APPENDIX. of Naval Coast Volunteers, and for the temporary transfer to the Navy in case of need, of seafaring men employed in other Services. Enables volunteers to enter for a period of five years, during which period they are to be trained to the navy for a time not exceeding 28 days in each year, and in case of imminent danger to be called into actual service, but not to be sent more than 100 leagues from the coast during exercise and actual service. They are to receive the same allowances as able seamen. and France, having sent an ultimatum to the men prisoners. While volunteers they are exempt from serving in the navy or militia, and a regulated bounty is given, which is not to exceed 67. Cap. 99. To substitute, in certain Cases, other Punishment in lieu of Transportation. -Penal imprisonment is substituted by this Act. Cap. 137. For the better Administration of Commissioners are apCharitable Trusts. pointed, with powers to investigate the affairs of any charitable trusts, and authorize legal proceedings to enforce the proper fulfilment of the trust if it should be necessary. 54, 430,3447.; ExpenditureRevenue, Army and Ordnance, 9,425,079.; Navy, 6,640,5961.; for all objects, 51,174,839; Debt, 771,335, 8017. Exports of British and Irish Produce, 98,933,7817. Emigration-to North American Colonies, 34,522; to the United States, 230,885; to Australian Colonies and New Zealand, 61, 401; to all other places, 3, 129: total, 829,937. Railway Traffic: Miles open, 7,686; number of passengers, 102, 286,660; traffic receipts, 18,035,8797. Number of Paupers, 1,016,081. 1854. [The principal events of the War with Russia, which will fill so large a space in the History of the years 1854 and 1855, will be given separately from other events in our Annals of those two years.] Jan. 31. In opening parliament queen Victoria, in the speech from the throne, expressed her regret that the endeavours made by her in conjunction with the emperor of the French, had failed to procure an amicable settlement of the differences which had arisen between Russia and Turkey. On the 6th of February the Russian ambassador withdrew from Paris, and on the 8th baron Brunnow, the Russian ambassador at the British court, left England. On the 20th the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards embarked at Southampton for Turkey. Other troops followed in rapid succession. the 11th of March the Queen reviewed at Spithead the fleet under the command of admiral sir Charles Napier, previous to its sailing for the Baltic. On the 12th a treaty of alliance between France, England, and Turkey, was signed at Constantinople. March 25. England | On On of June the Russian batteries at the Sulina of October the bombardment of Sebastopol by ing amongst the troops; the roads were im- ' passable; the weather was bitterly cold; men and horses, ill supplied with food and shelter, perished in large numbers, whilst medical attention and hospital accommodation were woefully deficient. This being known at home from the reports of the correspondents of the newspapers, gave rise to great dissatisfaction with the management of affairs, and private subscriptions to a large amount were speedily raised to mitigate the distress. Miss Nightingale organised a numerous staff of nurses, and proceeded with them to Constantinople, to superintend the hospitals, which were principally at Scutari, and to attend the sick and wounded, by which attention the lives of many hundreds were saved. LEGISLATION. SESSION 17 & 18 VICTORIE. Cap. 5. An Act to admit Foreign Ships to the Coasting Trade. Foreign vessels are admitted on paying the same duties as British ships. Cap. 38. For the Suppression of Gaming Houses. Cap. 74. To render Reformatory and Industrial Schools in Scotland more available for the benefit of Vagrant Children. Young persons under fourteen found begging, and without visible means of subsistence, may be sent to these schools without being charged with crime. Cap. 114. To extend the Rights enjoyed by the Graduates of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, in respect to the Practice of Physic, to the Graduates of the University of London. Bachelors and doctors of medicine are privileged to practise as physicians in the same manner as graduates of Oxford and Cambridge, but this privilege does not extend to surgery, pharmacy, or mid-wifery. Revenue, 56,822,5097.; ExpenditureArmy and Ordnance, 11,876,2727.; Navy, 12,182,7697.; for all purposes, 60,031,568.; Debt, 775,041,2727. Exports of British and Irish Produce, 97,184,7267. Emigration-to North American Colonies, 43,761; to the United States, 193,065; to Australian Colonies and New Zealand, 83,237; to other places, 3,366: total, 323,429. Railway Traffic: Miles open, 8,054; number of passengers, 111,206,707; traffic receipts, 20,215,7247. Number of Paupers, 1,004,063. 