THE

ANNUAL REGISTER:

A

REVIEW OF PUBLIC EVENTS AT HOME

AND ABROAD,

FOR THE YEAR

1869.

NEW SERIES.

LONDON:

RIVINGTONS, WATERLOO PLACE;

LONGMANS & CO.; HAMILTON & CO.; SIMPKIN & CO..
HOULSTON & SONS; SMITH, ELDER, & CO.; E. BUMPUS; J. WALLER;
L. BOOTH; BELL & DALDY; H. SOTHERAN & CO.;

BICKERS & SON; W. HEATH; J. TOOVEY; J. WHELDON;
AND RIVINGTONS, OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

ENGLISH HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.

Aspect of Public Affairs at the beginning of the year-State of the Foreign

Relations of England-The New Parliament and New Administration—

Reassembling of Parliament on Feb. 16-Select Committee on Parliamen-

tary and Municipal Elections--Cattle Disease-Government Bill for the

Prevention of Contagious Diseases of Animals approved and passed-Poor

Law Rating and Assessment-Bills for the Amendment of the Law as to

Rating Repression of Crime-Bill for dealing more effectually with the

Criminal Classes

PAGE

[1

CHAPTER II.

The Disestablishment of the Irish Church-Predominant subject of discussion

in Parliament and the country-The Irish Church Bill-Elaborate and lucid

statement of the measure by the Prime Minister-Great Debate on the

Second Reading-Majority of 118 in favour of the Second Reading-Debates

in the House of Lords on the Condition of Ireland and on the Coronation

Oath-Discussion of the Irish Church Bill in Committee--Statement of the

principal Amendments moved and Divisions taken-Steady and Uniform

Support of the Government by the Liberal party-The Bill is passed through

Committee-Debates on the Report, and on the Third Reading, which is

carried by a Majority of 114-The Bill is sent to the House of Lords.

.

[23

CHAPTER III.

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

on both sides-The Second Reading is carried by a majority of 33-Expla-

nations on the subject of Mr. Bright's Letter by Earl Granville and

Mr. Gladstone-The Irish Church Bill in Committee-Important Amend-

ments moved and carried against the Government-The Bill is read a third

time-Protest of Lord Derby and others against the Bill-It is returned to

the House of Commons-Mr. Gladstone moves and carries resolutions to

disagree with all the principal Amendments-The Bill is again sent to the

Lords, but the Government is again defeated-Earl Granville requests time

to consult his Colleagues-Conference between Earl Granville and Lord

Cairns-Results in a Compromise-The Bill again altered to give effect to

the understanding between the two Parties, and returned to the Commons

-Mr. Gladstone moves the adoption of the Amendments as now settled-

The Bill is passed, and receives the Royal Assent on 26th July-Remarks

on its character and history.

PAGE

[69

CHAPTER IV.

Finance-Mr. Lowe's first Financial Statement-Novel and ingenious cha-

racter of his scheme for readjusting the Assessed Taxes-Favourable recep-

tion of the Budget-The Government propositions are adopted and the Bill

passed-Expenses of the Abyssinian Expedition-Select Committee on-

Military and Naval Estimates-Great reductions in the Votes-Debates in

both Houses on the Army-Purchase of the Telegraphs by the Government

-East Indian Finance-Statements on, by the Duke of Argyll in the House

of Lords, and Mr. Grant Duff in the House of Commons-Coinage-Con-

troversy on the Seignorage question

.

[120

CHAPTER V.

Education The Endowed Schools Bill-Its objects and character-Modified

in a Select Committee-Debates on the Measure in the House of Lords-

The Bill passed-University Tests Abolition Bill-Read a third time in the

House of Commons, but is rejected by the House of Lords-Mr. Fawcett's

Resolution on Fellowships and Scholarships in Trinity College, Dublin-

The Annual Education Vote for Great Britain-Debates in both Houses on

National Education-The Scotch Education Bill passed by the House of

Lords-Is amended by the House of Commons-The House of Lords on its

being returned reject the Bill-State of the Episcopal Bench in England--

Lord Lyttelton's Bill for the increase of the Episcopate rejected by a large

majority-Bill for providing for the Retirement of incapacitated holders of

Sees passed-Resignation of Bishops-Illness of the Primate

[147

CHAPTER VI.

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