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has ruled so wisely and so well that Europe hears nothing more of Cretan troubles. But there were times when considerable anxiety was felt lest the Powers should quarrel with each other and the Concert break to pieces.

This year, which was brightened by the Diamond Jubilee of our beloved Queen Victoria, was also darkened by a terrible famine in India. One or two years of scarcity and high prices had preceded it, but the rains failed in Western India in 1897, and in many parts, especially in Guzerat, an almost total failure of crops resulted. The Government made gigantic efforts to cope with the distress. At one time it fed about four millions of the population, and private charity to the extent of a million sterling poured in from all parts of the British Empire. In spite of all that could be done, there was great suffering and serious mortality. The districts affected contained 40 or 50 millions of people, and many Native States were equally scourged. I made a strong appeal to Parliament for an Imperial grant in aid of India, which was supported by Sir Henry Fowler. This was not so much because the finances of India were unequal to the strain, for the credit of that country stood high, and it could easily borrow all that was needed; but I thought that a token of Imperial sympathy was very desirable. It was, however, declined, and so was also another appeal I made three years after in the still worse famine of 1900.

I went to Liverpool at the Whitsuntide recess to receive the delegates of the Christian Endeavour Convention, 14,000 in number, which met there, and to act as host to Dr. and Mrs. Clark of America, the founders of the Society. Five of our largest halls were filled daily. The proceedings were deeply interesting. The practical side of Christianity was specially emphasized. The tone of the addresses was very high. This great movement, which has now three millions of adherents, hails from America, where it is most successful. Its annual conventions there sometimes draw 40,000 or 50,000 people and almost overflow the cities where they are held. But it is spreading all over the world. It lays hold of the young at the critical age between youth and manhood, and its motive force in America is the younger generation of the Protestant churches. It is an admirable corrective to ecclesiastical and sacerdotal Christianity, being in its character wholly evangelical and biblical. I afterwards attended the huge Convention in London some years later, held at the Alexandra Palace, but the crowds were almost too great for effective speaking. I formed a very high opinion of

Dr. Clark and his wife, who hold to the Christian Endeavour Society much the same relation that General and Mrs. Booth did to the Salvation Army.

The Diamond Jubilee of our beloved Queen was the great event of the summer. She had in a reign of sixty years gained an astonishing hold on the heart of the nation. I think I may say truly that no Sovereign in English history ever attained such universal esteem as Queen Victoria. This was more conspicuous in her old age. There were times when she was partially misunderstood, as happens to all great characters, but the mists cleared away, and in her old age the noble lineaments of her character stood confessed to all the world. It was then seen how in every national crisis she had instinctively taken the right side, and how she had invariably worked for international peace and amity. But behind all that lay the deep sense of her truly religious life. The fierce light that beats upon a throne had no shadow to cast upon her stainless life. The lines of the Poet Laureate expressed the universal sentiment :

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The celebrations were most successful. A lovely day witnessed the Royal procession. The Commons had a stand facing Westminster Bridge, from which we saw the splendid pageant of worldwide contingents from all parts of the huge Empire over which she reigned. The Queen displayed in her strong face a mixture of joy and dignity that became the greatest sovereign in the world, but the predominant expression was sympathy with her beloved subjects. There was no ceremonial on this occasion in Westminster Abbey, only a thanksgiving in the open area of St. Paul's Cathedral. The perfect weather enabled the vast crowds to see the illuminations at night. The Naval Review at Spithead was a great success: Four lines of war ships, each five miles long, proved that Victoria was Queen of the Seas. The Commons had the splendid Cunarder Campania put at their disposal. My son accompanied me, and knew almost every vessel by her head-mark. His acquaintance with the Royal Navy was phenomenal. A garden party at Windsor the following Saturday wound up the celebrations. It was a lovely day. The grounds of the Castle were exquisite. The Queen drove

about in a little pony carriage, speaking to several of the members, and making herself most affable. All of us retain a delightful remembrance of that function. No accident marred the festivities; and it may be said that the British Empire, personified by its Sovereign, then reached the zenith of its prosperity. Little did we foresee the dark days that were soon to come upon us!

