FOREIGN RELATIONS.


bers of the government fromWLondon may give some explanatiorn of the
delay; but no counter-projet or proposal in any shape has been sub-
initted to me, and yet I have not failed to give reminder whenever
opportunity has offered.
  Yesterday I called formally again at the foreign office to bring the
matter up. I desired, in anticipation of a change of ministry soon, to
ascertain, if I could. with what temper and disposition my reasonable
urgency on this subject was to be treated still by the present govern-
ment, or whether it was to be left over to their successors.
  I found only at the office Lord Tenterden, the permanent under secre-
tary. He could but promise that he would bring my mention of the
subject again to the attention of Lord Granville, who is in the country,
at Walmer Castle. He would only say himself that the matter was
now "Iin aforward state;;" that it had been before the board of
trade and
considered by them; that much material was prepared and points were
ready to be settled; that on these the law-officers of the Crown would
have to be consulted; and(,finally, that there might in a short time
be sent to me a proposal for an agreement, not answering to all the de-
tails contained in the projet presented by Mr. Motley, but covering as
much ground as they were authorized to under the existing acts of
Parliament.
  Lord Ten terden was of course silent as to the question how far this
promise of an early communication might fail from a change of minis-
ters.
  My own conviction is that the whole negotiation is now to be remit-
ted to a new government.
..... I have, &c.,
                                           ROBT. C. SCHENCK.


                             No. 297.
                     General Schenck to Air. Fish.
No. 569.]                  LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
                   London,-February 18,1874. (Received March 9.)
  SIR: In my No. 552, on the 24th of last month, I announced to you
the sudden dissolution of Parliament and an impending general elec-
tion for Great Britain and Ireland.
  I have now to inform you that the last poll took place yesterday,
and the returns from all the counties, boroughs, and universities foot up
a clear majority of not less than fifty for the conservative party.
  I may be excused for having predicted a somewhat different result,
inasmuch as this overwhelming overthrow of the liberal party has been
a surprise even to their successful opponents. Until the elections had
proceeded for several days, with almost uninterupted and steady gains
to the conservatives, they did not themselves hope to do more than
greatly reduce the majority of Mr. Gladstone's supporters.
  A change of ministry of course follows, the only question for several
days having been whether the present cabinet would decide to await
the meeting and an adverse vote of Parliament before going out, or would
offer to surrender the government at once. Yesterday that point was
settled. Mr. Gladstone proceeded to Windsor, where the Queen had
just arrived, and tendered to Her Majesty theresignations of himself and
his colleagues, and to-day Mr. Disraeli has received her command to form
a new ministry.


496