the command of Captain Crozier, were proceeding to the Great Fish River. Sir John Franklin had died on the 11th of June, 1847. Many deeply interesting relics of our countrymen have been picked up upon the western shore of King William's Island, and others obtained from the Esquimaux, by whom we were informed that, subsequent to their abandonment, one ship was crushed and sunk by the ice." (See May 28, 1847.)

27.-Explosion, at Birmingham, of Phillips and Pursall's percussion-cap factory, in which there were stored, in process of finishing, 5 million and a half of caps, from 3,000 to 4,000 cartridges, containing about 40lbs. of gunpowder, and a large quantity of other explosive material. The entire building was blown to atoms, and twenty-one of the workpeople burnt or buried in the ruins. In the priming-shop, where the disaster was supposed to have originated, the whole of the workmen were killed.

28.- Died, aged 81, Carl Ritter, the eminent Prussian geographer.

October 1.-The new bell "Big Ben," of Westminster, ceases striking the hours, having become more hopelessly cracked than even its predecessor.

4. In the course of a conversazione in St. George's Hall, Wolverhampton, the Attorney-General, Sir Richard Bethell, addresses the Christian Young Men's Institute of the place:

"If I were to look back on my own life, to derive from it anything like a lesson for the guidance or instruction of others, I should say that of all the success that individually I have met with in my career, I should ascribe the greater part, not to the possession of any particular ability, but, in the great variety of instances, more to the benefit I have found resulting from a feeling in one's favour produced whenever I have been fortunate enough to have it in my power to confer any advantage or any kindness on others. I am perfectly confident that the principle of mutual benevolence, of a universal desire to do good, derived from Christianity, and which is the first lesson inculcated when you are taught to read the New Testament, is one of the best and most sure modes of securing even temporary success in life. (Cheers.) I venture to derive that conclusion from it, because it is peculiarly, and in every sense of the word, a Christian conclusion; and if you compare the lessons of the New Testament with the lessons of any other school of morality, high as are some of the excellent lessons of morality in heathen philosophers, they differ essentially, inasmuch as all Christian goodness is founded wholly and entirely on the principle of love and mutual benevolence. I am extremely glad, therefore, to find that you have combined in the whole of your institu

tion, and in all its regulations, the necessity of making the study of Christianity one of the primary objects.

5.-Coroner's inquiry at Stepney into the circumstances attending the death of the infant child of Miss Yaroth, born in the school-house at Mile-end, Stepney, with the connivance of the incumbent, the Rev. J. Bonwell, M. A., and buried in secret by his desire. The medical attendant on the occasion was Dr. Godfrey, of Mount-place, Whitechapel. The jury found the conduct of the incumbent and sexton

"highly censurable.” The Commissioners under the Church Discipline Act afterwards instituted proceedings, and carried the case before the Bishop.

man.

8.-M. About having been personally attacked by the Bishop of Orleans for his book "The Roman Question," replies in the columns of the Opinion Nationale:-"Perhaps you would have done better to speak in more courteous terms of a literary man and a gentleFor only to suppose such a misfortune as that fifteen or twenty years hence you should find me on the next bench to you in the French Academy, you would be forced either to leave your seat, or to admit that you had gone a little too far. But religious polemics have their peculiar customs. The torture which religion no longer dares to use in practice, it imports, as far as possible, into its language. The sacred fire of the Inquisition now burns only in the eloquence of man. I was made to feel it in the first mandate-I mean the first article-of your new friend, M. Veuillot. When I was told that this Père Duchesne of the Church had declared war upon me, I expected to have some formidable arguments to meet. I buckled on my best logical and historical armour. How simple was I? M. Veuillot merely insulted me as you have done, Monseigneur, and he denounced my book to the police. For it is easier to ruin an editor than to ruin an argument; there is no reply so irrefutable as a seizure. According to law, I might, Monseigneur, require you to insert this, my answer, in your next numberI mean your next mandate. But I will not be too exacting; I am satisfied with being in the right. I respectfully kiss your pastoral ring, and humbly bow, Monseigneur, to the sacred character with which you are invested."

