OUR LONDON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 8715, 6 January 1892, Page 4

OUR LONDON LETTER.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

[From OVr Special Correspondent,]

London, November 28. 1 hear that Mr Gladstone was greatly struck with the excellence of Lord Carrington’s speech at Bristol, and that at the Reform Club His Lordship is now universally admitted to be the only possible Liberal Colonial Secretary. Lord Rosebery, who, of course, goes to the Foreign Office when the G.O.M.’s day comes (if it over does—l’m doubtful) is particularly well pleased with bis relative’s progress in popular estimation. Years ago, when the world looked upon Lord Carrington merely as “ the coaching Johnny who horsewhipped Grenvillo-Murray,” Lord Rosebery recognised alike Carrington’s remarkable administrative abilities and tact, It washe who urged him to accept an Australasian vice-royalty and qualify for the Colonial Secretaryship, and it is to him even now the ex-Governor always goes for advice. When Lord Roseberyfrowned on Carrington’s “reminiscing” notions, the latter at once gave his book up. I thought then, you remember, a little unconscious jealousy of his relative’s numerous successes might, in this instance, have inspired Lord Rosebery’s advice. That supposition, I learnt later, was absurd. Lord Rosebery is now Mr Gladstone’s only B’oreign Secretary, and it is believed in many quarters that some time ago he intimated to the G.O.M. that his acceptance of office would be conditional on Lord Carrington’s being appointed Colonial Secretary. His ex-Excellenoy’e speech last week, at any rate, “ chipped in ” just at the right moment. Even the Conservative journals admit its extreme cleverness, bat that only makes them the more angry. A few members of the Guild of Art and Letters met together in an informal manner to welcome Mr David Christie Murray back to England on Wednesday evening. The success of the numerous penny miscellanies has moved the great G.A.S. to try his hand at one. The venture will be modelled on the pattern of ‘ Household Words,’ and the name ‘Sala’s Weekly.’ G.A.S. celebrated his sixty-third birthday yesterday. Hume Nisbet’s ‘ Jolly Roger ’ is a tedious, rambling romance in no way worthy of the author of * Bail Up.’ His * Savage Queen ’ I understand to be selling fairly well. Mrs Martin contributes a charming story to one of the choicest of Griffith and Farran’s Christmas books, ‘Twice Four,’ Stupidly euough, there is a blunder in the index, which attributes this tale—called, by the way, ‘The Shepherd’s Daughter’—to someone else.

Lord Rosebery's ‘ Pitt 1 received a tremendous notice from * The Times ’ on Tuesday morning. The Thunderer could hardly find superlatives enough in which to praise the monograph. The Gilbert-Cellier opera will be produced at the Lyric on or shortly before Boxing Night. The titles at present under consideration are * The Clockwork Man ’ and ' Topsy-Turveydom.’ Williamson is understood to have long ago purchased the Australian rights. According to the ‘ Man of the World,’ Sandman, the actor, is alive, and sells milk at some small town in Montana, SOOTH IN NEW ZEALAND, Judging from the cablegram appended General Booth is highly pleased with his run through your colony. He says" The New Zealand campaign is finished. I am about to embark for Tasmania. Notwithstanding the long coast and wearying inland journeys, I am happy to state my health is good, and with a brief respite from public work will be equal to the coming heavy engagements. Looking back upon tie gigantic glorious meetings at Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, I rejoice to report that the result of this New Zealand tour has

exceeded my most sanguine expectations, God has indeed been with us in mighty power. A work directly crowned with blessing and far-reaching in its importance has been accomplished. The 250 officers are strong in love, unity, and loyalty. Their labors have raised up a splendidly organised band of fighting men and women. Taken all round, the New Zealand wing of the Salvation Army presents a noble appearance. The reputation of the Army for practical, Christ-like work stands high in the estimation of all classes. The Press and other Voices of public opinion have spoken out in the most generous manner of the movement as a whole, and our recent departures for the amelioration of the poor in particular. With renewed faith and holy enterprise, let us go forward with God upon the principles and methods which He has so signally blessed and honored.” THE PETITION TO CAMBRIDGE.

