worth was only in its initiative. During the administration of Viscount Melbourne he was recommended by that nobleman for a knighthood, which he received in 1835, and in 1845 received the degree of D.C.L. from the University of Oxford. He married, in 1815, a daughter of Dawson Turner, Esq., of Norwich, by whom he had issue the distinguished botanist and traveller, Dr. Joseph Dalton Hooker. revival under Overbeck and other Germans at Rome | Gardens at Kew in the year 1822, when their botanical of the spirit of Christian art. The artist was henceforward a rising man; and it may be mentioned that his merits as a painter possessed valuable accessories to their advancement in his accomplishments as a travelled and polished gentleman, and his abilities as a writer. Together with these qualifications, he was distinguished for great aptitude for business; and this combination secured him (1841) an appointment as secretary, to the Royal Commission authorised to conduct the decoration of the New Palace of Westminster. During his occupation of this responsible position his literary ability gave to the public some valuable contributions, tending to arrest the existing tendency in monumental painting to ultra-realism and the "formative parts" in general. The last report of the commissioners bears a warm tribute to the "long and meritorious services of Sir Charles Eastlake," and conveys a shadowy suggestion that those services should be specially acknowledged; but the hint was not acted upon. "Materials for a History of Oil-painting," was published by Eastlake in 1847: a most important literary work, and of the highest value to artists. On the death of Sir Martin Shee, in 1850, he was chosen as president of the Royal Academy, and received from her Majesty on his election the customary honour of knighthood attending it. His previous appointment as keeper of the National Gallery, received by him in 1843, he had resigned in 1847; but, in 1850, he accepted the invitation of Sir Robert Peel to become one of the trustees of the gallery, and some time afterwards was appointed director, at a salary of £1,000 a year, with a secretary, Mr. Wornum, who received £800 per annum. In all his official phases Sir Charles Eastlake's judgment as an artist was seldom, if ever, at fault. Besides the "Materials," &c., Eastlake published a series of papers under the title, "Contributions to the Literature of the Fine Arts," containing essays written for the reports of the Fine Arts Commissioners and for the Quarterly Review; he also translated "Goethe on Colour," and annotated Kugler's "Handbook of Painting." In the year 1849 he married a lady eminent for literary ability, who was author of several works; her last, the completion of "The History of our Lord," which had been commenced by Mrs. Jameson. Sir Charles Lock Eastlake died at Pisa, but his body was interred in the English cemetery in Florence. SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON.-Science lost one of its worthies by the death of Sir William R. Hamilton, professor of astronomy in Trinity College, Dublin, who died at Dunsink Observatory, aged sixty. Sir William was a man of extraordinary genius. He was not only an astronomer, but he was also a littérateur of eminence. It is related of him, as illustrating his wonderful gifts as a linguist, that at the early age of nine years he wrote a letter in Persian to the Persian ambassador, then in England, Mirza Abul Hassan Khan. He was also a profound theological and hermeneutical scholar from a very early age. SIR WILLIAM JACKSON HOOKER, F.R.S., died at Kew, at the advanced age of eighty, on the 12th of August. This eminent botanist was the son of Joseph Hooker, Esq., of Exeter, who claimed family membership with Richard Hooker, the author of "Ecclesiastical Polity," and who, having removed to Norwich, his son was there born in the early part of the year 1785. Sir William devoted himself to botanical studies, his innate love of which was unceasing, and won for him celebrity of the first order among professors of the science. His success was so distinguished that he was made regius professor of the University of Glasgow, where his great ability as a lecturer, and his many amenities and genial personal qualities, rendered him exceedingly popular. He became curator of the Royal The authorship of Sir William enumerates "The British Flora," "Flora Borealis Americana," "Icones Felicum," "Genera Filicum," "Musci Exotici," "Flora Exotica," "Musculogia Britannica," &c. To Admiral Beechey's work, giving an account of his voyage of discovery in the Arctic regions, he contributed the botanical portion, and he wrote extensively for the botanical periodicals. Sir William Hooker was a knight of the legion of honour, and a member of almost every scientific society, philosophical and literary, in Europe and America. DR. LINDLEY.