the Angel Inn, Ludlow. He died declaring his innocence.

4.-Death of General Harrison, newlyelected President of the United States. He was succeeded by Vice-President Tyler.

5.-The Liverpool newspapers refer with serious apprehension to the non-arrival of the President steamship, which sailed from New York on the 11th March, with twenty-nine passengers. Insurance made with difficulty at 25 per cent.

6.-Jerusalem placed under the protection of the Turkish Government.

11.-The Earl of Cardigan causes 100 lashes to be administered to Private Rogers of the 11th Hussars, in the riding-school at Hounslow, immediately after divine service, and before the men could return to barracks.

13.-Accident at one of the furnaces of the Dowlais Iron Works. About three o'clock an alarm was raised that the loose stones were giving way, but only one of the men was able to leave the hole where they were at work, when the whole mass, to the estimated weight of 100 tons, came down on the scaffolding erected to carry on the repairs, and buried eight of the men.

15.-Settled before Baron Rolfe, at Liverpool, the Brindle Will case. The question the special jury had to decide was whether the late Mr. Heatley, of Brindle, who devised his landed property to the defendant, the Rev. T. Sherburne, a Catholic priest, was competent to make a will. His competency to do so was disputed by the plaintiffs, who claimed through their wives, as heirs-at-law of the testator. An arrangement was come to between the parties, in terms of which a verdict was entered for the defendant.

19.-Public dinner in Liverpool to welcome Commodore Sir Charles Napier, on his return from service in the Levant.

20.-Explanation on the Sunday flogging case made by Mr. Macaulay in the House of Commons. "It was a proceeding," he said, "which could not be reconciled with good sense or good taste, but it was not without precedent in both departments of the service. Such steps would now, however, be taken as would prevent the recurrence of any similar

case.

21.-Wreck of the Irish emigrant vessel Minstrel, on Red Island reef, and loss of 147 lives.

22.-Order from the Adjutant-General expressing surprise that Lord Cardigan should have carried out the sentence of a court-martial on Sunday, and prohibiting such a course in future, except in extreme necessity.

23.-Doolan, Redding, and Hickie tried at the Glasgow Circuit Court, for the murder of John Green, at Crosshill, on December 17th. A number of witnesses were examined as to the movements of the prisoners between the mur

der and their apprehension, and two or three spoke to the fact of Redding being for some weeks in possession of a watch stolen from the body of the murdered man. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty against all three, bui recommended Hickie, as an accessary, to the merciful consideration of the court. Lord Moncrieff passed sentence of death, and fixed the place of execution as near as possible to the scene of the murder at Crosshill.

26.-Discussion in Committee on Lord Mor

peth's Registration of Voters' (Ireland) Bill. The first clause declared, that upon the expiration of one month after a poor rate shall be established in any county or borough, the Act shall come into operation; after which no person is "to be entitled as a freeholder or leaseholder to be registered as a voter for such county, in respect for any freehold or leasehold property in his actual occupation, save as herein provided." On this clause, Lord Howick proposed an amendment declaring that no person, "claiming under any Act or Acts now in force, to be entitled to be registered and vote in a parliamentary election for any county in respect of any freehold or leasehold property in his actual occupation, shall be deemed to have a beneficial interest therein of the clear yearly value required by such Act or Acts except as hereinafter provided." The amendment was carried against Ministers by a majority of 291 to 270 votes. A second defeat on the franchise clause led to the withdrawal of the bill.

as

27.-A misunderstanding prevailing in the public mind as to the relative claims of Messrs. Cooke and Wheatstone, in the invention of the electric telegraph, it was mutually agreed to submit the matter to M. I. Brunel and Professor Daniell. After giving, in their "Award," a brief history of the progress of the invention in this country, they now state: "While Mr. Cooke is entitled to stand alone the gentleman to whom this country is indebted for having practically introduced and carried out the Electric Telegraph as a useful undertaking, promising to be a work of national importance; and Professor Wheatstone is acknowledged as the scientific man whose profound and successful researches had already prepared the public to receive it as a project capable of practical application; it is to the united labours of two gentlemen so well qualified for mutual assistance, that we must attribute the rapid progress which this important invention has made during the five years since they have been associated."

30. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Baring) introduces the annual Budget. He estimated the total revenue for the current year at 48,310,000l. and the expenditure at 50,731,2261. The deficiency of 2,421,000l. he proposed to meet for the most part by an alteration of the daties on sugar and timber. The present duty on Colonial sugar was 245. a hundredweight, and on foreign 63s. Mr. Baring proposed to leave the duty on Colonial sugar at its present rate, but to reduce the duty on foreign to 36s. The present duty on Colonial timber was IOS. per load, and on Baltic 55s. The Government proposal now was to raise the duty on Colonial timber to 20s. and reduce the duty on Baltic to 50s. per load.

From the change in the sugar duties 700,000l. was anticipated, and frorn timber 600,000l. For the remaining deficiency, the Chancellor of the Exchequer expressed himself as willing to abide by the result of Lord John Russell's motion on the Corn Laws. The scheme was opposed by the Protectionists, and ultimately led to the breaking up of the Ministry.

Lord John Russell surprises the House to-night by giving intimation that, on the first order day after the 31st of May, he should move that the House resolve itself into a Committee to consider the Acts relating to the trade in corn. On the 7th May, he announced that when the House went into Committee on the Corn Laws he should propose to fix the duties on wheat at 8s. a quarter, rye at 5s., barley at 4s. 6d., and on oats at 3s. 6d.

May 1.-Sir Rufane Donkin, SurveyorGeneral of the Ordnance and M. P. for Sandwich, commits suicide by hanging himself in his bedroom.

3. The Earl of Waldegrave and Capt. Duff sentenced in the Court of Queen's Bench to six months' imprisonment for assaulting a policeman at Hampton Wick; the former to pay in addition a fine of 2007., the latter 50%.

In the course of a debate raised by the presentation of a number of petitions against any alterations in the Corn Laws, the Premier expresses himself in favour of a change. The time, he said, had now arrived, when we find it necessary to take large, wide, and extended financial measures, and doing that which will affect other interests seriously and deeply. It appears therefore impossible to leave this main and master interest unchanged under such circumstances, in such a crisis. "Undoubtedly I have changed the opinion which I formerly held (great cheering and counter-cheering)— grounded as that opinion was on purely temporary interests."

6.-The Duke of Argyll introduces a bill for the better regulation of Church Patronage in Scotland.

- Lord John Russell intimates that the preliminary arrangements between the Chinese Government and Captain Elliot had been dis

approved of by our Government, and that officer recalled.

7.-Debate commenced on Lord Sandon's motion: "That, considering the efforts and sacrifices which Parliament and the country have made for the abolition of the slave-trade and of slavery, with the earnest hope that their exertions and example might lead to a mitigation and final extinction of these evils in other countries, this House is not prepared (especially with the present prospects of the supply of sugar from the British possessions) to adopt the measures proposed by her Majesty's Government for the reduction of the duty on foreign sugars." The debate was continued over eight nights, and resulted on the 18th in a majority against Ministers of 36 in a House of 598.

8. In the Arches Court, Sir H. Jenner Fust gives judgment against the defendant in the case of Mastin v. Escott, involving the validity of lay baptism. (See Nov. 2, 1840.)

10.-An Anti-Corn Law Meeting compelled to adjourn from the large Assembly-room, Edinburgh, to an ante-room, in consequence of the noisy opposition of a body of Chartists and monopolists.

11. At a farewell dinner given at Malta to Sir R. Stopford by the officers of the fleet, the Admiral claimed all the merit of the operations in Syria to himself, and said that had Sir Charles Napier not been present others would have been found to do his duty.

12. Fire at Stoke Canon, near Exeter, ending in the destruction of fifteen houses.

14.-Doolan and Redding executed at Crosshill, Glasgow, for the murder of Green. At the place of execution it was supposed there could not be less than 100,000 people, exclusive of the thousands who thronged the streets of Glasgow, to obtain a sight of the cavalcade and the two unfortunate beings who formed its chiet attraction. They were attended by Bishop Murdoch. Their demeanour throughout was calm and collected. The scaffold was erected in a field a short distance from the bridge on which the murder was committed, and the two culprits had the fatal spot full in their view when they mounted the ladder. Dreading some attempt at rescue by the Irish labourers on the railway, the magistrates had on the ground 500 of the 58th Foot and 1st Royal Dragoons, besides a detachment of the 4th Dragoons from Edinburgh, and three pieces of artillery. After hanging the usual time, the bodies were brought back to the city and interred within the prison. In the case of Hickie, the capital sentence was commuted.

