opposed also by the Government, he had resolved to abandon it, and had no other measure to propose-a resolution in which he was confirmed by recent proceedings of the dominant party in the Church.

3. Commences at the Central Criminal Court the trial of the two Wallaces, charged as accessories in the wilful destruction of the ship Dryad, on her voyage from Liverpool to Santa Cruz, in October 1839, for the purpose of defrauding certain assurance companies and others. In summing up the Lord Chief Justice said, the jury must be satisfied that the captain wilfully cast the ship away with the intention of defrauding the underwriters; second, that the goods insured never had been shipped; and lastly, that a concerted scheme was prepared in London, to which the prisoners were consenting parties, and by whose aid it was carried out. They were each found guilty, and sentenced to transportation for life.

4.-A gravedigger buried in St. Bride's churchyard, by the falling in of the grave in which he was working.

5.-Rev. Dr. Gordon, Edinburgh, writes to the Duke of Argyll, that the Non-intrusion Committee had no instructions from the General Assembly even to propose the abolition of patronage, as one way of settling the present difficulties of the Church of Scotland, far less to press it as the only way of putting an end to the present unhappy collision between the civil and ecclesiastical courts.

15. Meeting of the Vice-Chancellor and heads of houses at Oxford, to censure No. XC. of "Tracts for the Times." It was resolved

"That modes of interpretation such as are suggested in the said tract, evading rather than explaining the sense of the Thirty-nine Articles, and reconciling subscription to them with the adoption of errors which they were designed to counteract, defeat the object, and are inconsistent with the due observance of the statutes of the University." The following day the Rev. J. H. Newman addressed a letter to the ViceChancellor, acknowledging himself to be the author of Tract XC., and stating that his opinion remained unchanged of the truth and honesty of the principle therein maintained, and of the necessity of putting it forth. "I am sincerely sorry for the trouble and anxiety I have given to the members of the board, and I beg to return my thanks to them for an act which, even though founded on misapprehension, may be made as profitable to myself as it is religiously and charitably intended."

The boy Jones enters Buckingham Palace for the third time, but is seized almost immediately by a constable on duty. Instead of sending him to prison again, the police magistrate, before whom he was brought, induced his parents to let him be placed on board one of her Majesty's ships.

21.--The Rev. Mr. Guthrie, a prominent Non-intrusion agitator, addresses various meet

ings at Dublin on the Church of Scotland. "I will cheerfully go," he said, "where my fathers went before, to the dark dungeon; I will even go, like James Guthrie, to the Grass-market, and lay my head on the block; but I will sooner suffer this right hand to be cut off than lay it on the head of an Edwards of Marnoch.'

22.-The Rolls Court order a commission to examine certain aged witnesses at the Court of Hanover, regarding the royal jewels bequeathed to the House of Hanover by Queen Charlotte.

28.-Robbery of plate and various articles of vertu at Windsor Castle, supposed to have been committed by a person in the employ of the inspector-general of palaces.

29.-A meeting having been called at Deptford on the subject of a repeal of the Corn-laws, a body of Chartists, as was their custom, took up a prominent position in the hall, and endeavoured in various ways to interrupt the proceedings. Acting upon the advice of the lecturer, Mr. Sydney Smith, the audience turned upon the Chartists, and after a short struggle succeeded in ejecting the whole of them.

April 1.-The Paris Fortification Bill passes the Chamber of Peers.

2. Rev. J. Keble, in a letter to Justice Coleridge, concerning Catholic subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles, discusses the duties and difficulties of English Catholics in the present religious crisis.

3.-Josiah Misters executed at Shrewsbury for the attempted murder of Mr. Mackreth in 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..

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 in the old works at Dowlais Iron Works. At 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 completely 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 in the case, 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 witness, George Cox, said: "I remember, in our lodgings on the Wednesday night before the murder, Doolan told me he had been 'sacked' or dismissed by Green, and that he intended to make him unable to sack another. Redding said Green was a strong supple fellow, and that he would not be able, and offered to go with him. Doolan said he required no assistance, and could do it himself quite well with the poker, taking hold of the poker at the same time. We all slept in the house that night. When we left in the

morning I saw Doolan take the poker, and put it under the sleeve of his slop. On coming to the work I saw Doolan run across the bridge, and make a stroke at Green with the poker. Redding then struck him several blows with a bar of iron, which Hickie brought to him out of the smithy." A number of witnesses were examined as to the movements of the prisoners between the murder 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, but recommended Hickie, as an accessory, to the merciful consideration of the court. The Lord Justice Clerk said, "A deliberate and premeditated murder, origi nating in revenge on the part of one man, is a crime, I am happy to say, rare in this part of the country. It is a crime, however, by no means rare in another part of her Majesty's dominions, whence these persons have lately

emanated; and I am sorry to think that the brutal conduct and many escapes from justice in that country may have encouraged them to enter into this foul and deliberate conspiracy." Lord Moncrieff passed sentence of death on all three, and fixed the place of execution as near as possible to the scene of the murder at Crosshill.

26.-Lord Howick's amendment on the Government Registration of Voters (Ireland) Bill carried by a majority of 21 against the Ministry.

27. Mr. Walter, Conservative, elected M. P. at Nottingham, by a majority of 296 over the Government candidate.

30.-St. George's Hotel, Albemarle-street, destroyed by fire, owing to ignition of the curtains in Lady Harcourt's bedroom. There were about fifty people in the hotel, but all escaped uninjured.

