Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

place of the old name :-"If they are really and truly Conservatives as regards the general institutions of the country, no name is deserving of more adherents, or would meet with more general approval; but with them it is a mere change of name, a mere alias to persons who do not like to be known under their former designation, and who under the name of Conservatives mean to be conservative only of every abuse-of everything that is rotten-of everything that is corrupt. If that, then, is the name that pleases them,-if they say that the distinction of Whig and Tory should no longer be kept up-I am ready, in opposition to their name of Conservative, to take the name of Reformer, and to stand by that opposition. (Cheers.) And in looking back to history, taking their sense of the denomination of Conservative, I think one may be as proud of the name of Reformer as they can be of the name of Conservative. What was Luther? Luther was a Reformer. Leo the Tenth, who opposed the Reformation, was a Conservative. What was Galileo? Galileo, who made great discoveries in science, was a Reformer. The Inquisition, who put him into prison, was Conservative. The Christians who suffered martyrdom in Rome were Reformers. The Emperor who put these Christians to death, Nero, was a Conservative."

The term

here commented on was thought to have been first applied to a political party by Mr. Croker in an article in the Quarterly Review for Jan. 1830. "We despise," he wrote, "and abominate the details of partisan warfare, but we are now, as we always have been, decidedly and conscientiously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be called the Conservative, party." Reviewing l'umont's "Mirabeau" in July, 1832, Macaulay described "Conservative" as a new cant word.

29. In the elections up to this date, the Whig and Tory gains and losses were nearly balanced. In the City of London Mr. Grote was elected (by a majority of 6 over Mr. Palmer) along with Wood, Crawford, and

Partison.

Mr. Disraeli was successful at Maidstone (along with Mr. Wyndham Lewis) by 688 votes against Colonel Thompson's 529. Mr. Lewis was unseated on petition, and Mr. Fector, Tory, elected after a contest. Roebuck and his colleague Palmer were defeated by two Tories at Bath, Sir James Graham in Cumberland, and Hume in Middlesex. The atter afterwards found a seat at Kilkenny, rendered vacant by the election of O'Connell for ablin. The West Riding of Yorkshire was carted after a keen contest by two Whig candidates, Lord Morpeth and Sir George Strickland.

August 1.-Died at Edinburgh, aged 61, Wiliam Geikie, designer of popular etchings. 5.-Died at her residence in Piccadilly, Harriet, Duchess of St. Albans, aged sixty

[ocr errors]

Her father, Matthew Mellon, held a commission in the East India Company's service, but died shortly before she was born.

Her mother married a second time, and afterwards went on the stage, taking young Harriet with her for juvenile characters. She continued on the stage, meeting with great favour, till her marriage with Mr. Coutts, the banker, in 1815. He died in 1822, at the advanced age of eighty-seven, leaving her universal legatee, with a share in the business of the banking-house. The personalty was under 600,000l. In 1827 she married William, Duke of St. Albans, then in the twenty-seventh year of his age, and on her death bequeathed to his Grace 10,000l. per annum, Sir Francis Burdett's house in Piccadilly, and an estate at Highgate.

sworn

7.-A meeting held at the "King's Head," Poultry, in aid of the Paisley weavers, 14,000 of whom had been out of employ for four months.

At a dinner in the Town Hall, Tamworth, held to celebrate the return of Tory candidates, Sir Robert Peel warned his hearers that they had now a duty to perform to the Constitution. "It might be disagreeable, and indeed inconvenient, to them to attend to the registration of voters which annually took place throughout the country. All this might be revolting to them; but they might depend upon it that it was better they should take that trouble than that they should allow the Constitution to become the victim of false friends, or that they should be trampled under the hoof of a ruthless Democracy. The advice which had been given to some persons was, 'Agitate, agitate, agitate!' The advice which he would Register, give to them would be this : register, register!'"

12.-General Espartero enters Madrid at the head of the Royal troops, but is coldly received.

14.-Lord Durham writes to the Sunderland electors :-" Be assured of this, that in all circumstances at all hazards-be the personal consequences what they may I will ever respond to your call. Whenever my aid to the cause of Reform and liberal principles is required, it shall be freely and cordially given.'

[ocr errors]

A boy three years and a half old mur dered in the playground at Leeds by an idiot youth named Jeffgate.

16. The Gravesend steamboat Medway, with about 150 passengers on board, takes fire in the Thames off Northfleet. One person was drowned and another burnt.

