reported to bear the enormous number of five million signatures. The delegates to the Convention, with their followers, were to proceed, in the first instance, in detachments through the streets of London to Kennington, where they were to be harangued by Feargus O'Connor and others; they were then to form into marching order and return to the door of the House of Commons with their monster petition. In the excited state of the public mind, the Government thought it proper to take every precaution for preserving the peace and protecting property. The Duke of Wellington undertook all the arrangements for guarding the Bank, Custom House, Exchange, Post Office, and other public buildings, and generally the complete military defence of the metropolis. Troops were introduced in large numbers, and, without any offensive display, placed in quarters where they could be used with effect. Probably the most significant check received by the agitators was furnished by the inhabitants of the metropolis enrolling themrelves, to the number of a quarter of a million, as special constables, Prince Louis Napoleon being among the number. A proclamation was also issued warning people against collecting for disorderly purposes. The thoroughfare along Downing-street from Parliament-street to the Park was barricaded. The gates of the Admiralty, the Horse Guards, and the Board of Control were closed, and barriers erected inside to give additional support. A body of 2,600 Household Troops were sent over to Kennington Common early in the morning, and at a later hour 1,700 belonging to different regiments of the line. At a meeting on Sunday evening, the 9th, a split took place among the Chartist leaders; one section of the Convention, represented by Bronterre O'Brien, wishing every man to proceed armed to the demonstration, while another, represented by O'Connor, refused to permit the original peaceable designs of the gathering to be thus interfered with. O'Brien and his party withdrew. O'Connor and his brother delegates passed through the streets on a high car decorated for the occasion, and followed by a smaller one bearing the petition arranged in a series of monster tolls. The proceedings on the Common turned out to be tame and spiritless. There was at no time more than 20,000 or 25,000 persons present, not one-half of whom were Chartists. The orators quarrelled among themselves as to the order of their proceedings, one Cuffey declaring the whole Convention to be composed of cowardly humbugs. The second procession, to the House of Commons, was finally abandoned, and O'Connor undertook to present the petition in the usual way, which he did that evening. In the House of Lords, the Duke of Wellington said that no great society had ever suffered such a grievance as that endured by London during the past few days. If such scenes were to be repeated, he trusted that effectual measures would be taken by the Legislature for securing the peace and trade of

this great metropolis against similar interruptions. Next day the Home Secretary was able to telegraph to all the chief magistrates of the country the welcome news that London was perfectly quiet, and that not the slightest disturbance had taken place anywhere.

10. The Crown and Government Security Bill read a second time in the House of ComIn mons by a majority of 452 to 35 votes. the debate which took place, repeated reference was made to the treasonable proceedings of Mr. Smith O'Brien in soliciting the aid of men from France. The discussion in Committee was confined chiefly to the third clause, in which the words concerning vised speaking" occurred.

open and adConsols opened this morning at 80, but advanced during the day to 814.

The church of St. Matthias, Liverpool, destroyed by fire.

11.-Commencement of a debate (afterwards indefinitely postponed) on Mr. John O'Connell's motion for leave to bring in a bill enabling her Majesty to call a Parliament in Ireland.

12.-Thomas Gutteridge, surgeon, Birmingham, convicted at Warwick Assizes for uttering scandalous and injurious libels concerning Dr. Lee, now Bishop of Manchester.

A resolution proposed in the Chartist Convention recommending the working classes not to deal with any of the shopkeepers who had acted as special constables on Monday. The president deprecated such a resolution; but Cuffey, one of the delegates for London, said he did not see why they should be so delicate in the matter. Having been cut of work lately, he had allowed Mrs. Cuffey to go out working, and at one of the houses where she had been in the habit of charing she was asked whether she was the wife of Cuffey of the Convention. She said she was, and intimation was then made to her that her services would not be required again.

Silesia and Posen in a disturbed state; armed associations forbidden in the latter place. 13.-The Venetian Republic accept the offer of a female battalion to attend the wounded in battle.

The Sicilian Parliament vote for the deposition of the King of Naples.

