CONTENTS.

PART I.

ENGLISH HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.,

Review of the State of Public Affairs at the commencement of the year-Alarm

of the Fenian outbreak in Ireland extended to this country-Remarkable

Speech of Lord Stanley at Bristol, on the Irish difficulty-Renewal of the

Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland-Retirement of Lord Derby

in consequence of illness-Mr. Disraeli becomes First Lord of the Treasury-

His professions as to the policy of his Cabinet-Remarks of Mr. Bouverie on

that policy-Severe animadversions of Earl Russell on the course pursued by

the Government in the last Session-Abandonment of Voting by Proxy in the

House of Lords-Act passed for the Discontinuance of Public Executions

CHAPTER II.

Parliamentary Reform and Electoral Law-Scottish Reform Bill-Discussions on

the proposition to increase the number of the House by the addition of Seven

Members for Scotland-Mr. Baxter's proposition to disfranchise Seven small

Boroughs in England is carried-The Bill is passed-The Irish Reform Bill is

brought in by the Earl of Mayo-The Proposition for the Redistribution of Seats

is abandoned-The Bill is passed, but with strong expressions as to its incom-

pleteness in both Houses-The Boundary Bill for England and Wales-Recom-

mendations of the Boundary Commissioners-Petitions of various Boroughs

against the proposed adjustment referred to a Select Committee, whose rival

propositions are ultimately adopted - The same controversy arises in the House

of Lords, but the Bill is finally passed as sent up from the House of Commons-

Election Petitions and Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill-A Bill in accordance

with the Recommendation of the Select Committee of 1867 to transfer this

jurisdiction to the Judges, is eventually passed in preference to all other

propositions-The Registration of Voters Bill, to accelerate the Elections,

and enable Parliament to meet before the end of 1868, is passed with general

PAGE

[1

[18

CHAPTER III.

Affairs of Ireland-The great Question of Disestablishing the Irish Church-
Abortive results of measures on Land Tenure-The Ecclesiastical Titles Act-
Select Committee on, in the House of Lords-General Discussion on the
Condition of Ireland in the House of Commons-The Earl of Mayo explains the

remedial measures of the Government-Mr. Gladstone announces his policy of

Disestablishing the Irish Church-Lord Stanley's Amendment to defer the

Irish Question to a new Parliament is negatived by a Majority of 60-The

House resolves to go into Committee on Mr. Gladstone's Resolutions relative to

the Disconnexion of the Established Church of Ireland-Great interest mani-

fested by the Public in the Irish Church Question--Earl Russell addresses a

large gathering of supporters of Disestablishment at St. James's Hall-Rival

Meeting of the Conservatives at the same place-Debate in the House of Lords

on the proposed policy of Mr. Gladstone .

CHAPTER IV.

The Irish Church and Disestablishment-Mr. Gladstone's first Resolution con-

demnatory of the Establishment is carried by a Majority of 65—Mr. Disraeli

asks for an Adjournment to consider the Ministerial position-Explanations in

both Houses as to the interview of the Premier with her Majesty-The conduct

of Ministers is severely criticized by Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Lowe-

Great Meeting of Bishops, Peers, and other eminent persons at St. James's

Hall, to protest against Disestablishment-Mr. Gladstone's second and third

Resolutions are carried-Discussions respecting the Maynooth Grant and the

Regium Donum-Her Majesty's answer to the Address of the House respecting

Her rights of Patronage in the Church of Ireland - The Suspensory Bill to

prevent the Filling up of Vacant Sees and Benefices passes the Houses of

Commons-Animated Debate in the House of Lords on the Second Reading,

which is negatived on a division by 192 to 97-Result of the division

CHAPTER V.

Financial Affairs-The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Ward Hunt, makes his

Financial Statement-Deficit for the past Year-Increase of the Income Tax-

The Resolutions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer are adopted-Public

Expenditure-The Navy Estimates proposed by Mr. Corry, First Lord of the

Admiralty-Mr. Childers' Amendment on them negatived-Motion of Mr. Seely

for Reformation of Admiralty Accounts-Select Committee appointed- Mr.

Graves' motion for diminishing the number of Dockyards-Army Estimates--

Votes agreed to after Debate on various questions raised-Discussions on

Military Organization, on the Purchase of Commissions, &c.-Important

alteration in the Mutiny Bill, prohibiting Flogging of Soldiers and Marines

in time of Peace, carried against the Government by Mr. Otway-The

Amendment is accepted by the House of Lords-Organization of the Civil

Service-Motion of Mr. Childers for extensive Reform of -The Indian Budget-

Sir Stafford Northcote makes the Annual Financial Statement for India.

CHAPTER VI.