[ocr errors]

Died, aged 68, William Daniell, R. A. 18. An extraordinary session of the Parliament of Lower Canada opened by the Earl M. Papineau, of Gosford, Governor-in-chief. Speaker of the Lower House, led the opposition to the Government proposals regarding the application of the revenues of the province.

19. The elections being now over, it is found that the Liberals replaced by Tories amounted to 66, and the Tories replaced by

(5)

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

September 5.- Collision in the Thames between the Apollo steamer, from Yarmouth, and the Monarch, a Leith packet. The Apollo sank, but those on board, with the exception of the stewardess and two children, were saved by the Monarch crew.

The first session of the twenty-fifth Congress of the United States opened with a message from the new President, Martin Van Buren. The document dealt mainly with one subject, the financial embarrassment of the country, for the consideration of which Congress had been especially convened three months earlier than usual.

Died at his cottage, near Durham, aged 98, Count Barowloski, the well-known Polish dwarf. His height was under thirty-six inches, but his body was of the most perfect symmetry, and his mind cultivated to an extraordinary degree by travel and study.

8.-Died at Geneva, aged 75, Sir S. Egerton Brydges, critic and genealogist.

9.-Collision at the Kenyon Junction of the Liverpool and Manchester railway, causing the death of one woman and an infant, and injury to several passengers.

News received of the mutiny and murders on board the British ship Fanny Captain M'Kay. A mixed crew of Manilla men and Lascars fell upon the Europeans, murdered the commander and other officers, and plundered the ship, which they afterwards sunk.

13. Letter received by the Geographical Society from Captain Back, R.N., describing the obstacles which prevented his carrying out the mission of discovery on the N. W. shore of the Hudson Bay territories, on which he had

started in H. M. ship Terror in June 1836, and from which he was now returning.

14.-Fire at an india-rubber and shell shop in the Strand. Three inmates on the second floor-Mr. Harris, his child, and servant-lost their lives.

19.-Musical festival at Birmingham, extending over four days, and remarkable, among many similar displays, for Mendelssohn's playing of one of Bach's preludes and fugues. The great composer's own oratorio of St. Paul" was performed on the second day of the festival, and Handel's "Messiah" on the third.

20.-Captain Alexander Burnes-" Bokhara Burnes," as he was known in London society, from his travels in Central Asiaarrives at Cabul as head of the commercial mission sent thither by the Governor-General, Lord Auckland. He was received with great honour by Akhbar Khan, and conducted to the court of his father Dost Mahomed. At a conference on the 24th, the Ameer said: "Instead of renewing the conflict with Runjeet Singh, it would be a source of real gratification to me if the British Government would counsel me how to act--none of our other neighbours can avail me; and in return I would pledge myself to forward its commercial and political views." Burnes thereupon assured him, that the British Government would exert itself to secure peace between the Punjaub and Affghanistan; and added, that although he could not hold out any promise of interference for the restoration of Peshawur, which had been won and preserved by the sword, he believed that the Maharajah intended to make some change in its management, but that it sprang from bimself and not from the British Government.

The Duke of Terceira and his friends seek refuge in England after their unsuccessful attempt to restore the Charter of Don Pedro at Lisbon.

29.-Foundation stone laid of the new University Library, Cambridge.

30. The first anniversary meeting of the British Medical Association held in the London Coffee House, presided over by Dr. Webster. A petition was adopted for the institution of a National Faculty of Medicine.

October 3.-The old royal stud, bequeathl to the Fitz-Clarence family by the late King, sold at the Hampton Court paddocks. Total realized, 15,692 guineas.

4.-The Queen leaves Windsor for Brighton, where she met with a reception of surpassing splendour, and was presented with an address.

5.-Died at Aremberg, aged 54, Hortense Eugénie de Beauharnais, ex-Queen of Holland, mother of Prince Louis Napoleon.

8.-Died, in his 72d year, Samuel Wesley, musician, son of Charles Wesley and nephew of the founder of Methodism.

13. The French in Algeria. To-day General Dameremont attacks Constantina, the stronghold of Achmet Bey and the capital of ancient Numidia, which is carried by assault after a desperate resistance.

