The Conservative party took up the Irish question, and proposed their mode of proceeding, which the other side! felt to be wholly unsatisfactory, and were bound not merely to oppose that mode, but to declare what they consider to be the better mode. They considered the mode proposed to open a source of difficulty and of danger, instead of being a messenger of peace and a

ject, the right honourable gentleman said there was also the other great question relating to Ireland-the land question-which must be dealt with in the order of succession. He had noticed with great pleasure the feeling which had been shown during the recent elec

able gentleman concluded by saying that he would look forward with cheerfulness to the future. It was idle to suppose that a church could be popular which ministered only to a portion of the people, and the Church of England might be perfectly content to take her chance among the vicissitudes of coming times, so long as her clergy strove to do their duty. He repudiated the idea that the Roman Catholics scught ascendancy-that was idle talk, and he was not alarmed by such bugbears.

and most of all perhaps in Blackburn, there had been | transactions which should form, through the hands of some independent member, the subject of searching inquiry. He had always given his vote in favour of the method of open voting, and did so now with this important reservation, that whether there is open voting, or whatever be the means, free voting must be secured. Another question of urgency was the position of griev-blessing. After some further observations on this subance in which compound householders had been placed by being compelled practically to alter the tenure of their dwellings, as a condition of exercising their votes, votes given to them not as a personal favour, but as a public trust and duty. These grievances had been wantonly inflicted, and it would be the duty of a Liberations in regard to the Irish question. The right honourgovernment forthwith to set about the means of discovering, in the best and most inoffensive form, a remedy for these pressing evils. There were other great questions much in arrear. There was the question of bankruptcy, in which the commercial community was deeply interested, and the question of education, great in all its branches-great in the highest branch, which touches the universities; great in the intermediate branch, which embraces the grammar schools of the middle classes; greatest of all in the primary branch, which concerns the mass of the people: with these At Birmingham, Mr. Bright spoke with equal effect, questions were more or less connected the discussions on and his speech attracted equal notice. He was re-elected the relations between capital and labour. He would now without opposition, and gave the electors an account of come to the question of public expenditure. He was the circumstances which had led to his own acceptance responsible for having taken the earliest possible oppor- of office and his views and intentions on becoming a tunity to direct the public mind to that subject. There minister of the crown. He said, "Mr. Gladstone, soon were times when the public mind became comparatively after he proceeded to the formation of his administration, relaxed as to the general principles of economy and asked me to join him in the government. I have reason thrift, and it was the special duty of a public man to to know that he made that proposition with the cordial watch the very beginnings of evil in that department. and gracious acquiescence of her Majesty the Queen. As It was very easy to notice evs when they became you know, I had very strong reasons for refusing to gigantic, but it commonly happened that when financial change my seat and place in the House of Commons. error attained such dimensions, the case had become too The arguments which were used to induce me to change aggravated for a remedy. He rejoiced to think that that opinion were arguments based entirely upon what during the recent elections the attention of the country was considered best for the interests of the great Liberal had been effectually directed to economy and retrench- party, and for the public service. And I was obliged ment. He knew of no reason why three millions should to admit, looking at them from that point of view, have been recently added to our public expenditure. It that they were not easily to be answered." The right was one thing to put on three millions; it was another honourable gentleman, in further detailing the circumthing to take them off. By putting on three millions stances under which he accepted office, said that Mr. they created a number of new relations, a number of Gladstone proposed that he (Mr. Bright) should accept offices, a number of new claims, and of new expecta- the position of secretary of state for India; but having tions, and they could not, and they ought not, to destroy twelve years ago suffered so much in his health as to cut all these in a moment. Therefore the work of retrench- him off for two years from public labours, he declined ment must be gradual. But he and his colleagues had accepting the heavy work of the India department. He even before this early moment directed their attention still entertained the same views on Indian affairs as he to this subject. And now as to the absorbing question had expressed in times past, especially in 1858; but he -the state of Ireland-which had constituted the main believed that public opinion had not yet sufficiently adissue during the recent elections. It was on that ques-vanced to apply those views to the government of India. tion that they heard the greatest amount, he would not say of Pharisaical, but at any rate of womanish lamentation, and in a parenthesis he would observe that (although they had a few ladies present) the word womanish was totally different from womanly, for those lamentations were not womanly at all. They had heard a lamentation that the state of Ireland had been made a party question. A more idle complaint could not be made. The state of Ireland had made itself felt by every party, and Lord Stanley, at the Conservative banquet in January last, had declared with truth and manliness that the question of Ireland was the question of the day. The government of Lord Derby stated that they would shortly explain to parliament their policy for Ireland. What did that mean? We have not a policy for every part of the kingdom. It was not necessary for him to say that he had a policy for Scotland. Scotland did not want a policy. Ireland did and does, and Lord Derby promised a policy, and Mr. Disraeli and Lord Mayo announced that policy to be to maintain Maynooth and the present system of indiscriminate endowment out of the public funds for Roman Catholics and Presbyterians, and thereby to level up their status.

