earnings has been so great as to make the return, to those interested, larger than in any previous year. The following table gives the results obtained:

Nearly all the railroads are paying, dividends averaging between 4 and 5 per cent.; the Taff Valley Railway paying the best, to wit, 163 per cent. The cost of construction varies greatly, the lowest being the Midland Great Western, at $61,600 per mile and the highest the Metropolitan Underground, at $3,501,000 per mile. Taking the thirty-one principal railroads together, the cost per mile averages $468,550, while for twenty-six of these, omitting those over $500,000 per mile, the normal average is $175,600. This large average is, in the main, due to the great cost of purchasing the right of way through cities and thicklysettled farming districts.

ARMY AND NAVY.

In 1881 the total number of officers and men in the regular army was 188,798, of whom 91,946 were stationed at home and 96,852 abroad. The army reserve has a force of 41,796; the militia and militia reserve, 99,002, exclusive of the Irish militia and the Yeomanry, which latter amount to 10,617. The total number of volunteers is 208,308. The navy consists of 415 ships of war with 2,567 guns, an aggregate burden of 21,014,535 tons and steam horse-power of 710,495.

CRIME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The British Government keeps a careful record of the statistics of crime, embracing not only a list of the crimes and the number of persons arrested, but also of the commitments and results of trials. In the year 1881, in England and Wales, 14,786 persons were committed for trial. and 11,353 convicted. In Scotland, 2,444 were committed and 1,852 convicted. In Ireland, 5,311 were committed and 2,698 were convicted. That is to say, 77 per cent. of those arrested in England and Wales, 75 per cent. in Scotland, and 50 per cent. in Ireland, were convicted. Since 1880 there has been an increase of 139 convictions for crime in England and Wales, a decrease of 214 in Scotland, and an increase of 315 in Ireland. From Dr. W. N. Hancock's report on the criminal and judicial statistics of Ireland for 1881, it appears that the number of indictable offenses, as distinguished from the technical divis ion of "crime" given above, was 11,915 during the year, being an increase of 3,308 upon the number in the preceding year. They have increased for five years, and are now double in proportion to the popu lation what they were in 1876, the proportion now being 23.2 in every 10,000 of the population, while in 1876 it was only 12.7. The total of more serious offenses, punishable after trial by jury, is found to be

7,715; the proportionate numbers for the same population in England. being 4,477, and in Scotland 5,615. He gives the following table:

It may be remarked that in England, Scotland, and Wales criminal proceedings are more summary than in the United States, and that merely technical defenses are of less avail. In Ireland the land agitation and the stringent measures adopted by the government for its suppression have largely increased the ordinary number of arrests and convictions. At the same time it will be noted in the government returns for crimes that the convictions to the number of commitments in Ireland, as compared with England, Wales, and Scotland, is as 50 to 75 per cent.

In October, 1882, Mr. Trevelyan, chief secretary, in speaking of the disturbed state of Ireland, said:

Things look brighter now. The statistics of crime show that in October, 1881, there were 511 agrarian outrages; November, 544; December, 574; January, 1882, 479; February, 407; March, 531; April, 462; May, 396; June, 285; July, 231; August, 165; and September, 131, of which 72 were threatening letters. But

the difference between a letter and an outrage is the difference between an act and a threat, so that when I tell you there were 59 actual offenses against life, property, and public peace, as against 225 in September, 1881, I state a fact, which, as a fact, has real and genuine significance. The peace of the country is nearly four times

greater than it was a year ago.

*

*

I quote this utterance as the highest and latest testimony that can be adduced of the improvement in the social condition of Ireland, and I do so as a simple matter of historical reference, without desiring, in the least, to enter into the political discussion of which it forms a part on both sides of the Atlantic.

EVICTIONS IN IRELAND.

