NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 897, 10 May 1877, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

LONDON GOSSIP

[niGM THE LONDON I'OKUESI’ONDENT OF THE must).] London, March Lfi.

The most prominent Jigurc, the cynosure ol nil eyes, in that wearying drama entitled “The Eastern Question” is at present General [gnatieff, late Russian Ambassador at Constantinople. -Tust in the same way as the Marquis ol: Salisbury wont from AV eat t" East visiting the chief capitals of Europe to ascertain the temper and disposition of tin different cabinets, General Ignatieff is nor travelling from East, to West. He is at pve sent in Paris, but starts this evening loi London. His visit to us had been counter-

manded, but now that the order has been again changed, is looked upon as a peaceful sign. Count Schuvaloff, the Russian Ambassador in London, has been over in Paris, and has doubtless been able to give him some information regarding the sentiments of the English Cabinet. All the continental journals declare that it rests with England whether Russia demobilises her armies, or marches (hem across the Pruth into Turkish territory. Russia evidently wants to do the former, but she wants to do it without loss of honor or military prestige, and England holds the key of an honorable retreat for her. It is said that General Ignatieff’s proposals arc so very conciliatory that England will not have any objection to endorsing them. We shall see. There will be some more diplomatic fencing, but I do not think there will be any fighting this year. English democracy of an advanced order has lost a redoubtable champion in Mr George Odger, who has just died. Mr Odger combined shoemaking and politics ; or, rather, he neglected the former for the latter, much to his pecuniary detriment. I am sorry to say, poor fellow, that for the last few months of his life he was in sadly straitened circumstances. That Odger did a great deal of mischief, in unsettling the minds of a large class, who really had no grievances at all, 1 firmly believe, but I also firmly believe that ho thought he -was working in the right path and for the benefit of his fellows. Certainly he did not do so for his own. Whatever In’s detractors may say against him, they should, at all events, stop short of accusing him of being a professional agitator from sordid motives. Tie ruined himself in pocket and in health by his advocacy of class rights. His funeral, last Saturday, was followed and attended by a vast concourse of people. Several members of Parliament of similar political opinions as the deceased, such as Sir Charles Dilkc and others, followed the hearse. At the grave, speeches were made by several influential gentlemen. Mr Fawcett, M.P., and the other speakers, one and all, said they had known George Odger for years, and knew him to have been one of the noblest men that had ever lived. In almost the next breath they said that George Odger was killed by penury and want. Row, considering that these speakers were most, of them men of substance and position, it is hard to reconcile the two statements. It strikes me that these gentlemen were saying a great deal more against themselves than against the Government. They, the speakers, knew George Odger to be “ one of the noblest men who had ever lived,” and yet they, with money in their pockets, allowed him to starve. At about the same time when certain classes in England were mourning over the death of George Odger, the corresponding class in Ireland were in sackcloth and ashes over the demise of O’Mahoney, the Fenian “Head Centre,” whose remains were brought over from America to Cork for conveyance to Dublin, there to be interred. The departed hero was treated with Irish honours. There was a free fight over the coffin, which nearly resulted in that receptacle falling down a flight of steps. In the House of Commons, a few nights ago, Mr Ashley asked what steps the Board