English Items.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 915, 5 February 1881, Page 6

English Items.

London, January 28. 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 his official position as leader in the House of Commons, to accept a Peerage, but still to retain the 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.

Several mass meetings of Irishmen have been 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 by 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. 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. ■ Douse of Commons last evening the debate on the second reading of the Irish Coercion Bill, giving the Viceroy power, until October, 1882, to arrest and detain all persons guilty or suspected of treasonable conduct, and to limit the sale and possession of arms, was commenced. Several members spoke during theeveniftg, but the chief speaker was the Right Hon John Bright, President of the Board of Trade, who addressed the House in strong terms of justification of the action of the Government in proposing coercive measures for the repression of the prevailing disorder in Ireland. The debate now stands adjourned to the next meeting of the House The butter brought by the steamer Pro.tos has realised one shilling per pound. The total return shows a large profit. From the fresh meat alone, after payment of all charges, there is a profit of fully £lOOO.