1855. Jan. 25. Lord John Russell retired from office in consequence of an approaching discussion in the House of Commons, on a motion of which Mr. Roebuck gave notice on the 23rd for a select committee to inquire into the condition of our army before Sebastopol, and into the conduct of the commissariat and medical departments of the army. Jan. 31. Resignation of lord Aberdeen's cabinet, in consequence of the defeat of the government on the 29th, in the division on Mr. Roebuck's motion; the votes being 305 against ministers and 148 in their favour. The earl of Derby was invited by the Queen to undertake the formation of a government, but declined; lord Palmerston accepted the responsibility, and the members of his cabinet were sworn into office on the 8th of February. The ministry stood thus: viscount Palmerston, First Lord of the Treasury; earl Granville, President of the Council; lord Cranworth, Lord High Chancellor; duke of Argyll, Lord Privy Seal; Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Chancellor of the Exchequer; sir George Grey, Secretary of State for Home Affairs; earl of Clarendon, Foreign Secretary; Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, Colonial Secretary; lord Panmure, War Secretary; Right Hon. sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty; Right Hon. Vernon Smith, President of the Board of Control; sir B. Hall, Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings; earl of Harrowby, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; marquess of Lansdowne, without office. Feb. 20. Lord John Russell left London to attend the conferences of the representatives of the great powers, on the terms of peace between Russia and Turkey, as the British plenipotentiary. Feb. 22. Withdrawal from office of Mr. Gladstone, sir James Graham, and Mr. Sidney Herbert, on account of the House of Commons insisting upon the appointment of a select committee in terms of Mr. Roebuck's motion. Their places in the cabinet were filled up by the appointment of sir G. C. Lewis, sir Charles Wood, and lord John Russell. April 17. Arrival of the emperor and empress of the French at Windsor on a visit to the Queen. On the 19th they were entertained by the Lord Mayor at a splendid fête in the Guildhall of London. They took leave on their return home on the 21st. April 20. The Chancellor of the Exchequer made his financial statement, in which he intimated that the deficiency occasioned by the Russian war was about twenty-three millions, of which he proposed to raise sixteen millions by loan, and the rest by a readjustment involving an increase of taxation. June 13. The new Metropolitan Cattle Market opened. Prince Albert attended the opening, and in replying to the address read to him by the recorder, after remarking on the enormous growth of London, said that this growth "imperatively requires that those establishments which are to minister to the common wants of the whole should keep pace with its growth and magnitude. This can only be undertaken by public bodies, they can only be carried out by public spirit. I hail the spirit which is rising among us. . July 13. Lord John Russell resigned his office of colonial secretary, in consequence of discussions in the House of Commons in reference to the part taken by him in the Vienna Conferences. He was succeeded by sir William Molesworth. Aug. 1. Viscount Canning was entertained at a public banquet by the East India Company, previous to his departure to assume the functions of governor-general of India. Aug. 18. Queen Victoria and prince Albert visited the emperor of the French in Paris, remaining till the 27th, when they embarked at Boulogne on their return to England. Nov. 22. The first stone of the Birmingham and Midland Institute laid by prince Albert. At the banquet afterwards, in the Town-hall of Birmingham, in replying to the toast of his health, he dwelt on the advantages to be derived from the higher branches of education; he remarked on the error of considering scientific knowledge as antagonistic; and said, "Far be it from me to undervalue the creative power of genius, or to treat shrewd common sense as worthless without knowledge. But nobody will tell me that the same genius would not take an incomparably higher flight, if supplied with all the means which knowledge can impart, or that common sense does not become, in fact, only truly powerful when in possession of the materials upon which judgment is to be exercised." Nov. 30. The king of Sardinia arrived at Windsor on a visit to the Queen. RUSSIAN WAR.