Of 150 on board, only four were saved, the boats in which many of them had taken refuge being drawn down with the sinking vessel.

19.-Foundation-stone laid of the Martyrs' Memorial at Oxford.

20.-The General Assembly commences its sittings at Edinburgh: Dr. Gordon unanimously chosen moderator. A paragraph in the Queen's letter earnestly recommended the members to inculcate upon the flocks under their charge lessons of good order and obedience to the Constitution under which they live.

21.-The British land and sea forces commence an attack on Canton, which is continued till the forts commanding the principal parts of the town are in their possession. The Chinese then solicited a short truce, during the continuance of which Plenipotentiary Elliot was induced to recommence negotiations, and offensive operations were suddenly drawn to a close. MajorGeneral Gough writes: "The flags of truce still appeared upon their walls at daylight on the 27th, and at a quarter past six o'clock I was on the point of sending the interpreter to explain that I could not respect such a display after my flag had been taken down, and should at once resume hostilities. At this moment an officer of the Royal Navy, who had been travelling all night, handed me a letter from her Majesty's Plenipotentiary. Whatever might be my sentiments, my duty was to acquiesce; and the attack, which was to commence in fortyfive minutes, was countermanded." The terms required by the Plenipotentiary were, the evacuation of the city by all troops which did not belong to the province; the payment of 6,000,000 dollars within a week to England; and British troops to remain in position till the same was paid. The British loss was 15 killed and 127 wounded.

24. Sir Robert Peel gives notice that he will, on the 27th inst., move a resolution to the effect, "That her Majesty's Ministers do not sufficiently possess the confidence of the House of Commons to enable them to carry through the House measures which they deem of essential importance to the public welfare, and that their continuance in office under such circumstances is at variance with the spirit of the Constitution."

25. Mr. T. Duncombe presents petitions said to be signed by 1,300,000 people, praying for the remission of all sentences upon political prisoners, and the adoption by Government of the People's Charter.

27.-Commencement of debate on Sir Robert Peel's motion expressing want of confidence in Ministers. Sir Robert's speech tonight was mainly taken up with precedents furnished by former Ministers in yielding to public opinion as indicated by the House of Commons, and the opinion of eminent constitutional lawyers as to the propriety of the practice. Mr. Disraeli spoke this evening

in support of the resolution. Regarding Sir Robert Peel, he said: "Placed in an age of rapid civilization and rapid transition, he has adapted the practical character of his measures to the condition of the times. When in power he has never proposed a change which he did not carry, and, when in opposition, he never forgot that he was at the head of the great Con. servative party. He has never employed his influence for factious purposes, and has never been stimulated in his exertions by a disordered desire of obtaining office; above all, he has never carried himself to the opposite benches by making propositions by which he was not ready to abide." Whether in or out of office, the right honourable baronet has done his best to make the settlement of the new constitution of England work for the benefit of the present time and of posterity." (See June 4.)

27.-Debate in the General Assembly on the Strathbogie case, ending in the deposition of the seven ministers, for yielding obedience to the civil court. On a division, Dr. Chalmers's motion was carried by a majority of 97; 222 voting for it, and 125 for Dr. Cook's amendment. "The Church of Scotland," said Dr. Chalmers, "cannot tolerate, and, what is more, she cannot survive, the scandal of quietly putting up with delinquencies so enormous as those into which their brethren have fallen. We must vindicate our outraged authority, though that vindication were indeed the precursor of the dissolution of the National Church." A protest against the sentence of deposition was read by Dr. Cook. "The parties deposed," he said, "had done nothing which was not sanctioned both by ecclesiastical and civil law, and we cannot, without violating what we owe to the Church and to the State, cease to regard these excellent men still as ministers, or refuse to hold communion, just as if the proceedings against them had never been instituted." The Assembly Hall was crowded in every part during the day, and numbers even surrounded the doors outside. Contrary to his usual custom, the Royal Commissioner, Lord Belhaven, was present in the evening, and sat till the discussion was over, about three o'clock in the morning. Mr. Edwards, the newly inducted minister of Marnoch, was deposed next day, and the Presbytery of Strathbogie instructed to proceed with the settlement of Mr. Henry in the charge.

