Page images
PDF
EPUB

CONTENTS.

PAGE

The Irish Church Bill in the House of Lords-Mr. Bright's Letter to his con-
stituents-Offence taken at his reflections on the House of Lords-Great
Debate on the Second Reading of the Bill-Remarkable display of eloquence

PAGE

[69

Miscellaneous Measures-The Bankruptcy Bill meets with general approval
in the House of Commons-Referred to a Select Committee of the House of
Lords, and finally passed-Habitual Criminals Bill-Legislation on Trades

ANNUAL REGISTER,

FOR THE YEAR

1869.

PART I.

ENGLISH HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.

Aspect of Public Affairs at the beginning of the year-State of the Foreign Relations of England-Position of the "Alabama" Controversy-Continued Depression of Trade -The Revenue, after a long period of buoyancy, begins to decline-Improved tranquillity in Ireland, and prospects of restoration of the Habeas Corpus-Great interest felt in the political situation-The New Parliament and New AdministrationCircumstances attending Mr. Gladstone's accession to power-His resolution to disestablish the Irish Protestant Church - Arduous nature of that undertakingStatement of the views with which he undertook the Government made by the Prime Minister at Fishmongers' Hall-Reassembling of Parliament on Feb. 16Her Majesty's Speech-Debates on the Address in the two Houses-It is carried in both without opposition-Intention of Her Majesty to receive the Address of the Commons in person from the whole House prevented by illness of Prince Leopold-First Proceedings of the New Parliament-Plan for facilitating Public Legislation proposed by the Marquis of Salisbury—The scheme is referred to a joint Committee of the two Houses, but produces no result-Appointment of a Select Committee of the House of Commons to inquire into the mode of conducting Parliamentary and Municipal Elections-Proceedings of the Committee, and their Report-Cattle Disease-Two Bills brought in for the Prevention of Contagious Diseases of Animals-The Bill of Lord Robert Montagu is rejected after debateThat of the Government, proposed by Mr. W. E. Forster, is approved and passedPoor Law Rating and Assessment-Two Bills for the Amendment of the Law as to Rating are brought in by Mr. Goschen, President of the Poor Law Board-Proceedings thereupon in the House of Commons-Repression of Crime-A Bill for dealing more effectually with the Criminal Classes is brought in by Lord KimberleyDebates on the measure in its passage through the House of Lords.

THE Condition of public affairs in the United Kingdom at the commencement of the year 1869 was not otherwise than prosperous. The successful termination of the Abyssinian Expedition had raised the credit of our military administration, and had reflected honour upon the country in the eyes of Europe. The relations of England with Foreign States were amicable and satisfactory, and there seemed at the period in question to be fair ground for expecting that

B

« PreviousContinue »