ved in the return of Don Pedro, with his daughter. Donna Maria, to
Europe, and his preparations for a descent on Portugal. Don Miguel made
every exertion to put the forts of the Tagus into a state of complete
preparation to repel the expected attack; but all his efforts were
weakened by the want of money; and at the close of the year his usurped
throne was in danger of being overthrown. Insurrections were also, this
year, prevalent in Italy. They occurred in Parma, Modena, and the Papal
States, and were put clown by Austrian interference. Greece, during the
same period, for whose pacification the powers of Europe had laboured so
long, was a scene of violence and war. The popularity of Capo d'Istria,
either from his too great attachment to Russian interests, or from the
jealousy and discontents of the chiefs, unused to control and jealous
of power, had rapidly declined. In consequence of this he became
suspicious and tyrannical; and before the year closed he lost his life
by assassination. This year was fatal to the liberty of Poland. Driven
to insurrection by the faithless and tyrannical conduct of Nicholas,
betrayed by France, deserted by England, and persecuted in their low
estate by Austria and Prussia, the Poles, after heroically struggling
with the armies of Eussia, were finally subdued. Warsaw was captured;
the Polish armies disbanded; the nobles degraded; and thousands of every
rank, age, and sex subjected to the most cruel punishments, and the
nationality of the country destroyed, so far as human ingenuity could
accomplish so fell a destruction. Poland rose for a desperate struggle
against the Russian giant, and astonished the world with its prowess;
but it proved unequal to stem the crushing movements of the Muscovites.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

{WILLIAM IV. 1831--1832}

The British parliament reassembled on the 6th of December. During
the recess, ministers had been urged by their reforming adherents to
reintroduce the reform bill without delay; and it became evident, from
his majesty's speech, that this subject would become the absorbing topic
of the next session. His majesty distinctly stated his views on the
subject of reform in the opening of the speech, thus:--"I feel it to
be my duty, in the first place, to recommend to your most careful
consideration the measures which will be proposed to you for a reform in
the commons house of parliament; a speedy and satisfactory settlement of
this question bec