19. Parliament re-assembled. Vote of ensure on the Government policy in Egypt moved by Sir Stafford Northcote.

Inspection of Grenadier Guards by the Queen at Windsor, and departure of Coldstream Guards for Souakim.

20. Lords: Earl Granville read a message from the Queen embodying a portion of the Militia, and ordering that those soldiers who would other wise be entitled to enter the reserve should continue in the Army service for a certain period.

21. Scots Guards (2nd Battalion) left for Souakim.

23. Three unsuccessful attempts made at Exeter to hang John Lee for the murder of Miss Keyse at Babbacombe, the drop failing to act. Lee respited.

24. Commons: Application of the "clôture" for the first time on the interposition by Mr. J. Redmond of extraneous matter in connection with the debate on the Vote of Censure, and Mr. O'Brien suspended.

26. Lords: Lord Salisbury moved a Vote of Censure on the Government policy in Egypt: Amendment by Lord Wentworth in favour of the exercise by the Egyptian people of the right to select their own Govern

ment.

19. Bank rate reduced from 4 to 34 per cent.

20. Lords: Motion for opening Natural History Museum at South Kensington on Sundays rejected-the votes being equal. Amendment by Earl Cairns in favour of opening шuseums on week-day evenings carried.

General Graham advanced from Sounkim and captured the enemy's position at Hasheen, fourteen miles distant, after a series of skirmishes lasting over seven hours. British loss, nine killed and forty wounded.

22. Troops under General M'Neill having advanced from Souakim to erect zerebas in the direction of Tamai, were surprised by the enemy, and a desperate fight took place. British losses, about fifty killed and 150 wounded. The enemy lost above 1000.

Revolt of half-breeds in Manitoba under Louis Riel, and encounter with the authorities, in which fifteen of the police were killed.

to

the

23. Reinforcements ordered Quetta in connection with Afghan Boundry question. 24. The French Chamber voted the Scrutin de Liste Bill by 412 to 99.

25. Lincolnshire Handicap: Bendigo, 1; Bird of Freedom, 2; MacMahon, 3.

26. Lords: Message read from the Queen calling out the Army and Militia Reserves.

18. Alderman Nottage, late Lord Mayor of London, buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.

11. Defeat of Riel's forces "near Batouche by troops under General Middleton; Battleford relieved.

20. Prince and Princess of Wales 12. Commons: Channel Tunnel Bill visited Limerick, and met with a thrown out by 281 to 99. Regiscordial reception. tration Bill: A new clause, providing 21. Commons: Mr. Gladstone, in that parochial medical relief should laying on the table a vote of credit not be a disqualification for the franfor £11,000,000, explained the circum-chise, carried against the Government stances under which it was required by 87 to 50. £4,500,000 would be for the Soudan, and £6,500,000 for naval and military preparations. R-distribution passed through Committee.

Bill

23. Explosion at the Admiralty: Mr. Swainson, Assistant Secretary, seriously injured. Discovery of portions of an infernal-machine.

Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Belfast, and met with an enthusiastic reception.

24. Suppression of the Bosphore Egyptien. The French flag hauled down at Cairo.

27 Commons: Motion to consider the Vote of Credit for the Soudan and other military purposes separately negatived by 229 to 186. Vote of Credit for £11,000,000 agreed to without debate or division. -Prince and Princess of Wales concluded their visit to Ireland. 28. Lords: Egyptian Loan Bill passed.

Commons: Redistribution Bill, as amended, in Committee.

29. Redistribution Bill: Sir Charles Dilke's motion to reduce the number of members for Westminster from four to three members carried by 171

APRIL.

11. Madrid Chamber of Deputies ratified the commercial agreement be,ween England and Spain.

West Gloucestershire Election: H. B. st. John Ackers (C), 4837; Sir W. Marling (L), 4126.- Glasgow: T. Russell (L), unopposed.

13. Commons: Mr. Gladstone stated that an agreement had been come to with Russia that no further advance should be made in the disputed territory near Afghanistan on either side. Mr. Fowler s amendment to omit the restriction of the City of London to two members defeated by 162 to 117.

