24.-Burning of the American emigrant ship Ocean Monarch in the Channel, and loss of 178 lives. She left Liverpool in the morning, having on board 396 persons, crew and passengers. The calamity was caused by one of the passengers lighting a fire in a wooden ventilator in the after part of the ship, under the impression that it was a grate, and was noticed about noon when off Orms Head. She was at this time seen by Mr. Littledale, returning in his yacht from Beaumaris regatta, and who at once put out to render assistance. The flames were then bursting with immense fury from the stern and centre of the vessel. So great was the heat there, that the passengers, men, women, de and children, crowded to the fore part; and in their wild despair some jumped overboard with their children in their arms. In a few minutes the mizenmast went overboard, and in a second or two the mainmast shared the same fate. Retreating still further forward before the advancing flames, the passengers and crew were clinging in clusters to the jibboom, when the foremast dropped down on the fastenings, and the jibboom fell into the water with its load of human beings. In addition to the aid given by Mr. Littledale, who took off thirty-two in his yacht, most valuable assistance was given by the Brazilian steam-frigate Affonso, then out on a pleasure trip with the Prince and Princess de Joinville and the Duke and Duchess d'Aumale. They not only took off 160 of the survivors, but contributed a handsome sum for their succour, the Prince de Joinville writing:--"Take this for these poor people. It was intended to be expended on a tour of pleasure, which after this it is impossible to enjoy.' Seventeen were also taken off by the Prince of Wales steamer, then on her passage to Bangor, and thirteen by the New World packet ship bound for New York. The Ocean Monarch went down at her anchors at half-past one o'clock the following morning. With the exception of the solid timbers about the bow, on which was the figure-head in an almost perfect state, the fire consumed the whole of the hull to within a few inches of the water edge. As she gradually settled herself into the bosom of the sea, large volumes of flames rushed forward with a hissing and crackling sound, till at length the water completely buried her, and the remains of the vessel disappeared in about fourteen fathoms, causing a heavy swell for the moment. A large subscription was raised for the relief of the sufferers, and supplies of food and clothing furnished with unsparing generosity by the magistrates and inhabitants of Liverpool.

25.-Trial of the London Chartists for sedition, at the Central Criminal Court, before Mr. Baron Platt. They were in most instances found guilty, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. Liverpool, next day, Mr. Justice Creswell inAlicted a similar punishment upon the more

At

prominent leaders in the Lancashire disturb

ances.

25.-In the National Assembly MM. LedruRollin, Louis Blanc, and Caussidière seek to defend themselves from the imputations passed upon them by the committee appointed to investigate the causes of the disturbances in May and June. The Assembly assenting to the demand of the Procureur-Général for a civil prosecution, the suspected deputies suddenly fled from France to England.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, after explaining at some length the present financial condition of the country, proposes to borrow 2,000,000l. for the purpose of making up the deficiency in the revenue. Mr. Hume and others strongly objected to the proposal, urging upon the Government the necessity of instantly retrenching the expenditure. The motion for rejecting the Government scheme was negatived by a majority of 66 to 45.

26.-Armistice concluded between Prussia and Denmark with reference to the occupation of the Duchies. The form of government in force previous to the events of March to be re-established during the continuance of the armistice. In the event of the four members for Prussia and Denmark disagreeing as to the choice of a President of the collective administration of the Duchies, Great Britain, as mediating Power, to make the appointment.

29.-Sir Harry Smith encounters the rebel Boers at Bolm Plaats, Cape of Good Hope, and after a short contest defeats and drives them back with great loss.

September 2.-The Sicilians having finally thrown off the rule of King Ferdinand, he causes Messina to be bombarded. A simultaneous attack was made upon the city from the fire of the garrison, the Neapolitan fleet in the harbour, and a large force which had landed on the shore. The citizens fought with desperation, but the contest was too unequal, and after a bombardment of four days, during which a large portion of the city was reduced to ruins, they were compelled to surrender. The conflict was marked by circumstances of such great cruelty on both sides, that the English and French admirals on the station interfered to prevent the further effusion of blood.

3.-Insurrection at Leghorn. On the issuing of a proclamation prohibiting the meeting of political clubs the people mustered in great force in the centre of the city, and fired on the troops drawn out for its protection. About sixty were killed during the early part of the day; towards evening several troops of infantry laid down their arms and fraternized with the people. The Governor with most of the cavalry retreated to the citadel.

