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Ireland: Arrival of the New Viceroy, Lord Spencer-Visit of
Prince Arthur-Removal of the Remains of Daniel
O'Connell-Colonial: Gibraltar-South Africa: Religious
Dissensions; Diamond Discoveries - New Zealand-
Foreign Affairs: France-The Emperor's New Year's
Day Addresses-Opening of the Chambers-the Senatus
Consultum-Assembling of the New Chambers-Resigna-
tion of M. de Forcade de la Roquette-North Germany
and Prussia-Rome-Belgium-Spain-Egypt: the Suez
Canal-The United States-Decease of Eminent Persons:
the Earl of Derby, the Bishop of Exeter, Field-Marshal
Viscount Gough, Marquis of Westminster, Lord Brough-
ton, Sir James Emerson Tennent, Chief-Justice Lefroy,
General Thompson, Ernest Jones, George Peabody,
Alphonse Lamartine
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Parliamentary Summary-The Ballot Bill-New Licensing
Act-Adulteration of Food-Baby Farming-Convales-
cence of the Prince of Wales-Thanksgiving Day-The
Queen's Thanks-Attack on the Queen-End of the Tich-
borne Trial-Tidings of Dr. Livingstone-Bethnal Green
Museum-Fire at Canterbury Cathedral-Strikes: Farin
Labourers, Police, Gas-stokers-Ireland: Galway Elec-
tion Petition; Belfast Riots-Foreign: America-Geneva
Tribunal Award-Settlement of the San Juan Question
-Italy: Eruption of Mount Vesuvius - Decease of
Eminent Persons: Earl Mayo, Norman Macleod, D.D.,
Sir Francis Crossley, Bart., M.P., Charles Lever, the
Rev. Frederick Denison Maurice, Joseph Gillott-Death
of the Ex-Emperor of the French'
Parliamentary Session: Speech from the Throne'; its topics; the Addresses of both Houses; the Reform Bill; Church Rates Bill; second reading of the Reform Bill; defeat of the government; Lord Derby announces the dissolution of parliament--Meeting of the new parliament- Election of Speaker-Her Majesty's Speech--The Address in the House of Lorde Amendment on the Address carried in the Commons-Resignation of Earl Derby's cabinet-Lord Palmerston forms an administration-His Ministry-Close of the session--Finance--The Centenary of the Birth of Robert Burns-Explosion on board the Great Eastern-Wreck of the Royal Charter-Foreign Affairs-Colonial.
PARLIAMENTARY.-SESSION OF 1859.
HE session of 1859, and the events of the
amongst the measures was one for the better representa. tion of the people in parliament, and for a more equal distribution of seats.
In the House of Lords, the address was moved and seconded by Lords Winchelsea and Ravensworth, followed on the part of the Liberals by Earl Granville, who said he did not intend to move any amendment, nor would he, when the time came, offer any factious opposition to the promised Reform Bill.
The debate in the commons was singularly languid; indeed it would have dropped through, had not Lord Palmerston entered into some little criticisms of the
cursory policy of government, which to a speech
glance which they have necessarily received from the short space at the author's command in the closing of the last volume. At the opening of parliament on the 3rd of February, more than usual interest was felt in the policy to be pursued by her Majesty's ministers, so that the speech, which was read by; the Queen herself, was listened to with the utmost attention. After referring to the peaceful state of the country, and stating how pleased she was at the valour and skill displayed by her troops in India, her Majesty said she had received from all foreign powers assurances of their friendly feelings. A convention had been concluded with the sovereigns who were parties to the treaties of Paris of 1856, relative to the organization of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, which were then preparing their new constitution. A commercial treaty had been also concluded between England and Russia, which was a satisfactory indication of the complete establishment of those amicable relations which until their late unfortunate interruption had long subsisted between them. The measures which she had thought it necessary to take in conjunction with her ally, the Emperor of the French, in relation to the disturbances in China, resulted in a treaty in which the interests of both were carefully preserved. With Japan -a country so long practically closed to Europeans-a commercial treaty had been entered into. Her Majesty felt great pleasure in announcing that her remonstrance with the Emperor Napoleon had induced him to put a stop to the system of negro emigration from the east coast of Africa, which had tended in no small degree to increase the slave trade. The state of the republic of Mexico, distracted by civil war, had induced the government of England to carry forbearance to its uttermost limits, in regard to the wrongs and injuries received by English residents there at the hands of the contending parties. They had at length, however, been carried to such an extent that her Majesty had been compelled to give instructions to her naval commanders in those waters to demand, and if necessary to enforce, reparation. Turning to matters more nearly relating to home, the universal introduction of steam-power into naval warfare had rendered necessary a temporary increase of expenditure, for the reconstruction of the British navy. Amongst the bills promised for the session were measures relating to insolvency and bankruptcy-to crimes and offences in England and Ireland-for enabling owners of land in England to obtain for themselves an indefeasible title to their estates and interests, and for registering Buch titles with simplicity and security; and conspicuous
from Mr. Disraeli, and an answering one from Lord John Russell. The address, which was moved by Mr. Trefusis and seconded by Mr. Beecroft, was agreed to by eight o'clock, when the house adjourned.
Little business of importance was done before the 28th of February, when the real work of the session commenced. On that evening the Reform Bill was introduced by the chancellor of the exchequer (Mr. Disraeli), who, in the course of a long speech, explained its provisions. He said there seemed to exist a very general desire that in boroughs the ten-pound household franchise, established by the Reform Bill of 1832, should be founded on rating instead of on value; this he found on mature reflection to be impracticable, although the scheme found favour in his eyes. The government proposed to introduce new elements into this franchise— they would allow persons who had funded property, bank stock, or East India stock, yielding 107. per annum, to exercise the privilege of the franchise. They would also give the franchise to men who had had 607. in the savings-bank for a year, to persons who were in receipt of army or navy pensions from 201. per annum; to the graduates of all the universities; to ministers of religion; to the occupiers of houses to the value of 207. a year, and to professional men. As to the counties, the government plan was based on the principle of recognising an identity of suffrage in counties and boroughs. This would of course lead to the 40s. freeholders residing in boroughs exercising their franchise in boroughs instead of counties, and this would give an increase of 200,000 voters to the boroughs. An innovation in the system of voting papers was proposed, so that persons who could not attend at the hustings might transmit these papers per post to the returning officer. The scheme for the redistribution of seats was short and comprehensive. It was proposed to add four members to the West Riding of Yorkshire, two members to South Lancashire, and two to Middlesex, and to create seven new boroughs, namely:-Hartlepool, Birkenhead, West Bromwich and Wednesbury, Burnley, Staley bridge, Croydon, and Gravesend. This increase in the representation would be compensated for by fifteen boroughs, which then returned thirty members, in future returning only one each. This scheme was, on the whole, not well received even by the Conservative party, and on the 1st of March Mr. Henley and Mr. Walpole left the cabinet. These gentlemen held the posts of president of the board of trade, and home secretary; and it excited some curiosity that they found themselves unable to agree to so small an instalment of reform as that proposed. B