Ministers. No; his letter to the electors of Edinburgh has set that point at rest. His cast-iron impudence has earned his promotion. 'Set a beggar on horseback,' and our readers know how he will ride. Mr. Babble-tongue Macaulay's epistle furnishes a striking illustration of the truth of that proverbial saying. It seems that his uncouth, uncomfortable presence has been obtruded on her Majesty at Windsor, and the creature has actually had the impudence to date his letter to the canaille of the Edinburgh electors from Windsor Castle !' We would fain persuade ourselves that the Scotch papers have been hoaxing us, and that Mr. Babble-tongue Macaulay addressed his letter, not from the Castle, but from the Castle Tavern, Windsor, ay, and from the most proper part thereof for the purpose, namely, the tap. But no; he has somehow or other been pitchforked into the Palace; and though, in all probability, he has been admitted as a guest there only for the sake of being made fun of by Lord Melbourne and the ladies, still the 'distinguished honour' has given his brain another turn. This is evident from the insufferably conceited strain of his epistle to the scum of the Edinburgh electors." Times, it is pleasant to remember, lived to outgrow this bitter personal warfare, and most handsomely acknowledged Mr. Macaulay's services in the walks of literature as well as politics.

The

October 4.-The New Zealand exploring expedition under Col. Wakefield leave Port Nicholson for Cloudy Bay, having made an advantageous purchase of the harbour and adjoining land from the natives.

6.-Capture of the fort of Kurnoul, in the Deccan, by a body of troops belonging to the Madras Presidency.

7. Bombay advices of this date make mention that the war in Affghanistan might be considered at an end. Shah Soojah was showering honours upon Sir John Keane and his officers.

- With the view of rebutting various rumours in circulation as to the case of Lady Flora Hastings, Sir James Clark forwards to the newspapers for publication a narrative of his share in the transaction. (See Feb. 1.)

The creditors of the late Duke of Kent wait upon the Queen to present an address of thanks to her for payment of the Duke's debts. No less than 50,000l. was said to have been furnished by her Majesty's privy purse for this filial act.

9.-Robbery of a box, containing 5,000l. in gold and notes, from the boot of the coach running between Manchester and the Potteries.

13.-James Bryan, a native of Ayrshire, and a person of weak intellect, presents himself at Windsor as a suitor for the hand of her Majesty.

14.-Fight between English and Irish navvies employed on the Chester and Birkenhead Railway. The military were called in to disperse the combatants.

The Queen informs Lord Melbourne that she had now made up her mind to ally herself in marriage with her cousin Prince Albert, presently on a visit to Windsor with his brother Ernest. "I think," said Lord Melbourne, "it will be very well received, for I hear there is an anxiety now that it should be, and I am very glad of it;" adding in quite a paternal tone, "You will be very much more comfortable; for a woman cannot stand alone for any time, in whatever position she may be."

15.-The Queen informs Prince Albert of her intentions as to her marriage. He had been out hunting early with his brother, but returned at twelve, and half an hour afterwards obeyed the Queen's summons to her room, where he found her alone. After a few minutes' conversation on other subjects, the Queen told him why she had sent for him. How the Prince received the offer appears from the few lines written to the old friend of the family, Baron Stockmar: "Victoria is so good and kind to me that I am often at a loss to believe that such affection (Herzlichkeit) should be shared by me." The Queen herself wrote that the Prince received her offer without any hesitation, and with the warmest demonstrations of kindness and affection. Writing to her uncle, the King of the Belgians, on the same day, the Queen says: "I love him more than I can say, and shall do everything in my power to render this sacrifice (for such in my opinion it is) as small as I can. He seems to have very great tact, a very necessary thing in his position. These last few days have passed like a dream to me, and I am so much bewildered by it all that I hardly know how to write; but I do feel very happy. . . . Lord Melbourne has acted in this business as he has always done towards me, with the greatest kindness and affection. We also think it better, and Albert quite approves of it, that we should be married very soon after Parlia ment meets, about the beginning of February." The British Queen arrives at Portsmouth with news of a financial crisis in New York, and the probable suspension of several banks.

...

17. Mr. Poulett Thomson arrives at Quebec as Governor of British North America.

18.-The Queen of the French struck on the face with a stone thrown into the royal carriage near the Tuileries, by a mad woman named Giordet.

18. Another suicide from the top of the Monument. Several spectators saw a lad deliberately climb over the iron breastwork of the gallery, stand upon the edge of the coping outside, turn round, so as to have his back to the railing over which he had clambered, and then, after a moment's pause, leap to the earth. The body was shockingly mangled, and death instantaneous. A Bible which he had carried up was found on the floor of the gallery. The lad was named Hawes, and not over fifteen years of age.

