at mosque of the prophet, called for
vengeance, and it was easy to forsee that Napoleon, albeit he proclaimed
himself to be the man of destiny foretold in the Koran, would soon be
compelled to retire from Egypt.

In Europe, the effects of this battle were instantaneous and surprising.
It raised the drooping spirits of the Anti-Gallican party in every
country; and it filled all England with transports of joy and triumph.
Nelson was raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Nelson of
the Nile, and many other honours were heaped upon him. He returned to
Naples, where he found that the king was collecting a numerous army,
with a view of driving the French from Rome and Tuscany; that the
congress at Radstadt had been virtually broken up; that the Emperor of
Austria was again arming; and that a new coalition was forming against
the French; their conduct at Rome, in Switzerland, and other countries,
being in direct opposition to the conditions of the treaty at Oampo
Formio. In November the island of Gozo, separated from Malta by a narrow
channel, capitulated to a detachment of Nelson's squadron, and Malta
itself was closely blockaded.

[Illustration: 294.jpg PORTRAIT OF LORD NELSON]

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament assembled on the 20th of November. In his speech from the
throne his majesty spoke with exultation of the victory gained by
Nelson; and after alluding to other successes, and to the suppression
of the Irish rebellion, congratulated the country on the prospect of
new alliances, by which it might be anticipated that the power of France
would be humbled. This alluded more especially to Russia, where the
Czarina Catherine had recently been succeeded by her son Paul, whose
line of policy was different from that of his mother. The address was
animadverted upon in both houses by some members of opposition; but it
was, nevertheless, carried without a division.

INCOME TAX SANCTIONED, ETC.

During this session the primary objects of parliamentary Consideration
were, financial propositions, with measures for internal defence, for
invigorating the European confederacy now forming, and for effecting
a permanent union between Great Britain and Ireland. The estimated
supplies for the ensuing year were put at L29,272,000; and Pitt proposed
a new plan for raising a considerable part of them--by an income tax. A
series of resolutions to this new and bold plan were passed in the house
of commons before the c