ular.

IRELAND.

There were few events connected with Ireland which possessed any
peculiar general interest. The alacrity with which recruits entered
service for the war, and the terrible proceedings of the disloyal Ribbon
Societies, were remarkable. Thus Ireland at once exhibited a generous
loyalty and a sanguinary sedition. The newspapers were literally filled,
during the closing winter months, with recitals of murders or attempts
at murder. The character of the assassinations was even more than
usually brutal and vindictive; and although some of the criminals were
arrested and punished, government was even more than usually remiss in
applying remedies to a condition of society so deplorable. Among the
events in Ireland which excited most horror and astonishment in Great
Britain, were those connected with burning the Bible. There was much
excitement among the Roman Catholic religious orders, and efforts were
made by them to create a species of revival in various parts of the
country. On some of these occasions the Bible was burned during the
fervour of fanaticism excited.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS, MINISTERIAL CHANGES, AND DIPLOMATIC
STRUGGLES.

A notice of the parliamentary conflicts of the session, of the
ministerial vicissitudes resulting from them, and of the diplomacy which
was acted upon by each, and which itself influenced both, will here find
its proper place in this chapter.

On the 22nd January, when the parliament assembled after the Christmas
recess, Mr. Roebuck gave notice of a motion for inquiry into the number
and condition of the army before Sebastopol, and into the conduct
of those departments of government which were responsible for the
efficiency of that army. This notice produced the gravest consequences:
the house was thrown, into a high state of excitement, and the treasury
benches especially partook of it. It is marvellous that the government
did not prepare itself for some such occurrence; but, as in the
management of the war, so in the management of the house, they were
always "too late"--so that the nickname of "the late ministry" was
bestowed upon them while yet they held, with whatever firmness they at
any time possessed, the reins of power.

Rumours on Thursday evening, the 21st of January, prevailed extensively
that Lord John Russell had resigned his connection with the ministry,
and on grounds of the most startling and alarming nature. The evening
papers came out ear