England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Great Britain -- History -- William IV, 1830-1837
Parliament (the first reformed) met on January 29th, and it was not
long before the more effective government of Ireland was brought on
for discussion. A Bill for the suppression of disturbances in Ireland
(or, as it was commonly called, "The Coercion Bill") was introduced
into the House of Lords by Earl Grey, was read a first time on
February 15th, and was passed there without a division on February
22nd. But it had a very warm time in the House of Commons, and it was
not passed until March 29th. The Lords agreed with the amendments of
the Commons, and it received the Royal Assent on April 2nd. It is 3
and 4 Gul. IV. c. 4, "An Act for the more effectual suppression of
local Disturbances and dangerous Associations in Ireland." The Lord
Lieutenant at once put the Act in force, with very good results. The
more daring outrages diminished; for whereas the offences against the
law, in eleven counties, were 472 in March, they were but 162 in May.
[Illustration: Dresses.]
Two other Bills, which materially tended to the pacification of
Ireland, were passed, and became law respectively on August 14th and
28th--3 and 4 Gul. IV. c. 37, "An Act to alter and amend the laws
relating to the Temporalities of the Church in Ireland," and 3 and 4
Gul. IV. c. 79, "An Act to provide for the more impartial Trial of
Offences in certain cases in Ireland."
[Illustration: Hair dressing.]
The fashions of this year include two walking-dresses, one dinner, and
one ball-dress, together with bonnets, a turban, a cap, and various
modes of dressing the hair. (_See preceding page._)
CHAPTER XVI.
1834.
Corporation commission--Curious advertisement--Discovery of
treasure--Bribery at Liverpool--Duke of York's statue--Trades'
unions--Skit thereon--Riot at Oldham--Unionist oath--Union
meeting and monster petition--Its fate--Duke of Wellington made
Chancellor of Oxford--The Princess Victoria's lover.
The first thing of importance in this year was the resumption of the
sittings of the Corporation Commission, which was an inquiry into the
Corporation of London. This object of envy has been several times
attacked, sometimes partially despoiled; always threatened, yet always
vigorous, it is the red rag of the Radical bull. This Commission did
the usual thing--took evidence, and came to nought.
The year itself was very uneventful in social incidents, so that I
must draw upon divers odds and ends illustrative of the times. Here is
the advertisement of a particularly cool gentleman, culled from the
first page of the _Times_, January 17th--
"AN HEIR.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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