28.-At the evening sederunt of the Frce Assembly, Dr. Chalmers introduces MM. D'Aubigné of Geneva, Monod of Paris, and Kuntze of Berlin, as a deputation from foreign Churches.

The old part of the city of Quebec almost entirely destroyed by fire. Between 1,500 and 2,000 dwellings were consumed, and from 10,000 to 12,000 people rendered homeless. One of the most painful incidents was the destruction of the hospital, to which, as being considered entirely out of the reach of the conflagration, numbers of sick persons of all classes were carried. The building became ignited by the flakes of fire carried by the wind, and many of the unfortunate inmates, unable to help themselves, perished in the burning pile. On the 1st of July following the remaining portion of the city suffered severely from a similar visitation : 1,300 houses were then destroyed, and 13 blown down to arrest the progress of the flames.

30.-Mr. O'Connell and the other traversers hold a levee in the Rotunda, when numerous addresses from corporations and societies are presented. At the conclusion the Liberator and his fellow-martyrs were drawn in a triumphal car through the streets.

June 2.-During the discussion on the second reading of the Maynooth Bill in the House of Lords, the Earl of Roden says, "The Protestants of Ireland consider they have been betrayed, and they are now thinking how they may best secure the safety of their families, their children, their altars, and their homes. He would tell her Majesty's Government that their best and warmest friends, the Protestants of Ireland, who had stood by them in many a difficulty, were disgusted with their conduct.

4.-Thomas Steele, O'Connell's Head Pacificator, and Head Repeal Warden for Ireland, issues a proclamation denouncing the Molly Maguires of Leitrim and Cavan for rejecting "the gentle and balny counsel of your country's almost sanctified benefactor and father, and the solemn abjuration of the clergy from their altars. You outcast traitors," he concludes, "who give strength to Ireland's enemies, your country disclaims you, I abhor you!"

6.-Fancy Dress Ball at Buckingham Palace, illustrating the period of 1740–50.

8.-O'Connell, after a series of ovations commencing at Dublin, enters Cork in state in his triumphal car. The next most prominent object in the procession was a venerable minstrel sitting under the shade of an ivied and branching oak, playing the harp which had been used before the Liberator at Tara, on the memorable 15th of August, 1843. On the same car were an Irish chieftain, two Irish knights, with pages, and four members of the Repeal Committee.

10. Mr. Villiers' annual motion on the Corn-laws defeated by a majority of 254 to

16. The Maynooth Endowment Bill passes the House of Lords, the majority for the third reading being 131.

17. Mr. Charles Buller's series of resolutions concerning the policy pursued towards New Zealand negatived by a majority of 223 to 172.

18. After an interval of some weeks, the Anti-Corn Law Leaguers resume their weekly meetings. It was reported that the sum raised during the past year, including the return from the Bazaar, amounted to 116,6877.

After

19.-Horrible outrage in Algeria on a body of Arabs by French troops. The Ouled Riahs, finding themselves closely pursued by the troops under Colonels Pélissier, St.-Arnaud, and De l'Admirault took refuge in one of the caverns with which their country abounds. surrounding the caverns, some fagots were lighted and thrown by the French troops before the entrance. This demonstration was made to convince the Arabs that the French had the power, if they pleased, of suffocating them in their hiding-place. The Colonel then threw in letters offering to them life and liberty if they would surrender their arms and their horses. At first they refused, but subsequently they replied that they would consent if the French troops would withdraw. This condition was considered inadmissible, and more burning fagots were thrown in. A great tumult now began, and it was known afterwards that it arose from a discussion as to whether there should be a surrender or not. The party opposed to a surrender carried their point, and a few of the minority made their escape. Col. Pélissier, wishing to spare the lives of those who remained in the cavern, sent some Arabs to them to exhort them to surrender. They refused, and some women, who did not partake of the savage fanaticism of the majority, attempted to fly, but their husbands and relations fired upon them, to prevent their escape from the martyrdom which they had themselves resolved to suffer. Colonel Pélissier then suspended the throwing of the burning fagots, and sent a French officer to hold a parley with the Ouled Riahs, but his messenger was received with a discharge of fire-arms, and could not perform his mission. This state of things continued till the night of the 19th, when losing all patience, and no longer having a hope of otherwise subduing these fanatics, who formed a perpetual nucleus of revolt in the country, the fire was rendered intense. During this time the cries of the unhappy wretches who were being suffocated were dreadful; gradually no. thing was heard but the crackling of the fagots. The troops entered and found 500 dead bodies. About 150, who still breathed, were brought into the fresh air, but a number of them died afterwards.

