and the State of the Navy-The Cattle Plague Bill-Bills for the Enfran the Duke of Albany-Lord Randolph Churchill and the Opposition leaders The Budget-Gold Coinage Bill-National Debt Conversion Bill-The Irish Land Act-Lord Rosebery's Motion to Reform the House of Lords-The Earl Cowper's Letter-Conservative Gathering at Nostell Priory-Mr. Gladstone in Midlothian-Mr. Trevelyan at Glasgow-Sir S. Northcote at Edinburgh- Mr. Morley at Newcastle-Mr. Gladstone's return from Scotland-Lord Salisbury on Redistribution-The Conservative Campaign in Scotland-Lord Hartington's Offer-Mr. Chamberlain at Hanley-The "Standard's " Redistri- bution Scheme-The Gathering at Chatsworth-Mr. Fawcett's Speech-Mr. Chamberlain in Wales-The State of the Navy-Colonial and Foreign The Meeting of Parliament-Debate on the Address-The Government Pro- gramme-State of Ireland-Mr. Chamberlain and the Birmingham Riots- South Africa-The Franchise Bill in the Commons-Mr. E. Stanhope's Amend- ment-The Bill sent to the Lords-Rumour of Compromise-The Negotiations Their Issue-The Redistribution Bill introduced-Mr. Courtney's Resigna- tion-The Franchise Bill passed-Egyptian Affairs-Increase of Income Tax- ERRATA IN ANNUAL REGISTER 1883. PART I. P. [5, line 40, for "his" read "the." P. [30, line 37, for " W." read "H." P. [41, line 10, for "which" read "and." P. [43, line 2, for "weighed" read "leaned." P. [277, line 6, for "treaty" read "protocol." Pp. [379 and [381, for "Goubert" read "Joubert." P. [380, line 18, for "Dutort and Sinit" read "Dutoit and Smit." PART II. P. 62, line 24, for "Countess of " read "Viscountess." P. 32, line 13, for "papyrus" read "leather roll." P. 43, line 20, for "Hampstead" read "Hempstead." P. 19, line 18, for "London Corporation" read "Privy Council." P. 148, 1st col. line 24, for “where he died on May 14" read "but he died at Merton Rectory, Norfolk, on June 14." P. 163, line 5, for "Blayden " read "Blagden." P. 177, line 7, for "grandson" read "nephew." P. 183 (Nov. 7), for "Clifton" read "Taunton." P. 188, line 42, for “Borden, Norfolk " read “Borden, Kent." ANNUAL REGISTER FOR THE YEAR 1884. PART I. ENGLISH HISTORY. CHAPTER I. The position of the Ministry-Egypt and South Africa-The Liberal CircularFranchise and Redistribution-Mr. Chamberlain and the Shipowners-Politics in the Provinces-The Public Press and the Government-General Gordon's Mission. THE new year found Mr. Gladstone's Ministry apparently as strongly established in public favour, after four Sessions of almost unexampled difficulties, as it had been on its first accession to office. If from certain quarters, and on various questions, the tones of hostile criticism sounded louder, in others opposition was dying away, and a sense of the services rendered by the Liberals to the country was silently, though perhaps grudgingly, springing up. The condition of Ireland, although still far from satisfactory, showed signs of decided amendment, and held out the promise of an increasing material prosperity; whilst English statesmen of all parties were beginning to recognise that the Home Rule movement of that country was an honest expression of national feeling, not merely the stalking-horse of a few self-interested politicians, or the craze of a handful of hare-brained enthusiasts. A spokesman of the party, Mr. Healy, had described the movement in words which were accepted as a fair exposition of the Irish views. "It is not merely Mr. Parnell the Irish people are following, but their proper interests-the gratification of their national pride, the humiliation of their oppressors, the achievement of the full measure of their rights." On the Franchise question the Ministry seemed able to reckon upon the firm support of all their own. na Valery of the Nile, and to make a step which the ConserYAR, yer bogat might irrevocably commit this country to an active WIG MINORA Girection of Egyptian affairs. On the other hand, ** Linerale were divided in their views and wishes. The Radical meeson of Mr. Gadetone's supporters loudly urged the immediate *itodrawal of our troops and agents without delay, leaving to tophe and his pachas the task of settling terms with the Mahdi wod nis followers. Other Liberals, however, were not less urgent for the maintenance of the existing system, with a change, if sary, of the existing instruments. If, according to these, Haz Pasha were found too stubborn or impracticable, Nubar Pasha might be hoped to show himself more pliant, and if Tewfik himself were recalcitrant, another Khedive might be found to wept the head-hip of the State under the most precise restrictions. With tendencies so divergent amongst their own followers, it was not surprising that the Government should hesitate before committing itself to any decided course; and for their natural hesitancy they were upbraided by their fellow-countrymen, and taunted for allowing their administrators, like Mr. Clifford Lloyd, to display a zeal in the cause of reforms which they themselves seemed to regard as of doubtful expediency. At a Cabinet Council held immediately after the opening of the new year, stronger views prevailed, for, in spite of the expressed desire of the Egyptian Government to hold Khartoum, seriously compromised by General Hicks's defeat, orders were issued for its immediate evacuation, accompanied as of necessity by the abandonment of the whole of the Soudan to the Mahdi's troops. Wady Halfa, 350 miles north of Khartoum, was fixed upon as the limit of the Khedive's possessions, in defence of which he might expect to look for English aid although protection would be given to seaports of the Red Sea. In South Africa the retrocession of Basutoland to the Imperial Government had been, albeit grudgingly, acquiesced in by the |