have been bestowed, but the departed statesman had left a will, directing that his remains should be buried in the family vault, without any display whatever. The Houses of Parliament adjourned when the melancholy event was announced, and all parties vied with each other in their eulogium upon the worth of England's greatest statesman.

The venerable and respected Duke of Cambridge died also during this year; his son, Prince George, succeeded to his father's title, and Parliament granted him an annuity of £12,000 per annum.

Just before the close of the year the utmost indignation was excited by the publication of a Papal brief, dividing England into dioceses, and appointing Roman Catholic archbishops, bishops, deans, and canons; utterly ignoring the rights of the Queen of England, and the laws which existed against such assumption. The action of the Pope was universally condemned, and Lord John Russell wrote a memorable letter to the Bishop of Durham, in which the action of Government was distinctly implied, for the purpose of vindicating the rights and dignity of the Queen, and curbing the insolent aggression of a foreign potentate.

A much more pleasant subject for national congratulation was the grand idea of an International Exhibition, the conception of which is due to His Royal Highness Prince Albert. The object to be attained was, the collection in London, for the purpose of exhibition and international emulation, the productions of all nations. His Royal Highness consulted many eminent men of art and science upon the subject, and the plan, being fully matured, was brought formally before the country. No project was ever received with more favour than this of the Prince. A great banquet, held in the city of London, was attended by the mayors of provincial towns, by representatives of foreign countries, and last, but not least, by the Prince who had originated the idea. Here promises of co-operation were given, and the International Exhibition scheme was fairly launched on the sea of public opinion.

In a short time the sum of £75,000 was subscribed towards the

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preliminary expenses; plans were applied for, and numerous designs for a building received, none of which appeared to meet the requirements of the Exhibition. At length Mr. Paxton made a design, which was at once admitted to be superior to any other. It consisted of a vast building supported on iron columns, with glass sides and roof. It was to be 1848 feet in length, 408 feet in breadth, and 66 feet high, crossed by a transept 108 feet high and 72 feet wide. Mr. Paxton's plan having been approved on the 26th of July, 1850, the tender of Messrs. Fox and Henderson to carry it out was accepted by the commissioners. Hyde Park was granted for a site, and through the energy of all concerned in the work, the Crystal Palace was handed over by the contractors to the Royal Commissioners on the 30th of December in the same year.

By the 1st of May, 1851, the articles, contributed by every country in the world, were in their place, and the International Exhibition was formally opened by Her Majesty. Its success exceeded the most sanguine expectations of its promoters. Millions of people entered the portals of Paxton's Temple of Peace and Industry; and when the time came for it to be closed, the Royal Commissioners found themselves in possession of a gigantic surplus, which has been invested, with a view of encouraging art and science in all future generations. Let us hope the intentions of the Royal Commissioners will be as honestly carried out as they were generously formed, and that no intriguers will come between the mass of the people and their enjoyment of that valuable legacy, which is the proudest monument to the great and sublime virtues of the Prince Consort.

When Parliament assembled in 1851 the country was violently excited by the late papal aggression, and, although the approaching opening of the Great Exhibition occupied a considerable share of public attention, continued debates occurred in Parliament on the subject of the Pope's brief. An Act, called the "Ecclesiastical Titles Bill," was introduced by the Ministers, making it penal for any person to assume titles granted by the Pope, taken from the names of English towns or districts, and inflicting a penalty of £100 on all persons so offending; this comparatively harmless measure passed both Houses with large majorities.

A ministerial crisis occurred in the Session of 1851, in consequence of an adverse majority to Government in favour of a motion for granting the county franchise to £10 householders. In addition to this, the budget met with an unfavourable reception, whereupon Lord John Russell tendered his resignation. Lord Stanley having failed to form a ministry, the late cabinet retained their offices.

The principal point of the amended budget was the repeal of the Window Tax. The Income Tax was continued for a year, and a duty imposed on all houses bearing a rental over £20 per annum.

The census of the people was taken in this year, when the population of Great Britain was found to amount to 21,000,000, showing an increase of 2,343,586. London covered 78,039 square acres, or 132

square miles; and its population reached a total of 2,362,236, having increased, within ten years, by 977,506.

In Ireland the number of the people had decreased, from the united influences of famine, pestilence, and emigration, by 1,659,330 souls.

In France, the period of three years, for which Louis Napoleon had been elected President, was drawing to a termination; but, by a clever intrigue, he procured his re-election for ten years, by 7,439,219 affirmative votes against 640,737.

The year 1851 is memorable for the discovery of gold in Australia. It was first found in the neighbourhood of Bathurst, from whence one mass was taken weighing one hundred pounds. The memorandum of the Governor certifying the discovery bears the date of May 22nd; and on the 25th August the Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria addressed a despatch to the Secretary of State, informing him that a rich gold field had been found in his province. Emigrants rushed to the "diggings" from all quarters. Cities sprang up with marvellous rapidity, and enormous quantities of gold were exported to England. Since that period the supply has amounted to many millions annually. Australia has grown into a rich and prosperous colony, and thousands of people, who lived at home a life of misery and destitution, having emigrated, have become wealthy and important members of society.

The submarine telegraph cable was successfully laid, in 1851, across the Straits of Dover, and England has, by its means, been united to the Continent.

Differences occurring between Lord Palmerston and his colleagues early in 1852, he resigned his office in the ministry. It was believed that the noble lord was too favourable to the ambitious views of Louis Napoleon, whose recent conduct had excited public feeling to a high point of indignation.