He therefore said that if he was to accept any office it
would be that of president of the board of trade, in which
he might perhaps do a little good and prevent some
harm. At least that office would not so engage him as
to render him unable to take some reasonable part in
the great public questions which might come before the
1
House of Commons. Although he came before them in
a new character, he had not the smallest intention of
getting rid of his old one. He hoped that the time had
now arrived-it had only recently arrived--when a man
might, perhaps, without difficulty act as an honest
minister of the crown and at the same time as an honest
and devoted servant and councillor of the people.
"But," said the right honourable gentleman, "I shail
have to ask your patience and your lenient judgment of
my conduct in regard, it may be, to the questions which
I am not now able to specify, but which must come on
for consideration and discussion. An administration, as
you know, is composed of some fourteen or fifteen mem-
bers of the two houses of parliament. The questions
which the government itself may propose, and the
questions which may be submitted to parliament by
others, will require to be discussed and consulted upon

Another of the ministry, whose selection excited great astonishment, was Mr. Lowe. He had done more to break up Lord Russell's ministry than any other man, however efficient he might have felt Earl Grosvenor, Interest of Exchequer Bills (de

Mr. Horsman, Lord Elcho, and Mr. Roebuck. He was the light of the Cave of Adullam "-the satirical designation given to the rendezvous of the coterie, themselves afterwards called the Cave. He had uttered the bitterest invectives against the working classes, and denounced their enfranchisement, and he was regarded Diplomatic Salaries and Pensions

As very unduly combative and disputative. Nevertheless, it could not be denied that he was an eminent scholar, a most eloquent speaker, a man of keen perception, and well drilled in official life in Australia. It

Brought forward

Supply Services.

Army

Navy

s. d.
. 28,470,709 16 11

..... 13,775,679 8 8
11,701,872 13 9
5,000,000 0 0
8,714,542 13 11

Abyssinian Expedition
Miscellaneous Civil Services......
Salaries, Superannuations, &c., of
Customs and Inland Revenue
Ditto ditto of Post-office...
Packet Service

L s. d. imported in 1868, there was 17,136,1771. returned under the head of gold, the chief portion of which was received from Australia, 6,989,5947.; United States, 6,976,4551.; and Mexico, South America (except Brazil), and West Indies, 1,252,8167. The imports of silver bullion and specie in 1868 amounted to 7,716,4187., of which 3,203,9721. was received from Mexico, South America (except Brazil), and West Indies; 1,915,9397. from the United States, and 1,045,3177. from France. The value of gold and silver bullion and specie exported in the year 1868 was 20,220,0147., against 21,670,6871. in 1866, and 14,327,2897. in 1867. Of the total value exported last year, 12,708,3087. is registered as gold, the Total Expenditure...... £74,082,280 5 5 chief portion of which was sent to the following countries:

2,574,954 4 8
2,431,003 13 10
988,517 13 8

45,186,570 8 6 Total Ordinary Expenditure...£73,657,280 5 5 Expenses of Fortifications provided for by Money raised per Acts 28 & 29 Vict. c. 61, and 31 Vict. c. 145

COLLECTION OF REVENUE.