of Trade intended taking in the case of the ship Thomasina McLellan, which sailed for Row Zealand in June last, carrying passengers and large quantities of coal, gunpowder, matches, and turpentine, the result being that the ship narrowly escaped destruction by the ignition of her inflammable cargo. In reply, the President of the Board of Trade stated that the Thomasina McLellan, not being an emigrant ship, did not come under the Passengers Act, and therefore was not prevented altogether from carrying explosives. The Merchant Shipping Act of last year will, however, make it the duty of the Board of Trade to detain unv ship so improperly loaded, and, with the improved Conservancy Bye-laws, which the Board of Trade sanctioned last November, it is scarcely possible that such a case as this could occur again. I am sure it will be satisfactory to colonists in general to learn that so flagrant, a case of endangering the lives of passengers as the above has not been allowed to pass without comment in the House of Parliament, and some guarantee being exacted against the recurrence of a similar case. The Statistical Department of the Board of Trade has just issued an interesting return of the emigration and immigration for the past year. During 1876 the emigration from the United Kingdom was the lowest, while the immigration was the highest yet registered. The number of emigrants was 138,222, and of immigrants 91,647, giving a net emigration of 46,575, a very small number compared with 225,000 representing the net emigration for each of the years 1872 and 1873. Of these 138,222 emigrants, 33,191 went to the Australian colonies, from whence during the same year 2579 emigrants returned to this country, which gives a not emigration to Australia of 30,612. In point of offering inducements to emigrants to remain, Australia and Row Zealand contrast most favorably with the United States. During 1876, 75,533 went from here to the latter country, and 72,060 returned, giving a net emigration to the United States of only 3473. Out of a total of 3428 agricultural laborers who left the United Kingdom in 1876, 73 went to (ho United States, and 3191 to Australia and Row Zealand. On the other hand, however, the United States seems to possess greater attractions to the farmer. Out of 3623 emigrant farmers, the United States carried off 2383, while the Australian colonies took only 554. As regards Irish emigration, flic return shows the lowest per-centage of any year since 1853. About twenty years ago 30 per cent of the emigrants from the United Kingdom used to be English, and 60 per cent Irish. Last year the proportions were reversed, 67percent being English, and 24 per cent Irish. Irish emigration has been steadily on the decline for many years, a fact which would seem to imply that Paddy is not. so dissatisfied with his lot as professional imitators would make us believe. This is the season of the year for ret urns and estimates. Amongst the latter those for the army and navy for the ensuing year have just, been laid before Parliament. The total sum required to be voted for the naval service is £10,979,829, being a net decrease of £309,043. Our total effective fleet numbers 123 vessels — viz., 4 armour-plated linc-of-battle ships, 13 armour-plated frigates and corvettes, 30 other frigates and corvettes, 65 steam sloops and small vessels, and 11 sailing ships ol the same class. Including reserve ships, training ships, -tore slaps, the total fleet consists oi 218 vessels. There are now building and completing for sea 10 ironclads, 6 corvettes, 6 sloops, 2 despatch vessels, 21 gun vessels and gunboats, and 6 other vessels, making a total of 51 vessels to be added to our licet during the coming year. There is dismay and indignation throughout the British army, from 11.11.11. the Com-inander-in-Chief down to the latest joined sub-lieutenant. Esprit de corps, that sentiment to which every member of a regiment

