_entente_
between France and Sardinia.

Before the resignation of the Ministry, the thanks of both Houses of
Parliament were voted to the civil and military officers of India for
their exertions in suppressing the Mutiny; the Opposition endeavoured
to obtain the omission of the name of Lord Canning from the address,
till his conduct of affairs had been discussed. The difficulties in
India were not at an end, for Sir Colin Campbell had been unable to
hold Lucknow, and had transferred the rescued garrison to Cawnpore,
which he re-occupied. It was not till the end of March that Lucknow
was captured by the Commander-in-Chief, who was raised to the peerage
as Lord Clyde, after the taking of Jhansi and of Gwalior in Central
India, by Sir Hugh Rose, had virtually terminated the revolt.

In anticipation of the capture of Lucknow, the Governor-General had
prepared a proclamation for promulgation in Oudh, announcing that,
except in the case of certain loyal Rajahs, proprietary rights in the
soil of the province would be confiscated. One copy of the draft was
sent home, and another shown to Sir James Outram, Chief Commissioner
of Oudh, and, in consequence of the latter's protest against its
severity, as making confiscation the rule and not the exception, an
exemption was inserted in favour of such landowners as should actively
co-operate in restoring order. On receiving the draft in its unaltered
form, Lord Ellenborough, the new President of the Board of Control,
forwarded a despatch to Lord Canning, strongly condemning his action,
and, on the publication of this despatch, the Ministry narrowly
escaped Parliamentary censure. Lord Ellenborough himself resigned,
and was succeeded by Lord Stanley. Attempts had been made by both Lord
Palmerston and Lord Derby to pass measures for the better government
of India. After two Bills had been introduced and withdrawn, the
procedure by resolution was resorted to, and a measure was ultimately
passed transferring the Government of India to the Crown.

The China War terminated on the 26th of June, by the treaty of
Tien-tsin, which renewed the treaty of 1842, and further opened up
China to British commerce. A dispute with Japan led to a treaty
signed at Yeddo by Lord Elgin and the representatives of the Tycoon,
enlarging British diplomatic and trade privileges in that country.

The Budget of Mr Disraeli imposed for the first time a penny stamp on
bankers' cheques; a compromise was arrived at