5. In the House of Lords, previous to the debate on the Address, the Lord Chancellor (Lord Herschell) made a personal statement with reference to various rumours in regard to the transfer of Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams from his special duties under the Winding-up of Companies Act. 6. Rev. John Percival, D.D., Head Master of Rugby, appointed Bishop of Hereford. A number of students of the St. Petersburg University arrested and sentenced to expulsion for expressing too strongly their opinions regarding the treatment of the Zemstvo of Tver. According to official reports the Portuguese troops and loyal natives routed the rebels round Lorenço Marques and destroyed the kraals on the Incomati River. At Timsbury Collieries, near Radstock in the Mendips, an explosion, resulting from the ignition of coal dust, caused the death of seven out of nine workers in the pit. 7. At Washington the House of Representatives threw out, by 161 to 134 votes, the Bond Bill, proposed by the Government for the relief of the Treasury. Intense cold prevailed over the whole of Europe. In the British Isles the thermometer fell to an average of 8 degrees Fahrenheit in the Midlands, and it was lower in more exposed districts. The river traffic of the Thames, Severn, Humber, etc., was completely stopped, and almost the same state of things was reported from France, Belgium, Germany and even from Italy and Spain. In the United States fearful blizzards prevailed in the north. 8. A great fire broke out in the buildings of the South-west India Docks, in which large quantities of jute and tow were stored. A steamer and several vessels which were ice-bound alongside the quay were also much damaged. In the House of Commons, Mr. Jeffreys' amendment on the Address dealing with agricultural distress negatived by 273 to 261 votes. The Parnellites voted against the Government. - The German Emperor delivered a lecture, lasting two hours, on the importance of the combined action of military and naval forces, as illustrated by the existing war in the East. 9. The vacancy for South Paddington, caused by the death of Lord R. Churchill, filled by the election of Mr. T. G. Fardell, unopposed. The ex-Queen of Hawaii tried for her connection with the attempted rebellion, convicted of misprision of treason, and sentenced to five years' imprisonment and a fine of $5,000. Three of the insurgent leaders were sentenced to death, and twenty-five others to long terms of imprisonment. 11. The prosecution of the directors of the "Balfour" Companies commenced at the Guildhall. Charges of fraud and conspiracy were brought against five persons by the Treasury. In the House of Commons, Mr. J. Redmond's amendment on the Address, declaring that the time had come for a dissolution of Parliament, rejected by 256 to 236 votes. 11. The Italian Minster of Public Instruction, in consequence of continued disorders at the Naples University, suspended the course of study for one year. 12. A bazaar and exhibition in aid of the Nelson Memorial at Barnham Thorpe opened at the official residence of the First Lord of the Admiralty. The French Chamber of Deputies, notwithstanding the appeal of the Government for economy, voted 12,000 francs for the expenses of the Mont Blanc Observatory. After much fighting, in which the Chinese showed great tenacity, Admiral Ting tendered to Admiral Ito the surrender of the remaining Chinese vessels in Wei-hai-wei Harbour, and of the Leu-Kung forts, on the condition that the lives of the men and garrison should be spared. On the following day the surrender took place, Admiral Ting and two other chief officers having previously committed suicide. - The German Reichstag agreed to a motion advocating the repeal of the Dictatorship paragraph in the laws governing the Reichsland (Alsace-Lorraine). The Duke of Connaught, at a meeting at the Mansion House for raising a special fund for St. Thomas' Hospital, moved a resolution in favour of raising a sum of 100,000l. to enable the closed wards to be reopened. The prolonged and severe frost which was felt all over Europe, except in Iceland where unusually warm weather prevailed, brought about a great increase (23,569 cases) in metropolitan pauperism and caused upwards of fifteen deaths in the same area. 14. "General" Booth at a meeting at Ottawa, at which the GovernorGeneral, Cabinet Ministers, and permanent officials of the Canadian Dominion were present, developed a project for the establishment of a Salvation Army Colony in the Canadian North-west. The House of Representatives at Washington, after a short debate, defeated by 165 to 121 votes the Three Per Cent. Gold Bond Bill. 15. A terrible explosion of fire-damp occurred at Laborze in Silesia, by which fourteen miners were killed and eight others seriously injured. At Cairo, the Court of Appeal issued an execution against AliPasha Cherif, ex-President of the Legislative Council, for the surrender of property of the value of 100,000l. claimed by the heirs of a slave whom his father had purchased twenty years previously. 16. In the German Reichstag a motion in favour of bimetallism was carried against the Government by a large majority. After three days' hearing, before the Newmarket magistrates, the summonses against the Jockey Club stewards, for permitting betting on Newmarket Heath, were dismissed. 16. A race for the sculling championship of England took place over the Tyne course between T. Sullivan and W. Harding and was won by the latter by four lengths in 21 min. 15 sec. 18. Lord Acton appointed Regius Professor of History in succession to Sir John Seeley, deceased. The German Agrarian League, of which a deputation had previously been received by the Emperor, who urged them to abstain from agitation, held a meeting, and their leader, Herr von Ploetz, declared that they would not renounce one tittle of their demands. -The centenary of the birth of George Peabody, the philanthropist, celebrated at Peabody (Mass.), Queen Victoria, the chairman of the Peabody Donation Fund (Duke of Devonshire), and others sending congratulatory telegrams. The frost, after lasting for four weeks, and at times being extremely severe, gradually gave way. In the House of Commons Mr. Chamberlain's amendment on the Address, demanding the production of the resolution against the House of Lords, defeated by 297 to 283 votes, and the closure on the Address voted by 279 to 271 votes. 19. The polling at Colchester for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Captain Naylor-Leyland (U.) resulted in the return of Sir Wellman Pearson (L.) by 2,559 votes against 2,296 polled by Captain H. Vereken (C.). 