British Almanac and Companion

4. Serious disturbances at Nablous, in Syria, between the Mohammedans and the Christians.

6. Insurrection at Valencia, in Spain.

7. The Crimean Board of Inquiry holds its first sitting to-day in the boardroom of Chelsea Hospital.

9. General O'Donnell receives charge of the ministry of Foreign Affairs at Madrid, in the absence of General de Zabala, who is appointed to that ministry.

10. At the Cavan Special Commission, a verdict of guilty is returned against a man named Murphy, for the murder of Miss Hinds, near Bally connell, on October 12th last.

11. The Emperor of Russia visits Moscow, and in addressing his nobles and functionaries, announces the cessation of war, and his intention to promote industrial improvement.-The Senate of the United States refuses to admit the Free State Legislature of Kansas into the Union.

12. Grand banquet to the Members of the Congress at Paris. The Emperor proposed the following toast: To the Union so happily established by the Sovereigns. May it be durable; and it will be so, if it reposes on truth, justice, and the true and legitimate interest of the peoples.'

13. The bands commence to play in Kensington Gardens on Sunday afternoon, from four to six o'clock, by order of Sir Benjamin Hall.Vauxhall railway-station destroyed by fire.

16. Last meeting of the plenipotentiaries is held this day at Paris.

17. Dinner at the Mansion House to Mr. Dallas, the new American minister. An Italian named Foschini kills one of his countrymen, and wounds two others, in a quarrel at a restaurant in Rupert-street, Hay

market.

23. Great naval review at Portsmouth, in the presence of the Queen, Prince Albert, the members of both Houses of Parliament, and a vast concourse of persons from all parts of the kingdom. The review included upwards of 300 sail of men-of-war, with an aggregate tonnage of upwards of 150,000; carrying 3300 guns, and manned by 40,000 seamen. At the commencement of the review, the fleet extended in an unbroken line of anchorage for about five miles.

24. Some commotion raised in the streets of London by a pretended declaration of peace, under cover of which an umbrella-maker advertises his wares.

26. The terms of the Treaty of Peace published in the newspapers. 29. The newspapers announce that we understand it is definitely settled that the marriage of the Princess Royal with Prince William of Prussia will take place when Her Royal Highness shall have completed her seventeenth year.'-Official proclamation of peace at various places throughout the metropolis.

30. Dinner at the Mansion House to Lord Brougham and the Law Amendment Society.

May 2. Arrival of Baron Brunnow in London, on a special mission from the Emperor of Russia to Queen Victoria.

3. An amnesty granted to political exiles, in virtue of which Frost, Williams, Jones, and Smith O'Brien will be allowed to return to England. The Brazilian Chambers opened by the Emperor Don Pedro II., in a speech in which he expressed his determination to put down attempts to revive the trade in slaves.

7. Mr. Dallas, the new American minister, speaks at the festival of the Literary Fund, the Duke of Cambridge in the chair.-Count

Cavour gives explanations in the Turin Chamber of Deputies, in reference to the steps taken by him to bring the state of Italy under the notice of the conference at Paris.

9. Visit of Queen Victoria to the Crystal Palace, to inaugurate the model of the Scutari Monument, and the Peace Trophy.

13. Arrival at Spithead of the 'Tribune' screw-frigate, with Lord Dalhousie on board.

14. A Court of Proprietors of the East India Company sanction the proposal of the Directors to allow Lord Dalhousie a pension of 5000l. a-year, in consideration of hiseminent services.-The trial of William Palmer commenced to-day, at the Central Criminal Court, before Lord Chief Justice Campbell, Baron Alderson, and Mr. Justice Cresswell.

15. Mr. Charles Russell, late Chairman of the Great Western Railway Company, committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol. -Colonel Tulloch's health had given way under the fatigue and anxiety attending his exertions at the Chelsea Board of Inquiry, and he was unable to attend any more of its sittings.-In consequence of representations of the Archbishop of Canterbury and others, Lord Palmerston ordered the discontinuance of the Sunday bands in the parks.

