CHAPTER XV.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

Peel's Second Cabinet--Prorogation of Parliament--Growing Demand for Free Trade--Mr. Villiers--His First Motion for the Repeal of the Corn Laws--The Manchester Association--Bright and Cobden--Opposition of the Chartists--Growth of the Association--The Movement spreads to London--Renewal of Mr. Villiers' Motion--Formation of the Anti-Corn Law League--Its Pamphlets and Lectures--Ebenezer Elliott--The Pavilion at Manchester--Mr. Villiers' Third Motion--Want in Ireland--The Walsall Election--Depression of Trade--Peel determines on a Sliding Scale--His Corn Law--Its Cold Reception--Progress of the Measure--The Budget--The Income Tax--Reduction of Custom Duties--Peel's Speech on the New Tariff--Discussions on the Bill--Employment of Children in the Coal Mines--Evidence of the Commission--Lord Ashley's Bill--Further Attempts on the Life of the Queen--Sir Robert Peel's Bill on the subject--Differences with the United States--The Right of Search--The Canadian Boundary--The Macleod Affair--Lord Ashburton's Mission--The First Afghan War: Sketch of its Course--Russian Intrigue in the East--Auckland determines to restore Shah Sujah--Triumphant Advance of the Army of the Indus--Surrender of Dost Mohammed--Sale and the Ghilzais--The Rising in Cabul--Murder of Burnes--Treaty of 11th of December--Murder of Macnaghten--Treaty of January 1st--Annihilation of the Retreating Force--Irresolution of Auckland--His Recall--Disasters in the Khyber Pass--Pollock at Peshawur--Position of Affairs at Jelalabad--Resistance determined upon--Approach of Akbar Khan--The Earthquake--Pollock in the Khyber--Sale's Victory--Ellenborough's Proclamation--Votes of Thanks--Ellenborough orders Retirement--The Prisoners--They are saved--Reoccupation of Cabul--Ellenborough's Proclamation--The Gate of Somnauth 479