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OUR LONDON LETTER.

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OUR LONDON LETTER. it is understood that we do not nettssarily identify ourselves with our correspondent's opinions. The political campaign in London is being conducted with remarkable energy. Every seat is being contested. Even the City, which has not passed through the ordeal of a fight for some years, is in the throes of a contest for the two seats. The sole topic of conversation among business men in the luncheon hour is the respective merits and chances of the four candi- dates. Sir Edward Clarke has great political experience to recommend him to such a con- stituency, while Sir West Ridgeway and Mr. Felix Schuster are said to be making great headway, their adherence to the present fiscal system being acceptable to large numbers of City men. One of the correspondents at Christiania asserts as a fact that when King Haakon and Queen Maud arrived at the old royal palace, soon after assuming their sovereignty, they found things in a somewhat neglected condition. Queen Maud was so busy the first few days, trying to discover enough china and linen to go round," that she hadn't time to be homesick. There were not enough chairs in the private dining-room, and even in such a cold place as the Norwegian capital, no hot-water bottles could be procured. In this dilemma, Queen Maud telegraphed to her mother at Sandringham to seed a dozen by the first post! It is stated that the coronation will take place in May. The statement that the Prince and Princess of Wales will visit theuaited States on their way home from India has given much gratification in America. It is believed that such an event would go a long way to cement the close bonds of friendship which already exist between the two nations. Lady Curzon is believed to be the originator of the idea. Her ladyship is one of the great American heiresses, and is in a posi- tion to gauge the feeling of our cousins on the subject better than most people living in Great Britain. Of course, if the Prince and Princess of Wales are too fatigued after the Indian tour the project would have to be abandoned. The mansions now being built in London on the site of Gloucester House, the town residence of the late Duke of Cambridge, will eclipse in magnificence and comfort the palatial flats which are so popular with the wealthy classes. The buildings, which consist of six flats, will be six storeys high and the drawing-rooms will face the Green-park, while Park-lane is to be a side attraction." In each flat there will be eleven bed and dining-rooms, and the domestics will enjoy the luxury—rare in a flat-of a large servants' hall. The drawing-rooms will be forty feet long, opening into boudoirs twenty-four feet long. The rooms, which will include a billiard-room, are to be of stately proportions. The first floors will let at just under ze4000 per annum and the top floors about L1500 per annum- It is 1relieved that the King will undertake another Continental tour this year, commenc- ing with a visit to Berlin in the spring on the occasion of the Kaiser's silver wedding. This is great news for those who desire improved relations between Great Britain and Germany without impairing the entente cordiale with France. Happily there are abundant signs of a rapproachement between King Edward and the German Emperor. One authority states that the two monarchs are in constant corre- spondence, and that the Emperor William is manifesting a strong desire for reconciliation with Great Britain. The question of reconcilia- tion will largely depend on the result of the Morocco Conference. The number of voters on the register whict has just come into force amounts to the unpre- cedented total of 7,266,708. Of these the vast majority belong to England and Wales, which together represent 5,824,884. Scotland has 750,401, and Ireland 691,423. It is safe tc predict that at least a million of this total will not be able to record their votes at the ensuing election, owing to death, removal, physical incapacity, enforced absence from home, and other causes, not excluding intentional absten- tion. Whether or not Lord Elgin's telegram sum- marily stopping the further importation of Chinese coolies into South Africa is legal, there is no doubt that the raising of the point has aroused the keenest interest among the lawyers. But of course nobody will accept finally the opinion of any unofficial jurist how- ever eminent he may be. Ifhe point is to be thrashed out it will have to be at the hands of the law officers of the Crown, and that will depend upon whether the Prime Minister and his colleagues deem it necessary to investigate the legal aspect of their recent decision. The disturbances which took place at recent meetings of the Unionist leaders at Derby and Manchester have met with strong condemna- tion in London on the part of both sides. The Liberal officials at headquarters dissociate the party entirely from any responsibility for these proceedings, which do not help us to a solution of our present political difficulties. The Liberal newspapers of all shades have condemned the rowdyism which disgraced Mr. Chamberlain's and Mr. Balfour's meetings at the places mentioned, and it is to be hoped there will be no repetition of such scenes anywhere. Sir George Gibb's appointment as managing- director of the Metropolitan District Railway has been heartily welcomed in London. Those who know anything at all about him, know that he will infuse his own wonderful energy into the new sphere. He leaves the general-manager- ship of the North-Eastern Railway-one of our model systems-with a splendid record of success. The people of London would shower blessings on Sir George's head if he were in a position to transform the unspeakable railway systems which are supposed to cater for the public south of the Thames. Sir George Gibb s retirement from the North- Eastern Railway synchronises with the retire- ment of Sir Edward Grey from the chairman- ship of the same company. Thus the share- holders lose at one and the same time two very remarkable men. Sir Edward Grey feels that he cannot, with the burden of foreign affairs on his shoulders, continue to direct the business of a great railway company. He will, however, remain on the board of directors, so that the company will still have the benefit of his wise jijdgmeiit and administrative ability. People are looking forward with much interest to the appearance, on the 15th instant, of the "Tribune," the new Liberal morning paper in London. Speculation turns upon the precise niohe which the paper intends to occupy in the fabric of Liberal journalism, and whether it will supersede or supplement the very able journals which at present advocate the cause of the Government. Whatever happens, the fact is clear that Liberalism is expanding its influence in the London Press. The attitude of "Punch" is an indication of this fact. The" TiDIes," "Daily Telegraph," "Standard," "Morning Post," "Daily Mil," Express," Daily Graphic," and Morning Advertiser" still uphold the banner of Unionism, while Liberalism is defended by the Daily News," "Daily Chronicle," and the Morning Leader," to be reinforced shortly by the Tribune," which will be the only penny London Liberal morning paper. 0: B, I

I ILLUSTRATED FUN.

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BATTLE IN A THEATRE. I

BATTLESHIPS IN COLLISION,…

NEW RAILWAY DIRECTOR.J

I SUICIDE ON A LINER.

( MONTE CARLO PLUNGER.

t VETERAN NONCONFORMIST.

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LITERARY CHAT.

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