19. Foundation-stone of the Royal Victoria Hospital at Hamble, on the Southampton Water, laid by Her Majesty.

20. At a meeting in Manchester, it was agreed to hold an Exhibition of the Art Treasures of the kingdom in Manchester, in 1857.

26. William Palmer convicted, after a trial of 11 days, of the wilful murder of J. P. Cook, and sentenced to death.

27. A warm discussion in the United States Senate, on the murderous attack by Senator Brooks, of South Carolina, on Senator Sumner, on account of a speech of Mr. Sumner's against slavery.-Civil war in Kansas between the Free-Soilers and the Pro-Slavery party.

29. Great demonstrations in celebration of peace. Magnificent fireworks were displayed at Hyde-Park, the Green-Park, Victoria-Park, and Primrose-Hill. A vast but orderly crowd promenaded the streets till past midnight, to view the illuminations and fireworks.

June 1. Disastrous inundations in France. The Emperor of the French visits Lyons, to assist in relieving the sufferers.

2. The first stone of Wellington College laid by the Queen.

6. Major-General Codrington promoted to the rank of lieutenantgeneral.

13. Death at Hull of Major H. L. Thompson, C.B., one of the defenders of Kars.-Public meeting at the Mansion House, to raise subscriptions for relief of the sufferers by the inundations in France. The subscriptions eventually amounted to about 43,000l.

14. Execution of William Palmer at Stafford, in presence of about 50,000 persons.-Baptism of the Imperial Prince at Notre Dame.

15. Arrival at Liverpool of Mr. Crampton, British minister at Washington.

16. Arrival of General Sir W. Williams at Dover.

July 9. Public entry of the Guards into London, on their return from the Crimea.

12. The Allies evacuate the Crimea.

14. Coup d'Etât in Madrid. General O'Donnell dictator.

18. Display of the Great Fountains at the Crystal Palace, in presence of Her Majesty, and about 20,000 visitors.-The Sussex wing of the Royal Free Hospital opened to-day.

19. Trial and conviction of William Dove, for the poisoning of his wife. Sentence of death was pronounced.

22. Earl Granville appointed ambassador-extraordinary, to attend the coronation of the Emperor of Russia.

23. The opposition to O'Donnell's government in Spain is subdued by force of arms.

24. Sir Edmund Lyons raised to the peerage, as Baron Lyons of Christchurch, in the County of Southampton.

26. Sir William Williams appointed Commandant of Woolwich.Dr. Rae and his companions are declared to be entitled to the reward of 10,000l. offered by Government to any party or parties who would first succeed in ascertaining the fate of Sir John Franklin's expedition.

August 1. Arrival in London of General Codrington and suite from the Crimea.-Great destruction of life and property at Salonica from fire, occasioned by an explosion of gunpowder.—Admiral Sir C. Napier visits St. Petersburg and Cronstadt, and is courteously received.

9. Execution of Dove for the murder of his wife.

20. Arrival of the Queen of Oude and suite in England, to prosecute a claim against the East India Company.

25. Dinner to the Guards in the Music Hall at the Royal Surrey Gardens.

September 1. Sunday preaching in Victoria-Park prohibited by Sir B. Hall. The Queen and her household are at Balmoral.-A sword presented to Lord Cardigan at a public breakfast at Leeds.-Death of Sir Richard Westmacott, sculptor, aged 82.

4. Stoppage of the Royal British Bank.-Great distress in Madeira from the ravages of cholera; many of the landed proprietors on the island have been reduced to poverty, owing to the failure of the vines since 1851.-Presentation to Mr. Roebuck, M.P., at a public dinner of his constituents in Sheffield. The amount presented was 1100 guineas. -At an extra session of the United States Congress, the Army Appropriation Bill was passed without the Kansas proviso, which means that the Pro-Slavery Party have gained a victory.

