ope caused a dearth
of food; and there was reason to fear that the fleets and armies of
England and France would encounter those of Russia in open war. There
was much dissatisfaction with the government. The Earl of Aberdeen
and the whole Peelite section of the cabinet were believed to be
too friendly to the czar, and adopting a policy unworthy of English
greatness and of English honour. The court was supposed to be influenced
by the German powers in favour of Russia, and to be secretly hostile to
the French emperor. An active and almost authoritative interference
in the administrative affairs of the government, home and foreign, was
attributed to Prince Albert; and that interference was believed to be
unfavourable to free opinions at home, and a dignified attitude on the
part of England to foreign powers. A passion for Germanizing the army
and the home-office, for centralization--so contrary to English opinions
and traditions--and for subjecting the policy of England to German
interests, necessities, or views, was believed to possess the prince,
and to spread its influence in the court. The prince, who had won so
wide a popularity, became, in fact, unpopular. No open demonstrations
were made of this feeling, but his royal highness was received coolly
when he appeared in public, and the newspapers of the whole of the
united kingdom gave him the discredit of such rumours. Happily, when
parliament met, the statements of the ministers lessened these unpopular
impressions, but did not efface them. It was thought that the public men
who were favourable to England's taking a spirited part in defence of
Turkey, in conjunction with France, and against the wishes of the German
courts, were thwarted by the prince.

The desire was universally entertained that parliament should meet at
the beginning of January, but it was the last day of that month before
it assembled.

The approaching rupture with Russia occupied the attention of the public
intensely; the youth of the country burning for war against a power so
despotic and cruel. The massacre of Sinope had goaded the English
nation to a feeling of resentment against the czar personally, and to an
antipathy to the genius and spirit of the nation which he governed. For
sake of treating the events of the time with unity, we shall pass over
the home incidents connected with the proclamation of hostilities until
the peaceful incidents which were important to the country are first
rec