stralia, India, and the Straits of Malacca, by
the want of fortifications and ships of war for their protection. It
was deemed possible that a Russian fleet might sail through the straits,
from its Siberian rendezvous, and commit great ravages in India, and
that Australia was still more open to attack. Great efforts were made by
the colonists to place the colonies in a good defensive condition, and
even to aid the parent country in a war so popular in every part of the
empire.

In Canada several public disasters occurred during the year: chiefly
a terrific fire at Quebec, by which a large portion of the city was
destroyed.

The coasts of India, especially of Western India around Bombay, suffered
from storm. The war with Ava bore its fruits; peace was confirmed, the
Birmese were taught a salutary fear of British power, and deprived of
the resources by which they might again make war upon our Indian empire.
There were various matters of moment to India. Oude was, like Ireland,
in chronic distraction; and the policy pursued towards it by the
governor-general of India and the board of control was neither salutary,
nor even safe. The space allotted to this History does not allow of even
a review of the affairs of the vast empire of Hindostan.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.--THE ALLIANCE WITH FRANCE, THE WAR WITH RUSSIA.

As the events of 1853 upon the Danube and in Asia Minor became known in
Western Europe, the bonds of amity between the two great Western nations
were drawn more closely, and it was finally resolved to unite with
Turkey in war against the haughty and sanguinary autocrat of the North.

As before related, the British parliament met on the 30th of January. It
was anxious, if possible, to avert war. Whatever the events which fill
up the measure of national calamities, it was felt that war was, of all,
the most terrible. Still, the parliament and nation felt the truth
of language directed by Lord Palmerston against Mr. Bright: "War is a
calamity; but there is a greater calamity than war--national dishonour!"
This was the sentiment of the nation, and of its representatives in
parliament assembled. Fiery debates filled up the interval until war
was actually proclaimed, and then her majesty put forth her manifesto of
hostilities, with the unanimous support of a mighty people.

On the 8th of February the Russian ambassador withdrew from the British
court, and the British ambassador was ordered from St. Petersburg.
Duri