Foreign and Colonial Policy and Affairs-Differences with the United States of

America on the "Alabama" Claims-Debates in Parliament on the subject-

Conciliatory Speech of Lord Stanley-Speech of Earl Russell on the same

Question in the House of Lords-Mr. W. E. Forster's Motion on the in-

defeasible Allegiance of British Subjects-The Cretan Insurrection - Earl

Russell approves the policy of the British Government-Lord Stanley vindi-

cates his proceedings in the House of Commons-British Rule in India-The

British American Colonies Confederation Act of 1867-Remonstrance of the

People of Nova Scotia against the Union-Mr. Bright's Motion for a Com-

mission of Inquiry is rejected, also a similar Motion of Lord Stratheden's in the

PAGE

[44

[78

[107

House of Lords-The Abyssinian Campaign-Capture of Magdala, and Death

of King Theodore-The Thanks of both Houses of Parliament to the General

commanding, his Officers and Men, are voted nem. con.-Sir Robert Napier is

created a Peer, and an Annuity of 2000l. a year is voted to him-Attempted

Assassination of the Duke of Edinburgh at Sydney-Great public indignation

and anxiety-Addresses of sympathy to the Crown carried by the Lords and

Commons-O'Farrel, the assailant of the Prince, is tried and executed-Warm

manifestations of loyalty in Sydney-The Prince returns to England

CHAPTER VII.

Religion and Education-Settlement of the long-contested Church-rate Question-

The Bill founded on Mr. Gladstone's Scheme Abolishing the Compulsory Pay-

ment of Church-rates is passed and sent to the Lords-Some Amendments are

made by the Lords which are agreed to by the Lower House, and the Bill is

passed-National Education-Bill of Mr. H. A. Bruce to authorize Compulsory

Rating for the purpose of Education is withdrawn-The Bill of the Duke of

Marlborough on behalf of the Government is read a Second Time, but is even-

tually withdrawn-Vote for Public Education-Religious Tests at the Uni-

versities-Mr. Coleridge's Bill for abolishing these Restrictions is read a Second

Time, but is ultimately stopped by pressure of business-Lord Shaftesbury's

Bill for restraining the excess of Ritual Observances in the Church is rejected-

Disendowment of the Church in the West Indies-Controversy on this Question

between the Earl of Carnarvon and the Lord Chancellor-The Bill is passed-

Miscellaneous Measures passed or rejected before the close of the Session-

Parliament is prorogued by Commission-Her Majesty's Speech

CHAPTER VIII.

The General Election-Dissolution of Parliament-Writs issued and Elections

rapidly proceeded with-Large Gains of the Liberals in the English Boroughs,

and in Scotland and Ireland-Success of the Conservatives in many of the

English Counties-A considerable addition is made on the whole to the Liberal

Majority-Defeat of Mr. Gladstone in South-West Lancashire-Operation of

the Minority Clause" in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, and other large

Constituencies-Aggregate Numbers of Votes polled on each Side in the Three

Kingdoms-Resignation of the Conservative Government at the conclusion of

the Elections-Letter of Mr. Disraeli to his Supporters in the two Houses-

Mr. Gladstone is commanded by the Queen to form an Administration-Com-

position of the New Cabinet-Accession of Mr. Bright to Office-Meeting of

the New Parliament-Re-election of Mr. J. E. Denison, the late Speaker—

The Premier's Speech on Re-election at Greenwich-Parliament is adjourned

to February 16, 1869 - Retrospect of the Events of the Year-Deaths of emi-

nent Persons-Conclusion

PAGE

[125

[146

. [169

CHAPTER III.—PRUSSIA-AUSTRIA –DENMARK-SERVIA-GREECE [218

CHAPTER IV.-ABYSSINIAN WAR

[233

OBITUARY OF EMINENT PERSONS.

M. Berryer-Sir David Brewster, D.C.L., &c.-Sir James Brooke-Lord
Brougham―The Archbishop of Canterbury-The Earl of Cardigan, K.C.B.—
Lord Cranworth-Sir Herbert Edwardes, K.C.B.-Sir E. W. Head, D.C.L.,
F.R.S.-C. J. Kean, F.S.A., F.R.G.S.-Sir Richard Mayne, K.C.B.-Dr.
Milman-Rossini-Mr. Justice Shee-Lord Wensleydale

REMARKABLE TRIALS.

PAGE

1

8

22

31

50

71

81

97

113

129

140

149

159

Prosecution of Mr. Eyre. Charge of Mr. Justice Blackburn

Risk Allah v. "the Daily Telegraph "

Report of the Royal Commissioners for inquiring into the Laws of Naturalization

and Allegiance

237

FINANCE ACCOUNTS-

1. An Account of the gross Public Income of the United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Ireland

HER MAJESTY'S MINISTERS AND CHIEF OFFICERS OF STATE. 254