Growing Unpopularity of the Melbourne Administration--The Stockdale Case--Approaching Fall of the Government--Financial Embarrassments--Lord John Russell’s Proposal with respect to the Corn Laws--Defeat of the Ministry--General Election, and Conservative Majority--Views of Prince Albert--Settlement of the “Bedchamber” Question--Wise Counsel of the Prince and Baron Stockmar--Visits of the Queen to Places of Interest--Troublesome Loyalty--Launch of the _Trafalgar_--The Melbourne Government and Free Trade--Speech from the Throne on the Meeting of the New Parliament--Vote of Want of Confidence in the Government--Resignation of Ministers--Final Years of Lord Melbourne--Formation and Chief Objects of Sir Robert Peels Administration--The High Church Movement in England--Disruption of the Church of Scotland--Lord Melbourne’s Opinion of Prince Albert--Sir Robert Peel and the Prince--Public Appearances of the Latter in Connection with Social and Artistic Questions--Birth and Christening of the Prince of Wales--Meeting of Parliament for the Session of 1842--Splendid Festivities at Court--Attempts of Francis and Bean to Shoot her Majesty 89 CHAPTER VII. CONVULSIONS IN THE EAST. Approaches to a Great Tragedy--State of Afghanistan--Position of Dost Mahomed in 1836--Mission of Captain Burnes to Cabul in 1837--Afghanistan, England, and Russia--Determination of the Governor-General of India to Restore Shah Soojah to the Afghan Throne--Garbling of Burnes’s Despatches--Action of the Anglo-Indian Government against the Russians before Herat--British Invasion of Afghanistan in 1839--Difficulties, Dangers, and Successes of the Campaign--Cold Reception of Shah Soojah at Cabul--Operations in the Khyber Pass--Outbreak of Insurrections against the Restored Power--Actions with the British--Surrender of Dost Mahomed--Increased Turmoil among the Afghans--Massacre of November 2nd, 1841--Imbecility of General Elphinstone--Murder of Sir William Macnaghten--Agreement between the British Authorities and Akbar Khan--Retreat of the Army of Occupation--Horrors of the March, and Complete Destruction of the Army--Defence of Jelalabad by Sir Robert Sale--Operations of Generals Nott, Pollock, and Sale--Capture of Cabul--Release of the Prisoners, and Close of the War--Lord Ellenborough and the Gates of Somnauth--Murder of Stoddart and Conolly in Bokhara--Disturbed State of England in 1842--The Queen’s First Visit to Scotland--Receipt of Good News from the East--Position of Prince Albert towards the State--Discretion of his Private Life--Extent of his Labours--Colonisation in New Zealand and New South Wales 111 CHAPTER VIII. THE ADMINISTRATION OF SIR ROBERT PEEL.