Bombardment of Chinhai by the

French.

16. Lords: Address agreed to thanking her Majesty for having accepted the loyal offer of military service from New South Wales, and expressing satisraction at the announceinent of similar offers from other colonies.

re

6. Volunteer Review at Brightonabout 18.000 men present. Sham fights at Dover and Aldershott.

New French Ministry formed under M. Brisson.

7. Statement by M. Brisson, the French Premier, and a vote for 150,000,000f. for the Tonquin Expedition agreed to, preliminaries of peace having already been signed in Pekin.

8. A portion of General Graham's force occupied Handoub.

Dr. Temple enthroned Bishop of London in St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Dublin, and received an enthusiastic welcome.

9. Information received that on March 30 the Russians attacked the

Afghans at Penjdeh, and occupied that place.

11. Alderman Nottage, Lord Mayor of London, died.

13. The Prince and Princess of Wales left Dublin for the South; disturbance at Mallow.

Commons: Statement made with regard to the attack on Afghans at Penjdeh.

visited Cork.

City and Suburban: Bird of Freedom, 1; MacMahon, 2; Woodlark, 3.

30. Commons: Budget: Expenditure, 1884-5, £89,093,000; revenue, £88,,043,000. Proposal to increase the income tax from 5d to 8d.; 2s. per gallon added on spirits, 18. per barrel on beer; alteration on probate duty, &c., and suspension of the Sinking Fund.

Presentation to Convocation of a copy of the Revised Old Testament. MAY.

1. Lords: Lord Derby announced that Sir C. Warren had completely restored order in Bechuanaland, and established a protectorate over a large extent of territory to the north.

20. Lords: English, Scotch, and Irish Registration of Voters Bills and the Vote of Credit Bill read the third time.

Commons: Lords' amendments ¦ to Registration of Voters (England) Bill agreed to by 107 to 66.

21. Lords: Royal Assent given, by commission, to the Registration, Vote of Credit, and other bills. House adjourned till June 5. -Antrim Election: Sinclair (L), 3971; O'Neill (C), 3832.

24. Communist riots in Paris. 26. Landing of the Guards from Souakim at Alexandria. 27. New sea canal to St. Petersburg opened.

JUNE.

1. Earthquake in Cashmere: fifty lives lost.

3. The Derby: Melton, 1; Paradox, 2; Royal Hampton, 3.

4. The French Chamber rejected a proposal for impeaching M. Jules Ferry by 322 to 153.

-Commons: Regent's Canal, City, and Docks Railway Bill read the 5. Commons: Mr. Childers' desecond time by 187 to 117. Regis-tailed changes in the Budget protration of Voters (Ireland) Bill posals: One shilling per gallon of the passed through Committee. additional two placed on spirits to be 3. Defeat of insurgent Indians, at remitted; additional beer duty to Battleford, by Colonel Otter. remain in force only until next May; £9,000,000 on y of the £11,000,000 would be spent. The Governments of England and Russia agree to a reference of the Afghan question to arbitration.

4. Inventions Exhibition, South Kensington, opened by the Prince of Wales.

Commons: Mr. Gladstone announced, with regard to the Afghan difficulty, that the impediments to a friendly correspondence with Russia had been removed, and the two Governments had agreed to a settlement of the differences by arbitration. 5. Commons: Registration Bill: Motion by Sir M. Lopes that the cost be defrayed out of the Imperial Fund instead of by local taxation rejected by 240 to 238.

6. A successful raid made from Souakim on a party of Arabs under Osman Digna's Lieutenant, Adam Sardoun, at Takool.

Oaks: Lonely, 1; St. Helena, 2; Cipollina, 3.

8. Lords: Redistribution Bill passed through Committee with slight formal amendments.

-

Commons: Customs and Inland Revenue Bill: Sir M. Hicks-Beach moved an amendment declaring the increase on the beer and spirit duties i inequitable, in the absence of any additional duties on wine. This was carried by 264 to 252-a majority of 12 against the Government.

