FRENCH CONQUEST OF TONQUIN

1882

ileges. James G. Blaine, the American Secretary of State, was believed to be implicated.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, died on March 24, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Soon after his friend and colleague, Ralph Waldo Emerson, died at Concord, Massachusetts.

Servia, supported by Austria-Hungary, was proclaimed a kingdom, with the consent of the Powers, in the beginning of March. Prince Milan, a member of the family of Urilosch Obrenovich, which had obtained the semi-independence of Servia, in 1816, assumed the title of Milan I.

One of the usu romantic figures of the century passed away with the death of Giuseppe Garibaldi at Caprera in June.

The aggressive actions of the French in Madagascar continued. Their contention was that the Government had promulgated a law prohibiting natives from selling land to foreigners, and that the Hova flag had been planted at Passandada Bay, over which the French claimed rights. A conference between the ambassadors who were sent to Paris by the Queen of the Hovas and the French negotiators was held on October 18. The ambassadors refused to grant the French demands and left Paris in November. A naval division was soon placed under the orders of Rear-Admiral St. Pierre, who was entrusted with the enforcement of the French claims in Madagascar.

In China the French displayed the same spirit. The treaty of 1874 gave France the protectorate of Annam. The failure of the Emperor of that country fully to perform his share of the contract, and the presence of Chinese troops in Tonquin, were considered to threaten the security of the French colony of Cochin-China. On April 25 the French forces under Colonel Rivère captured Hanoi, the capital of Tonquin. The expedition had left Saigon at the end of

1882

DEATH OF GAMBETTA

March, sailed up the river and landed on French territory just outside of the town. The Viceroy and Mandarins withdrew in the citadel, nearly four miles in circumference, and defended by 8,000 Annamites. Two French columns, commanded by Captain de Villers, forced their way through the northern gate. After capturing Hanoi, the French assumed authority over the whole territory, which resulted in 10,000 Chinese troops being sent across the frontier. Negotiations were still in progress between Pekin and Paris at the close of the year.

Louis Blanc, the historian, economist, and politician, died at Paris late in the year. A state funeral was awarded him. On this occasion public demonstrations of grief on the part of the workingmen of Paris showed the strong hold he retained on popular regard.

A few minutes before midnight, on the last day of the year, occurred the death of Léon Gambetta. Born in 1838 at Cahors, of Genoese extraction, Gambetta was educated for the Church, but afterward became a lawyer. In November, 1868, he gained the leadership of the Republican party by his defence of Deleschuze, a noted Republican. He showed himself irreconcilable against Louis Napoleon and his imperial projects; in particular against the policy which led to the war with Prussia. All the power of personal magnetism was shown during the latter part of the war, when he organized a fierce but vain resistance against the invaders. After the war he held office in several short-lived Ministries, and in November, 1881, accepted the Premiership. The sweeping changes proposed by him speedily rallied a majority against him, and after six months he resigned. On the death of the great leader, Gambetta's once so formidable party collapsed.

EVENTS OF 1883

French Fleet Bombards Hova Forts-French Seize Tamatave-Annamites Defeat and Kill Rire-Troops and Ironclads are Despatched to Tonguin-Death of Wagner, the Composer Haitian Rebels Seize Jacmel-Brooklyn Bridge is Opened-Work is Pushed on Panama Canal-Anarchy Prevails in Armenia-Coronation of Alexander III is Followed by Riots in St. Petersburg-Death of Henri V, Bourbon Pretender Haitian Rebels Sack Port-au-Prince and Loot Foreign Stores-French Consul Asks France to Interfere Death of Rebel Leader-William I Unveils Germania Statue-Police Prevent Plot to Assassinate Him-Fire Destroys Belgian Parliament Houses-Peru Sues Chile for Peace-She Cedes ProvincesDeath of Turgényev, Russian Novelist-Klebs and Loeffler Discover Diphtheria Bacillus Volcanic Eruption Devastates Krakatoa.

