removed from its
smaller number and its greater transport power.

On the 23rd of April one of the grandest sights ever witnessed from the
shores of England was presented at Portsmouth. Never were the waters
of the Solent so crowded with "craft of all dimensions" as on that
day. Notwithstanding the shameful failures of the English navy in the
Pacific, and the dilatory proceedings of the Admiralty, which rendered
the blockades in the White Sea so much less effective than they ought
to have been--although the massacre of Sinope did take place, and "Old
Charley" nursed his gout or drank his grog, when he ought to have
been reconnoitering Sweaborg--still the Russian navy of the Euxine had
perished rather than meet Dundas; the stores, granaries, and fisheries,
were swept from the coasts of the Sea of Azoff; and not a ship of the
enemy dare put to sea for two years in the Baltic. After all, Britannia
did "rule the waves," and was more able to rule them than ever. The
fleet was assembled for her majesty's personal review, and consisted
of 240 steam vessels, including gun-boats, mortar-boats, and floating
batteries. There were three vessels of 100 guns each, six of 91, an
equal number of 80 guns, and vessels of every order; frigates, brigs,
sloops, &c, had their proportionate numbers. The steam-power equalled
that of 31,000 horses, and 3,000 guns were carried. The fleet, covering
a space of twelve miles, was manned by 30,000 sailors and marines.
On the 29th of April peace was proclaimed. The author of this work
witnessed the proclamation in several parts of the metropolis, but the
crowds were not such as the great city usually sent forth on occasions
of magnitude. The fact was, England did not consider that the war had
been prosecuted to its legitimate consequences, and felt that the French
emperor had not pursued a direct and fair policy.

The return of the British troops was hailed with enthusiasm, and a
review of a portion of them--especially the guards--by her majesty in
Hyde Park, elicited unbounded enthusiasm from all classes of the people.
Among the most exciting home incidents connected with the war was the
distribution by her majesty, in Hyde Park, of the Victoria Cross--the
badge of a new order of merit, bestowed for valour upon a number of
gallant recipients.

Peace had scarcely been proclaimed when the country was irritated by
tidings that Russia was endeavouring to evade its stipulations, and that
France and Aust