In the year 1881, 3,415 families, consisting of 17,341 persons, were evicted in Ireland, of whom 1 219 families (5,686 persons) were in Ulster, 692 families (3,312 persons) in Leinster, 784 families (4,378 persons) in Connaught, and 720 families (3,965 persons) in Munster. The greatest number of evictions in any one quarter was in that ending September 30, when 1,282 families (6,496 persons) were evicted, and the least, in that ending March 31, 350 families (1,732 persons) having been evicted. Of the total evicted during the year, 194 families (1,085 persons) were readmitted as tenants, and 1,686 families (8,977 persons) as "care-takers." At the Michaelmas sessions, the number of ejectment decrees granted was 2,020, of which 1,724 were for non-payment of rent, and the remainder for over holding and on title. The total amount of rent in arrears, in consideration of which the 1,724 ejectments were granted, was $235,450, that is to say, the average rent in arrears in each case was but $13.70. Munster furnished the greatest number of these cases, 572, of which 489 were for non-payment of rent; Connaught, 528 (492 for non-payment); Ulster, 518 (435 for non-payment); and Leinster the least, 402

(308 for non-payment). The government returns do not show how many of these ejectments, for the average small amount of $13.70, were due to the actual poverty of the holder of the land, or to the refusal to pay under the "no rent" manifesto, but no one conversant with the hopeless poverty of the agricultural tenants of Ireland can doubt that over 95 per cent. of these ejectments were from utter inability on the part of the holders to meet their debts. An average of a year's rent of from two to four acres, in many parts of Ireland, is represented by $13.70, and evictions for this sum show to what extent both tenant and landlord have been reduced.

RECENT LEGISLATION.

In view of the close commercial relations existing between the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as the number of persons in the United States whose business or rights may be affected by English legislation, I beg to call attention to the following acts of Parliament which may be considered of sufficient importance and general interest to claim the attention of merchants and others doing business with Great Britain, or whose rights may be affected thereby.

BILL OF SALE ACT, 1882.

This act has reference to the hypothecation of chattels, and will be of interest to commercial classes; it went into operation November 1, 1882.

Its objects are not only to guard, as much as possible, the grantor against imposition by the grantee, but also to protect creditors by declaring certain bills of sale void. It will not apply to bills of sale duly registered before the time fixed for the commencement of the act, so long as the registration is not avoided by non-renewal or otherwise. In the first place every bill shall have a schedule of the personal chattels comprised in it; and it is provided that goods comprised therein shall not be taken possession of by the grantee for any other than the following causes: 1st. If the grantor shall make default in payment of the sums secured. 2d. If he shall become bankrupt or suffer any of the goods to be distrained for rents or taxes. 3d. If he shall fraudulently remove the goods. 4th. If he shall not, without reasonable excuse, produce to the grantee his last receipt for rents, &c. 5th. If execution shall have been levied against the goods of the grantor under any judg ment at law. And it is provided that, even under such circumstances, the grantor may, within five days from the seizure, apply to the court or a judge, who, if satisfied that, by payment of money or otherwise, the cause of seizure no longer exists, may restrain the grantee from removing or selling the goods. The execution is to be attested, but it will not in future be necessary that this should be by a solicitor. Every bill of sale given for less than £30 is to be void. All goods seized shall not be removed or sold until after the expiration of five clear days from the day they were seized. A bill of sale is not to protect chattels comprised in it from parochial and poor rates.

MARRIED WOMAN'S PROPERTY ACT.

This act does away, in a very great measure, with the old commonlaw principle that husband and wife are one person, and the husband is that one. Its object is to give the wife increased facilities for acquir ing and holding property, and, therefore, in a great measure, to render

her solely liable in respect to her contracts. The following is a short review of the principal alterations made by this statute: It repeals the married woman's property acts, 1870 and 1874, but those sections which declare that certain investments standing in the name of a married woman are to be deemed her separate property, that all liabilities in respect thereof are to bind her separate estate, and that any fraudulent investment of her husband's money should be of no effect against creditors, are re-enacted. The act empowers a married woman to acquire property as a "feme sole," to enter into contracts which shall bind her separate estate, and to sue and be sued without her husband. A married woman who carries on a business separately from her husband is to be liable to be made bankrupt. All property of a woman married after the 1st of January, 1883, shall be held by her as a "feme sole."

Loans by a married woman to her husband shall be considered as assets of her husband in case of his bankruptcy. A woman (whether married before or after the commencement of this act) is to have the sane remedies, both civil and criminal, against all persons (including her husband), in respect to her separate property as if she were a "feme sole," and the husband and wife are made competent witnesses against each other; but no criminal proceedings are to be taken against the husband by the wife whilst they are living together. A woman is also to be liable, by virtue of the act, to the extent of any separate property coming to her for all debts and liabilities contracted before marriage. A married woman, having separate property, is to be liable to maintain her husband and children and grandchildren. The time for the commencement of this act is January 3, 1883.

