XV.-CHRONICLE OF OCCURRENCES.

From November 1857 to November 1858.

Nov. 1, 1857. Great distress among the operatives of New York and Philadelphia in consequence of the commercial failures.

3. Commencement of the attempt to launch the Leviathan steamer from the yard of Messrs. Scott Russell and Co., Milwall, Poplar.

4. Freedom of the City of London, together with a splendid sword, presented to H. R. H. the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief. The Ninth Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the City of London shows a reduction in the yearly mortality of the city since the appointment of that officer, from 3,763 to 2,904, presumed to be owing to the adoption of sanitary measures recommended by the medical officer.

6. The Sunday-evening services in Exeter Hall, by ministers of the Established Church, under the sanction of the Bishop of London, were interdicted by the Rev. A. G. Edouart, incumbent of the parish.

9. Suspension of the Western Bank of Scotland at Glasgow. 11. Suspension of the City of Glasgow Bank.-Large meetings of the unemployed operatives in New York and Philadelphia, demanding relief. -Fire broke out on board the 'Sarah Sands,' screw transport ship. The powder was thrown overboard, the fire subdued, the leak kept under, and the remains of the vessel navigated to the Mauritius in ten days, owing to the energy and devotion of Captain Castle and the seamen and soldiers on board.

12. The Bank Charter Act suspended, and confidence to some extent restored.

17. Distress in the manufacturing districts, owing to depression of trade. In the town of Preston alone about 25,000 persons wholly or in great part out of employment.-Public meeting of noblemen, landowners, merchants, and manufacturers held at Glasgow in support of commercial credit, so seriously affected by the suspension of the banks and business firms. The Duke of Hamilton presided.-The electric telegraph laid down between Cagliari and Malta, a distance of about 300 miles.

18. Address in favour of suffrage extension, vote by ballot, triennial parliaments, &c., issued by several members of parliament and other friends of reform. Suspension of the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Bank with liabilities of about a million sterling.-Explosion of the powdermagazine of the Federal fortress of Mayence on the Rhine, killing many persons, and wounding several hundred persons: about 60 houses totally destroyed, and many houses much injured.-Ambassadors from the two kings of Siam received by Queen Victoria at a Court held at Windsor.

19. Yellow fever raging at Lisbon, about 80 persons a-day being carried off by it. On the 24th of December Lisbon was declared free from yellow fever. Great distress in Kaffirland. About 30,000 destitute Kaffirs brought in as servants to the Cape colonists.

22. A series of Sunday evening services by Dissenting ministers commenced in Exeter Hall, the Rev. W. Brock, of Bloomsbury Chapel, officiating.

23. Severe storm in the North of Scotland. Many fishing-boats lost. Off the Banffshire coast alone, 42 fishermen lost their lives, leaving 27 widows and 79 children.

24. An influential deputation of gentlemen belonging to London and the provinces, waited on the Earl of Clarendon at the Foreign Office, to present a memorial from the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, against the immigration slave-trade now being carried on by French merchants from the West Coast of Africa. Lord Clarendon said that the whole subject had been pressed by the British government upon the attention of the French government.

26. Suspension of the Northumberland and Durham District Bank, Newcastle-on-Tyne.-Crowded public meeting at Willis's Rooms, to pro

mote the extension of the missions of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in India, the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chair.-Kelham Hall, near Newark, the seat of J. H. Manners Sutton, Esq., destroyed by fire.

28. The Queen of Spain gives birth to a son, who, as heir to the throne, receives the title of Prince of the Asturias.

29. Fall of the interior of the entrance tower of the citadel of Vincennes, killing 18 soldiers of the guard, and severely injuring others.

Dec. 1. The Commercial panic severely felt at Hamburg, where about 160 houses were compelled to suspend payment.-The Porte, acting with the consent of the Powers which signed the Treaty of Paris, has issued a firman for the dissolution of the Divans in the Danubian Principalities. The Dutch legislative chambers have commenced the work of the abolition of slavery in the Dutch colonies. In the islands of which Curaçoa is the centre, indemnity is to be given to the slave-owners at the rate of from 50 to 475 francs a-head for able-bodied negroes.-An estimate made in Parliament that the aggregate liabilities of the commercial houses which have fallen during the panic amount to about 45 millions.

9. Opening of the American Congress. The President in his message recommends the sending to Utah an armed force sufficient to put down the Mormon rebellion in that territory.

12. Upwards of 3000 persons unemployed in Spitalfields, involving about 8000 persons in destitution.

14. At York Assizes Henry Smith Bright, a corn-merchant of high standing in Hull, was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude for forgery. He had forged the signature of his uncle and partner to a transfer deed authorising the sale of certain railway shares.

