March 22d, 1833, between Great Britain and France, for the suppression of the slave trade.

24. Public meeting in Edinburgh, for taking steps to erect a national memorial to the Duke of Wellington.

Died Dr. Davies Gilbert, F.R.S. &c. aged 72.

24-27.-Extensive landslip on the Dorsetshire coast, between Lyme-Regis and Seaton, accompanied by earthquake shocks.

26. Mutiny on board the Indiaman Mermaid, suppressed without loss of life by the calmness and decision of the ship's officers.

Treasury minute issued relating to the new envelopes and letter stamps.

30.-Died at sea, on board his flag-ship the Wellesley, Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland, K. C. B. After Napoleon's flight from Waterloo, when resolved to deliver himself up to "the most powerful, the most constant, and the most generous of his enemies," he surrendered unconditionally to Captain Maitland, then commanding the Bellerophon off Rochefort.

Died, aged 53, William Hilton, R. A. 31.-Trial of John Frost, for high treason, at Monmouth, before Chief Justice Tindal, Baron Parke, and Mr. Justice Williams. The Attorney-General prosecuted, and Sir Frederick Pollock and Mr. Kelly defended Frost. At the commencement of the proceedings an objection was taken that the list of witnesses had not been delivered to the prisoner, in conformity with the statute. The Chief Justice reserved this objection for consideration by the judges at Westminster. Evidence was adduced showing the prisoner's complicity in various arrangements made for the outbreak, as well as his active participation in the excesses of the rising at Newport. James Hodge, one of the men whom Frost had compelled to march into Newport with him, said: "When we arrived at the Welsh Oak, the prisoner said the guns should take the front, the bludgeons next, and then the people without arms. On his giving these orders, I went up to him, to ask in the name of God what he was going to do. He said he was going to attack Newport, and take it, and blow up the bridge to prevent the Welsh mail from proceeding to Birmingham. There would be three delegates, he said, to wait for the coach there, an hour and a half after the time; and if the mail did not arrive, the attack was to commence at Birmingham, and from thence to the north of England; and that was to be a signal for the whole nation." The trial lasted till the 8th of January, when the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. Williams was tried on the 9th, and Jones on the 13th January, when similar verdicts were returned. Upon this, five of the ringleaders withdrew their former pleas and pleaded guilty, on the understanding that their sentence should be commuted to transportation for life. On

the 16th, Chief Justice Tindal passed sentence of death on Frost, Williams, and Jones. On the 28th January the judges informed the Secretary of State for the Home Department, that a majority of their body, in the proportion of nine to six, were of opinion that the delivery of the list of witnesses was not a good delivery in point of law. In consequence of this difference of opinion, the sentence of death was remitted, and the three prisoners transported for life.

1840.

January 6.-Inquest held on the body of Mary Davis, the wife of a farmer, near Newport, who had committed suicide in consequence of threatening language used by a Chartist who called at her house for signatures to his petition. She was bewildered about the Chartists, she said, a few minutes before she died, and wanted to go out of the way. Verdict, "Temporary insanity.'

Died at Bath, in her eighty-eighth year, Madame D'Arblay (Miss Burney), a distin guished authoress of the latter part of last century.

7. In a debate on the address in the French Chamber of Deputies, M. de Lamartine said: "France ought not to legitimize and make hereditary the dynasty of Mehemet Ali. To do so would be to proclaim war for a century against England in the East. That Power would never consent to recognise the existence of a Power which would hold the keys of the Arabian Gulf, and impede her intercourse with India. The system of policy with regard to the East ought to be to partition the lifeless and decaying empire of the Sultan. It was already crumbling to pieces, and every stone that fell from it would cause a shock, and struggle, and disturbance in Europe."

8.-Four lives lost on the ice in St. James's Park.

10.-Commencement of Rowland Hill's system of Penny Postage. The number of letters despatched from London was about four times the average quantity, and no less than seven-eighths were prepaid.

13.-Anti-Corn-Law banquet at Manchester, held in a pavilion erected for the purpose in Peter-street. A great gathering of operatives was held in the same place the following evening.

15. The Chinese Commissioner Lin publishes a letter to the Queen of England, "for the purpose of giving her clear and distinct information." Passing in review the various attempts of the Emperor to repress the opium trade, he concludes by an abstract of the new law about to be put in force. "Any foreigner bringing opium to the Celestial Land with design to sell the same, the principals shall most assuredly be decapitated and the acces

sories strangled, and all property found on board the ship confiscated. The space of a year and a half is granted within which if any bringing opium by mistake shall voluntarily deliver the same, he shall be absolved from all consequences of his crime."

