anguages of the
East. He was born in great obscurity, and received his first rudiments
of learning in a charity school. He was one of the most remarkable men
of the age.

At Kensington, Mr. Stephens, the celebrated entomologist, added another
to the list of remarkable persons removed during this year.

It is not possible within the space allotted to this work to notice the
removal from life of all the eminent persons recorded in the obituary
of this year--persons whose life was a portion of English history in its
most interesting aspects, and whose death excited the deep attention and
regret of the nation, A record of great political events, merely,
will not depict the history or progress of a nation, but as her mighty
children one by one disappear from the social state, upon which they
have impressed their own intellect and character, their names and deeds
should be presented as forming a glorious part of the facts and history
of the country and the time.

CHAPTER LXV.

{VICTORIA. 1853}

Condition of Great Britain..... The Court..... State of
Ireland..... Colonial Affairs..... Foreign Affairs..... The
War with Russia..... Parliamentary and Party Events.....
Deaths of Eminent Persons.

GENERAL STATE OF GREAT BRITAIN.

{A.D. 1853}

Great Britain was peaceful and prosperous--no internal strife, no civil
feud, no general discontent disturbed her fair aspect, or impeded her
glorious progress. The working classes were better off than in previous
years. Pauperism declined, crime was greatly lessened. In 1852, the
commitments in England and Wales were 3899 fewer than the average.
In 1853, the favourable difference was seen not so much in decreased
numbers as in the lesser gravamen of the offences. Much sickness was
caused by the excessive severity of the weather during the spring
quarter. From the 20th of-April to the 15th of May, the temperature on
one day fell to 14 deg. below the average, on another to 13 deg., and on others
to 10 deg., 9 deg., and 8 deg.. There was a heavy fall of snow in April, and still
more heavily during the first fortnight in May. The snow in the north
was so accumulated upon the ground that the lines of railway were
occasionally closed, and trains embedded in the snow. The effect of
such severe weather late in the spring and in the opening of summer was
disastrous upon the crops, and entailed upon the harvest consequences
which formed a check to this othe