9. Issue by the Government of 11,000,000l. in 3 per cent. Exchequer Bonds repayable at par on December 7, 1905. The average price obtained was 971. 5s. 4d. per 100l. Bond. The applications amounted to 25,390,7001.

10. Violent demonstrations made against the Jesuits at Madrid, Granada, Seville, and in other parts of Spain. The rioting, which lasted several days, was intensified by the popular dislike of the marriage of the Princess of the Asturias to the Count de Caserta, grandson of Ferdinand VII. of Naples.

12. At a special chapter of the Order of the Garter the King created the Queen a Dame of the Order.

14. The first Parliament of the new reign opened by the King in person, accompanied by the Queen, and in full state.

16. The Inter-University Football Match (Association), played at Queen's Club Ground, Kensington, resulted in the victory of Oxford by three goals to two.

21. The Bank of England reduced its rate of discount from 4 to 4 per cent., the reserve standing at 24,467,000l., or 521 per cent. of the liabilities. Money was, however, very scarce, on account of revenue collections and large clearances in anticipation of increased taxation.

23. The King, after having received deputations from the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and St. Andrews, left for Kronberg on a visit to the Empress Frederick, travelling by way of Flushing and Cologne.

26. The election for the Stretford Division of Lancashire, consequent on the death of Sir J. W. Maclure (C.), resulted in the return of Mr. C. H. Cripps, K.C. (C.), by 7,088 votes against 5,790 given to Mr. F. Thomasson-majority, 1,297.

-The Spanish Ministry of General Azcarraga resigned.

27. M. Bogoljepoff, Russian Minister of Education, fired at and seriously wounded in the neck by an ex-student of Moscow University.

MARCH.

1. The election at Maidstone, consequent on the unseating of Mr. J. Barker (L.) on petition, resulted in the return of Sir F. Evans (L.) by 2,375 votes against 2,182 polled by Mr. T. Milvain (C.)—majority, 193.

2. The triennial elections to the London County Council gave the Progressists a gain of 16 seats-the results being 84 Progressists, 32 Conservatives and Unionists, as the Moderates called themselves with a view to these elections, and 2 Independents. Less than onethird of the registered electors voted-139,586 for the Progressives, 104,160 for the Conservatives and Unionists, and 4,575 for the Independents.

The Dominion Parliament by 125 to 19 votes adopted a motion to petition the King to change the form of the Coronation Declaration, which was regarded as needlessly offensive to Roman Catholics.

4. In a debate in the House of Lords on the War Office, the ex

Commander-in-Chief, Lord Wolseley, criticised the existing system as fatal to the usefulness of the Commander-in-Chief, and Lord Lansdowne, ex-War Secretary, in reply, complained that Lord Wolseley had not fully attended to the duties assigned to him.

4. President McKinley's second term of office inaugurated at Washington with gorgeous and imposing ceremonial.

5. In the House of Commons several Irish Members refused to take part in a division on a Vote on Account of 17,000,000l., on the ground that it had not been sufficiently debated. They were reported by the Chairman to the Speaker, who having named nine Members called on them to withdraw. They refused to do so, and were forcibly removed by the police, summoned for that purpose, and for the first time on record allowed to enter the House.

6. The German Emperor, while driving through the streets of Bremen at night, struck in the face by an iron bolt thrown by an insane man. 7. The arrangements concluded for forming the United States Steel Corporation with a capital of $850,000,000, half in Common and half in 7 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Stock, and $304,000,000 in 5 per cent. bonds.

The Right Rev. Dr. A. F. Winnington-Ingram, Bishop Suffragan of Stepney, appointed Bishop of London, in succession to Dr. Creighton, deceased.

8. In the House of Commons the Secretary of State for War, Mr. Brodrick, explained the Government proposals for Army Reform, involv. ing the creation and maintenance of six army corps.

9. At Blackheath, Scotland beat England by three goals and one try to one try (Rugby), and at Southampton England beat Ireland by three goals to nil (Association).