-On the 6th of January Conferences were opened at Vienna between the plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, France, Austria and Russia, with a view to the restoration of peace. These conferences continued till the 21st of April, when they were suspended without any practical result. On the 10th of January Victor Emmanuel, king of Sardinia, joined the Allies, and undertook to send 15,000 men to the Crimea to aid in the war against Russia. On the 12th of February an imperial ukase ordered the organization and arming of the entire militia of the Russian empire for the defence of the "orthodox faith." On the 17th the Russians attacked Eupatoria, but were repulsed by the Turks who formed the garrison of the place. On the 2nd of March Nicholas, emperor of Russia, died, and was succeeded by his son Alexander II. The event was announced to the British Houses of Parliament within five hours of the emperor's decease, the intelligence being transmitted by telegraph. On the 4th of April the British fleet, under rear-admiral Dundas, sailed for the Baltic. The Baltic coast was blockaded from the 19th of April. The French 589 The Rus fleet in the Baltic was under the command of admiral Pénaud. On the 9th of April the second bombardment of Sebastopol commenced, and was continued, with little effect, till the 28th. On the 16th of May general Canrobert resigned the chief command of the French army in the Crimea to general Pelissier, but continued to serve as a general of division. On the 24th of May Kertch was occupied by the Allies, whose fleets swept the sea of Azoff, captured and garrisoned Yenikali, and bombarded Taganrog, Mariapol, Gheisk, and other towns, destroying public buildings, government magazines and provision stores. On the 7th of June, at Sebastopol, the French troops captured the Mamelon, two redoubts, and 62 guns, and took 130 officers and 400 men prisoners. On the 18th the French attacked the Malakhoff and the English the Redan, but were repulsed by the Russians with considerable loss. On the 28th lord Raglan, the British commander-inchief in the Crimea, died of cholera, in his 68th year; he was succeeded by general Simpson, as next in command. On the 11th of July, in the Baltic, the fortifications of Sweaborg were bombarded by the allied fleets of England and France. On the 16th of August the battle of the Tchernaya, near Sebastopol, took place, in which the Russians were defeated by the French and the Sardinians. On the 5th of September the third bombardment of Sebastopol commenced, and on the 8th the French took the Malakhoff; the English who attempted to take the Redan, were repulsed. sians, who had suffered to a frightful extent from the effects of the shot and shells which had been poured upon the city and its defences -about 17,000 officers and privates having been killed, wounded, and missing in three days-evacuated the south side of Sebastopol at night, after sinking their ships and blowing up the defences. On the 9th the Allies took possession of the place, which they found in a ruinous condition. On the 17th of October Kinburn, at the mouth of the Dnieper, surrendered to the Allies. On the 18th the Russians blew up the fortress of Oczak off. On the 10th of November the emperor Alexander visited his army near Sebastopol. On the 11th of November general sir William Codrington assumed the command of the British army in the Crimea. On the 26th the fortress of Kars surrendered to the Russians, after a protracted and gallant defence, continued for several months amidst severe privations; general Williams and the other English officers, his companions, who became prisoners of war, were treated with great kindness by the Russian general. On the 16th of December Austria sent proposals for peace, the terms of which had been sanctioned by the Allies, to the emperor Alexander at St. Petersburg. On the 19th the united kingdom of Sweden and Norway joined the alliance of the Western Powers. LEGISLATION. SESSION 18 & 19 VICTORIE. Cap. 27. An Act to amend the Laws relating APPENDIX. to the Stamp Duties on Newspapers, and to provide for the transmission by post of printed Periodicals and Publications. By this Act the stamp duty was removed except for purposes of transmission by post. Cap. 88. To facilitate the Erection of Dwelling-houses for the Working Classes in Scotland. Granting powers under supervision for small associations to hold land and build houses suit. able for the working classes. Cap 116. For the better Prevention of Diseases. In case of any endemic, epidemic, or contagious disease occurring in any part of England the Privy Council and the