-Another learned man, lately professor of botany at University College, London, and editor of The Gardener's Chronicle, Dr. John Lindley, Ph.D., F.R.S., has left a void in literary circles. He died at his residence, Acton-green, on the first of November. He was born near Catton, in Norfolk, in 1799, and was the son of Mr. Lindley, a writer on horticulture, and owner of botanical nursery-grounds near Catton. From his father he inherited a taste for botany, and under him had an opportunity of prosecuting its study. When he was only twenty-one years of age he ventured to write on botanical subjects, and admirably succeeded, those early contributions having contained a development of interesting and useful facts which commanded the notice and consideration of botanists everywhere. He arrived in London in 1828, and, during the seven years following, was princi pally engaged with the late Mr. Loudon in producing the "Encyclopædia of Plants," a work finished in 1829. In 1846, after publishing various books and papers relating to the science to which he was devoted, he published "The Vegetable Kingdom," a work at once com. plete and comprehensive. He conducted the Gardener's Chronicle from its commencement. In 1829 he was appointed to the chair of botany in University College, London, and for nearly twenty-four years held that position. Professor Lindley was also, until the disconti nuance of that course, lecturer at the Botanical Gardens, Chelsea, then the property of the Apothecaries' Hall, and from 1822 he held the post of under-secretary to the Royal Horticultural Society. He was a doctor of civil law, and possessed an honorary degree, Ph.D., presented by the University of Munich. With Sir Joseph Paxton he was associated in superintending the interior of the first Crystal Palace, and for many years he held under his charge the library and museum of the Horticultural Society, much to the advantage of those departments. If not among the very highest class of scientific discoverers, Professor Lindley was certainly one of the first botanists of Europe. CAPTAIN FOWKE, R.E.-Another notable person, was this year removed from English Society. Captain Fowke, of the Royal Engineers, a friend of Prince Albert, the object of so much praise for his connection with the British compartment of the French International Exhibition, and of so much severe criticism for his part in the construction of the building erected in Kensington for the last International Exhibition in this country, and commonly nicknamed the Brompton Boilers. In 1859-60 Captain Fowke designed the Industrial Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. In 1860 the plans and designs for the new buildings for the South Kensington Museum were produced; these, as modified and improved by him, were adopted, and in course of con struction at the time of his death. The design for the Dublin National Gallery followed the last. Here the architect was compelled to make all external arrange-other, the Rinderpest, or cattle disease, which, during ments, and repeat the design which had been already the month of December just past, destroyed the alarming executed for another part of the same range of structures; number of from six to eight thousand per week of horned the internal dispositions-those true tests of an archi- animals. But, more terrible still, this bovine fatality, tect's constructive genius-are by Captain Fowke, and it was apprehended, might soon find a parallel in the eminently successful. The International Exhibition mortuary register of the population itself; for that fell building can hardly be called his work in an archi-visitor, cholera, in its most formidable shape, was antectural sense; the original design suffered so much by nounced to be approaching our shores, with rapid strides, alterations, which, however unavoidable they might by a westerly route through the continent of Europe. In have been, were unfortunate, that it is not fair to attri- view of those adverse existences, it could not be denied bute to him the result as a whole. The system of that apprehensions of a very gloomy tendency were arrangements, the many devices for convenient use of a entertained by large sections of the community, particugreat building under diverse and complicated circum-larly in the provinces; and, no doubt, for the internal stances, were certainly his. The picture-galleries and well-being of this country the prospects were temporarily beautifully designed annexes were by the same designer. critical, so far as the evils just cited, Fenianism, the The conservatory, south arcade, and some other portions Rinderpest, and cholera, affected it. But those fears of the structure in the Horticultural Society's Garden at were puerile, for the government and the country, in due South Kensington, were also by him. time, drew upon resources of defence, protection, and prevention, which eventually neutralised and marred the threatening evils. Perhaps the attaint would to a certain extent lie against the government, of being too slow in deliberation, and, having once decided, of being over considerative in action. But this question cannot now be discussed. Promptness in suppressing sedition or stamping out a pest is always the best and most merciful policy. However, the extreme measures adopted in both instances will be referred to in their proper place. Among minor works produced by Captain Fowke were several which attested his military knowledge and professional habits, no less than they displayed his remarkable ability in construction; these included a fire-engine, to be limbered up like a gun-now adopted in the military service; also a collapsible pontoon of great value, and