3.-Act passed authorizing diplomatic intercourse with the See of Rome.

5.-A box of 2,000 sovereigns stolen in the course of its transmission from Praed and Co., bankers, Fleet-street, to Tweedie and Co., bankers, Cornwall.

66

Parliament prorogued by the Queen in person, having sat, with brief intervals at Christmas, Whitsuntide, and Easter, for the unexampled period of ten months. In the Royal Speech read on the occasion it was mentioned that in Ireland organized confederates took advantage of the existing pressure to excite my suffering subjects to rebellion. Hopes of plunder and confiscation were held out to tempt the distressed, while the most visionary prospects were exhibited to the ambitious. In this conjuncture I applied to your loyalty and wisdom for increased power and strength, and by your prompt concurrence my Government were enabled to defeat, in a few days, machinations which had been prepared during many months. The energy and decision shown by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in this emergency deserve my utmost approbation.... Amidst these [continental] convulsions, I have had the satisfaction of being able to preserve peace in my dominions, and to maintain our domestic tranquillity. The strength of our institutions has not been found wanting. I have studied to preserve the people committed to my care in the enjoyment of that temperate freedom which they so justly value. My people, on their side, feel too sensibly the advantages of order and security to allow the promoters of pillage and confusion any chance of success in their wicked designs.'

The Queen and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, embark at Woolwich for Balmoral, by way of Aberdeen.

12.-General Whish invests Mooltan, but in consequence of the defection of Shere Singh, who went over to the enemy with about 5,000 the men, army was withdrawn after the capture of the outer or first intrenchment.

14.-Bands of disaffected rebels in the neighbourhood of Waterford and Carrick-onSuir, finding themselves unable to cope with either the military or police, commit various acts of wanton destruction on the property of private persons who had rendered themselves obnoxious by assisting the Government.

At the Stowe sale the Chandos portrait of Shakspeare was sold to Mr. Rodd for 355 guineas.

The equally famous Rembrandt, The Unmerciful Servant," was knocked down to Mr. Manson for 2,200 guineas. The forty days' sale of pictures, china, plate, furniture, &c. produced 75,562/.

18.-Disturbances at Frankfort, arising from the dissatisfaction of the people with the proceedings of a majority in the Diet. The Archduke ordered martial law to be proclaimed, and directed the artillery to fire upon the barri

cades. This decided the contest, and by midnight the insurgents withdrew from all their points of defence. In the course of the day the people disgraced their cause by maltreating and murdering Major Auerswald, and the young Prince Lichnowski, a distinguished member of the Assembly.

21.-Lord George Bentinck found dead in one of the Welbeck parks. He had set out from his father's house to visit Lord Manvers, but only got a short distance along the path leading in that direction, when he was seized | with a spasmodical attack and died unseen by any. "A woodman and some peasants, writes Mr. Disraeli, "passing near the spot observed Lord George, whom, at the distance, they had mistaken for his brother, the Marquis of Titchfield, leaning against the gate. It was then about half-past four o'clock, or it might be a quarter to five; so he could not have left his home much more than half an hour. The woodman and his companion thought the gentleman' was reading, as he held his head down. One of them lingered for a minute looking at the gentleman, who then turned round and might have seen these passers-by, but he made no sign to them.”

On

Special commission opened at Clonmel for the trial of parties implicated in the recent insurrection in the south of Ireland. William Smith O'Brien was indicted for high treason on the 28th. The trial was continued till the 8th of October, when the jury found him guilty of the charge of levying war against the Queen, but recommended him to the merciful consideration of Government, being unanimously of opinion,. for many reasons, that his life should be spared. On being brought into court next day, Mr. Whiteside moved an arrest of judgment, and submitted three questions on which he craved the opinion of the judges. The Attorney-General showed cause against the motion, and the objections were overruled by the Lord Chief Justice. being asked why sentence of death should not | be passed on him, the prisoner said he was prepared to abide the consequences of having done his duty to his native land. The Lord Chief Justice, after a brief address, sentenced the prisoner to be hanged, and afterwards beheaded and quartered. M'Manus was found guilty on the 12th October, O'Donoghue on the 15th, and Meagher on the 21st. On being brought up for sentence, on the 23rd, they each addressed the Court at some length in defence of their conduct. Meagher said, "I am here to regret nothing I have ever done, to retract nothing I have ever said. Far from it. Even here, where the thief, the libertine, and the murderer have left their footprints in the dust-here, on this spot where the shadows of death surround me, and from which I see my early grave in an unconsecrated soil opened to receive me-even here, encircled by these terrors, the hope which beckoned

me on to embark on the perilous sea on which I have been wrecked still consoles, animates, and enraptures me. . . . I hope I shall be able with a light heart and a clear conscience to appear before a higher tribunal—a tribunal where a Judge of infinite goodness, as well as of infinite justice, will preside, and where, my lords, many, many of the judgments of this world will be reversed." Sentence of death was then passed upon them in the usual form.