29.-Colonel Wymer attacks a company of Affghans near Khelat-i-Ghilzie, and after a smart fight compels them to retreat, leaving eighty of their men dead on the field.

Interdict served on the General Assembly, prohibiting them from carrying into effect the sentence of deposition on the Strathbogie minisThe Non-intrusion party object to the legality of the service, the papers having been left with their officer at the door, by a messenger.

ters.

at-arms.

June 1.-Died at sea, off Gibraltar, Sir David Wilkie, R.A., aged 55.

2.-A public meeting held in the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, for the purpose of expressing sympathy with the seven ministers of Strathbogie, and strong disapprobation of the conduct of the majority in the General Assembly. Lord Dunfermline presided.

Anti-Corn Law meeting at Manchester, Mr. Cobden in the chair. The Chartists and monopolists again mustered in great force, and attempted to take possession of the place of meeting; but after a noisy struggle they were overpowered and dispersed.

4.-Conclusion of debate on Sir Robert Peel's No-confidence motion. For, 312; against, 311; Ministers being thus in a minority of one. Lord John Russell undertakes to state the intentions of the Government on Monday. In the meantime he intimated the withdrawal of his motion on the subject of the Corn Laws.

5.-Public intimation given that the underwriters, satisfied that the President steamship was lost, are ready to settle with parties who have claims on them.

7.-The British Consul at New York holds a court of inquiry concerning the loss of the President. Capt. Cole, of the Orpheus, left New York in company with her on the morning of the 11th of March, and continued in sight until the evening of the 12th. He last saw her about midway between the Nantucket Shoal and the St. George's Bank, rising on the top of a tremendous sea, pitching and labouring heavily. It was his belief that the President did not survive that gale, but foundered, with all on board, within a few hours after he saw her. In this opinion most of the other nautical men present concurred.

Lord John Russell announces the intention of the Ministry to advise the dissolution of the present Parliament, and the calling of a new one as early as possible. Sir Robert Peel thereupon intimated his withdrawal of all objections to the granting of supplies for six months.

8.-Astley's Amphitheatre destroyed by fire, about 5.30 A. M. Mr. Ducrow and his family had a narrow escape, and one of the female servants in the house was suffocated. There were about fifty horses in the stable, besides two zebras and a few asses. Only a small number were saved. The loss on the whole was estimated at 30,000l. The calamity so affected Mr. Ducrow that he lost his reason.

10.-Sir Robert Peel announces his intention of again standing for Tamworth. His address made no allusion to political questions. 11. At a meeting of the United Secession Synod in Glasgow, a resolution, moved by Dr. Heugh, was carried, dismissing the appeal of Mr. Morrison from a sentence of the Presbytery of Kilmarnock, and continuing his suspension on the ground of errors in doctrine. Dr. Brown, of Edinburgh, opposed the sentence of suspension, because he was convinced that

most of the doctrines charged against Mr. Morrison could not be proved contrary to Scripture.

12.-Dinner and presentation of plate to the London sheriffs, in token of "high admiration of the conduct of those gentlemen, who preferred to endure a painful and protracted imprisonment rather than submit to the undefined and arbitrary privilege assumed by the House of Commons.'

In his address to the electors of the City of London, who had invited him to become a candidate at the ensuing general election, Lord John Russell writes, that the main object of the Ministry had been to increase the comfort, promote the trade, and unchain the industry of the great and pervading interests of the community.

14. Mr. Macaulay, M. P., in his address to the electors of Edinburgh, states that the question now before the constituencies is simply whether they wish new contributions exacted from the people, or new markets opened up to them.

Lord Plunket resigns the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland in favour of the AttorneyGeneral for England, Sir John Campbell.

22.-Parliament prorogued by the Queen in person. "I entertain," her Majesty said, "the hope that the progress of public business may be facilitated, and that divisions injurious to the cause of steady policy and useful legislalation may be removed, by the authority of a new Parliament, which I shall direct to be summoned without delay." A Gazette Extraordinary was published next day, announcing the dissolution.