10. The Official Gazette of St. Petersburg published a decree of the Holy Pan-Russian Synod excommunicating Count Leo Tolstoi on account of his denial of the dogmas and sacraments of the Russian Church.

11. The phenomena of red snow and "blood" rain reported from Sicily, and subsequently from the Tyrol, Southern Austria, and as far north as Bamberg. At Rome it was accompanied by an extraordinary rise in temperature, and a stifling wind from the south-east.

12. At first meeting of new London County Council a by-law adopted prohibiting any games on Sundays in the parks and open spaces under the Council's control. This was recommended by the Parks Committee on grounds of public convenience.

13. In the Canadian House of Commons a motion by Mr. Bourassa against further participation by Canada in the South African war, and in favour of Boer independence, rejected by 144 to 3 votes, after which the Members rose and sang the National Anthem.

Interim report of Admiralty Water-tube Boiler Committee published, favourable to the principle of such boilers for the Navy, but unfavourable to the Belleville type.

16. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York left Portsmouth for Australia and other British Colonies, the King and Queen attending their departure.

17. At or about this time serious riots, especially of university students, male and female, took place at Moscow, St. Petersburg, Odessa and elsewhere. In many places they were joined by workmen

on strike.

Many provinces were declared under martial law, and numerous arrests made.

18. After three weeks' armistice General Botha refused to recommend to his Government the terms of peace offered by Lord Kitchener. At Newcastle, England beat Wales (Association Football) by six goals to none.

21. Mr. W. Long, President of the Local Government Board, declined, on the part of the Government, to accede to the request of a deputation from the London County Council, that Ministers should accept the Water Purchase Bill promoted by the Council.

Announced by Lord Lansdowne in the House of Lords that the acute stage of the "Tien-tsin incident," which had threatened a collision between English and Russian soldiers, was virtually closed.

22. Rout of Delarey's force 1,500 strong, near Ventersdorp, by Colonel Babington, who took two 15-pounder guns, one Pom-pom, six Maxims and 140 prisoners.

23. Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philippine insurgents, and his whole staff captured by means of a clever ruse by the Americans.

At Belfast Wales beat Ireland (Association Football) by one goal to nothing.

An unsuccessful attempt made at St. Petersburg, by a provincial official, to assassinate M. Pobiodonostzeff, Procurator of the Holy Synod, who was not injured.

26. A meeting held at the Mansion House, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, at which it was resolved that a national memorial of Queen Victoria should be erected in the neighbourhood of Buckingham Palace. The City of London subscribed 5,000 guineas, and large donations were at the same time announced.

28. The German Emperor, addressing the Alexander Guards Grenadier Regiment, on entering their new barracks in Berlin, said that if ever again in Berlin insubordination should be rampant against the King the bayonets of the Alexander Regiment would crush it.

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Debate in House of Commons on the failure of the peace negotiations with Botha. Ministerial policy restated by Mr. Chamberlain.

29. The Associations Bill passed the French Chamber by 303 to 224 votes, after being modified by a provision that the property of dissolved congregations should be divided among the donors and their heirs or the members entitled thereto.

At the Inter-University Sports at Queen's Club, Oxford won six of the events and Cambridge four-viz., the 100 yards, the one mile, the three miles, and the high jump.

29. The elections to the Federal Parliament of the Australian Commonwealth held to-day. They resulted, according to a telegram from the Times Melbourne correspondent (published April 6), in the return of 19 Free Traders, 12 Protectionists, 2 Labour Free Traders, and 3 Labour Protectionists to the Senate; and 34 Protectionists, 6 Moderate Tariffists, 1 Labour Protectionist, 1 Labour Moderate Tariffist, 25 Free Traders, 5 Labour Free Traders, and 3 Labour representatives not declared on the tariff question to the House of Representatives. The fiscal issue governed the elections, except in Queensland, where the dominating question was the continuance of black labour on the sugar plantations.

The Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase won in a snowstorm by Mr. B. Bletsoe's Grudon, aged, 10 st. (A. Nightingall). Twenty-four ran.

