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21.-General thanksgiving for her Majesty's recent escape.

24. Sir J. J. Gordon Bremer issues a notice declaring the river and harbour of Canton in a state of siege.

29.-Tried at Durham Sessions, Robert Taylor, charged with many acts of bigamy, and obtaining money under the pretence of being heir to large properties. Two cases were proved against him, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for two years and a half.

Experiments with Clegg and Samuda's atmospheric railway at Wormwood Scrubs.

July 5.-Bombardment and capture of Tinghae, the capital of Chusan, by the squadron under Sir Gordon Bremer.

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6.-Execution of Courvoisier. pearance on the scaffold was the signal for a shout of execration from the thousands assembled below, but he appeared totally unmoved, and stood firm while the executioner fastened the noose. He died after a brief struggle.

10. The trial of Oxford concluded at the Central Criminal Court. The jury gave effect to the plea of insanity, urged by his counsel, Mr. S. Taylor and Mr. Bodkin, by coupling their verdict of guilty with a declaration that they believed the prisoner to be insane. Lord

Denman: "Then the verdict will stand thus: not guilty on the ground of insanity. The prisoner will be confined in strict custody, as a matter of course." The prisoner walked briskly from the bar, apparently glad the long trial was over.

Lord Aberdeen withdraws his Scotch Benefices Bill.

13.-Crowded meeting of the Loyal National Association of Ireland, held in Dublin, when O'Connell delivered an harangue, promising repeal within a year.

A royal message read in the House of Lords, recommending the introduction of a Regency Bill to the attention of their lordships. In compliance therewith, a bill was introduced by the Lord Chancellor, constituting Prince Albert sole regent in the event of her Majesty's demise before her offspring attains legal age.

15. Convention signed at London between the Courts of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, on the one part, and the Ottoman Porte on the other, for the pacification of the Levant.

24.-Discussion in the House of Commons on the case of John Thorogood, confined in Chelmsford jail for refusing to pay 5s. 6d. for Church rates.

28.-Died at Cowes, aged 48, John George Lambton, Earl of Durham. Endowed with talents of a high order, and possessed of great natural courage, the deceased nobleman attached himself with great eagerness to the Reform party, and, short as was his public career, had the happiness of seeing the triumph of many of those principles for which he so

warmly contended. He had been in failing

health almost since his return from America in 1839.

29. Ovation in Manchester to the Glasgow cotton-spinners on their return from transportation.

August 1.-Action commenced at Lewes assizes by Richard Heaviside against Dr. Lardner, for compensation for the seduction of his wife. In summing up, Baron Gurney said one point urged in favour of the defendant was that he was chastised by the plaintiff; and if he had put the defendant's life in danger, it would certainly go in mitigation of damages; but under the peculiar circumstances he would leave that entirely to the jury. They must not estimate the damages by the pecuniary resources of the defendant, but by the injury the plaintiff had sustained. He had lost an affectionate wife, and his children were deprived of the instruction and example of a mother. Damages 8,000l.

6. This morning, about 4 o'clock, the City of Edinburgh steamer, from the Thames, arrived off Boulogne, with Prince Louis Napoleon, fifty-eight followers, eight horses, and two carriages. On landing, the party immediately proceeded to the barracks, where, having secured the sentinel, the Prince made overtures to the soldiers, and offered them a considerable increase of pay. This, however, had no effect, and he then went through the town, distributing proclamations to the citizens and soldiers. Few joined them; and very soon the National Guard were assembled, and the party driven to the sands. Here some of them attempted to regain the steamer, but the boat upsetting they were precipitated into the water, when the National Guard fired and killed several. Some were drowned; and Prince Louis himself was picked up half a mile out, and carried to the guard-house, along with General Montholon and Colonel Vaudrey. The whole of the survivors were arrested during the day, and the steamer taken possession of till it could be ascertained whether the owners were aware of the purpose for which she was chartered. A London morning paper, speaking of the attempt, says, "The maniac Louis Napoleon is said to be in the present instance nothing but an unfortunate instrument in the hands of certain Stock Exchange adventurers."

7.-Act of Parliament passed prohibiting the use of climbing-boys as chimney-sweeps.

11. In closing Parliament, her Majesty said: "The violent injuries inflicted upon some of my subjects by the officers of the Emperor of China, have compelled me to send to the coasts of China a naval and military force for the purpose of demanding reparation and redress."

13.- Riots at Calne, Wilts, arising out of the opposition of the poorer classes in the district

to the new constabulary force. One special constable killed, others injured, and several houses sacked.