15.-Major Rawlinson encounters the Russian agent Vickovich journeying with presents to the camp of Mahomed Shah, at Herat. "I tracked them," he writes, "for some distance along the high road, and then found that they had turned off to a gorge in the hills. Then at length I came upon the group, seated at breakfast by the side of a clear sparkling rivulet. The officer, for such he evidently was, was a young man of slight make, very fair complexion, with bright eyes, and a look of great animation. He rose and bowed to me as I rode up, but said nothing. I addressed him in French-the general language of communication between Europeans in the East, but he shook his head. I then spoke English, and he answered in Russian. When I tried Persian, he seemed not to understand a word; at length be expressed himself hesitatingly in Turcoman, or Uzbeg Turkish. I knew just sufficient of this language to carry on a simple conversation, but not enough to be inquisitive. This was evidently what my friend wanted, for when he found I was not strong enough in Jaghatai to proceed very rapidly, he rattled on with his rough Turkish as glibly as possible. All I could find out was that he was a bona fide Russian officer carrying presents from the Emperor to Mahomed Shah. More he would not admit; so, after smoking another pipe with him, I remounted, and reached the royal camp beyond Nishapoor before dark. I had an immediate audience of the Shah, and in the course of common conversation, mentioning to his Majesty my adventure of the morng, he replied, Bringing presents to me! Why, I have nothing to do with him; he is sent direct from the Emperor to Dost Mahomed of Cabul, and I am merely asked to help him on his journey."" Major Rawlinson at once returned to Teheran to acquaint Mr. M'Neill with the communication which was going on between St. Petersburg and Cabul.

17.-Sir F. B. Head writes from Toronto to Sir J. Colborne, Lower Canada :-" In reerence to that part of your letter of the 10th stant (this moment received) in which you state that you have made arrangements for sembling troops at certain points to aid the civil authorities, and to encourage the loyal, which will compel you to withdraw from Upper Canada as many companies of the 24h as I can spare you, to show a good front at this crisis, I have pleasure in being able to inform you, that excepting the small detachment at Bytown, I consider that this province can dispense with as many of the troops as you may deem it desirable to require." About a month later Sir Francis was in danger of being made a prisoner in his own capital.

-Addressing a meeting of local Reformers,

Lord Durham referred to the late defeat which his party had sustained in his own county. "Having been abroad for a considerable time," he said, "I am not prepared to trace all the small and minor causes which have led to that temporary eclipse of your former Liberal ascendency; suffice it to say that it has happened, and that if I live it shall never happen again.' Lord Durham expressed himself as favourable to the ballot, if no other means could be devised of protecting the voter.

17. Died at Weimar, aged 59, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, composer and pianoforte player.

23.-Meeting of the Six Counties at St. Charles, Lower Canada, to protest against the threats of the English Parliament to annihilate the fundamental laws of the colony.

25.-Heard in the Court of Common Pleas the case of libel raised by Mr. Easthope, M. P. one of the proprietors of the Morning Chronicle, against C. M. Westmacott, of the Age. The libel was contained in a placard issued for electioneering purposes, and insinuating that the plaintiff had failed to repay money borrowed from a friend. A verdict for 40/. damage was given against the defendant.

26.-Meeting at Manchester to promote a system of national education.

27.-Don Carlos arrives at Durango in his flight to the north side of the Ebro.

29.-From Cabul, Burnes writes to Captain Jacob:-"With war come intrigues, and I have had the good fortune to find out all the doings of the Czar and his emissaries here, where they have sent letters and presents. After proving this, I plainly asked the Governor-General if such things were to be allowed, and I got a reply a week ago altering all my instructions, giving me power to go on to Herat, and anywhere, indeed, I could do good. The first exercise of this authority has been to despatch a messenger to Candahar, to tell them to discontinue their intercourse with Persia and Russia, on pain of displeasure; and not before it was time, for a son of the chief of the city, with presents for the Russian ambassador, is ready to set out for Teheran." Next day: "Here a hundred things are passing of the highest interest. Dost Mahomed Khan has fallen into all our views, and in so doing has either thought for himself or followed my counsel, but for doing the former I give him every credit, and things now stand so that I think we are on the threshold of a negotiation with King Runjeet, the basis of which will be his withdrawal from Peshawur, and a Barukzye receiving it as tributary from Lahore, the chief of Cabul sending his son to ask pardon. What say you to this, after all that has been urged by Dost Mahomed Khan's putting forth extravagant pretensions? Runjeet will accede to the plan, I am certain. I have on behalf of Government agreed to stand as mediator with the parties, and Dost Mahomed has cut asunder

[blocks in formation]

November 1.-Decree of the King of Hanover annulling the Constitution of 1833.

