A Note issued by the Russian Government, in which, taking advantage of the Franco-German War, Russia declared that she no longer considered herself bound by the Black Sea Neutrality clause in the Treaty of Paris, and that she held herself at liberty to build and maintain a fleet of warships in those waters. This Note caused intense irritation in London, but no steps could be taken till the close of the war, when a conference met in London to consider the point at issue. Russo-Japanese Convention. A convention between Russia and Japan, signed in 1897, by which the contracting parties guaranteed the independence of Korea. Japan was permitted to keep a force of 200 armed police for the protection of the telegraph lines, and a small military force in Seoul, Fusan and Gensan. Russia was allowed to maintain an equivalent force for the protection of her legation. Ruthven, Raid of. The seizure of James VI of Scotland at Perth in 1581 by Lord Gowrie and others of the Protestant leaders, by way of checkmating the schemes of Lennox and the Catholics for the restoration of Catholicism. Ruytergeld. In feudal Holland a tax paid in lieu of military service, similar to scutage. Rye House Plot. A Whig conspiracy to assassinate Charles II in 1683. It was revealed by one of the conspirators, and its ringleaders, Russell and Sidney, were convicted and executed, while the Earl of Essex died by his own hand in prison. Ryotwari. The system of land taxation in India by which every peasant farmer is looked upon as the proprietor of his land, and pays his taxes direct to the Government. It is the opposite of the Zemindari system, the survival of the system practised under Mogul Emperors, where the Zemindar was responsible for the taxation of a certain district. Ryswick, Treaty of. A treaty signed in 1697 between France, England, Holland and Spain, ending the War of the League of Augsburg, whereby Louis XIV surrendered all his conquests since the Treaty of Nimeguen in 1678, and agreed to acknowledge William III as King of England, and to withdraw his support from James. A month later the Emperor Leopold, who was not a signatory of the first treaty, signed a separate instrument, by which he recovered all Louis’ conquests except Strasburg, including all the French fortifications on the right bank of the Rhine. Lorraine was restored to the Duke Leopold, with the proviso that passage should be granted when required to the troops of France. S Sac and Soc. Freedom from the jurisdiction of the Hundred which, in Saxon times, generally accompanied grants of land. From this arose the jurisdiction of the feudal lords over their own estates, including such townships as might be built upon them. Safety, Committee of. A committee composed of ten commoners and five peers appointed by the Long Parliament in 1642, to conduct the war against the King. Sagas.