clings, and which in the field and in quarters has been a powerful lever for raising the reputation of the British army in peace and war, is in jeopardy. A committee on army re-or-ganisation has recommended that regiments should be amalgamated into what it calls “territorial brigades,” and the numbers by which they have been hitherto known to fame dispensed with. Thus, to cite at random a few cases, the 42nd, or the “ Forty-twa’s” as every Scotchman calls them with a glow of pride; the “Old Die-hard’s,” as the 57th were known throughout the service ; and the 87th Irish Fusilccrs, or the “Eagle Catchers” as they were called from the number of: standards they captured from the French, will all be mere traditions of the past, if the recommendation be adopted. Every regiment has its cherished memories, and in the hour ot need an allusion to its past glories has often acted like magic on a regiment. Once in the Crimea the 57th Regiment, hard pressed and fighting against fearful odds, wavered and were on the point of retiring. “ 57th, remember Albuera!” rung out the voice of the commanding officer clear and distinct amidst the din of battle. The effect was instantaneous. With a cheer the men, who the moment before had been faltering, followed their gallant leader and carried all before them. Not one of those men had fought at Albuera, but they all knew how the 57th had covered themselves with glory there, and the mere name was more to them than a reinforcement of another whole regiment, would have been. That is what esprit de corps means. And this is what the would-be reformers of the British army would abolish ! I went the round of the military clubs last week, and 1 do not recollect ever seeing the back of the British officer so thoroughly “ up” as it now is on this projected change. I have seen him robbed of his miserable pay ; I have seen him the bewildered victim of senseless and ambiguous circulars, but all such inflictions he has borne with equanimity compared with the feeling of indignation and resentment with which he views this attempt to deprive him of that cherished sentiment, pride in bis regiment. If the recommendation of the committee is carried out the Duke of Cambridge declares he will resign bis post as commander-in-ehief, and I have little doubt that his example will be extensively followed by his subordinates. Esprit de corps —as in this case it may also be termed —of another class of society is now receiving a rude shock, and this time the injured have not my sympathy. I allude to the butchers. There is consternation in the bosom of the British butcher now, and he trembles and turns as pale as a butcher can as he deciphers in the handwriting on the wall the following terrible sentence : —“ Prime meat at 7d a pound.” The enemy who is doing him this mischief is the American meat importer. The consignments to this country of American beef and mutton increase in quantity daily, and we are constantly assured that there are “ lots more where this comes from.” In one day last week the quantity of American meat landed at Liverpool amounted to 4485 quarters of beef and 430 carcases of sheep. The meat is of first rate quality, so good in fact that at first it was bought up by our own butchers, and sold in the markets as English beef, at English prices of course. I am happy to say that the anxiety concerning Mr Stanley’s safety, of which I informed you in ray last has been dispelled by the receipt of despatches from that intrepid explorer under date L T jiji, August 7th to 13th. He has made a complete survey of Lake Tanganyika,and has also made some important geographical discoveries at and about the Ryanzas, especially concerning the main source of the Rile, to which he had given the name of Alexandra in honor of the Princess of Wales. He and his English attendant, Pocock, of whom he speaks in the highest terms, had both suffered severely from illness, but were much better. The Oxford and Cambridge boat race is to bo rowed to-morrow week at an early hour — 6 a.m. —which will probably deprive the event of its most brilliant accessory. There is great lamentation and wailing over this decision amongst the blondes, who always seem to back Cambridge, and always look so nice in light blue, and the brunettes who are invariably staunch supporters of Oxford, and appear so charming in dark blue. However, I daresay a great many will after all rise with the lark and grace the aquatic contest with their presence. There have been so many improvements in the style of river-racing craft during the last few years that I daresay many of your readers would like to know the sort of boat the great race is now rowed in. Hero is a description of the Cambridge boat, which is built by Clasper, and is considered a splendid specimen of the boat-builders’ art: —Extreme length, 57ft. ; height amidships, Btin. ; height forward, 61 in. ; height aft, s.tin. She is built of cedar, with white spruce fittings, fixed stretchers, Clasper steel tube slides, and cast seats. The crews practise daily on the London water, and these preliminary exercises attract as large crowds as assembled to see the race itself some fifteen years ago. The betting is now 6 to 4 on Oxford. The Oxford and Cambridge four-handed billiard match, 500 up, was played two days ago, and resulted in an easy*victory for the Cambridge men, who won'by 246 points. The singlehanded match was played last night, and also resulted in an easy victory tor Cambridge by 228 points out of' 500. The Inter-University chess match will take place two days before the boat race. Her Majesty the Queen seems at. last inclined to re-enter society, and, apparently, by way of getting herself up to the mark, paid a long visit to the Zoological Gardens the day before yesterday. A new fashion has recently sprung up at balls, and seems to have taken a fast hold on society. M hat are called “singing quadrilles ” are got up at nearly all balls given now. The dancers, who have previously rehearsed their parts together, sing nursery rhymes while they go through the mazy figures of the dance. Row it is an admitted fact that an Englishman does not excel as a quadrille dancer. Everyone recollects the remark of that we.l-known wit who said that English people when they danced always looked as if they were hired to do it, and were doubtful of being paid. I should like to hear what he would say could he witness a “ singing quadrille.” I know of no spectacle more idiotic than that of a middle-aged gentleman going stolidly through a quadrille singing “ Ba-a, Ba-a, Black Sheep,” and yet this is the sort, of thing that is to be seen and heard in nearly every ball-room in London now. To a right-minded man it is as depressing as some of our comic papers. The Late Accident to Mn Tciucru Wc arc informed that the bodily health ot Vlr Turner continues very good, and that the first dangerous symptoms of the case arc considered by his medical attendants to bo past.