was generally supposed by the Portuguese that
the faction of the court was in favour with the court of England, as
Colonel Wylde, equerry to Prince Albert, attended the camp of the royal
commander-inchief. The colonel, however, acted as commissioner of the
British government, which felt a deep interest in the distresses of
Portugal--peculiar treaties binding the two countries. The year 1846
closed over the Iberian peninsula in discord, turbulence, and woe.

_The Papal States_.--According to the constitution, England held no
diplomatic connection with the court of Rome. The proceedings of that
court, however, had an important influence upon the British empire, as
four-fifths of the Irish population were Roman Catholics, and in Eastern
Canada, Newfoundland, and other British colonies or dependencies, many
of the people were of the same religion. The events of the year at Rome
were the death of Pope Gregory XVI., and the election of Cardinal Mastei
to the pontifical chair, who assumed the title of Pius IX. One of his
first acts was to publish an amnesty for political offenders, which
gave great satisfaction to the inhabitants of the Roman States. This
was speedily followed by a tariff reform, based upon sound views of
the interests of the Roman people. Throughout the year, his civil
and sacerdotal administration were alike popular within the states,
throughout Italy, and all over Europe. The French, Austrian, Neapolitan,
Spanish, and Portuguese governments were all, however, incensed at the
liberal tendencies of the new pope. The Roman Catholic subjects of the
Queen of Great Britain and Ireland received the announcements of the
pontifical liberality with favour; it was thought that by these means
the objections of Protestants would be softened, and a way opened for
the reconciliation of many, especially liberal churchmen, to Rome.

_Poland_.--The sympathies of England were aroused by events in Poland,
which extinguished the last spark of Polish liberty. Throughout all the
provinces, a desire existed to make one effort more for freedom. The
hope of disenthralling their native land animated every heart. An
ill-concerted insurrection, was the inevitable consequence of this
strong feeling; and as Cracow was a free city, under the guarantee of
the treaty of Vienna, the insurgents believed that they could use it as
a _point d'appui_. In the month of February, the circle of Tarnow rose
in arms. The peasantry of Silesia, armed wi