Chapter XVIII: Revolution

At Osborne--Beginnings of Revolution--The Reform Banquets in Paris--Lola Montes and the King of Bavaria--Downfall of Louis Philippe’s Government--Flight of the King--Establishment of the Second Republic--The Queen and the Orleans Family--The Chartist Movement--Its Secret History--Its Leaders--The Queen Retreats to Osborne--The Chartist Meeting at Kennington--London in Terror--The Duke of Wellington’s Precautions--Abortive Risings at Bonner’s Fields and in Seven Dials--Riots in the Large Towns--Collapse of Chartism--Ireland and the “Young Irelanders”--The Rebellion of “’48”--The Battle of the Cabbage Garden--Arrest of Smith O’Brien and the “Young Ireland” Leaders--Austria and Prussia in Anarchy--Flight of Metternich--The Berlin Mob and the King--Anxiety of the English Court--The Queen’s Correspondence with her Half-Sister--The Anglo-Spanish Quarrel--Sir H. Bulwer Expelled from Madrid--The Queen’s Indignation at Lord Palmerston--Conversation between the Queen and Lord John Russell--Palmerston’s Victory--The “Three Budget” Session--The Anti-Income-Tax Agitation--Blundering in Finance--“Scenes” in Parliament--Irish and Colonial Controversies--The Encumbered Estates Act--Repressive Legislation--Dawn of the Reform Agitation 322

CHAPTER XIX.

AT WORK AND PLAY.

The Queen’s Administrative Work--The Condition-of-England Question--The Court and the Working Classes--Royal Plans for Ameliorating the Lot of Labour--Threatened Attacks on the Queen--The Demagogues Abashed--A Royal-Hearted Speech--The Queen’s Private Correspondence--A Pension Fund for the Working Classes--Pauperism among Domestic Servants--Prince Albert’s Relief Plan--The Court at Osborne--Birth and Christening of the Princess Louise--Removal to Balmoral--The Queen at Kirk--A Royal Geologist--Sir Charles Lyell’s Anecdotes of the Royal Family--An Accident in the Solent--Prince Albert as a University Reformer--Death of Lord Melbourne and Lord George Bentinck 357