several other very ingenious designs. Captain Fowke died suddenly at South Kensington, on the 4th of December, 1865, at the early age of forty four. CHAPTER IX. Opening of the Year- -Parliamentary Session: the Cattle Plague; Roman A.D. 1866. BEYON The monetary position of the country was, at this period, by no means satisfactory. The year 1865 closed leaving the bank rate of discount at the high range of 7 per cent., after leading it for many months through several and startling fluctuations. The last twelve months constituted what may be recorded as the "limited liability year," and one notorious for that speculative mania which, recklessly ingenious, transferred the business of many private firms, burdened with large liabilities and extensive engagements, to limited companies, and revelled, altogether, in the creation of nearly three hundred new joint-stock trading associations. Such a system of adventuring and delusion could not end otherwise than in disastrous reaction. It occurred; but in the following year, 1866, when the wide-spread EYOND the immediate radius of domestic collapse and too numerous failures, many of them of affairs England, at the opening of the crushing magnitude, brought ruin upon thousands, deyear 1866, had just cause for self-gratula-stroyed public confidence, paralysed trade and restricted tion. Her foreign policy had, to all appearance, firmly commerce: a state of things from which the country is established peaceful relations with her neighbours and not even yet (1871) totally redeemed. Most certainly with those states and empires far remote from such a commercial confidence is not even now restored to the denomination. Imperial India was being rapidly con- standard it attained in 1864-5, and domestic trade still solidated, both in a physical and intellectual sense, with feels through some of its ramifications the baneful and British principles and interests. Those great culturers, depressing effects of improvident enterprise in the past. the railways, had, in turning up and developing the material resources of certain districts in that vast region, awakened the moral appreciation of the peoples for those achievements of practical intelligence which thus forced Our home politics at the commencement of the parliatheir benefits upon them, without distinction of class or mentary session of this year, 1866, were scarcely suffisect. Oriental apathy responded to this stimulus; ciently defined at some of their most important points; native acquisitiveness, a trait truly human, was not and public opinion was much divided upon the subject appealed to in vain; and already, under the influences of of the government's stability. Earl Russell was at the the industrial spirit evoked, the ancient obstructive head of the administration, and Mr. Gladstone was the prejudices of caste were fast wearing out, and even those first minister or leader of the liberal party in the House dark religious superstitions which, for so many ages, of Commons. The government was computed to comhad held their temple-haunts on the Jumna and Ganges, mand a majority of seventy; a large one, and a good were being divested of their barbarous solemnities and working support under ordinary circumstances; but the gradually dissipated by the new light that had broken premier, though traditionally esteemed throughout on the destinies of India. Education, tranquillity, com- the country for all he had done in the cause of reform merce, industry, financial improvement, and a general and general liberalism, lacked that experience and growing prosperity, now notably marked the progress of admirable, not to say marvellous tact, which won for his that great empire, which may with appositeness be predecessor, the late Lord Palmerston, the confidence styled England in the East. In like manner, the and forbearance of his opponents-those sterling qualities British colonies were in a contented and flourishing of head and heart that endeared him to his friends and secured to him their allegiance as a party; and that prestige for true British spirit, and the chivalric assertion of it, whenever a right had to be vindicated, a wrong redressed, or honour protected, which had made the veteran statesman respected abroad, and inspired the condition. But it so happened those material elements of national wealth and progress were not without a counterbalance of a grave and disquieting nature. On the one hand existed disaffection and turbulence in Ireland; on the PARLIAMENTARY SESSION. people of the United Kingdom with a hearty affection | around, he missed from among them. He appealed to for him, and a special confidence in all his political those who had been his colleagues in the house for the utterances and acts, such as never before dignified a first minister of the crown of England. Earl Russell, though gifted with great abilities, and with the honest inclination to use them for the public good, did not possess that personal popularity his good intentions and distinguished qualities as a statesman merited; nor, while Mr. Gladstone was held in the highest esteem as a liberal minister, did the general public give him credit for certain indispensable characteristics necessary to the successful leadership of one of the great parties, liberal