The London Welshman

Notes of the Week. The Illness of Princess Victoria.—The news that Pi incess Victoria had undergone an opera- tion for appendicitis came upon the country so suddenly that there was hardly time for anxiety before the further welcome announce- ment that she was rapidly recovering made everybody joyful. There can be no doubt that the Royal Family is exceedingly popular among all classes, and any cloud passing over any member of it siddens the whole nation. It is very strange that the King's daughter should suffer from the same complaint that her father suffered from between two and three years ago, and that the operation that had to be performed proved as successful in the one case as in the other. Princess Victoria always leads a very quiet and retired life, she very rarely ap- pears at any Society functions except the principal State occasions. But she takes deep interest in the people and their affairs, and finds constant opportunities of doing substantial service. Her style of life is a severe censure upon the butter- fly existence of so many of those who con- sider themselves the flower of the land. The North Sea Inquiry.-This Commission of Inquiry is about to finish its work, and judging from the evidence given, and the rumours already afloat as to the probable decision, it has not been successful in unravelling the cause of the mysterious affair near Dogger's Bank. The Russian witnesses persisted that there were two torpedo boats in the vicinity, and some of them were very insolent to the British representatives when under cross-examination. It is said that three of the commissioners have taken their view of the case, whilst two, British and American take the opposite view. If so, the majority will declare that the firing was justifi- able, though it may still be held that the owners of the damaged fishing boatsthe injured fisher- men, and the relations of those that were killed, are entitled to some compensation. It is an ugly piece of business all through, and there must have been either great mystery in it, or else a tremendous amount of evil swearing on the one side or the other. Perhaps the whole truth will never be made known in the mean- time let us be thankful that, ugly as it is, the business will be closed without an appeal to the sword. The Thibet Treaty.-The Secretary for India has decided to modify very considerably the treaty with Thibet made at the point of the sword by Colonel Younghusband, and sanctioned by Lord Curzon, the Indian Viceroy. This is a severe blow to Lord Curzon's prestige, and most people are very much surprised that he has not resigned as a protest. But it seems to be characteristic of the present administrators of the empire, whether at home or abroad, that they cannot resent a snub from a fellow officer. Mr. Brodrick himself had several such snubs from his successor in the War Office, but he took them all lying down. And now he is dealing out similar measures to a man whom everybody thought was of good mettle. We do not for a moment disagree with what the Secretary for India has done, we only imagine how much howling there would have been by him and his party had a Cabinet of the party now in opposition done a similar thing. But, with all their faults, we doubt if there is one leading member of the Opposition who would have taken quietly such a slap in the face as has been given to the Indian Viceroy. Russia's Home Plight.—From all we can make out the condition of things in Russia is as uncomfortable to the authorities as they can be. It is true that at St. Petersburg itself there is comparative peace and quietness, but from other parts of the country come news of strikes, and disturbances, and collision between the people and the police and soldiers. In many of the big cities business is practically at a stand-still,

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