19. Sir John Colborne, who had rendered great services in the settlement of Canadian affairs, leaves Montreal for England.

The Canadian Gazette publishes Governor Thomson's first proclamation promising the earliest possible restoration of a free Assembly.

20.-Died, at the Doune of Rothiemurchie, Inverness-shire, in his seventy-fourth year, from apoplexy, John Russell, sixth Duke of Bedford.

22.-A false account published by London papers of the death of Lord Brougham, by the overturning of his carriage near Penrith, with comments on his character. The Ministerial Chronicle laid aside party politics on the occasion, and wrote :-"And now, while the extravagant and erring spirit hies to his confine' there, we devoutly hope, to repose in the bosom of his Father and his God'-we feel rising upon us the recollections of many an arduous and vigorous struggle for the right; for unrestricted commerce; for the spread of knowledge; for legal and representative reforms; for the suffering and enslaved African; for freedom, civil and religious; for many a political victim marked for sacrifice; for a persecuted Queen; and for the poor and ignorant, the injured and helpless in our own land, and all the world over. Such recollections, in spite of all deductions and exceptions, which sink into disregard now that the great account is closed, will endear and enshrine his memory. The Legislature-the country at large-all parties, sects, classes-must feel that a great public loss has been sustained. And on the future annais of our eventful times, conspicuous and Illustrious will stand the name of Henry Lord Brougham." The Morning Post was more eulogistic:-"He is gone-torn away by a horrid and violent death, while his mind was yet in its full vigour, and his spirits as elastic and buoyant as ever! We have no feeling now with respect to him but that of grief. most wonderful genius that belonged to public life is no more, and we, as belonging to the public, are grief-stricken mourners over his untimely grave." The Times cast doubts on the rumoured accident, and did not comment on Lord Brougham's career till its falsity was established. The report originated in a letter received by Alfred Montgomery, Kingston House, Knightsbridge, and said to have been written by a Mr. Shafto from Brougham Hall, who stated

even

The

that he saw his Lordship killed by the horses in the carriage after it was upset.

23.-Died, at Inverary Castle, from apoplexy, George William Campbell, Duke of Argyll.

24.-Banquet at Edinburgh to Sir John Campbell, one of the city members, and Attorney-General. In reply to the toast of the evening, the learned gentleman passed in review the work of the session, and the measures taken to obstruct it by the Opposition. He spoke of Chartism as passed away.

28.-Died at Teheran, Charles, second son of Sir Walter Scott.

30.-The Gazette publishes despatches from Sir John Keane, announcing the fall of Ghuznee and the entry of Shah Soojah into Cabul. The latest dates from the army were to the 9th of August, from Simla, where the GovernorGeneral had taken up his residence.

The violent harangues of the most violent Chartist equalled by Mr. Bradshaw, M. P. for Canterbury, at a Tory gathering in that city. "The Prime Minister," he said, "tells us, with rare effrontery, that it is his duty to get support wherever he can. Nothing is too low or too foul for his purpose. The stews of the Tower Hamlets and the bogs of Ireland are ransacked for recruits; and thus he crawls on, having cast behind him every feeling of honour and high principle. But his Ministry, his sheet-anchor, is the body of Irish Papists and Rapparees whom the priests return to the House of Commons. These are the men who represent the bigoted savages, hardly more civilized than the natives of New Zealand, but animated with a fierce, undying hatred of England. I repeat then deliberately, that the Papists of Ireland, priest and layman, peer and peasant, are alike our enemies-aliens are they in blood, language, and religion. Their hatred of this country is as undisguised as it is inextinguishable, and they have become only more rampant and hostile by the concessions so unadvisedly made to them. Yet on these men are bestowed the countenance and support of the Queen of Protestant England. But, alas! her Majesty is queen only of a faction, and is as much of a partisan as the Lord Chancellor himself." (See Jan. 15, 1840.)

At a Conservative dinner at Ashton-underLyne, a Mr. Roby uses expressions regard. ing the Queen and the Ministry which compels the Commander-in-chief to bring it under the notice of certain officers who were present; reminding them that, as military servants, they are bound to confine themselves to their military duties; and that when they thus venture to connect themselves with any party association, under any circumstances, or upon any pretence whatsoever, they incur a heavy responsibility, and expose themselves to the heaviest blame.

November 3.-H. M. frigates Volage and Hyacinth attacked by a squadron of 28 Chinese

junks at Hong Kong. The effect of our shots was soon visible, one junk being blown up, three sunk, and several others shattered and deserted by their crews. The remainder retired in great confusion to the anchorage above the battery.

