was even
captured by Generals Narvaez and Aspirez, who headed the insurgent
forces; and Espartero was compelled to take refuge on board an English
ship of war at Cadiz, after having in vain bombarded Seville. Espartero
proceeded to Lisbon, whence he issued a manifesto to the Spanish nation,
after which he sailed to England. At the close of this year, indeed,
Spain was torn in pieces by factions, though the queen was still enabled
to keep her seat on the throne.

CHAPTER LV.

{VICTORIA. 1844-1845}

Meeting of Parliament..... Motion of the Stoppage of
Supplies..... Affairs of India..... Irish Affairs: Irish
Municipal Franchise, The Irish Church Question, Irish
Charitable Trusts Bill, Roman Catholic Penal Acts Repeal
Bill..... Restrictions on Labour in Factories, &c..... The
Corn Laws and Free Trade Question..... Financial
Statements..... Sugar Duties Bill, &c...... Bank Charter
and Banking Regulations..... Dissenters' Chapels
Bill..... Sees of Bangor and St. Asapli..... Miscellaneous
Measures of the Session..... Prorogation of Parliament.....
The State of India..... Proceedings against Mr.
O'Connell..... Continental Affairs.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

{A.D. 1844}

Parliament was opened by the queen in person on the 1st of February. Her
majesty's speech first alluded to her friendly relations with foreign
powers; to the treaty concluded with China; to the annexation of Scinde
to the British empire in India; to the estimates; and to the improved
condition of several important branches of the trade and manufactures
of the country. The speech then recommended attention to the revision of
the charter of the Bank of England; to the state of the law and practice
with regard to the occupation of land in Ireland; and to the law of
registration in that country.

The debates on the address in both houses were not in any way
remarkable, except for a bold speech by Mr. Sharman Crawford, demanding
redress of the grievances of which the people of both England and
Ireland complained. A contest also occurred between Lord John Russell
and Sir Robert Peel in reference to the duties on the importation of
foreign corn, the opposition leader maintaining that a fixed duty was
desirable, and the ministerial leader advocating the system of variable
duties, called a sliding-scale.

MOTION FOR THE STOPPAGE OF SUPPLIES.

In his speech during the dis