Photo by Valentine, Dundee.]
BALMORAL CASTLE.
Her Majesty’s Highland residence was built in 1853 from designs by H.R.H. the Prince Consort. It is of white Crathie granite. There are 30,000 acres of deer forest within the bounds of the royal demesne.
[CHAPTER XI.]
1858–1860.
Commercial Panic in London—Suspension of the Bank Charter Act—The Orsini Plot—The Conspiracy to Murder Bill—Defeat and Resignation of the Government—Lord Derby’s Second Administration—Disraeli’s Reform Bill—Vote of No Confidence—Defeat and Resignation of the Government—Lord Palmerston’s Second Administration—Threatened French Invasion—The Volunteers—The Paper Duty Repealed by the Commons and Restored by the Lords—A Constitutional Problem—Its Solution—War with China—British and French Defeat at Pei-ho—Return of Lord Elgin to China—Wreck of the Malabar—Capture of the Tangku and Taku Forts—Occupation of Tien-tsin—Murder of British Officers and others—Capitulation of Pekin—Destruction of the Summer Palace—Treaty with China.
PALMERSTON’S Government, apparently one of the most popular that had ever been formed, had to bow under the adverse influence of events beyond its control. |Commercial Panic.| In addition to the commotion radiating from the centre of disturbance in India, there had been widespread commercial disaster at home, following on a period of excited speculation. On November 12 the Bank Charter Act had been suspended, and the Bank of England received authority to exceed the statutory limits in meeting demands for discount and advances, because of the numerous failures and prevailing money-panic.
Samuel Lawrence.] [From a
Crayon Drawing.
WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY,
1811–1863