treaties. British and French cooperate in this war; Canton is
bombarded and partially destroyed. The Persians having taken Herat, the
"key to Afghanistan," in violation of treaty, and Afghanistan being
England's northwestern gate to India, war is declared against Persia;
British prevail, and Bushire taken. Lord Canning made Governor-General of
India. The annexation of Oude (northern India) completes British
subjugation of the Indian peninsula from Cape Comorin to the Himalaya
Mountains. Great Britain and France remonstrate against the tyrannical
policy of the King of Naples, and withdraw their ministers.

Heine, famous German poet; Hugh Miller, Scottish geologist; Sir W.
Hamilton, Scottish philosopher; Delaroche, French painter; Thierry, French
historian; and Schumann, German composer, died.

In Spain, Espartero is superseded by O'Donnell as prime minister;
insurrections occur in Madrid and Barcelona due to latter's dictatorial
measures; Narvaez in turn succeeds.

In Central America, war is waged against President Walker by confederation
of states led by Costa Rica; Walker defeats three thousand Costa Ricans at
Rivas. In Mexico, General Comonfort is elected president. In China, a
United States squadron destroys barrier forts near Canton because of an
attack on an American boat.

In the United States, civil war wages in Kansas; great political struggle
continues there between Free Soil and Slavery factions, and is reflected
in Congress; a speech of Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts, provokes
violent personal assault by Representative Brooks, of South Carolina. Nine
weeks' contest for Speaker of the House of Representatives. Resolution
against slave-trade passed by the House. Congress passes an act to aid in
the laying of the Atlantic cable. Dispute with England on the construction
of the Bulwer-Clayton Treaty and alleged violation of the neutrality laws.
Mr. Crampton, the British minister, receives his passports, and the
consuls at New York, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati are dismissed. Later in
the year the matter is satisfactorily adjusted and articles agreed upon
for settlement of Central American questions. American whalers, having
brought into port the British arctic relief-ship Resolute, a derelict,
Congress purchases it, refits it, and sends it to Queen Victoria as token
of American good-will.

First bridge over the Mississippi is built at Minneapolis. Beginning of
experiments with the Bessemer process for the pr