REESE LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY

ANNUAL REGISTER

FOR THE YEAR

1876.

PART I.

ENGLISH HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.

Diplomatie events, the "Andrassy Note"-Opening of Parliament: The Queen's Speech; Debate on the Address - Discussions on the Suez Canal Shares purchase, and the Fugitive Slaves Circular-Mr. Cave's Report-The "Royal Titles Bill"--Irish questions: Home-Rule, Sunday-closing of Public-houses, the Land Question, &c.

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A MATTER of great diplomatic importance, connected with the crisis in the East, was before the Cabinet when the year began. The Andrassy Note," concocted by the three Imperial Powers, and formulated by the Chancellor of Austria, was despatched from Vienna on the 30th of December, to London, Paris, and Rome for the approval of the three Western Governments. As the contents

of this note, and its bearing on the aspect of affairs in Turkey, will have to be considered later on, we need here only state that the document was taken into consideration at a Cabinet Council held in Downing Street on January 18, and that it was decided to give it the adhesion of the British Government, with the exception of some minor points of detail subject to consideration as occasion might arise. The traditional attitude of England, with regard to the Ottoman Power, had caused some apprehension and anxiety as to whether it would or would not consent to any course which bore the quality of coercion as applied to the Sultan's relations with his subjects, especially to an interference suggested, though nominally by Austria, yet virtually at the instigation of Russia, and, as far as it went, harmonising with the policy which Russia had consistently advocated in view of her own interests. However, the tenour of the Andrassy Note was held to be not too compromising to British policy, and indeed its stipulations were considered by many to err

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on the side of negative rather than of positive results. And that England did not at once place herself in rigid opposition to the other Continental Powers at this crisis, was a relief to the public mind, few people being prepared to see the dangers of war or isolation incurred for the sake of upholding so vicious and rotten a system as the existing administration of the Porte, after the twenty years of grace it had been permitted to enjoy,-thanks to British arms,-since the Crimean War. No doubt, whatever Russia might in her heart desire, the continued existence of the Turkish Empire itself might be considered by other Powers still preferable to the general struggle and confusion throughout Europe which must follow on its sudden dismemberment: but to urge reforms in her dealings with her Christian subjects, and concessions to the revolted Provinces, might be a means of staving off rather than of hurrying on a crisis which time was pretty sure to bring about eventually.

The affairs of the East were pre-eminently engaging public attention when the Legislature assembled.

The third session of the ninth Parliament of Queen Victoria was opened by Her Majesty in person on the 8th of February. It was the second time only that she had made the effort since the commencement of her widowhood in 1861. The Speech from the Throne, which was delivered by the Lord Chancellor, was brief, and was chiefly taken up with Foreign Affairs; it mentioned very few measures of domestic interest as forming the ministerial programme. Its text was as follows:

"It is with much satisfaction that I again resort to the advice and assistance of my Parliament.

"My relations with all foreign Powers continue to be of a cordial character.

"The insurrectionary movement which, during the last six months, has been maintained in the Turkish provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and which the troops of the Sultan have, up to the present time, been unable to repress, has excited the attention and interest of the great European Powers. I have considered it my duty not to stand aloof from the efforts now being made by allied and friendly Governments to bring about a pacification of the disturbed districts, and I have accordingly, while respecting the independence of the Porte, joined in urging on the Sultan the expediency of adopting such measures of administrative reform as may remove all reasonable cause of discontent on the part of his Christian subjects.

"I have agreed to purchase, subject to your sanction, the shares which belonged to the Khedive of Egypt in the Suez Canal, and I rely with confidence on your enabling me to complete a transaction in which the public interests are deeply involved.

"The representations which I addressed to the Chinese Govern

ment, as to the attack made in the course of last year on the expedition sent from Burmah to the Western Provinces of China, have been received in a friendly spirit. The circumstances of that

lamentable outrage are now the subject of an inquiry, in which I have thought it right to request that a member of my diplomatic service should take part. I await the result of this inquiry in the firm conviction that it will be so conducted as to lead to the discovery and punishment of the offenders.

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Papers on all the above subjects will be laid before you.

"I am deeply thankful for the uninterrupted health which my dear son, the Prince of Wales, has enjoyed during his journey through India. The hearty affection with which he has been received by my Indian subjects of all classes and races assures me that they are happy under my rule, and loyal to my throne. At the time that the direct government of my Indian Empire was transferred to the Crown, no formal addition was made to the style and titles of the Sovereign. I have deemed the present a fitting opportunity for supplying this omission, and a Bill upon the subject will be presented to you.

"The humane and enlightened policy consistently pursued by this country in putting an end to slavery within her own dependencies, and in suppressing the slave trade throughout the world, makes it important that the action of British National ships in the territorial waters of foreign States should be in harmony with these great principles. I have, therefore, given direction for the issue of a royal commission to inquire into all treaty engagements and other international obligations bearing upon this subject, and all instructions from time to time issued to my naval officers, with a view to ascertain whether any steps ought to be taken to secure for my ships and their commanders abroad greater power for the maintenance of the right of personal liberty.

