid which he could command.” Reference was then made in the manifesto to

the unjustifiable aggression of Persia upon Herat, and the countenance which had been given to the expedition by Dost Mahomed, and his brother Sirdar of Candahar. "After various and mature deliberation the GovernorGeneral was satisfied that a pressing necessity, as well as every consideration of policy and justice, warranted us in espousing the cause of Shah Soojah-ool Moolk, whose popularity throughout Affghanistan has been proved to his Lordship by the strong and unanimous testimony of the best authorities. A guaranteed independence will upon favourable conditions be tendered to the Ameer of Sindh, and the integrity of Herat in the possession of its present ruler will be fully respected while, by the measures completed or in progress, it may reasonably be hoped that the general freedom and security of commerce will be promoted; that the known and just influence of the British Government will gain its proper footing among the nations of Central Asia; that tranquillity will be established upon the most important frontier of India; and that a lasting barrier will be raised against hostile intrigue

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