9. Commons: Mr. Gladstone anTwo Thousand Guineas: Para-nounced that, in consequence of the dox, 1; Chopette colt, 2; Child of the adverse vote of the previous night, a Mist, 3. Cabinet meeting had been held, and, as the result, a communication would be made to her Majesty. The House adjourned.

12. Fire at the India Museum, extending to the Inventions Exhibition.

15. Commons: Mr. Gladstone announced that Lord Salisbury had undertaken the formation of a Government.

-Prince Frederick Charles, nephew of the German Emperor, aud father of the Duchess of Connaught, died. 16. Earthquakes in Cashmere: upwards of 2000 lives lost.

17. Field-Marshal Manteuffel, Governor of Alsace-Lorraine, died.

18. Colliery explosion at Pendlebury, near Manchester: over 160 lives lost.

Dongola evacuated by the British

troops.

JULY.

1. At a meeting of the Mansion House it was resolved, on the motion of the Prince of Wales, to form a Boys' Gordon Home as a memorial to General Gordon.

3.

-

Northumberland Plate: Blue Grass, 1; Hambledon, 2; Greenbank, -Elections: Launceston: R. E. Webster (C), 417; W. Pethick (L), 374. Eye: E. Ashmead-Bartlett (C), 473; M. Hawkes (L), 336. North Devon: J. C. More Stevens (C), unopposed.

2. Wakefield Election: E. Green (C), 1918; W. H. Lee (L), 1661.

Judgment given by the House of Lords in the Aylesford Peerage case, awarding the earldom to Mr. C. W. Finch.

3. Woodstock Election: Lord

Randolph Churchill (C), 532; Mr.

Corrie Grant (L), 405.

7. Lords: Regent's Canal, City, and Docks Railway Bill read the second time. Discussion on payment of interest out of capital during construction.

9 Commons: Sir M. Hicks-Beach announced that the 8d. income tax would be retained. and the deficit would be met by £4,000,000 Treasury Bills.

- County Down Election: Lord Arthur Hill (C), 5097; Mr. Brown (L), 4696.

13. Lords: Earl Spencer's motion in connection with the Tramways Ireland) Bill carried by 95 to 20.

a new

Foundation-stone of building for the Guildhall School of Music laid on Thames Embankment.

from smallpox on June 29. 22. Reported death of the Mahdi

Wimbledon : Kolapore Cup won by the Mother Country with 650; Guernsey second, 689.

23. Medical Relief Disqualification Removal Bill, amendment by Mr. Jesse Collings enlarging the scope of the measure opposed by the Government, but carried by 180 to 130.

Prince

Princess Beatrice married to Henry of Battenberg at Whippingham Church, Isle of Wight.

Wimbledon : Elcho Shield won by England, beating Scotland by 6 and Ireland by 20 points. 27. Opening of Antwerp by the King of the Belgians, 28. Commons: Motion by Mr. Callan, to declare certain expressions used by Mr. Bright a breach of privilege, negatived by 154 to 23.

Egyptian Loan issued for

Henley Regatta: Grand Chal-
lenge Cup, Jesus College, Cambridge;
Diamond Sculls, Mr. W. S. Unwin, | £9.000,000.
Oxford.

29. Great mortality from cholera 6. Parliament reassembled. Lord in Spain; over 80,000 deaths reported. ¦ 80. Lords: Medical Relief Bill Salisbury made a statement with regard to the foreign policy of the passed through Committee. Government, and Lord Carnarvon Goodwood Cup: announced that it was not intended Metal, 2; Cosmos, 3. to reintroduce the Crimes Act for 31. Commons: Sixpenny Telegram Ireland. Bill passed. Prince Henry of Battenberg took the oath of allegiance, Wingfield Sculls won by Unwin. AUGUST.

-- Commons: On Mr. Bradlaugh presenting himself to be sworn, Sir M. Hicks-Beach moved a resolution, directing that Mr. Bradlaugh be excluded from the House until he engaged not to disturb its proceedings. Amendment by Mr. Hopwood, supported by Mr. Gladstone, defeated by 263 to 219.

Big Bear, who took part in Riel's rising in North-West Canada, captured.