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“A bill will be laid before you for punishing slave traders who are subjects of native Indian Princes.

"The affairs of my Colonial Empire, the general prosperity of which has continued to advance, have received a large share of my attention. Papers of importance and interest will soon be in your hands showing the proceedings with respect to a conference of the South African Colonies and States.

"The murder of a high officer of the Straits Settlements whilst acting as Resident in a neighbouring Malay State, and the disorders ensuing on that outrage, have demanded the interference of my troops. I trust that the operations, which have been ably and energetically conducted, though not without the loss of some valuable lives, have restored order, and re-established the just influence and authority of this country.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"I have directed the Estimates of the year to be prepared and presented to you without delay.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"Bills for regulating the ultimate tribunal of Appeal for the United Kingdom, and for the amendment of the Merchant Shipping Laws, will be immediately submitted to you.

"Legislation will be proposed relating to the Universities, and to primary education.

"Your attention will be called also to the Acts relating to the enclosure of commons, and to a measure for promoting economy and efficiency in the management of prisons, and at the same time effecting a relief of local burthens.

"Other important measures, as the time of the session permits, will be introduced to your notice; and I pray that your deliberations may, under the Divine blessing, result in the happiness and contentment of my people."

The debate on the Address, as had been foreseen, related to the two questions of foreign policy, which had for some time past been so vigorously discussed in circles outside the Legislature : the Suez Canal purchase, and the Andrassy Note: to which Government had, shortly before the opening of Parliament, notified its adhesion under strictly guarded limits. At the close of our history of last year, as recorded, Mr. Disraeli and Lord Derby, while they touched lightly on the financial character of the Suez investment, explained both the general reasons for the purchase and the motives for immediate acceptance of the Khedive's offer. Lord Derby repudiated the interpretation that had been put on his late Edinburgh speech, stating that he only meant to deny the purchase having been a departure from the habitual policy of England, or being connected with any project of an Egyptian protectorate, or participation in the dismemberment of Turkey.

Respecting the adhesion given to the Andrassy Note, there was little difference of opinion expressed. The Opposition were peaceful, and even complimentary: Mr. Gladstone, while expressing his satisfaction at the course taken by Lord Derby, took occasion to explain the views which had induced the Government of which he was a member to enter into the Crimean war in 1853.

"What led us to enter into that war," he said, "is generally expressed as the desire to maintain the independence and the integrity of the Turkish Empire, and to make a vigorous effort to check designs dangerous to the peace of Europe which it was believed were entertained by Russia. Some persons thought that England had a separate interest in that war independent of that of Europe, but that was an idea that I never entertained. But in upholding the independence and the integrity of the Turkish Empire, I venture to say for myself and for the Government of that day, we entertained the strongest opinion that that independence and integrity could only be maintained upon certain conditions. Lord Palmerston well knew that it was totally impossible in the face of Christian Europe that the then state of things between a

Mahommedan Power and a Christian population could be allowed to continue, and that it would be impossible for us to preserve the independence and the integrity of the Turkish Empire unless the grievances of its Christian population were redressed. This was not a mere matter of individual opinion, and so strong was this feeling in Europe that in the very heat of the crisis the Sultan was compelled to pledge himself, as far as the constitutions of the country would permit him, to redress those grievances, and to place them upon a religious-of course, I don't say a politicalequality with the rest of his subjects. That, therefore, was one of the conditions upon which the Crimean War was entered upon. My proposition, therefore, is that after the Crimean War, after that effusion of blood and treasure, after Europe had engaged in that struggle, and after it was made known to Turkey that provision must be made for the redress of the grievances of its Christian population, we cannot now turn round and say: "We have no right to expect anything from the Sultan, and the Christian population of Turkey has no right to expect anything at our hands. I am most grateful therefore that Her Majesty's Government, instead of being actuated by a principle totally inconsistent with the facts of history, and with the most obvious and most elementary obligations of national duty-have given in their adhesion to the Austrian Note."

The real debate on the purchase of the Suez Canal Shares came on on February 14, and was adjourned at the instance of the Marquis of Hartington till the 19th, when the ministerial application for 4,080,000l. as the purchase money was granted without a division. The Chancellor of the Exchequer in his opening speech. justified the transaction as one recommended by financial, as well as commercial considerations. As a mere bargain, he sought to prove that it was a good one, though as a mere bargain neither the Government nor the people of England would have been contented to take action in the affair. He represented that the company was solvent that its available assets very nearly balanced its liabilities that its original shares were free from all charges which must be satisfied before dividends were paid: that its business (three-fourths of which was supplied by the passage of British merchandise through the canal) was rapidly expanding, and promised to become yearly more valuable: that the shares were to be paid for by money borrowed from the National Debt Commissioners, with whom would be deposited the 200,000l. which the Khedive was engaged to pay as annual interest on the purchase money he had received; and that the difference between the rate of interest we should be called upon to pay to the Commissioners and that to be paid to us by the Khedive, would in the course of thirty-five years extinguish the debt, and leave the shares in our hands free from all liability.

Of the speeches on the Opposition side, the most noteworthy were those of Mr. Lowe and Mr. Gladstone. A vigorous onslaught