A treaty signed in 1860 by China, Great Britain and France, ratifying the provisions of the Treaty of Tientsin. China also made certain additional concessions, and paid an increased indemnity as compensation for the treatment accorded to the plenipotentiaries on their way to Peking to ratify the previous treaty. Pembroke, Settlement of. A settlement of Flemings at Haverfordwest and Tenby, under the Earl of Clare, in 1107. Penal Laws. A series of Acts passed at various times from the reign of William III to that of George II, and notably in the time of Queen Anne, imposing various most harassing disabilities on the Irish Catholics. The first relaxation of these Acts took place in 1778. Pendleton Bill. A bill to promote Civil Service reform, which was passed by the United States Senate in 1882. Its principal provision was the throwing open of appointments in the Civil Service to competitive examination. Peninsular State. A name sometimes given to the State of Florida, U.S.A. Penny Post. This great reform was introduced in the Budget of 1839, and became operative on January 10, 1840. Its introduction is due to the perseverance of Sir Rowland Hill, who after many years of argument, at last succeeded in convincing the Postal authorities that the increase of correspondence would more than compensate for the loss occasioned by the lowering of the rates. Pensioned Parliament. The Parliament of 1661-79 was so called from the large number of its members who were Cavaliers in receipt of Royal pensions. It was also called the Cavalier Parliament. Pentecôte Vivante. This sobriquet was bestowed upon Cardinal Mezzofanti, who was said to speak fifty-eight languages. People’s Charter. _See_ Chartism. People’s Party. _See_ Populists. Perdita. The name by which Mrs. Mary Robinson, the favourite of George IV, was generally known. Père des Lettres. Francis I of France was called the Father of Letters. Permanent Settlement. The arrangement by which Lord Cornwallis finally adopted the Zemindari System of land tenure in Bengal in 1793. (_See_ Zemindar). Péronne, Treaty of. A treaty between Louis XI of France and Charles the Bold of Burgundy, in 1468, by which Louis, who had been treacherously imprisoned by Charles, obtained his release in return for certain important concessions. Perpetual Edict. A document issued at Brussels by Philip II in 1577, confirming the Pacification of Ghent. Philip agreed to the withdrawal of the Spanish Army, exchange of all prisoners, confirmation of the Charters and Constitutions of the Netherlands, and the maintenance of the two religions. Perpetual League. A league entered into in 1291 by the three Forest Cantons of Switzerland, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, for mutual assistance against aggression. This league, which is also known as the League of Brunnen, is the germ of the Swiss Confederation. A second Perpetual League was formed in 1332, when Lucerne was admitted into the Federation.