20.-In the Court of Exchequer Mr. Wakley, M.P. obtains a verdict of 150/. damages against the proprietor of the Medical Times for

a libel charging him with ruining various medical associations, by taking them under his protection.

The

23.-Grand naval review at Spithead, in presence of the Queen, Prince Albert, the Lords of the Admiralty, and other distinguished visitors. Her Majesty arrived at the fleet on the 21st, and was received on board the flag-ship, St. Vincent, by Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker and Captain Rowley. royal party afterwards visited the Trafalgar and Albion. To-day, on the royal yacht reaching Spithead the yards were manned, and a general salute fired from all the ships of the fleet. It was remarked that at no time since the peace of 1815 had the roadstead exhibited so great an amount of actual naval strength. A variety of evolutions having been gone through by each of the divisions, the day's display was concluded by the passage of her Majesty through the squadron on her return to Cowes.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, Henry Gompertz and W. R. Witham were found guilty of conspiring to defraud George Pitt Rose, late a captain in the 9th Lancers, of bills or acceptances to the amount of about 17,000/.

28.-Died in Cumberland-terrace, Regent's Park, aged 47, Sir William Follett, AttorneyGeneral to her Majesty. This eminent pleader was buried with much solemnity in the Temple church, the procession being composed of Benchers of the Inner and Middle Temple, of Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn, with many of the judges and other dignitaries.

30. In the Arches Court, Sir Herbert Jenner Fust gives judgment in the suit promoted by the Bishop of London against the Rev. F. Oakeley, of Margaret-street Chapel. The judge elaborately analysed Mr. Oakeley's letter to the Bishop, in which he claimed to hold the same principles as Mr. Ward, and challenged him to institute proceedings. The promoters of the suit, said Sir Herbert, have sufficiently proved their case that Mr. Oakeley had rendered himself liable to ecclesiastical censure. If the proceeding had been under the statute of Elizabeth he must, in the first instance, have been called upon to retract his error, and if he refused, be deprived of his preferment; but, as the proceeding was under the general law, the punishment was left to the discretion of the Court. The Court now revoked Mr. Oakeley's licence, prohibited him from preaching within the province of Canterbury till he retracted his errors, and condemned him in the costs of the proceeding.

The police on attempting to put down a faction fight at Ballinhassig Fair, near Cork, are set upon by both parties, and used so severely that they fire in self-defence from a temporary police-station in which they had taken refuge. Six of the fighting party were killed on the spot and twenty-five wounded.

July 1-A detachment of troops from Auckland, under Colonel Despard, defeated by New Zealand natives while attempting to carry the fortified camp of the chief Heke. One-third of the men engaged fell in the attack, and during the eight days that operations were continued, the fourth of the whole number engaged - about 500-were either killed or wounded. The camp was ultimately taken, and Heke retired into the interior.

2.-Great gathering of Scottish Dissenters in the Music Hall, Edinburgh, for the purpose of enabling the friends of the voluntary principle to adopt such measures as may appear best calculated to avert the evils arising from the continued and aggravated violation of the civil and religious rights of Dissenters.

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The undress uniform coat and vest which Lord Nelson wore at the battle of Trafalgar having been discovered in private hands by Sir Harris Nicolas, Prince Albert causes them to be purchased in his name for 150%. with a view to presenting the precious relics to Greenwich Hospital.

3,-Conflagration at Smyrna, destroying a great part of the city. In the Frank quarter thirty houses and shops, the hospital of St. Anthony, three-fourths of the establishment of the Sisters of Charity, and the Armenian church and school, fell a prey to the flames.

9.-The Bill of Lord Advocate Rutherford for regulating the admission to the secular chairs of the Universities thrown out on the second reading, by a majority of 116 to 108. Mr. Macaulay took charge of the bill on this occasion, and commented in strong terms on the inconsistency of the Government in dispensing with tests in Ireland one day, and insisting on them in Scotland in the next, to support an ecclesiastical faction bent on persecution without even the miserable excuse of fanaticism.

10.- Discussion in the House of Lords concerning a petition presented by the Marquis of Breadalbane from the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. It detailed at some length the grievances to which the Church was subjected by the refusal of proprietors in different parts of Scotland to grant sites for erecting places of worship, and prayed the House to afford relief.

17. Died at Howick Hall, Northumberland, aged 80, Charles, Earl Grey, the chief of the Cabinet which passed the Reform Bill and secured the abolition of slavery.

