een him and Mr. Cripps having been presumed likely,
in consequence of the personal nature of what had passed, Mr. O'Connor
was, on an order of the house at a late period of the evening, taken
into the custody of the sergeant-at-arms, but was subsequently released,
and a reconciliation with Mr. Cripps effected.

Throughout the year attempts were made by the Chartists to create
disturbances, and many of them were arrested and punished for riot,
assault, or sedition. The leaders were very active in disseminating
among the working classes opinions adverse to the rights of property and
of society at large. These proceedings injured the cause of electoral
and parliamentary reform. There were many members in the House of
Commons, and many persons of influence throughout the country, who were
favourable to some of the principal political opinions put forth in
"the people's Charter," but there was no sympathy among these classes for
the economical and social theories of the party by which the Charter
was chiefly upheld. Reform in parliament, which was still desired by the
people at large, was thus postponed by the alarm which the extreme views
and violent temper of the Chartists created amongst the classes who
possessed property, and amongst religious and peaceable citizens.

VISIT OF FRENCH NATIONAL GUARDS TO LONDON.

The political excitement of the times was much increased by a visit to
London, made at the end of October, by more than a thousand National
Guards of Paris, in full uniform. Aged persons who remembered the first
French revolution, and the subsequent wars, were somewhat alarmed at
this sudden appearance of French uniforms. The masses of the people
welcomed the peaceful invaders, and the British Guards fraternised with
them. Every public place was thrown open to them, and in the theatres
and public gardens they were greeted with applause, the bands performing
French national music. The visitors departed, expressing their high
sense of the cordiality with which they had been received.

COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.

This year was one of severe trial to Great Britain. The credit of many
great mercantile houses was shaken, and many failed. The distress
which prevailed at the beginning of the year, both in Great Britain
and Ireland, disheartened the trading community, and impeded the usual
course of business. When the French revolution suddenly burst forth,
business received a shock such as only political events o