GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 



335 



the Emperor had made to him, and the Baron 

 Haymerle, the Austrian Premier, was most anx- 

 ious that there should be a contradiction in 

 Parliament, or through the press, of the lan- 

 guage attributed to his Majesty. In another 

 dispatch the ambassador said that the language 

 attributed to the Emperor bore no resemblance 

 to that which he had really used, and that he 

 had merely made a casual remark on the bitter 

 hostility to Austria lately exhibited by Mr. 

 Gladstone, and added that he hoped nothing 

 would occur to disturb the cordial relations 

 existing between the two countries. Mr. Glad- 

 stone after coming into office. May 4th, addressed 

 a letter to Count Karolyi, the Austrian ambas- 

 sador, saying that he had resolved that lie 

 would not, as a Minister, repeat or defend in 

 argument polemical language in regard to for- 

 eign powers which he had used individually, 

 when in a position of greater freedom and 

 less responsibility ; that he regretted ever hav- 

 ing seemed to impute to his Imperial Majesty 

 language which he did not use ; that he had 

 no hostile disposition toward any country, and 

 had always wished well to Austria in the per- 

 formance* of the arduous task of consolidat- 

 ing the empire, and felt a cordial respect for 

 the efforts of the Emperor; but that grave 

 apprehensions had been excited in his mind, 

 on evidence which was, indeed, secondary but 

 not hostile, and was the best at his command, 

 "lest Austria should play a part in the Balkan 

 Peninsula hostile to the freedom of the eman- 

 cipated populations, and to the reasonable and 

 warranted hopes of the subjects of the Sultan." 

 "Your Excellency," Mr. Gladstone continued, 

 " is now good enough to assure me that your 

 Government has no desire whatever to extend 

 or add to the rights it has acquired under the 

 Treaty of Berlin, and that any such extension 

 would be actually prejudicial to Austro-Hun- 

 gary. Permit me at once to state to your Ex- 

 cellency that, had I been in possession of such 

 an assurance, as I am now able to receive, I never 

 would have uttered any one of the words which 

 your Excellency justly describes as of a pain- 

 ful and wounding character." The publication 

 of this letter, the spontaneous act of the Gov- 

 ernment, was, it was said, much appreciated 

 at Vienna. The comments of the German pa- 

 pers upon it were various; but the "Cologne 

 Gazette," while considering it humiliating to 

 England, said that it must not be overlooked 

 that the new British Premier indirectly pledged 

 Austria not to cross the frontiers drawn by 

 the Treaty of Berlin. The correspondence was 

 the subject of a discussion in the House of Lords, 

 May 21st, in which Mr. Gladstone's language 

 and act were sharply criticised by several Con- 

 servative peers. The Duke of Argyll replied 

 that, while he regretted the speech of Mr. Glad- 

 stone, the fears which the Premier had ex- 

 pressed were entertained by a large number 

 of persons at the time. The subject was then 

 dropped. 

 The Parliament met after adjournment, for 



the dispatch of business, May 20th. The 

 Queen's message was read by the Lord Chan- 

 cellor. In it her Majesty said : 



The cordial relations which I hold with all the other 

 powers of Europe will, I trust, enable me to promote 

 in concert with them the early and complete fulfillment 

 of the Treaty of Berlin with respect to effectual re- 

 forms and equal laws in Turkey, as well as to such 

 territorial questions as have not yet been settled in 

 conformity with the provisions 01 that treaty. I re- 

 gard such a fulfillment as essential for the avoidance 

 of further complications in the East. 



In accordance with this view, I have deemed it ex- 

 pedient to dispatch an ambassador extraordinary to 

 the court of the Sultan. 



On the last occasion of my addressing you I ex- 

 pressed my hope that the measures adopted in Af- 

 ghanistan would lead to a speedy settlement of that 

 country. Since that period, the gallantry of my troops 

 has continued to be conspicuous, and the labors of my 

 Government in India have been unremitting. But I 

 have to lament that the end in view has not yet been 

 attained. My efforts will, however, be unceasingly 

 directed toward the pacification of Afghanistan, and 

 toward the establishment of such institutions as may 

 be found best fitted to secure the independence of its 

 people, and to restore their friendly relations with my 

 Indian Empire. 



The condition of Indian finance, as it has recently 

 been made known to me, has required my special at- 

 tention. I have directed that you shall be supplied 

 with the fullest information upon this weighty subject. 



I invite your careful notice to the important ques- 

 tions of policy connected with the future of South 

 Africa. I have continued to commend to the favorable 

 consideration of the authorities and of the people in the 

 various settlements the projects of confederation. In 

 maintaining my supremacy over the Transvaal, with 

 its diversified population, I desire both to make pro- 

 vision for the security of the indigenous races, and to 

 extend to the European settlors institutions based on 

 large and liberal principles of self-government. 



The Queen then made a reference to signs 

 which indicated some revival of trade, but 

 which had not been attended with any abate- 

 ment in the depression of the revenue, and 

 continued : 



The Peace Preservation Act for Ireland expires on 

 the 1st of June. You will not be asked to renew it. 

 My desire to avoid the evils of exceptional legislation 

 in abridgment of liberty would not induce me to fore- 

 go in any decree the performance of the first duty of 

 every Government in providing for the security of life 

 and property. But, wnilc determined to fulfill this sa- 

 cred obligation, I am persuaded that the loyalty and 

 good sense of my Irish subjects will justify me m re- 

 lyino- on the provisions of the ordinary law. firmly 

 administered, for the maintenance of peace and order. 



The provisions enacted before the dissolution of the 

 late Parliament for the mitigation of distress in Ire- 

 land have been serviceable for that important end. 

 The question of the sufficiency of the advances already 

 authorized by Parliament is under my consideration. 



A measure will at an early day be submitted to you for 

 puttino- an end to the controversies which have arisen 

 with respect to burials in churchyards and cemeteries. 



It will be necessary to ask you to renew the act for 



Arnon* the chief subjects which will be brought 

 under your notice, as time may permit, will be bills 

 for giving more effectual protection to the occupiers 

 of land against injury from ground-game, for cleter- 

 minin"- on a just principle the liabilities of employers 

 for accidents' sustained by workmen, and for the ex- 

 tension of the borough franchise in Ireland. 



The address to the Crown was moved in the 

 House of Lords by Lord Elgin and seconded 



