The 6th of August was signalized by a visit to the queen on the part of the Emperor and Empress of the French. The visit was paid at Osborne, and was generally believed to have been a political one, having for its object some agreement between the governments of England and France in reference to their general policy, which had for some time been so divergent.
Two ambassadors from Siam arrived in November, and attracted great notice.
The great event of the years 1857-8 to her majesty and the court was the marriage of the Princess Royal of England with the heir-presumptive to the Prussian throne. “A treaty” for this purpose was concluded between her majesty and the King of Prussia, which was signed at London on the 18th of January, 1857. The ratifications were exchanged in London on 18th of January, 1858. The solemnization of the marriage subsequently took place in the chapel of St. James’ Palace, exciting deep and universal interest among the people.
ART EXHIBITION IN MANCHESTER.
The exhibition in the Hyde Park Crystal Palace in 1851 suggested various other enterprises of a similar kind. Those of Paris and Dublin were especially brilliant. In Manchester, however, a plan was devised by which the glories of all those exhibitions were surpassed. The scheme was to gather the art treasures of the United Kingdom, and present them together before the public. A building suitable to the purpose was erected. It was not only not beautiful itself, but was exceedingly unsightly. It was, however, spacious, convenient, and so lighted as conduced to effect in an artistic display. The collection of productions was estimated, in money value, at six millions sterling. Amidst this glorious arrangement of works of genius, none probably attracted so much attention as those of MacDowell, the Irish sculptor. His chef-d’ouvre, the “Death of Virginia,” occupied the centre of the exhibition, and in this advantageous position commanded extraordinary admiration. On the day of opening the Prince Consort inaugurated the auspicious occasion. Her majesty and many foreign princes afterwards visited it. All these rich trophies of genius were restored without injury to their owners, except a very valuable China vase, which was knocked down and broken.
CHAPTER LXX.
VICTORIA. 1858-1859
Foreign Affairs..... Various important transactions in Asia..... Breaking out of a new War with China..... Violation of treaty by Japan..... Russian designs upon that Empire..... Russian encroachments upon China..... French attempts at conquests in Cochin China..... France: Rivalry with England; irritating language of the French Press; ostensible alliance and co-operation with England; real jealousy and contravention of British interests and policy; dispute about a Ship Canal across the Isthmus of Suez; also concerning electric communication between England and France..... Commercial intercourse..... Supposed designs of France in Northern Africa..... Attempt to Assassinate the Emperor of the French, and effect upon the alliance with England..... War between France and Austria, and its influence upon English public opinion and policy..... Naples..... Prussia: closer alliance with England..... Spain: war with Morocco; English protests..... Hanover: the Stade dues..... United States of America..... Relations with the South American States..... Colonies: India, Borneo, Australia, New Zealand, African Settlements, British Colombia, Jamaica..... Ireland..... Home: the Court, National Finance, Commerce..... General Home Polities and Prospects..... Parliamentary Affairs..... Conclusion of this History.