OUR LONDON LETTER.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7362, 15 July 1889, Page 5

OUR LONDON LETTER.

[ROM OUB CORBESPOJTDBMT.I

LONDON, May 31

A MEMORIAL TO MR DALLEY.

A letter appeared in the Daily Telegraph of yesterday inviting subscriptions to a Dalely Memorial. Lord Eosebery, the writer, states, on behalf of the Imperial Federation League, that the Dean of St. Panl's has consented to the placing of a tablet in the crypt of that great edifice in honor of the colonial statesman -who despatched the New South Wales Contingent to the Soudan. Subscriptions are to be sent to Lord Brassey or Lord Rosebery himself. Truly, there is great honor in a little chance ! ANGLO COLONIAL JOTTINGS. Mr E. Braddon, as is well known, is the brother of the famous lady novelist whose married name is Mrs Maxwell, and she.it is said, travelled from Monte Carlo to be in time to hear her brother's paper at the Colonial Institute. Mrs Maxwell lives at Richmond. # Sir Ilenry and Lady Loch have returned from a short visit to Paris and the Exhibition. " That Doctor Cupid," Mr Buchanan's comedy-farce, is going out on an Australian tour. Messrs Garner and Musgrove have engaged Mr Fred. Neebe and Miss Flora Hastings for the piece. The present term at the Colonial College at Hollesley Bay closes on June 20th. The Marquis of Lome will be present on the occasion of the prize-giving. Everywhere on Messrs Willing and Co.'s railway stalls, a3 also on Messrs Smith and Co.'s stalls, is to be seen " The Garden of New Zealand, Taranaki," by W. Courtenay, for sale. This advertisement should do the book good. Major Gordon, of tae Permanent Artillery Force of South Australia, is in London for the purpose of studying recent improvements in Artillery. The various agencies were closed on Saturday, as the official Queen's Birthday. , Sir Thomas Elder returns to Adelaide by the end of the year. A bust of himself is to be " sculped," as our American cousins say, ere he returns, for presentation to the University of Adelaide. Messrs Macmillan and Co. have added to their colonial library "Robbery under Arms," by Mr Browne, of Melbourne, whose noni-de-pLuine is Rolf Bolderwood. It is now in its third edition. It is stated that Messrs Gordon and Gotch have purchased two years' rights, from the beginning of next year, of all the novels which may be produced by Mr Rider Haggard during that time. The idea is to issue in the colonies a weekly instalment of the novel at the price of one penny, or sixpence a month. Young Mr Rolleston, son of Mr William Rolleston, late Minister of Lands in New Zealand, is now in this country, where he is to study medicine, J understand. Mr Brett, of Auckland, is still enjoying himself in London, and contemplates a trip to the Derby on Wednesday next. Dr. Grace, who was unable to be p esent at the opening of the Paris Exhibition, where he is a Commissioner for the New Zealand Court, is still detained in Florence by his daughter's illness. lam glad, however, to learn that the doctors say she is quite out of danger at last, and doubtless Dr. Grace will be with us shortly. Mr blaekett, the Consulting Engineer of the New Zealand Government, has arrived in London. Mr and Mrs Waterhonse have also come to town. They go to Vichy shortly for some time. Here is what Professor Owen says of " The Birds of New Zealand," by Sir W. Buller. " The • Birds of New Zealand' is a type of ornithological excellence. I feel carried to the land and to the waters of their homes through the perfection of the feathered portraits. The text is equally perfect, and together they' make a book unique. in Natural History. .One feels proud that the author is a countryman." It is stated that-an offer has been made to the Government of per annum for the privilege of advertising on the backs of poet-cards and postage stamps. Mr Henniker-Heatm will ask a question of the Postmaster-General on the subject on Monday. The Rev. Charles Perry, the first Bishop of Melbourne, who has long been one of' the Residentiary Canons of the Llandaff Cathedral, has resigned his stall in co-ne'e-quence of ill-health. Captain Reade, the nephew of Charles Reade, the novelist, is delivering a series of lectures at St. James , Hall, one of which i 3 " Personal Reminiscences of New Zealand." Mr P. L. Simmons has been appointed Official Agent of the Managing Committee of the forthcoming Dunedin Exhibition. THE LIVERPOOL COMPANY GASPING FOR BREATH. I hear that the great Liverpool frozen meat scheme is at its last gasp. It may pull itself together and gain new life, but it is doubtful, more than doubtful. Mr H. Russell still continues on the Board, but is within sight of his resignation, and then the affaire mu&t go to pieces. Sir Joseph Lee has withdrawn wholly, and the general impression in Liverpool is that the MacIvors have got just what they deserved for the grasping nature of their demands. Yet Mr Russell is confident that it only needs time to develop the idea, and that come one must take up the scheme, espesially now that the path h<ts been cleared. THE JUBILEE PLUNGER'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. As I wrote to you some mails back, the enterprising Mr Frederick Trischler, of the Hansom Cab Publishing , Company, has secured Mr Ernest Benzon, commonly known as the " Jubilee " or the "Juggins/ , whose capere on the turf have been a matter of talk for the last two years. Mr Benzon is to write his experiences from the time he was a ward in chancery, but with especial reference to the two years after his majority, when he loet all his newly inherited fortune. The book is to be called " How I Lost £250,000 in two years," by Ernest Benzon (the Jubilee Plunger), and will contain an .accurate account of the manner in Mr Bcnzon inherited this fabulous sum; a resume of the famous Australian trip, which cost iM5,000, and his racing and gambling experiences; how money was lost at Monte Carlo, and at pigeon shooting; and an exposi at the manner in which book-makers and moneylenders carry on their business. It will be published at 10s 6d in July, and already orders are rolling in from the trade, who anticipate an enormous sale for this sensational volume, probably not very welcome to gentlemen once friendly with the " Plunger." The interest of Australians in the publication is twofold, for not only is Mr Trischler an Australian, hailing from Melbourne, and previously Christuhurch, New Zealand, but Mr " Jubilee " Benzon give in the book a full account of hia Australian experiences, where he made probably as reckless a fool of himself as it haa been given to any man to make. However you will know more in a couple of months' time, if you nre interested in this eeamy side of turf life. TWO LECTURERS FOR THE ANTIPODES. A sudden fever for lecturing has seized on public literary men, and the last' two to succumb are Mr David Christie Murray and Mr Edward Jenkins. The former, who has long been contemplating a lecturing tour in Australia and New Zealand, has suddenly " sprung- * hia etecret wishes anon his friends and startled them. Everyone knows Air Christie Murray, and all those who know him like him. He is the most genial of companions, a good comrade at the Savage Club,, and a delightful raconteur. As a novelist he has long since made his mark, and readers will easily' recall half-a-dozen stories which have contented and appeased them for an evening—" Val Strange," " The Weaker Vessel,'* "Oldßlozer's Hero," ''Hearts/ 'First Person. Singular/* &c., 4c. [n my mind he is always classed rith HLx Justin iteCarthy, only he

