Chapter XI: A Stop-Gap Administration

End of the Era of Compromise--Dawn of the new Epoch of Reform--Opening of Parliament by the Queen--The Queen’s Nervous Prostration at Osborne--Introduction of the Reform Bill--Hostility of the House of Commons--Dissentient Liberals in “the Cave of Adullam”--Defeat of the Reform Bill--Resignation of the Ministry--Lord Derby forms a Cabinet--His attempted Coalition with the Whig Dukes--Domestic Policy during the Session--The House of Commons and the Rinderpest--Another Prosperity Budget--Large Remissions of Taxation--Coercing Ireland--The White Terror in Jamaica--Marriage of the Princess Helena--The Financial Embarrassment of the Princess Louis of Hesse--The Queen Intercedes with Prussia on behalf of Hesse-Darmstadt--The Queen’s Gift to Mr. Peabody--The Queen’s Visit to Aldershot--The Foundation of the Albert Medal--Marriage of the Princess Mary of Cambridge--The Queen’s first Telegram to the President of the United States--The Queen’s Visit to Aberdeen and Wolverhampton 252

CHAPTER XII.

THE TIDE OF DEMOCRACY.

Stemming the Tide of Democracy--Lord Derby and Reform--The Reform League--The Riots in Hyde Park--Cowing the Ministry--The Adullamites--Mr. Disraeli’s Resolutions--Crises in the Cabinet--The Ten Minutes Bill--The Government Measure--Mr. Gladstone’s Alterations--A Leap in the Dark--The Movement in Favour of German Unity--The Austro-Prussian War--The Luxembourg Question--Execution of the Emperor Maximilian--Mr. Disraeli’s Budget--Academic Discussions of Irish Grievances--Fenian Outrages at Manchester and Clerkenwell--Rattening at Sheffield--Prince Arthur Passes his Military Examination--Illness of the Princess of Wales--Founding of the Royal Albert Hall--The Sultan in England--Abdul Aziz, K.G.--Visit of the Queen to the Duchess of Roxburghe--Dr. Macleod at Balmoral--Prince Arthur ill of Smallpox--The Queen Keeping Hallowe’en--Her Majesty Visits Lady Palmerston 269