or conservative, in the House of Commons. Mr. Gladstone's incomparable abilities fitted him, in the estimation of all, for the arduous position; but time has proved that it was a popular error which denied him the possession of the lesser official attributes, by which those qualities of a higher grade must inevitably be regulated under such responsibilities. However, those "weaknesses" of the ministry apart, there existed in the political programme a problem, the solution of which was a difficulty not to be easily overcome. Reform, that had once elevated Lord Russell to a pinnacle of political greatness to which the nation, grateful for his services, paid enthusiastic homage, seemed now fated to become the sinister power that was to bring him down from his present high estate, and cast him forth from the councils of the sovereign. Differences of opinion, opposing interests, and not least, the absence of any real fervour in the cause, and in the main a certain degree of ignorance of the subject among the majority of the present generation, were points urged against the introduction of the measure, so soon after the death of Lord Palmerston, whose peculiar policy, like some potent charm, had thrown the measure for some years into a state of semi-torpidity, a state from which it was but just aroused without any appreciable or attractive improvement in either its principles or appearance. Public opinion as to the new bearings of this long-pending question was vague and undefined; while there was some danger that many nominal liberals elected to the new parliament had given the measure but curt consideration, and were, therefore, liable to be detached from their party by the political subtleties which the leading men of the opposition knew so well how to put in action. Throughout the country numbers of the most devoted advocates of reform declared against testing this important question, until the government should become more conversant with the temper and disposition of the house. But to such reasonings and expostulations the government pleaded the obligations of political morality, consistency, the just expectations of the country, and so forth. The issue was, in the face of the opponents arrayed against them, perilous in the extreme; still, through an assumed sense of duty, they risked it, and, as we shall presently see, were ultimately defeated. And thence the question became mooted, whether this sacrifice of prudence and an important principle to punctiliousness was not an error of which a wise administration could not be guilty. But this is a point of political ethics which cannot be discussed here. renewal of the confidence they had hitherto done him As leader of the opposition Mr. Disraeli united in the encomiums so deservedly passed upon the right hon. gentleman, Mr. Denison, expressed confidence in that gentleman's ability to discharge the high duties which devolved upon him as speaker, and intimated his surprise that the gratifying precedent of assigning to a member on that side of the house the task of seconding his nomination, had been departed from. To the memory of Lord Palmerston the right hon. gentleman took occasion to pay a graceful tribute of regret; and the business of the house for the evening terminated. The session of 1866, the first of the seventh parliament, whatever indications of possible trouble loomed for the government on the political horizon, commenced under state auspices of gratifying and happy augury. Her Majesty, who, since the death of her lamented consort Prince Albert, had not entered the Palace of Westminster, on this occasion signified her intention of opening the new parliament. To the nation the act of the sovereign was a source of high gratification, it being then popularly regarded as, in some measure, a mark of recognition by the crown of those principles upon which the majority of the present legislature were elected by the country. And, further, it awakened feelings of the most genial nature, to see England's widowed queen, a woman endeared to all by her affectionate sympathies as a wife and mother, and universally revered and honoured for her sterling virtues, thus come forth from her seclu sion, to inaugurate a new representative era from which her people anticipated a rational extension of their constitutional liberties. This proceeding on the part of her Majesty was well. timed, judicious in the extreme, and had the happiest results. The veil of gloom, which had for the past five years kept her apart from her people, was now con sidered to be drawn aside by her own hand, and the country accepted the event as a royal proof that her private sorrows had not dulled her interest in its welfare, or lessened her gracious consideration for its loyalty and the popular tendencies. The election of a speaker, and the taking of the usual oaths by the members, were necessary preliminaries to the opening of the House of Commons. On the 1st of February the houses met for the required purposes, and Mr. Evelyn Denison, who during the two preceding parliaments had filled the chair to the satisfaction of all parties, was proposed now for re-election by the Right Hon. William Monsell, seconded by Earl Grosvenor. On the 6th of February, her Majesty in person He was chosen