purposes to conciliate the Roman
Catholics, did not dare to prosecute him.

The Young Ireland agitation was not extinguished, and it received
some new inspiration of hope from the escape of Thomas Meagher, from
Australia. That adventurous young man made his way from his penal abode
at the antipodes to America, where he became a citizen. He was a true
patriot, and an ardent friend of liberty; he had no sympathy with
the pro-slavery and red republican opinions of his former coadjutor,
Mitchell, nor with the raving and malignant bigotry of Charles Gavan
Duffy. In the United States he was an object of universal respect,
his amiability and eloquence winning, in private and public, "golden
opinions from all sorts of men."

Ireland showed various symptoms of returning prosperity. The only
agitation in which the higher classes took part was in opposition to the
unjust scheme of Disraeli, to tax the Irish fundholder for the advantage
of the English and Irish landholder. This measure was denounced by the
capitalists of Ireland as a violation of faith to the public creditor,
and sapping tire foundations upon which the security and sacredness of
property rested.

The ribbon conspiracy was active during the year, and no suitable effort
was made by Lord Derby's government to uproot it.

COLONIES.

The colonies were generally prosperous throughout the year, and quietude
and contentment prevailed. The Cape of Good Hope, and even India, were
less disturbed than usual; but in each of these places a few events
occurred to which we shall especially refer.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

In the early part of the year, the troubles which harassed the colony in
the previous year exercised some influence. The efforts of the governor
to establish tranquillity and good government met with co-operation from
the colonists. The Boers, however, showed a disposition hostile to
the British, chiefly because they hated the liberty which the English
enjoyed and extended to the coloured population. The eagerness of the
Boers to subdue to slavery the natives who came within their control,
was not abated by the bitter lessons which their past experience had
received. Before the year had far advanced, the whole colony was in
repose, law and order for a time having been everywhere established.

INDIA.

India generally was quiet throughout this year, except upon the
frontiers of Birmese territory. The vast regions comprehended under
the name