CONTENTS.
| [CHAPTER XVI.] THE ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES | |
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| Effect of Prussian Victories on English Opinion—Sudden Changes of Popular Impulse—Demand for ArmyReform—Opposition to the Princess Louise’s Dowry—Opening of Parliament—The Army Bill—Abolitionof Purchase—Opposition of the Tory Party—Mr. Disraeli Throws Over his Followers—Obstructingthe Purchase Bill—Mr. Cardwell’s Threat—Obstruction in the House of Lords—A Bold Use of theQueen’s Prerogative—The Wrath of the Peers—They Pass a Vote of Censure on the Government—TheBallot Bill—The Peers Reject the Ballot Bill—The University Tests Bill—The Trades Union Bill—ItsDefects—The Case of Purchon v. Hartley—The Licensing Bill and its Effect on Parties—Local GovernmentReform—Mr. Lowe’s Disastrous Budget—The Match Tax—Ex luce lucellum—Withdrawal of theBudget—The Washington Treaty and the Queen—Lord Granville’s Feeble Foreign Policy—His Failureto Mediate between France and Germany—Bismarck’s Contemptuous Treatment of English Despatches—VæVictis!—The German Terms of Peace—Asking too Much and Taking too Little—Mr. Gladstone’sEmbarrassments—Decaying Popularity of the Government—The Collier Affair—Effect of the Communeon English Opinion—Court Life in 1871—Marriage of the Princess Louise—The Queen Opens the AlbertHall—The Queen at St. Thomas’s Hospital—Prince Arthur’s Income—Public Protests and IrritatingDiscussions—The Queen’s Illness—Sudden Illness of the Prince of Wales—Growing Anxiety of thePeople—Alarming Prospects of a Regency—Between Life and Death—Panic in the Money Market—HopefulBulletins—Convalescence of the Prince—Public Sympathy with the Queen—Her Majesty’sLetter to the People | [385] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] THE “ALABAMA” CLAIMS | |
| Thanksgiving Day—The Procession—Behaviour of the Crowd—Scene in St. Paul’s—Decorations and Illuminations—Letterfrom Her Majesty—Attack on the Queen—John Brown—The Queen’s Speech—TheAlabama Claims—The “Consequential Damages”—Living in a Blaze of Apology—Story of the “IndirectClaims”—The Arbitrators’ Award—Sir Alexander Cockburn’s Judgment—Passing of the Ballot Act—TheScottish Education Act—The Licensing Bill—Public Health Bill—Coal Mines Regulation Bill—TheArmy Bill—Admiralty Reforms—Ministerial Defeat on Local Taxation—Starting of the Home GovernmentAssociation in Dublin—Assassination of Lord Mayo—Stanley’s Discovery of Livingstone—Dr.Livingstone’s Interview with the Queen—Her Majesty’s Gift to Mr. Stanley—Death of Dr. NormanMacleod—The Japanese Embassy—The Burmese Mission—Her Majesty at Holyrood Palace—Death ofHer Half-Sister | [414] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] GOVERNMENT UNDER DIFFICULTIES | |
| A Lull Before the Storm—Dissent in the Dumps—Disastrous Bye-Elections—The Queen’s Speech—TheIrish University Bill—Defeat of the Government—Resignation of the Ministry—Mr. Disraeli’s Failureto Form a Cabinet—The Queen and the Crisis—Lord Derby as a Possible Premier—Mr. GladstoneReturns to Office—Power Passes to the House of Lords—Grave Administration Scandals—The ZanzibarMail Contract—Misappropriation of the Post Office Savings Banks’ Balances—Mr. Gladstone Reconstructshis Ministry—The Financial Achievements of his Administration—The Queen and the Princeof Wales—Debts of the Heir Apparent—The Queen’s Scheme for Meeting the Prince’s Expenditureon her Behalf—The Queen and Foreign Decorations—Death of Napoleon III.