The Dublin correspondent of the Daily News writes: 'Curiosity led me to visit Hyland's pike manufactory in Charles-street, within half a pistol shot of the Four Courts. Outside is a sign-board with a pike painted thereon. Inside the picture is realized, for I saw half-a-dozen pikes spread forth on the dingy counter, and two purchasers comparing

the size, strength, and polish of the various blades. There is no secret or mystery about the sale. Hyland vends his wares openly, and boasts of the extent of his trade, which keeps up five furnaces and twice the number of anvils, all busy with pikes. The night sales, I understand, are considerable."

13. In the House of Commons, the Chairman of Petitions, Mr. Thornely, brings up the report of the Committee on the monster petition presented on the 10th. Instead of bearing 5,706,000 signatures, there were only 1,975,472; and not only were there numerous portions in the same handwriting, but the same name was frequently repeated, particular prominence being given to the Queen, Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, Colonel Sibthorp, and other names of an absurd and imaginary character. The weight also, instead of being five tons, was little over five hundredweight. In the course of the discussion to which the presentation of the report gave rise, Mr. Cripps spoke of the member for Nottingham as having forfeited all title to credence by his exaggerated statements, words which Mr. O'Connor after a brief reply said must be "explained elsewhere." Mr. Disraeli hoped the Speaker would interpose his authority to prevent any more serious and painful meeting on Kennington Common than had already taken place. Mr. O'Connor was taken into custody by the Sergeant-at-Arms, and appeared in the House later in the evening, when mutual explanations took place.

Washington illuminated in honour of the French Republic.

14. The Prussian Government despatch troops and artillery to assist the Duchies against Denmark.

15.-The Marquis of Northampton gives his last conversazione as President of the Royal Society. He was succeeded by Earl Rosse.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, Dublin, the grand jury find true bills against O'Brien, Meagher, and Mitchel, for seditious practices tending to the disturbance of the public peace.

17. The election writ for Derby suspended by a resolution of the House of Commons. A new writ was moved for August 24th.

18.-The third reading of the Crown and Government Security Bill carried by 295 to 40 votes. Sir Robert Peel, noticing Feargus O'Connor's boast that if he got Democratic institutions it was a matter of indifference to him whether Beelzebub sat on the throne, hoped that when the member for Nottingham got the sovereign of his choice, he might enjoy the confidence of the Crown. The bill was at once introduced into the House of Lords.

19. The distress in Paris was so great at this time that the Provisional Government were distributing in alms no less than 5,000/. daily.

20.-Prince Metternich arrives in London a fugitive from Vienna.

20. The Indian steamship Benares burnt at Rajmahal; thirty passengers drowned.

The insurgent army of Hecker and Struve defeated on the heights of Schlechtenau, near Raudern, by the troops of the Germanic Diet.

Great national fête in Paris, on occasion of the Provisional Government presenting colours to the National Guard and troops of the line. It was calculated that 400,000 armed men defiled in front of the Arc de Triomphe, where the amphitheatre was erected.

Lord Palmerston writes to Sir H. Bulwer, that her Majesty's Government entirely approved of the manner in which he had com. municated the despatch of March 16th to the Spanish Court, nor were they in any way offended at the return of his notes or the angry tone of the Duke of Sotomayor's letter. The Cabinet felt, he said, that in making the communication they were discharging a duty, and not taking any undue liberty.

21.-Special prayer for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity read in all the churches. Mr. Vans Agnew and Lieutenant Anderson of the Bombay Fusiliers barbarously murdered at Mooltan, while engaged in a mission to substitute Sirdar Khan-Singh for Moolraj in the governorship.

22.-The Royal Assent given to the Crown and Government Security (Ireland) Bill, making all written incitement to insurrection and resist ance to the Government felony, punishable with transportation. The treason newspapers were on this, their last occasion of speaking with impunity, unusually audacious. The Nation writes:"Animated by that spirit, warned by its experience, and stimulated by its heroic instances, we swear before God, before the whole Irish race, and the congregation of the free states of Europe, never to rest or relax in our labours until these conquerors of ours shall sue for peace and forgiveness, like sinners before a shrine, at the feet of emancipated Ireland. The time of the sword has come; the cant of the Constitution is obsolete as Ogham stones." In the United Irishman Mitchel wrote: 'The first thing to be done is to stop the thoroughfares, to cut off communication, to entrench liberty in the heart of the capital, to split up, divide, draw into fastnesses, make powerless, and slaughter the opposing troops.

