The Political Situation In Europe.

table , and make the necessary sacrifice in order to maintain the integrity of the Empire ; or German loyalty to the existing regime may diminish in intensity . However , this may be , there arc , in the present phase of German politics , at least , the elements of doubt and difficulty as regards the future .

In Spain the IIGAV year has opened more joyously , or , at all events , Avith a better prospect that it Avill shortly enjoy a more settled government , and , as a consequence of this , that its civil Avar will be sooner brought to a close . A bloodless revolution has resulted in the eldest son of the

ex-Queen Isabella II . being proclaimed King , as Alphonso XII ., and all parties , save the Carlists , and , we presume , the extreme Republicans , appear to have accepted him with acclamation . Already the young monarch is enroute to his capital , Avhere and elsewhere throughout Spain the most

active preparations are being made to give him a cordial welcome . So far so good ; but the Carlist war will severely tax the energies of his country . Any serious reverse on the part of the neAv Alphonsist army may lead to

the upset of the Alphonsist throne , and then—chaos again . Still it is a hopeful sign for Spain that the proclamation of the young King should have been so generally and so spontaneously Avell received , by both the army and the nation : the Carlists , of course , being excepted .

The chief difficulties in Italy are of a financial character , and these difficulties arise almost entirely from her being compelled to folloAV other poAvers in maintaining a vast military and naval force . Her Government is firmly established ; her material resources are being certainly , if slowly ,

developed , and , but for the reason above , her financial condition Avould be a prosperous one . As to Russia , Austro-Hungary , and Turkey , there is little , if anything , in the status quo to call for special remark . The first named poAver has taken measures to increase her army , so

that in the course of the present year it is calculated she Avill have a million and a half of men under arms . But so long as the reins of government are in tho hands of the present Emperor , Europe , Ave think , -will have little , if any , reason to fear that Russia will pursue other than a pacific policy .

We have thus briefly surveyed the political situation throughout nearly the Avhole of Europe . As regards ourselves , the task has been one of unmixed pleasure . As regards the rest of the great powers , the prospect is not very consoling . We must bo thankful , hoAvever , that no

present cause for alarm exists . There must always be an element of danger Avhen every Continental power is armed to the teeth . Happily , each has special Avork cut out for

it , and though this Avork may any day be interrupted by the occurrence of some grave event , it is , at least , a satisfaction to feel that , for the moment , there is some chance that the peace of Europe may not be broken .

The State visit to Paris of the Lord Mayor and his Lady , together Avith . other civic dignitaries , is an event of Borne importance , demanding from us more than a passing allusion , not simply because his lordship is an honoured member of the Craft—though such reason Avould certainly

have its Aveight—but bedause its influence for good is unquestionable . We do not mean that this visit has any political significance . The time has long since past when any interchange of friendship betAveen the sovereigns or notabilities of two countries would be deemed a guarantee

of perpetual amity . Indeed , the few occasions that occur to us at the moment—the friendly meeting of Henry and Francis , on the Field of the Cloth of Gold , the friendly relations between Charles II . and Louis XIV ., and even the meeting between our present gracious Sovereign and

tlie late King Louis Phillippc—Avere , each and every of them , folloAved by Avar , or a threatened severance of friendl y relations between France and England . But

J . ranee Avill assuredly regard this event in a kindly spirit , almost , perhaps , as a renewal of that intimate friendship between us and her Avhich existed twenty years since , and for some years after the close of the Crimean War . The

present occasion is a slight one—the opening of a IIBAV opera house , but the appearance , in the streets of Paris , of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs iu their State carriages , and

attended by their State officers , cannot , Ave repeat , but create the most favourable feeling in the minds of the impressionable French , the rather that it folloAVS so closely upon the presentation to the Queen of several volumes ol

The Political Situation In Europe.

addresses from all parts of France , thanking her and hel subjects for their sympathy and assistance after the late Franco-German war Avas ended . There is another reason , perhaps . Since the horrible events of 1871 nothing has occurred in Paris in the shape of public rejoicing or

festivity , and France will gratefully remember that the nation which sympathised so deeply with her in her misfortunes is also the first to join her in her first return of enjoyment . May tbe loyal feelings of friendship thus evoked long continue to exist between the two great Western PoAvers !

Brother T . Adams , P . G . P ., and preceptor of several Lodges of instruction , announces his Annual Ball , at Willis ' s Rooms , for Tuesday the 2 nd February . This used to be called a Masonic Ball , and there can be little doubt that a large number of the fraternity will attend on the

present occasion . No Masonic emblems or clothing will however be worn , as only the Grand Lodge can grant a dispensation for the brethren to appear in Masonic costume . A goodly list of stewards is announced , including many esteemed members of the Craft .

Four executions on one day is a phase of retributive justice we have rarely to record . On Monday last three men Avere executed at Liverpool , and one at Newgate . In each case the crime of murder was rendered more atrocious than usual by the violence and brutality by which it was

accompanied . Notwithstanding this , efforts were made to obtain a reprieve in more cases than one . We know there are many people Avho object to capital punishment ; others , again , there are , Avho have a hatred of the " cat . " It was only the other day , at a meeting of the Glamorganshire

magistrates , that Lord Aberdare , in alluding to the latter subject , expressed himself strongly against its application to garotters and Avife-beaters . He held that it had not acted as a deterrent in the former case , and that it Avould

result in a serious disturbance of conjugal relations in the latter . If his lordship can point out any means for repressing the vice of drunkenness , to Avhich undoubtedl y most of the dastardly attacks on women are attributable , he will be doing the State some service .

The Times furnishes us with an account of lifeboat services for the past year , Avhich , at the present moment , cannot fail to prove highly interesting . We have so frequently to record loss of life at sea , that any institution Avhich has for its object the saving of human life must

possess great interest for us , and should claim our best sympathies and support . No less than 543 lives were saved by lifeboats belonging to the Institution during the year 1874 . This number is supplemented by 170 saved by fishing boats and others , making a total of 713 persona

saved . In addition to these services , 15 vessels have beeu saved from destruction by its instrumentality . It is equally gratifying to learn that no lives Avere lost from the lifeboats themselves . Reviewing former statistics of the

Institution , we find that since its formation no less than 22 , 866 lives have been saved , 947 gold and silver medals bestoAved , and a sum amounting to £ 43 , 600 disbursed in pecuniary rewards .

The survivors of tho emigrant ship , " Cospatrick , " have made us acquainted with very harrowing details respecting the burning of the vessel , and the sufferings they individually experienced during a ten days' exposure in an open boat . We very much fear that the second

boat , Avhich for a short time kept company Avith that in Avhich Macdonald , LeAvis and Cotter escaped , has gone down Avith all hands , as no tidings have been heard , as yet , of any other surA-ivors , though the " Windsor Castle " and the " Syria " have both arrived at Madeira from the Cape

and St . Helena . It is seldom that , Avhen people take to the boats , through some accident to the vessel , they find themselves Avithout either food or water ; such , however , was the case in this instance . The fearful alternative of starvation Avas one scarcely less terrible than the means

employed to avoid it . When the pangs of hunger could no longer be endured , the few Avho survived on the sixth clay Avere compelled to devour the livers of tAvo of their dead companions , and drink their blood . It Avas a merciful interposition of Providence that this shocking state of things was not required to be repeated , The " British