4. Serious Chartist riots at Newport, Monmouthshire. According to a preconcerted arrangement numerous disaffected "hill men," chiefly under the leadership of John Frost and Zephaniah Williams, commenced their march on Saturday night (2d), armed with guns, pistols, swords, crowbars, and pickaxes. Sacking the villages through which they passed, and compelling the adult male population to join them, they reached Tredegar Park about four o'clock this morning, 20,000 strong; there they waited two hours for another division from Pontypool and its neighbourhood, under the leadership of William Jones. This junction being effected, they formed into two divisions, and entered Newport, one marching down Snow-hill, the other through Charles-street, and both joining in the centre of the principal street. The magistrates, having private information as to the intention of the rioters, were at this time assembled in the Westgate Arms Inn, supported by a party of the 45th Foot, under the command of Lieut. Gray. Led by John Frost, the mob directed its course to the Westgate Inn, and at once proceeded to demolish the house and fire upon the soldiers within. Before a soldier was allowed to act, the magistrates attempted to restore peace by remonstrating with the deluded men. Finding this ineffectual, however, the Mayor (Mr. T. Phillips) gave the soldiers an order to load. "While the men were loading I heard several shots fired in the passage of the house, and the windows of the room containing the soldiers were beaten against on the outside. I was wounded in the arm and hip in the act of opening the windowshutter before the soldiers fired. Lieut. Gray said: "I directed the men to spare their ammunition. We began with twenty-two rounds, and fired about three upon the average. believe the mob fired deliberately upon us after we had unmasked ourselves by opening the window. I stood before them in my uniform, and the soldiers in a line behind me. We found nine dead bodies." The rioters broke up under the steady fire of the soldiers, and retired to the outskirts of the town, carrying their wounded, and some of their dead, with them. Frost was apprehended next day, and on his person were found three pistols, a flask of powder, and a large quantity of balls and percussion caps. Apart from the sanguinary character of this attack, another circumstance, investing it with special significance, was the comparative respectability and seriousness of the people concerned in it. They were mostly well-paid, able-bodied workmen, and one was a master gardener who paid wages to others.

7.-Preliminary compulsory postage minute Issued by the Treasury.

7.-The Duke of Sussex, presently a guest of the Earl of Durham, visits Newcastle, and is enthusiastically received. Sunderland and Durham were also visited.

8.-Twelve lives sacrificed at Radstock Wells-way Pit, Somersetshire, by some malicious person cutting the rope which let the men down to the workings. The cage fell a distance of 756 feet.

9.-The Queen commands Lord Normanby to express to Mr. T. Phillips, the Mayor of Newport, her high approval of the conduct of himself and other magistrates, on the occasion of the recent outbreak there, and in token of which she afterwards conferred upon him the honour of knighthood.

At the Lord Mayor's dinner, Lord Melbourne, in returning thanks for "her Majesty's Ministers," was received with noisy signs of disapprobation. The tumult latterly became so outrageous and undignified, that the Lord Mayor was compelled to interfere, by declaring that the company were not paying that respect to himself and the Sheriffs which they had a right to expect. The disturbance was thought to be only partially due to political feeling, the chief incentive being the interference of the Ministry with City privileges.

12. Stockdale raises a new action against Messrs. Hansard, printers to the House of Commons, concluding for 50,000l. damages. Messrs. Hansard were instructed not to respond. The case was heard by the Under-Sheriff and a jury in Red Lion-square, who awarded 600l. damages.

-

Fire in Widegate-alley, Bishopsgate, in which eight lives were lost.

13.-General Willshire captures the important fortress of Khelat, after a severe encounter with Mehrab Khan, who, it was alleged, had instigated the tribes in the Bolan Pass to attack our troops.

14. The magistrates of Newport and Pontypool occupied almost daily in examining witnesses and committing prisoners concerned in the recent outbreak. Zephaniah Williams was captured off Cardiff on board a small vessel, on the eve of sailing for Oporto.

15.-Colonel Pasley, R. E., reports the discontinuance, for the present, of efforts to raise the wreck of the Royal George at Spithead. During the recent experiments, 12,940 lbs. of powder had been spent in blasting, and about 100 tons of wreck were raised.

16.-Service of plate, valued at 1,250 guineas, presented to Mr. Robert Stephenson, engineer, by the contractors of the London and Birmingham Railway, at a public dinner in the "Albion

tavern.

Died, at London, John Lander, African traveller, aged 32.