25.--Commencement of the Hungarian War of Independence. The Emperor having given an unsatisfactory answer to a deputation from the Diet appointed to wait on him touching a redress of grievances, and the National Assembly at Vienna absolutely refusing to receive a second, Louis Kossuth was invested with full dictatorial powers. The Archduke Palatine retreated from the kingdom to Moravia.

26.-Louis Napoleon takes his seat in the National Assembly. On the commotion caused by his appearance subsiding, he said :-"After thirty-three years of proscription and exile, I at last recover my country and all my rights as a citizen. The Republic has given me this happiness; let the Republic receive my oath of gratitude; and may my generous countrymen who have brought me into this Assembly be certain that I shall endeavour to justify their votes by labouring with you for the maintenance of tranquillity that first necessity of the country-and for the development of democratic institutions, which the people have the right to demand. My conduct will prove, with respect to the persons who have endeavoured to blacken my character in order again to proscribe me, that no one here is more resolved than I am, to devote himself to the defence and freedom of the Republic."

....

Came on for trial at the Central Criminal Court, before Mr. Baron Platt and Mr. Justice Williams, the case of Cuffey, Lacy, Fay, and others, charged with inciting to rebellion and fire-raising in the streets of London on the night of the 16th August last. The principal witness was Powell, an informer, who described with great minuteness the different features of the conspiracy. He was subjected to a severe cross-examination by Serjeant Ballantyne, with the view of showing that he was a worthless character, on whose word no reliance could be placed. On the third day of trial the jury returned a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners, and they were sentenced to be transported beyond seas for the period of their natural lives.

27. The National Assembly carry a vote for one Chamber, as opposed to two, by a majority of 530 against 289.

29.-Murder of Count Lamberg, in Pesth. He had just arrived in the city to undertake the duty of Generalissimo of the Emperor's forces in Hungary, when he was met by a mob armed with spades and scythes; attempt

ing to take refuge in the Diet, he was murdered by the infuriated populace on the bridge.

October 3.-The Ban of Croatia having made up his differences with the Emperor, is appointed by an imperial decree Lieutenant Field-Marshal of all the troops in Hungary, and Commissary Plenipotentiary, "with full and unlimited powers, that he may act as circumstances require the representative of our royal person."

6. A notice posted at Lloyd's, intimating that, in consequence of several deaths from Asiatic cholera having come to the knowledge of her Majesty's Privy Council as happening on board vessels trading to Hamburg and other northern parts, positive orders were issued to the heads of the Customs at the various ports to place all descriptions of craft coming from these places under quarantine laws. On the 4th two cases were admitted into Bartholomew's Hospital; and on the 8th twenty cases were reported as having occurred within the London bills of mortality.

Insurrection in Vienna, and murder of the War Minister, Count Latour. The military refusing to march against the Hungarians, part of the National Guard joined in the mutiny, barricades were erected, the tocsin sounded, and the arsenal bombarded and sacked. Having routed the Government troops, the insurgents marched from the suburbs into the town, and planted their guns in the middle of the University square. The gates of the town were guarded by students and National Guards, and a central committee formed for carrying on a war. The War Office was entered in the afternoon, and Count Latour seized. The wretched man was conducted into the street, and there murdered with axes and sledge-hammers. The excited people tore the clothes from the bleeding body and hung the naked corpse on a gibbet, where it remained suspended for a whole day, as a target to the National Guards. The cannon, arms, and papers seized in the office were conveyed to the University. The Emperor fled from the capital next day towards Olmutz.

7.-The French National Assembly decide, by a majority of 602 to 211, that the President of the Republic shall be elected by universal suffrage, and hold office for four years.

