Oxford, was graduated in 1838, and entered the diplomatic service as attaché at Athens in 1839, where his father was minister, becoming a paid attaché in 1844, and remaining there until 1852. He was then transferred to Dresden, and in 1853 to Florence, where he was appointed in 1856 secretary of legation, and was promoted in 1858 envoy to Tuscany. On Nov. 23, 1858, he succeeded his father to the barony, and in December of the same year was sent as minister to the United States. When the civil war broke out he had a difficult part to play, and it was in a measure owing to his tact and judgment that war was averted between the United States and Great Britain, in consequence of the seizure of the Confederate commissioners Slidell and Mason on board the British steamship "Trent," in November, 1861. He waited for instructions from Lord Russell, the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, before demanding the release of the prisoners.

RICHARD BICKERTON PEMELL, LORD LYONS.

When the dispatches came he presented the demands of his Government, which were that the commissioners should be given up and an apology made for their capture. Secretary Seward's contention that they were contraband of war was strenuously denied by Lord Lyons and his chief, and the note of the British Government was supported by communications from Austria, France, Italy, Prussia, and Russia. Lord Lyons delivered an ultimatum, and informed Mr. Seward that he would leave Washington in seven days unless the British demands were complied with. After a long diplomatic correspondence, conducted by him in a conciliatory spirit, the two Governments finally arrived at a basis of settlement. Lord Lyons conducted an intricate correspondence with Secretary Seward and with Earl Russell on the subject of the declaration of Paris, and on the question of the blockade of the Southern ports. On April 7, 1862, he concluded at Washington, in behalf of Great Britain, a treaty with the United States for the suppression of the slave-trade, which gave ex

tensive rights of search to the cruisers of both powers. During the course of the war he conducted a correspondence with his Government in relation to the recognition of the Southern Confederacy, the emancipation proclamation, the "Alabama" question, and other matters of diplomatic moment. In February, 1865, he resigned his post of minister and envoy extraordinary to the United States on account of failing health. In August he was appointed ambassador at Constantinople, and in July, 1867, he was transferred to Paris as British ambassador at the French court. He remained at that important post more than twenty years, through the agitated period of the Franco-Prussian War, the re-establishment of the republic, and the presidencies of Thiers, McMahon, and Grévy. He had several conversations with the Duc de Grammont, the foreign minister of Napoleon III, in relation to the candidature of the Prince of Hohenzollern for the Spanish throne, and endeavored to avert the war, but declined to pledge his Government to bring pressure to bear on Prussia on the question of forbidding the German prince to be a candidate. When the siege of Paris began, he left with all the other principal ministers, except Mr. Washburn. In 1873 he concluded negotiations with the French Government for the renewal of the commercial treaty that the Emperor Napoleon had made with England in 1860, but which had been replaced by a convention with less liberal provisions negotiated by M. Thiers. Through the efforts of Lord Lyons the old treaty was revived provisionally for three years. When Queen Victoria visited the Continent in 1876, Lord Lyons received her at La Villette, and introduced her to Marshal MacMahon. Lord Lyons continued to hold the appointment of minister at Paris until November, 1887. He was created Viscount Lyons of Christ Church, in the county of Southampton, in November, 1881, and on his obligatory retirement from the post of minister at Paris, on reaching the age of seventy, he was advanced to an earldom. The Marquis of Salisbury, in 1886, asked him to join his ministry as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, but he declined the office. His sister was the mother of the present Duke of Norfolk, and shortly before his death Lord Lyons joined the communion of the Catholic Church. He had won the gratitude of the Church by first persuading Count Beust, the Austrian ambassador, to object to the expulsion of a convent of German Jesuits in Paris on international grounds, and then, when a precedent had been established, opposing the suppression of the ancient college of the English Benedictines at Douay. Lord Lyons intended to complete a course of theological study before being formally admitted into the Church. When seized with paralysis on November 28, he received the last sacrament at the hands of Rev. Dr. Butt, Bishop of Southwark. The adherents of the English Church, to which he formerly be

longed, questioned the completeness of his conversion, or at least the propriety of administering extreme unction to a convert who had not yet changed his religion by formal act, and was probably unconscious during his illness. Lord Lyons was not a brilliant diplomatist, and contributed little to the settlement of important questions of European politics, yet his shrewdness and caution preserved him from errors, while with discretion, patience, and tenacity he labored for and secured many advantages for England in the settlement of

