The Declaration of War-Public Opinion in England-Proclamation of Neu- trality-The Secret Treaty-Debates on the War-Triple Treaty between England and the Belligerents-Enthusiasm in Belgium-Prorogation of Parliament-Progress of the War-Sick and Wounded Fund and other Charities-Unpopularity of England-The Russian Note-Alarm about Luxembourg-Seizure of British Vessels at Duclair-Signs of the times- The Betrothal of the Princess Louise to the Marquis of Lorne Affairs in India-Our Colonial Empire-Effects of the Maori Insurrection- The Colonists in London-Lord Granville's Despatch-Fenian Raid in Canada The Rebellion at the Red River-Emigration during 1869 The Ollivier Cabinet-The Assassination of Victor Noir-M. Rochefort- [125 Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern's Candidature for the Crown of Spain-The The German Armies-King William at Versailles-Gambetta at Tours- State of Paris-Futile negotiations-Paris defences-Battle of Coulmiers- D'Aurelles de Paladines-General Chanzy-Removal of the Government to Bordeaux-Sortie from Paris, Dec. 21st-Operations—Garibaldi-Fall of CHAPTER IV.-GERMANY, AUSTRO-HUNGARY. The Ecumenical Council-Declaration of Infallibility-End of the Pope's Temporal Government-Invasion of Roman Territory-Plebiscite-Arrival of the King of Italy at Rome--Candidature for the Spanish Crown-Choice of the Duke D'Aosta-Assassination of Prim-Arrival of the new King [255 Correspondence in Mediation between France and Prussia Projected Treaty between France and Prussia The Belgian Neutrality Treaties Correspondence respecting the Treaty of 1856 1815-1870: "THE prospects with which the year terminated were those of durable peace to this country, and of a general settlement of the affairs of the continent, which, if not altogether framed upon those principles of consent and independence which alone can satisfy the feelings of a friend to national rights, seemed, upon the whole, to promise much practical improvement in the system of Europe. There were, indeed, appearances which a boding mind might regard as presaging an interruption of the calm .. but that a single event should produce an immediate change in the state of things which would again set in motion all the armed forces of Europe, and commit its destinies to the chances of war, was scarcely within the compass of the imagination. Such an apprehension could only be suggested by an intimate knowledge of the character and disposition of the French nation, and especially of that army which, though no longer in activity, still held the fate of France in its hands; and the result has afforded an awful example of the danger attending the prevalence of a military spirit, fostered by long war and brilliant achievements." With the passage that we have here quoted opens the preface to the ANNUAL REGISTER for the year 1815, and, exceptis excipiendis, B we can find no better introduction to the story that has now to be written, that of the annus mirabilis 1870. Those who still fondly believe in the dying out of wars from among the nations of the earth, and the curious in historic parallels, may alike find in an application of this passage to the events that are now passing before our eyes, matter for grave reflection. From the middle of July onwards the record of the present year, whether home or foreign, has seemed to bystanders little more than the narrative of the great French and German war, the events and surprises of which are of a magnitude so stupendous as to leave room in the mind for no other subject of contemplation. Even the downfall of the temporal power of the Pope, following immediately as it did, with more than the usual irony of facts, upon the authoritative declaration of his spiritual infallibility, passed comparatively unheeded by. Nay, the very war itself is too near at hand for the eye to realize its true proportions. Only by becoming, in imagination, the readers of some future historical work, and comparing it with any or all of the histories that now stand upon our shelves, can we form an idea of the place that must be found in the world's annals for the catastrophe of Sedan and the siege of Paris. "The extraordinary events of this new revolution" (we quote again from the same preface, and leave our readers to make the necessary modifications for themselves), "have afforded subjects for narrative rendering the present year in some respects more dramatically interesting, if the expression may be allowed, than any which have preceded it in the long course of political contention. Its rapid changes, and the memorable battle which at once overthrew an imperial throne, and consigned its possessor to perpetual imprisonment, were events singularly adapted to work upon the universal passion for wonder and novelty." The details of the great events of the past year belong to another portion of this work; to their effects upon English politics and English opinion we shall presently refer. But even if we turn, unwillingly we confess, from the terrible drama which is being played out within a ten hours' journey from us, to the domestic affairs with which we are for the present concerned, we shall find that the year has had, for Englishmen, an interest and a specialty of its own. It is not always, unfortunately, that the parliamentary session is remarkable for the passing of any one great enactment; seldom, indeed, that it can boast of more than one. But time was found during the last session to carry through two of the most important measures in the history of our recent legislation-the Irish Land Act and the Education Act, and all parties have agreed in doing justice, at all events, to the energy of the Government in effecting so much; and, with reference to the Education Act, to that of Mr. Forster especially, to whose individual exertions the measure is mainly due, and with whose name it will always be associated. It is worthy of note that both these measures were introduced in the course of one week. |