abroad, instructing them as to our position in the probable conflict between France and Sardinia, on the one side, and Austria on the other. -"The negotiations turned generally on two points; the one relating to disarmament, the other to the admission of the Italian States, in some form or other, to the proposed Congress. The Cabinet of Vienna insisted, at first, as an indispensable condition to its entry into the Congress, that Sardinia should, in the first instance, disarm and disband the free corps which she had enrolled; but it finally acquiesced, with some modifications, in a proposal made by her Majesty's Government, and declared it would be contented if a general disarmament were carried out by Austria, France, and Sardinia, previously to the meeting of Congress. The Government of France was prevailed upon to admit, for itself, the principle of a general disarmament; but it hesitated for a long time before it consented to press the acceptance of it on Sardinia; and at length only agreed to do so on condition that the Italian States should be admitted to send representatives to the Congress, not simply as advocates, but as plenipotentiaries, having an equal position and voice with the plenipotentiaries of the great Powers in the deliberations that might ensue. On reviewing the state of the negotiation, her Majesty's Government conceived that there was still a chance of effecting such an understanding between the parties as would ensure the meeting of the Congress; and for this purpose they proposed, on the 18th of last month-Ist. That there should be a previous, immediate, effective, and simultaneous disarmament on the part of Austria, France, and Sardinia; 2dly. That the details of that disarmament should be settled by six military or civil commissioners, to be named severally by the great Powers and by Sardinia; 3dly. That those commissioners having met and entered upon their duties, the Congress should forthwith be convened; and, 4thly. That the Congress, when convened, should invite the Italian States to send representatives, who should be admitted to, and take part in the deliberations of, the Congress, in the same manner and on the same footing as they were admitted to, and took part in the deliberations of, the Congress of Laybach. This proposal was accepted in the main by the Governments of France, Prussia, and Russia, and partly by the Cabinet of Vienna. The latter, however, absolutely refused to agree to the admission of the representatives of the Italian States to the Congress, or to the participation of Sardinia in that assembly, under any conditions whatever. This decision on the part of the Austrian Government put an end to all hope of any Congress being brought together; for, though the point was not again raised, I may as well mention to you that, in an earlier stage of the nego tiations, her Majesty's Government and that of Prussia refused to entertain a suggestion made by the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, that, in consequence of the hesitation shown by

This

Austria at that time, England, France, Prussia, and Russia should hold a Congress on the affairs of Italy, without her participation. The refusal of Austria to accept the last proposal of her Majesty's Government was accompanied, on her part, by a peremptory summons to Sardinia to disarm, and to disband the free corps. Her Majesty's Government, on receiving this intelligence, addressed to the Cabinet of Vienna the strongest remonstrances on the impolicy of this proceeding, and directed her Majesty's minister at that court to place on record a formal protest against it. precipitate measure was the more to be regretted, inasmuch as the Cabinet of Turin, which had previously declined to comply with the combined representations of England and Prussia on the subject of disarmament, had announced, on the very day that the summons was despatched from Vienna, though the Austrian Government were unacquainted with the fact when the summons was despatched, that, as France had united with England in demanding the previous disarmament of Sardinia, the Cabinet of Turin, although foreseeing that such a measure might entail disagreeable consequences for the tranquillity of Italy, was disposed to submit to it. In this state of things, all hopes of accommodation seemed to be at an end nevertheless, her Majesty's Government resolved to make one more attempt to stay hostilities; and they accordingly formally tendered the mediation of England between Austria and France, for the settlement of the Italian question, on bases corresponding with the understanding arrived at between Lord Cowley and Count Buol, at Vienna. But this too failed; and her Majesty's Government have only to lament the little success which has attended all their efforts, jointly with other Powers or singly, to avert the interruption of the general peace. In the present position of the contending parties, it would obviously be to no purpose to attempt to restrain them from engaging in a deadly struggle. Her Majesty's Government will, however, watch the progress of the war with the most anxious attention, and will be ready to avail themselves of any opportunity that may arise for the exercise of their good offices in the cause of peace. It is their earnest desire and firm intention to observe the most scrupulous neutrality between the contending parties."

5.-Died, aged 86, Prince Metternich, Austrian diplomatist.

6.-Died, aged 92, Alexander von Hum boldt, a natural philosopher of vast attainments and experience, and immense reputation.

10.-The Emperor Napoleon quits Paris to join the army of Italy, having previously conferred the title of Regent on the Empress. He was met at Genoa by King Victor Emmanuel on the 13th.