18. Sudden illness of the Duke of Wellington, at Walmer Castle.

20.-The Commander-in-chief, Lord Hill, censures Colonel Thomas and other officers for being present at the political dinner at Ashtonunder-Lyne, where abusive language was used concerning the Queen. (See Nov. 30.)

Murder of Rev. John Williams, missionary, in South Sea Islands.

23.-Meeting at Birmingham to protest against the introduction of Government police into the City.

Special meeting of the Privy Council at Buckingham Palace, to hear the Queen intimate her intention of allying herself in marriage with Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg. "Precisely at 2," the Queen records in her Journal, "I went in. The room was full, but I hardly knew who was there. Lord Melbourne I saw looking kindly at me with tears in his eyes, but he was not near me. I then read my short declaration. I felt my hands shook, but I did not make one mistake. I felt more happy and thankful when it was over. Lord Lansdowne then rose, and, in the name of the Privy Council, asked that this most gracious and most welcome communication might be printed.' I then left the room-the whole thing not lasting above two or three minutes. The Duke of Cambridge came into the small library where I was standing, and wished me joy." The Royal declaration was in these words: "I have caused you to be summoned at the present time in order that I may acquaint you with my resolution in a matter which deeply concerns the welfare of my people and the happiness of my future life. It is my intention to ally myself in marriage with the Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. Deeply impressed with the solemnity of the engagement which I am about to contract, I have not come to this decision without mature consideration, nor without feeling a strong assurance that, with the blessing of Almighty God, it will at once secure my domestic felicity and serve the interests of my country. I have thought fit to make this resolution known to you at the earliest period, in order that you may be fully apprised of a matter so highly important to me and my kingdom, and which I persuade myself will be most acceptable to all my loving subjects." Eighty-three members of Privy Council were present on this interesting

occasion.

24.-Abd-el-Kader proclaims war against the French in Algeria, and suddenly attacks their outposts. The immediate cause was said to be the recent expedition of the Duke of Orleans and Marshal Valée to the Iron Gates, through a portion of territory claimed by the Emir, but to which his title was doubtful.

29.-Lieut. Basil Gray, who commanded the military at Newport, gazetted to an unattached captaincy without purchase.

December 2.-In his address to the Congress, President Van Buren discusses at some

length the unsettled question of the northeastern boundary between the United States and the British possessions.

2.-Father Mathew, a Dominican friar, administers the temperance pledge in Limerick to a vast assembly. Thousands of poor people were on their knees, bareheaded, in Mallow-street, while the rev. father and two other clergymen were administering the pledges.

- Died, Frederick VI. King of Denmark, in the 72d year of his age, and 33d of his reign; succeeded by his son, Christian VIII.

Died at her residence in Picardy-place, Edinburgh, Miss Innes of Stow, sister to the late Gilbert Innes, banker, whom she succeeded in a fortune estimated at not less than one million sterling.

3.-Inquest on the bodies of the ten rioters killed in the attack on the Westgate Arms Inn, Newport. Verdict, "That deceased came to their deaths through an act of justifiable homicide, by some persons unknown."

5.-A uniform postage-rate of fourpence per half-ounce on extra-metropolitan letters introduced, as preparatory to a penny rate. In the metropolitan district, the number posted rose from 39,000 to 60,000.

At Bandon, O'Connell to-day was more than usually full of exuberant "loyalty:"—"We must be we are loyal to our young and lovely Queen. God bless her! (Tumultuous cheering.) We must be-we are attached to the Throne, and to the lovely being by whom it is filled. She is going to be married! (Tremendous cheers from over thirty thousand persons congregated in the great area, and waving of handkerchiefs by hundreds of elegantly-dressed ladies, who crowded the hotel and other buildings.) I wish she may have as many children as my grandmother had -two-and-twenty! (Immense cheering and laughter.) God bless the Queen! I am a father, and a grandfather; and, in the face of Heaven, I pray with as much honesty and fervency for Queen Victoria, as I do for any one of my own progeny. The moment I heard of the daring and audacious menaces of the Tories towards the Sovereign, I promulgated, through the press, my feelings of detestation and my determination on the matter. Oh! if I be not greatly mistaken, I'd get, in one day, 500,000 brave Irishmen to defend the life, the honour, and the person of the beloved young lady by whom England's Throne is now filled. (Exulting and protracted cheers.) Let every man in the vast and multitudinous assembly stretched out before me, who is loyal to the Queen, and would defend her to the last, lift up his right hand. (The entire assembly responded to the appeal.) There are hearts in those hands. I tell you, that if necessity required, there would be swords in them!" (Great cheering.)