—The Queen at theEast End—The Blue-Coat Boys at Buckingham Palace—The Coming of the Shah—AstoundingRumours of his Progress through Europe—The Queen’s Reception of the Persian Monarch—How theShah was Entertained—His Departure from England—Marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh—PublicEntry of the Duchess into London | [431] |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] THE CONSERVATIVE REACTION | |
| Questions of the Recess—The Dissenters and the Education Act—Mr. Forster’s Compromise—The NonconformistRevolt—Mr. Bright Essays Conciliation—Sudden Popularity of Mr. Lowe—His “Anti-puritanicNature”—Mr. Chamberlain and the Dissidence of Dissent—Decline of the Liberal Party—Signsof Bye-elections—A Colonial Scandal—The Canadian Pacific Railway—Jobbing the Contract—Actionof the Dominion Parliament—Expulsion of the Macdonald Ministry—The Ashanti War—Howit Originated—A Short Campaign—The British in Coomassie—Treaty with King Koffee—TheOpposition and the War—Skilful Tactics—Discontent among the Radical Ranks—Illness of Mr. Gladstone—ASick-bed Resolution—Appeal to the Country—Mr. Gladstone’s Address—Mr. Disraeli’s Manifesto—LiberalDefeat—Incidents of the Election—“Villadom” to the Front—Mr. Gladstone’s Resignation—Mr.Disraeli’s Working Majority—The Conservative Cabinet—The Surplus of £6,000,000—What willSir Stafford do with it?—Dissensions among the Liberal Chiefs—Mr. Gladstone and the Leadership—TheQueen’s Speech—Mr. Disraeli and the Fallen Minister—The Dangers of Hustings Oratory—Mr.Ward Hunt’s “Paper Fleet”—The Last of the Historic Surpluses—How Sir S. Northcote Disposed ofit—The Hour but not the Man—Mr. Cross’s Licensing Bill—The Public Worship Regulation Bill—ACuriously Composed Opposition—Mr. Disraeli on Lord Salisbury—The Scottish Patronage Bill—AcademicDebates on Home Rule—The Endowed Schools Bill—Mr. Stansfeld’s Rating Bill—Bill for Consolidatingthe Factory Acts—End of the Session—The Successes and Failures of the Ministry—Prince Bismarck’sContest with the Roman Catholic Church—Arrest of Count Harry Arnim—Mr. Disraeli’s Apology toPrince Bismarck—Mr. Gladstone’s Desultory Leadership—“Vaticanism”—Deterioration in Society—AnUnopposed Royal Grant—Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Birmingham—Withdrawalof the Duchess of Edinburgh from Court—A Dispute over Precedence—Visit of the Czar to England—Reviewof the Ashanti War Soldiers and Sailors—The Queen on Cruelty to Animals—Sir TheodoreMartin’s Biography of the Prince Consort—The Queen tells the Story of its Authorship | [457] |
| [CHAPTER XX.] EMPRESS OF INDIA | |
| Mr. Disraeli recognises Intellect—Lord Hartington Liberal Leader—The Queen’s Speech—Lord Hartington’s“Grotesque Reminiscences”—Mr. Cross’s Labour Bills—The Artisans’ Dwellings Act—Mr. Plimsolland the “Ship-knackers”—Lord Hartington’s First “Hit”—The Plimsoll Agitation—Surrender of theCabinet—“Strangers” in the House—The Budget—Rise of Mr. Biggar—First Appearance of Mr.Parnell—The Fugitive Slave Circular—The Sinking of the Yacht Mistletoe—The Loss of the Vanguard—Purchaseof the Suez Canal Shares—The Prince of Wales’s Visit to India—Resignation of LordNorthbrook—Appointment of Lord