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abnegation, the Russian nobility, without hesitating at any fresh sacrifices, will defend unflinchingly the integrity of the Empire. Let our enemies learn that the powerful spirit of our ancestors, which founded the unity of our well-beloved country, is not extinct among us."

And in an address from the municipality of St. Petersburg they stated:

"We, the citizens of St. Petersburg, feel convinced that any attempt against the integrity of the Empire is an attack upon the existence of Russia, where the sentiment of national honour and attachment to its Sovereign is more lively than ever.

"We do not reply to our enemies by hatred and a thirst for vengeance; but, if it should please Providence to put Russia to the proof, we shall not recoil from any sacrifice; we will raise the standard for the Czar and for our country, and will march wherever your sovereign will may think fit to lead us."

General Berg was appointed military commander of Warsaw, and on the 19th of September a desperate attempt was made to assassinate him. He was driving through the Cracow suburbs, and had just reached a large building, which formed part of the Zamoyski Palace, when shots were fired, and some bombs were thrown (whether from the building or not is uncertain, for the Russian and Polish accounts are at direct variance on this point), and they burst in front of his carriage without injuring any one. The proprietor of the Zamoyski Palace (which contained, besides rich furniture, some invaluable manuscripts relative to the early history of Poland) was at the time absent, and resident in Paris. But this did not save his property from destruction. Russian troops were ordered to surround the palace, and every thing which they could lay their hands upon was thrown out of the windows and committed to the flames. Both it and the adjoining building were then confiscated and turned into military barracks. Nothing however was discovered to implicate any one either in or connected with the palace; and the Poles assert that the bombs were thrown, not from the building, but from the opposite side of

the street.

The Grand Duke Constantine applied to be relieved from the Government of Poland, on the plea of ill-health, and in October the Emperor addressed a letter to him acceding to his request, and said :

"The Polish people have not wished to comprehend and appreciate the significance of the nomination of your Imperial Highness to the post of my lieutenant. In revolting in contempt of all its oaths, in surrendering itself to criminal plots, it has shown itself unworthy of the pledge which I had given to it of my benevolent intentions in the person of my beloved brother.

"Recognizing the justice of your appreciations respecting the impossibility, in the actual circumstances, of following the way by

which I sought to secure the pacification of the country when I sent you to it last year, I consent to relieve you, in accordance with your wish, of the functions of my lieutenant and of commander-in-chief in the Kingdom of Poland. But when, with the aid of God, the revolt shall be subdued, and, rendered accessible to the voice of duty and of legality, my subjects of the kingdom shall free themselves from the violence exercised by the declared abettors of treason, and shall have recourse to my clemency; when the re-establishment of order shall permit the resumption of the work which you commenced; when circumstances shall render possible the application of institutions, the practical working of which is one of my strongest and sincerest desires; it pleases me to think that then you will be able again to take part in the execution of my views and consecrate yourself to the welfare of the country with the zeal and abnegation of which the incessant and incontestable evidences are as precious to my heart as my confidence, my friendship, and my fraternal affection towards you are unlimited."

We close our narrative of this year's struggle, in which Poland, left to its fate by the Great Powers, kept up to the close of it an unequal but desperate resistance, with an extract from an order issued by the Russian Commander in the district of Konin. It will show the kind of measures by which Russia hoped to be able to stamp out the flame of insurrection.

"At the approach of winter the forests can no longer serve as a refuge for the rebels, and the latter conceal themselves in towns and villages, where they are sheltered by the inhabitants. Consequently every inhabitant who shall not inform the military authorities of the presence of a rebel in his dwelling shall be tried by court-martial, and punished as if he were a rebel. A fine shall, moreover, be levied on the inhabitants of such towns or villages. Tailors, shoemakers, and such tradesmen are forbidden to keep ready-made clothes in their houses. Should such articles. be found in their possession, they shall be severely punished. Mayors of towns or villages are expressly forbidden to supply rebels with carts or horses. Any body violating this order shall be tried by court-martial, and a fine shall be levied on the inhabitants.'

CHAPTER V.

GREECE-MEXICO-JAPAN-NEW ZEALAND.

GREECE.-Memorandum of the British Government relative to the Cession of the Ionian Islands-Joy of the Inhabitants of Corfu-Protocol of London-The Ionian Parliament dissolved and a new one summoned-Prince George of Denmark elected King of Greece-His reception of the Deputation at Copenhagen-Cession of the Ionian Islands to Greece-Treaty on the subject.

MEXICO.-Letter from the French Emperor to General Forey on the subject of Mexico -Puebla captured by the French-Letter from the Emperor-Entry of General Forey into the city of Mexico-His Proclamation-The Assembly of Notables declare Mexico an Empire, and proclaim Archduke Maximilian of Austria Emperor-His reply to the Mexican Deputation.