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15. The foundation-stone of the Scott monument, at Edinburgh, laid with masonic honours by Sir James Forrest, Grand Master, and provost of the city. The inscription on a plate deposited in the stone recorded that the admirable writings of Sir Walter Scott were allowed to have given more delight, and suggested better feeling, to a larger class of readers in every rank of society, than those of any other author, with the exception of Shakspeare alone, and were therefore thought likely to be remembered long after this act of gratitude on the part of the first generation of his admirers should be forgotten." Addresses delivered by the Grand Master and Sir William Rae.

27. Attempted murder of William Mackreth, in a bedroom of the Angel Inn, Ludlow. There was a severe wound in the throat, but not sufficient to cause death. It was generally believed the criminal in this instance had made a mistake, the intended victim being one Ludlow, a Birmingham cattle-dealer.

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28.-Presentation of the freedom of the City of London to Prince Albert. "I shall always," said the Prince in reply, "remember with pride and satisfaction the day on which I became your fellow-citizen, and it is especially gratifying to me, as marking your loyalty and affection to the Queen.'

29. Rev. Hugh Stowell tried at Liverpool, for a libel on a Catholic clergyman in Manchester, whom he declared to have subjected one of his people to the indignity of walking on his hands and knees two hours a day for nine days, as a penance for sin. Verdict for the plaintiff, damages 40s.

September 12.-Duel on Wimbledon Common between Lord Cardigan and Lieut. Tuckett, in consequence of the Earl obtaining informa

tion that Lieut. Tuckett was the author of certain letters in the newspapers reflecting, as his lordship supposed, on his character as an officer and a gentleman. The first shot was ineffectual on both sides. Mr. Tuckett received his adversary's second ball in the back part of the lower ribs. The ball was extracted, and no fatal result followed. The miller of Wimbledon, with his wife and son, witnessed the duel from his mill, and being a constable, took the parties into custody. They had exchanged shots about twelve yards from each other.

19. The Globe and other newspapers publish the details of a mess squabble between Lord Cardigan and Capt. J. W. Reynolds. Capt. Jones delivered the following message to Capt. Reynolds, after a mess dinner, at which the latter had called for a bottle of Moselle, placed, as usual, on the table in a black bottle. "The colonel has desired me, as president of

the mess committee, to tell you that you were wrong in having a black bottle placed on the table at a great dinner like last night, as the mess should be conducted like a gentleman's table, and not like a tavern or pot-house."

22.- Died, at Clarence House, St. James's, the Princess Augusta, sixth child and second daughter of George III. and Queen Charlotte, and born in 1768.

25.-Fire in Plymouth Dockyard, and total destruction of the Talavera, 74-gun ship, and the Imogene frigate, then in dock. The Minden was also much charred and burnt, and the Adelaide Gallery destroyed, with all its interesting memorials of old ships, except the Royal George's capstan.

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October 2.-Attempt of an incendiary to fire the dockyard at Sheerness. Smoke having been observed issuing from the Camperdown, 120 guns, search was made, when part of the vessel was discovered to be on fire, but as it had just commenced it was got under before much damage was done. On further inspection, trains of oakum, pounded resin, and other inflammable materials were found laid throughout the ship in various directions.

5. Concluded at Brighton the court-martial on Captain Reynolds, arising out of charges preferred against him by his commanding officer, the Earl of Cardigan, for writing an improper and intemperate letter. "I beg to tell your lordship," he wrote, "that you are in nowise justified in speaking of me at all at a public party, given by your lordship, and more particularly in such manner as to make it appear that my conduct has been such as to exclude me from your lordship's house." Capt. Reynolds, to the astonishment of many, was dismissed the service, and the evidence of some of his witnesses severely censured.

6.-Conclusion of the poll, rendered necessary by a combination to exclude Alderman Harmer, of the Dispatch, from the office of Mayor, to which he succeeded by rotation. Pirie, 2,741; Johnson, 2,713; Harmer, 2,294.

10.-Engagement near Beyrout, between the allied troops and Ibrahim Pacha, in which the latter is completely defeated, and forced to retreat to the mountains. Beyrout is evacuated the same night, and made the headquarters of Gen. Smith.

14.-Proceedings in the Wandsworth Police Court concerning the duel fought between the

Earl of Cardigan and Capt. Tuckett on Sept. 12. Both were committed for trial on the charge of felony.