12. Notice issued from the War Office. sanctioning the formation of volunteer rifle corps, under the provisions of the Act Geo. III.

cap. 54, as well as of artillery corps in towns where there were forts or batteries. The movement for the formation of these corps spread with great rapidity throughout England and Scotland.

12.--Government issue a declaration of neutrality in the war about to commence between Italy and Austria.

13. At the Central Criminal Court, Wagner and Bateman, pretending to carry on the business of law-stationers, in York-buildings, Adelphi, but in reality known to be chiefs of a gang of forgers, were sentenced to penal servitude for life. Members of the gang of lesser standing were sentenced to terms of penal servitude varying from 10 to 20 years. During the two years the gang was known to carry on its cunningly-devised schemes, it was thought there had been obtained from bankers between 8,000l. and 10,000/., while the cheques refused amounted to more than double that sum.

Fall of a scaffolding at the Westminster Palace Hotel. The workmen commenced as usual at 6 A. M. Many had ascended and were at work on the scaffoldings; some were on the stage laying their courses, others were ascending the ladders; when suddenly, without any apparent cause, the poles snapped like reeds, and the piles of timber and bricks fell with a tremendous crash to the ground, bearing with them the unfortunate labourers. Five were found quite dead, two died after removal, and five others were conveyed to the hospital labouring under severe injuries.

17.-Meeting in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, to take steps for organizing an Oxford and Cambridge Mission to Central Africa.

20.-City Non-intervention meeting, presided over by the Lord Mayor, and addressed by M. Kossuth. Other meetings of a similar character were held in different towns of the kingdom.

First engagement between the French and Austrian troops at Montebello. The Emperor writes in his despatch to the EmpressRegent :-"A body of Austrians about 15,000 strong attacked the advanced posts of the corps under Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers, but were repulsed by General Forey's division, which behaved admirably, and cleared the village of Montebello of the enemy after an obstinate fight of four hours. The Piedmontese cavalry, commanded by General Germay, fought with extraordinary energy. Two hundred prisoners were taken, including one colonel. The loss on the French side amounts to 500 killed and wounded. The Austrians have been retreating since yesterday evening."

21. In a review of Mr. Mill's "Essay on Liberty," in Fraser's Magazine for April, Mr. Buckle brought serious charges against Mr. Justice Coleridge, for his conduct at the trial of Pooley, of Liskeard, in July 1857. The imputations were that Sir John Coleridge was acting in concert with others, and in particular with his own son, the counsel

for the prosecution; that he had something to do with getting up the prosecution, and unduly favoured it, because it was instituted by clergymen with whose sentiments he agreed; that he might have refused to put the law in force; and that he acted as he did because the trial took place in an obscure town, and because the prisoner was poor and undefended. To all these charges Mr. J. D. Coleridge, the counsel concerned, gives now an unqualified denial, and shows that Mr. Buckle, instead of having investigated the case for himself, as he alleged, had been content to accept a one-sided statement prepared, in 1857, by Mr. Holyoake.

25.-Tuscany joins France and Sardinia against Austria.

26. The Bishop of Aberdeen suspends Mr. Cheyne from the office of the ministry, he "having received the first and second admonitions prescribed by the canon without evincing any regret for the ecclesiastical offences which he has committed."

28.-Completion of the electric telegraph between Suez and Aden. Brigadier Coghlan, the political resident at Aden, sent a message to the Queen, intimating that her Majesty's possessions at Aden were now in telegraphic communication with Egypt. The acknowledg ment was received from Suez in less than five minutes.

29.-During a severe storm at Nottingham, Mr. Lowe, of the Beeston Observatory, found hailstones falling from I inch to 1 inch in diameter, the average size of all he saw being half an inch. The shapes were most grotesque.

31. Battle of Palestro. At seven o'clock, A. M., 25,000 Austrians endeavoured to retake the position of Palestro. The King, commanding the 4th Division in person, and General Cialdini, at the head of the 3d Regiment of Zouaves, resisted the attack for a considerable time, and then, after having assumed the offensive, pursued the enemy, taking 1,000 of them prisoners, and capturing eight pieces of cannon. During the combat at Palestro, another fight took place at Confienza, in which the Austrians were repulsed by the Division Fanti after a two hours' conflict.

The new Parliament assemble in the Palace at Westminster, and re-elect John Evelyn Denison, Esq., to be Speaker.