7. Coronation of Alexander II., Emperor of Russia, at Moscow. Great festivities in Moscow on the occasion.-Disturbances in the canton or principality of Neufchatel, between the royalist, or Prussian party, and the federalist, or Swiss party.

8. Miss Nightingale reaches home. Her neighbours have made a small subscription to present her with a handsome writing-desk, with a silver plate bearing a suitable inscription.

11. A child near Weymouth is killed in consequence of 'black drop' (containing opium) being given instead of 'black draught,' by a boy in a chemist's shop. Numerous cases of similar fatal results from carelessness on the part of persons selling drugs have recently occurred.

15. International Philanthropic Congress held at Brussels, continued till the 19th.-A procession through the streets of London, and a meeting on Primrose Hill, to welcome John Frost on his return from banishment.

24. A testimonial presented by the Licensed Victuallers and their friends to the Hon. H. F. Berkeley, M.P., at Bristol, for his parlia mentary exertions in favour of their interests. The testimonial amounted to upwards of 1000 guineas.

26. Six men suffocated in a spirit-vat at Worcester, from foul gas, while the vat was being cleaned out.

October 3. Mr. Crampton, late British minister at Washington, is made a K.C.B.

6. The Prince of Wales visits various places in the west of England, in company of his tutor Mr. Gibbs.-The state of the money-market in Paris excites great uneasiness,

7. A British squadron, consisting of the 'Conqueror' and 'Duke of Wellington,' with two corvettes and a despatch steamer, is at Ajaccio, in Corsica. They are intended for Naples, if required, to protect British interests there.

13. An eclipse of the moon, nearly total. The state of the atmosphere was particularly favourable for observing the progress of the eclipse.-Intelligence received that the Emperor of Japan has opened two ports in that empire (Nagasaki and Hakodadi) to commerce of all nations.

15. Earthquake in the Mediterranean, especially in the islands of Candia and Sicily; the shocks felt throughout Asia Minor, and as far west as Malta.

19. Eight persons killed, and about 30 persons seriously injured, in consequence of a false alarm of fire raised in the Music Hall of Surrey Gardens, when about 9,000 persons were in the hall attending a religious service conducted by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon.

22. Annual Meeting of the United Kingdom Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic, held in the New Free-Trade Hall, Manchester. Sir W. C. Trevelyan, bart., in the chair.

31. Grand Banquet to Crimean soldiers in the Corn-Exchange, Edinburgh. The Lord Provost in the chair.

November 1. A change of ministry has taken place at Constantinople. Redschid Pasha has been re-appointed the principal minister of the Porte, indicating a restoration of the influence of the British ambassador.-Robson, a clerk of the Crystal Palace Company, sentenced to transportation for twenty years for forgery of the Company's bonds. For surreptitiously selling them for his own advantage, he received an additional sentence of fourteen years' transportation, but the terms are to run concurrently.

3. Collision on the London and North Western Railway. Numerous railway accidents have been reported of late.

11. Rumours of disagreement between the English and French Governments on the question of the delay of Russia to evacuate the Bessarabian territory. Austria, with consent of England and Turkey, continues, in consequence, the occupation of the principalities, and some English ships continue in the Turkish waters.

1855.

Oct.

XV. NECROLOGICAL TABLE

OF LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ETC.

5. Mitchell, Sir T. L., Australian explorer
29. Stuart-Wortley, Lady Emmeline, poetess, &c.

Nov. 13. Hardiman, Michael, Irish antiquarian.
19. Vörösmarty, Michael, Hungarian poet
24. Molé, Count, French statesman
27. Mickiewicz, Adam, Polish poet
28. Thomson, Rev. James, general literature.
Dec.
3. Montgomery, Rev. Robert, poet and preacher
5. Meier, M. H. E., German philologist, &c.
6. Swainson, William, naturalist.

18. Rogers, Samuel, poet.

20. Cubitt, Thomas, engineer and builder