Several acts of Parliament were proposed in reference to the national defences; and an intention was announced of applying for increased estimates for this purpose. A bill for the reorganization of the Militia having been defeated on an amendment of Lord Palmerston, the Ministry resigned, and Lord Derby was called upon to assume the reins of Government.

His principal colleagues were, Lord St. Leonards, Chancellor; Mr. D'Israeli, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Mr. Walpole, Home Secretary; Lord Malmesbury, Foreign Secretary; Sir John Pakington, Colonial Secretary; Duke of Northumberland, First Lord of the Admiralty; Duke of Wellington, Commander-in-Chief.

A new Militia Bill was successfully carried through both Houses; as also a bill for granting a constitutional government to the colony of New Zealand. The Income Tax was re-imposed, and Parliament dissolved.

On the 14th of September, died, full of years and glory, the great commander, Arthur, Duke of Wellington. On the 10th of November his remains were conveyed to St. Paul's Cathedral, and interred by the side of Lord Nelson, accompanied with every circumstance of magnifi

cent ceremony and military pomp, and amidst universal sentiments of public veneration. A large sum of money was voted for a national monument, which we may hope to see erected at some future time.

In France, Napoleon had contrived to procure his election, by universal suffrage, to the position of Emperor. The popular voice of the French people being respected by England, the parvenu potentate was at once acknowledged. Parliament having assembled, the Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced his budget, upon which a great debate ensued, resulting in the defeat and resignation of Ministers. Lord Aberdeen was sent for by Her Majesty, and the following were the principal members of his administration:-Premier, Lord Aberdeen Chancellor, Lord Cranworth; Foreign Secretary, Lord John Russell; Home Secretary, Lord Palmerston; Colonial Secretary, Duke of New. castle; Secretary at War, Mr. Sidney Herbert; Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Gladstone; First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir James Graham; Commander-in-Chief, Lord Hardinge. It will thus be seen that the new ministry was formed by a coalition of the Whigs, with the followers of Sir Robert Peel.

During this year we were at war with Burmah; Martaban, Rangoon, and Prome, were captured by our army, and Pegu was permanently annexed to the British possessions.

In the Session of 1853 a bill was passed by the Commons, but rejected by the Lords, for the removal of Jewish disabilities; the succession duty was imposed; and penal servitude, with tickets of leave, substituted for transportation.

This

For some years disputes had been rife between the rival Greek and Roman Catholic Churches, who held possession of the holy places in Palestine. The claims of the former were supported by the Czar of Russia, while France entered the lists in favour of the latter. The dispute came to a crisis in this year, by the advancement of a demand, on the part of Russia, to be named, by the Sultan of Turkey, Protector of the Greek Christians throughout the Turkish dominions. arrogant demand was considered by England to be a blow aimed at the independence of Turkey, and the Porte was advised to give a flat refusal. A special mission was despatched by the Emperor Nicholas to Constantinople, and menaces were even resorted to by Prince Mentzikoff in support of his demands. The Sultan, however, advised by the English ambassador, declined to entertain the proposal, and war became imminent. The Russian army crossed the Pruth, and occupied the Danubian principalities, on the 2nd of July.

In consequence of the threatening aspect of affairs, the combined fleets

of England and France entered the Dardanelles. The campaign on the Danube was a glorious one for Turkey, for the Russians were defeated in the first encounter at Oltenitza. Public indignation was excited throughout Europe by the dastardly attack of the Russian fleet upon the unprepared Turkish ships in the harbour of Sinope, an event that has rightly been termed a massacre; but it showed that the existence of the fortress of Sebastopol, from whence the Russian fleet had sailed upon its cowardly expedition, was a standing menace to the independence of Turkey and the peace of Europe. The combined fleets entered the Black Sea, and the Russian fleet. became virtually blockaded in Sebastopol harbour.

In France the new empire was generally acquiesced in, and the chief of the state acknowledged by the great powers. The Emperor's marriage occurred during this year, his chosen wife being Eugenie, Countess of Montijo, a Spanish lady, related to the Scottish family of Kirkpatrick.

Peace was made with Burmah. Treaties of commerce were entered into with the Republics of Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, and with the King of the Sandwich Islands.

The Queen's Speech, on opening the Session of 1854, announced that we were acting in strict alliance with France, on the important Eastern question. This subject received ample attention in Parliament, and on the 27th of March a royal message announced a rupture with Russia.

A bill for Parliamentary Reform, introduced by Lord John Russell, being received apathetically by the country, was abandoned.

Indeed the entire attention of the people was concentrated on the approaching war, which it was now evident could no longer be avoided.

At all events the great mass of the English people were convinced that war was inevitable, and it was a matter of universal surprise-if not of indignation-that_the_ministers persisted in acting as if hostilities could be warded off. But events marched on rapidly, and on the 27th of March "we drifted into war." An offensive and defensive alliance was entered into with the Emperor of the French, by the terms of which each of the high contracting parties agreed to send a powerful force to the East, and not to desist from hostilities until such terms were agreed to by Russia, as would in all future times secure the empire of Turkey from aggression and dismemberment. Troops were rapidly shipped off to Gallipoli, and Lord Raglan departed to take the command of the English army. Marshal St. Arnaud was at the head of the French contingent, and in a short space of time a powerful force was concentrated at Constantinople and Scutari.

The Turkish troops on the Danube, under Omar Pasha, continued to be successful against the Russians, and having entrenched themselves at Silistria, the enemy besieged the place, and it became the great point of interest. If the fortress fell, it would enable the Russians to cross the Danube; if the defence were prolonged, their retreat would become