suffered both the evils of civil war and of political intrigue. In
Turkey, the ascendancy of Russia was increased by an alliance, offensive
and defensive, which was concluded between those two powers. The
emperor gave up two-thirds of what remained to be paid in respect of
the indemnities stipulated for by the treaty of Adrianople; and, on the
other hand, to surround his Asiatic frontier, the Porte ceded to him an
extensive tract of country in the pachalic of Athattsick. Turkey was
to pay that portion of the indemnity which was not relinquished when it
might suit her finances; and, in the meantime, Silistria was to remain
as a pledge in the hands of the Russians, an arrangement which gave them
the effective command of Moldavia and Wallachia, and left the frontier
of Turkey defenceless against invasion. Russia also was to have the free
passage of the Dardanelles.

CHAPTER XLV.

{WILLIAM IV. 1835--1836}

_State of Parties..... General Election..... Ecclesiastical
Commission..... Meeting of Parliament; Contest for the
Office of Speaker..... Opening of the Session.....
Discussion in the Lords regarding the Slavery Abolition
Act..... Motion of the Marquis of Chandos to repeal the
Malt-tax..... The Dissenters' Marriage Act..... Ministerial
Plan for the Commutation of Tithes in England..... Report
of Commission regarding the Church of England, &c...... The
Question of the Appropriation of the Surplus
Revenues of the Irish Church..... Resignation of
Ministers and the Restoration of Lord Melbourne's
Cabinet..... Municipal Reform and the Irish Church.....
Agricultural Distress..... Municipal Corporations.....
Bill for regulating the Irish Church..... Discussion
regarding Orange Societies in Ireland..... The Vote by
Ballot, &c...... Motion for the Repeal of the Window-tax,
&c...... The Budget..... Discussions regarding Canada.....
Prorogation of Parliament..... State of the Continent_

STATE OF PARTIES.

{A.D. 1835}

The state of the political world in this country was, at the opening of
the present year, one of great interest and excitement. The dismissal
of the Melbourne ministry was received by the country with undisturbed
composure and perfect good-humour; but this was viewed by its members
and partisans with alarm and humiliation; and, conceiving that it
betokened a relaxation of pow