CHAPTER XXXI.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

Mr Lowe's Budget--The Surplus disappears--Mr. Lowe creates a Surplus and proposes Remissions of Taxes--Cost of the Abyssinian Expedition--Sir Stafford Northcote's Explanation--The Endowed Schools' Bill--Speech of Mr. Forster--The Commissioners--Religious Tests at the Universities--Sir John Coleridge's Bill--Sir Roundell Palmer's Speech--The Bill passes through the Commons--It is rejected by the Lords--The Mayor of Cork--The O'Sullivan Disability Bill--Mr O'Sullivan resigns--The Bill dropped--Life Peerages--Lord Malmesbury's Speech--Fenianism in Ireland--Deaths of Lord Derby and Lord Gough--European Affairs: the Emperor prophesies Peace--The General Election--The _Senatus Consultum_--Official Candidates--The Revolution in Spain--Wanted a King--General Grant the President of the United States--The _Alabama_ Convention rejected 507