May 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 disapproved of by our Government, and that Captain Elliot would be recalled.

8. In the Arches Court, Sir H. Jenne Fust gives judgment against the defendant in the case of Mastin v. Escott, involving the This suit was provalidity of lay baptism.

moted by Mastin on the ground that Escott, vicar of Gedney, Lincolnshire, had refused to bury the infant children of two of his parish. ioners.

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, 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 chief 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.

-The number of petitions presented up to this date in favour of the repeal of the Corn Laws was 1,607, signed by 474,448 people. The petitions against repeal amounted to 540, signed by 30,934.

18. Conclusion of Sugar Duties' debate, on Lord Sandon's motion, after eight nights' duration. Majority against Ministers, 36.

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 sue for a short truce, during the continuance of which Plenipotentiary Elliot is induced to recommence negotiations, and offensive operations are suddenly drawn to a close. Major-General 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 forty-five 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 Thursday next, 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.—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.

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 ministers. The Non-intrusion party object to the legality of the service, the papers having been left with their officer at the door, by a messenger

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 expres sing 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 mustered in great force, and attempted to take possession of the place of meeting; but after a noisy struggle they were completely 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. the meantime he intimates the withdrawal of his motion on the subject of the Corn Laws,

In

5.-Public intimation given that the underwriters, being satisfied of the loss of the President, are ready to settle with parties who have claims on them for losses.

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 the 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 therefore intimates his withdrawal of all objections to the granting of supplies for six months.

8.-Astley's Amphitheatre totally destroyed by fire, about 5.30 A. M., within three-quarters of an hour. 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 30,000/. The calamity so affected Mr. Ducrow that he lost his reason.

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. One woman killed, and a large number injured, in the church of St. Thomas, Ashton, in consequence of a rush to the doors, caused by a report that one of the galleries was giving way.

-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 London, Lord John Russell states that, "in framing the measures lately announced to Parliament, it has been the wish of the Queen's Government to lighten that kind of taxation which, while it yields nothing to the Exchequer, presses heavily on the people. They had also sought to unchain

the industry of the great and prevailing 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.

-Admiral Stopford writes from Malta to Sir Charles Napier, denying that he had ever accused the Commodore of arrogating to himself the whole honour of the Syrian campaign.

15. The Queen and Prince Albert visit Oxford on Commemoration Day.

-Lord Aberdeen presents a petition from the seven suspended ministers of Strathbogie, pray. ing the House to interfere to prevent the sentence of suspension being carried into effect; but Lord Melbourne, while sympathizing with their position, declines to commit the Government to any direct course of action in their behalf.

21.-Anniversary of Battle of Trafalgar. Launch of the Trafalgar man-of-war, at Woolwich, in the presence of the Queen, and an immense gathering of people. At the request of her Majesty, the vessel was christened by Lady Bridport, a niece of Lord Nelson, and the wine used was a portion of that taken from the Victory after the battle of Trafalgar. There were about 500 people on board at the time of the launch, 100 of whom had taken part in the action after which the vessel was named.

22.-Parliament prorogued by the Queen in person. A Gazette Extraordinary was published next day, announcing its 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."

- Trial of Mr. Moxon for blasphemy, in publishing Shelley's works, before Lord Denman

D 2

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.

25.- Public dinner to Mr. Chas. 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.

30. Great Western Railway opened throughout from London to Bristol.

Jaly 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.

5. Sixty-four persons drowned at Rotheram, Yorkshire, by the capsizing of a vessel at launching, owing to the fact that, as the ves⚫sel was leaving the stays, the persons on board rushed to the leeward side, to see the effect of the dash into the water, thus causing the vessel to overbalance and overturn before she reached the water, which was about three feet from the ways.

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

19. 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."

26. Her Majesty and Prince Albert leave Windsor to visit the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn, and Lord Melbourne, at Brocket Hall.

28.-Eleventh Annual Meeting of British Association at Plymouth. Pres. Dr. Whewell.

August 4,-Messrs. William and Robert Chambers entertained at Peebles and presented with the freedom of their native town "in testimony and approbation of their eminent services in literature, education, and popular improvement."

6.-Nine workmen killed, and four injured, by an explosion in Thornley Pit, near Sunderland. About a dozen others were got out unharmed.

9.-Burning of the steamship Erie, trading between Buffalo and Chicago, and loss of 170 lives.

Sir Henry Pottinger and Admiral Parker arrive at Macao to supersede Captain Elliott and Sir J. Bremner.

11, The Commission of the General Assembly, on the motion of Mr. Candlish, agree by a large majority to institute proceedings against certain ministers and elders who had assisted at the communion in the parishes of the suspended ministers, Strathbogie. A protest was made by Dr. Cook and others, expressive of their intention to appeal without delay to a competent tribunal for a decision as to which of the contending parties in the struggle was to be considered the Established Church of the country.

14. Accident to the royal hunting party near Virginia Water, caused by the dogs startling the horses in some of the carriages drawn up there to see the hunt. One of the postillions was much injured, and several narrow escapes were made from being thrown into the

water.

Wheat quoted at 86s. per quarter.

15. Inauguration of the Napoleon column at Boulogne. "On this spot (so it was recorded), 16th of August, 1804, Napoleon in presence of the Grand Army distributed the decoration of the Legion of Honour to the soldiers and citizens who had deserved well of their country, the four corps commanded by Marshal Soult, and the flotilla under the command of Admiral Bruer. Wishing to perpetuate the remembrance of this day, Louis Phillippe I.,