425,000 0 0

The total expenditure incurred in collecting the revenue in the financial year ending March 31, 1869, was 6,017,8297. 10s. 9d., divided as follows among the various revenue departments :-customs, 992,3751. 8s. 2d.; inland revenue, 1,591,9507.18s. 7d.; post-office, 2,376,9207. 18. 9d.; packet service, 1,032,1907. 16s. ; woods, forests, and land revenues, 24,3897. 6s. 3d.; total, 6,017,8261. 10s. 9d.

THE NATIONAL DEBT AND ITS HOLDERS. On the 31st of March, 1869, the capital of the unredeemed funded debt of the United Kingdom amounted to 740,418,0327., and of the unfunded debt to 8,896,100%., while the estimated capital of terminable annuities was 47,546,9357. On the first dividend day in 1869, there were 248,002 persons entitled to dividends on stock in the public funds. There were 83,224 persons entitled to dividends not exceeding 57.; 38,394 to dividends above 57., but not exceeding 107.; 84,188 to dividends above 101., but not exceeding 501. Of the remaining number, 22,282 received dividends between 50%. and 100%., 12,484 between 1007. and 2007., 3,416 between 2007. and 300%., 2,247 between 3007. and 5007., 1,157 between 5007. and 1,0007., 400 between 1,000l. and 2,000l., and 210 above

2,000%. All these were dividends for the half-year. Twelve years previously, in 1856, the fundholders were as many as 268,359. The large holders are more in number now then they were then; in 1856, 1,665 persons received more than 5001. as their half-year's dividend;

in 1868, 1,767.

COINAGE.

The quantity of gold coined in the United Kingdom was very small in the two years 1867 and 1868. In 1867 no sovereigns were coined, and in 1868 no halfsovereigns; but 1,653,384 sovereigns were coined in 1868. The average of the ten years, 1859-68, was 4,129,364 sovereigns in a year, and 1,248,256 halfsovereigns. No crowns or half-crowns have been coined for many years. In 1868, 896,940 florins were coined, 3,370,360 shillings, 1,069,200 sixpences, 4,158 fourpences (but no groats have been coined for twelve years), 1,461,768 threepences, 4,752 silver twopences, and 7,920 silver pence. The copper coinage of 1868 comprised 1,182,720 pence, 3,046,400 halfpence, and 4,851,208 farthings. No half-farthings have been coined for twelve years. The total value of the gold coinage for 1868 was 1,653,3847., of the silver 301,3567., of the copper 16,3287.; the real value of the silver metal was 312,2527., and of the copper 10,0107. Worn silver coin of the nominal value of 125,000l. was purchased in 1868 for recoinage, the loss by recoinage amounting to 18,0587.

BULLION AND SPECIE IMPORTS AND
EXPORTS.

The value of gold and silver bullion and specie imported in the year 1868 was 24,852,5957., against 23,821,047%. in the previous year. Of the total value

-viz., to France, 7,189,6467.; to Egypt, 1,497,8267.; to the Hanse Towns, 1,094,3117.; and to Brazil, 1,013,240. The exports of silver bullion and specie in 1868 amounted to 7,511,7067., of which 1,855,2531. was sent to Holland, 1,821,7487. to France, 1,439,1657. to Egypt, 903,6697. to the Hanse Towns, and 843,2351. to

Belgium.

COMMERCE.

The year 1868 was not one of very great prosperity to the trade of Great Britain. The two previous years of financial disturbance seriously affected this. Investors its renewal feared. Few persons who were men of capital were still timid, the shock of 1866 being still felt, and and character were willing to embark in joint-stock undertakings. all efforts on the part of the leading merchants, bankers, A general distrust predominated, and and financiers to restore confidence failed, or were but partially successful. Foreign loans were the favourite outlets for British capitalists, although at home there were more reliable investments, such as ships, railway debentures, joint-stock banks, iron, coal, tin, and lead mines which were not dividend but prospective, and presented upon good geological and mineralogical evidence reasonable ground for solid expectation.

