Page:The Annals of Our Time - Volume 1.djvu/76

NOVEMBER 20.—The Commander-in-chief, Lord Hill, censures Colonel Thomas and other officers for being present at the political dinner at Ashton-under-Lyne, where abusive language was used concerning the Queen. (See Nov. 30.)

—Murder of Rev. John Williams, missionary, in South Sea Islands.

23.—Meeting at Birmingham to protest against the introduction of Government police into the City.

—Special meeting of the Privy Council at Buckingham Palace, to hear the Queen intimate her intention of a allying herself in marriage with Prince of Saxe Coburg. "Precisely at 2," the Queen records in her Journal, "I went in. The room was full, but I hardly knew who was there. Lord Melbourne I saw looking kindly at me with tears in his eyes, but he was not near me. I then read my short declaration, I felt my hands shook, but I did not make one mistake. I felt more happy and thankful when it was over. Lord Lansdowne then rose, and, in the name of the Privy Council, asked that 'this most gracious and most welcome communication might be printed.' I then left the room—the whole thing not lasting above two or three minutes. The Duke of Cambridge came into the small library where I was standing, and wished me joy." The Royal declaration was in these words: "I have caused you to be summoned at the present time in order that I may acquaint you with my resolution in a matter which deeply concerns the welfare of my people and the happiness of my future life. It is my intention to ally myself in marriage with the Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. Deeply impressed with the solemnity of the engagement which I am about to contract, I have not come to this decision without mature consideration, nor without feeling a strong assurance that, with the blessing of Almighty God, it will at once secure my domestic felicity and serve the interests of my country. I have thought fit to make this resolution known to you at the earliest period, in order that you may be fully apprised of a matter so highly important to me and my kingdom, and which I persuade myself will be most acceptable to all my loving subjects." Eighty-three members of Council were present on this interesting occasion.

'24.—Abd-el-Kader proclaims war against the French in Algeria, and suddenly attacks their outposts. The immediate cause was said to be the recent expedition of the Duke of Orleans and Marshal Valée to the Iron Gates, through a portion of territory claimed by the Emir, but to which his title was doubtful.

29.—Lieut. Basil Gray, who commanded the military at Newport, gazetted to an unattached captaincy without purchase.

December 2.—In his address to the Congress, President Van Buren discusses at some length the unsettled question of the north-eastern boundary between the United States and the British possessions.

2.—Father Mathew, a Dominican friar, administers the temperance pledge in Limerick to a vast assembly. Thousands of poor people were on their knees, bareheaded, in Mallow-street, while the rev. father and two other clergymen were administering the pledges.

—Died, Frederick VI. King of Denmark, in the 72d year of his age, and 33d of his reign; succeeded by his son, Christian VIII.

—Died at her residence in Picardy-place, Edinburgh, Miss Innes of Stow, sister to the late Gilbert Innes, banker, whom she succeeded in a fortune estimated at not less than one million sterling.

3.—Inquest on the bodies of the ten rioters killed in the attack on the Westgate Arms Inn, Newport. Verdict, "That deceased came to their deaths through an act of justifiable homicide, by some persons unknown."

5.—A uniform postage-rate of fourpence per half-ounce on extra-metropolitan letters introduced, as preparatory to a penny rate. In the metropolitan district, the number posted rose from 39,000 to 60,000.

—At Bandon, O'Connell to-day was more than usually full of exuberant "loyalty:"—"We must be—we are—loyal to our young and lovely Queen. God bless her! (Tumultuous cheering.) We must be—we are—attached to the Throne, and to the lovely being by whom it is filled. She is going to be married! (Tremendous cheers from over thirty thousand persons congregated in the great area, and waving of handkerchiefs by hundreds of elegantly-dressed ladies, who crowded the hotel and other buildings.) I wish she may have as many children as my grandmother had—two-and-twenty! (Immense cheering and laughter.) God bless the Queen! I am a father, and a grandfather; and, in the face of Heaven, I pray with as much honesty and fervency for Queen Victoria, as I do for any one of my own progeny. The moment I heard of the daring and audacious menaces of the Tories towards the Sovereign, I promulgated, through the press, my feelings of detestation and my determination on the matter. Oh! if I be not greatly mistaken, I'd get, in one day, 500,000 brave Irishmen to defend the life, the honour, and the person of the beloved young lady by whom England's Throne is now filled. (Exulting and protracted cheers.) Let every man in the vast and multitudinous assembly stretched out before me, who is loyal to the Queen, and would defend her to the last, lift up his right hand. (The entire assembly responded to the appeal.) There are hearts in those hands. I tell you, that if necessity required, there would be swords in them!" (Great cheering.)

6.—The Emperor of China issues an edict (56)