9.-The Sardinian ambassador withdraws from Rome.

11. The Lord Provost of Edinburgh announces that Sir David Brewster had accepted the Principalship of Edinburgh University, to which he had been elected by the Town Council.

12.-Died, at his residence, Gloucesterplace, aged 56, Robert Stephenson, engineer of the London and Birmingham Railway, the High Level Bridge at Newcastle, the Britannia and Conway Bridges over the Menai Straits, and the Victoria Bridge over the St. Lawrence. The remains of the great engineer were interred

in Westminster Abbey, near Telford, whose suspension-bridge divides with Stephenson's tubular bridge, the admiration of visitors to the Menai Straits.

13. The Theatre Royal, Hull, destroyed by fire. The wardrobe and dresses of the company were also burnt. It was one of the finest of provincial theatres, and worthily placed at the head of the so-called York circuit.

14. The Glasgow Water-works opened by the Queen at the outflow of Loch Katrine. Το overcome the first great engineering difficulty of drawing the water from the lake it was necessary to tunnel a mountain 600 feet below the summit for 2,325 yards in length and 8 feet in diameter. This was the first of a series of 70 tunnels measuring in the aggregate 13 miles. The bogs were traversed by 3 miles of vast iron pipes, and the rivers and valleys crossed by 94 miles of aqueducts. The system was estimated to be able to supply the city with 50,000,000 gallons daily. The total cost was about 1,500,000/. Her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and two Princesses arrived at the works from Edinburgh, which city they had reached on their journey from Balmoral southward. The weather was of the most untoward description, the rain falling in torrents throughout the greater part of the day. There was, however, a large gathering of people to welcome her Majesty on the occasion. The ceremony consisted of the presentation of an Address on the part of the Water-works Commissioners, and a suitable reply from her Majesty, and was ended by the Queen putting in motion the apparatus by which the waters of the lake were admitted into the tunnel. By the aid of the electric telegraph the event was at once made known in Edinburgh and Stirling by the firing of the Castle guns.

16. Anti-slavery outbreak at Harper's Ferry, a town on the borders of Virginia and Baltimore. Under the leadership of John Brown, or "Old Brown," as he was sometimes called, a noted Kansas abolitionist, the arsenal was seized, the trains stopped, and the telegraph wires cut. A number of people

were also slain in the encounter which took place with the military. Brown was captured and tried for high treason. When asked in court what remarks he had to make, he composedly answered, "Gentlemen, make an end of slavery, or slavery will make an end of you.' The same steadiness of purpose marked the demeanour of this zealous Abolitionist on the scaffold to which he was condemned. When asked for a signal that he was ready, John Brown replied, "I am always ready." He was executed on the 2d of December, but the efforts of his life and the manner of his death gave an increase of vitality to the abolition struggle, and was thought to have had a sensible influence in hastening on the war between the North and the South.

22.- Spain declares war against Morocco, the immediate inciting cause being the refusal

of the latter power to cede territory claimed by the former for the protection of its settlements on the North African coast.