Captain McQuhae, of H.M. ship Dadalus, sends to the Admiralty an official report on the subject of the sea-serpent seen by him and his crew on the 6th of August last, on the passage home from the East Indies:-" On our attention being called to the object, it was discovered to be an enormous serpent, with head and shoulders kept about four feet constantly above the surface of the sea, and, as nearly as we could approxi mate by comparing it with the length of what our maintopsail yard would show in the water, there was at the very least sixty feet of the animal à fleur d'eau, no portion of which was, to our perception, used in propelling it through the water, either by vertical or horizontal undulation. It passed rapidly, but so close under our lee quarter that had it been a man of my acquaintance I should easily have recognised his features with the naked eye. The diameter of the serpent was about 15 or 16 inches behind the head, which was, without any doubt, that of a snake; and it was never, during the twenty minutes that it continued in sight of our glasses, once below the surface of the water; its colour a dark brown, with yellowish white about the throat. It had no fins, but something like the mane of a horse, or rather a bunch of sea-weed, twisted about its back." From the account and sketch together Professor Owen came to the conclusion that the creature seen from the Dadalus was not a cold-blooded reptile of the snake or serpent species, but a large seal floated down on an iceberg, and seeking for shelter. The learned professor was further of opinion that no such creature existed in nature as the so-called seaserpent.

22.-Upwards of 400 of the Parisian National Guard, attired in their uniform, and wearing side-arms, arrive in London by the South-Eastern Railway. From London Bridge a cavalcade of omnibuses and cabs conveyed them to the foreign hotels in the vicinity of Leicester-square. In company with another detachment of 300, which arrived next day, they visited most of the public institutions and places of amusement in London. A large deputation of them was also received by the Lord Mayor.

22.-The Emperor of Austria issues a manifesto, suspending the sittings of the Diet at Vienna, and ordering it to re-assemble at Kremsier, in Moravia, on the 15th November.

23.-The Vernon Gallery of Pictures, valued at 30,000l., made available to the public in the National Gallery, Trafalgar-square.

24. At a Cabinet Council held to-day it was resolved to commute the extreme sentence of the law passed on the Irish rebels to transportation for life. They refused at first to assent to this modification of their sentence, and insisted that they should either be liberated or suffer the punishment awarded in Court.

28.-Explosion at Whinnyhill Pit, Cleaton Moor, near Whitehaven. Of thirty-one in the works at the time only one escaped.

30.-Fall of a sugar-house, in Glasgow, belonging to Wilson and Sons, Alston-street. The floors, six in number, gave way in rapid succession, and buried in their ruins the whole of the workmen, nineteen in number, employed in the building at the time. Only five were got out alive, and they were severely injured. Ten days elapsed before the last of the sufferers could be reached.

The Viennese surrender to Prince Windischgrätz, but afterwards resume hostilities on hearing that an Hungarian army was approaching to their relief.

31. The Cambridge Syndicate present a report to the Congregation for confirmation, recommending various changes, with the view of giving greater encouragement to the pursuit of those studies for the cultivation of which professorships had been founded in the University.

Viscount Middleton commits suicide by igniting a brazier of charcoal in his bedroom. He was found dead on the floor the following morning by one of the domestics.

Defeat of the Hungarian army advancing to the relief of the Viennese insurgents. Despairing of future aid, and pressed on every side by the troops under the Ban of Croatia and Prince Windischgrätz, the people of Vienna now surrendered to the imperial authority, after heroically defending the city against numerous combined and well-directed attacks. During the engagement with the Hungarians Messenhausen issued the following proclama"From the spire of St. Stephen's.-The battle appears to be drawing towards Oberlin and Ingersdorf. The fog prevents me from having a clear view. Hitherto the Hungarians appear to be advancing victoriously. In case a defeated army shall approach the walls of the city, it will be the duty of all armed bodies to assemble under arms, even without command."

tion:

November 3.-Disturbance in Drury Lane Theatre arising out of the excited enthusiasm exhibited for M. Jullien's new arrangement of the National Anthem.

4. The new Constitution of the Republic finally adopted and carried by the National Assembly. A formal proclamation of the Republic took place eight days afterwards.

In

7.-Inquiry at the Marylebone Police-court into the charge made by Sir J. Hoare, Bath, against the Baroness of St. Mart, of stealing from him two valuable diamond rings. the course of a visit to Bath, in April 1847, the rings had been shown by Sir John to the Baroness. After trying them on her finger she said she returned them to their owner, but he denied having received them either then or at any subsequent period. He further denied having at any time made an offer of marriage to her. The Baroness was ultimately acquitted.

