responsibilities for the nation, without the knowledge and consent of Parliament."

In moving this resolution he observed, that whilst England is proud of being considered a self-governing nation, and her people sensitive against any tax or obligation being imposed without the authority of Parliament, yet on a question of far higher importance, involving far-reaching issues-the control of her Foreign Policy-she is absolutely helpless. He showed by a reference to numerous precedents from the writings of such historians as Freeman, Mayne, and Hallam, that our ancestors were extremely jealous against entrusting these formidable powers, now exercised by the Crown, to an irresponsible Executive. He passed in review the wars of the present generation-the first Afghan and Burmah wars; the Syrian, Scinde, Chinese, Persian, Japan, South African, and Egyptian wars, and showed that there was ample time and opportunity, in each of them, to discuss their necessity, and to consult the nation beforehand. On the subject of Treaties, he stated they were 37 in number, binding Great Britain to onerous obligations in all parts of the world, in the ratification of which Parliament had had no voice; whereas in most foreign countries—such, for instance, as the United States and France-Treaties were only binding after being approved by their Legislatures. He condemned the mania England had shown in the past for annexation of territory, which he described as "an insatiable earth hunger," and that her possessions amounted to one-fifth of the surface of the globe. In conclusion, he declared that he had lost all faith in Governments, who were delivered over to a rampant militarism, which was the curse of Europe, and that his only hope was in the democracies throughout Europe, to lift up their voices and show their determination no longer to suffer it, but that they should make the Governments to understand that they, the people, did not desire fighting, and that if there is to be any bloodshed

"Let the men who make the quarrels,

Be the only men to fight."

ARBITRATION CONFERENCE IN LONDON.

In July, 1887, Mr. Richard attended the thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Reform of the Law of Nations, which, being held in the Guildhall, London, under the authority and approval of the Lord Mayor, attracted an unusual number of influential men-Mr. Justice Butt, Sir Travers Twiss, Sir Walter Phillimore, Professors Leone Levi, D. D. Field, (New York,) and many others.

On the first day of the Conference, Mr. Justice Butt delivered an admirable address on the subject of International Arbitration, and spoke hopefully and favourably, remarking:

race.

* * *

"It was impossible to conceive any question of more universal interest, more closely touching the happiness of the human The goal might be distant, but he refused to believe it was unattainable. Each step on the way, each international dispute settled by peaceful means, was a step in the right direction, and one which might save an incalculable amount of human misery and suffering."

The first paper read at the Conference was by Sir Travers Twiss, on International Conventions for the Neutralization of Territory, and their Application to the Suez Canal," and Mr. Richard followed on the subject of International Arbitration, which he introduced by a reference to the military and financial condition of Europe, which he summed up as follows: The number of men in the armies of Europe on the peace footing, 3,041,054; and on the war footing, including second class reserves, 17,000,000; the annual cost by direct taxation on the people, £158,428,740, and including the indirect losses, first, the withdrawal of so many millions of able-bodied men from productive industry, and the loss of interest on the prodigious capital invested in preparations for war, as estimated by competent statisticians, amounted to £500,000,000 per annum, to Europe alone. He stated that the aggregate national debts of Europe, amounted to £4,649,286,882, on which an annual interest is paid of

£213,640,000, which shews an increase, since 1866, of £2,040,000,000, and of interest, £136,120,000.

Having referred to previous papers on this subject which he had presented to the Conferences of the Association, one at Cologne in 1881, and the other at Milan in 1883, he proceeded to give an historical recital of the various instances of successful Arbitration between States since 1883: Between Holland and St. Domingo, arising out of the seizure of a Dutch ship-referred to the President of the French Republic; between England and Germany, arising out of claims in Fiji; between Spain and the United States, arising out of the seizure of an American ship-referred to the Italian Minister at Washington; between Chili and Peru, resulting from the great war-referred to an International Commission; between Russia and England, on the Pendjeh incident-referred to the King of Denmark; and between Germany and Spain, on the dispute over the Solomon Islands-referred to the Pope of Rome.

In addition to these cases of successful Arbitration between States, he referred to the agreement arrived at the Berlin Congress, to determine differences that may arise between the 15 different states in the Congo Territory, also to the Treaty of Arbitration entered into between Columbia and Honduras, and to the creation of an International Court, for the peaceful settlement of all differences between the South American Republics.

