Chapter XX: THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (continued)

The Session of 1860--Debates on Nice and Savoy--Mr. Gladstone's
Budget--The French Commercial Treaty--The Paper Duties Bill--Lord
Palmerston's Motion of Inquiry--Mr. Gladstone's Resolution--Lord
John Russell's Reform Bill--Mr. James Wilson and Sir Charles
Trevelyan--The Defences of India and Great Britain--The Massacre
by the Druses--The French Expedition--China once more--Repulse on
the Peiho--Lord Elgin and Baron Gros--The Advance on Pekin--Capture
of the Taku Forts--The Summer Palace looted--Release of Mr.
Parkes--Lord Elgin decrees the Destruction of the Palace--The Treaty
of Peace--The Prince of Wales in Canada--Death of the Duchess of
Kent--The American Civil War--Election of Lincoln--Secession of
South Carolina--The Confederate States--The British Cabinet declares
Neutrality--Affair of the _Trent_--The Paper Duties Bill and the
Church Rates Bill--Sidney Herbert and the Volunteers 310