In Ninety-Eight.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 9

In Ninety-Eight.

Time. There is one resemblance between The Times of 1798 and The Times of 1889, inasmuch as with both Ireland occupied a large share of the space devoted to news or editorial comment. This was the year famous in Irish history,

. when Lord Edward Fitzgerald was still alive, and Napper 1 andy was hovering around the J coast in command of French troops that never ( landed. There bad (October ■>) been a descent of. the French, who on August 2 Z landed at Killala a force of 900 strong, and, reinforced by the Irish rebels, had routed the Royalist army at Castlebar. Our issue of The Times contains despatches from General Trench, in command of. the Royalist troops, dated 1 Camp, near Killala, September 24 and 25.’ By this time the Royalist troops had rallied, beaten and captured the French invaders, and General Trench was occupied in disposing of the dauntless peasantry who still remained under arms. The Rebels had taken refuge in Killala, which General Trench stormed, rescuing the Bishop and. his family, who had been beleaguered in their palace. In the despatch here published, General french gives a graphic description of * the Bishop, his family and servants, armed with carbines, barricaded in their room, preparing to resist the threatened violence of the Rebels.’ The Times ‘has pleasure to add that by the success of General Trench's operations a decisive blow has been given to every root and fibre of rebellion in Ireland.’ But the news from Ireland, satisfactory as it was, was eclipsed by the greater glory of the despatch that had just reached the Government from the mystic Nile. Mrs Siddons had amazed the public by. visiting Brighton, Bath, and London,, within the incredibly short space of ninety-six hours ; but this feat was eclipsed by Captain Capel, son bf Lord Essex, who had brought to London the news of the Battle of the Nile. The engagement began at sunset on August 1.. On August 3, Nelson (he was only Sir Horatio then) sat down to write the despatch reporting the affair. This he addressed to Admiral of the Fleet the Earl of St. Vincent, then understood to be somewhere ‘ off Cadiz.’ Four days later, on August 7, it occurred to Nelson that perhaps the people at home in England might like to hear of the little affair, and accordingly he determined to send Captain Capel overland with a copy of the despatch. He was evidently not sure that he was not herein overstepping his duty, for in addressing the enclosure to the Secretary of the Admiralty he writes : ‘ In an event of this importance I have thought it right to send Captain Capel with a copy of my letter overland, which I hope their lordships will approve.’ Having the precious document in his charge Captain Capel set forth, and travelling, it may be presumed, with the.utmost speed then available, reached London in the incredibly short space of fifty-six days ! In justice to Captain Capel it ought to be added—upon the authority of an official statement —that ‘ he was detained at Naples one day, owing to some necessary ceremonies of quarantine,’ otherwise the news would have reached London in fifty-five days. The despatch in which Nelson made known the accomplishment of this decisive victory is a marvel of modest conciseness. The little sheet of ninety years ago prints it in the dignity of its largest type, and it is a pleasant task to disinter it at this time of day. In the covering letter to the Secretary to the Admiralty Nelson says, ‘I have the pleasure to inform you that eight of our ship 3 have already topgallant-yards across ready for any service.’ After the Nile was to corns Trafalgar and the end. It is almost impossible for us in these days of telegraphs and war correspondents to realise a state of things in which one of the greatest battles in the world’s history could have been fought almost within sight of Europe, and that nearly two months should elapse before the news reached London. When it did come there were no bounds to the public delight. The first news was conveyed to the crowd in the streets by the booming of the guns from the Tower, and the pealing.of bells from a score of churches. At night the city burst forth in a blaze of illumination. Before the Admiralty a vast crowd gathered, and ‘ the mob as usual,’ we are told, * insisted upon all persons of genteel appearance pulling off their hats, Six officers passing along were ordered to pay the same compliment to the mobility, and refusing to do so the populace endeavoured to force their hats off. The officers drew their swords and some persons were wounded.’ At the theatre, where Mr Kemble had been playing Zanga in The Revenge, nothing would do but that the company on the stage should sing * Rule Britannia.’ This they did, the audience joining in the chorus. Then they shouted for more, ‘and the acclamations were the loudest and most fervent we have ever witnessed.’ The King—George the Third, of sacred memory—was staying at Weymouth, whither a message was sent off express in order that his Majesty mierht learn the glad tiding 3 before he went to rest. The messenger, it is reasonable to suppose, found his Majesty sated with the excitement of celebrations which had taken place a day or two earlier. ' The anniversary of the birth of their Majesties’ eldest daughter,

the Duchess of Wurtembergh had just hapt, and the King, the Queen, and all the Princesses with a number of the Nobility went to Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, to see the sports of the Country-people which were not over till late in the afternoon.’ These sports were as manly as they were varied. There was a Cheese to be rolled down the Hill, with a Prize to whoever stops it. A Pound of Tobacco to be Grinned for. There was a Michaelmas-day Goose to be Dived for ; a good Hat to fee Cudgelled for ;_a handsome Hat for the Boy most expert in Catching a Roll dipped in Treacle and suspended by a String. There was a Leg of Mutton and a Gallon of Porter to the winner of a race of 10.; yards, in Sacks. There was a good Hat to be wrestled for ; and, appropriately at the end, a prize to whoever caught a harried Pig by the Tail. How the King, the Queen, and ail the Princesses with a number of the Nobility must have laughed to see such fun ! After this probably the news cf Nelson’s vie ory at the Nile fell a little fiat on royal ears. There is unfortunately no record of the manner in which the King received the news —the pacer leaving Mr Winchester starting off express for Weymouth. In another part of the paper there is a single line which will bring the state of the country sharply before the mind’s eye. Under the heid ‘Price of Stocks’ we find it written ‘ Three Per Ceut Consols, 00 J f.’ To-day, after conversion into Two-and-Three-Quarter Per Cents, they stand at 98,