CHAPTER XXV 



RESIGNS CHAIRMANSHIP OF LONDON COUNTY 

 COUNCIL (1892) 



(Age 58) 



1892 opened sadly for the nation. Influenza 

 was very rife, and one of its victims in the first 

 month of the year was the young Duke of Clarence, 

 the heir, after his father, to the throne. Sir 

 John writes that at the first meeting of the 

 London County Council they took only the 

 unopposed business, as a sign of respect for the 

 mourning of the Royal Family. It does not 

 appear that unopposed measures were at all 

 normal in the County Council just at that moment. 

 Parties were divided with some evenness in their 

 views on several vital points, such, for instance, 

 as the mode in which loans for public works 

 should be made to the vestries. Sir John was 

 firmly in favour of advancing the loans in instal- 

 ments, as had been done hitherto. His chief 

 opponent was Mr. C. Harrison. On January 20 

 he notes that, " After a long discussion I carried 

 in the Finance Committee a resolution against 

 C. Harrison, recommending the Council to adhere 

 to our instalment system as regards our loans. 



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