NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 873, 12 April 1877, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

[THE LONDON CORRESPONDENT OE THE PEESS] London, February 16. The fourth session of (he ninth Parliament of Queen Victoria was opened by her Majesty on the Bth instant under, as far as the weather went, the most favourable auspices. The Royal speech was read by the Lord Chancellor, and was of the usual meagre character—totally devoid of any declaration of policy. It reviewed the negotiations connected with the Eastern Question, referred with gratification to the assumption of the Imperial title at Delhi, touched on the satisfactory condition of the colonies, and concluded with the promise of several measures connected with domestic legislation. Immediately on the conclusion of the speech her Majesty took her departure, her whole share iu the ceremony not occupying fifteen minutes. Later in the afternoon the Houses met for the despatch of business. Much the greater interest attached to the House of Lords, the galleries of which were thronged, while those of the Commons were comparatively empty. This was owing to a strong personal curiosity concerning Lord Beaconsfielct's debut as a peer of the realm, and also to the fact that the three persons who may be said to have chai'ge of the Eastern Question. Lords Derby, Beaconsfield and Salisbury, sit in the Upper House, and there was much anxiety to hear what they had to impart. As regards Lord Beaconsfl eld's dfbnt, it was agreed on all sides that it was highly dignified and sedate, and that he looked as if he had been "to the manner born." Regarding the Eastern Question there was some disappointment. The three Ministers had little or nothing to tell us. They are evidently reserving themselves for the formal debate which is to take place as soon as members have had an opportunity of studying the papers laid before them. It is very plain that the Eastern Question in its past, present, and future bearings, will absorb most of the attention of Parliament for some time. The great debate will commence on Monday next, and there is every prospect of the G-overnment scoring a signal success. Amongst the minor incidents connected with the opening of Parliament, I may mention that the Queen wore the celebrated Koh-i-noor diamond, while Dr Kencaly, the day being fine, appeared without that hardly less'celebrated bulgy umbrella of his, which he hung on the mace when taking the oaths at the bar of the Commons —a deficiency which induced a wag in the crowd to shout out, to the inexpressible delight of all but the doctor, " 'Ow much did yer get on it, governor?" I sec in many of the papers statements that the reception accorded by the crowd to the Turkish Ambassador was the reverse of favourable, whereas in point of fact the Turkish Minister was the only representative at our court who received anything like a hearty cheer from the many-headed. The Chinese Ambassador and suite, very recent, arrivals in this country, were regarded with great curiosity, and I may add some amusement,, by tlie crowd. Unlike the representatives here of their neighbours, the Japanese, they adhere strictly to the ilowing robes and pigtails of old China.

Three notable deaths hare occurred within the last few days. Sir William Ferguson, the eminent surgeon, died in London on the 10th instant, in his sixty-ninth year. Like many other distinguished ornaments to the medical profession, he received his education in the Modern Athens, and became a Licentiate of the College of Surgeons of Edinburgh before he had attained his twentieth year. In 18 10, he came to London to practice : in 1849, lie was made Surgeon in Ordinary to Prince Albert: in 1855, Surgeon Extraordinary to the Queen ; in 1865, was created a baronet; and, in 1867, was appointed Sergeant-Surgeon to Her Majesty. The next death to which I refer is of one who became known to fame in a very different field. I allude to Mr James Merry, whose name is familiar in the mouths of those who have taken even a casual interest in racing matters, and who died on the 3rd instant. His career on the turf was successful beyond parallel, I believe. He won the Derby twice, the St. Leger twice, the Two Thousand twice, the Oaks, the Ccsarewitch, Goodwood Stakes, Great Yorkshire Handicap, Northumberland Plate, the Liverpool Cup three times, the Ascot Gold Cup four times, the Goodwood Cup, the Doncastor Cup, and a host of minor races. He retired from the turf on account of ill-health in 1875. Strange to say, though taking so prominent and distinguished a position in racing circles, Mr Merry was not a member of the Jockey Club. The third death I have to record is that of Lady Smith, which is mainly notable from its having occurred in her 105th year. Sir John Lubbock wrote an article a short time ago in the Quarterly to prove that it was an impossibility for a human being to reach 100 years, much less to pass it, and there are many people who agree with him. Concerning the deaths of the majority of centenarians, there has been a suspicious absence of documentary evidence, but in Lady Smith's case there is none. The registration of her birth is the 11th May, 1773, and the certificate of her marriage to Sir Edward Smith, whom she has survived for half a century, bears date 29th October, 1790. Up to the commencement of this year, she had preserved all her faculties of sight, memory, and hearing, and used to take carriage exercise every day. On her hundredth birthday, the Queen sent a letter of congratulation, written in her own hand, to "Dear Lady Smith," and accompanied, of course, by a copy of the inevitable " Leaves from Our Journal in the Highlands." An attempt, in right down earnest, to recover the Vanguard is in active preparation. It may be as well to remind your readers that the Vanguard is a large ironclad, which was sent to the bottom off the east coast of Ireland in a collision with another ironclad—the Iron Duke —about eighteen months or so ago. The Steamship Salvage Association have entered into a contract with the Admiralty for the performance of the difficult task, and, according to the terms of the agreement, operations must commence before the end of March. The sunken ship is to be raised by means of four, enormous air-tight pontoons, one hundred and seventy-live feet in length, fifty feet wide and eighteen feet deep respectively. By means of divers, steel wire ropes will "be passed, under the slop's bottom, and attached to the pontoons, which, by letting the water in, will be sunk to a depth of several feet, in which position the wire ropes will be tautened. Then, with the aid of centrifugal pumps, the pontoons are to be pumped dry, and will then rise to the surface, bringing the Vanguard a corresponding distance from the bottom. In this position, she will bo drifted into shallow water, where further operations will be eonducted with ease. The pontoons arc now being constructed at Glasgow at a cost of £IO,OOO each, and the total expense of recover-

