ed upon a plan of settlement, and
the French government sent immediately a frigate with despatches
for Baron Gros, instructing him to that effect. From some mistake or
oversight the English government sent no orders to Mr. Wyse, and the
result was that he refused to recognise the instructions sent out to the
baron by his government. Hostilities commenced next day, which compelled
the Greek government to submit to the demands of the English minister.

When tidings of these transactions reached France the French ambassador
quitted London, but the difference between France and England was
ultimately arranged by friendly explanations, and by the English
government substituting the terms of agreement which had been made by
the two governments at London, for the mere stipulations accepted by the
Greek government at Athens.

The czar was enraged at these proceedings, and his ministers addressed
a remonstrance to the British cabinet, couched in terms indignant and
affrontful. The diplomatic turmoil in connection with the affairs of
Greece caused considerable discussion in the country and the commons,
which will be noticed under the section appropriated to parliamentary
proceedings.

_Liberia_.--The British government, in its desire to put down negro
slavery, took a deep interest in the prosperity of the free black colony
of Liberia. The English public regarded it as a great experiment as
to the adaptation of the negro race for self-government and modern
civilization. The origin of the colony was not as philanthropic as was
supposed in England. It did not originate in the benevolence of American
citizens anxious to promote the advantages and progress of the negro,
but in the selfishness of those who favoured slavery, and were desirous
to exile the free blacks from the land of their birth, where their good
conduct was a reproach to oppressors, and their freedom a temptation to
the whole negro race to break their own bonds. In 1848-9 negotiations
for a treaty of commerce, based on reciprocal advantages, was opened
between the infant black state and her Britannic majesty. It consisted
of eleven articles, which stipulated perpetual peace and friendship,
freedom of commerce, mutual protection of the subjects of the respective
states, the establishment of consuls, the slave trade to be piracy,
English vessels of war in pursuit of slavers to be received with
hospitality, and at liberty to visit any suspected vessels sailing
under th