15. A musket shot fired at the King of the French in the evening, when his Majesty was passing along the Quay of the Tuileries, on his return to St. Cloud, but no one hurt. Darmes, who fired the shot, was instantly arrested, and avowed the crime.

20.-Lord Palmerston writes to Earl Granville at Paris: "Say to M. Thiers that nothing can be more unjust than to assert that England has wished not to allow France any share in the settlement of the Turkish question. But as long as France insists that the question shall be settled only in her own way, against the opinion of all the other powers, and in opposition to the engagements which the Four Powers have contracted with the Sultan, it is surely France that excludes herself from the settlement, and not the other powers that exclude her."

22.-Died at Holland House, aged sixtyseven, the Right Hon. Henry Richard Vassall, Lord Holland, celebrated in the political and social life of the past half-century.

24. Sir John Macdonald, Adjutant-General, reads, by order of the Commander-in-chief, a memorandum to the officers of the 11th Hussars at Brighton barracks. Speaking of the commanding officer, Lord Cardigan, he says, "He must recollect that it is expected from him not only to exercise the military command over the regiment, but to give an example of moderation, temper, and discretion. Such a course of conduct would lead to far less frequent reference to his lordship from the 11th Hussars than had been the case in the last few months."

25.-John Henty, carpenter, tried by courtmartial at Sheerness, for (among other counts) making a false report to his superior officer, on the extent and circumstances of the fire in the Camperdown. The Court found the charge established, but, in consideration of the prisoner's previous good character, sentenced him to be only severely reprimanded.

Accident at Farringdon, Great Western Railway, caused by the driver of a goods train neg. lecting to lessen his speed as he approached the station. The driver and guard were killed, and four passengers, in a truck, severely injured.

27.-Distressing case of hydrophobia at Kirkcaldy, in a boy, aged six, and a girl, aged two, who had been severely lacerated by a rabid dog at Carronbrae, about seven weeks previously.

November 2.-Major-General Sir Robert Sale intercepts Dost Mahomed when attempting to enter the Gharebund Pass, and scatters his followers among the mountains.

3.-Bombardment and capture of St. Jean d'Acre by the allied fleet, under the command

of Admiral Stopford. The attack commenced about two o'clock, and became general at three. At twenty minutes past four a large magazine blew up, by which one entire regiment, on the ramparts, was sacrificed. During the night the place was evacuated. British loss, 22 killed and 42 wounded; Egyptians killed, about 2,000. Speaking of the effects of the explosion, an officer who witnessed it says, "The whole neighbourhood was torn up, as it were, from the very bowels of the earth, and scattered in great masses in every direction, men, women, children, horses, and asses intermingled in the most ghastly manner. A vast hollow, about a mile in circumference, is now presented, surrounded to a great distance by dead bodies."

Sir

Surrender of Dost Mahomed Khan. William Macnaghten writes to the Secretary of the Indian Government: "I was returning from my evening ride, and within a few yards of my own residence, when a single horseman galloped up to me, and having satisfied him that I was the envoy and minister, told me that Dost Mahomed Khan was arrived, and sought my protection. Dost Mahomed rode up to me, and alighted from his horse. After the usual salutation, I begged him to mount again, and we proceeded together to my residence, in the compound of which I have pitched a tent for the ex-chief, and provided him with everything necessary for his comfort. He put his sword into my hand as a token of submission, but I at once returned it to him, and he seemed grateful for this mark of confidence."

5.-Kurrach Singh dies at Lahore. His favourite wife and three female attendants sacrifice themselves on the funeral pile. On the return of the procession to the palace, a beam fell on the new sovereign, Nebal Singh. He died in a few hours.

6.- Accidental bursting of another magazine in Acre, attended with a loss of nearly 300 lives.

10.-Exciting municipal contest in Edinburgh, caused by the state of Church parties. The non-intrusion party in the council, with some aid from the Tories, carry Sir James Forrest as Lord Provost, against Mr. Adam Black, by 17 to 14.

12.-John Thorogood relieved from Chelmsford jail, after imprisonment of twenty-two months for refusing to pay a Church-rate of 5s. 6d. An unknown individual paid the rate and costs.

13. Severe storm on the north-east coast. The Syria was broken to pieces near Sunderland pier, and four of her crew drowned. In the Irish Sea the fury of the gale was also severely felt. The City of Bristol steamship, trading between Waterford and Bristol, foundered off Warnes Head, with twenty-nine persons on board. Only two were saved.

Contest for the High Stewardship of Cam

bridge University. On this, the third and last day of polling, the numbers stood, Lord Lyndhurst, 973; Lord Lyttelton, 487.