General Board of Health are empowered to issue rules and directions for the removal of nuisances, the speedy interment of the dead, for house to house visitation, the dispensing of medicines, &c., the expenses to be paid out of the rates or funds administered by the local authorities. Cap. 120. For the better Local Management of the Metropolis. By this Act the construction of sewers, and such matters as cannot be effected by parishes singly, are confided to a board, the members of which are elected by the various parishes contained in the metropolitan district. Cap. 126. For diminishing expense and delay in the Administration of Criminal Justice in certain cases. Offenders charged with simple felony where the thing stolen does not exceed 58. in value, may be dealt with summarily by a police magistrate, if they consent; and if the value exceeds 5s. it may be so dealt with on the offender pleading guilty; if he does not, the case must go for trial. Cap. 132. For facilitating the Erection of Dwelling-houses for the Working Classes. This, with some variation in detail, is for a similar purpose to that for Scotland, stated above. Cap. 133. For limiting the Liability of Members of certain Joint-Stock Companies. Enables Joint-Stock Companies to be formed, of which the individual liabilities are limited, but they must be registered, and the word "limited," must form the last word of the name of the company, and must always appear where the title is given. Revenue, 63,364,6057.; ExpenditureArmy and Ordnance, 24,177,3491.; Navy, 19,014,7087.; for all purposes, 84,505,7887.; Debt, 793,375,1997. Exports of British and Irish Produce, 95,688,0857. Emigration to North American Colonies, 17,966; to the United States, 103,414; to Australian Colonies and New Zealand, 52,309; to all other places, 3118: total, 176,807. Railway Traffic: Miles open, 8280; number of passengers, 118,595,135 traffic receipts, 21,507,599. Number of Paupers, 1,018,075. 1856. Jan. 31. The Queen, in opening parliament, announced that Russia had accepted as a basis for negotiation the proposals for a general peace put forth by Austria, with the sanction of the other allied powers. Feb. 1. Protocol signed at Vienna by the representatives of Russia, France, Great Britain, Austria, and Turkey, accepting the Austrian propositions as a basis for peace. Feb. 1. Despatch from general Codrington announcing that the destruction of the Sebastopol docks had been completely effected. Feb. 5. A new Order of Merit, "The Victoria Cross," instituted, the decoration of which is to be conferred upon inferior officers and privates in the army and navy for distinguished gallantry. Feb. 7. The governor-general of India announced by a proclamation the deposition of the king of Oude, and the annexation of his territory to the British possessions in India. The king was allowed a pension of 120,000l. a year. Feb. 25. The Peace Conferences opened at Paris, attended by the representatives of France, Austria, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. Prussia was subsequently admitted. Feb. 29. Suspension of hostilities in the Crimea. March 16. Birth of the Prince Imperial of France. On this occasion the emperor issued an amnesty in favour of upwards of a thousand political exiles. April 25. The Queen reviewed a fleet of more than 300 men-of-war at Portsmouth. At the commencement of the review the fleet extended in an unbroken line of anchorage for about five miles. April 29. Peace with Russia officially proclaimed by a herald in the streets of London. May 3. An amnesty granted to political exiles, in virtue of which Frost, Williams, Jones, and Smith O'Brien, were permitted to return to England. On the 11th of November a free pardon was granted by the queen to these political offenders. May 29. Public celebration of the conclusion of peace. Magnificent fire-works in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. tion took place. A general illumina June 1. Disastrous inundations in France. For the relief of the sufferers subscriptions were raised in England to the amount of more than 40, 0007. July 12. Evacuation of the Crimea by the allied troops. Oct. 8. Seizure by the Chinese authorities of a lorcha, or small trading vessel, which bore the British flag. This led to hostilities between Great Britain and China. Oct. 13. Surrender of the city of Herat to the Persians, when the governor and his family were put to death. The Persians having thus violated a treaty to which Great Britain was a APPENDIX. party, war was proclaimed against Persia at Calcutta on the 1st of November. Oct. 24. Canton attacked by the British, who bombarded it on the 3rd of November. Oct. 