Captain Ross, who from May 29, 1829, had been employed in the Victory steamer on a fresh expedition to the Arctic Regions, at the expence of Sir Felix Booth, a rich distiller, arrived safely at Stromness on October 12th, on board the Isabella of Hull (formerly his own discovery ship), which picked him up in Prince Regent's Inlet on August 27th, he having finally abandoned his own ship thirteen months previously. He had a narrow escape of losing all his papers; for, after showing them at the Admiralty, he left them in a cab. Luckily, the cabman was honest, and the captain recovered them.
Parliament (the first reformed) met on January 29th, and it was not long before the more effective government of Ireland was brought on for discussion. A Bill for the suppression of disturbances in Ireland (or, as it was commonly called, "The Coercion Bill") was introduced into the House of Lords by Earl Grey, was read a first time on February 15th, and was passed there without a division on February 22nd. But it had a very warm time in the House of Commons, and it was not passed until March 29th. The Lords agreed with the amendments of the Commons, and it received the Royal Assent on April 2nd. It is 3 and 4 Gul. IV. c. 4, "An Act for the more effectual suppression of local Disturbances and dangerous Associations in Ireland." The Lord Lieutenant at once put the Act in force, with very good results. The more daring outrages diminished; for whereas the offences against the law, in eleven counties, were 472 in March, they were but 162 in May.
Two other Bills, which materially tended to the pacification of Ireland, were passed, and became law respectively on August 14th and 28th—3 and 4 Gul. IV. c. 37, "An Act to alter and amend the laws relating to the Temporalities of the Church in Ireland," and 3 and 4 Gul. IV. c. 79, "An Act to provide for the more impartial Trial of Offences in certain cases in Ireland."
The fashions of this year include two walking-dresses, one dinner, and one ball-dress, together with bonnets, a turban, a cap, and various modes of dressing the hair. (See preceding page.)
CHAPTER XVI.
1834.
Corporation commission — Curious advertisement — Discovery of treasure — Bribery at Liverpool — Duke of York's statue — Trades' unions — Skit thereon — Riot at Oldham — Unionist oath — Union meeting and monster petition — Its fate — Duke of Wellington made Chancellor of Oxford — The Princess Victoria's lover.
The first thing of importance in this year was the resumption of the sittings of the Corporation Commission, which was an inquiry into the Corporation of London. This object of envy has been several times attacked, sometimes partially despoiled; always threatened, yet always vigorous, it is the red rag of the Radical bull. This Commission did the usual thing—took evidence, and came to nought.
The year itself was very uneventful in social incidents, so that I must draw upon divers odds and ends illustrative of the times. Here is the advertisement of a particularly cool gentleman, culled from the first page of the Times, January 17th—