Give up for ever the notion of surprises. Surprise involves secrecy, dissimulation, places you at the mercy of spies and traitors, and runs the gauntlet through ten thousand chances. It is the muffle of bravery and screen of cowards. We will none of your secrecies and surprises. Gird up your loins, oil your guns, and meet your enemies openly, in daylight, muzzle to muzzle. Then you shall conquer-otherwise The notion of a man pilfering libertyof a nation of eight millions, in its own land, sneaking through darkness, skulking through back ways to freedom-is disgusting."

not.

23. (Easter Sunday).-The Prussians un

der General Von Wrangel attack the Danes near Schleswig, and force them from the mainland to the islands of Alsen and Fünen on the east coast.

- A new star of the fifth magnitude discovered in the constellation Ophiucus.

25.-The remnant of the officers and crew (105 in number) of the Franklin expedition leave their ships with the intention of proceeding in the direction of Back's Fish River. This was the last news received from the explorers.

Sir H. J. Fust pronounces judgment in the Arches Court in the case of Geils v. Geils. Mrs. Geils replied to a suit for a restitution of marital rights raised by her husband in 1845 by praying a divorce on the ground of adultery and cruelty. As to the latter, the Court now held that some of them had not been proved, and that others did not amount to "legal cruelty." Certain charges of an especially offensive nature were held not to be sustained by sufficient proofs to warrant the consequences of a conviction to all parties. Separation decreed on the ground of adultery.

26.-New Constitution published in Austria; the legislative body to be composed of the Emperor, a Senate, and a Chamber of Deputies.

29.-Sir John Richardson arrives at Lake Superior, on his overland journey to the Arctic regions in search of Sir John Franklin.

Free Exhibition of select British manufactures at the Society of Arts closed, having been visited by many thousand persons.

The

Affray in Limerick between the Old and Young Irelanders. O'Brien, Mitchel, and Meagher having arrived there to attend a soiree given by the Sarsfield Club in their honour, were set upon by a party of "moral force O'Connellites. O'Brien was so severely handled that he could not attend the entertainment, while the others were subjected to the mortification of seeing the place of meeting battered in and almost burnt about their ears. police interfering successfully between the combatants, the broken windows and doors were covered with boards, and the soiree was closed amid comparative quiet. Meagher spoke with his usual severity on the "Gagging Act" which had so effectually frustrated their plans: "These sentiments are no doubt seditious, and the expression of them may bring me within the provisions of the new Felony Bill-the

bill, mind you, that is to strike this nation dumb. Yes! from this day out you must lie down and eat your words. Yes!-you-you, starved wretch, lying naked in that ditch, with clenched teeth and starting eye, gazing on the clouds that redden with the flames in which your hovel is destroyed. What matters it that the claw of hunger is fastening in your heart? what matters it that the hot poison of the fever is shooting through your brain? what matters it that the tooth of the lean dog is cutting through the bone of that dead child, of which you were once the guardian? what matters it that the lips of that spectre there, once the pride and beauty of the village, when you wooed and won her as your bride, are blackened with the blood of the youngest to whom she has given birth? what matters it that the golden grain which has sprung from the sweat you squandered on the soil be torn from your grasp, and Heaven's first decree to man contravened by human law? what matters it that you are thus pained and stung, thus lashed and maddened? Bite the tongue that burns to complain, beat back the passion that rushes from your heart, check the curse that gurgles to your throat. Die die without a groan-die without a shriek die without a struggle, for the Government that starves you desires you to live in peace. Shall it be so? Shall the conquest of Ireland be this year completed? Why should I put this question, after all? Have I not been answered by that flash of arms which purifies the air where the pestilence has been. The mind of Ireland no longer wavers. It has acquired the faith, the constancy, the heroism of a predestined martyr. It foresees the worst, prepares for the worst. The Cross, as in Milan, already glitters in the haze of battle, and points to eternity. We shall no longer seek for liberty in the byways. On a broad field, in front of the foreign swords, the soul of this nation, grown young and chivalrous again, shall clothe itself like the angel of the resurrection, in the white robe, and point to the sepulchre that is void, as it shall mount the scaffold-that eminence on which many a radiant transfiguration has taken place-and bequeath to the crowd below a lesson for their instruction and an idol for their worship."

30.-Five persons suffocated in a fire at the Sciennes, Edinburgh.