15.-Hostile correspondence between Mr. Bradshaw, M. P. for Canterbury, and Mr. Horsman, M.P. for Cockermouth, arising out of a statement made by the latter to his constituents that the former "has the tongue of a traitor, but lacks the courage to become a rebel." (See October 31, 1839.) To-day, in replying to Colonel Gurwood, who acted for Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Horsman writes that this speech "was a public insult to his Sovereignthat Sovereign a lady, and the only lady in her dominions without those natural protectors who, in a more humble rank, would have secured her from being insulted with impunity. Under these circumstances, I conceive it to be the right and the duty of every loyal subject to come forward in her defence, and be as ready to guard her character as to protect her person; and as Mr. Bradshaw, on the most public occasion he could find, thought fit to assail her Majesty, in the most unmeasured terms, and for which he knew he could not be held accountable, he has little right to complain that I on another public occasion, with reference to his speech, used equally strong terms in repelling its disloyal aspersions." A "meeting" was therefore arranged, which took place at Wormwood Scrubbs. Shots were interchanged without effect.

Mr. Bradshaw thereafter caused his second to express regret for the language made use of, which he felt on reflection was unjust towards her Majesty.

16.-Parliament opened by the Queen in person. The first paragraph in the Royal Speech made reference to the impending marriage with Prince Albert, which it was hoped might be "conducive to the interests of my people, as well as to my own domestic happiness." Notice was then taken of the conclusion of the civil war in Spain, the continued disputes with Persia and China, the success of our arms in India, and that spirit of insubordination at home which had in some parts broken out into violence, but had been "speedily repressed by the firmness and energy of the magistrates, and by the steadiness and good conduct of my troops." In the debate on the Address, the Duke of Wellington insisted that it was necessary Prince Albert should be described as a Protestant, and Lord Melbourne utlimately consented to the insertion of the word, though he thought it at the same time unnecessary, and even prejudicial. Everybody knew not only that he was a Protestant, but descended from the most Protestant family in Europe. In the Commons the Address was agreed to without a division, and after a short debate, confined mainly to the negotiations between Lord Howard de Walden and the Por

tuguese Government as to the slave trade. Before the Royal Speech was read in the Lower House, Lord John Russell carried a motion relating to a breach of privilege, in so far as the Sheriffs of Middlesex had awarded damages against Messrs. Hansard.

17.-Stockdale, the printer, committed to the custody of the Serjeant-at-Arms for contempt of the House and high breach of privilege in raising a second action against Messrs. Hansard. (See Nov. 12, 1839.) Mr. Pemberton delivered an elaborate speech to prove that the House was taking a most injudicious and unprecedented course on the question of privilege. They should not only attack subordinates, but Lord Chief Justice Denman ; who, if summoned, would reply as Holt did on the Bombay case, that when summoned in due course of law to explain his judgment, he would do so, but not otherwise. Lord John Russell's motion for committal was carried by 239 to 135.

20. Rev. Sydney Smith writes to the Times. "As my friend, Lord John Russell, having destroyed the Bishops, is now busy sending the Judges to gaol, I shall be obliged to you to insert the following protest against his demolition of Deans and Chapters, which, I understand, is to be brought on as soon as the Queen's Bench is safe in the Poultry Compter." The protest was embodied in nineteen objections. A petition from the reverend Canon was presented to the House of Lords during the session by the Bishop of Rochester.

"in

Debate in the Commons on the Privilege Question. Lord John Russell's motion, that the prosecution in the case of Stockdale was contempt" of the privileges of the House, was met by an amendment from Mr. F. Kelly, proposing that Messrs. Hansard be indemnified against all costs and actions sustained by them.--Sir Robert Peel supported the Ministry, contending that whatever privilege was necessary for the proper and effectual discharge of its functions the House of Commons possessed; that the particular privilege of free publication not liable to be questioned by a court of law was absolutely necessary; and that there was no security for the proper and effectual discharge of that privilege unless they were enabled by their own declared power to vindicate it. Lord John Russell's motion was carried by 205 to 90 votes.-Next day Mr. Fitzroy Kelly presented a petition from the Sheriffs of London, expressive of their sorrow at having incurred the displeasure of the House of Commons in Stockdale's case, and stating that they had acted in the belief that it was their duty to their sovereign and the Court of Queen's Bench, whose sworn servants they The House resolved, by a majority of 101, that they had been guilty of a breach of privilege, and should be committed to the custody of the Serjeant-at-Arms.

were.

