perfection as the Irish in that department of
taste--and specimens of ancient sculpture from before the Christian era,
excited the attention of the lovers of antiquity, and admiration for the
genius of ancient Ireland.

The English and French newspaper press and reviews complimented
the Irish people upon those qualities of artistic taste which their
exhibition proved them to possess, and the London _Times_ asserted
in several leaders, that whatever might be the superior qualities or
advantages of the English people, industrial or otherwise, as compared
with the Irish, the latter possessed in a far higher degree, artistic
genius, and taste in its superior developments.

The queen and court of London felt great interest in the Dublin
exhibition. Her majesty visited it, and expressed her gratification in a
manner most flattering to the Irish people, and especially complimentary
to the patriotism of Mr. Dargan. Her majesty's visit to the exhibition
was one of those happy circumstances in her reign, in which her noble
qualities of head and heart were made conspicuous, and in which she
appeared so auspiciously, as the healer of contention, the soother of
social asperities, the patroness of art, and the encourager and rewarder
of industry and merit. It was on the 29th of August the court visited
the Irish metropolis. They arrived early on the morning of that day at
Kingstown Jetty, and her majesty, accompanied by the Prince of Wales,
and Prince Albert, drove through the streets of Dublin, which were
thronged with multitudes of persons, offering the most enthusiastic and
unanimous demonstrations of respect and welcome. In the evening, the
city was brilliantly illuminated. Her majesty's visit to the exhibition
was one of the most gratifying incidents in modern Irish history. The
royal party, while remaining in Dublin, drove much in the environs,
and paid a visit to the house of Mr. Dargan, as a compliment to the
enterprise and patriotism of that gentleman. Queen and people were
delighted with the royal visit to Ireland, which also, as a matter of
public policy, was wise and beneficent.

GENERAL CONDITION OF THE COLONIES.

The year was not very eventful to our colonial empire. There was general
prosperity. India was, as usual, the theatre of Oriental cabal, and
Oude was the scene of its chief features, and the seat of most of the
intrigues and plots against English dominion in Hindustan.

CANADA.

This province