rwise prosperous year. With a
deficient harvest came the certainty of a war with Russia, still
further embarrassing a year which opened with so many felicitations. The
appearance of Asiatic cholera in the autumn tended also to depress
the close of the year. That fell disease burst out with extraordinary
violence at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the month of August, where more than
2000 lives were sacrificed to its fury. The disease reached London the
same month, and there also effected serious ravages, both in 1853 and in
1854.

The revenue of the year 1853, up to the 8th of January, 1854,
was--receipts, L69,410,976 15s.; disbursements, L55,769,252 4s. The
surplus revenue, after adding balances to the actual income, exceeded
three millions and a quarter sterling--a financial condition of the
country proving great prosperity: and one for congratulation at a time
when war so imminently impended.

THE COURT.

On the 7th of April, her majesty was delivered of a son. Her recovery
was, as on similar occasions, speedy, and the country hailed the event
with joy. On the 28th of June, the infant prince was baptized in
the private chapel of Buckingham Palace. The splendour usual on such
occasions was perhaps somewhat surpassed. Many foreign princes and
ministers were present. The sponsors were the King of Hanover, the
Princess of Prussia, the Princess Mary of Cambridge, and the Prince of
Hohenloe-Lengenburgh. The child was named Leopold George Duncan Albert.
The ceremonial was followed by a brilliant state banquet.

The court was not exempt from illness prevalent during a portion of the
year. In July, measles attacked her majesty, Prince Albert, the Prince
of Wales, the Princess Royal, and others of the royal children. This
event postponed the visit of the court to the Dublin Exhibition, and
caused uneasiness for a short time both in Ireland and Great Britain.

On the 11th of August, her majesty reviewed a portion of her fleet at
Spithead. It was a magnificent spectacle, affording one of the most
gorgeous and glorious displays of naval power ever presented to the
eyes of even a British sovereign. Her majesty wherever she appeared was
received with the greatest enthusiasm; and, in this grand review, she
was attended by the members of both branches of the legislature.

On the 29th of August, her majesty visited the Dublin Exhibition of
Industry, an event which is more particularly noticed in the following
section.

After her