26.- Wrecked in Redwharf Bay, near Moelfra, Anglesea, during the severe storm which set in the previous day, the well-known Liverpool and Australian steamer Royal Charter, homeward bound. The number lost reached the frightful total of 459. The ship was unhappily kept near a dangerous lee shore, in the hope of meeting with a pilot for Liverpool. In this she was disappointed, and at about 10 P. M. of the 25th, with a northerly gale blowing, she let go two anchors a few miles to the east of Point Lynas. So violent, however, was the wind and sea that the chain cables parted, although the engines were working at full speed to lessen the strain. In spite of every effort the vessel was now forced ashore, and struck the rocks astern in four fathoms water. Up to this period (3 A. M.) not the slightest alarm was evinced among the passengers, a large portion of whom were women and children. The masts and rigging were now cut adrift, but caused no relief, as the ship continued to thump on the sharppointed rocks with fearful rapidity. Shortly after she struck, the ship was thrown broadside on, perfectly upright, upon the shelving stony beach, the head and stern lying due east and west, the former not being more than twenty yards from a projecting rock. At this juncture one of the crew, a Portuguese, named Joseph Rogers, nobly ventured to struggle through the heavy surf, and convey a rope on shore. Though it was not believed even yet that danger was imminent, the captain gave the order, and Rogers ably fulfilled his duty. A strong hawser was then passed and secured on shore, To this was rigged a boatswain's chair. this was going on a fearful scene was being enacted in the saloon. An attempt had been made by Mr. Hodge, a clergyman, to perform a service; but the violent thumping of the vessel on the rocks, and the sea which poured into the cabin, rendered this impossible. The passengers now collected here, and Captain Taylor and Captain Withers endeavoured to allay their fears by the assurance that there was at any rate no immediate danger, when a succession of tremendous waves struck the vessel, and broke her in half amidships. Shortly afterwards the foremost portion was again torn through, and the ship began to break up rapidly. A few of the crew saved themselves by means of the hawser; some were hurled mutilated, but living, upon the rocks by the waves; all the officers perished. Captain Taylor was the last man seen alive on board. had lashed himself to a spar, but did not succeed in getting ashore. The effect of the sea on the great iron safe in which the ship's treasure was contained showed the fury of the storm. It was so totally broken up and destroyed that it could not be discovered in form, while the smaller iron boxes were crushed and

While

He

ground to atoms, sovereigns and lumps of gold being forced into the very substance of the iron.

26.-While the wreck of the Royal Charter was dwarfing all the other calamities of the storm, a feeling of pride was excited throughout the country by the conduct of the Channel Fleet, under Admiral G. Elliot. On the 25th, the squadron, consisting of four line-of-battle ships, Hero, Trafalgar, Algiers, and Aboukir, and three frigates, Mersey, Emerald, and Melpomene, was caught in the gale while exercising between the Land's End and Plymouth. Seeing it doubtful if the rear vessels in line could make the Sound, the Admiral decided to wear the fleet together and face the weather. In the afternoon it blew a perfect hurricane, and for three hours the whole fury of the tempest was poured upon the squadron. When it began at length to abate a little, the four line-of-battle ships and one of the frigates were still in company, and all doing well. The Mersey and the Emerald had steamed into Plymouth, but the five remaining vessels kept in open order throughout that terrible night, wore in succession by night signal at about I A. M., made the land at daylight, formed line of battle, came grandly up Channel under sail, at the rate of II knots an hour, steamed into Portland, and "took up their anchorage without the loss of a sail, a spar, or a rope yarn."-The strength of the Great Eastern was severely tried in the gale, but she rode it out without sustaining serious damage. It was computed that during the forty-eight hours over which the storm extended, 106 vessels were lost on the British coast; and the crews of 29 drowned, 15 partially so, 62 saved. Much damage was done to the breakwaters and harbour works on the south and west coasts, as well as to lines of railway and telegraph.

28. Under the new Act regulating the Universities of Scotland, the University of Edinburgh this day elected Lord Brougham to the office of Principal, the votes standing, Lord Brougham, 655; Duke of Buccleuch, 419.

31. In the Court of Probate, a person describing herself as the wife of Major Yelverton, R. A., sued for the restoration of her conjugal rights. The marriage, it was alleged, took place in Scotland, and the parties cohabited in each of the three kingdoms, and also in France. The respondent was charged with having deserted the petitioner at Bordeaux, and to have şince married another person in Scotland. The points raised in the discussion were-first, whether Major Yelverton, who was an Irishman by birth, and never served in England, had, nevertheless, acquired an English domicile, by reason of the head-quarters of the Royal Artillery being at Woolwich; and, secondly, whether the petitioner, having been deserted by the respondent, had power to acquire a different domicile from that of her alleged husband, Sir C. Cresswell said the question was one of great importance, and one that was likely frequently

to arise. The petitioner was afterwards dismissed on the ground of want of jurisdiction, Sir C. Cresswell describing the Divorce Court as a court for England, and not for the United Kingdom.