A writer in the 'St. James’s Qazstte’ pokes fun at Mr Thomas Bracken and the other signatories of the petition to Cambridge University. He remarks “ Though distinguished and undistinguished (especially undistinguished) sciolists are always rather more given to interfere in educational matters than in most other things, except politics and philanthropy, it would be difficult to find a more superb specimen of amateurish naiveti than is embodied in a memorial to Cambridge University signed by certain persons resident in New Zealand. It appears that the Fortunate Ides possess, among their other blessings, a lady from Nownham or Girton ; and it further appears that' this lady is disqualified for the highest classifications of the New Zealand Educational Department’ because she may not write B.A. or M.A. after her name. In order to remedy this burning wrong without untying the red tape in the (N»Zi) Educational Offlce> some 2.500 signatures have been appended to a quaint document praying Cambridge to enable ‘ properly qualified women ’to obtain degrees. Alas 1 though one ex-Governor, three mayors, Thomas Bracken, and the Cook Conuty Liberal Association approve, it is to be feared that the Senate may scarcely see its way to acceding to this modest proposal. Perhaps it might soften its refusal by offering to our kin beyond sea, on easy terms, a very fine scheme of agricultural education (slightly depreciated), or a college for infant undergraduates for which present owners have no further use,” tSANKRUPTCY OF CHRISTIE MW BRAY. Mr David Christie Murray was publicly examined in bankruptcy yesterday. The liabilities were given at LI,IOO, assets L2l, The bankrupt, in reply to Mr Hough, Official Receiver, stated that he was a novelist by profession, and had been an actor for one month only, He wrote and produced ‘Ned’s Chum,’ whioh was performed at the Globe Theatre for one night for the purpose of introducing the pletie to the London managers. Hb had a contract to Write it story balled ‘Bob Martin's Little Girl ’ for Li, 100, but only received LBSO, being unable to finish it owing to illness. He bad disclosed the whole of his assets. In reply to Mr Clavell Salter, for the petitioning creditor, the bankrupt stated that all he owed the petitioning creditor was L 22, an amount he considered prepoet'rous. He offered Ll2, but it was not accepted, and ho heard nothing more of the matter for three or four years, and then the bankruptcy proceedings were commenced, the debt being run up to L 59 with the costs. The expenses of the night's performance of 1 Ned’s Chum ’ was L 125, and ho considered that the success of the piece quite warranted the outlay. He bad been in Australia and New Zealand on a lecturing tour for about two years, and his earnings during tho last three years had beeu about L2 400. The cost of maintaining his company and bring ing them to England had boon L4OO. His piece ‘ Ned’s Chum ’ was valueless as long as he was in his present position, as it would require L 1,500 to produce, which he was unable to get. He denied that he had stated at any time that ho should pay all his creditors except tho petitioning creditor. Ho had published certain novels through Messrs Chappell, but ho had parted with all his interest in them. Mr William Alexander Colyer appeared for the bankrupt, whose public examination was ordered to be concluded. PAN-BRITAN NIC ATHLETIC CONGRESS, The editor of that common sense joornal ‘ Greater Britain ’ has taken great pains of late to knock into our thick, British heads tho necessity of straightway initiating a Pan-Britannic athletic meeting, as an infallible means of completing tho labors of the Imperial Federation League. That federative imperial unity (whatever grand title you please) would necessarily follow on the carrying out of Mr Cooper’s scheme we take leave to doubt. And it is an interesting, instructive, and somewhat amusing commentary on his labored arguments in support of bis plan that, at the time when the great iu the land have smiled encouragingly on Mr Cooper’s work, tho “ first-class counties ” in England have directly vetoed the proposed tour of Australian cricketers in England next year, because, forsooth, there is no profit to be made out of them ! It is feared on this side now that Lord Sheffield’s team will suffer for the action of the Home clubs, but one trusts that the oft quoted Australian hospitality will prevent any attempt to “take it out of” the visiting cricketers. Most newspapers in England appear to countenance the action of tho club authorities in regard to the proposed Australian tour next season. It is held that beyond the “gate” question the too frequent visits of colonial teams is damaging to country cricket generally.