9.-Collision in Berlin between the Brandenburg Ministry and the National Assembly. The latter, ejected from their hall, and driven from place to place by the military, took refuge in a café under the Linden, where a resolution was adopted to refuse the grant of any more

taxes.

Robert Blum, of Leipsic, executed at Vienna for the part he had taken in the insurrectionary movement there. A few minutes before his execution Blum wrote to his wife :"Farewell for the time men call eternity, but which will not be so. Bring up our--now only your-children to be honest men, so that they will never disgrace their father's name. . . . All that I feel and would say at this moment escapes me in tears; only once more, then, farewell. P.S.-I had forgotten the rings. On that of our betrothal I press for you a last kiss; my seal-ring is for Hans, the watch for Richard, the diamond studs for Ida, and the chain for Alfred, as memorials. All the rest divide as you please. They are coming. Farewell."

12.-Berlin declared to be in a state of siege. The King issued a proclamation dissolving the Burgher Guard, and the Assembly adopted a resolution to sit en permanence.

Inauguration of the French Constitution celebrated in the Place de la Concorde.

14.- Wreck of the Burgundy and Atlantic, German emigrant vessels, on the Goodwin Sands. Nearly the whole of the crew and passengers in both instances were saved.

15.-Count Rossi, Minister of the Interior, assassinated at Rome. On alighting from his carriage at the Chamber of Deputies he was stabbed in the neck, and died almost instantly. The murderer mingled with the crowd, and no attempt was made to arrest him. The Chamber took no notice of the occurrence, but proceeded with the ordinary business of the day. A disturbance took place in the city next forenoon, when the Pope was besieged in his own palace, and only saved from violence by the bravery of a handful of Swiss Guards.

22.-Disastrous attack by British troops on

a body of Sikhs, in a nullah at Ramnuggar. The Commander-in-Chief issued an order to Colonel Havelock to attack the Sikh cavalry and follow them to their batteries, when the British troops charged down the bank, and on returning to form again into line were exposed to a fire from the enemy, which carried off three officers and a large portion of the troops under their command.

24.-Died, at Melbourne House, Derbyshire, in his 70th year, William Lamb, Lord Melbourne, first Prime Minister of Queen Victoria. Since the assassination of Count Rossi the Pontiff kept himself shut up in the Quirinal, with the Duc d'Harcourt, the French Ambassador, who resided in the palace for the purpose of affording the protection of the Republican flag to his Holiness. At an hour previously agreed on the Pope retired into a private room and disguised himself as a servant to Count de Spaur of the Bavarian Legation. On leaving the Quirinal he took his seat on the box of the carriage beside the coachman, and proceeded to the residence of the Bavarian Minister, where his costume was changed to that of a private chaplain. In this garb Count Spaur and his reverend charge cleared the gates of Rome, and arrived the following day at Gaeta, where his Holiness received a welcome reception from the King of Naples. The French Consul reported to his Government that the Pope intended to proceed to France, but the welcome he received at Gaeta caused his Holiness to decline the offer of a vessel placed at his disposal by the Republic.

Flight of the Pope from Rome.

27.-Louis Napoleon Buonaparte, addressing the electors of France on the subject of the Presidential election, writes :-"I am not an ambitious man, who at one time dreams of empire and war, and at another of the application of subversive theories. Educated in free countries in the school of misfortune, I shall ever remain faithful to the duties which your votes and the will of the Assembly may impose upon me. If I were named President, I would not shrink from any danger or from any sacrifice to defend society, now so audaciously attacked. I would devote myself entirely, without any concealed view, to the consolidation of a Republic, wise by its laws, honest by its intention, great and powerful by its acts. I should con. sider it a point of honour to leave to my successor, at the conclusion of four years, a consolidated government, liberty, interest, and a real progress accomplished."

28.-Dreadful murders at Stanfield Hall, near Norwich, the seat of J. P. Jermy, Esq., Recorder of that city. Mr. Jermy, his son, and Mrs. Jermy, dined together this afternoon, there being then on the premises a butler, a man-servant, and two females. About half-past eight o'clock Mr. Jermy left the dining-room and walked through the hall to the front of the building. On returning, as he entered the porch, a man,