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