November 1. Meeting in the Senate House, Cambridge, to carry out the union with the Oxford Mission, for establishing

66

one

or more stations in Southern Central Africa, which may serve as centres of Christianity and civilization, for the promotion of the spread of true religion, agriculture, and lawful commerce, and the ultimate extirpation of the slavetrade.'

5.-Accident at the Star Green Pit, Hanley Potteries, caused by the ascending cage being permitted by the engine-man to pass beyond the pit-mouth. Of the fourteen men in the cage, thirteen were thrown out; six fell down the shaft and were dashed to pieces; four landed on the iron pavement at the pit-mouth, one of whom was killed on the spot. The occupants of the descending cage were all severely injured by the violence of the shock received on reaching the bottom.

AL

6.-St. George's-in-the-East riots. though the incumbent had agreed, in accordance with the Bishop's decision as mediator, to lay aside the vestments which had latterly been made an excuse for disorder, and also to take the most convenient hour preceding the lecture for service, the disturbance in the church throughout the day was so serious as to lead to the closing of the building altogether in the evening. On the 13th, the rioting may be said to have reached a climax, for the yelling, fighting and stamping was not only as shameless and profane as ever; but, to add to the confusion, two trained dogs were let off among the officiating priests and choristers. For months the Thames Police-court was occupied almost daily with charges arising out of these disturb ances, preferred in most instances against idle, ill-disposed lads or vagabonds who stirred up the riots for the sake of plunder. The purely religious zealots were few in number.

9.-The Scotch College of Bishops confirm the sentence of suspension passed on the Rev. Mr. Cheyne, Aberdeen, by 3 votes to 2.

10. Festival at the Crystal Palace to celebrate the centenary of the poet Schiller. After a speech by Dr. Kinkel on the genius of the poet, a colossal bust by Gross was uncovered. The "Song of the Bell," to Romberg's music, formed a principal part of the concert following. In the evening there was a torchlight procession in the grounds.

The preliminaries of peace signed at Villafranca converted into a definite treaty at Zurich.

11. The King of Sardinia refuses to permit his cousin, the Prince of Carignan, to accept the temporary Regency of the vacant Italian dukedoms. The Chevalier Buoncompagni was

afterwards chosen to act pending the meeting of a Congress.

12.-Mr. Gladstone, M. P., elected Rector of Edinburgh University by a majority of 116 over Lord Neaves, the numbers being 643 and 527.

The Wakefield Election Commissioners succeed in unravelling the secret of the mysterious "Man in the Moon," who appeared to have been mixed up with most of the recent cases of bribery in the borough. A draper in the town said he had engaged the Man in the Moon. Serjeant Pigott.-Who is he? Moore. Well, I'd rather not disclose his name yet; but I can produce him if necessary. The secret has been so well kept, that it would be a pity to disclose it before it is necessary. (Laughter.) Mr. Serjeant Pigott.— Can you produce him to-day? Moore.-Oh, yes; he is hard by. I can bring him in at once. Mr. Serjeant Pigott.-We shall be delighted to see him. Moore then left the Court, and in about five minutes returned with the Man in the Moon," who was next examined. He said his name was Whitehead, and his calling was that of an upholsterer at Bradford, but he had "always been in the habit of taking part in electioneering affairs." His evidence contained few new facts in addition to those previously gleaned from the candidates (Leatham and Charlesworth), and their agents. Questioned as to his own identity, Mr. Serjeant Pigott said: I suppose you knew you went by the name of "The Man in the Moon," while you were here? Whitehead.Well, I believe that was my designation. Mr. Serjeant Pigott.-And there is no doubt about I'm your identity? Whitehead.-Oh, dear no, the man, sure enough. (Laughter.)