Our imports and exports, however, were very great, especially in raw material for manufactures, and in produce. The following statistics of imports and exports are instructive and interesting.

1868, to British possessions were in value 49,779,563!.
Our exports during the year ending December 31st,
To foreign countries the value of our exports) was
129,684,0817. The total declared value of our whole ex-
port trade was 179,463,6447. The principal foreign
country to which we exported British and Irish pro-
duce and manufactures was the United States of North
America, to which was sent about one-sixth of the
whole export to foreign countries: the amount was
21,410,1841. Next in magnitude, as a customer, were
the Hanse Towns, which took 19,320,6177. France was
the third on the roll of large customers, having taken
to the value of nearly two millions and three-quarters
sterling. Very close upon that amount was the worth
of our goods sent to the Netherlands. China, Turkey,
and Egypt each consumed, of British manufactures,
about three-fifths of the amount received by France
and the Netherlands. The Brazilian empire came very ¦¦
close to China, Turkey, and Egypt in seeking our pro
ductions. Of the colonies, British India was the chief
consumer of our manufactures, receiving a value equal
to that of the United States.
Australia took more of
our goods than any foreign country, except the United
States, and more than any colony, unless India. Victoria
was of course the chief Australian colony which traded
with us. The continental North American colonies took
on an average 17. a head of their population. The
West Indies, Guiana, and Honduras received more of
our goods in proportion to population than any other
colony, or any foreign country-about two millions and
three-quarters sterling represented the value.

Our imports exceeded in value two hundred millions.

The colonies of India, Australia, and the West Indies, | to 1868 were as follows:--in 1859, 1,225,989,072 lb.; were our chief suppliers, together with China, Egypt, in 1860, 1,390,938,752 lb.; in 1861, 1,256,984,736 lb.; the corn-growing countries of Europe, and the United in 1862, 523,973,296 lb.; in 1863, 669,583,264 lb.; States. The articles of foreign production most in in 1864, 893,304,720 lb.; in 1865, 977,978,288 lb. ; in 1866, demand in the United Kingdom were cotton, corn, tea, 1,377,129,936 lb.; in 1867, 1,262,536,912 lb.; and in coffee, sugar, flour, cattle, wool, gold, silver, silk, spices, 1868, 1,328,084,016 lb. It will be seen that the receipts fruits, and wines. of 1868 were very large, although scarcely up to the mark of 1860 or 1866. The present comparative dearth of raw cotton in the manufacturing districts is consequently attributable not so much to decreased supplies as to increased consumption.

CORN IMPORTS.

The quantity of wheat imported in 1868 was 32,639,768 cwt., against 34,654,569 cwt. in 1867, and 23,156,329 cwt. in 1866. The imports of barley amounted to 5,683,721 cwt. in 1867, and 7,476,224 cwt. in 1868; of oats, to 9,407,136 cwt. in 1867, and 8,112,563 cwt. in 1868; of peas, to 1,586,129 cwt. in 1867, and 1,116,246 cwt. in 1868: of beans, to 1,982,615 cwt. in 1867, and 2,647,390 cwt. in 1868; and of Indian corn or maize to 8,540,429 cwt. in 1867, and 11,472,226 cwt. in 1868.

CATTLE IMPORTS.

