Chapter XXXV: Two Little Wars and a “penal Dissolution.”

The Queen’s New Year Greeting to Napoleon III.--A Gladstone-Disraeli Coalition--A Scene in the Carlton Club--Mr. Disraeli’s Attack on Lord Palmerston’s Foreign Policy--The Queen Consents to Reduce the Income Tax--A Fallacious Budget, with Imaginary Remissions--The Persian War--General Outram’s Victories--Unpopularity of the War--Making War without Consulting Parliament--The Rupture with China--A “Prancing Proconsul”--The Bombardment of Canton--Defeat of Lord Palmerston, and his Appeal to the Country--A Penal Dissolution--Abortive Coalition between the Peelites and Tories--Mr. Gladstone and the Intriguers--Split in the Peelite Party--Palmerston’s Victory at the Polls--The Rout of the Manchester School--The Lesson of the Election--Opening of the New Parliament--The Work of the Session--Mr. Gladstone’s Obstruction of the Divorce Bill--The Settlement of the Neufchâtel Difficulty--The Question of the Principalities--Visit of the French Emperor to the Queen 699

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE INDIAN MUTINY.

The Centenary of Plassey--Rumours of Rebellion--Causes of the Mutiny--The Annexation of Oudh--Lord Dalhousie’s Indian Policy--Its Disturbing Effect on the Minds of the Natives--The Royal Family of Delhi--The Hindoo “Sumbut”--The Discontent of the Bengal Army--The Grievances of the Sepoy--The Greased Cartridges--The Mystery of the “Chupatties”--Mutiny of the Garrison at Meerut--The March to Delhi--Sir Henry Lawrence at Lucknow--The Tragedy of Cawnpore--Death of the Commander-in-Chief--Who took Delhi?--Sir John Lawrence in the Punjab--The Saviour of India--Lord Canning at Calcutta--First Relief of Lucknow--Despatch of Sir Colin Campbell--Second Relief of Lucknow--Savage Fighting at the Secunder-baugh--The Queen’s Letter to Sir Colin Campbell--His Retreat to Cawnpore--His Management of the Campaign--Windham’s Defeat at the Pandoo River--Sir Colin Campbell’s Victory over the Gwalior Army 720