was referring to the proposal, undoubtedly favoured by Mr. Chamberlain, to establish a Zollverein throughout the Empire. The idea is in the air, and bids fair to be one of the topics of the near future.

Abroad no event of first-class importance has happened during the month, unless it be the striking success of the French Ministry in the general election that has just taken place. M. WaldeckRousseau has won a rare triumph both for himself personally and for the Republic which he has served so well. The Nationalist ranks, if they have not been broken, have been weakened, and the safety of the Republic against all the attacks of its enemies has been assured. It seems curious that his great triumph in the ballots should have been immediately followed by M. Waldeck-Rousseau's resignation of the premiership; but personal reasons are largely accountable for this step on his part, and though it will be generally regretted by the friends of France, it does not, happily, forbid the hope that the services of this eminent man may still be retained by his country.

In Russia, where President Loubet has just paid his return visit to the Czar, the fires of disaffection are still smouldering, and some ominous incidents have occurred which pessimists regard as strengthening their belief that the huge empire is approaching a catastrophe akin to that of the French Revolution. But the forces at the command of the Government are immense, and neither by the hand of the assassin nor by tumult in the streets do they seem likely to be overcome. Holland has been watching anxiously by the sick-bed of its young Queen, whose premature confinement has been a heavy blow to Dutch hopes. The crisis of Her Majesty's illness is now past, and all Europe rejoices in the prospect of her speedy return to the duties of the monarchy. Spain has seen the enthronement of its King, the young man who has been king from the moment of his birth, and who has been trained with an unremitting care by his illustrious mother for the regal office he has now assumed. The people of this country, who are themselves in the throes of preparation for the great Coronation ceremonial and festivities of a few weeks hence, have shown a lively sympathy with the rejoicings of which Madrid has been the scene, and heartily wish the young King a prolonged and prosperous reign.

Lord Pauncefote's death is a very serious public loss. A man of sincere modesty and of most genial temper, his gifts were solid rather than brilliant; but, such as they were, they made him an invaluable representative of Great Britain at Washington. Trained in the Foreign Office, where he had held the important position of Permanent Secretary, his sole diplomatic post was that which he held at the time of his death. In this position he had rendered invaluable services both to his own country and to the United States. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that he was the most popular personage in the best circles of Washington society, and even the

New York newspapers treated him with a leniency they have not always shown towards the representatives of Great Britain. To him as much as to any other man has been due the wonderful improvement in the relations of the two Governments that has taken place since the unpleasant and discreditable episode of President Cleveland's Venezuela message. Nowhere are the pitfalls that beset an ambassador more numerous or more dangerous than in the capital of the United States, where the legitimate diplomacy is in constant peril from the audacious interference of an unscrupulous and ill-informed journalism. Lord Pauncefote did not escape quite scatheless from his ordeal at Washington. Probably, indeed, he suffered more from the fulsome patronage bestowed upon him by certain Anglomaniac newspaper correspondents than from the attacks of the Yellow press. But he retained through all the changes of American political life the esteem of the best public men of both parties, and in the end secured an almost unique position, due not less to his sterling character than to his very real ability. To choose his successor will be no easy task. His equal it will be hardly possible to find.

WEMYSS REID.

The Editor of THE NINETEENTH CENTURY cannot undertake

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INDEX TO VOL. LI

The titles of articles are printed in italics

Hurd (Archibald S.), The Coming of LAMBERT (Miss Agnes), The King's