A total of 511,564 live-stock of all kinds were imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1868, consisting of 103,726 oxen and bulls, 11,143 cows, 21,819 calves, 323,447 sheep, 17,708 lambs, and 33,721 swine and hogs. An analysis of ports at which they were imported shows that 332,630 animals were brought to London, 70,909 to Harwich, 24,820 to Hartlepool, 27,662 to Hull, 11,109 to Newcastle, 9,797 to Leith, 6,305 to Plymouth, 2,449 to Falmouth, 4,107 to Liverpool, 5,275 to Grimsby, 4,325 to Portsmouth, 3,429 to Southampton, 3,042 to Sunderland, and 2,762 to Dublin. Of those landed in London, 6,293 were detained on account of disease or injury, consisting of 729 beasts, 58 calves, 5,072 sheep, and 434 pigs. A comparison of statistics with those of former years shows that the trade had not recovered from the depression of 1867, and that the total quantity of animals imported did not

reach half that brought in 1866. It is noteworthy that the importation of cattle from Spain and Portugal into the port of Liverpool had largely increased since the cessation of the cattle-plague. Although cattle imports have decreased considerably, the quantities of all kinds of dead meat sent to London in 1868 was smaller by 28 per cent., and of fresh beef and mutton by 81 per cent., as compared with the statistics of the previous year.

TEA IMPORTS.

The customs returns show that 106,918,069 lb. of tea were entered for home consumption during the year 1868, the duty received on which amounted to 2,672,9787. sterling. Of this total amount, 72,817,102 lb. were entered in the port of London, or 98-99 per cent., being the largest quantity ever imported in one year.

SUGAR IMPORTS.

A parliamentary return shows that in the year 1868 there were 6,805,659 cwt. of foreign sugar imported into the United Kingdom and entered for home consumption: 2,962,426 cwt. are returned as coming from Cuba, the largest importation ever received from that source; 1,210,414 cwt. from Brazil; and nearly 1,700,000 cwt. from the continent of Europe. The total import of foreign sugar in 1867 was 7,139,940 cwt.; and of sugar from all quarters entered for consumption, 11,697,328 cwt. The total for 1868 is stated in other returns at 11,892,832 cwt., but this was exclusive of deductions for over-entries and exports on drawback.

COTTON IMPORTS.

It appears that the total quantity of raw cotton imported into the United Kingdom in 1868 was 1,328,084,016 lb. The imports of the ten years 1859

VOL. IV.

COAL EXPORTS.

The annual parliamentary return shows that in the year 1868 there were 10,837,804 tons of coals, cinders, and culm, of the declared value of 5,352,5251., exported from the United Kingdom-an increase of 422,026 tons over 1867, but a decrease in declared value. Above 1,900,000 tons were exported to France; 10,575,275 tons were shipped coastways from port to port of the 724,115 tons; 5,976, 452 tons of coal were brought into United Kingdom, a less quantity than in 1867 by the port of London in 1868, being 353,098 tons less than in 1867; 2,981,230 tons came coastwise, and 2,995,222 tons by inland navigation and by railway.

SALT EXPORTS.

is stated at 1,250,000 tons, the same quantity as that reThe quantity of salt made in Cheshire in the year 1869 ported in the preceding year; but the quantities sent down the River Weaver show a large increase; the quantity of rock-salt sent down in the year ending with March, 1869, reaching 58,696 tons of 26 cwt., and of The returns of the quantity of salt made in Worcesterwhite salt 901,566 tons, making a total of 960,262 tons. shire show 240,000 tons in 1868-namely, 115,000 tons at Droitwich, and 125,000 tons at Stoke Prior. Ireland the quantity in 1868 was 23,840 tons, an increase of 4,151 tons over the preceding year. The export of 1865 it was 579,050 tons; in 1866, 601,440 tons; in 1867 salt from the United Kingdom continues to increase. In 724,333 tons; in 1868, 797,502 tons. The declared value of the salt exported in 1868 was 485,537. The increase is chiefly in the exports to India and to Russia.

OUR MERCANTILE NAVY.

In

In the year 1868, the registered shipping of the United Kingdom (exclusive of river-steamers) employed in our home and foreign trade comprised the unprecedented number of 22,250 vessels, of 5,516,434 tons, employing 197,502 men, exclusive of masters-viz., 20,525 sailing vessels of 4,691,820 tons, employing 153,840 men; and 1,725 steam-vessels of 824,614 tons, employing 43,662 men. At the end of the year 1868, there stood registered, as belonging to the United Kingdom, 28,444 vessels of 5,780,530 tons-viz., 25,500 sailing-vessels of 4,878,233 tons, and 2,944 steam-vessels of 902,297 tons. This is the highest tonnage ever recorded. There were built and registered in the United Kingdom, in 1868, 879 sailing-vessels of 300,477 tons, and 232 steam-vessels of 79,096 tons.

