to seize the queen in the palace at Madrid,
but, through the energetic measures of Espartero, the insurrection was
suppressed: Don Diego Leon, one of its leaders, was tried and executed.
During this year the long agitated question of the East rapidly
approached a settlement. On the 11th of January. Mehemet Ali gave up the
whole of the Turkish fleet; and about the same time a finnan was
sent from Constantinople, whereby the sultan accorded to Mehemet the
hereditary possession of Egypt. At the same time also Ibrahim Pacha
was directed by his father to evacuate Syria. Several causes, however,
combined against the complete restoration of peace between the sultan
and the pacha; and the year closed before negociations were concluded.

CHAPTER LIII.

{VICTORIA 1842--1843}

Meeting of Parliament..... Debate on the Corn-Laws:
Proposition of Ministers on the subject of the Corn-
Laws..... Financial Measures; Income-Tax Bill, &c--New
Tariff..... Mr. Villiers's Motion on the Corn Laws..... The
Great Chartist Petition..... Bill for Restraining the
Employment of Women and Children in Mines and
Collieries..... Bribery at Elections..... Law Reforms.....
Bill for the Protection of the Royal Person..... Copyright
Act..... Poor Law Amendment Bill..... Prorogation of
Parliament..... East India Affairs, &c.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

{A.D. 1842}

Parliament re-assembled on the 3rd of February. The session was opened
under circumstances of unusual splendour, occasioned by the presence
of the King of Prussia, who had arrived in England, in order to stand
sponsor at the christening of the infant Prince of Wales. Her majesty
again addressed lier parliament in a speech of considerable length, and
which embraced a variety of interesting and important topics. The chief
of these were, the birth of an heir to the throne, the treaty which had
been concluded with the other great powers of Europe for the suppression
of the slave-trade: the pending negociations with China; the restoration
of friendly intercourse with Persia; and a treaty which had been
concluded with the Emperors of Austria and Russia, and the Kings of
France and Prussia, having for its object the security of the Turkish
empire, and the maintenance of the general tranquillity. In conclusion,
her majesty recommended attention to the state of the finances and
expenditure of the country; urged the consideration of the cor