24. Came on at Taunton, before Mr. Baron Platt, the trial of James Majaval, Francisco Serva, and eight other of the Spanish pirates charged with the murders on board the Felicidade. (See March 2.) The main facts of the case having been brought out as mentioned above, Mr. Serjeant Manning submitted there was no case to go to a jury. the first place the Court had no jurisdiction, as the transaction took place in a foreign ship,

In

and the parties were not within the peace of our Lady the Queen. Next, the Felicidade was not legally taken, and the men were not in legal custody, as they were not carrying on the slave-trade. The Felicidade had no slaves on board, and therefore the prisoners had a right to endeavour to escape, and they were justified in any act they might have committed with a view to accomplish that end. These men were not bound by the laws of any country of which they were not cognizant. In summing up, Baron Platt pointed out that the sea was the highway of nations, and all rovers and thieves and pirates who infested that highway were liable to punishment as much as highway robbers on land. They were the enemies of all nations, and might be hunted down by any one whose flag had power to overcome and take them, for the highway of the seas received concurrent dominion from every country on the earth. He also thought that not only was the Felicidade legally taken, but the prisoners were in the legal custody of the Queen's officers when they commenced to slay and drown. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against seven of the pri soners, who were sentenced to death. [The technical objections taken at the trial were argued before the judges in the Court of Exchequer on the 15th November. The conviction was then declared to be invalid on two grounds: first, that it was not piracy for Brazilians to carry on the slave-trade until they made it to be so by Brazilian municipal law; and second, because the Felicidade was wrongfully taken, not having any slaves on board; and, therefore, that she did not become a British ship, and was not justified in capturing the Echo. The prisoners were therefore liberated and despatched to Brazil at the expense of the British Government.]

August 2.-Explosion of fire-damp i Crombach mine, near Merthyr Tydvil. There were 150 men and boys at work in the colliery at the time, 122 of whom were got out alive. The rest, 28 in number, were suffocated. The mine was generally reputed to be badly ventilated, but this did not prevent the men using naked lights in preference to the protected "Davy.' At the inquest on the bodies the jury expressed an opinion that sufficient precaution had not been taken for ventilating the mine.

and being ground to pieces almost instantly by the fury of the waves, there were only nine out of all her company who could manage to keep on pieces of the wreck till the following morning, when they contrived with difficulty to reach the shore.

9.-Parliament prorogued by the Queen in person. In the afternoon her Majesty left Buckingham Palace for Woolwich, where she embarked with Prince Albert on board the royal yacht for Antwerp en route to Germany.

11. Early indications of the potato-disease. R. Parker, potato-dealer, writes to Sir James Graham: "On Tuesday last I went down by the Dover 8 o'clock train. On my arrival there I immediately drove all round the neighbourhood, and found the whole of the crops, early and late, not excepting the cottagers' gardens, were being entirely destroyed. On my return. I could trace it by the side of the whole line at Tonbridge; I have since looked over the tops that come as covering on that article to the different markets, and find they are all affected.

Being apprehensive it might be general, I thought it my duty to inform you, as it is probable you might desire to make further inquiry." This was amongst the first communications made to Government regarding the appearance of the potato disease in the country.

13. Riot at Dunfermline, and attempt by the mob to set fire to the house of Mr. Alexander, a manufacturer who was alleged to have made himself obnoxious by reducing wages.

14. Mr. G. Hudson returned for Sunderland by a majority of 128 votes over his opponent, Colonel Thompson. The contest excited unusual interest, and both Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright gave active service in aid of their brother of the League. The express employed by the Times to carry the news, accomplished the distance, 305 miles, in eight hours, although a part of the journey had to be performed by post-horses. Copies of the Times, with the result of the poll, were delivered over the North of England next forenoon.

15. Came on at Croydon Assizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal, the case of Cooke v. Wetherall, a prosecution raised against the reverend defendant for criminal conversation with Mrs. Cooke, his own daughter. He was fifty-five years of age, and discharged the duties of rector of Byfield, Northamptonshire. In support of the charge Mr. Serjeant Shee detailed the early quarrels of Mr. and Mrs. Cooke, her return to her father's house, and the general deception which was practised towards his client. The criminal intimacy was chiefly spoken to by the domestic servants. Verdict for the plaintiff.

16.—The last-received portion of the Sycee silver sent by the Chinese exposed to public competition; 400,000 ounces were sold for 60d. per ounce, and the remainder for 60d. These prices were considered high, being clusive (according to the terms of the contract)

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ex

of all the gold above five grains in the pound troy which might be found in the silver, and which was to be paid for separately at another fixed rate.