IRISH FLAX TRADE.

Ireland seems to be advancing in the manufacture of flax to an extent which could hardly have been anticipated a few years ago. In 1839 only 9,017 persons were employed in this branch of industry in Ireland; in 1850 the number had risen to 21,121; in 1856 it was 28,573; in 1861, 33,525; and in 1868 no less than 57,050-an increase of 70 per cent. in this last brief period. The number of persons employed in flax factories in England and Wales in 1868 was but 21,859, in

3 T

Scotland, 40,020, in Ireland, 57,050. There were in follows:-Men, 223,078; women, 438,515; children Ireland, in 1868, 143 flax factories, containing 894,273 under 16, 378,172; vagrants, 7,020, not classed by sex. spinning-spindles, and 12,969 power-looms; in 1861 The proportion of paupers therefore was, on the 1st of there were only 100 factories, with 592,981 spindles, January, 1 in 19 of the population, or 5.3 per cent. The and 4,666 power-looms. The amount of moving-power number in the metropolis was 156,109, a decrease of increased from 10,710 steam and 2,384 water, in 1861, 7,070, as compared with the 1st of January, 1868; in to 21,595 steam and 3,466 water in 1868. The flax the south-eastern division, 107,220, an increase of 1,753; factories in Ireland have always employed twice as in the south-midland, 88,801, an increase of 4,207; in many females as males, and in 1862 the numbers had the eastern, 83,463, an increase of 2,176; in the southbecome 9,953 males and 23,572 females; but the returns western, 117,142, an increase of 2,358; in the westof 1868 show no marked further tendency to the intro- midland, 114,185, a decrease of 218; in the northduction of a larger proportion of female labour. In midland, 58,688, an increase of 1,139; in the north1868 the number of males employed was 16,782-an western, 111,444, a decrease of 3,134; in Yorkshire, increase of nearly 69 per cent. since 1861; and thè 71,655, an increase of 1,396; in the northern division, number of females was 40,268-an increase of less 52,754, an increase of 992; in the Welsh, 85,108, an inthan 71 per cent. There was, however, in that period crease of 2,867. This census on the 1st of January, it an increased employment of child-labour in the flax must be noted, was taken at an unfavourable period of factories of Ireland; the total number of children under the year; on the 1st of July, 1868, the number of paupers 13 years of age was 668 in 1861, and 1,374 in 1868-an was less by 75,000. On the other hand, nearly 1 per increase of 106 per cent.; and the number of female cent. have to be added to the figures on account of children increased from 442 to 1,031, or 133 per cent, parishes not under the poor-law board, and making no But the number of children under 13 who are employed in the Irish flax factories is still by no means large; it is less than 2 per cent. of the whole number of persons employed. The flax manufacture is found in 14 counties of Ireland. Antrim takes the lead, and employs nearly 32,000 persons in this industry-a number unequalled in any other county in the United Kingdom. Antrim is followed, with a long interval, by Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Louth, Kildare, and Cork; and these by Tipperary, Donegal, Londonderry, Monaghan, Dublin, Waterford, and Galway.

SCOTTISH FISHERIES.

The British fishery commissioners report that in the year 1868 the quantity of herrings cured was 651,434 barrels; branded, 209,462 barrels; exported, 368,745 barrels. At most of the stations on the north-east coast of Scotland so poor a herring-fishery was not experienced since 1834, and compared with 1867 (which was almost the best year upon record) 1868 is contrasted greatly-showing a decrease of 174,155 barrels in the quantity cured, 107,958 in the barrels branded, and 109,959 in the barrels exported. The returns for the cod and ling fishery show that, in 1868, 113,831 cwt. were cured dried-a decrease of 5,807 from the quantity in the preceding year; 9,659 barrels were cured in pickle-a decrease of 1,160; and 52,403 cwt., cured dried, were exported-an increase of 6,178 cwt. 14,300 boats, manned by 46,417 fishermen and boys, were employed in the herring and cod and ling fisheries in 1868 -an increase of 92 boats and 198 men and boys; and the value of the boats, nets, and lines was estimated at 1,041,8097.-an increase of 21,6217.

