Chapter III: The Difficulties of a Young Sovereign

Decline in the Popularity of the Queen--Its Causes--Her Majesty Accused of Encouraging the Papists--Alleged Design to Assassinate the Monarch--Disloyal Toryism--Honourable Conduct of the Queen--Fatal Riots at Canterbury, owing to the Pretensions of John Nicholls Thom--Preparations for the Coronation--The Ceremony at Westminster Abbey--Incidents of the Day--Mismanagement at Coronations--Development of Steam Navigation and the Railway System--Prorogation of Parliament in August, 1838--Difficult Position of the Government--Rise of Chartism--Appearance of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli in the Political Arena--Failure of Mr. Disraeli’s First Speech--“Conservatives” and “Liberals”--Capture of Aden, in Southern Arabia--Wars with China, owing to the Smuggling of Opium into that Country by the Anglo-Indians--Troubles in Jamaica--Bill for Suspending the Constitution--Defeat and Resignation of the Melbourne Government--Ineffectual Attempt of Sir Robert Peel to Form a Cabinet--The Question of the Bedchamber Women--Reinstatement of the Melbourne Administration 35