nem. con.; and having been led to the chair opened the first session of the seventh parliament of her by the mover and seconder, the right hon. gentleman reign. As a ceremony it was shorn of much of that returned thanks to the house for his unanimous re-regal splendour which imperially distinguished the election, and referred with feeling of regret and esteem openings of the British parliament by the sovereign on to the late Lord Palmerston, whose presence, as he looked former occasions. The Queen did not proceed down to the house in her principal state-carriage; she did not | lord chancellor informed this assembly, that it was her traverse now in stately procession the royal passage Majesty's pleasure they should be seated; and all having commencing at the Victoria Tower, but entered the resumed their seats, Sir Augustus Clifford, usher of the palace by the peers' entrance. The robes of state were black rod, by order of the lord chancellor, proceeded to not as they were wont to be, gracefully assumed and the House of Commons to summon the members to queenly worn, but were merely laid upon the throne; attend at the bar to hear her Majesty's speech. and the royal speech, the clear, silvery and impressive The royal speech read from the throne by the lord enunciation of which had been a happy characteristic of chancellor was as follows:the Queen in former years, was now, in obedience to her "My Lords and Gentlemen,-It is with great satisMajesty's commands, read by the lord chancellor. But faction that I have recourse to your assistance and another and far more appreciable interest than that advice. I have recently declared my consent to a excited by array of magnificence and exhibition of pomp marriage between my daughter, Princess Helena, and and power, was attached to this ceremony, it being the Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburgfirst occasion since the death of the Prince Consort, Augustenburg. I trust this union may be prosperous December, 1861, on which her Majesty resumed those and happy. The death of my beloved uncle, the King public functions, or assisted at any state ceremony. of the Belgians, has affected me with profound grief. I feel great confidence, however, that the wisdom which he evinced during his reign will animate his successor, and preserve for Belgium her independence and prosperity. My relations with foreign powers are friendly and satisfactory, and I see no cause to fear any disturbance of the general peace. On her way down to the house from Buckingham Palace, her Majesty was received with the most loyal enthusiasm by the thousands congregated to witness the proceedings. In the House of Lords, the peers and prelates, with their families and privileged persons, attended in unusually large numbers. Among the foreign ministers were the French, Austrian, and Prussian ambassadors, the Italian and other ministers. Several of the learned judges were also in attendance. The lord chancellor entered the house at twenty-five minutes past one o'clock. The Duke of Cambridge took his seat at the head of the ducal bench, and upon the entrance of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the whole house rose in honour of the illustrious visitors. While the prince took his place immediately above the Duke of Cambridge, the princess was escorted by the officers of state to the woolsack, on which she sat facing the throne, and with her back to the lord chancellor. Her royal highness had the Hon. Mrs. Stonor and one or two other ladies in attendance, the suite of the prince being Earl Spencer, and a few other officers. Prince Christian of Augustenburg, who came late, was seated near the end of one of the ambassadors' couches. At two o'clock the lord chancellor left the house, accompanied by the usher of the black rod, to proceed to the peers' entrance, in readiness to receive her Majesty, and in twelve minutes afterwards the royal procession made its appearance. Heralds and pursuivants, of which there were a number, came first, then followed the great officers of state, and finally her Majesty in person advanced, accompanied by the Princesses Helena and Louisa. Her Majesty then assumed her seat on the throne, and the Prince of Wales passed to his chair of state on her right; while on her left stood the Princesses Helena and Louisa, Earl Granville bearing the sword of state, the Duke of Argyll in his capacity of lord privy seal, and the new lord chamberlain, the Earl of Bessborough. Behind her Majesty, to the right, were the Duchess of Wellington, the mistress of the robes, and another lady-in-waiting; and at the same side, but more in front of her, stood the lord chancellor, the Marquis of Landsdowne, bearing the crown on a cushion, and the Marquis of Winchester bearing the cap of maintenance. Her Majesty was simply attired; she wore a dark purple dress with a border of white ermine, and bore a tiara of diamonds, from which, over the back of her head, flowed a long white gauze veil. The assembly had arisen on the entrance of the royal procession, and the house had, on the Queen taking her seat on the throne, an indescribably magnificent appearance; the delicate but exquisitely attractive colours of the ladies' dresses, the great display of diamonds and other gems of untold