18. Fire in a Manchester warehouse, Aldermanbury, City, destroying stock and premises estimated at 250,000/. Although no life was lost on the occasion, the coroner exercised his ancient prerogative of summoning a jury to inquire into the cause of the fire. They returned a verdict to the effect that its origin was accidental.

19.—Whirlwind at Rouen, destroying in a few seconds three factories, and burying most of the workmen in the ruins. Upwards of 200 people were reported killed or wounded, and the whole valley of Daville, through which the whirlwind took its course, presented one scene of desolation.

Centennial commemoration of the gathering of the clans at Glenfinnon in 1745. Arrangements on a suitable scale, and in a very liberal spirit, were made by Macdonald of Glenalladale at the inn of Glenfinnon, for the accommodation of those whom the celebration might draw to the spot. The memory of those who were "" out in the perilous '45 was proposed as a toast by Macdonald of Marr, who presided on the occasion. The visitors, with the neighbouring peasantry, who mustered strongly on the occasion, afterwards walked to the head of Lochshiel, and marched round the monument erected there to Prince Charles. The day's proceedings were brought to a close by an exhibition of national games.

21.-Explosion of fire-damp in Jarrow colliery, near South Shields, being the sixth calamity of the same kind in this pit during the last twenty-eight years. On seeing the dreaded cloud of smoke ascending from the shaft, a viewer and over-man went down to render assistance. In the first workings a few of the men were found alive, and sent up the shaft ; but as the whole of the ventilating apparatus had been destroyed by the explosion, two days elapsed before the pit could be completely searched. In the lower seam one man was found alive, but much exhausted, and ten corpses lying around him. During the 23d and following day, fifteen bodies were brought up. Thirty-nine in all perished, including the over-man Defty, who in his anxiety to render assistance penetrated too far into the workings and was suffocated by the choke-damp.

26. The anniversary of the birth of Prince Albert celebrated by the royal visitors at Coburg in a style of simplicity charmingly characteristic of German manners. The chief event of the day was the rustic festival at the Palace of Rosenau, where the illustrious visitors engaged in the holiday rejoicings of the homely villagers, who came swarming in from the surrounding district.

30. A correspondent of the Dublin Evening Post, who had traversed the greater part of the

counties of Dublin, Meath, Cavan, and Fermanagh, reports the prospects of the harvest to be in general most favourable. The potato crop, however, is far from satisfactory. These appear everywhere in great abundance, but in several districts a rot has set in and two-thirds of the tubers are found to be rotten within, though large and well-looking without.

September 6.-The Gardeners' Chronicle records "All that we see, or hear, or read of the potato crop, convinces us that the extent of the injury which has befallen it is in no degree exaggerated, but the contrary, and there is no present help for it. We see no prospect of stopping the murrain by human agency, and we believe that the best thing to do under the circumstances is to let the crops alone, unless means can be found of consuming them immediately, and in that case they should be taken up and dried."

9.-Fight for the championship and 2001. between Caunt and Bendigo of Nottingham. It was decided in favour of Bendigo, after a contest which lasted two hours and thirty-eight minutes, during which time ninety-three rounds were fought. The fight commenced at Newport-Pagnell; then they were compelled to move to Stoney Stratford, back to Wheddon Green, and ultimately to Lutfield Green. The spectators had thus to follow the pugilists between thirty and forty miles.

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Died in consequence of injuries received through a fall from her horse, which she was exercising in a stubble-field at Hanworth, Mrs. Theobald, well known in the sporting world and to those who followed the Queen's hounds.

10. The inquiry into the state of the Andover Union Workhouse, which had been going on for a fortnight, was concluded this day, by the Poor-law Commissioners directing that an indictment be preferred against the master and mistress. It was shown in evidence that the miserable inmates, through want of food, were in the habit of gnawing at the decayed bones which they were sent to break for manure.

13.-Fire at Martinhampstead, near Exeter, destroying about fifty smali dwelling-houses, and throwing hundreds of people destitute.

16. Destroyed by fire the premises at Blackfriars occupied by Sir Charles Price & Co. oil and colour merchants. About three o'clock an alarming explosion occurred in the burning building, through one of the turpentine vats becoming ignited. To escape from this new disaster most of the firemen leapt into the Thames, and were rescued by small boats, The blazing liquid rushed into the river, and set fire to barges and other small craft moored in the vicinity. At one period there were blazing fifty puncheons of turpentine and eight tons of cod oil.

