JUBILEES OF THE PAST.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1637, 30 May 1887, Page 3

JUBILEES OF THE PAST.

Britishers are conservators, as great bodies move slowly ; they are necessarily great on " precedents," not infrequently scotching the wheels of progress, yet, withal safe land-marks, daring fogs and uncertain travelling, stellar radiations in dilemmas and contingencies. Truly, tliis extraordinary Israeli tish festival had a political intent, to prevent i the too great oppression ot the poor ! • Coupled with national immunities : he manumission of Blavee, cancelling of debts, reversion to family inheritances and homesteads, celebrated with impos> iug religions services. It is supposed that the occurrence assisted in oomputa. tion of time, as did the Greek Olympiads, the Roman Lustra, or the Christian Centuries. The present year is the fourth occasion on which a Royal Jubilee has been com* inetnorated in England. Since the Norman Conquest of England, only four sovereigns have lived to oelebrato a Jubilee of their reign. Two of these were in the Park Ages, no gazette to record, no newspaper as a Jubilee informant, neither land- mark or radiation as to the how* of national oelebration. It is affirmed, but not confirmed, that King Henry 111. kept the Jubilee of his rejgn on October 19th, 1265, and was guided in his actions by instructions from Moses (a good precedent). One, hundred and eleven years afterwards, King Edward 111. held the, Jubilee of his reign on January 25th, 1877, when under a cloud of sorrow, occasioned by the death of his favorite son Edward the Black Prince. He (the King) made concessions to win the favor of all people of his dominion. He requested the loan of £4000 from the City of London, but was refused. He deposed Adam Staples from the high offioe of Lord Mayor, and nominated Richard Whittington, Mercer in his stead. The nominated Lord Mayor took the bonds from the King's hand*, and put them on a fire, and paid the money. No rejoicings of a national character. There is not any known descriptive account of a Royal Jubilee celebration hi any country or by any people previously to that of King George TJ.L, which took place on October 25th, 1809. It holds a unique position in our national history. George 111. commenced his Jubilee when he had completed his forty-ninth year and entered an the fiftieth of bis reign in accordance with the Levitioal ordination. The rejoicings, in their main features were a succession of festivities. Meeting the necessities of the poor, releasing debtors. In some cases, as in Coventry, money was collected that the debtors in prison might h%ve> their obligations discharged, and their persons liberated. Prisoners for insubordination — soldiers and sailors— and trifling offences were set at large — not criminal classes. Circulars were sent to the mayors of aU boroughs, requesting them to inaugurate a festival fund. Provision was almost at famine prioes. Wheat was £6 5a per bushel (? per quarter), bread was Is4d the quartern loaf, salted per lb, and tea and coffee were beyond the reach of well-to-do people. Taxation was high, and its payment rigidly enforced. In Jubilee year (1809) an extra forty days weie given to pay to the Exchequer its crushing demands. Villagers were fed on bread, meat, and ale. An extra allowance of flour; beef, wine, wad rum was distributed to every regiment and to every warship. The Danish, Russian, and Dutch prisoners of war were liberated and Bent home. Out of 100,000 French prisoners, all the aged and infirm were exchanged for as many' English of the same class. Banks, brokers, shipowners, merchants, 'and wealthy tradesmen gave handsome gifts to their servants.] uniYewitiea- 1 -

Oifora flna Cambridge— with the first* olass academies feasted and fed thousand?. The King was seventy- one years old. The town of Sheffield gathered "seventy-one men seventy-one years of age, feasted them, and gave eaoh a new great coat, a new hat, and a new orowu pieoe. The Irish and Scotch (thoroughly loyal) acttd on the same liueß as England., Many jihousands flocked to Windsor Park, where the King, Queen, aud V incesses rode among6t the people. Tuv King made a short speech, and n treat shout of joy f >llowe<i. Bullock roasting and illumiDations closed the day. Gleanings. Eegt nt-street, Hawera.