MADAGASCAR, an island in the Indian Ocean, opposite the coast of Mozambique, subject to the Queen of the Hovas, who accepted the protectorate of France by the treaty of Dec. 17, 1885. The Government of the French Republic represents Madagascar in all its external relations. A resident-general directs these relations, without interfering in any way in the internal administration, which is reserved to the Queen of Madagascar. He resides at Antananarivo, the capital, with a military escort, and has the right of audience with the Queen. The Hovas engaged to pay a war indemnity of 10,000,000 francs, and the French Government reserved the right to occupy the Bay of Diego Suarez and make installations there for its convenience. The Hova Queen is Ranavalo Majanka III, born in 1862, who succeeded to the throne in 1882. The Prime Minister and Prince Consort is Rainilaiarivony. The Resident-General of France is M. Le Myre de Vilers, Minister Plenipotentiary of the first class. (For statistics, see "Annual Cyclopædia" for 1886.)

Commerce.— After the French war many English, but few French, went to Madagascar to embark in business. About 60 per cent. of the commerce of 1886 was British and a large proportion American. Rum is the most important article of import, after which come kerosene and American cotton stuffs, which are preferred by the natives to English fabrics. The indemnity for the war was advanced by the Comptoir d'Escompte of Paris to the Hova Government, and was secured on the receipts of ten ports, which are collected by agents of the bank. The British and American importers avoided these ports, taking their goods to the ports still under the control of the Hova authorities, where they have the option of paying the 10 per cent. duty in money or in kind.

Fresh Dispute with France.-The French troops, according to agreement, evacuated Tamatave in January, 1887, and the port was reoccupied by the Malagasy forces on January 25. The French recalled their troops subsequently from all other parts of the island, excepting four companies remaining at Diego Suarez. The French Government appointed an indemnity commission to pass upon the claims that had been brought, chiefly by British subjects, for

diplomatic issues. His aristocratic exclusiveness prevented his becoming popular in republican Paris, though the French people remembered with gratitude that he was one of the first to procure provisions for the famished inhabitants of Paris after the raising of the siege in 1871. As Lord Lyons was a bachelor and had no living brother, the baronetcy and barony that he inherited from his father, as well as the viscounty and earldom that were limited to his own issue, became extinct at his death.

The French

losses sustained through the war. resident demanded that the exequaturs of foreign consuls should be presented to him for approval. This the Hova Government refused to do, and was encouraged in this attitude by the British consul. The former British consul, Mr. Pickersgill, had been recalled by his Government at the request of the French Cabinet. His successor, Mr. Haggard, on arriving at Antananarivo, handed his credentials to the Hova official, who granted the exequatur without consulting M. Le Myre de Vilers. The French Government immediately represented the matter to the British Government, which admitted the French position, but subsequently Lord Salisbury declared that the question required more study, as it involved serious difficulties. Eventually the French protectorate was formally recognized, Great Britain consenting in principle that its consuls should receive their exequaturs from France. The English residents on the island prepared many difficulties for the French representative. The Malagasy Government still persisted in refusing to give up the exequaturs of the British and American consuls. Another cause of difference arose from the arrest, trial, and banishment for twenty years of Ravoninahitriniarivo, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. on the charge of having in his possession seals of the Government with treasonable intent, and the appointment to the place of a young son of the Prime Minister. The French resident objected strongly to this appointment, and an under-secretary was provisionally appointed. Mr. Campbell, the American consul, applied to the French representative for his exequatur. The Premier demanded the formal recognition of the letter of Admiral Miot explanatory of the treaty, which the Malagasy Government considered a codicil and a part of the treaty, but which the French Government persisted in disavowing. Finally, the relations of M. Le Myre de Vilers with the Hova Government became so strained that on September 19 he hauled down his flag and prepared to leave Antananarivo. This decisive action had the desired effect on the Malagasy Premier, and in October relations between the resident-general and the Hova Government were resumed.

