Chapter XIV: THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (continued)

The Bedchamber Crisis--Peel's Explanation--The Whigs return to
Office--Mr. Shaw Lefevre is elected Speaker--Education Scheme--It
is carried in a modified form--Post Office Reform--Rowland Hill's
Pamphlet--The Proposal scouted by the Authorities--Select Committee
appointed--The Scheme becomes Law--Cabinet Changes--Political
Demonstrations--Announcement of the Queen's Marriage--Lady
Flora Hastings--The Queen's Speech--Insertion of the word
"Protestant"--Debate on the Prince's Precedence--His Income fixed
by the Commons--Stockdale _v._ Hansard--Stockdale's second and
third Actions--Stockdale and the Sheriffs committed--His fourth
and fifth Actions--Russell's Bill settles the Question--Other
Events of the Session--The Queen's Marriage--Oxford's Attempt
on her Life--His Trial for High Treason--Foreign Affairs--the
Opium Traffic--Commissioner Lin confiscates the Opium--Debates
in Parliament--Elliot's Convention--It is disapproved and
he is recalled--Renewal of the War--Capture of the Defences
of Canton--Sir Henry Pottinger assumes Command--Conclusion
of the War--The Syrian Crisis; Imminent Dissolution of the
Turkish Empire--The Quadrilateral Treaty--Lord Palmerston's
Difficulties--The Wrath of M. Thiers--Lord Palmerston's
Success--Fall of Acre--Termination of the Crisis--Weakness
of the Ministry--The Registration Bills--Lord Howick's
Amendment--The Budget--Peel's Vote of Censure is carried--The
Dissolution--Ministers are defeated in both Houses--Resignation of
the Melbourne Ministry 461