21. This afternoon, at ten minutes before 2 o'clock, the Queen was safely delivered of a Princess.

30.-The Belle Poule frigate, commanded by the Prince de Joinville, arrives off Cherbourg, with the remains of the Emperor Napoleon.

December 2.-A youth, named William Jones ("the boy Jones"), gains access to Buckingham Palace, and continues secreted there several days. His presence was first detected by Mrs. Lilley, the nurse of the Princess Royal, who summoned some attendants, and had the intruder drawn from his hiding-place under the sofa. He gave various accounts of the manner in which he obtained admission, as well as his object, but the Privy Council did not think there was much cause for alarm. He was therefore sentenced to three months' imprisonment as a rogue and vagabond.

Admiral Stopford writes to Mehemet Ali :"I am very sorry to find that Commodore Napier should have entered into a convention with your Highness for the evacuation of Syria by the Egyptian troops, which he had no authority to do, and which I cannot approve or ratify. . . . I hope this hasty and unauthorized convention will not occasion any embarrassment to your Highness. It was no doubt done from an amicable motive, though under a limited view of the state of affairs in Syria."

6. Prosecution of Hetherington in the Court of Queen's Bench for issuing a blasphemous publication, entitled "Haslam's Letters to the Clergy of all Denominations." Verdict, guilty. Sentence deferred.

15. Remains of the Emperor Napoleon laid with great pomp in the tomb at the Invalides, Paris.

17. John Green, a "ganger," or superintendent of labourers, on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, murdered by two Irishmen at Crosshill. One of them struck Green on the head with a long iron poker, while the other repeatedly jumped upon the body. A witness, working on the line at the time, said, "On going to my work at the south end of Crosshill Bridge, in the morning, I saw five or six people standing in the middle of it, but when I came up to them they all laid their heads together, and spoke as if they did not wish me to hear. Green, the ganger, came up at this time, and stood looking at the line over the bridge. One of the men then stepped out from the others, took five or six rapid strides, and struck Green on the head with a rod of iron. Green put his hand to his head and cried out, O Lord, murder!' I saw three or four blows struck by the same person, and then I ran away to call assistance." The outrage had its origin in jealousy between the English and Irish workmen on the line.

1841.

Jan. 3.-Thunderstorm in the metropolis and neighbourhood. Spitalfields Church and Streatham Church were seriously damaged.

Fire at Dundee, originating from a stove in a passage betwixt the Steeple and South churches. The East Church, or Cathedral, a remarkable and much admired building, and also the South and Cross churches, were completely destroyed.

7.-Commodore Bremer opens fire from his squadron on the Bogue Forts, Canton River, and reduces two, over which he plants the British flag.

Death at Lambeth Palace, caused by workmen heating a pan of charcoal in the room they were repairing. One man was entirely suffocated, and the rest of the survivors had a narrow escape.

8.-Alexander M'Rae sentenced to death by the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, for a capital offence committed on the body of Marjory M'Intosh, near Docgarroch Loch, on the Caledonian Canal.

11. Samuel Scott, the American diver, accidentally hangs himself when performing his rope-trick on Waterloo Bridge, preparatory to leaping into the river.

14. Mehemet Ali restores the Turkish fleet, this transaction completing his submission to the Sublime Porte.

16.--Inundation at Brentford, caused by the bursting of the banks and locks of the Grand Junction Canal. At Shrewton and Maddington, on the same day, there was a considerable destruction of property by floods, from the sudden melting of snow in the neighbourhood.

18.-O'Connell visits the Orange district of Ulster in the course of his repeal agitation, and meets with numerous evidences of unpopularity.

20.-The Emperor of China issues an edict : "Whereas Keshen has reported to us the measures he has taken in reference to the circumstances of the English foreigners; that as these rebellious foreigners are without reason, and refuse to listen to our commands, a dreadful example of severity ought to be made in their regard. If the rebellious foreigners dare to approach our inner shores, let them be immediately exterminated." Keshen, in detailing to the Emperor the various encroachments of the barbarians, writes: "Your slave is vexed to death thinking of these things, even till he loathes his food, and till sleep has forsaken his eyelids, forasmuch as he does not shrink from the heavy guilt he is incurring in taking all these facts, the result of his diligent inquiries, and annoying with them the ears of Heaven's Son." Keshen was soon after degraded, and delivered over to the Board of Punishment.

Charles Elliot, H.M. Plenipotentiary, announces the conclusion of preliminary arrange

ments for a treaty of peace with China. The island of Hong Kong to be ceded to England, an indemnity of six million dollars to be paid, and the trade of Canton to be opened up.

