CHAPTER XXVI. THE INVINCIBLES. The Married Women’s Property Act--The Opening of Parliament--Changes in the Cabinet--Arrest of Suspects in Dublin--Invincibles on their Trial--Evidence of the Informer Carey--Carey’s Fate--The Forster-Parnell Incident--National Gift to Mr. Parnell--The Affirmation Bill--The Bankruptcy and other Bills--Mr. Childers’ Budget--The Corrupt Practices Bill--The “Farmers’ Friends”--Sir Stafford Northcote’s Leadership--The Bright Celebration--Dynamite Outrages in London--The Explosives Act--M. de Lesseps and Mr. Gladstone--Blunders in South Africa--The Ilbert Bill--The Attack on Lady Florence Dixie’s House--Death of John Brown--His Career and Character--The Queen and the Consumption of Lamb--A Dull Holiday at Balmoral--Capsizing of the _Daphne_--Prince Albert Victor made K.G.--France and Madagascar--Arrest of Rev. Mr. Shaw--Settlement of the Dispute--Progress of the National League--Orange and Green Rivalry--The Leeds Conference--“Franchise First”--Lord Salisbury and the Housing of the Poor--Mr. Besant and East London--“Slumming”--Hicks Pasha’s Disastrous Expedition in the Soudan--Mr. Gladstone on Jam. An unnoticed Act of Parliament came into force on New Year’s Day, 1883, which marked the progress of what may be termed the social revolution in England. This was the Married Women’s Property Act, which had been passed with very little debate in the previous Session. If it be true that the position which women hold in a State is an unerring test of its standard of civilisation, the reign of the Queen will be notable in history, as one in which the social progress of England has been most rapid. In England, said J. S. Mill, Woman has not been the favourite of the law, but its favourite victim. During the last quarter of a century, however, this reproach has been wiped [Illustration: CHARLES DARWIN. (_From a Photograph by Elliott and Fry._)]