ELIHU BURRITT.

In March 1879 passed away in his home at New Britain Connecticut, Mr. Elihu Burritt, a name honoured and beloved in his own and many lands, for his life-long service to the cause of international peace; and few if any felt more

keenly his death than his attached friend and colleague Mr. Richard, and justly so, as they were over many years, and in many memorable conflicts, brothers in arms,

"For on many a well foughten field,

They held together in their chivalry."

In the columns of the Herald of Peace, Mr. Richard wrote

a just and well-deserved tribute to the memory, the labours, and the great services of his departed friend, and conspicuous amongst those varied and important services were his efforts in connection with the Congresses of Paris, Frankfort, and Brussels from 1848 to 1850; his peace Missions to many Continental Countries; his labours for a scheme of Ocean Penny Postage, and in the Anti-Slavery Cause; and above all, by his unceasing advocacy by the press in many languages, and by the public voice in many countries, to secure the abolition of War.

Two passages from Mr. Richard's in memoriam, just referred to, may be appropriately given here, as the right estimate of a noble life:

"His was a life consecrated to works of benevolence with a devoted and disinterested spirit, and it is impossible to doubt that the good seed sown broadcast by him, for so many years, and in so many lands, will be found after many days."

And again, in concluding his interesting sketch :

"He was a man of rare faculties, inspired in an eminent degree with the enthusiasm of humanity, who devoted his powers, his acquirements, and in fact all that he had, to the service of truth and justice, and the highest forms of Christian charity, with a simplicity, and completeness of purpose which have been rarely equalled."

PARLIAMENTARY EFFORTS AND

DISARMAMENT.

During the Session of 1879, upon the second reading of the Bill brought into the House February 26, by Mr. Monk, called the Consecration of Churchyards Act, (1867), Amendment Bill, to provide for Nonconformists, in the rural parishes, the same means of burial as had been provided for them in the towns, Mr. Richard opposed it, on the ground that its object was to introduce into Churchyards a distinction between consecrated and unconsecrated ground,

which he considered would be an offensive distinction, and lead to much irritation and animosity. The result of this debate was unfavourable to the Bill, and on a division it was defeated by a majority of thirty-one votes.

The subject of Economy in the National Expenditure, was brought before Parliament early in the same Session, by Mr. Rylands, who moved a series of resolutions, which in effect, declared regret at the increased National Expenditure, that it was unnecessary, that it tended to pauperism and crime, and that therefore, immediate steps should be taken to relieve the taxpayer. An important debate followed, in which the leaders and finance authorities on both sides of the House took part, and Mr. Richard, being of opinion that expenditure depends on policy, and not policy on expenditure, availed himself of the opportunity to assail what was termed the spirited Foreign policy of the Government, which he considered meant a policy of aggression, of bluster and blood.

At the close of the Session, a Bill for promoting University Education in Ireland, was brought into Parliament by the O'Connor Don, and elaborately discussed at adjournments, from May 15 to June 25, and on the latter date, Mr. Richard addressed the House in opposition to the Measure, as he objected to one of the proposals to endow a Roman Catholic University, out of the funds accruing from the revenues of the disestablished Church of Ireland. At the close of the debate, Mr. Assheton Cross, on behalf of the Government, unable to accept the Bill of the O'Connor Don, announced his intention to introduce a similar measure on June 30. Lord Cairns redeemed this promise, and, in spite of opposition by the Roman Catholic party, it passed into law.

In addition to these efforts of Mr. Richard in the Session of 1879, he closely followed the state of affairs in South Africa, and in India, and addressed important questions to Government on these and other matters of foreign policy.

The subject of a general, proportionate, and simultaneous disarmament closely occupied the attention of Mr. Richard during the years 1879 and 1880, and involved him in much labour and anxiety; and it may be interesting to notice, before we refer in detail to the effort he made in Parliament in the Session of 1880, the origin and progress of this agitation.

This special movement of 1879-80 had its origin in the Paris Congress of 1878, for the ruinous system of armed rivalry amongst the Governments of Europe, produced alarm and dismay in all minds, and a cry was raised, in various parts of Europe, to reverse this disastrous system, and to demand that the Governments should concert together for this object.

At this Peace Congress at Paris in 1878, amongst the eminent representatives present were: Austria, Dr. Stürm; France, M. Garnier; Holland, D. Van Eck; Belgium, M. Couvreur; Italy, Marquis Pepoli; Germany, Baron von Holtzendorf; and England, Henry Richard: and the following were the resolutions submitted on the subject of Disarmament:

"No. 10. That an International Commission, composed of representatives of each nation, be appointed to secure a reduction of the armaments of each nation.

"No. II. That the Governments of civilized peoples should open as soon as possible negotiations to arrive at a proportional and simultaneous disarmament in each country."

These propositions claimed the attention of the Congress with more than ordinary interest, the discussions upon them showed much enthusiasm, and they were unanimously adopted. The members of this Commission to carry them out, represented the principal countries in Europe, and their action, as it was to be expected, led to active efforts being put forth, as the following s atement will show.

The first parliament in Europe, where the question was raised, after this Congress, was the Reichstag at Berlin, on which occasion the devoted and distinguished friend of

peace, Jean Dollfus, deputy from Alsace, delivered a remarkable speech, condemnatory of the enormous military budget, the withdrawal from labour of millions of men, and especially, by the perfection of weapons, the murderous character of modern wars, which he described as a terrible curse to humanity.

This appeal, delivered in the Reichstag at Berlin, was followed in March by a practical proposal submitted by Herr von Bühler, an earnest and sincere friend of peace, who presented the following resolution :

"To request the Prince Chancellor of the Empire, to bring about the convening of a Congress of the various States of Europe, for the purpose of introducing an effective and general reduction, and disarmament of the armies to about half of their present average strength, when on a peace footing, such reduction for the present, to last for the term of 10 to 15 years."

This proposal of Herr von Bühler, was supported by only twelve members, but, undaunted by this defeat, he addressed to Prince Bismarck a letter, enclosing the resolution, in which he reminded him of their meeting on the battlefield of Gravelotte, and of the determination he made there, to prevent a repetition of the horrors of that war. To this communication Bismarck courteously replied, to the effect, that only after reconciling our neighbours to their views, could Germany undertake the responsibility of such projects.

These earnest protests against the enormous armaments in Europe, made in the Parliament of Germany, by Jean Dollfus and Herr von Bühler, though unavailing, exerted an influence in other countries.

In Austria, a movement was set on foot in its favour, and a Committee was appointed, consisting of Dr. Stürm, Dr. Füchs, Dr. Fishoff, and several members of the Reichsrath, and the result, as it was stated, the Government signified a willingness to take the initiative, if it was possible, to arrive at an understanding amongst the other Great Powers.

In Italy, a strong movement was made. Meetings were held at Milan and Naples; at the latter a Conference was