Died of gastric fever, at the early age of thirty, Thomas Davis, editor of the Nation,

one of the most active and accomplished of the Repeal party in Ireland.

17.-Explosion at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, caused by the ignition of the inflammable matter extracted from old fusees. Five of the workmen employed in the operation were killed, and the building blown to pieces.

The Roman Catholic prelates issue a manifesto against the new Colleges as dangerous to the faith and morals of the people.

20. The Amateur Dramatic Company, consisting of Dickens, Forster, Jerrold, Leech, Lemon, and others, appear with great success in Ben Jonson's comedy of "Every Man in his Humour," at Miss Kelly's theatre.

25.- Monster Repeal demonstration at Cashel. O'Connell niade a long address in his usual style, and collected 5007. in name of

rent.

October 2.-Died at Wiseton Hall, Nottinghamshire, aged 64, Earl Spencer, formerly Viscount Althorpe.

3.-The League activity in the registrations was directed with such consummate ability that at the close of the revision for the West Riding they were found to have added 2, 143 adherents in that single division.

over.

8.-Rev. J. H. Newman writes to a friend : "I am this night expecting Father Dominic, the Passionist, who, from his youth, has been led to have distinct and direct thoughts, first of the countries of the North, then of England. After thirty years' waiting, he was, without his own act, sent here. But he has had little to do with conversions. I saw him here for a few minutes on St. John Baptist's day last year. He does not know of my intention; but I mean to ask of him admission into the one Fold of Christ.... P.S. This will not go till all is Of course it requires no answer. 13.-Sir R. Peel to Sir J. Graham :"The accounts of the state of the potato crop in Ireland are becoming very alarming. . . Í foresee the necessity that may be impressed upon us at an early period of considering whether there is not that well-grounded apprehension of actual scarcity that justifies and compels the adoption of every means of relief which the exercise of the prerogative or legislation might afford. I have no confidence in such remedies as the prohibition of exports or the stoppage of distilleries. The removal of impediments to import is the only effectual remedy."

16. Mr. Basevi, architect, killed by a fall in the belfry of Ely Cathedral, which he was engaged in restoring.

20. During a fog on the Midland Railway, near Masborough, a special engine runs into the mail train, which had broken down, and injures many of the passengers. Two died after surgical operations had been performed, one of

them being Mr. Boteler, Commissioner of Bankruptcy, Leeds.

25.-During the past week there were announced in three newspapers eighty-nine new schemes, with a capital of 84,055,000l.; during the month there were 357 new schemes announced, with an aggregate capital of 332,000,000l.

A meeting at Kilkenny, presided over by the High Sheriff, to take into consideration what remedial measures could be adopted with reference to the present alarming state of the potato crop. On the same day the report from Galway is: "The distemper is spreading with frightful rapidity. Several fields which last week were tried and found safe are now more or less affected." From Drogheda it is also reported that the plague is extending its ravages; and, "what is yet more alarming, we learn from various places that potatoes which had been pitted from three to fourteen days apparently sound are now diseased." Yesterday the Government Commissioners presented their first report to the Lord Lieutenant on the best means to be used for checking the spread of the disease.

26.-Dr. Lyon Playfair writes from Dublin to Sir R. Peel-"I sent you a draft-copy of a report which I intend to offer to my colleagues to-morrow morning for their signature; and, with verbal alterations, I am sure it will be adopted. You will see the account is melancholy, and it cannot be looked upon in other than a most serious light. We are confident that the accounts are underrated rather than exaggerated. . . . I am sorry to give you so desponding a letter, but we cannot conceal from ourselves that the case is much worse than the public suppose."

30.-The New Hall at Lincoln's Inn opened by the Queen. At the grand banquet covers were laid for 500 guests. All the barristers were attired in their wigs and gowns. Prince Albert was admitted a Bencher on the occasion, and appeared in legal costume.

31.-Capt. Waghorn reaches London with the express portion of the Indian mail, having made the journey from Trieste in fifteen minutes less than one hundred hours. His route was the German one, by way of Niederndorf, Innspruck, Kempten, Meningen, Stuttgard, Cologne, Ostend, and Dover.

A Cabinet Council, held at the private residence of Sir Robert Peel, sits two hours and a half deliberating on the alarming prospects of the country through the failure of the potato crop.

Resolution of a meeting in Dublin, presided over by the Duke of Leinster:-"That the Committee do respectfully represent to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant that it has now been ascertained beyond a doubt that famine and consequent pestilence are immediately imminent, unless the Government shall, without hesitation or delay, take the most (91).