of the ground. Such, sir, has been the
habitations of your prisoners, not for the space of a few days, but for
eighteen, twenty, and twenty-three months; whereas several other better
cells are occupied by only three or four prisoners." The petition
further stated that the food given to them was of the most revolting
kind; and that those who were sick were thrust into solitary
confinement, in dungeons without light, without water, food, or bed,
and filled with vermin. But the heart of Miguel was steeled against this
petition. It was in vain that complaints were poured into his ears;
nor did the death of his mother, who had been blamed for much of this
cruelty, and who this year was called to her account at the bar of an
offended Maker, make any change in the proceedings of a disposition
which her maxims had deadened to the voice of mercy. Earl Grey, on
assuming the reins of government, very properly refused to make an
alliance with such an infamous usurper; notwithstanding, he was blamed
for this line of policy by the members of the late administration.
Towards the close of the year, indeed, there were signs of a rupture
between the two countries. Part of the Portuguese navy was employed in
an attempt to blockade Terceira, where the regency, in the name of the
young queen, was still ruling. Miguel made the non-success of these
vessels a pretext for seizing some English ships; and threats from the
government were resorted to before he would give up the pretended prizes
to their owners. Then the usurper relinquished his prey, and war was
averted.

The administration of Greece, during the present year, remained in the
hands of Capo d'Istrias and his partisans. The allied powers, however,
were occupied in attempting to make arrangements for the permanent
settlement of its government. The crown was tendered by them to Prince
John of Saxony, who declined it. Several candidates were then passed
over in favour of the pretensions of Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, and
the sovereignty was unanimously offered to him; but, though he had been
once anxious for the prize, he also finally rejected it. The causes of
his rejection of it were these:--Early in the year the prince wrote to
Capo d'Istrias to announce his acceptance of the sovereignty, and to
communicate to the Greek community the efforts he had made, and was
still making, to obtain from the allied sovereigns as many advantages as
possible for the new state. The count, however,