[Illustration: _J. Doyle_ ("_H. B._").} {_Political Sketches, 1847._ AN INTERESTING GROUP; OR, "MISFORTUNE MAKES STRANGE BEDFELLOWS." Lord Lincoln, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Goulbourne, Mr. Disraeli, Lord George Bentinck, and Mr. O'Brien. Lord George Bentinck's plan of relief works for Ireland, which mainly took the form of railway extension, was at first opposed by the Government, but afterwards adopted by them, thus bringing this "interesting group" of men into line.] But the ferment of rebellion was spreading swiftly among those who remained. All the misery of the famine was laid at the door of the land system; not unfrequently coroners' juries returned verdicts of wilful murder against the Prime Minister or Lord Lieutenant, holding them directly responsible for not averting the disasters of the country. Once more the Government had to undertake the hateful task of bringing forward a Coercion Bill, for the people seemed on the brink of civil war. Technically that limit was actually transgressed, though the means were ludicrously inadequate to the end--repeal of the Union. The "Young Ireland" party, inflamed by the successful revolution in France, separated from and plunged ahead of O'Connor's Repealers. O'Connor had precipitated the rupture by endeavouring to induce his party to pledge themselves against any except constitutional means. His proposal was laughed to scorn. William Smith O'Brien, brother of Lord Inchiquin, claiming descent from Brian Boruibh, placed himself at the head of the "Confederates," as the new party was called, with Meagher, Dillon, and others as his lieutenants; the _United Irishman_ newspaper was started in opposition to the less inflammatory _Nation_, the organ of the older party. It was managed by John Mitchell, who filled its columns week by week with the most violent and acrid sedition. [Illustration: _F. Winterhalter._} {_In the Royal Collection._ HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES Christmas 1846.] [Illustration: _F. Winterhalter._} {_In the Royal Collection._ HER MAJESTY AND THE PRINCE CONSORT WITH THE ROYAL CHILDREN, 1846. The Princess Royal (born 1840), Prince of Wales (1841), Princess Alice (1843), Prince Alfred (1844), and Princess Helena (1846).] [Sidenote: Smith O'Brien's Rebellion.] [Sidenote: Widow Cormack's Cabbages.] [Sidenote: The Special Commission.]