20. The Prince of Wales opened the new buildings of the Royal United Service Institution at Whitehall, and the Banqueting Room appropriated to its uses. In the American Senate at Washington the Silver party finally abandoned the attempt to force a vote on the Free Silver Coinage Bill, which was withdrawn. A great part of the business quarter of Hamilton (N.Y.) destroyed by fire, including the Trapp Opera House, and thirty other buildings, valued at $400,000. 21. Mr. Rhodes, on reaching Cape Town after his visit to England, received with much enthusiasm and congratulatory addresses presented to him by various public bodies. - The Budget Committee of the German Reichstag struck 800,000 marks off the sum demanded by the Government for keeping the fleet in commission. 22. The students of the St. Petersburg University having been refused permission by the police to present a petition to the Czar on the subject of recent changes in the University bye-laws, a body of 300 of them came into conflict with the police. Two students were killed and one professor wounded while endeavouring to mediate, and several students were seriously injured. - The influenza epidemic again assumed serious proportions, although the type was generally mild. Lord Rosebery, Mr. A. J. Balfour, and many other members of both Houses, and several judges were laid up. 23. Lincoln's Inn Fields opened as a public recreation ground by the Chairman of the London County Council. After several days of strained relations between the Khedive and his English advisers, the former consented to the creation of a special tribunal for the trial of offences against British soldiers and sailors. At Brussels a Labour Congress declared in favour of organising a general strike if the Chambers rejected universal suffrage at communal elections. 25. At Cambridge University Dr. Andrew Russell Forsyth, Trinity College, elected Lucasian Professor of Pure Mathematics, and Dr. Charles Waldstein, of King's College, Slade Professor of Fine Arts. The operations on the West Coast of Africa, necessitated by the attack of the Brass chiefs in Akassa, ended in the burning of Nimbi and Fishtown, two of the native strongholds. In the Washington House of Representatives an amendment, awarding $425,000 to the Canadian sealers under the Behring Sea award, negatived by 143 to 112 votes. 26. The funeral of the Archduke Albrecht, attended by the Emperor Francis Joseph, the German Emperor, the Grand Duke of Vladimir of Russia, and the Duke of Aosta, took place with great ceremony at Vienna. The cupola of Brooklyn City Hall destroyed by fire; the beam supporting the bell, weighing several tons, broke and crashed through the roof, followed shortly afterwards by the statue of Justice. 27. The Khedive, for the first time since his accession, reviewed the troops of the English Army of Occupation. At Halifax, N.S., a fire broke out on the quay and destroyed some wharves, sheds, a grain elevator and a large quantity of goods, causing a total damage of nearly three-quarters of a million of dollars. King Oscar of Norway, having failed to come to an understanding with the Radical leaders, requested the late Conservative Ministry to withdraw their party motions. This they declined to do, the leader of the Moderate Left also refusing to form a Cabinet. Prince Lobanov, Russian Ambassador to Vienna, appointed to succeed M. de Giers as, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Czar of Russia. 28. At the bye-elections in Newfoundland Sir W. Whiteway and four of his supporters elected unopposed. At a meeting of the Leicester Arbitration Board, after a prolonged and heated discussion, the representatives of the Working Shoemakers withdrew and the Board dissolved. - In the House of Commons, the Welsh Disestablishment Bill, after two nights' discussion, introduced and read a first time without a division. 28. A train conveying back to the city of Mexico a large number of pilgrims ran off the rails. The engine and five carriages were thrown over a precipice and 104 persons were killed and almost as many seriously injured. MARCH. 1. The Glasgow Theatre Royal, one of the largest theatres in the kingdom, totally destroyed by fire shortly before the commencement of the performance, but while it was still empty. - M. Porcher, a French journalist on the staff of the Débats, killed in a duel arising out of certain expressions in a private letter. Mr. Justice Mathew sat for the first time to hear summonses in cases to be tried in the Commercial Court, over which he had been selected to preside. 2. The elections in the fifty-eight divisions of the County of London resulted in large gains for the Moderates, who obtained fifty-nine seats, while the Progressives held precisely the same number. In 1892 the respective numbers had been-Progressives 82, Moderates 36. The football match, under Association rules, between the two Universities played at Queen's Club, Kensington, and resulted in Oxford winning by three goals to nothing. At Perth, W.A., four gentlemen, who were largely interested in gold mining operations, drowned whilst on a pleasure cruise, and the fifth occupant of the boat, Mr. Florence O'Driscoll, M.P. for South Monaghan, saved himself by swimming one and a half miles. 4. The United States Congress, having sat on Sunday afternoon for four hours, and from 8 P.M. to 3·30 A.M. on the following morning, met again at 8 A.M., and disposed of all the remaining business by 10 A.M. The Nicaragua Canal Bill was withdrawn, but a vote was taken for preliminary inquiries. In the House of Commons Mr. J. Morley brought in the new Irish Land Bill, which was read a first time without a division. A serious fire, supposed to be the work of incendiaries, occurred at Toronto, by which a large corner block of important buildings was completely destroyed. The old city of Niuchang, one of the Chinese Treaty ports, attacked by two divisions of the Japanese Army, under General Nodzer, and occupied after two hours' bombardment, but the new city of YingKow, to which the garrison withdrew, was only carried after eleven hours of severe street fighting. 5. After much delay, Li Hung Chang left Peking for Japan with full powers to negotiate terms of peace. The German Emperor travelled to Wilhelmshaven, and swore in the naval recruits of the year, and afterwards addressed them on the duties of patriotism. The Registrar General's Report showed that influenza had been |