GENERAL SUMMARY.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7870, 22 May 1891, Page 5

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Loxdon, April 30. It is rumored that in Calcutta Lord Lanadowne is accustomed to ramble through the city after dark hi to learn what v thought about liimselt and his rule.

The Roumanian Government has issued orders stopping the export of maize, in consequence of the depletion of stocks. At a meeting of the Dublin Tenants' Defence Association, iv resolution was passed declaring that as Mr Paruoll had not replied to Mr McCarthy's proposal to release the Paris fund for the benefit of the tenants, the whole sum, amounting to .£40,000, ha immediately voted to their relief. Michael Davitt, when asked if he intended to make a long stay in tho United States, replied that he was only going to California for rest and to recruit his health.

The letter of the Russian Ambassador, Neliidoff, in regard to the detention by the Ottoman authorities on April 13th, in the Dardanelles, of a steamship belonging to tho Russian volunteer fleet, which vessel was being used under tho mercantile flag as a transport for military workmen, caused great alarm in Turkish official circles. The Russian Ambassador declared tho Embassy would henceforth be compelled to take independent measures to to assure the unimpeded passage of Russian merchant vessels through the Dardanelles. The Porto, in replying to Nellidoff, said that should tho Russian Ambassador's declaration be carried out tho other Powers might feel called upon to take the matter into consideration. Diplomatic oircles throughout Constantinople are much excited over the event, which it is thought may lead to further and more serious complications. Yon Moltke's death was very Budden, and the physicians who were summoned announced that it was caused by failure of the heart. He passed away at 9.45 o'clock on the night of the 25th, quietly and painlessly. The news of the Count's unexpected death caused great sorrow in the city. Yon Moltke died in his study at his official residence on Konigsplatz. He appeared in his usual health early in the evening, and Buppered aa usual, his appetite being good. He rose from his seat with tho intention of retiring, when suddenly he staggered, and would have fallen had it not been that a servant sprang to his assistance. The Count waß then carried to his bedroom and placed upon the bed, upon which he died in a few minutes. Tho will of tho Count stated that he desired his burial to take at Crieson, where his wife and child were buried. The Empress visited the death chamber in the morn* ing, and laid a magnificent wreath of roses upon the bed upon whioh the great General rested. The Empress spent a quarter of an hour trying to console the family. Splendid floral offerings arrived at at the residence from all parts of Germany. Great crowds of people, respectful and sympathetic, surrounded the Count's residence and thronged the streets. Many of the streets and leading thoroughfares were closed, and the city throughout displayed the emblems of mourning. In the Lower House of the Prussian Diet the President of that body, in announcing Yon Moltke's death to the representatives, said the high value of tho Count's services to the Fatherland would, cause universal sorrow and mourning for his death throughout Germany. In the Upper House a laurel wreath entwined with black and white satin ribbons hung over the Count Yon Moltke's seat. The President read-a letter from Major Moltke, announcing the Count's death, and then he delivered an address extolling the merits and services of the dead soldier as a member of the Upper House. In the course of the morning, by the Emperor's orders, the Imperial Standard was conveyed from the Palace to the room in which the great soldier lay in state. This was. done as a special mark of the Emperor's favor, and as showing how deeply he feela the loss. Leasing the sculptor,,took a plaster cast of the dead Field Marshal's face about seven- o'clock. •

Mr Balfour, the Irish Chief Secretary, has written a letter, in which he comments at length upon Mr Gladstone's recent criticisms of the Irish Land Bill Mr Balfour says:-" The Liberals oppose a measure which has been accepted in its principles by every section of the Irish party, and eagerly desired by the bulk of the Irish agriciiltrj'jral '. community, .and mvolviug.no risk, theoretical or practical, to the British taxpayer. Mr Gladstone does not even pretend to hold out any prospect of a settlement of the | question, except by occupying the time oi Parliament, if he gets a majority, with a fruitless discussion of the. absurd and impossible schemes of Home Rule. ■ While he [has, been voting on abstract resolutions about the self-government of rural parishes and registration, the Government, has done more to advance the principles of local, selfgovernment in every part of the Kingdom, to lighten the cost of the education of tho working classes, to strengthen the defences of the Empire, and to deal with social questions than the administration pledged to Home Rule would be likoly to do in a generation. The Government, though:not j following Mr Gladstone's example in ooaI fining its attention to Ireland, effected and jis effecting more for the material Welfare oi the country than any of its predecessors." Despatches from South Africa show that the Portuguese authorities are taking a high hand m Mashonalanrl Colonel Wilioughby reports that upon his arrival at Bevia m applied for permission to proceed to the Punswe5 we river and offered to pay the prescribed utiea.' As he received no answer, aftes forty-eight hours he started without permission, when the Portuguese opened firs on him, seized his, two steamers with tfas "mails andprotiSiofis, and impt-isohed «__• teen of the crew. Colonel WUloughby, whfl commanded*the British steamer Agnes, endeavored to secure the release of his vessels by the payment of the usual customs dqty of 3 percent, imposed by the Portuguese Government. Tho officials refuged to accept this Eayment, and ordering the British flag to be auled down, hoisted the Portuguese nag in its place. The Portuguese declare that ttis British were excluded from the Pungwa River, which the boats were navigating when seized, and which is the chief water road to Maahonaland. Several British colonists have been imprisoned; Moatol the British settlers hate returnedfrost Maahonaland on account cf the arMtrarj action of the Portuguese,