Insubordination, amounting almost to mutiny, on board the 91-gun ship Princess Royal, in Portsmouth harbour.

The men

having asked for leave till Monday (the 14th) to celebrate the launch of the Victoria, the Port-Admiral assented to one half going ashore, but ordered the other half to remain. While the one half were leaving a message was sent to the Admiral, informing him that the whole of the hands must have liberty or none would go. He thereupon sent an order to turn back the section advancing, and keep all on board. This led to a general riot among the men, which was only subdued by the interference of the marines. One hundred and eight were tried in one batch, and condemned to three months' hard labour in Winchester Gaol. From circumstances which afterwards transpired, showing that ill-temper and mismanagement prevailed among the chief officers, public sympathy was aroused on behalf of the seamen, and they were discharged before the expiry of their term.

14.-Crowded meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, to listen to Captain M'Clintock's memoir of his voyage in search of Sir John Franklin.

16. Died, at Cheshunt, aged 96, James Ward, Esq., the oldest Royal Academician.

18. Garibaldi writes from Nice :-"As underhand machinations are continually impeding the freedom of action attached to the rank I occupy in the army of Central Italy, and which I made use of in the endeavour to attain the object which every good Italian has in view, I leave the military service for the moment. On the day when Victor Emmanuel shall again call his soldiers to arms for the redemption of the country, I will once more find a weapon of some sort, and a place by the side of my brave companions."

20.-Died, at Hookwood Park, Surrey, aged 81 years, the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone, an able Indian servant, and historian of Cabul.

21.-The Divorce Court gives judgment for a dissolution, with costs, in the case of the Hon. Mrs. Theresa Caroline Rowley v. the Hon. Hugh Rowley, on the ground of adultery, cruelty, and desertion, one or other of the offences appearing to have been indulged in daily from the date of marriage till the lodging of the petition.

Wreck of the Montreal steamship Indian, on the coast of Newfoundland. The sea was comparatively quiet at the time, and the captain was judged to have been misled by a new light on the Seal Rocks not laid down on his chart. She had 38 passengers and a crew of 79 men on board; of which 27 were drowned. The others were taken off in boats belonging to the ship, or by a schooner sent from the shore by one of the survivors. The wreck was freely plundered by the inhabitants along

the coast.

22.-Died, aged 41, George Wilson, Esq., Professor of Technology in the University of Edinburgh.

24.-The Victoria tubular bridge at Montreal (R. Stephenson, Esq. engineer) opened. 28.-Died, at Sunnyside, New York, aged 75, Washington Irving, essayist and historian. A lunatic, lodging in King's Head-court, Shoreditch, murders his wife by ripping her open, and then cut off her head, which he placed in a basin. The murderer's infant daughter was found lying sleeping on a pillow on the floor beside the head.

29.-Collision in the Frith of Clyde between the Glasgow and Londonderry steamer Eagle and the timber-laden ship Pladda, water-logged, in tow of a steam-tug. The former sunk soon after the accident, and 29 out of 46 on board were drowned.

30.-Four Liverpool merchants having written to the Emperor Napoleon to ascertain what his intentions were respecting the invasion of England, M. Mocquard writes:"Great fear or great confidence can alone explain the step you have taken. On the one

(405)

hand, you are affected with an imaginary disease, which seems to have attacked your country with the rapidity of an epidemic. On the other, you count on the loyalty of him from whom you ask an answer. Yet it was casy for yourselves to give that answer, if you had coolly examined the real cause of your apprehensions. That cause you would have found only in the din excited among your countrymen by the most chimerical alarms; for, up to the present moment, in no circumstance whatever is there a word of the Emperor, or an act which would permit of a doubt respecting his sentiments, and, consequently, his intentions towards your country. His conduct, invariably the same, has not for a moment ceased to be that of a faithful and irreproachable ally. That which he has been he wishes (and on his behalf I declare to you) to continue to be. In proof of the fact, you have the approaching community of distant perils between your soldiers and ours.. Thus, henceforth completely reassured, combat an error which is too extended. Great nations are made to esteem and not to fear each other."

