Chapter I: THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (continued). PAGE

The Papal Aggressions--The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill--Mr.
Locke King's Motion on County Franchise--Resignation of
the Government--The Great Exhibition--The President of the
French Republic and the Assembly--Preparations for the _Coup
d'État_--The Barricades--The _Plébiscite_--Weakness of the
Russell Administration--Independence of Lord Palmerston--The Queen's
Memorandum--Dismissal of Palmerston--The Militia Bill--Russell is
turned out--The Derby Ministry--The General Election--Defeat of the
Conservatives--Death and Funeral of the Duke of Wellington--The
Aberdeen Administration--Mr. Gladstone's Budget--The Eastern
Question again--The Diplomatic Wrangle--The Sultan's Firman--Afif
Bey's Mission--Difficulties in Montenegro--England and France--The
Menschikoff Mission--Lord Stratford de Redcliffe's Instructions--The
Czar and Sir Hamilton Seymour--Menschikoff at Constantinople--The
English and French Fleets--Arrival of Lord Stratford de
Redcliffe--Menschikoff's ulterior Demands--Action of the Powers 1