T

HE friendly offices of England as mediator between France and Madagascar were declined in January. Soon after this the French man-of-war "Flore," carrying the flag of Admiral Pierre, arrived off Tamatave. An ultimatum, demanding the recognition of all rights claimed by the French, was forwarded to the Prime Minister at Antananarivo. On June 10, after a negative reply, the French fleet of six vessels opened fire on the forts. Soon afterward the Hovas withdrew, and on June 14 the French hoisted their flag and declared martial law.

During several months the Tonquin question was left in abeyance. Despite the protests of the Chinese, desultory fighting between the Black Flags and the French troops was resumed. In May Commandant Rivère made a sortie from Hanoi with but 150 men. He met the enemy on ground covered with bamboo, from which the Annamites shot down Rivère and his troops. After this disaster three ironclads were despatched from Quiberon, Brest, and Corfu, to be followed by other vessels. Reenforcements were sent to Tonquin by the Governor of Cochin-China, and troops were also despatched from New Caledonia.

1883

DEATH OF WAGNER

On February 13 Richard Wagner, the most original dra- ́ matic composer of the nineteenth century, died at Venice." His first opera to be performed was "Rienzi," at Dresden, in 1842. Its success was so great that the management was induced to bring out the "Flying Dutchman" early next year. The originality of this opera raised a storm of opposition, which raged from then on throughout the civilized world, as one after another of Wagner's new works appeared. Among these may be mentioned "Tannhäuser," "Tristan und Isolde," "Lohengrin," "Die Meistersinger," and the cycle of "The Ring of Niebelungs." The turning-point of Wagner's career came in 1864, when the young King Louis II of Bavaria invited him to Munich with promises of royal aid for all his projects. In 1870, having divorced his first wife, he married Cosima, the daughter of Liszt, after her divorce from Hans von Bülow. In the meanwhile the King of Bavaria built for him the famous opera house at Bayreuth. Wag ner's last years were spent in the completion of his last dramatic composition, "Parsifal.” In novelty of effect, rhythmic variety and thematic treatment, Wagner's music stands unexampled in the history of music up to his time.

During the latter part of March an insurrection broke out in Haiti, and the outskirts of the town of Miragoane were seized by the rebels. They in turn were attacked by the Government troops, but the latter were defeated. The place was subsequently bombarded, but again the regular troops were repulsed with the loss of two vessels and many men. The rebels then seized Jacmel and held nearly the whole of the

western coast.

In the United States, during this interval, popular rejoicings were held over the opening of the great suspension bridge spanning the East River between New York and Brooklyn. The cost of the bridge had been $15,500,000. Measuring 5,989 feet, it exceeded the length of all other sus

CORONATION OF ALEXANDER III

1883

pension bridges then in existence. When the bridge was thrown open to the public, such crowds attempted to cross it that a number of persons were killed in the crush. Peter Cooper, the great philanthropist, died in New York, where he had served as Mayor. His fame is commemorated in the great mechanic institute of New York bearing his name. The year was otherwise notable for the successful labor strikes of American telegraph operators and glass blowers.

The construction of the Panama Canal went on so steadily this year that De Lesseps and others of its promoters predicted the completion of the Canal within five years. Prior to this the engineers had been chiefly occupied with preliminary labors. Now more than 10,000 laborers were engaged, and this number was soon increased to 15,000.

Complete anarchy prevailed in Armenia. The Turkish authorities lost all control over the province. Trade caravans were persistently pillaged and foreign consuls were insulted. The tribe of Malisson, numbering 60,000, made a raid on Scutari, but were repulsed by the Turkish troops. In Russia the long-delayed coronation of Emperor Alexander III was celebrated in May at Moscow. All the sovereigns and Governments of Europe were represented at this magnificent display, which lasted from May 27 to June 2. The event called forth manifestations of loyalty from all parts of the Empire. In liberal circles keen disappointment was felt at the new Czar's silence on the subject of liberal reforms. On the day after the coronation, riots broke out at St. Petersburg.

In the meantime the Comte de Chambord (Henri V) died, on August 24, at Frohsdorf. As the son of the Duc de Berri, and grandson of Charles X, he was the head of the elder branch of the Bourbons. No princes of the House of Orleans attended his funeral, owing to the refusal of the Comtesse de Chambord to recognize the Comte de Paris as head of the reunited Houses of Bourbon and Orleans.