Lytton as Viceroy of India—Outbreak of the Eastern Question—TheAndrassy Note—The Berlin Memorandum—Murder of French and German Consuls at Salonica—LordDerby Rejects the Berlin Memorandum—Servia Declares War on Turkey—The BulgarianRevolt Quenched in Blood—The Sultan Dethroned—Opening of Parliament—“Sea-sick of the SilverStreak”—Debates on the Eastern Question—Development of Obstruction by Mr. Biggar and Mr.Parnell—The Royal Titles Bill—Lord Shaftesbury and the Queen—The Queen at Whitechapel—ADoleful Budget—Mr. Disraeli becomes Earl of Beaconsfield—The Prince Consort’s Memorial at Edinburgh—Mr.Gladstone and the Eastern Question—The Servian War—The Constantinople Conference—TheTories Manufacture Failure for Lord Salisbury—Death of Lady Augusta Stanley—Proclamationof the Queen as Empress at Delhi | [482] |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] THE REIGN OF JINGOISM | |
| Opening of Parliament—Sir Stafford Northcote’s Leadership—The Prisons Bill—Mr. Parnell’s Policy ofScientific Obstruction—The South Africa Confederation Bill—Mr. Parnell’s Bout with Sir StaffordNorthcote—A Twenty-six Hours’ Sitting—The Budget—The Russo-Turkish Question—Prince Albert’sEastern Policy—Opinion at Court—The Sentiments of Society—The Feeling of the British People—Outbreakof War—Collapse of Turkey—The Jingoes—The Third Volume of the “Life of the Prince Consort”—The“Greatest War Song on Record”—The Queen’s Visit to Hughenden—Early Meeting of Parliament—Mr.Layard’s Alarmist Telegrams—The Fleet Ordered to Constantinople—Resignation of LordCarnarvon—The Russian Terms of Peace—Violence of the War Party—The Debate on the War Vote—TheTreaty of San Stefano—Resignation of Lord Derby—Calling Out the Reserves—Lord Salisbury’sCircular—The Indian Troops Summoned to Malta—The Salisbury-Schouvaloff Agreement—Lord Salisbury’sDenials—The Berlin Congress—The Globe Disclosures—The Anglo-Turkish Convention—Occupationof Cyprus—“Peace with Honour”—The Irish Intermediate Education Bill—Consolidation of theFactory Acts—The Monarch and the Multitude—Outbreak of the Third Afghan War—The “ScientificFrontier”—Naval Review at Spithead—Death of the Ex-King of Hanover—Death of the PrincessAlice | [513] |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] PEACE WHERE THERE IS NO PEACE | |
| Ominous Bye-Elections—The Spangles of Imperialism—Disturbed state of Eastern Europe—Origin of theQuarrel with the Zulus—Cetewayo’s Feud with the Boers—A “Prancing Pro-Consul”—Sir Bartle Frere’sUltimatum to the Zulu King—War Declared—The Crime and its Retribution—The Disaster ofIsandhlwana—The Defence of Rorke’s Drift—Demands for the Recall of Sir Bartle Frere—Censuredbut not Dismissed—Sir Garnet Wolseley Supersedes Sir Bartle Frere in Natal—The Victory of Ulundi—Captureof Cetewayo—End of the War—The Invasion of Afghanistan—Death of Shere Ali—YakoobKhan Proclaimed Ameer—The Treaty of Gundamuk—The “Scientific Frontier”—The Army DisciplineBill—Mr. Parnell attacks the “Cat”—Mr. Chamberlain Plays to the Gallery—Surrender of theGovernment—Lord Hartington’s Motion against Flogging—The Irish University Bill—An UnpopularBudget—The Murder of Cavagnari and Massacre of his Suite—The Army of Vengeance—The Recaptureof Cabul—The Settlement of Zululand—Death of Prince Louis Napoleon—The Court-Martialon Lieutenant Carey—Its Judgment Quashed—Marriage of the Duke of Connaught—The Queen atBaveno | [562] |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] FALL OF LORD BEACONSFIELD | |