Numerous meetings held during this and the following month to promote the union of the middle and working classes in favour of a scheme of Parliamentary Reform prepared by active members of the late Anti-Corn Law League.

May 1.-Jutland occupied by Prusian forces. The German Diet commences its sittings at Frankfort, Chevalier Bunsen elected Deputy for Schleswig,

Frightful butchery of Polish insurgents in Posen by Prussian troops; the whole of the Grand Duchy in revolt.

2.-General Cavaignac recalled from Algeria to Paris.

4.-Opening of the French National Assembly, the members of the Provisional Government marching to the place of meeting on foot. The oath of fidelity to the Republic dispensed with. Next day M. Buchez was elected President. On the 7th an Executive Commission was elected to carry on the government.

The third reading of the Jewish Disabilities Bill carried in the House of Commons by 234 to 173 votes.

5. The Prior-Forster controversy relating to the copyright of certain facts in the life of Goldsmith. Prior writes from Richmond: "As a matter of courtesy I accept your volume, but I cannot consent to do so without stating distinctly that its contents thus given out under your name as far as they relate to Goldsmith

-are, and have been for eleven years past, that is, since the publication of my Life of him, exclusively mine; they are mine in substance as in detail-in dates, facts, and innumerable personal matters--in the discovery of many of his writings previously unknown-in the ascertainment of several doubtful points-in all the data, in short, which go to form authentic biography as distinct from what then only existed of him in the form of an imperfect and scanty biographical preface. These were gleaned with great care and assiduity. I hunted for them in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and several parts of the Continent. London, its libraries, collections, and localities, were traversed in their length and breadth for some years in the pursuit. They therefore cost me much time, much labour, and were acquired at considerable expense. Several were supplied to me as matter of personal favour, and would not have been given to any one else." At the close of a detailed defence of his independent sources of information Mr. Forster replied: "As to the claim which you put forth to an absolute property and possession in such dates, facts, and innumerable personal matters of Goldsmith's life as you may yourself have discovered, I have only to say that it is based on an assumption which, if admitted or sanctioned to the smallest extent, would be the most serious invasion of the rights of literature that has been practised or attempted in any country." Commenting upon this dispute, the Athenæum writes: "There is a curious confusion in Mr. Prior's mind between the right to works of imagination and the right to works of fact. The first are the product of a man's own mind, the last a mere conversion to his use of what all the world may use as well as he. No labour bestowed on a series of facts can make them any man's private (248)

property. An author cannot by seizure acquire a right of monopoly in the events of another man's life, though he may have employed great industry in discovering them, and therefore seem to suffer a hardship. He who by long seeking should find ores in land belonging to the public would not thereby acquire the right to appropriate the ores. In a word, Mr. Prior's materials, with whatever amount of trouble collected, when once collected are public materials, and he cannot plead a law of treasure-trove against all the world, even for facts which first turned up to himself."

6.-Engagement between the Austrians and Piedmontese before the walls of Verona. The conflict lasted from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon, and was gallantly sustained on both sides. The result was slightly against the Piedmontese, who were compelled to retire to their original position overlooking the plain of Verona.

The Warwick magistrates engage in the investigation of an absurd charge of murder against Lord Leigh, his mother, and others, alleged to have been committed to damage a claim made on the estate.

7.-The Polish insurgents under Mierow. lawski, after repeated engagements and great slaughter, surrender to the Prussian troops.

A battalion of troops revolt at Madrid, and about 200 of them killed or wounded.

9.-The Queen and Prince Albert visit the ex-royal family of France at Claremont, the seat placed at their disposal by the British Government.

Lord George Bentinck questions the Prime Minister regarding the commands lately issued by the Queen, making it imperative that ladies attending Court should appear in dresses exclusively the product of native industry. Lord John Russell explained that the Chamberlain's order had nothing to do with the general question of Protection, but was simply designed to encourage certain branches of trade depressed at home.

10.-A portion of the Buckingham and Chandos estates, situate in the counties of Buck ingham, Oxford, and Northampton, sold by public auction at Garraway's. Finmore, Oxfordshire, with a rental of 1,2267. per annum, was knocked down at 31,000l.; and Hellesden, Buckinghamshire, with a rental of 4,7634, brought 130,500/. The total amount realized was 262,990/.

commits suicide in Regent's Park by swallowing a dose of prussic acid.

