For the chapters on Foreign politics the Editor has to express his thanks to several persons who, although for the most part taking more than an observer's interest in the affairs narrated, have found leisure and inclination to prepare for English readers an impartial and it is believed an accurate summary of the history of their respective countries. The Chronicle, hitherto chiefly reserved for remarkable occurrences,' will in future form a diary of the principal events at home and abroad. The appetite for the strange and marvellous has considerably abated since the time when the Annual Register' was first started. To give special prominence to extraordinary events would, therefore, render the publication an unfaithful mirror of the time. The Retrospect of Literature has been considerably extended in the present volume, the Editor's object being to give a short, concise account of such books of the year as promise to become a source of permanent interest. They are classified according to subjects, and an available index of practical utility is thus provided for students and collectors. Increased space has been allotted to the Obituary notices of eminent persons, and great care has been bestowed upon this section, which experience shows is highly appreciated by the general public. CONTENTS. Distress at the beginning of the year-Outbreak of the Zulu War-Boer En- croachments-Attitude of Cetchwayo-Sir Bartle Frere and Sir Henry Bulwer -Views of the Government-The Ultimatum to Cetchwayo-Discussion in Parliament-Eastern Policy-Administration of Cyprus-The Greek Frontier Question-Execution of the Treaty of Berlin-Unfulfilled Arrangements. page [1 Domestic Legislation-Ministerial Programme-Business of the House-Burials Bills-County Suffrage- Woman Suffrage-"Local Option " in Licensing-- Report of the Lords Committee on Intemperance-Finance-The Army Esti- mates-The Navy Estimates-The Budget-Financial Debates-The Army Discipline and Regulation Bill-" Scenes in the House-Irish University Bill -Repeal of Irish Convention Act-Measures Withdrawn--Public Works Loans Bill-Corrupt Practices Bill--Joint Stock Banking Companies Bills-Minor The Egyptian Complication-Sir Garnet Wolseley sent to South Africa-Return of the Heroes-Party Demonstrations at Easter and Whitsuntide-Agricultural Distress-Reciprocity Agitation and Debate-Debate on Mr. Chaplin's motion -Minister of Commerce-Farmer's Alliance-Agricultural Commission-Re- vival of Trade-Distress in Ireland---Anti-rent Agitation-Arrest of Agitators -The autumn Oratorical Campaign-The Cabul Massacre-The Manchester demonstrations-Strained relations with the Porte-Mr. Gladstone in Scotland ANNUAL REGISTER FOR THE YEAR 1879. PART I. ENGLISH HISTORY. CHAPTER I. Distress at the beginning of the year-Outbreak of the Zulu War-Boer Encroachments-Attitude of Cetchwayo--Sir Bartle Frere and Sir Henry Bulwer -Views of the Government-The Ultimatum to Cetchwayo-Discussion in Parliament-Eastern Policy-Administration of Cyprus-The Greek Frontier Question-Execution of the Treaty of Berlin-Unfulfilled Arrangements. Ar the beginning of the year 1879 the mind of England had comparative rest from questions of foreign policy. The conduct of past affairs by the Government was still discussed before keen audiences in extra-parliamentary utterances, but there was no fresh matter for controversy, no immediate prospect of new complications. It appeared as if the issues between the two great parties in the State, to be fought out at the general election to which politicians were looking forward, might be regarded as complete, and the Ministry must stand or fall by its conduct in the momentous crises of the past two years. The country was not prepared for any sudden development of testing consequences, and its anxieties were directed homewards, to the depression of trade and the pressure of hard times on the poor. The distress produced by the want of employment had been aggravated by a winter of great severity. From all the large towns came the same sorrowful tale. Thousands of families, which in times of ordinary prosperity lived in decent comfort, were said to be on the brink of starvation. Columns of the newspapers were filled every day with statistics of the numbers in receipt of relief, and with startling cases of individual hardship. The pressure was peculiarly severe on those who struggled against pauperism to the last. Many were found by [1879. benevolent visitors in a state of absolute famine, having pawned all their scanty possessions and even their clothes to obtain food. The charity of the more fortunate was powerfully stirred by the prevailing destitution. Large sums were voted by the municipalities, relief funds were swelled by munificent subscriptions, and no effort was spared to discover those who were too proud to apply for assistance. All through the cold month of January benevolence had no lack of occupation. The outbreak of the Zulu war was the first external affair that arrested public attention. Several months before the beginning of the year war with the Zulus had been rendered inevitable, but outside the circle of the Government there was no thought of the troubles that were brewing in South Africa. Public attention was occupied with the rapid success of the Afghan expedition, which had accomplished its purpose of breaking up Shere Ali's power in a few days. On the 1st of January Shere Ali was a fugitive in Central Asia; two brigades of General Browne's column were camped at Jellalabad; the second column, under General Roberts, had captured the Peiwar Pass, and retired to winter in the Koorum Valley; General Stewart, with the Quettah column, was making his way slowly but without opposition to Candahar. All fighting in pitched array was at an end, and through the month of January we continued to hear only of attacks made by the hill tribes upon scattered detachments and convoys. There was some curiosity to know what Yakoob Khan would do, but there was no anticipation that he would be able to offer a serious resistance, and his submission was daily expected. It was not till the beginning of February that the new troubles in another quarter of the Empire came into view. A very languid interest was taken in the announcement that Sir Bartle Frere had declared war upon the King of the Zulus. One of Mr. Tenniel's cartoons in Punch very faithfully indicated the amount of importance that was attached to this "little war." England was represented as a sturdy patient Bull, wading with gloomy countenance through deep waters, bearing on his back a Russian, an Afghan, a Turk, a Glasgow Bank Director, and a Working Man on Strike. A Zulu jumped on behind, with a wild flying leap and a grin. "Dar's jis' room for me," was the legend. The first news from the seat of war justified this lighthearted view of the situation. A force of 10,000 Zulus, it was reported, were retiring before one of the columns of invasion. The resistance offered to the other column was insignificant. The enemy fled after a skirmish, in which two on our side were killed and fourteen wounded. It was not supposed after this that the Zulu war would last longer than the Afghan war. We expected to hear in the course of two or three weeks that our troops had occupied the King's "Big Kraal" at Ulundi, and that Cetchwayo, convinced of his hopeless inferiority, had conceded the High Commissioner's demands. But the next mail brought news which gave a totally |