| General Gloom—Fall of the Tay Bridge—Liberal Onslaught on the Government—The Mussulman Schoolmasterand the Anglican Missionary—The Queen’s Speech—The Irish Relief Bill—A Dying Parliament—Mr.Cross’s Water Bill—“Coming in on Beer and Going out on Water”—Sir Stafford Northcote’sBudget—Lord Beaconsfield’s Manifesto—The General Election—Defeat of the Tories—Incidents ofthe Struggle—Mr. Gladstone Prime Minister—The Fourth Party—Mr. Bradlaugh and the Oath—Mr.Gladstone and the Emperor of Austria—The Naval Demonstration—Grave Error in the Indian Budget—Affairsin Afghanistan—Disaster at Maiwand—Roberts’s March—The New Ameer—Revolt of theBoers—The Ministerial Programme—The Burials Bill—The Hares and Rabbits Bill—The Employers’Liability Bill—Supplementary Budget—The Compensation for Disturbance Bill—Boycotting—Trial ofMr. Parnell and Mr. Dillon—The Queen’s Visit to Germany—The Queen Presents the Albert Medalto George Oatley of the Coastguard—Reviews at Windsor—The Queen’s Speech to the Ensigns—TheBattle of the Standards—Royalty and Riflemen—Outrages in Ireland—“Endymion”—Death ofGeorge Eliot | [581] |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] COERCION | |
| Lord Beaconsfield Attacks the Government—The Irish Crisis—The Coercion Bills—An All-night Sitting—TheArrest of Mr. Davitt—The Revolt of the Irish Members—The Speaker’s Coup d’État—Urgency—NewRules of Procedure—The Speaker’s Clôture—End of the Struggle against Coercion—Mr. Dillon’sIrish Campaign—Mr. Forster’s First Batch of “Suspects”—The Peers Censure the Ministry—Mr.Gladstone’s “Retort Courteous”—Abolition of the “Cat”—The Budget—Paying off the National Debt—TheIrish Land Bill—The Three “F’s”—Resignation of the Duke of Argyll—The Strategic Blunder ofthe Tories—The Fallacy of Dual Ownership—Conflict between the Lords and Commons—Surrender ofthe Peers—Passing the Land Bill—Revolt of the Transvaal—The Rout of Majuba Hill—Death of SirGeorge Colley—The Boers Triumphant—Concession of Autonomy to the Boers—Lord Beaconsfield’sDeath—His Career and Character—A “Walking Funeral” at Hughenden—The Queen and Lord Beaconsfield’sTomb—A Sorrowing Nation—Assassination of the Czar—The Queen and the Duchess ofEdinburgh—Character of the Czar Emancipator—Precautions for the Safety of the Queen—Visit of theKing and Queen of Sweden to Windsor—Prince Leopold becomes Duke of Albany—Deaths of DeanStanley and Mr. Carlyle—Review of Scottish Volunteers—Assassination of President Garfield—TheRoyal Family—The Highlands—Holiday Pastimes—The Parnellites and the Irish Land Act—Arrest ofMr. Parnell—No-Rent Manifesto | [610] |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] ENGLAND IN EGYPT | |
| The Duke of Albany’s Marriage Announced—Mr. Bradlaugh Again—Procedure Reform—The Closure atLast—The Peers Co-operate with the Parnellites—Their Attacks on the Land Act—Mr. Forster’sPolicy of “Thorough”—A Nation under Arrest—Increase in Outrages—Sir J. D. Hay and Mr. W. H.Smith bid for the Parnellite Vote—A Political Dutch Auction—The Radicals Outbid the Tories—Releaseof Mr. Parnell and the Suspects—The Kilmainham Treaty—Victory of Mr. Chamberlain—Resignationof Mr. Forster and Lord Cowper—The Tragedy in the Phœnix Park—Ireland