nstrumentality of that regiment. His services were arduous and heroic.
His mind was original, and active exceedingly. He possessed amazing
vigour in command, and powers of organization rarely exhibited. The
great duke held him in high estimation as a general. He was seventy-one
years of age at his death, which took place at Oaklands, near
Portsmouth. A monument, to celebrate his exploits, has been erected in
Trafalgar Square, near to that of Nelson.

As December opened, Mrs. Opie, so celebrated as a writer, died at
Norwich, her native place, in her eighty-fifth year.

On the 17th, the Marchioness of Wellesley, an American lady of Irish
parentage. Her life was an eventful one. She was much esteemed as the
lady of the Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, when the noble marquis held that
post. She had been for many years a favourite of Queen Adelaide, and
died in the Palace of Hampton-court.

The Rev. W. Jay, the eminent Congregational minister of Bath, died on
the 27th, in his eighty-fifth year. He began to preach before he had
attained his sixteenth year. Before he was of age, he had delivered
about one thousand sermons. He had been sixty-two years minister of
Argyle Chapel, Bath. His writings were varied, beautiful in style, and
rich in thought and illustration. They were productive of a vast amount
of good, as all denominations of Christians and all ranks of men perused
them. The author of this History was on terms of intimacy with this
remarkable man, and can testify that his powers of conversation were
as varied and rare as his talents in the pulpit, and as a writer on
religious subjects.

CHAPTER LXVI.

{VICTORIA. 1854}

Home Affairs: General excitement at the beginning of the
year..... Declaration of War against Russia..... The
Court..... Tidings of the loss of Captain Franklin.....
Cholera..... Ireland: Party animosities and
murders...... Colonies: Their General peace and
prosperity..... Foreign Relations: The French Alliance.....
War with Russia..... Battles by sea and land..... Dread-ful
sufferings of the British Army..... Parliament: Contests
concerning the conduct of the war..... Break-up of the
Aberdeen government..... lord Palmerston premier..... Deaths
of Eminent Persons.

HOME AFFAIRS.--GENERAL PROSPECTS.

{A.D. 1854}

The year 1854 opened gloomily upon the United Kingdom. Sickness
prevailed; bad harvests in western and southern Eur