PAUPERISM.

ENGLAND AND WALES.-The number of paupers in England and Wales on the 1st of January, 1869, was stated at 1,046,569, in an official return prepared by the poor-law board. This was an increase of 6,466, or 0.6 per cent., over the number a year before. 168,417 were indoor paupers, an increase of 5,337; and 878,152 were outdoor paupers, an increase of 1,129. 183,162 were adult able-bodied paupers-a decrease of 2,468, or 1.3 per cent.; 51,695 of these were males, of whom 11,268 were in the workhouse, and 40,427 were receiving outdoor relief; and the other 131,467 were females-18,558 in the workhouse, and 112,209 receiving outdoor relief. Children under 16, if relieved with able-bodied parents, are classed as able-bodied, and consequently the whole number of able-bodied persons in receipt of relief on the 1st of January, 1869, is stated as 473,189. The not ablebodied were 521,759; the insane, 44,817; vagrants, 7,020. Classed in another way, the numbers were as

return.

SCOTLAND.-The annual report of the board of supervision of the poor in Scotland shows that that country feels an increasing pressure of pauperism. In the ten years, 1858-68, the number of registered poor relieved annually increased from 97,809 in 1858-59 to 104,541 in 1867-68, and the number of their dependents from 47,770 to 69,205; the number of casual poor from 37,789 to 53,831, and of their dependents, from 30,111 to 47,502; but a large proportion of these casual poor have been enumerated also as registered poor. On the 14th of May, 1868, the number of registered poor in Scotland was 80,032, with 48,944 dependents, and of casual poor 3,592, with 3,668 dependents; making a total of 126,236 in a population of about 3,187,000, or rather more than a seventh of the population of England. The expenditure for the relief and management of the poor, which ten years ago was 657,3667, in the year, rose to 863,2027. in the year ending the 14th of May, 1868, showing the unusually large increase over the preceding year of 55,571.—an increase attributed to unusual slackness of trade, increased price of provisions, and greater number and cost of pauper lunatics. The rate per cent. on the annual value of real property, as returned in 1856, was 57. 7s. 7d. in the year 1855-56, but had risen to 77. 78. 6d. in the year 1867-68, or to 67. 14s. per cent. on the annual value of real property as estimated for 1859. The expenditure amounted in 1858-59 to 4s. 6d. per head of population, and 5s. 74d. in the year 1867-68; but both these statements were rather higher than the truth, as the board made their calculations on the population enumerated at the next preceding census, and not on the population of the date, as estimated by the registrar-general. Out-door relief was still the rule. The average weekly cost per head in the house for food, clothing, fuel, light, and all other necessaries of maintenance, was 3s. 3d. in the first half of the year 1868; rent 64d., salaries 83d., medical expenses 1d. In the year 1867-68, in the 790 parishes raising their funds for poor relief by assessment (97 other parishes still adhering to the system of voluntary contributions), sums amounting to 22,0301. were derived from church-collec tions, and of this amount, 10,154. was applied by the Kirk Sessions to the relief of persons requiring assist. These funds are generally applied, not to persons chargeable to the funds raised by assessment, but in affording aid to persons in temporary difficulties, with a view to prevent them from becoming chargeable to the parish as paupers. The number of lunatic poor relieved in the course of the year 1867-68 was 6,994, and the number at the end of the year (the 14th of May) was 5,790, an increase of 164 over the previous year; 4,311 were in asylums and poorhouses, and 1,479 were resid ing with relatives or other persons in private dwellings. The returns showing the year's receipt and expenditure

ance.