Disputes with American Belligerents--The Southern Privateers--Uneasiness of the Queen--Federal Recruiting in Ireland--Mr. Gladstone’s Budget--Revival of the Reform Agitation--Mr. Gladstone Joins the Reformers--“Essays and Reviews”--A Heresy-Hunt in Convocation--A Ribald Chancellor--The Parliamentary Duel between Wilberforce and Westbury--The Vote of Censure on Mr. Lowe--The Five Under-Secretaries and the House of Commons--Prorogation of Parliament--The Strife in the United States--Gambling in Cotton--A Commercial Panic in England--The Battle of Chancellorsville--Sherman’s March through Georgia--The Canadian Raiders--The Presidential Election--Birth of the Heir-Presumptive--Baptism of the Heir-Presumptive--The Queen’s Gift to her Little Grandson--The Queen and the Floods at Sheffield--The Murder of Mr. Briggs--The Queen Refuses a Reprieve to the Murderer--The Queen’s Letter to the Princess Louis--John Brown and the Queen’s Pony--Dr. Norman McLeod’s Message from the Queen--An Anniversary of Sorrow and Sympathy 211 CHAPTER X. THE DEATH OF PALMERSTON. Opening of Parliament--Lord Russell and the American Government--Catholicism and Conservatism--Mr. Disraeli angles for the Irish Vote--Palmerston on Tenant Right--Another Panic in Piccadilly--Death of Cobden--Failure of the “Manchester School”--A Prosperity Budget and a Round Surplus--End of the American War--Moderation of the Victors--Assassination of President Lincoln--Reorganising the South--Conflict between President Johnson and the Republican Party--The Mexican Empire and the United States--The Danish Question--The Convention of Gastein--Bismarck’s Interview with the Duke of Augustenburg--The Mystery of Biarritz--Lord Chancellor Westbury’s Fall--Death and Character of Palmerston--The New Ministry--Mr. Gladstone Leader of the Commons--The Rinderpest--The Fenian Conspiracy--The Queen’s Letter on Railway Accidents--Laxity of Administration in the Queen’s Household--Birth of Prince George of Wales--Majority of Prince Alfred--The Queen at Gotha--The Betrothal of the Princess Helena--The Last Illness and Death of King Leopold of Belgium--His Character and Career--Suppressing a Rebellion with a Carpet-Bag 231 CHAPTER XI. A STOP-GAP ADMINISTRATION.