LONDON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2996, 1 February 1881, Page 3

LONDON.

January 22.

The severe cold continues, and the Thames Is frozen over. An ox has been roasted on the ice at Twickenham.

The friends of Mr Gladstone are urging him, in order to obtain rest from the cares of bis official potition as leader in tbe House of Commons, to accept a peerage, but still to retain tbe leadership of the Government in the House of Lords. That Mr Gladstone will accept a peerage with the title of Earl of Liverpool appears imminent.

M. Gambetta has recently been delivering speeches on questions of domestic policy, and their peaceful tone has given general satisfaction. The small British garrison stationed at Sydenburg, in the Transvaal, has capitulated to the Boers. The weather favors the operations of the Boers against the British troops, and they are taking every advantage of their opportunity. Several mass meetings of Irishmen have besn held in England, in order to express sympathy with their countrymen in Ireland.

Mr Justice Fitzgerald's summing up in the trial of the Land Leaguers has been regarded as impartial and felicitous, both ty the prosecution and the defence. His Lordship referred to the influence exercised amongst the Land League agitators by returned American rioters, and refuted the analogy which was sought to be drawn between the present land agitation in Ireland and the Trades Unions in England.

The bill introduced by Mr Forster in regard to Ireland is generally praised by the Press as being a measure in the right direction, and calculated to effect the object in view.

Rumors of Mr Gladstone's illness have again been revived, and it is said that his physician advises, in order that he may obtain the repose he requires, that he should accept a seat in the House of Lords.