More Coercion for Ireland--The Scottish Reform Bill--The Church Rates Bill--Mr. Disraeli succeeds Lord Derby--Reunion of the Liberals--The Irish Reform Bill--Mr. Gladstone's Irish Church Resolutions--Maynooth Grant and the _Regium Donum_--The Suspensory Bill--Lord Stanley's Foreign Policy--General Election--Mr. Gladstone's Ministry--Martin _v._ Mackonochie--Obituary of the Year--Lord Brougham, Archbishop Longley, and Others--The Abyssinian War--Rise of Theodore--The unanswered Letter--Theodore's Retaliation--Mr. Rassam's Mission--His Interview with Theodore--The King's Charges against Cameron--Dr. Beke's Letter--Rassam's Arrest--Mr. Flad's Journey--The Captives' Treatment--Merewether's Advice--Lord Stanley's Ultimatum--Constitution of Sir R. Napier's Expedition--Friendliness of the Natives--Attitude of the Chiefs--Proceedings of Theodore--Massacre of Prisoners--Advance on Magdala--Destruction of Theodore's Army--Negotiations with Theodore--Release of the Prisoners--A Present of Cows--Bombardment of Magdala--Suicide of Theodore--The Return March--The "Mountains of Rasselas"--Sketch of Continental Affairs 464 CHAPTER XXX. THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_). England in 1869--The Irish Church Difficulty--Mr. Gladstone unfolds his Scheme--Debate on the Second Reading--A Bumper Majority--The Bill passes through the House of Commons--Lord Redesdale and the Coronation Oath--The Opposition in the Lords--Dr. Magee's Speech--Amendments in Committee--Concurrent Endowment--Danger of a Collision between the Houses--The Queen and Archbishop Tait--Conference between Lord Cairns and Lord Granville--Their Compromise--Its Terms accepted by Mr. Gladstone--The Bill becomes Law 493 CHAPTER XXXI. THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_). Mr Lowe's Budget--The Surplus disappears--Mr. Lowe creates a Surplus and proposes Remissions of Taxes--Cost of the Abyssinian Expedition--Sir Stafford Northcote's Explanation--The Endowed Schools' Bill--Speech of Mr. Forster--The Commissioners--Religious Tests at the Universities--Sir John Coleridge's Bill--Sir Roundell Palmer's Speech--The Bill passes through the Commons--It is rejected by the Lords--The Mayor of Cork--The O'Sullivan Disability Bill--Mr O'Sullivan resigns--The Bill dropped--Life Peerages--Lord Malmesbury's Speech--Fenianism in Ireland--Deaths of Lord Derby and Lord Gough--European Affairs: the Emperor prophesies Peace--The General Election--The _Senatus Consultum_--Official Candidates--The Revolution in Spain--Wanted a King--General Grant the President of the United States--The _Alabama_ Convention rejected 507 CHAPTER XXXII. THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).