June 2.-Burning of the troop-ship Eastern Monarch at anchor, Spithead. She was returning from India with 352 invalid soldiers, 30 women, and 53 children on board, besides her officers and crew. The latter were engaged in the task of furling the sails, when a violent explosion was heard in the after part of the ship. The skylights over the poop were blown out and the poop-ladders carried away. In a moment the whole decks were filled with a choking vapour, and the flames burst out,

running like wild-fire along the deck. It was seen in a few minutes that it would be impossible to save the ship; the four boats were then lowered down, and, mainly through the aid of the disciplined soldiers, the whole of the women and children were passed down the sides. Such was the fortitude and humanity of these men, that the loss of life amounted to no more than one woman and five children, killed or suffocated in the explosion, one soldier who died from exhaustion after he was brought on shore, and one child. Assistance presently reached the vessel from Portsmouth, and all hands were taken off, the ship being towed into shallow water off Haslar Hospital, where she burnt to the water-edge.

The

cause of the explosion was said to be the carelessness of the steward in entering the storeroom with a naked light. He was afterwards tried for the offence and acquitted.

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After

4.- Battle of Magenta. “Yesterday," writes the Emperor, our army was under orders to march on Milan across the bridges thrown across the Ticino at Turbigo. The operation was well executed, although the enemy, who had repassed the Ticino in great force, offered a most determined resistance. The roadways were narrow, and for two hours the Imperial Guard sustained unsupported the shock of the enemy. In the meantime General M'Mahon made himself master of Magenta. sanguinary conflicts we repulsed the enemy at every point, with loss on our side of about 2,000 men placed hors de combat. The loss of the enemy is estimated at 15,000 killed and wounded. The Austrian news to the 5th was of an undecided character. The conflict was then represented as still going on. "Eye-witnesses," says the imperial bulletin, "report that our troops join battle with joyous shout, and display endurance and bravery fully worthy of the most famous deeds of the imperial army.

6.-Meeting of the Liberal party in Willis's Rooms, to arrange an immediate vote of want of confidence in Ministers. Among the speakers were Lord Palmerston, Lord John Russell, Mr. Bright, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Horsman, and others.

7.-The swearing in of members being now completed, the new Parliament is formally opened by the Queen in person. The Royal Speech made reference to the war in Italy, where a policy of strict neutrality was to be observed, the renewal of diplomatic intercourse with Naples, and the increase of the navy to an extent exceeding that sanctioned by Parliament. On the subject of Parliamentary Reform her Majesty was made to say :-"I should with pleasure give my sanction to any well-considered measure for the amendment of the laws which regulate the representation of my people in Parliament; and should you be of opinion that the necessity of giving your immediate attention to measures of urgency relating to the defence and financial condition of the country will not leave you sufficient

time for legislating with due deliberation during the present session on a subject at once so difficult and extensive, I trust that at the commencement of the next session your earnest attention will be given to a question of which an early and satisfactory settlement would be greatly to the public advantage."

7.-Commencement of a no-confidence debate in the House of Commons. On the motion for the Address, the Marquis of Hartington moved, "That it is essential for the satisfactory result of our deliberations, and for facilitating the discharge of your Majesty's high functions, that your Majesty's Government should possess the confidence of this House and of the country; and we deem it our duty respectfully to submit to your Majesty that such confidence is not reposed in the present advisers of your Majesty." The Chancellor of the Exchequer admitted that it would be advantageous to the country to know whether they possessed the confidence of the House or not. Defending the conduct of the Government after the vote on the resolution of Lord J. Russell, he commented with sarcastic severity on the speech of Sir James Graham at Carlisle, the reckless statements of which, at first reading, he professed to have attributed to the young gentleman whom Sir James was then introducing to the borough.

me

When I read that charge upon the Ministry, which, I was told, was to be the basis of a vote of want of confidence, and which was made without the slightest foundation, and with a bitterness which seemed to to be perfectly gratuitous, I naturally Youth said, 'Young men will be young men.' will be, as we all know, somewhat reckless in assertion, and when we are juvenile and curly(laughter)-one takes a pride in sarcasm and invective. (Laughter). One feels some interest in a young relative of a distinguished member of this House; and although the statements were not very agreeable to her Majesty's Ministers, I felt that he was a chip of the old block. (Great laughter and cheers.) I felt-and I hope my colleagues shared in the sentiment-that when that young gentleman entered this House, he might, when gazing upon the venerable form and listening to the accents of benignant wisdom that fell, and always fall, from the right hon. gentleman the member for Carlisle—(laughter) -he might learn how reckless assertion in time might mature into accuracy of statement(laughter) and how bitterness and invective, however organic, can be controlled by the vicissitudes of a wise experience. (Laughter and cheers.) Yet the statements made in that speech of the right hon. gentleman have been circulated in every form, and for a time have been credited in every quarter in this country. . . They have believed that the allowance to innkeepers for the billeting of soldiers was absolutely increased at the arbitrary will of a War Minister in order to bribe the publicans to vote for Government candidates-(laughter) -though every gentleman in this House must