Under Lord Spencer—Firmand Resolute Government—Coercion Revived—The Arrears Bill—The Budget—England in Egypt—HowIsmail Pasha “Kissed the Carpet”—Spoiling the Egyptians—Mr. Goschen’s Scheme for Collecting theDebt—The Dual Control—The Ascendency of France—“Egypt for the Egyptians”—The Rule of Arabi—Riotsin Alexandria—The Egyptian War—Murder of Professor Palmer—British Occupation ofEgypt—The Queen’s Monument to Lord Beaconsfield—Attempt to Assassinate Her Majesty—TheQueen’s Visit to Mentone—Marriage of the Duke of Albany | [630] |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] THE INVINCIBLES | |
| The Married Women’s Property Act—The Opening of Parliament—Changes in the Cabinet—Arrest ofSuspects in Dublin—Invincibles on their Trial—Evidence of the Informer Carey—Carey’s Fate—TheForster-Parnell Incident—National Gift to Mr. Parnell—The Affirmation Bill—The Bankruptcy and otherBills—Mr. Childers’ Budget—The Corrupt Practices Bill—The “Farmers’ Friends”—Sir Stafford Northcote’sLeadership—The Bright Celebration—Dynamite Outrages in London—The Explosives Act—M. deLesseps and Mr. Gladstone—Blunders in South Africa—The Ilbert Bill—The Attack on Lady FlorenceDixie’s House—Death of John Brown—His Career and Character—The Queen and the Consumption ofLamb—A Dull Holiday at Balmoral—Capsizing of the Daphne—Prince Albert Victor made K.G.—Franceand Madagascar—Arrest of Rev. Mr. Shaw—Settlement of the Dispute—Progress of the National League—Orangeand Green Rivalry—The Leeds Conference—“Franchise First”—Lord Salisbury and theHousing of the Poor—Mr. Besant and East London—“Slumming”—Hicks Pasha’s Disastrous Expeditionin the Soudan—Mr. Gladstone on Jam | [652] |
| [CHAPTER XXVII.] GENERAL GORDON’S MISSION | |
| Success of the Mahdi—Difficult Position of the Ministers—Their Egyptian Policy—General Gordon sent out tothe Soudan—Baker Pasha’s Forces Defeated—Sir S. Northcote’s Vote of Censure—The Errors on BothSides—Why not a Protectorate?—Gordon in Khartoum—Zebehr, “King of the Slave-traders”—Attackson Gordon—Osman Digna Twice Defeated—Treason in Khartoum—Gordon’s Vain Appeals—FinancialPosition of Egypt—Abortive Conference of the Powers—Vote of Credit—The New Speaker—Mr.Bradlaugh Redivivus—Mr. Childers’ Budget—The Coinage Bill—The Reform Bill—Household Franchisefor the Counties—Carried in the Commons—Thrown Out in the Lords—Agitation in the Country—TheAutumn Session—“No Surrender”—Compromise—The Franchise Bill Passed—The Nile Expedition—Murderof Colonel Stewart and Mr. Frank Power—Lord Northbrook’s Mission—Ismail Pasha’s Claims—The“Scramble for Africa”—Coolness with Germany—The Angra Pequena Dispute—Bismarck’s Irritation—Queenslandand New Guinea—Death of Lord Hertford—The Queen’s New Book—Death of the Dukeof Albany—Character and Career of the Prince—The Claremont Estate—The Queen at Darmstadt—Marriageof the Princess Victoria of Hesse—A Gloomy Season—The Health Exhibition—The Queenand the Parliamentary Deadlock—The Abyssinian Envoys at Osborne—Prince George of Wales madeK.G.—The Court at Balmoral—Mr. Gladstone’s Visit to the Queen | [671] |
| [CHAPTER XXVIII.] THE NEW DEPARTURE | |
