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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 38, 10 January 1890, Page 19

Leo XIII. has just convoked a General Council in Japan. It will be held in January next year. A congress for the consideration of sacred music was held recently at Bnxen in the Tyrol, Austria, Wh n Sir Robert Peel (siys Truth) introduced his scheme for the Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, Prince Albert went down to h.' House of Commocsto bear the Minister's speech, and it waa gen(Tilly understood that bis presence in the Gallery was meant to signify that tbe Courr heartily approved of the new policy. Lord Beacont-field, in his " Po i ioal rfiography " of Lord George Bantinck (one of the most entertaining works ever written) severely censured the Pr.nce for bis unconstitutional conduct, and thereby incurred the lading resentment of H R.H. lam reminded of this episode by the announcement that the Date of Fife is to take the chair at the dinner which is to be given at Edinburgh next month to Mr. Balfour. I bear from a person who is very well informed in such matters that he Dike of Fife has been rrqiested to preside simply because he baa married a daughter of tbe Prince of Wal'S, and so that his presence in the chair may be held to signify the sympathy of the governing members of the Royal Fimily with the objec s of the gathering. Ii is for no ott er reason that he has been selected, and he did not consent to accept tbe position until after be bad obtained the permission of his wife's " exalted" relatives. The Unionist leader in Scotland is the Duke of Argyll, and the Duke of Buccleuco has alwayi been at the head of the Tories, whereas the Duke of Fife held no political position whatever (and, in fact, was kaown to the publio only as a prominent member of the Marlborough House set) until bis marriage ; but he has since discovered himself as a violent, if not an eloquent opponent of the Liberal policy.