23.-Nomination day at Tamworth. In the course of his address, Sir Robert Peel said : "My object in political life was not so much to gain a position of official power, but to build up that great party, which has been gradually acquiring strength, and now presents, in firm united ranks, a body of 300 members of Parliament. The rumours you have heard of

jealousies and differences of opinion are altogether without foundation. The party which has paid me the compliment of taking my advice and counsel is a united party, and no difference of principle prevails as to the course which we ought to pursue. So far as the Corn Laws are concerned, I cannot consent to substitute a fixed duty of 8s. per quarter for the present ascending and descending scale. The proposition of buying corn in the cheapest market is certainly tempting in theory; but before you determine that it is just, you must ascertain the amount of the burdens to which land in other countries is subjected, and compare them with the burdens imposed upon land in this country. I think a prudent statesman would pause before he subverted the principle on which protection is given to agriculture in this country."

23.-Trial of Mr. Moxon for blasphemy, in publishing Shelley's works, before Lord Denman and a special jury, in the Court of Queen's Bench. This case was originated by Henry Hetherington, a bookseller in the Strand, who, in April 1840, had been sentenced to four months' imprisonment for selling Haslam's "Letters to the Clergy.' Mr. Moxon was defended by his friend Mr. Serjeant Talfourd, who, in a speech of great power and beauty, pointed out the distinction between a man who publishes works which are infidel or impure because they are infidel or impure, and publishes them in a form and at a price which indicate the desire that they should work mischief, and one who publishes works in which evil of the same kind may be found, but who publishes them because, in spite of that imperfection, they are, on the whole, for the edification and delight of mankind. Lord Denman explained to the jury that they were bound to take the law as it had been handed down to them. The only question for their consideration was, whether the work in question deserved the imputations which were cast upon it in the indictment. The jury, after deliberating for a quarter of an hour, declared the defendant guilty.

- Died M. Garnier Pages, a French Republican deputy, interred with great honour on the 26th.

25.-Public dinner to Mr. Charles Dickens in the Waterloo Rooms, Edinburgh, Professor Wilson in the chair. "I feel," he said, in replying to the toast of his health, as if I stood among old friends whom I had intimately known and highly valued. I feel as if the death of the fictitious creatures, in which you have been kind enough to express an interest, had endeared us to each other, as real afflictions deepen friendship in actual life."

27.-Election riot at Carlisle, in which two constables lose their lives.

29.-Polling day in the City of London, ending in the return of two Conservatives and two Liberals, the former being Masterman and

Lyle, and the latter Sir M. Wood and Lord John Russell. His lordship was lowest on the poll of those elected, and only ten above his Tory opponent, Mr. Attwood.

30. Great Western Railway opened throughout from London to Bristol. Cost 5,000,000l.

Public attention directed to the destitute condition of the poet Clare.

July 1. Mr. Russell, the famous "Jerry Sneak" of Foote's "Mayor of Garratt," takes a farewell benefit at the Haymarket, after having been in the profession for 64 years.

2.-Riots, suppressed by the military, between the Irish and Highland labourers on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway.

5. Sixty-four persons drowned at Rotherham, Yorkshire, by the capsizing of a vessel at launching.

10. The Free-Trade candidates, Lord Howick and Lord Morpeth, defeated in North Northumberland and the West Riding.

13.-Treaty signed in London for the pacification of the Levant. The hereditary possession of Egypt to be confirmed to Mehemet Ali and his descendants in a direct line; the annual contribution to be 400,000l.; the Viceroy not to be allowed to build a ship of war without the consent of the Sultan; the laws and regulations of the Empire to be observed in Egypt, with such changes as the peculiarity of the Egyptian people may render necessary.

14. The King of Hanover issues a proclamation explanatory of his views on the dispute between himself and the Second Chamber of State, which he had summarily dismissed.

19.-Queen Christina of Spain protests against the act of the Cortes depriving her of the guardianship of her daughter.

In thanking the electors of London, Lord John Russell thus refers to the results of the recent elections: "In the English cities and boroughs there is a small majority in our favour. In the Scotch cities and boroughs a very decided majority in the same way. In the Irish boroughs and counties there is also a majority in favour of the policy of the present Ministers. In the Scotch counties the majority will be the other way, and in the English counties that majority will be overwhelming." Referring to the reforms his party had carried when in power, "None of them," he wrote, "received the hearty assent of the main body of our opponents; to several they offered a violent and persevering resistance. But truth triumphed over them, and will again. Returned to office, they may adopt our measures and submit to the influence of reason, or, if they refuse to do so, they will be obliged to relinquish power; and the monopoly of trade will share the fate of religious intolerance and political exclusion." It did not pass unnoticed that his lordship's address