13.-The Sicilians declare themselves independent of Naples.

Died at Longleat, aged 74, Alexander Baring, Lord Ashburton.

- Mr. Thomas Carlyle publishes an appeal to Lord John Russell, "British chief governor," to set about accomplishing some more important remedial measures for Ireland than what he proposed in his County and Municipal Registration Bills. Among other things suggested was the "regimenting of their indisputable talent for spade-work "-a drawing out and controlling the industrial resources of the country for the benefit of all. Speaking of the Premier, Mr. Carlyle wrote: "Alas! I know, or can figure in some measure, the shoreless imbroglio of red tape and parliamentary eloquence in which he lives and has his sorrowful being; tape-thrums heaped high above him as the heaven, and deep below him as the abyss; and loud inane eloquence (public speaking transacted in the hearing of twenty-seven millions, many of whom are fools!) beating on him likewise as a mad ocean, and every single billow, and every separate tape-thrum, singing merely, Impossible, impossible, to do any real business here! Nothing but parliamentary eloquence possible here!" Nevertheless all this will not excuse an unfortunate British Premier. He stands at the summit of our society; has with his own eyes open, and what real or imaginary views he knows best, taken his station there; and to him inevitably do perishing British subjects cry,-if not for help, yet for some signal that somebody, somewhere, in some manner should at least begin to try to help them. Let the British chief governor cry earnestly from the abysses, and the red-tape imbroglios, whatever they may be: a Jonah was heard from the whale's belly; and he too, unless the Heavens help him to some scheme or counsel, he and we are lost!"

15.-Another insurrectionary movement in Paris. About 50,000 extreme democrats marched from the Bastile to the Chamber of Deputies, where they forced the gate and warmed into the building. Great uproar ensted, and all authority was for a time at an d. The delegates of Communistic clubs spoke from the tribune, and proposed motions favour of Poland and Italy, which were amed by acclamation. The Chamber was declared dissolved, and a new Government pointed, consisting of Ledru-Rollin, Barbès, Louis Blanc, and others. The troops of the being instantly called out, and the National Guard placed under arms, the mob retreated from the Chamber to the Hôtel de Ville, where various new schemes of government were brought up for discussion. There they were followed by the National Guard, who rerained true to the Chamber, expelling the mob and arresting the most prominent leaders.

Mr. Labouchere introduces the Govern

ment scheme for throwing open the navigation of the country of every sort and description with the exception of the coasting trade. A resolution, moved by Mr. Herries, to maintain the fundamental principles of the existing Na vigation law, was lost by a majority of 294 to 177. The Government measure gave rise to much opposition, and was abandoned towards the close of the session.

15. Sanguinary insurrection at Naples; the city given up to pillage by the Government; 400 troops killed; the National Guard disbanded, and a new Ministry formed.

Tried in the Court of Queen's Bench, Dublin, before Lord Chief Justice Blackburn and a special jury, William Smith O'Brien, charged with uttering a seditious speech at a meeting of the Irish Confederation, on the 15th March last. The jury being unable to agree upon a verdict, were discharged with consent of the Attorney-General. A similar result took place in the case of Meagher, tried in the same Court next day. In this case the jury were all agreed except one-a Roman Catholic.

16. The Chartist National Convention breaks up.

The Emperor of Austria, with the Empress and other members of the Imperial family, quit the capital in consequence of its disturbed state, and take up their residence at Innspruck, in the Tyrol. From this retreat the Emperor issued a proclamation announcing that he would not grant anything to the forcible exactions of unauthorized and armed individuals.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Bouverie moves the second reading of a bill for securing sites for churches in Scotland. It was based upon the report of a Select Committee, presented last session, wherein it was stated that

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Congregations are in the habit of meeting for public worship in places and under circumstances which are unfit for the administration of the sacred ordinances of the Christian religion, and which expose both the minister and the people to weather injurious to their health, and to inconveniences which ought not to attend the free exercise of religious privileges." The bill was thrown out on the third reading by a majority of 93 to 59.

18.-The Piedmontese troops undertake the siege of the city and fortress of Peschiera. The place held out for twelve days, when, the provisions being nearly exhausted, and the cannonade unusually destructive, a submission was made, and Charles-Albert entered the city.

The Encumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill, originated in the House of Lords, read a second time in the Commons.