6. The Emperor of China issues an edict

putting an end to British trade. Last servant of East India Company leaves.

9.-The President, Atlantic iron steamship, launched at Limehouse.

10. Special Commission opened at Monmouth, for the trial of the rioters in South Wales. Three hundred and fifteen special jurors were summoned, and twenty-four gentlemen of station sworn on the grand jury; thirty-eight prisoners awaited trial. The jury found a true bill for high treason against John Frost and thirteen others. The court adjourned to the 31st instant.

11. The Court of Directors of the East India Company unanimously pass votes of thanks to Lord Auckland, "for the sagacity and promptitude with which he had planned the expedition against Affghanistan, and the zeal and vigour which he had displayed in preparing the troops for the field; to Sir John Keane, for his "great and eminent services, and for the invincible intrepidity and spirit manifested by him in the command of the army serving in Affghanistan ;" to the general, field, and other officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, and privates, European and native, for their "gallant and meritorious conduct, zeal, discipline, and bravery," during the expedition. At the Quarterly Court Sir Charles Forbes objected to the vote, and quoted the opinion of the Duke of Wellington, that they should wait till they saw the troops safely out of Affghanistan.

--

The Commission of the General Assembly pronounce another decision, which again brings it into collision with the civil courts. In 1837, a presentation of the Rev. Mr. Edwards to the living of Marnoch had been sustained by the Presbytery of Strathbogie. In 1838, the General Assembly determined to enforce the Veto law, and "remitted" to the Presbytery to reject Mr. Edwards; but, in 1839, the General Assembly again expressly enjoined the Presbytery not to take any steps towards admitting Mr. Edwards. The Presbytery, however, preferring to obey the decision of the Court of Session and of the House of Lords, as given in the Auchterarder case, admitted Mr. Edwards to the living at Marnoch, by a majority of 7 to 4. Mr. Candlish, after stating the facts at length, now submitted a motion to the Assembly to suspend the seven ministers forming the majority from "the exercise of any of their functions," and to authorize the "remanent and unsuspended members to "repone any of their suspended brethren, who should "compear personally and subscribe an assurance that they will submit themselves to the judicataries of the Church in this and in all other matters, but not otherwise;" and, in the meanwhile, to procure a supply of stated ministerial services for the parishes under the care of the suspended clergymen. The motion was supported by the Lord Provost of Glasgow; Dr. Brown, of Aberdeen; Dr. Burns, of Paisley; and Dr. Chalmers.-Dr.

Lee denied that there was any law authorizing the Assembly to suspend the ministers.-Dr. Bryce said the Presbytery of Strathbogie had only obeyed the law of the land; and he moved an amendment-that the Commission approve of the conduct of the Presbytery, and refer the matter to the next General Assembly.-Dr. Muir proposed another amendment, expressing disapproval of the conduct of the Presbytery, appointing a Committee to confer with the Presbytery, and postponing all proceedings to the meeting of the General Assembly. It was decided, by a vote of 15 to 9, that the question should be taken on Dr. Muir's motion and Mr. Candlish's; when there appeared: For Dr. Muir's, 14; for Mr. Candlish's, 121. The announcement of numbers was received with loud cheers and clapping of hands by persons in the body and galleries of the Tolbooth Church, where the Commission sat. Protests against the decision were presented on behalf of the Strathbogie Presbytery, and by six members of the Assembly; also by the agent of the Presbytery: the latter declaring that each and all of the parties accessory to the vote just recorded should be held liable for the damage inflicted on the suspended ministers, by proceedings "arbitrary, illegal, oppressive, and in evident contempt of the law of the land."

17. At a meeting of the Court of Aldermen, one of the Sheriffs intimates that a writ had been served upon him while sitting on the Bench, intimating they would be held liable if they executed the process against Hansard.

The Home Secretary writes to the Mayor of Birmingham acquitting the magistrates of any wilful neglect of duty during the riots of July.

22.-Strathbogie case. The Court of Session having granted an interdict on the application of the Rev. J. Cruickshank, and the six other ministers, members of the Strathbogie Presbytery, suspended by the Commission of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the ministers who were appointed in conformity with the Assembly's order were thereby formally prohibited from entering the churches, churchyards, or school-houses, or in any manner interfering with the legal rights of the suspended ministers. In defiance, however, of this injunction, an exciting attempt was made this day (Sunday) to execute the sentence of suspension pronounced by the Commission of the General Assembly against two members of the Strathbogie presbytery, the ministers of Mortlach and Keith.

23.-The republic of Hayti accedes to the conventions of November 30th, 1831, and