be perfectly aware that their predecessors had passed the Act by which that increase of allowance was constitutionally made, and that the increase had been for some time in operation. The public did believe that barracks were built and contracts given, when contracts were never entered into and when barracks were never built. (Hear! hear! and a laugh.) The public really did believe that my Lord Derby had subscribed-had boasted, to use the language of the right hon. gentleman, of having subscribed20,000l. to a fund to manage the elections. (A laugh.) Lord Derby has treated that assertion with silent contempt. (Cheers.) All the other assertions made at the time have been answered in detail, and therefore I suppose he thought the time would come when he could leave it to me to say for him, what I do say now, that that statement was an impudent fabrication. (Loud and repeated cheers.) The conduct of foreign affairs was made another ground of censure on the Ministry. How could an opinion be formed before the papers were produced? Was success to be the only test of ability in negotiations? Were there no unsuccessful negotiations previous to the war with Russia? You had then Lord Aberdeen and Lord Clarendon, men of admirable ability and experience, to conduct your negotiations. But had you nobody else? (Laughter.) Why, there was the noble Lord the member for Tiverton, who, like Coriolanus, showed his wounds yesterday, and is an avowed candidate for power. Ile is of opinion-as some others are, too-that he has some knowledge of foreign affairs, and he takes every opportunity of intimating that he is the only man who can wage war or preserve peace. Lord Aberdeen and Lord Clarendon had the assistance of the member for Tiverton. I will say nothing of the noble Lord the member for London, because his experience as Foreign Secretary is but limited. (Laughter.) Well, what did the member for Tiverton, and Lord Aberdeen, and Lord Clarendon do in the way of negotiation to prevent the war? Why, the sham of these negotiations is really not yet forgotten in England. (Cheers.) The State paper in Vienna is not yet entirely blotted out of the consciousness of the people of this country. (Loud cheers.) You had great advantages, and you signally failed. You had a majority in Parliament, you had wise and experienced statesmen, you had a still greater stake to urge you to exertion and to increase your responsibility, and yet you were utterly discomfited. (Cheers.) You had something yet more than we had with our poor means to preserve peace. You had an Opposition numerous and fairly ambitious, but in the midst of your negotiations that Opposition did not bring forward votes of want of confidence nor propose cunning resolutions to embarrass the public service. (Loud cheers.) We aided you in your difficulties, and supported you heartily and truly. (Cheers, and a cry of 'No.') Is there any one can murmur No'? I defy any man to

bring an instance during that war in which we brought forward a single motion to embarrass you; and when by your general misgovernment and misconduct of the war there arose a public outcry which called for your fall, it was a member on your own side of the House who struck the blow, and it was by the votes of several members of the Liberal party that you were ejected from office. (Cheers.) I hardly know who are our rivals: still less do I know who are to be our successors. If it is the noble Lord and his friends, I might contrast his policy with ours, his failures with ours, and make out a case upon which the House might adjudicate. But then the noble Lordwho lives not in the good old days of constitutional rivalry, but in the days of reconciled sections (a laugh)—will tell the House, 'You cannot judge of my resources by the gentlemen who are sitting near me; others will come to my aid, and by their unquestioned abilities and their varied experience, and with the bright evidence of their triumphant careers, I shall form an Administration which will put you out as the glorious sun does a farthing rushlight— (laughter) and the whole country will immediately see that they have a strong Government entitled to their confidence.' (Cheers.) There is also the noble Lord below the gangway;-let me look below the gangway. (Lord John Russell here took off his hat and bowed, amid great cheering and laughter.) I see there two of the most eminent members of this House, who have long and frequently been servants of the Crown, and who I know are taking a very active share in the proceedings out of the House. In the days of our youth Willis's Rooms were managed by patronesses. (Laughter.) The distinguished assemblies that met within those walls were controlled by a due admixture of dowagers and youthful beauties-young reputations and worn celebritiesand it was at once the pride of society and the object of ambition for all to enter. (Laughter.) They are the noble Lord the member for the City of London and the right hon. gentleman the member for North Wiltshire who have signed the vouchers for the new contract. (Laughter.) Now Willis's Rooms are under the direction of patrons, and there are two of those patrons below the gangway. (Laughter.) They are two of the most eminent statesmen who are to form this strong Government, before whose celebrity we are to be extinguished. We have some experience of those great statesmen. We know how the noble Lord conducts negotiations. (Laughter.) We know how the right hon. gentleman conducts war. (Laughter.) You say that we have failed in our negotiations, and that we cannot be trusted in the event of possible war. Will the noble Lord and the right hon. gentleman help you much? (Cheers and laughter.) I cannot presume to pursue the research."