is _ a stronger and more vigorous writer than the Irishman. But it is scarcely necessary for mc to recall (what everyone knows) Mr Murray's qualifications as a novelist. The point is that he has arranged for a lecturing tour in Australia and New Zealand. He is to set sail in a few weeks, and will in all probability go by the New Zealand Shipping Company's line. On the 7th June, a farewell dinner is to be given to him at the Criterion, when over a hundred are expected to be present. Mr Edmund Yates, of the World, is to be in the chair, and all the leading " stars " in the literary and journalistic firmament will be present. Mr Philip Mennell, an especial friend of the novelist's, is taking the matter into his hands, and what he arranges he arrange* well, so that the success of the evening is assured. Mr Christie Murray's lectures will be mostly reminiscences, for he lias had an enormous experience, and represented the Daily News in the RussoTurkish war twelve years ago. Mr Edward Jenkins, tho author of " (Jinx's Baby/* is also contemplating a tour in the colonies. By the way, anyone who thinks Sir Jenkins is " played out" should really read " A Modern Paladin," his last novel, published by Trubner. It is uncommonly successful as an attempt to write up French financing in Daudefs style, aud displays an amount of ability as well as a knowledge of the world and French life, which are rare in combination. THE IMPERIAL FEDERATION LEAGUE. Lord Rosebery's pet hobby, the Imperia. Federation League, had a very successful annual meeting (the fourth) the other evening. A large number of distinguished people were present, and New Zealand was represented by Mr G. Beetham. Lord Rosebery was in the chair, and made an admirable speech. He said that Canada was realising, perhaps, more than any other Colonial part of the Empire, how necessary Imperial Federation was to any clo-e continuance of the Empire. On the other hand, in Australia their progress was not co great as they might have hoped and expected. Then ho referred to the out-the-painter school of colonials, and advised them in mild terms to come Home and see that the Old Country wag not bankrupt, and was not looking to federation as a last resource, but was prospering in every way. And. with all the signs of national prosperity we might say, as Cavour said of Italy, that England was sufficient for horself. and needed nO relations with her colonies. (Hear.) But he was not satisfied with sufficiency. Hie aspiration leaned to the absolute predominance of the Anglo-Saxon race throughout the world, and that could only be accomplished on the lines which the Federation League had hud down. They were charged with producing no plans of federation. But he was not in favor of exporting plans to the colonies. He had always hel« that if a plan was to come at all, it must be in the shape of a demand from the oolonies themselves. If he could do exactly a> he wished, he would rather export to the colonies, not permanently, but on a visit, representative working men, i chosen from every part of the United Kingdom, who might travel to the Australian colonies, by the new route of Vancouver and back through India home, co that they might Bee the real objects the federationists aimed at, and the objects for the preservation of which they strove. (Applause.) He was not hopeful for any movement in this direction until the working classes should iealise for themselvet" what was the nature of the question laid before them, and what was their interest in understanding it practically. Finally, Lord Rosebery referred to the Dalley memorial, saying that morning he had waited on the Dean of St. Paul's, and asked his consent to an application that they should be allowed to place on the walls of the Metropolitan Cathedral a tablet to the memory of the late William Bede Dalley, the Australian statesman whose action in connection with the New South Wales Contingent in the Soudan evoked so strongly the sentiment of Imperial unity. That was a step which some might call a small and sentimental step.; but he thought it was neither small nor sentimental. If they wished to acknowledge a unity of rights with the living, they mast equally acknowledge the unity of rights of the dead, and they claimed it for every colonial citizen that he should receive, living or dead, the same honors aocorded to his, fellows at Home. (Hear, hear.) They had by this act asserted and maintained the xight of an Australian Statesman to be commemorated with Nelson and Wellington, Reynolds and Johneon, and if his ashes could not mis with theirs, future generations, looking at that tablet, however unassuming it might be, would recognise that the right was there awarded, and could not be revoked by any subsequent generation. Lord Carnarvon also spoice, and the meeting terminated amid the enthusiasam of the f ederationiafc*,