ing the ship is estimated at £60,000. Should the attempt be successful the Government are bound to give the salvage company £175,000, or sell them the vessel for £20,000. The managing director of the company states that he would far prefer the latter arrangement. Eacli of her guns is worth £4OOO. Some anxiety is felt concerning Mr Stanley, the explorer, who is now in Central Africa conducting an exploring expedition organised and maintained by the proprietors of the New York Herald and the London Daily Telegraph. So long an interval between his letters has never before elapsed. Mr James Gordon Bennett, owner of the New York Herald, is now in London, and should no intelligence of the traveller arrive shortly, an expedition will bo sent to find him or to procure tidings regarding him. " How I found Stanley " would be a curious sequel to " How I found Livingstone." I daresay Commander Cameron would not in the least object to starting off m quest of his brother explorer, and ho would be, of all men, the one most likely to be successful.

It is said that the Prince of Wales, with the full approval of the Cabinet, has determined on paving a visit to Australia and New Zealand. The date of departure is not fixed upon, nor can I even give it approximately. 1 should think it would not be for many months, probably not xmtil next autumn. You will find him much more genial and pleasant than his brother who paid you a visit, and when you hear for certain that he is coming my advice to you is prepare, not your addresses and your deputations, but a plentiful supply of Schweppe's best soda water, with its usual concomitant. I should recommend him to take a passage out and back in the St. Osyth. This steamship has made extraordinary voyages ever since she has been built. She has just completed the double journey to Melbourne and back iii four months and five days. On the 23rd of September last she left Plymouth for Melbourne, which she reached in less than forty-five days. On her return voyage she was fifty-one days out, but, excluding detention at Cape dc Verde for coaling, her actual steaming time was under forty-nine days. I am sure the Scrapis, or any other ship in her Majesty's service which the Prince might choose, would fall far short of this performance. I should think about the most unwelcome immigrant that the colonics can receive is the young gentleman of good birth who has not possessed sufficient stability of character to apply himself to any profession at home, and who' starts off, like one of the chai-acters in one of George Eliot's novels, with a vague idea that he'll " try the colonies," under the impression that that means a joyous open-air life of shooting and riding. lam happy to say that there is a very good scheme on foot iov utilising this material at home. It is proposed to raisn a regiment of cavalry, to be composed exclusively of young men of gentle birth, and the Secretary of State for war is so far favorable to the project, as to urge the Government to bring in a Pill for enrolling a regiment of this description. This is just the opening for these youths, as they will do better in that station of life than in any other. A regiment so formed would be second to none in the field, and would do anything and go anywhere. While on the military subject, I am pleased to hear that the Guards have at last opened their ranks to Irishmen, the Scots Fusilecr Guards being the first to take the initiative. I have always thought it one of the unkindesf cuts at Ireland that her sons, who, whatever may be their shortcomings, have assuredly never been backward in shedding their blood to the honor and glory of the United Kingdom, should have been

deemed unworthy to serve in the ranks of these corps d'elite of the British army. I have often wondered why more capital lias not been made out of this ' slight' by Irish agitators. Ido not see why there should not be a regiment of Irish as well as of Scotch guards in the metropolis. If they were to approach anything near the Irish constabulary in physique and conduct they woidd do.

Anticipations regarding the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Baco, with minute details from day to day—-I may almost add from hour to hour —respecting the style, the weight, the condition of each individual member of the crews, are, as is usual at this time of the year, occupying a great deal 100 much space in the newspaper columns. The betting is at present in favour of Cambridge, the exercise and ' coaching ' of the Dark Blues having been seriously delayed by the floods, which hare completely covered the towing-path, and rendered the stream as rapid as a mill-race. So submerged has the country about Oxford been that the last new joke from that seat of learning is to call the place'Spires and Pond.' A novel match against time at the Agricultural Hall has just resulted in favour of 'the enemy.' Leon, a Mexican rider and horse-breaker, backed himself to ride 600 miles in fifty hours. The number of horses he nsed was ten, but these animals, most of them thoroughbreds, became worn out before the man, and Leon, with plenty of go left in himself, failed in his attempt. The performance, however —as a performance of the kind—was highly respectable, Leon having ridden 505 miles in 49 hours 51 minutes.

The Prince of Wales held a levee yesterday at St. James' Palace on behalf of her Majesty, Amongst the presentations appears the name of Mi- Charles J. Taylor, member of the Legislative Council of New Zealand. Tho anticipations that the Queen would take a more active part in public life this season than she has done for so many years, and which were hailed with great satisfaction by all classes, are, I am sorry to say, not likely to be realized. The physical conditions of her Majesty's health arc such as to preclude the possibility of her enduring the fatigue of prolonged ceremonials. I never recollect such a season as the current winter. Now, in the middle of February, the trees are bursting into leaf. I should think if is one of the mildest on record, that is to say as regards temperature —of storms we have had more than our share this year.