[Illustration: A CARDING ROOM AT MESSRS. J. AND P. COATS'S FERGUSLIE MILLS. These works, originated in 1826 in a small factory employing a score of operatives, now give employment to about 5,000, and cover between fifty and sixty acres. The sewing machine--itself an invention of the period covered by these pages--has enormously increased the demand for thread. The total imports of cotton into the United Kingdom, which were 592,000,000 lbs. in 1840, had grown to 1,757,042,672 lbs. during 1895.] [Sidenote: Second Midlothian Campaign.] The country neither realised the magnitude of the crisis, nor did it perceive grounds for relying more on the Conservatives to deal with it than on the Liberals. The Opposition was greatly strengthened at this juncture by the accession of Lord Derby to the Liberal Party, and the veteran Gladstone, forgetting his resolution, six years before, to spend the rest of his years in retirement, went forth exulting on his second Midlothian Campaign. The walls of the Tory Jericho of the North went down before the blast of his trumpet; the Buccleuch was defeated; only nine Conservatives were returned from Scotland. The Irish vote, an important element in all the great towns, went solid for the Liberals in obedience to Parnell's order "to vote against Benjamin Disraeli as they should vote against the enemy of their country and their race." Instead of the majority of fifty which they counted in the old Parliament, the Conservatives returned to the new one in a minority of forty-six. [Illustration: _From the Collection of_} {_C. Wentworth Wass, Esq._ ROYAL PLATES: SPECIMENS OF SERVICES MADE FOR HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. 1. Royal Worcester Plate, emblazoned with the Royal Arms, border of light blue and gold. 2. Royal Worcester Plate, with openwork border, gilt, and having turquoise panels. Enamelled by Thomas Bott. Exhibited at the International Exhibition of 1862. 3. Plate, richly gilt, ornamented with the Royal Crown and the Arms of the City of London. Used by Her Majesty at the Civic Banquet celebrating her Accession, 1837.] There was much speculation as to whom the Queen would send for to form a Ministry. Lord Granville and Lord Hartington were the nominal leaders of the victorious party in either House, but the victory was due to Mr. Gladstone's crusades--everybody agreed in that. On April 22 Her Majesty sent for Lord Hartington; next day he and Lord Granville were received to an audience, and thereafter all doubts were set at rest by Mr. Gladstone receiving the Royal commands. [Illustration: _From the Collection of_} {_C. Wentworth Wass, Esq._ ROYAL DESSERT PLATES.