ary and civilian
officers, whose zeal and capacity suppressed the Mutiny.

Before the Dissolution of Parliament, Mr Gladstone and Mr Disraeli had
joined in an attack on the budget of Sir George Lewis, and the
Peelite ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed for the moment disposed
definitely to return to the Conservative party. To the Divorce Bill,
the chief legislative result of the second Session, Mr Gladstone gave
a persistent and unyielding opposition: but it passed the Commons by
large majorities; a Bill for the removal of Jewish disabilities was
much debated, but not carried. In August, another visit, this time of
a private character, was paid by the Emperor and Empress of the
French to the Queen at Osborne. In the middle of November a series of
commercial disasters of great magnitude took place. The Government,
as in 1847, authorised the infringement for a time of the Bank Charter
Act, and a third session was held to pass an Act of Indemnity.

CHAPTER XXVI

1857

_Queen Victoria to Mr Labouchere._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _8th January 1857_.

The despatches from Sir George Grey[1] which the Queen returns are
most interesting. The two chief objects to accomplish appear to be the
bringing the Kaffirs in British Kaffraria within the pale of the law,
so that they may know the blessings of it--and the re-absorption, if
possible, of the Orange River Free State. To both these objects the
efforts of the Government should be steadily directed.

[Footnote 1: See _ante_, 26th July, 1856. The task of dealing with
the Hottentots and Kaffirs, and coming to an understanding
with the recalcitrant Boers, was a difficult one.]

[Pageheading: HOME AND FOREIGN POLICY]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

BROADLANDS, _13th January 1857_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and he
and Lady Palmerston will have the honour of waiting upon your Majesty
as soon as he is able to move. He is, however, at present on crutches,
and can hardly expect to be in marching order for some few days to
come. With regard to the matters that are likely to be discussed when
Parliament meets, Viscount Palmerston would beg to submit that the one
which has for some months past occupied the attention of all Europe,
namely, the execution of the Treaty of Paris, has been settled in
a manner satisfactory to all parties; and this is not only a great
relief to the Government, but is also a security fo