A FATEFUL YEAR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8124, 28 March 1888, Page 2

A FATEFUL YEAR.

If there be any particular magic in tho figures whioh compose date?, thiß joor should bo an eventful ona. The fact that the three final figures of 1838 ure alike ia itself portentous. Fortunately this does not occur very often — as a rule only once in 111 years— but even tint is too often. The year 1555 (to go no further back) witnessed tho Marion prosecution in its full f ury, when Ridloy, Latimor, and about a hundred others perished at the utuke. The great fire of London makes 1666 for ever memorable in our domeßtic history. The surrender of General Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga in 1777 was the turning point in the struggle in which we lost a big slice of our American colonies. In this view the outlook for the nev year is dark, but still there aro gleams of hope. The year 1888 ia the centenary, the bicentenary, aud tha tricentenary of events closely unsoaiated with the progress of British liberty. In 1588 the Spanish Armada was destroyed. ! In 1688 the evil Stuart dynasty came to jan end. In 1788 the Common Council of Londoa petitioned in favour of the abolition of the slave trade, ani iv that year commenced the trial of Warren Hastings, which demonstrated to all Englishmen having charge of Bubject races that any abuse of the power entrusted to them [ would not escape punishment. In 1883 we have .jlready witnessed one event in the death of Emperor Willian of Germany ; what will bo the next to be recorded ?