preciousness, the rich uniforms of the ambassadors, peers, state officials and military, all blended into a sphere of beauty and brilliancy far beyond any portrayal by pen or pencil. And still there was in that assemblage one elevated, calm, and dignified contrast to its magnificence. It was the Queen herself; isolated and enthroned, she represented a chaste emblem of simplicity inset in a gorgeous canopy. And now the "I have observed with satisfaction that the United States, after terminating successfully the severe struggle in which they were so long engaged, are wisely repairing the ravages of civil war. The abolition of slavery is an event calling forth the cordial sympathies and congratulations of this country, which has always been foremost in showing its abhorrence of an institution repugnant to every feeling of justice and humanity. "I have at the same time the satisfaction to inform you that the exertions and perseverance of my naval squadron have reduced the slave-trade on the West Coast of Africa within very narrow limits. "A correspondence has taken place between my government and that of the United States with respect to injuries inflicted on American commerce by cruisers under the Confederate flag. Copies of this correspondence will be laid before you. "The renewal of diplomatic relations with Brazil has given me much satisfaction, and I acknowledge with pleasure that the good offices of my ally, the King of Portugal, have contributed essentially to this happy result. "I have to regret the interruption of peace between Spain and Chili. The good offices of my government, in conjunction with those of the Emperor of the French, have been accepted by Spain; and it is my earnest hope that the causes of disagreement may be removed in a manner honourable and satisfactory to both countries. "The negotiations which have long been pending in Japan, and which have been conducted with great ability by my minister in that country, in conjunction with the representatives of my allies in Japan, have been brought to a conclusion which merits my entire approbation. The existing treaties have been ratified by the Mikado; it has been stipulated that the tariff shall be revised in a manner favourable to commerce, and that the indemnity due under the terms of the convention of October, 1864, shall be punctually discharged. 'I have concluded a treaty of commerce with the Emperor of Austria, which I trust will open to that empire the blessings of extended commerce, and be productive of important benefits to both countries. "The diplomatic events which have occurred in the island of Jamaica have induced me to provide at once for an impartial inquiry, and for the due maintenance of authority during that inquiry by appointing a distinguished military officer as governor and commander of the forces. I have given him the assistance of two able and learned commissioners, who will aid him in examining into the origin, nature, and circumstances of the recent outbreak, and the measures adopted in the course of its suppression. The legislature of Jamaica has proposed that the present political constitution of the island should be replaced by a new form of government. 'Papers on these occurrences will be laid before 'Papers on the present state of New Zealand will be laid before you. "I have given directions for the return to this country of the greater portion of my regular forces employed in that colony. "I watch with interest the proceedings which are still in progress in British North America with a view to a closer union among the provinces, and I continue to attach great importance to that object. "I have observed with great concern the extensive prevalence, during the last few months, of a virulent distemper among cattle in Great Britain, and it is with deep regret and sincere sympathy with the sufferers that I have learnt the severe losses which it has caused in many counties and districts. It is satisfactory to know that Ireland and a considerable part of Scotland are as yet free from this calamity; and I trust that, by the precautions suggested by experience, and by the divine blessing on the means which are now being employed, its further extension may be arrested. "The orders which have been made by the lords of the privy council by virtue of the powers vested in them by law, with a view to prevent the spreading of this disease, will be laid before you, and your attention will be called to the expediency of an amendment of the law relating to a subject so deeply affecting the interests of my people. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,-I have directed that the estimates of the ensuing year shall be laid before you. They have been prepared with a due regard to economy, and are at the same time consistent with the maintenance of efficiency in the public service. "The condition of trade is satisfactory. "My Lords and Gentlemen,-A conspiracy, adverse alike to authority, property, and religion, and disapproved and condemned alike by all who are interested in their maintenance, without distinction of creed or class, has unhappily appeared in Ireland. The constitutional power of the ordinary tribunals has been exerted for its repression, and the authority of the law has been firmly and impartially vindicated. "A bill will be submitted to you founded on the report of the royal commission on the subject of capital punishment, which I have directed to be laid before you. "Bills will be laid before you for amending and consolidating the laws relating to bankruptcy, and for other improvements in the law. "Measures will also be submitted to you for extending the system of public audit to branches of receipt and expenditure which it has not hitherto reached, and for amending the provisions of the law with respect to certain classes of legal pensions. "Your attention will be called to the subject of the oaths taken by members of parliament, with a view to avoid unnecessary declarations, and to remove invidious distinctions between members of different religious communities in matters of legislation. "I have directed that information should be procured in reference to the rights of voting in the election of members to serve in parliament for counties, cities, and boroughs. "When that information is complete, the attention of parliament will be called to the result thus obtained, with a view to such improvement in the laws which regulate the rights of voting in the election of members of the House of Commons, as may tend to strengthen our free institutions, and conduce to the public welfaro. "In these, and in all other deliberations, I fervently pray that the blessing of Almighty God may guide your counsels, to the promotion of the happiness of my people." In the upper house the address to the speech from the throne was moved by the Marquis of Normanby, and seconded by the Earl of Morley. The noble marquis entered upon the subject with a happy recognition of the reappearance of her Majesty in public, and the royal resumption of those functions, from the exercise of which the country so deeply deplored her Majesty's long absence and its cause. The effort she had made would be still further appreciated from the fact that she was suffering through a fresh bereavement in the death of her lamented relative, King Leopold. In this country the termination of the civil war in the United States was regarded with a feeling of general satisfaction, and the prevailing desire was to maintain with that great republic the most amicable relations. It was evident that to sustain commercial intercourse between this country and America would be the most effectual mode of repairing the calamitous result of the recent internecine struggle-results from which, it was to be feared, the Northern as well as the Southern states would for a considerable time continue to suffer. The conclusion of the treaty of commerce between Great Britain and Austria would open new issues of commercial enterprise between both countries, and was a matter for congratulation. With reference to the outbreak in Jamaica, it would have been the better course had Governor Eyre furnished the govern ment with such a detail of facts as would have satisfied this country that no excesses of authority, such as were laid to his charge, had been committed; there would have been then no necessity for sending out the commissioners. At the same time he (the Marquis of Normanby) could not for a moment believe, in the absence of clear and positive proofs, that Mr. Eyre had been guilty of the acts alleged against him; and it was but just to hold him free from blame until unmistakable evidence to the contrary should be given. The affairs of New Zealand, the cattle plague, and the Fenian conspiracy, next came under review. Referring to parliamentary reform, his lordship expressed his belief that the bill which the government were about to introduce would, while giving to the working-classes a fair share in the representation, respect and insure the rights of property. Into the debate which followed there was political activity imported, which rarely characterises proceedings in the House of Lords. The Duke of Rutland, speaking on the important paragraph of the royal speech touching the cattle plague, said the destructive disease had already existed for six months, and the government had done absolutely nothing, or worse than nothing, to stop the spread of the pest. Only vague and contradictory orders emanated from them, and they were evidently endeavouring to shift the responsibility from themselves to the people. Prevention, not cure, was the sole remedy for this evil visitation; and it was now the duty of the government, who had neglected that duty up to the eleventh hour, to arouse from their slumbers, and by prohibiting the movement of cattle through the country, and the importation of cattle from abroad, to meet the exigency. Similar views were entertained by the Duke of Richmond, who emphatically accused the administration of apathy, neglect, and indecision, in providing against the disastrous circumstances attendant on the plague; and, as a proof of the loose and irregular manner in which matters were conducted, pointed out that the report of the commission on capital punishment had just, contrary to all precedent, been published in a newspaper; and of this he indignantly complained, terming it a direct insult to parliament. An amendment to the address was now moved by Lord Feversham condemnatory of the neglect of the government in regard to the cattle plague, in the |