30. The University Boat Race from Putney to Mortlake won by Oxford by half a length. Cambridge led from Hammersmith and at Barnes Bridge was two lengths ahead, but was overhauled between there and the winning post. The wind blew a gale and the water was very rough. Time, 22 min. 31 sec.

-The International Football Match (Association) between England and Scotland, played at the Crystal Palace, resulted in a draw-each side winning two goals.

31. An earthquake, which occasioned much alarm but little damage, occurred at Constantinople, whilst the Sultan was giving a reception to the Ministers and Diplomatic Corps on the occasion of the Bairam.

APRIL.

1. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of the London School Board against the decision of a Divisional Court, upholding the disallowances made by Mr. Cockerton, a Local Government Board auditor, of payments made by the Board in respect of certain classes in day and in evening continuation schools.

- The picture stolen from Messrs. Agnew's Exhibition Gallery in 1876-described as a portrait of the Duchess of Devonshire by Gainsborough, for which 10,100l. had been paid at the Wynn-Ellis salerecovered at Chicago.

-The decennial census taken in the United Kingdom.

2. The Chinese Government, under pressure of its own Viceroys and of the Western Powers, finally declined to sign the convention with Russia giving the latter control of Manchuria.

4. The Executive Committee of the Queen Victoria Memorial decided to ask Mr. T. Brock, R.A., to prepare a design for the central group or groups of sculpture, and five distinguished architects to prepare designs for the treatment of the Mall.

The new White Star liner Celtic, the largest ship in the world, successfully launched at Messrs. Harland & Wolff's yard, Belfast. She is 700 ft. long, 75 ft. wide, and 49 ft. deep; gross tonnage, 20,880; and displacement, at 36 ft. 6 in. draught, 36,700 tons.

5. The leading members of the Macedonian Committee in Sofia arrested.

9. The Italian fleet, under command of the Duke of Genoa, paid a formal visit to President Loubet at Toulon, on which occasion many international courtesies were exchanged.

11. The Richmond Football Association won by five goals to nil a match against a team of leading players of Buda-Pesth, this being the fourth and last of a series of entirely successful games during their visit.

12. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall received with much loyal enthusiasm at Colombo and Kandy.

14. The Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs reported to have intimated to the signatories of the Hague Conference Convention that the Court of Arbitration is duly constituted.

16. The Viennese papers reported serious disturbances in various parts of Russia, the workmen making common cause with the students. Many thousands of the former were on strike at St. Petersburg, Odessa, Kieff and other large centres, and many hundreds of students and workmen had been thrown into prison.

17. A portion of the Imperial Palace at Pekin in occupation of the German Commander-in-Chief, Count von Waldersee, destroyed by fire, the inmates escaping with difficulty, but General von Schwarzkoff lost his life.

18. In the House of Commons the Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced his Budget, which included an increase of the income tax, a sugar duty, an export duty on coal and a loan of 60,000,0001.

19. Mr. Malan, editor of Ons Land, and a member of the Cape Legislature, sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment for seditious libel.

20. The final tie for the Association Cup, played at the Crystal Palace between the Sheffield United and the Tottenham Hotspur, ended in a draw, both sides winning two goals.

The war loan of sixty million Consols (bearing interest at 23 per cent., but, after April 5, 1903, only 24) announced as issued at 944--onehalf being offered to the public and one-half allotted privately. The issue was subscribed six or seven times over.

Agitation on part of coalowners, exporters and miners against the coal export duty begun and carried on vigorously for about a fortnight. 21. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall welcomed by British residents and great crowds of natives at Singapore.

22. Mr. Cartwright, editor of the South African News, sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, without hard labour, for seditious libel.

-Report, subsequently confirmed, reached Sydney of the murder of the Rev. James Chalmers, a distinguished missionary to New Guinea, by natives.

- M. Delcassé, French Foreign Minister, arrived at St. Petersburg for a five days' visit, and was entertained by the Czar and leading Ministers.