In conclusion Mr. Richard said, and as these were the last words that emanated from his pen, that he publicly rehearsed on behalf of this great cause, to which he had dedicated his life, we quote them in full :

"We shall find, on looking back over the past, that the charges now brought against us, of being missionaries and preachers of impracticable Utopias, have been brought against others who, in former times, had faith and courage to labour for great reforms against the traditions and customs of their age, but who, nevertheless, by patient continuance in well-doing, did succeed in achieving great and lasting triumphs for civilisation and humanity. None of us are sanguine as to expect that we

can accomplish all our hearts desire by a sudden coup. Nobody knows better than we do, the difficulty of the object we are aiming at; but we must be content to work on earnestly and steadfastly for the right—and most men admit that we have the right on our side-with the calm and firm conviction that even in such a world as this, the right is destined ultimately to be victorious."

The Attorney-General, Sir Richard Webster, took part in the discussion which followed the delivery of Mr. Richard's address, and heartily congratulated the Conference on having had the opportunity of listening to such an important compilation of historical facts, he strongly commended the principles which had been so forcibly advocated, and urged on all not to be satisfied with their enunciation simply, but to devote their earnest attention to their practical carrying out in an international direction.

Professor Leone Levi, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, the Hon. D. D. Field, and Frederic Passy followed, with telling and effective speeches on the same subject.

THE RETIREMENT OF MR. RICHARD,

from the Secretariat of the Peace Society in May, 1885, the position, that without a single break, he had so worthily held for the lengthened period of thirty-seven years, was an event not altogether unforeseen, nor to those within the inner circle of its Executive, who had sorrowfully observed his waning strength, was it unexpected; but inevitable and regrettable as was his decision, mainly, if not entirely, because of his advancing years and failing health, it could not but be otherwise than a heavy blow to his colleagues and Committee, and a serious, nay, an irreparable loss to the interests of the Society, whose fortunes had been for nigh a generation so intimately bound up with his life and service, and whose usefulness had been, in the main, created and sustained by the versatility of his genius, the loyalty of his convictions,

and the splendid courage he had, through its many vicissi tudes and conflicts so conspicuously displayed. It was therefore with no ordinary feelings of sorrow and regret that the friends and supporters of the Society assembled at their annual gathering in Finsbury Chapel, the rendezvous for upwards of half a century of its anniversary meetings, to receive the sorrowful announcement from his lips, of his resignation, which he conveyed in the following touching words :

"This is the last time I shall appear on the platform as the Secretary of the Peace Society. I have been in that capacity for thirty-seven years (cheers), and I have been engaged in the cause of Peace for forty years. I have far outlived all the original members of the Committee, and almost everyone of those who were actively engaged in the cause of Peace when I first took office, have disappeared from the scene. I should like to explain the reason of my retirement, because the Press would probably assign a reason of their own, which would be likely to prove incorrect. My one reason is this: I am 73 years of age, and although I am thankful that my bodily and mental powers are not more impaired than they are, yet I feel that I am not what I have been-that there are signs of declining power, and sometimes a failing of health, which warn me that I must not put the same strain on my powers that I have been accustomed to, and must husband the little strength that remains for me. I have survived four Presidents of the Society: Mr. Charles Hindley, Mr. Joseph Sturge, Mr. Joseph Pease, and Mr. Henry Pease, for their friend in the Chair was the third of his honourable name, who had filled that office. I am not tired of the work, nor am I discouraged. If God spares me I hope even yet to be of some service in connection with the Cause. I hope there are young men who will come forward in order to take from my paralysed hand the flag of peace, and hold it with a resolute arm. What I would say to them is: Don't be dismayed by the vastness of the enterprise, or the formidable character of the obstacles that are before them. The work you have in hand is a good work; you are advocating a cause which, in my innermost convictions, I believe to be the cause of truth, reason, justice, humanity, the cause of religion, and I would venture to say, the cause of God. (Loud applause)."

These parting words from Mr. Richard, the great Apostle of Peace, spoken with much emotion, "with trembling lip and timid tones," within the walls of that Temple of Peace, which had for the uninterrupted period of forty years,

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