7.-The Austrians again defeated at Malegnano.

8.-The French Emperor and the King of Sardinia enter Milan amidst exhibitions of great enthusiasm on the part of the people.

9. In the adjourned debate on the noconfidence motion, Sir James Graham took occasion to reply to Mr. Disraeli's strictures on his Carlisle speech, and in particular drew the Speaker's attention to the use which had been made of the phrase "impudent fabrication." Mr. Disraeli rose to order, and explained that those words were intended to apply to the authority quoted by Sir James, and not to the honourable Baronet himself. The Speaker also gave this as his impression of the sense in which the words were to be apprehended. The member for Carlisle continued :-"Certainly, Sir, what the right honourable gentleman has said, confirmed by your high and unimpeachable authority, is some satisfaction to my wounded feelings. (A laugh and cheers.) But the right hon. gentleman went on to remark upon the mild influences of age, presenting in his own person a contradiction to the Horatian maxim, Senit albescens animos capillus; because he was an illustration of the fact that one might lose one's curls and still retain one's taste for sarcasm. (Laughter and cheers.) I must say, Sir, on this occasion, that I had the honour of a seat in the House when the right hon. gentleman first took his place in it. I early, indeed immediately, recognised his great abilities, and, without envy, without the slightest grudging, I have watched his rise to his present pre-eminence. But intemperate language in a position such as the right hon. gentleman occupies is always a proof to me of a failing cause- (cheers)-and I regard that speech, and those expressions, as a happy omen of the coming success of this motion. (Renewed cheers.) The right hon. gentleman will pardon me if I express to him an opinion. I regard him as the Red Indian of debate. (Laughter.) By the use of the tomahawk he has cut his way to power, and by a recurrence to the scalping system he hopes to prevent the loss of it. (Cheers and laughter.) When the right hon. gentleman uses towards one who offered him no offence-(oh! oh!)-language of the tone and character which he has applied to me, I say this, that I was astonished by the rudeness of the assault-(oh! oh! and cheers) -but I readily forgive it on account of the feeling of anger and of disappointment at blighted hopes by which it was dictated. (Oh! oh! and cheers).

'Nunc ad te, et tua magna, Pater, consulta revertor.'"

First. Whether the devise by the testator of his lands, tenements, and hereditaments, after the decease of the several persons during whose lives the rents and profits of the same were directed to be accumulated (if it had been a devise of legal estates), to the eldest male lineal descendant then living of Peter Isaac Thellusson, and Charles Woodford Thellusson, and Charles Thellusson respectively, in tail male, is capable of an intelligent construction, or is void for uncertainty? Second. If at the time directed by the testator for the division of the estates into three lots, and for the conveyance to be made thereof, Peter Isaac Thellusson had had three sons, all of whom were dead, and the eldest of the three sons had left a son under age, and the second son had left a son 21 years of age, and the third son had left a son 30 years of age, and supposing it had been a devise of legal estates, which of the sons of the three sons would have been entitled to take under the devise? The learned Lords, having taken time to consider, delivered their several opinions. In answer to the first question, they were unanimous that the devise was capable of an intelligible construction. regard to the second question, there was a diversity of opinion; but the majority concurred in holding that the word "eldest," used in the will as descriptive of the person who is to take a lot as a purchaser, when the time of accumulation ceased, does not mean the oldest man among his male lineal descendants, but that the testator meant and intended that the person who would be heir-at-law of Peter Isaac in tail male should take one of the lots as purchaser, by the designation of his eldest male lineal descendant. The property thus fell to the surviving heir of the elder branch, Charles Thellusson,

With

9. In the Court of Common Pleas, the judges decide against the claim set up by the new Earl of Shrewsbury to the estates which had heretofore descended with the title. Bertram Arthur, the last Earl of Shrewsbury, of the Roman Catholic line, conceiving himself to be relieved from the disabilities imposed by the conditions and limitations contained in the deeds before referred to, went through the legal form of "suffering a recovery," executed a disentailing deed, and by his will devised his estates to trustees in trust for various persons, but chiefly for a younger son of the Duke of Norfolk. The Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot sought to recover the estates from the trustees by an action of ejectment in the Court of Common Pleas, asserting the subsistence and continuing validity of the restraints on alienation imposed by the Parliamentary Settlement, and denying the validity of the act of the deceased Earl. Since the proceedings on the claim to the earldom had established that Earl Talbot was the heir in tail male of the first Earl, and, therefore, now Earl of Shrewsbury, the controversy was reduced to the legal question of the validity and effect of the several