Page:History of the Kings and Queens of England.pdf/21

 VICTORIA I. Our present illustrious Queen is the sole offspring of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III., by the widow of the Prince of Leiningen. Victoria was born on the 24th of May, 1819, succeeded to the throne within a month after attaining the age of 18, on the death of her uncle, William IV., and was crowned on the 28th of June in the following year. The principal feature of the ceremony of the coronation, was a grand procession through the streets of London, attended by a large number of military, and ambassadors with their suites from all the courts of Europe and the United States. On this interesting occasion, people of all ages, sexes, conditions, professions, and trades, assembled to greet their youthful sovereign. The display of beauty, fashion, and wealth, surpassed every thing of the kind that was ever before known or recorded ; and the number of persons who witnessed the procession, from the palace in St. James's Park to Westminster Abbey, has been estimated at two millions,-the cheerful good humour, and enthusiasm for the young queen, which prevailed in this enormous multitude, giving promise of a happy and glorious reign.

The year 1838 also witnessed the completion of the railway from London to Birmingham, as well as another connecting Birmingham with Liverpool; by which gigantic and unparalleled undertakings, passengers, goods, and the mail bags, are conveyed a distance of more than 200 miles in 8 hours. The same year will also be memorable on account of several large steam-vessels having for the first time, crossed the stormy Atlantic, from England to New York, in safety, and with comparative comfort, in the short period of twelve days. In this year, also, an act was passed for the abolition of imprisonment for debt; and poor laws were established, and tithes abolished in Ireland.

In the year 1839, an Act was passed in the Houses of Parliament for a general reduction of postage duties, and the substitution of an uniform rate of one penny upon every half-ounce, irrespective of distance, instead of the high rates of postage then in existence, which greatly restricted