M. QUEEN VICTORIA, 1843. _From the picture by
F. Winterhalter at Windsor Castle_ _Frontispiece_

H.M. MARIE AMELIE, QUEEN OF THE FRENCH, 1828.
_From the miniature by Millet at Windsor Castle_
_Facing p._ 104

"THE COUSINS." H.M. Queen Victoria and the
Duchess of Nemours, who was a Princess of
Saxe-Coburg and first cousin to the Queen and
the Prince Consort. _From the picture by F.
Winterhalter at Buckingham Palace_ " 168

BARON STOCKMAR. _From the portrait by John Partridge
at Buckingham Palace_ " 240

Field-Marshal THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, K.G.
Believed to be by Count d'Orsay. _From a
miniature at Apsley House_ " 392

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XIII

The new year (1844) opened with signs of improved trade, and a feeling
of confidence, partly due to the friendly _entente_ with France. In
Ireland, soon after the collapse of the Clontarf meeting, O'Connell
and some of his associates were indicted for seditious conspiracy,
and convicted. The conviction was subsequently quashed on technical
grounds, but O'Connell's political influence was at an end. In
Parliament, owing chiefly to the exertions of Lord Ashley (afterwards
Earl of Shaftesbury), an important Bill was passed restricting factory
labour, and limiting its hours. The Bank Charter Act, separating the
issue and banking departments, as well as regulating the note issue
of the Bank of England in proportion to its stock of gold, also
became law. Meanwhile the dissensions in the Conservative party were
increasing, and the Ministry were defeated on a motion made by their
own supporters to extend the preferential treatment of colonial
produce. With great difficulty the vote was rescinded and a crisis
averted; but the Young England section of the Tory party were becoming
more and more an embarrassment to the Premier. Towards the end of
the year the new Royal Exchange was opened amid much ceremony by the
Queen.

The services rendered by Sir Charles Napier in India were the subject
of votes of thanks in both Houses, but shortly afterwards Lord
Ellenborough, the Governor-General, was recalled by the Directors
of the East India Company: their action was no doubt due to his
overbearing methods and love of display, but it was disapproved by the
Ministry, and Lord Ellenborough was accorded an Earldom.

During the year th