21.-Great Radical meeting at Leeds, designed to bring about a coalition with the Chartists. Resolutions in favour of universal suffrage were almost unanimously carried; but the speakers differed widely from each other on the remaining "points" of the charter.

The moderate section of the Strathbogie Presbytery meet at Marnoch to induct Mr. Edwards into the ministry of that parish. The circumstances connected with this ordination occasioned much discussion. A protest against the proceedings was read amid great excitement, and at its conclusion the audience set up a loud shout of approval. A portion, representing, it was said, the parishioners of Marnoch, then withdrew, but the number left in the church was still very considerable, and the shouting, cheering, and hissing continued in a manner which made the carrying out of the business of the court an impossibility. An attempt was made to prevent the moderator from entering the pulpit, and pieces of wood, nails, iron bolts, &c. were plentifully thrown among the members of Presbytery. This continued for about an hour and a half, when the fury of the audience gave signs of having expended itself. Words of warning and remonstrance were then offered by two or three known sympathisers with the non-intrusion movement, and the latter part of the ordination services was conducted in the midst of comparative order and quiet.

23.-Died in Bethlehem Hospital, aged 69 years, James Hatfield, who was tried at the Old Bailey, in September 1802, for firing a loaded pistol at his Majesty King George III., and acquitted on the ground of insanity.

26.-Parliament opened by her Majesty in

person.

February 1.-Captain Elliot and Commodore Bremer issue a proclamation to the inhabitants of Hong Kong, informing them that the place had become part of the dominion of the Queen of England, and that natives residing in the island must consider themselves as her subjects.

5.-The Duke of Wellington taken suddenly ill in the House of Lords, and conveyed to Apsley House.

10.-Christening of the Princess Royal in Buckingham Palace.

Lord Sydenham assumes the government of the now united provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.

14.—The Buffalo Advertiser publishes a long circumstantial account of the destruction of Niagara Falls. "At half-past seven a wide space of the frontal bastion near to Goat Island fell down, but what was actually taking place could only be surmised, as the great con

fluence of water hid the immediate stage of operations from sight. At half-past eight the Middle Tower and all the adjoining groundwork had disappeared. The tower sank into the gulf like a subsiding wave. Goat Island followed next. On the British side the wall of loose friable rock was gored and ploughed away until the Table Rock, so much resorted to by visitors, fell down in fragments, the spiral staircase toppled, and for a while it was expected that the hotel would follow. It still stands, though in a perilous posture, all the furniture having been removed.'

16.-The Earl of Cardigan tried in the House of Lords for shooting at Captain Tuckett, with intent to do him bodily harm. The case broke down on a formal objection raised by the prisoner's counsel, Sir William Follett. The prosecution, he said, had failed in proving a material part of their case, inasmuch as no evidence had been given that Captain Harvey Garnett Phipps Tuckett was the person alleged to have been on Wimbledon Common on the 12th September last, and whose card only bore the name Captain Harvey Tuckett. The peers present returned a verdict of "not guilty," with the exception of the Duke of Cleveland, who added, "Not guilty, legally."

19.-Wynyard Park, the seat of the Marquis of Londonderry, destroyed by fire, supposed to have originated in a flue of the chapel forming the west wing of the premises, and first seen about midnight. There were only two servants in the house at the time, the Marquis and Marchioness being abroad with their attendants. The whole of the building, and by far the greater part of the rich furnishings, were completely destroyed.

22. Decision in the Exchequer on the long pending question regarding the validity of the charter of the city of Manchester. The question was raised in a suit Rutter v. Chapman, tried in 1839, before Mr. Baron Maule, at Liverpool, when the learned judge directed the jury to find for the validity, subject to a bill of exceptions for argument in Exchequer. The Attorney-General conducted the case for the Liberals, and Mr. Cresswell that of the Tory opponents of the corporation. The original judgment in favour of the charter was now confirmed on all points, and costs allowed.

25.-Close of the debate on the first reading of Lord Morpeth's Irish Registration Bill. Majority for Ministers, 5.

27.-Fall of two houses adjoining the Dispatch office, in Fleet-street. The tenants being warned of their danger shortly before, no life was lost, nor was there any casualty of the slightest nature.

March 2.-In answer to Lord Dalhousie, Lord Aberdeen states that though his bill of last year had been well received by nearly onehalf of the Church of Scotland, yet as it had been furiously condemned by the other, and

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