Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/115

 1899.] Banquet to Lord Elgin. [107

great Liberal successes of the century had been almost entirely won upon parliamentary representation and the extension of the franchise, but that material was exhausted.

Lord Eosebery had an opportunity of replying to Sir Wm. Har- court's strictures on the occasion of a dinner given (May 16) by the Northbrook Society to Lord Elgin, but wisely refrained. He contented himself with saying that when their guest became Viceroy of India " he left his party in power, or at any rate in office." He returned to find it " disheartened by a superfluity of retired leaders. " The more important part of Lord Eosebery 's speech-, however, was addressed to Lord Elgin, whose reluctance to accept the office he had just laid down had been overcome by Lord Eosebery, acting at Mr. Gladstone's request. Lord Elgin had during his five years perhaps the most difficult task of any Viceroy since Lord Canning ; he had had to deal with plague and pestilence, war and famine ; and he had left behind him a memory surpassed, perhaps, by none. He had had, too, a frontier question to deal with, and the Indian frontier always seemed to Lord Eosebery like a cactus hedge — admirable for keeping out those outside and keeping in those inside, but undesirable for occupying as a seat. But it was no good to strengthen the frontier unless they gave the nations behind it something worth defending, and Lord Elgin was well aware of both requirements. Lord Elgin, in the course of his reply, said his desire had been to minimise warfare, and that desire had been shared by Sir W. Lockhart. Frontier wars might occur again, but he did not regard the situation as hopeless. If time were given they might seek a more heroic remedy than patience, but at any rate the tribes now knew that they could not offend with impunity. As to the state of things within our own borders, there were difficulties which might come to the surface at any moment, but he would say distinctly that he had formed the opinion that there was less uneasiness and a less unsettled feeling in India now than when he arrived there, though he did not say that that was due to any act of his.

The only other events to which notice need be called were the opening of the Peace Conference at the Hague under the presidency of M. de Staal (May 18), and the laying of the foundation of the new buildings at the South Kensington Museum, to be thenceforward called the Victoria and Albert Museum, by the Queen, almost on the eve (May 17) of her eightieth birthday. There was a rumour afloat that her Majesty would in future make no public appearances in London, and, although nothing beyond a rumour, it sufficed to bring together all along the route an enormous assemblage of people, from whom her Majesty received a most enthusiastic greeting, bearing witness to no diminution of the popularity and affec- tion displayed on the occasion of the golden and diamond jubilees. The actual birthday, although marked by no special display, was celebrated with loyal demonstrations at Windsor,