216
VICTORIA.
the Elementary Education Act of 1870. This Act, while to &. certain
extent recognizing voluntary effort in behalf of education, provided
for the establishment of “ public School Boards” in all parts of the
country, while attendance at school, with reasonable limitations, was
made compulsory. In 1872 voting by ballot was made the law for all
parliamentary elections.
43 In 1871 various matters of dispute between England and the
United States were adjusted by the Z7reaty of Washing-
m — ton. Among the subjects thus disposed of were claims
” from the United States for compensation for damages
done to American shipping by a Southern cruiser called the Alabama,
which had been allowed to refit and obtain supplies in British ports,
This point of dispute was referred to a Board of Arbitration, to sit at
(Geneva. When the Board met in 1872, it decided that a large sum
was equitably due by the English Government, which, without allow-
ing the justice of the award, promptly paid it. -
44. In 1874, England was engaged in war with the King of Ashan-
tee, in Western Africa, by whom our settlements on the
A spanlee coast of that continent were thrcatened. Under Sir
” Garnet Wolseley, our troops penetrated to Coomassie,
the Ashantee capital, and destroyed it by fire. The object of the
expedition was accomplished, and British power on the West Coast of
Africa was placed on 2 firm basis,
45. The general election held in 1874 resulted in the defeat of the
Gladstone Administration. Mr. Disraeli, shortly ufter-
Beacons- wards created Karl of Beaconsfield, became Prime Min-
N eld Admi- juter for the second time. "The chief measures passed by
nistration, x 4 . . ;
1874-1880. this Government were the Zicensing Act and the Public
Worship Regulation Act. During this period Great Britsin
was engaged in two wars, which, though of no great magnitude, were
very vexations, These were (1) the A/yhan War (1878), originating
in renewed jealousy of Russian influence in Afghanistan; and (2) the
Zulu War (1878-9), fought for the purpose of compelling Cetewayo,
King of Zululand, in South Africa, to disarm and disband his arıny.
Nothing occurred in the Afghan War which particularly needs rTo-
eital ; but in the war with the Zulus a great disaster befell the English
at Zsandlanha, where about one thousand men were surprised and almost
entirely cut off, Cetewnyo was defeated in the Battle of Ulundi, and
shortly afterwards captured. A melancholy ineident of the Zulu War
was the death of Prince Louis Napoleon, only son of Napoleon IIT.
Athis own request, he was allowed to join the campaign as a volun-
teer, He, with a small company, was surprised by the Zulus, and fell
pierced by their assegais. Lord Beaconsfield signalized his administra-
ton by having conferred on the (Queen the title of Zmpress of India,
46. Public opinion was much exceited in England during the Beacons-