So far I have set down only the pleasant episodes of the Jubilee, but I cannot refrain from repeating what I have already referred to in the Jubilee of 1887-that a dangerous stimulus was given to national pride. The tone of the press became about this time more boastful and overbearing than at any period in my recollection. One noticed this especially in London: Gratitude to God was supplanted by self-glorification. One saw the same spirit which had prevailed in the United States before their great Civil War, and which had hurried France on to her catastrophe in 1870-1. I often felt uneasy when I read the vaunting speeches and articles that then appeared in profusion. I have great doubts as to the wisdom of these celebrations. Poor human nature cannot resist the temptation to boast. The hand-writing on the wall taught King Belshazzar a lesson which we all need to remember: "Thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of Heaven . . . and the God in Whose hand thy breath is, and Whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified."

These lines are penned in the sad time that has followed the postponement of King Edward's Coronation. The King's illness shattered for a time all the ceremonial so elaborately prepared. The nation was taught afresh the mutability of human affairs. One cannot but discern a notable change in the national temper as contrasted with 1897. Then it was all exultation; now it is submission and intercession. The press is filled with reports of touching addresses to the Divine Majesty and of earnest prayers for our beloved Sovereign, which happily were heard. The blessed peace in South Africa has left behind it a chastened and thankful spirit. The accent of boastfulness has marvellously disappeared. I cannot but hope that a more fruitful era in our national life has arrived. I believe that the trials have purified the people, at least to the point of making its ear more responsive to the voice divine. Therefore I look more hopefully to our future than I have been able to do for many years past.

This autumn I got away to Orchill early in August. Our dear young friend, Ernest Balfour, was on a visit to my neighbour,

Sir James Bell, of Ardoch. He was the son of my old friend, Alexander Balfour of Liverpool, and was one of the finest athletes at Oxford. He rowed in the eight that won the boatrace against Cambridge, and was as beautiful in character as he was strong in muscle. Yet in two weeks he died of some form of blood-poisoning: My son felt it very much indeed. We were all deeply saddened, and none more than his kind host and hostess, who placed their house at the disposal of his mother, brother and sisters, and aided them in their death struggle with the terrible malady. We laid him to rest at Dawyck, the beautiful country seat of Mrs. Balfour. Most of his Oxford friends were present, and the scene was very touching. The Bishop of Wakefield and several Presbyterian ministers united in the religious rites.

This was rather a wet cold autumn, and I did not get so much benefit as usual from my rest, and I was much troubled in winter with dyspepsia and neuralgia of the stomach. I was also unusually busied with public work in Liverpool and in my constituency: On one of these occasions I paid my last visit to Mr. Gladstone at Hawarden. He looked very old and frail (he was 88), and so did Mrs. Gladstone. I had a presentiment that it was the last time I should see him. The illness from which he died next year was then coming on-necrosis of the upper jaw or the bone of the nose. He was speaking with sadness of the jingo spirit that had arisen in the nation, and of the enormous growth of military expenditure. I said to him that we greatly missed his voice and that of John Bright in the cause of national righteousness. Soon after this Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone went to Cannes, and stayed with Lord Rendel in his beautiful villa there. Lord Rendel was connected with him by marriage, as his daughter was married to one of Mr. Gladstone's sons. The change, however, did him no good, and he came home to die-the following May.

25

S.S.

CHAPTER XLII

Session of 1898-Indian Frontier Policy-The Church Question-The Benefices Bill-Death of Mr. Gladstone-"Chaos in the Church of England."

I TOOK a little run to the Riviera before Parliament met on February 8. Considerable anxiety was felt at this time. We had an acute dispute with France about West Africa, and soon after about Fashoda, and we had much friction with Russia about her action in North China, Manchuria, and Port Arthur. These two Powers were drawing closer together and pursuing a common policy of expansion, at what was supposed by the British public to be the cost of the commercial interests of this country. We had also drifted into a costly war on the north-west frontier of India. That barren and inhospitable territory is occupied by wild, uncivilized tribes, which it had long been the policy of the Indian Government to conciliate by respecting their independence,and granting moderate subsidies for keeping open the trade routes to Afghanistan. This prudent policy had been departed from by an expedition to Chitral, an advanced post beyond the Indian frontier. It was occupied by an Indian garrison, which alarmed the tribes, who dreaded an attack on their independence. The garrison was besieged, and had to be rescued with much difficulty, and a great coalition of these hillmen was formed to resist our advance. So serious was this war that at one time 70,000 troops were employed, and the loss of life was heavy.

I spoke on the first night of the Session, condemning this forward policy, as India was still suffering from the terrible consequences of the famine of 1897, as well as the plague, which was almost as bad. I was fortunate in the ballot to secure February 22 for a motion on the subject, and brought forward on that day one in the following terms :

"To call attention to the extreme poverty of the mass of the people

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