disguise.

In Scotland the system of private patronage in the Established Kirk
had become very unpopular, the Act of Anne in favour of the nomination
by lay patrons, and the control given to the Law Courts over the
revising action of the Presbytery being ultimately modified by a
declaration of the General Assembly known as the Veto Act. But it
was decided in what was called the Strathbogie case that the veto was
illusory, the disruption of the old Kirk followed, and on 18th May Dr
Chalmers and five hundred other ministers seceded from it in order to
form the Free Church.

In Ireland the agitation for Repeal was at its height. O'Connell,
supported by the _Nation_ newspaper, founded a Repeal Association in
Dublin, and monster meetings were held on Sundays on some conspicuous
spot of free and historic associations to claim the re-establishment
of a Parliament on College Green. It was believed that a quarter of
a million people were present on one occasion, and the Government,
alarmed at the absolute power wielded by O'Connell over these huge
bodies of men, resolved to prohibit the meetings, and somewhat tardily
issued a Proclamation against that announced for Clontarf on 8th
October. O'Connell accordingly disbanded the meeting, but his action
did not please his more zealous supporters, and his ascendency came
to an end. The agitation collapsed and the principal actors were
arrested.

A military duel fought in the summer of this year, in which a colonel
in the Army was shot by his brother-in-law, made the code of honour
existing on the subject a burning question, the criminal law of
homicide being the same then as now. On Prince Albert's suggestion,
the question was taken up by the heads of the Army and Navy, and the
Articles of War were in the following year amended so as to admit of
an apology and a tender of redress.

The better feeling existing between this country and France enabled
the Queen and Prince to visit Louis Philippe at the Chateau d'Eu.

CHAPTER XII

1843

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _4th January 1843._

DEAREST UNCLE,--... We have been _very_ gay; danced into the New Year,
and again _last_ night, and were _very_ merry, though but a very
small party; young and old danced. Good Lord Melbourne was here from
Saturday till this morning, looking very well, and I _almost_ fancied
happy old times were returned; but alas! the dream is _past_! He
enquired m