Chapter XVI: A Distressful Country

The Irish Crisis--Famine and Free Trade--Evictions and Imports--Fiscal Policy and Small Holdings--Shocking Scenes among the Irish People--The Mistake of the Government--Lord John Russell’s Relief Measure Rejected by his Colleagues--An Autumnal Cabinet Meeting--Opening of Parliament--The Queen and the Distress--The Remedial Measures of the Government--Rival Schemes of the Protectionists--Lord George Bentinck’s Railway Subsidies Bill--A Rival Ministerial Scheme--The Attack on the Bank Act of 1844--The Currency Controversy--Peel on a Convertible Currency--The Effect of the Railway Mania--Blaming the Bank--The Education Question--Opposition of Dissenters--Colonisation and Emigration--Lord Lincoln’s Motion--Is Emigration a Remedy for a Redundant Population?--The Cabinet and the Ten Hours Bill--Mr. Fielden’s Victory--Opposition of Manufacturers--Evading the Act--The Budget--The Queen and the Duchy of Lancaster--Lord Campbell and the Queen--A Famous Duchy Dinner--Privy Councillors at “High Jinks”--Death of Lord Bessborough--Lord Clarendon Appointed Irish Viceroy--Death of O’Connell--Growing Weakness of the Cabinet--Prorogation of Parliament--Dissolution--The General Election--The State of Parties--Appalling Outrages in Ireland--Another Commercial Panic--Suspension of the Bank Act--The Queen and Sir Robert Peel--Parliament Summoned--A Coercion Bill for Ireland--Ireland and the Vatican--Lord Palmerston’s Correspondence with Lord Minto--Denunciations of the Queen’s Colleges--Projected Renewal of Diplomatic Relations with Rome--Lord Palmerston’s Objections--The Jews in Parliament--New Bishops--The Hampden Controversy--Baffled Heresy-hunters 272

CHAPTER XVII.

THE COURT AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Lord George Bentinck’s Imprudence--French Intrigues in Portugal--England and the Junta--A Vulgar Suspicion--The Duke of Wellington and National Defences--The Duke’s Threatened Resignation--The Queen Soothes Him--Famine in the Queen’s Kitchen--Royal Hospitalities--The Queen’s Country Dance--A German Impostor--Discovery of Chloroform--The Royal Visit to Cambridge--Prince Albert’s Installation as Chancellor of the University--Awkward Dons--Anecdotes of the Queen at Cambridge--Royalty and Heraldry--The Visit to Scotland--Highland Loyalty--A Desolate Retreat--Politics and Sport at Ardverikie--A New Departure in Foreign Policy--Lord Minto’s Mission--The Queen’s Views--Prince Albert’s Caution to Lord John Russell--The Queen’s Amusements at Ardverikie--A Regretful Adieu--Home Again 301