Bill for the naturalization of Prince Albert passes through all its stages in the House of

Lords, the Standing Orders having been suspended for that purpose. It was intended to insert a clause in this bill giving Prince Albert precedence for life "next after her Majesty in Parliament or elsewhere, as her Majesty may think fit and proper;" but as the title made no reference to such clause, the further consideration of the subject was adjourned at this time, and ultimately dropped altogether on its being ascertained that the object could be accomplished by "Letters Patent" from the Queen. The Queen admitted that she was most indignant at what occurred, as the impression made on the mind of the young Prince was likely to be a painful one. "But he soon understood the nature of our political parties, and that the proceedings in Parliament were only the result of high party feeling, and were by no means to be taken as marks of personal disrespect, or of want of kind feeling towards himself."

22.-The rival parties at Strathbogie meet in Presbytery, and engage in a noisy and disorderly discussion as to the qualifications of Mr. Edwards, and the respect due to the civil

court.

Died at Gottingen, aged 87, Professor Blumenbach. He celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his Professorship in 1826.

23.-Prince Albert invested with the Order of the Garter at Gotha. Accompanied by Viscount Torrington and the Hon. C. Grey, who had been charged with the mission of investiture, Prince Albert quitted Gotha for England on the 28th.

24.-The Bishop of Exeter presents a petition to the House of Lords, signed by 4,000 inhabitants of Birmingham, alleging the danger to morals from the spread of the system denominated Socialism, and praying their Lordships to take steps to check the evil. The petition arose partly out of the presentation of Robert Owen to the Queen, in which Lord Melbourne now admitted that he had acted indiscreetly.

27.-Lord John Russell proposes to settle 50,000l. per annum on Prince Albert. Mr. Hume's motion to reduce it to 21,000l. was negatived by 305 to 38 votes; but Colonel Sibthorp's motion, supported by the Opposition, reducing the amount to 30,000l. per annum, was carried by 262 to 158 votes.

The Serjeant-at-Arms, in return to a writ of habeas corpus, appears in the Court of Queen's Bench, with the Sheriffs of London in custody. The return to the writ having been handed in by Sir William Gossett, and read by the Clerk, Mr. Richards moved that the return be filed, and the Sheriffs discharged from custody. He addressed the Court in support of his motion, alleging that the return was bad, inasmuch as it did not state the offence with which the Sheriffs were charged, and that the Sheriffs were entitled to the protection of the Court, having faithfully discharged their duties in conformity with their oaths. Mr. Watson and Mr. Kennedy followed on the same side.

No counsel appeared to oppose the application for the Sheriffs' discharge. After consulting with the other judges, Lord Denman delivered an opinion that the House of Commons had power to commit for "a general contempt;" though, if particular facts were stated in justification of the commitment, and these facts appeared insufficient to justify the commitment, the Court had power to release the prisoners. In the present case no particulars were stated; and the Court was bound to remand the prisoners, for the warrant must be held good. The Sheriffs left the Court in the Serjeant's custody.

28.-Commencement of debate on Sir J. Yarde Buller's motion, "That her Majesty's Government, as at present constituted, does not possess the confidence of this House." After a discussion of four nights the motion was rejected by 308 votes to 287. On the concluding night of the debate, Sir Robert Peel, who spoke immediately before Lord John Russell, replied to the taunts which had been thrown out as to his own inability to carry on the Government :-"I have no such affection for office that I will consent to retain it, and be the instrument for carrying other men's opinions. My ambition is of another kind; it is not for any personal object; I want not office, I want not the distinctions which office brings with it. I am content with the power which I exercise, and with the confidence which I enjoy ; and I never will consent to hold office upon any terms which I think dishonourable, or inconsistent with the constitutional functions of a Minister; nor will I consent to hold office if my own opinions are overruled, and those who are to be my supporters will lend me their adherence on no other terms than that I should conform to theirs. Whether these opinions are capable of being reduced to practice I will not pretend to declare: they are not avowed for the purpose of conciliating such a degree of support as shall enable me to reduce them to practice. They are those on which I mean to act, in office and out of office; perfectly content to remain out of office when it shall be proved that they are impracticable."

29.-Captain Hobson, the first Governor of New Zealand, lands at Wellington. A few days afterwards a treaty was concluded at Waitangi in terms of which the native chiefs ceded a large amount of land.

30.-Mr. Bullhead, a linendraper, commits suicide by throwing himself from the tower of Glastonbury Church, while in a state of despondency caused by pecuniary losses.

February 1.-The State of Pennsylvania declared insolvent.

