y in Oude, engaged the minds of
men most seriously, and checked in some measure the general prosperous
condition of affairs.

There were few incidents connected with the court interesting to the
public. The King of the Belgians paid a visit to his august niece early
in the year, and rumour attributed a motive in connection with it which
referred to the projected peace with Russia. His majesty, indeed, never
visited England but some rumour did not prevail as to the influence he
sought to exercise over the mind of her majesty, in sympathy with some
foreign nation not altogether in harmony with British interests and
views. It was believed that he came on this occasion to make as
easy terms as possible for Russia. The movements of the royal family
throughout the year were as had been customary. The return of the troops
from the seat of war gave her majesty opportunity to show her interest
in her brave soldiers, and to put forth her benevolence wisely and
freely on their behalf.

The prosperity of the country may best be contemplated from trade
returns of the year: these were reported by command of her majesty to
both houses of parliament. On March 19, 1857, returns were made to the
legislature, containing abstracts of reports of the trade of various
countries and places for the years 1855--1856, received by the board
of trade, through the foreign office, from her majesty's ministers and
consuls. Those abstracts are too voluminous for these pages: a perusal
of them in their original form would repay the reader, and show that
the great commercial country of the world was Great Britain--that so
extensive and ramified were her trade transactions, that she might be
considered the centre of universal commerce. The great manufacturing
towns in the north of England increased prodigiously in wealth and
influence, and the chief provincial ports became hives of industry,
while their waters were crowded with forests of ships. The Liverpool
Year-book for 1856 * disclosed an extraordinary state of power and
prosperity in that great commercial thoroughfare and _entrepot_ of the
world.

* Edited and compiled by Lee and Nightingale, published by
Benson and Mallett, Liverpool.

During the official year, which ended August 31, 1856, the nett ordinary
income of the borough amounted to L223,319 18s. The docks of Liverpool
were amongst the wonders of England; and since 1856 they have been
improved and enlarged, so as to surpass in