2. The Fitzwilliam Museum buildings, Cambridge, commenced.

3. Another irruption of water into the Thames Tunnel: one man drowned.

4. The Queen returns from Brighton to Buckingham Palace.

8.-In the Consistory Court Dr. Lushing ton gives a decree in favour of the right of the churchwardens of Braintree to levy a church rate on the parishioners, and in opposition to the decision of a majority of the latter assembled in vestry.

9. This being the first Lord Mayor's Day since her accession, the Queen proceeded through the City in state to dine with his lordship (Sir John Cowan, Bt.) at Guildhaй.

The

The Queen lett Buckingham Palace at 2, accompanied in the state carriage by the Duchess of Sutherland, Mistress of the Robes, and the Earl of Albemarle, Master of the Horse. Royal family, ambassadors, Cabinet Ministers, and nobility followed in a train of two hundred carriages, extending nearly a mile and a half. The day was kept as a holiday throughout London, and, though the weather was bad, nothing could exceed the enthusiasm with which her Majesty was greeted by the dense crowds she passed through. At Temple Bar the Lord Mayor delivered the keys of the City to the Queen, which she restored in the most gracious manner to his lordship, who then took his place immediately in front of the royal carriage. On passing St. Paul's, the senior scholar of Christ's Hospital delivered an address of congratulation, and the National Anthem was sung by the pupils. Guildhall was reached about half-past 3 o'clock. A throne and chair of state were placed upon a raised platform at the east end of the banqueting-hall. The Queen wore the order of the Garter, and a magnificent diamond circlet on her head. After the banquet, the Lord Mayor proposed "The health of her most gracious Majesty," which her Majesty acknowledged, and gave in return "The Lord Mayor, and prosperity to the City of London." The only other toast, "The Royal Family," was given by the Lord Mayor. Her Majesty left for Buckingham Palace at half-past 8. The City was illuminated in the evening.

9.-Moses Montefiore knighted by the Queen, being the first Jew who had received this honour.

13. Serious disturbances throughout Ca nada, arising from the opposition offered in the Legislature to resolutions carried in the House of Commons in March 1836, declining to make the Council of Lower Canada elective, continuing the Charter of the Land Company, and authorizing the Provincial Government, independent of the Legislature, to appropriate the money in the treasury for the administration of justice and the support of the civil government. Lord Gosford had some months since written to the Colonial Secretary: "In consequence of meetings held and about to be held in different parts of the Province, I cannot conceal from you my impression that a system of organization, under the influence and guidance of M. Papineau and a few designing individuals ready to execute his purposes, is at this moment going on. The primary and ostensible object of M. Papineau's plan seems to be, to procure a public expression of indignation against the Ministerial measures, and eventually to excite a hostile feeling against the Government, and to establish a convention, which he expects will overawe the constituted authorities, and thus carry all his destructive views into execution. Under this conviction, I am prepared to adopt prompt measures, should they be necessary, to check the evil in its infancy. I contemplate therefore issuing a proclamation, warning the people against the misrepresentations and machinations of the designing, and exercising the discretion you confided to me, for increasing the military force here, by despatching your letter to Sir Colin Campbell, with a request for one of the regiments now stationed at Halifax. I must repeat, that these steps would not be dictated by the apprehension of any serious commotion, for I have every reason to believe that the mass of the Canadians are loyal and contented; but from the persuasion that the presence of a larger military force in this province might of itself prevent the occurrence of any disturbance, by deterring the ill-disposed, securing the wavering, and giving confidence to the timid." Today warrants were issued at Quebec for the arrest of five ringleaders, on a charge of treason. A party of eighteen of the Montreal Volunteer Cavalry were despatched to St. John's to seize two other suspected persons. When returning with their prisoners they were attacked. near Chambly by about 300 men armed with rifles, who fired upon them from behind a breastwork of felled trees. After a short resistance the cavalry fled, leaving their prisoners in the hands of the assailants. Colonel Wetherall thereupon marched against St. Charles, where the Papineau party or "Liberty boys' " had taken refuge, and with the assistance of a large body of Canadians drove them into the woods. Colonel Gore made an attack on St. Denis, but the rebels resisted successfully till they heard of Wether.

all's success at St. Charles, when they retreated from their stronghold.