MAINE. State Government. The following were the State officers during the year: Governor, Joseph R. Bodwell, Republican, who died December 15, and was succeeded by Sebastian S. Marble, President of the Senate; Secretary of State, Oramandal Smith; Treasurer, Edwin C. Burleigh; Attorney-General, Orville D. Baker; Superintendent of Common Schools, Nelson A. Luce; Railroad Commissioners, Asa W. Wildes, John F. Anderson, and David N. Mortland; Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, John A. Peters; Associate Justices, Charles W. Walton, Charles Danforth, William W. Virgin, Artemus Libbey, Lucilius A. Emery, Enoch Foster, Thomas H. Haskell. Legislative Session.-The Legislature met on January 5, and adjourned on March 17, being in session 72 days. United States Senator Eugene Hale was re-elected for the term of six years, receiving 114 votes to 26 for the Democratic nominee, William H. Clifford. Senator Hale had no contestant for the Republican nomination.

A compulsory school-law was passed, requiring children between eight and fifteen years of age to attend the public schools at least sixteen weeks in every year, unless physically or mentally incapable, or otherwise provided with instruction, and compelling every town and city to elect truant-officers who shall enforce the law upon both parents and children. Another act abolishes capital punishment in the State. Debtors are, also, freed from liability to imprisonment for their debts, except when fraud is proved against them. Several measures for the relief of labor were adopted. One provides for the fortnightly payment of wages to employés; another prohibits the employment of children under twelve years of age in any manufacturing or mechanical establishment, or of any child under fifteen years, except during vacations of the public schools. Male children under sixteen and women shall not be employed more than ten hours each day, or sixty hours each week, unless by special agreement of the parties, and with the consent of parents or guardians in case of minors. A State bureau of industrial and labor statistics is established, under the management of a commissioner, who is required to submit annual reports.

The liquor law passed at this session is designed to re-enforce former prohibitory legislation. It provides that the penalty for the first offense in selling liquors shall be both fine and imprisonment, instead of a fine or imprisonment or both, thus depriving the judge of discretionary power. The clause permitting sales of over five gallons for certain purposes was repealed, and a fine imposed on railroad or express employés for removing liquor from cars at any places except regular stations. The payment of a United States liquor-tax is made prima facie evidence that the person paying it is a common seller of intoxicating liquors, and guilty of maintaining a liquor nuisance. This provision was designed to strike at a large num

ber of places operated under license from the Internal Revenue Bureau; but by a decision rendered in the Supreme Court, near the close of the year, it was adjudged unconstitutional on the ground of depriving the accused of his right to a judgment of his peers, and to be considered innocent till found guilty.

Provision was made for the payment of the State debt that will become due in June and October, 1889, by authorizing the treasurer to issue three-per-cent. bonds to an amount not exceeding $2,800,000, bearing interest from October of that year. He was also authorized to sell, at his discretion, any or all bonds in the sinking fund, exclusive of State of Maine bonds, and apply the proceeds to the purchase of such outstanding bonds of the State as may be obtained. All State bonds then or thereafter coming into the sinking fund are ordered to be canceled by the Treasurer.

It was voted to submit to the people, at the election in 1888, two amendments to the Constitution, one declaring that the Treasurer shall not be eligible more than six years in succession, the other providing for a return to annual sessions of the Legislature.

Appropriations for 1887 to the amount of $1,262,195 were passed, and for 1888 to the amount of $1,187,339. Other acts of the session were as follow:

vises, and bequests when made to them upon condiAuthorizing cities and towns to accept legacies, detions, and requiring them to observe such conditions if accepted.

To provide for the descent of intestate estates of and to illegitimate children.

riscotta river. For the protection of the alewife-fishery on Dama

Authorizing towns and cities to appropriate money for the observance of Memorial Day.

Establishing a uniform time for the transaction of public affairs.

charged soldiers and sailors. To provide for the burial expenses of honorably dis

For the protection of political nominating conventions and primary political meetings or caucuses, from disturbance and fraud.

ing

associations. Regulating the powers and duties of loan and build

Increasing the salaries of the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court to $3,500 a year.

Increasing the exemptions that a debtor may claim against attaching creditors.

Requiring safety-switches and switch-lights after sunset on all railroads, and providing a penalty for tampering with switches.

To establish Arbor Day.

To provide for the permanent location and maintenance of the Madawaska Training-School for the purpose of training teachers in the common schools of Madawaska territory so-called, and appropriating funds for its support.

To protect the breeders of blooded animals against fraudulent registration and misrepresentation. Amending the insurance law.

To regulate the sale and analysis of commercial fertilizers, by placing the supervision of the business in the control of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the State College.

To carry into effect an act of Congress entitled "An act to establish Agricultural Experiment Stations in connection with colleges in the several States."

To establish local boards of health in cities and