| An Annus Mirabilis—Breaking up of the Old Parties—The Tory-Parnellite Alliance—Mr. Chamberlain’sSocialism—The Doctrine of “Ransom”—Effect of the Reform Bill and Seats Bill—Enthroning the“Sovereign People”—Three Reform Struggles: 1832, 1867, 1885—“One Man One Vote”—Another Voteof Censure—A Barren Victory—Retreat from the Soudan—The Dispute with Russia—Komaroff atPenjdeh—The Vote of Credit—On the Verge of War—Mr. Gladstone’s Compromise with Russia—ThreatenedRenewal of the Crimes Act—The Tory Intrigue with the Parnellites—The Tory ChiefsDecide to Oppose Coercion—Wrangling in the Cabinet—Mr. Childers’ Budget—A Yawning Deficit—Increasingthe Spirit Duties—Readjusting the Succession Duties—Combined Attack by Tories andParnellites on the Budget—Defeat of the Government and Fall of Mr. Gladstone’s Ministry—TheScene in the Commons—The Tories in Power—Lord Salisbury’s Government—Places for the FourthParty—Mr. Parnell Demands his Price—Abandoning Lord Spencer—Re-opening the Question of theMaamtrasna Murders—Concessions to the Parnellites—The New Budget—Sir H. D. Wolff sent toCairo—The Criminal Law Amendment Act—Court Life in 1885—Affairs at Home and Abroad—TheFall of Khartoum—Death of General Gordon—Marriage of the Princess Beatrice—The Battenbergs | [697] |
| [CHAPTER XXIX.] THE BATTLE OF THE UNION | |
| Mr. Chamberlain’s Doctrine of “Ransom”—The Midlothian Programme—Lord Randolph Churchill’s Appealto the Whigs—Bidding for the Parnellite Vote—Resignation of Lord Carnarvon—The General Election—“ThreeAcres and a Cow”—Defeat of Lord Salisbury—The Liberal Cabinet—Mr. Gladstone’s Home RuleScheme—Ulster Threatens Civil War—Secession of the Liberal “Unionists”—Defeat of Mr. Gladstone—LordSalisbury again in Office—Mr. Parnell’s Relief Bill Rejected—The “Plan of Campaign”—Resignationof Lord Randolph Churchill—Mr. Goschen becomes Chancellor of the Exchequer—Riots in the WestEnd of London—The Indian and Colonial Exhibition—The Imperial Institute—The Queen’s Visit toLiverpool—The Holloway College for Women—A Busy Season for her Majesty—The InternationalExhibition at Edinburgh—The Prince and Princess Komatsu of Japan | [724] |
| [CHAPTER XXX.] THE JUBILEE | |
| The Fiftieth Year of the Queen’s Reign—Mr. W. H. Smith Leader of the Commons—Sudden Death of LordIddesleigh—Opening of Parliament—The Queen’s Speech—The Debate on the Address—New Rules forProcedure—Closure Proposed by the Tories—Irish Landlords and Evictions—“Pressure Within theLaw”—Prosecution of Mr. Dillon—The Round Table Conference—“Parnellism and Crime”—Resignationof Sir M. Hicks-Beach—Appointment of Mr. Balfour—The Coercion Bill—Resolute Governmentfor Twenty Years—Scenes in the House—Irish Land Bill—The Bankruptcy Clauses—The NationalLeague Proclaimed—The Allotments Act—The Margarine Act—Hamburg Spirit—Mr. Goschen’s Budget—TheJubilee in India—The Modes of Celebration in England—Congratulatory Addresses—The Queen’sVisit to Birmingham—The Laureate’s Jubilee Ode—The Queen at Cannes and Aix—Her Visit to theGrande Chartreuse—Colonial Addresses—Opening of the People’s Palace—Jubilee Day—The Scene inthe Streets—Preceding Jubilees—The Royal Procession—The German Crown Prince—The Decorationsand the Onlookers—The Spectacle in Westminster Abbey—The Procession—The Ceremony—The Illuminations—RoyalBanquet in Buckingham Palace—The Shower of Honours—Jubilee Observances inthe British Empire and the United States—The Children’s Celebration in Hyde Park—The Queen’sGarden Party—Her Majesty’s Letter to her People—The Imperial Institute—The Victorian Age | [733] |