JAPAN.-Demand for satisfaction for the Murder of Mr. Richardson-The British fleet enters Kagosima harbour-Refusal of our Demands-The Japanese open fire -Town of Kagosima bombarded-Submission of the Japanese,

NEW ZEALAND.-Outbreak of War with the Natives,

GREECE.

WE mentioned in our last volume the readiness of the British Government to consent to a cession of the Ionian Islands to Greece.

Accordingly, at the end of December, 1862, the following "Memorandum "" was delivered to the President of the Provisional Government of Greece by the Hon. Henry Elliot :

"It is Her Majesty's earnest desire to contribute to the welfare and prosperity of Greece.

"The treaties of 1827 and 1832 bear evidence of this desire on the part of the British Crown.

"The Provisional Government of Greece declared, upon the withdrawal of King Otho from Greece, that their mission is to maintain for Greece constitutional monarchy, and the relations of peace with all other States.

"If the new Assembly of the representatives of the Greek nation should prove faithful to this declaration, should maintain constitutional monarchy, and should refrain from all aggression against neighbouring States, and if they should choose a Sovereign against whom no well-founded objection could be raised, Her Majesty would see in this course of conduct a promise of future freedom and happiness for Greece. In such a case, Her Majesty, with a

view to strengthen the Greek Monarchy, would be ready to announce to the Senate and representatives of the Ionian Islands Her Majesty's wish to see them united to the Monarchy of Greece, and to form with Greece one united State; and if this wish should be expressed also by the Ionian Legislature, Her Majesty would then take steps for obtaining the concurrence of the Powers who were parties to the Treaty by which the seven Ionian Islands and their dependencies were placed as a separate State under the protectorate of the British Crown.

"I am to take care, in my communications upon this subject, to make it understood that the election of a Prince who should be the symbol and precursor of revolutionary disturbance, or of the adoption of an aggressive policy towards Turkey, would prevent any relinquishment of Her Majesty's protectorate over the Ionian Islands.

"Her Majesty's Government trust that, in the selection of a Sovereign to rule over Greece, the Greek Assembly will choose for their King a Prince from whom they can expect a regard for religious liberty, a respect for constitutional freedom, and a sincere love of peace. A Prince possessing these qualities will be fitted to promote the happiness of Greece, and will be honoured with the friendship and confidence of Her Majesty the Queen."

When the news of the intended cession reached Corfu, it was received with enthusiastic joy. A deputation of citizens proceeded to the house of the Lord High Commissioner with an address, which stated:

"Corfu is touched to the heart by learning that the Government of Her Britannic Majesty has informed the other European Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris of the 5th of November, 1815, of its intention to abandon the protectorate of the Ionian Islands given by that treaty to the Sovereigns of Great Britain. The reunion of the seven islands to the Kingdom of Greece-this fulfilment of the ardent and unanimous desire of the populationis an act of Divine Providence, and diplomacy cannot but bow to it. But if it is to the Supreme Being that the people of the heptarchy should first address their grateful thanksgiving, they cannot abstain from expressing their gratitude to the English nation, who, from a love of liberty, have interested themselves in our holy cause, and pleaded it before Her Majesty's Government. In these circumstances the people of Corfu feel the imperative need of manifesting the satisfaction they feel at the triumph of right and the realization of their unanimous desire to be united to Greece. They equally feel the necessity of expressing their gratitude to the people of Great Britain, who, in defending our rights, have by implication defended those of Greeks in general."

We mentioned also that Prince Alfred of England had been almost unanimously chosen to fill the vacant throne, but was prevented from accepting the proffered dignity; and, as it is curious to see what was the exact result of the voting on the all

important question of choosing a King, we subjoin the information in a note'.

It now became necessary to look out for another candidate; and ultimately the choice fell upon Prince George of Denmark, the brother of the Princess of Wales, who was unanimously proclaimed King of Greece in a sitting of the Senate at Athens, on the 30th of March. A decree was passed, which contained the following provisions:

"Art. 1. Prince Christian-William-Ferdinand-Adolphus-George, second son of Prince Christian of Denmark, is proclaimed Constitutional King of the Greeks, under the name of George I., King of the Greeks.

"Art. 2. His legitimate successors shall profess the orthodox religion of the East.

"Art. 3. A commission of three members, selected by the National Assembly, shall proceed to Copenhagen to offer the Crown to the Prince in the name of the Greek nation."

Another decree related to the Ionian Islands :

"1. The Greek nation expresses its ardent wish to see the Greek State of the Seven Islands united as soon as possible under the constitutional sceptre of George I., King of the Greeks, to Greece, which is now free.

"2. Thanks are offered to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain by the Greek nation, for the benevolent intention she has already manifested as regards the accomplishment of the ardent wish of the Greek nation."

1 According to the Report of the Commission appointed by lot to count up the votes, they were as follows:

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