The Emperor's Sub-Inspecter at Canton issues an edict, stating that he had received instructions to seize all the English in Macao, including Captain Elliot and the two interpreters, Gutzlaff and Morrison,

4. Thanks of both Houses of Parliament voted to the Governor-General of India, and the commanders, officers, and men engaged in Affghanistan. The Duke of Wellington praised the arrangements that had been made for the campaign, which appeared to include an adequate provision for all the contingencies which could occur during such a service.

6.-Prince Albert, with the Duke of Saxe Coburg, the Hereditary Prince, Lord_Torrington, and the Hon. C. Grey, arrive at Dover from Ostend. The next day was passed at Canterbury; and on the 8th (Saturday) the party arrived at Buckingham Palace, where a royal reception was given to the Prince and his friends by the Queen and her household. On the same day the Lord Chancellor administered the oath of naturalization to the Prince.

7.-Treaty for the marriage of her Majesty with Prince Albert signed at London.

10. Marriage of the Queen and Prince Albert. As soon as daylight broke this morning the metropolis presented all the characteristics that mark the opening of a universal and joyous holiday. Crowds were hastening from all quarters in the direction of Buckingham Palace, or the Chapel Royal, St. James's, where the ceremony was to be performed. At the Palace the Duchess of Kent and twelve bridesmaids were in attendance on her Majesty at an early hour. Prince Albert and his party left the Palace about a quarter of an hour before her Majesty's departure, 12 o'clock. Her Majesty, on arriving at St. James's, was conducted to her apartments behind the Throne-room, where she remained, attended by her maids of honour and train-bearers, till summoned by the Lord Chamberlain to take her part in the procession. As the bridegroom's procession moved along the colonnade leading to the chapel he was loudly cheered, and appeared delighted with his reception. The royal procession passed along the colonnade a few minutes later, entering the chapel about twenty minutes to I o'clock. Her Majesty wore a Honiton lace robe and veil, of the most exquisite workmanship. The only ornament on her head was a wreath of orange-flowers and a small diamond pin, by which the nuptial veil was fastened to her hair. Her train was of white satin, with a deep fringe of lace. Prince Albert met her Majesty on the haut-pas, and conducted her to her seat on the right side of the altar. The ceremony was then proceeded with by the Archbishop of Canterbury. At the conclusion the several members of the Royal family congratulated her Majesty and the Prince in an unceremonious and cordial manner. The Prince then took her Majesty's hand, and led her out of the chapel, the spectators all standing. On reaching the Throne-room, the marriage register was signed and attested by the Royal family and officers of state. The Queen and Prince Albert immediately afterwards remrned to Buckingham Palace in one carriage, and were welcomed most heartily by the cheers

of her subjects. The royal bridal party left in the afternoon for Windsor Castle. The rejoicings throughout the kingdom in connexion with the event were universal and enthusiastic.

10. In proroguing the Parliament of Upper Canada, Governor Thomson thanked the members for their attention to public business, and expressed peculiar satisfaction with their proceedings on the Reunion and Clergy Reserve Bills.

Died at London, in his 74th year, Sir Jeffrey Wyatville, R. A., architect.

13.-Ministers defeated by a majority of 10 on Mr. Herries' motion regarding the financial arrangements for the current year.

14. The Court of Session delivers judgment in the Strathbogie case, extending the interdict originally granted for two Sundays to a period unlimited, and sanctioning its effect throughout the entire parishes of the seven suspended ministers

15.-In the Court of Queen's Bench a jury awards 100l. damages against the proprietors of the Morning Chronicle for a libel upon Viscount Beresford, in so far as it had imputed to him harshness and cruelty in the ejection of tenants from one of his Irish estates.

26.-Her Majesty and Prince Albert visit Drury Lane Theatre in state, being their first On appearance in public since their marriage. the 28th they attended Covent Garden.

27.-The Ministry again defeated, by 240 to 212 votes, on Mr. Liddell's motion censuring them for arrangements made with Sir John Newport to induce him to retire from the office of Comptroller of Exchequer to make way for Mr. Spring Rice, elevated to the peerage.

The Home Secretary issues a circular to lord-lieutenants warning them to be watchful against the circulation within their counties of papers containing blasphemous or immoral doctrines.

28. The Chinese attempt to burn the British shipping and gunboats in Tongkoo Bay by means of fire junks.

March 1.-Defeated on the proposed mar riage allowance to the Duc de Nemours, the Soult Cabinet resign, and a new one is formed, presided over by M. Thiers.

3.-Hostile meeting on Wimbledon Common between Prince Louis Napoleon and Count Leon, a reputed son of the Emperor Napoleon. The police interfered, and carried the parties to Bow-street, where they were bound over to keep the peace.