15. The new Parliament opened by commission, for preliminary business. The Right Hon. James Abercromby re-elected Speaker. Next day he reported himself to the House of Lords, and claimed the free exercise of all the ancient and undoubted rights possessed by the Commons.

20.-Parliament opened by her Majesty. An important paragraph in the Royal Speech related to the Civil List. "I place unreservedly at your disposal those hereditary revenues which were transferred to the public by my immediate predecessor; and I have commanded that such papers as may be necessary for the full examination of this subject shall be prepared and laid before you. Desirous that the expenditure in this, as in every other department of the Government, should be kept within due limits, I feel confident that you will gladly make adequate provision for the support of the honour and dignity of the Crown." The speech concluded :-"In meeting this Parliament, the first that has been elected under my authority, I am anxious to declare my confidence in your loyalty and wisdom. The early age at which I am called to the sovereignty of this kingdom renders it a more imperative duty that, under Divine Providence, I should place my reliance upon your cordial co-operation, and upon the love and affection of all my people.'

The Ad

dress, moved by the Duke of Sussex and seconded by Lord Portman, was carried in the Lords without a division. In the Commons, an amendment moved by Mr. Wakley and seconded by Sir W. Molesworth, relating to the representation of the people, was defeated by a majority of 509 to 20. Speaking on the subject of Reform, Lord John Russell said: "I think that the entering into this question of the construction of the representation so soon again, would destroy the stability of our institutions. It is quite impossible for me, having been one who brought forward the measure of Reform-who felt bound by the declarations then made-to take any part in these large measures of reconstruction, or to consent to the repeal of the Reform Act, without being guilty of what I think would be breach of faith towards those with whom I was then acting. If the people of England are not of that mind, they may reject me. They can prevent me from taking part either

the Legislature or in the Councils of the Sovereign; they can place others there who may have wider and more extended, enlarged, and enlightened views; but they must not expect me to entertain those views."

23.-The Persians, urged on, as was believed at the time, by Russia, renew the siege of the Afghan city of Herat.

- The Chancellor of the Exchequer, after a debate of some length, obtains the consent

of the House to the appointment of a Committee to settle a new Civil List.

27.-Mr. Charles Buller's motion for amending the law relating to the trial of election petitions read a second time, by a majority of 214 to 160. He proposed to reduce the number of members composing the committee from eleven to five, and that an assessor named by the Speaker, but subject to the approval of the House, should preside as chairman and explain the law.

December 2.-In consequence of disputes with the local governor concerning the opium trade, Capt. Elliot, the British Superintendent at Canton, removes his flag to Macao.

5.-The Lord Chancellor's bill abolishing imprisonment for debt read a second time in the House of Lords.

The Canadian disturbances extend to the Upper Provinces, and Sir Francis Head issues warrants for the arrest of several prominent citizens of Toronto. An vasuccessful attempt was made to-day to seize the city.

The usual session of the United States Congress opened at Washington.

6. The House of Commons, when discussing certain points of order connected with Irish election petitions, forgets its decorum so far as to compel the Speaker, on the following evening, to intimate his intention of resigning should such a scene be repeated. The subject was introduced by Mr. Smith O'Brien, who presented a petition from himself, complaining of the public subscription set on foot to defray the cost of petitions against the Irish members; and especially of the conduct of Sir Francis Burdett, who, by contributing to the subscription, had made himself a party in a cause which he might be called upon to judge.

7. In the course of another irregular and noisy debate on the legality of the Irish election petition fund, Mr. B. Disraeli (following Mr. O'Connell) made his first speech in Parliament. He contended that the subscribers to the Spottiswoode fund were men anxious to work out the Reform Act, by putting an end to the system of boroughmongering, which in a different shape prevailed more extensively than ever. The mortified feelings of these individuals should be taken into consideration, before the inquiry was instituted. (Here Mr. Disraeli experienced much interruption, and repeatedly implored the House to grant him a hearing.) He had something to say in vindication of her Majesty's Government, and wished the House would give him five minutes: "I stand here to-night, Sir, not formally, but in some degree virtually, the representative of a considerable number of Members of Parliament. (Bursts of laughter.) Now, why smile? (Continued laughter.) Why envy me? (Here the laughter became long and general.) Why should not I have a tale to unfold to-night? (Roars of laughter.) Do you forget that band of 158

« VorigeDoorgaan »