CEPHALONIA.
The disturbances which prevailed in 1848 were continued in 1849, and revived again and again, fitfully, when they seemed to have been suppressed. An attempt was made to assassinate the governor of the island, and a soldier was shot by his side, and several others near him were wounded. Murder and incendiarism prevailed everywhere, and open revolt where there was any chance of even temporary success. The same cause which existed in 1848—the desire for annexation to Greece—produced these proceedings; but certain banditti chiefs took advantage of the feeling, in order to promote their own predatory designs. The musket and the gallows suppressed these outrages. The public trials of the chief offenders betrayed a state of dishonesty, treachery, treason, and bloodthirstiness among the population generally, disgraceful to the Greek race.
The colonial history of the British empire during this year involved no other incidents that were remarkable—in general it was discontented and disturbed; but the energy of the military and civil officers, and the fidelity and valour of the troops, subjugated all opposition, or held adverse interests at bay, and kept down disaffection, until future opportunities allowed of more signal success. India was the scene of more striking events, which had their full share of peril and glory.