CODIFICATION OF THE LAW OF BILLS OF EXCHANGE, CHECKS, AND PROMISSORY NOTES.

On the 18th of August last an act called the "bills of exchange act, 1882," was passed, carrying out this most desirable reform, it being the first practical attempt in that direction, though the codification of the whole law is a reform which has often been debated. "Biles on Bills" has hitherto been the authority on this subject, which was a grand collection of common, custom, and case law. The act, with a slight exception, applies to England, Ireland, and Scotland. It would be out of place in this report to give an epitome of the whole law, but the following may be taken as a short statement of the most important alterations effected by the bill, or the confirmation of doubtful rules on the subject:

A bill may be made payable to two or more persons jointly, or it may be made payable, in the alternative, to one of several, or it may be made payable to the holder of an office for the time being. When a bill contains words prohibiting transfer, it is valid, as between the parties, but not negotiable. When a bill, expressed to be payable at a fixed period after date, is issued undated, or when a bill, expressed to be payable at a fixed period after sight, is undated, any holder may insert therein the true date of issue or acceptance. When a bill, payable after sight, is dishonored by non-acceptance, and the drawer subsequently accepts, the holder is entitled to have the bill accepted as of the date of first pre sentment to the drawer for acceptance. Where a bill purports to be indorsed conditionally, the condition may be disregarded by the payer, and payment to the indorsee is valid, whether the condition has been fulfilled or not. When a foreign bill has been accepted as to part, it must be protested as to the remainder. The return of a dishonored

bill to the drawer or indorser is to be deemed sufficient notice of dishonor. When a foreign bil, appearing on its face to be such, has been dishonored by non-acceptance, it must be protested, and when such a bill, which has not been previously dishonored by non-acceptance, is dishonored by non-payment, it must be protested. If this is not done, drawer and indorser are discharged. When a bill does not appear on its face to be foreign, protest is unnecessary.

Where the acceptor becomes holder, at or after maturity, in his own right, the bill is discharged. When a holder, at or after maturity, ab solutely renounces his right against the acceptor, the bill is discharged. This must be in writing unless the bill is delivered up to the acceptor. In case a check is not presented within a reasonable time, and a drawer had the right, at time of presentment, as between himself and the banker, to have his check paid, and suffers actual damage through the delay, he is discharged to the extent of such damage, i. e., to the extent to which such drawer or person is a creditor of such banker in a larger amount than he would have been had such check been paid, but the holder of such check shall be a creditor of the banker in lieu of the drawer, and entitled to recover the amount from him. A signature, under this act, may be by an authorized person, and, in the case of a corporation, by its seal. When a bill is required to be protested within a specified time, or before some further proceeding is taken, it is sufficient if it shall have been noted for protest within such specified time, and the formal protest may be extended at any time thereafter, as of the date of noting. In case a bill, requiring protest, is dishonored, and the services of a notary cannot be obtained, any substantial resident of the place may, in the presence of two witnesses, give a certificate, signed by them, attesting the dishonor, which shall operate as a formal protest.

ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS AND THEIR COST.

I have introduced this subject as it is one of national importance, and its moral, social, and political influence has become so great that it has become a matter of parliamentary debate, and societies are being formed throughout the United Kingdom to overcome its dangerous and baneful influence upon the people. For, with an average population of 33,000,000, it is carefully computed that there is expended yearly a sum of $650,000,000 for alcoholic liquors, which is nearly double the whole land rental of the United Kingdom, or, as it is more expressly stated, the annual rent paid for houses is about $350,000,000, the expenditure for woolen goods $220,000,000, and for cotton goods $65,000,000, leaving still a balance of $15,000,000 in favor of alcohol.

It is fairly stated that whilst there are 6,600,000 houses in the United Kingdom, more than 180,000 of them are houses where intoxicating liquors are sold, being one out of every thirty-six throughout the entire country.

From carefully prepared statistics, it is found that during the past fifty years the cost of liquors consumed amounted to the colossal sum of $21,232,557,420, or a yearly average of $424,651,145, this computation being made without any account taken of the gain in interest which would have accrued from the saving of money directly or indirectly lost in this unnecessary expenditure. It may be observed that during the past fifty years there has been a large increase in the earning as well as in the spending power of the people. With regard to great numbers, this spending power has, to a large extent, taken the direction of articles of