7. Commons: Criminal Law Amendment Bill read the third time, and passed.

Army Rifle Meeting: Champion prize won by Corporal Wison, 2nd Royal Highlanders. 11. Lords: Labourers (Ireland) Bill passed.

Commons: Housing of the Working Classes Bill passed.

12. A vote of thanks proposed to officers and soldiers engaged in the Noudan passed by both Houses of Parliament.

13. Prevention of Crimes Amendment Bill passed both Houses of Parliament.

Mr. W. H. Smith, in the House of Commons, proposed to award gratuities to the troops engaged in the Soudan.

THE EDUCATIONAL

PROGRESS OF ENGLAND. The report of the Committee of the Privy Council on Education for 1884-5 shows that 18,761 schools came under inspection, and that these schools had accommodation for 4,826,738 scholars; the names of 4,337,321 children on the registers; 3,925,045 of them present on the day of inspection; an average attendance daily throughout the year of 3,273,124; and 1,534,629 of them able to pass the examination in the three elementary subjects. These figures show a rate of progress far exceeding the numerical progress of the population. When the first Elementary Education Act was passed in 1870, the population numbered 22,090,163; last year it was reckoned at 27,132,449. This shows an increase of 22 8 per cent. But in the same time the number of inspected schools shows an increase of 128 per cent, and the accommodation of 157 per cent. In 1870 there were school-places for 1,878,584; in 1884, for 4,826,738. The actual attendance of children is even more favourably striking, and has sprung from 1,225,764 in 1870 to 3,273,124 last yearan increase at the rate of 165 per cent. But the increase in the number of teachers is greater still, and equals 173 per cent, or a rise from 30,130 in 1870 to 82,447 in 1884. Not only are there more teachers, but they are paid better; for whereas in 1870 the average salary of a male teacher was £95, and that of a mistress £58 a year, now the average salary of the former is £119, and that of the latter £72; besides which 30 per cent of them have free residences. To provide the schools, £1,7355,954 has, since 1870, been been borrowed by 1740 School Boards. Including loans, the 1862 English Boards received last year an income of £4,922,517. and spent £4,852,524, as against an expenditure of £4,272,346 in 1883. In Wales, 291 Boards received £282,558, and spent £278,852. In the voluntary schools the school pence came to 118. 2d. per child, and in the Board Schools to 9s. 5 d. Voluntary contributions in the former came to an average of 68. 83d. per child, and There is a great difference between the extremes which go to make their substitutes, the rates, in the Board schools to 16s. 3d. per child up this last average; for London rates came to £1 9s. 9d. per child, while Hull rates are only 3s. 8d. Yet each Hull scholar contrives to earn 16s. 6d. from the Government grant, while the London scholor earns no more than 178. d. The total capital expenditure on buildings in schools in England and Wales had been no less than £23,000,000. The statistics for Scotland bear the same witness to progress in education. If we compare the cost in this country to that of the Australian colonies when the population was about three millions, and the expenditure on education was just over £2,000,000. If this rate be applied to the English population, education would cost about £30,000,000 a year. The whole cost of education in England, including science and art, amounted to under £12,000,000, and £2,000,000 should be taken off that sum for the fees paid by the children, thus giving a net sum of £10,000,000 for thirty-five millions of people, or about 6s. per head of the entire population per annum. The cost in Australasia was 14s. per head, in Massachusetts it was 193. per head, and in Paris it was 12s. 6d. per head. As the schools fill, the juvenile criminals appear to decrease and the prisons empty. The number of prisoners under sixteen years of age in March, 1880, was 429, and that number fell in 1883 to 268, and since that time the number

had been still further reduced. The report showed also that the number of prisoners under sentence of penal servitude had fallen from 11,668 in 1869 to under 9500 in 1884, and the greater portion of the reduction was in under that age had decreased by one-half. This decrease is believed to the case of prisoners under thirty years of age. The number of prisoners industrial schools. Just as we were going to press the triennial election of be mainly due to the Education Act and the work of the reformatory and

Althorp, 1;

Year.

The Average Cost per Child in Average Attendance.