27. Railway opened between Montreal and Toronto. Nov. 22. An insurrection in Sicily suppressed by the military. Dec. 9. Bushire, in the Persian Gulf, taken by the British expedition. Dec. 10. Mr. Sheepshanks presented to the nation his collection of drawings and paintings. The collection has been placed in the South Kensington Museum. Dec. 16. The Queen went to Spithead to receive from the representative of the United States government the Arctic discovery ship Resolute, which having been abandoned in the ice by its crew, was recovered by an American ship, and having been completely repaired by the American government, was now restored to Great Britain. LEGISLATION. SESSION 19 & 20 VICTORIE. Cap. 47. An Act for the Incorporation and Regulation of Joint-Stock Companies and other One of the most important Associations. parts of this Act is that relating to the winding-up of companies. Cap. 64. To Repeal certain Statutes not in use. 112 statutes, most of them obsolete, but hitherto unrepealed, are at once swept away. Cap. 65. To encourage the providing of Improved Dwellings for the Labouring Classes in Ireland. Cap. 69. To render more effectual the Police in Counties and Boroughs of England and Wales. This empowers the justices assembled in quarter sessions to adopt and enforce a more general system than had hitherto taken place; the divisional police of a county was to be consolidated, unless the secretary of state authorizes a division; and county constables are empowered to act in any borough within the county; and boroughs may be consolidated with the county for the purposes of police. Cap. 83. To provide for the better Defence of the Coasts of the Realm, and the more ready Manning of the Navy, and to transfer to the Admiralty the Management of the Coast Guard. The coast guard men are to have the privilege of making allotments of wages, and of in the navy, and the pensions, as officers are to have the training of the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers. seamen Cap. 98. To amend the Laws relating to the Revenue, 68,008,6231.; ExpenditureArmy, including Ordnance, 24, 749, 8257.; Navy, 16,013,995.; for all purposes, 78,113,0351.; Debt, 807,981,7887. Exports of British and Irish Produce, 115,826,9487. Emigration-to North American Colonies, 16,378; to the United States, 111,837; to Australian Colonies and New Zealand, 44, 584; to all other places, 3,755 total, 176,554. Railway Traffic: Miles open, 8, 707; number of passengers, 129,347,592; traffic receipts, 23,165,4911. Number of Paupers, 1,030,823. 1857. [This year was remarkable for the Mutiny of the Native Army in British India, which was not finally subdued till 1858. It may be convenient to give the events connected with this alarming outbreak under a separate head in each of these years, after the general Chronology.] Feb. 3. Parliament opened by commission. March 3. A motion proposed by Mr. Cobden censuring the government for the war with China, was carried, after four nights' discussion in the House of Commons, by 263 to 247 votes. March 3. Treaty of peace between Great Britain and Persia, signed at Paris by lord Cowley and Ferukh-Khan. March 3. Election of Mr. Buchanan as president of the United States of North America. March 13. The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought forward his budget, which contained proposals for the remission of taxation to the extent of eleven millions. March 14. Treaty signed at Copenhagen for The share of the abolition of the Sound dues. indemnity money payable by Great Britain was 1,125,2067. March 19. Prince Albert, accompanied by the prince of Wales, opened new schools in In the course of his Golden Lane, Barbican. answer to the address presented to him, he said, "You have not been content with the bare attempt to force, perhaps upon unwilling recipients, a boon, the value of which might not be appreciated, but you have wisely sought to work upon the convictions of the parents of the children you wish to benefit by extending your assistance only to those who, by a small contribution out of their hardly-won earnings, have proved that they are awake to a sense of the vast importance it is to their offspring that the means of being fitted to pass successfully through life, and, by honest industry, to better their condition, should be brought within their reach." March 21. Parliament dissolved, and a new parliament summoned. April 21. Departure of the earl of Elgin on a special embassy to the emperor of China at Pekin. May 5. Prince Albert opened the Exhibition In addressof Art Treasures at Manchester. geing the committee, he remarked on the " nerous feeling of mutual confidence and good |