NEWS OF THE WEEK.
WHEN our last issue was published it seemed humanly certain that this week we should chronicle the most gorgeous pageant of modern times, and record how yet once more in English history the successor of Augustine had presented to the people of England, and the people of England, as represented by the notables assembled in the Abbey, had acclaimed, " the undoubted King of this realm." But it was not to be. On Tuesday at midday London learned that the Coro- nation must be postponed, owing to the fact that the King was suffering from perityphlitis—i.e., inflammation of the tissues around the mecum—and that his Majesty was at that moment in the hands of the surgeons. The news caused a sense of con- sternation, but as we have pointed out elsewhere, the behaviour of the crowds showed a reticence and a lack of emotionalism or excitement which was most characteristic. By the early afternoon the news was received that the operation had been successfully performed, and a large abscess "evacuated," or in other words, drained of the purulent matter which, had it not been removed, must have produced blood-poisoning. Since the operation the state of the patient has been, all things considered, most satisfactory. There has been no set-back of even a temporary kind, and each of the four daily bulletins may be said to have been progressively favourable. The morning bulletin on Friday states that the King has had " some natural sleep," that his appetite is improving, and that, " on the whole, the King's condition is attended with less anxiety." The prospect, then, seems fairly bright and hopeful. We dare not say more, but we think, without any unreasonable optimism, we can say as much.
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