To put an end to the numerous actions and cross-actions which had arisen out of Stockdale's casc, Lord John Russell gives notice of his intention to bring in a bill affording summary protection to all persons employed in the publi cation of parliamentary papers.

3.-Letters Patent issued conferring upon Prince Albert precedence next to the Queen.

--

From a statement submitted to the House of Lords by the Marquis of Londonderry, appeared that the present Government had been defeated in no fewer than 107 divisions since their accession to office in 1835. In 1838, 21 divisions had been recorded against them in the Commons alone, and in that session they introduced, but were compelled to abandon, 34 bills.

8.-The newspapers publish a correspondence between Lady Seymour, the Eglinton 66 Queen of Beauty, and Lady Shuckburgh. Lady Seymour writes to know the character of a servant named Stedman, and whether she was a good plain cook or not. Lady Shuckburgh replies, that having a professed cook and housekeeper, she knows nothing about the under-servants. Lady Seymour explains, that she understood Stedman, in addition to her other talents, had some practice in cooking for the little Shuckburghs. The housemaid is instructed to answer this note, and say, "Stedman informs me that your ladyship does not keep either a cook or housekeeper, and that you only require a girl who can cook a muttonchop; if so, Stedman, or any other scullion, will be found fully equal to cook for, or manage the establishment of the Queen of Beauty."

9.-Steeplechase at Sheffield, between a hunting-horse and Cootes the celebrated runner; won by the latter.

In moving the army estimates, Mr. Macaulay explained that the addition of 30,000l. to last year's estimates of 6,000,000l. had been caused by Indian purposes, and would be a charge on Indian revenue. The whole force

for which the estimate was now taken amounted to 121,112 men.

10.-Dinner to Mr. Byng, in celebration of his services for fifty years as Member of Parliament for the County of Middlesex.

12. In answer to Sir Robert Peel, Lord Palmerston states that any communication which might be made with China as to recent occurrences in that country, would be made in the name of the Queen, and not of the GovernorGeneral of India.

15. The English Ambassador at Naples presents a note requiring the dissolution of the French Company presently monopolizing the sulphur trade. This difference was afterwards settled by the mediation of the French Government.

17.-Elopement of the wife of Captain Heaviside, a Brighton magistrate, with Dr. D. Lardner, a scientific writer and lecturer.

An unsuccessful attempt was made in the Commons to-day to extend the privilege granted by Lord John Russell's Printed Papers Bill to newspapers, it being alleged in a petition from the printers of the Times and Morning Post that it was absolutely necessary they should

publish the Reports of the House. Lord John Russell regarded the attempt as a direct interference with the privileges of the House.

17.-Feargus O'Connor tried at York Assizes for inciting the working classes, through his speeches and writings, to rebellion. Judg. ment deferred.

Action by Lady Bulwer against the publishers of the Court Journal, for inserting a paragraph to the effect that she had conducted herself in an offensive manner towards Mr. Henry Bulwer, at a party in Paris. Damages awarded, 50/.

19.-Lord John Russell explains that the warlike preparations authorized for China were designed to obtain reparation for the insults and injuries offered to her Majesty's Superintendent, indemnification for the loss of property, and security for future trade and commerce.

20. The Printed Papers Bill read a third time in the House of Commons; and a petition from Stockdale, who described it as a bill of pains and penalties so far as he was concerned, for leave to be heard at the bar, rejected on the ground of disrespectful language.

23.-Fire at Fordington, Dorsetshire, ending in the destruction of fifty-four small houses.

Lord John Russell obtains leave to bring in a bill for uniting the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. It provided for the election of 39 Representatives from each of the Provinces, to meet in one House of Assembly; for the appointment by the Crown of the members of a Legislative Council, not fewer in number than 20, who will retain office for life; the resumption by the Crown of the duties surrendered to the House of Assembly by Lord Ripon; the grant of a permanent civil list of 75,000l. per annum, out of which fund the Governor, the Judges, and other functionaries of the Government were to be paid, and the Crown from the same source to be empowered to grant pensions to the amount of 5,000l. or 6,000l. a year; the debt of Upper Canada to form part of the debt of the United Provinces; municipal institutions to be extended to both Upper and Lower Canada; waste lands to be sold, and the proceeds applied to promote emigration, on the principles established by Mr. Wakefield.

24.-The Opposition in the American House of Representatives, determined to defeat a Ministerial Bill regulating the issue of Treasury notes, protract the sitting through the whole of this day and night and up to 5 p.m. on the 25th. Members were kept awake by officers for the purpose of giving their votes.

25.-The Anti-Corn-Law League assemble at Brown's Hotel, Palace Yard, and pass resolutions for the abolition of the corn duties.