December 5.-Came on for hearing, before the Divorce Court, the petition of James Morton Bell, praying for a dissolution of his marriage with Ellen Jane Bell, on the ground of adultery with the Marquis of Anglesey, and also asking for damages to the extent of 10,000l. from the co-respondent. The jury found a verdict for the petitioner, and awarded the damages claimed. The court then pronounced a decree of dissolution, and condemned the co-respondent in costs.

14.-Prince Metternich re-opens diplomatic relations between France and Austria, by appearing at the Tuileries as Ambassador of the latter Power.

17. The royal palace of Fredericksburg, one of the noblest edifices in Denmark, destroyed by fire.

20.-Heard, in the Court of Common Pleas, the case of Oakley v. the Moulvie Ood-Deen, being an action to recover 5,000/. advanced on a bill of exchange for 6,500/., alleged to be accepted by the defendant as the English agent to the King of Oude. The bill had been drawn by Henry Chard, en. dorsed by him to Viscount Forth, and by the latter to Oakley, who now sought to recover the amount said to have been advanced. Moulvie pleaded fraud in obtaining the bill; and, second, that the plaintiff's agents knew of the fraud. The jury gave effect to both pleas.

The

Publication of another Imperial pamphlet, "Le Pape et le Congrès," bearing on its titlepage the name of M. de la Guéronnière, but presumed to indicate the policy of, if not to be written by, the Emperor himself.

24. Modena, Parma, and the Romagna formed into the Province of Emilia.

25.-Military riot at Aldershot camp, arising out of a controversy between the 24th Foot and a company of the Tower Hamlets Militia, as to which had got the best Christmas dinner. The discussion waxed so hot that the 24th crossed over to the quarters occupied by their opponents and fired upon them with loaded rifles. Four of the militiamen were wounded and one killed.

26. The Blervie Castle wrecked passing through Dover Straits, and all hands lost34 of the crew, and 22 passengers destined for Adelaide.

28.-Died suddenly, aged 59, Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay, the historian of the English Revolution, critic, poet, and politician. He was buried with honour in Westminster Abbey on the 9th of January.

tions.

1860.

January 1.—In pronouncing a benediction on the French army, the Pope takes occasion to censure the pamphlet of M. de la Guéronnière :-" Presenting ourselves at the feet of the God who was, is, and shall be throughout eternity, we implore Him, in the humbleness of our hearts, to shed down abundantly His blessings and His light on the august chief of that army and nation, in order that, being guided by that light, he may walk safely in his difficult path, and more than this, perceive the falsity of certain principles which have been put forth in these latter days in an opuscule which may be termed a signal monument of hypocrisy, and an ignoble tissue of contradicWe hope that, with the aid of that light,-nay, more, we are persuaded that with the aid of that light he will condemn the principles contained in that opuscule; we are more convinced of this, because we possess certain documents which some time ago'his Majesty had the goodness to send to us, and which are a veritable condemnation of those principles. is with this conviction that we implore God to shed His blessings on the Emperor, on his august Consort, on the Prince Imperial, and on the whole of France." While the benediction was being conveyed to Paris, it was crossed by an Imperial epistle to the Pope from the Tuileries: -- "After a serious examination of the difficulties and dangers which the different combinations presented, I say it with sincere regret, and however painful the solution may be, what seems to me most in accordance with the true interests of the Holy See, would be to make a sacrifice of the revolted provinces. If the Holy Father, for the repose of Europe, were to renounce those provinces which for the last fifty years have caused so much embarrassment to his Government, and were in exchange to demand from the Powers that they should guarantee him possession of the remainder, I do not doubt of the immediate restoration of order. Then the

It