15. The island of Honan opposite Canton, occupied by the English and French forces. The Chinese were allowed ten days to accept an ultimatum offered to them.

16. Earthquake in the kingdom of Naples, and eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Shocks felt at intervals for several weeks. About 10,000 persons supposed to have lost their lives. Thousands of houses destroyed. At Montenurro, a place of 7000 inhabitants, 5000 were crushed to death by the falling of houses, and 500 more were severely injured.-At a General Court of Proprietors of the East India Company, resolutions of the Directors were confirmed, by which a pension of 1000l. a year was granted to General Sir Archdale Wilson, K.C.B., the conqueror of Delhi; and 500l. a year each to Lady Neill, the widow of General Neill, and Mrs. Nicholson, mother of the late General Nicholson.

28. Canton bombarded this day and till 6 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, when an assault was made in three divisions, two English and one French. At 9 o'clock on the 29th, the heights within the town were in the possession of the assailants. Commissioner Yeh taken prisoner, and the governor Peh-kwei made to continue in the discharge of the office of governor under the direction and control of the British authorities.

31. Meeting at Paris of the second plenipotentiaries of the Congress of Paris, to exchange the ratifications of the treaty relative to the boundaries of the Bessarabian frontier.-Division in the Piedmont Chamber of Deputies, on the proposition of Signor Cadorna, 'That the use of spiritual means on the part of the clergy to influence the elections, constitutes a moral pressure, which may give occasion for inquiry.' The motion was carried by 88 to 35.-A commission of high legal authorities in England has adjudged to Hanover a certain portion of the jewels which George II. brought to this country with him in 1714; the value is estimated at 100,0007.-- Civil war in the United States territory of Kansas, occasioned by the slave question.

Jan. 1, 1858. The metropolis divided into ten postal districts for the purpose of facilitating the delivery of letters within the respective divisions.

3. Westminster Abbey opened on Sunday evenings for Divine Service,

which is conducted in the Nave. The Dean of Westminster preached to a densely-crowded assembly, about as many more being unsuccessful in obtaining admittance. The Sunday-evening services were continued till the month of July.

5. Public meeting in Exeter Hall, on the subject of the future relation of the British government to religion in India. The Earl of Shaftesbury presided.

7. An education Bill passed the second reading in the parliament of Victoria colony, by a majority of 33 to 11.

9. The first party of ladies and children, and of the sick and wounded officers of Lucknow garrison, landed at Calcutta under a royal salute, amid the cheering of some hundreds of the European community at Calcutta.

14. Attempt to assassinate the Emperor Napoleon and the Empress Eugénie on their way to the opera at Paris. Both escaped unhurt, but five persons in the crowd were killed, and sixty persons wounded. Three explosions of shells, or hand-grenades, were heard.

18. Opening of the French legislative chambers by the Emperor, who in his address referred in detail to numerous public improvements effected and in progress in Paris, and the provinces, and also indicated an intention to propose some restrictions of the privileges of the press, with other measures suggested by the late attempt on his life.

25. Marriage of the Princess Royal of England with Prince Frederick William of Prussia in the chapel of St. James's Palace.

26. Anniversary dinner in London, in commemoration of the founding of the first of the Australian Colonies in 1788. Sir C. Nicholson, late speaker of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, presided.

27. Publication in the 'Moniteur' of addresses to the Emperor Napoleon from Colonels of the French army, in which very strong expressions are used in reference to the asylum given to refugees in England.

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29. Trial at Salerno of 286 individuals charged with conspiracy, among whom were the crew of the Cagliari' steam vessel, the two engineers, Park and Watt, being Englishmen.

31. Completion of the launch of the 'Leviathan' or 'Great Eastern' steam-vessel, being about three months from the date of the first attempt. The launch is calculated to have cost about 60,000l. or 70,000Z.

Feb. 1. The Emperor Napoleon by a decree nominates the Empress as Regent in case of his own death while the imperial prince is a minor.Engagement between British troops and some Looso Africans who were about to attack Sierra Leone, and who had murdered several British subjects. Between 300 and 400 of the Africans were slain.

2. Departure of Prince and Princess Frederick William of Prussia for Berlin, by way of Antwerp and Brussels, embarking at Gravesend, to which place they were accompanied by the Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, and the Duke of Cambridge.

6. Meeting at Willis's Rooms, to promote the permanent establishment of the asylum at Calcutta, founded by the late Sir H. Lawrence, and thus to commemorate the merits of that distinguished man. Lord Panmure presided. About 2000l. was subscribed at the meeting.

10. Blockade of Canton raised.

13. Farewell dinner at Freemasons' Tavern to Dr. Livingstone, the African explorer, by the Members of the Royal Geographical Society, and other friends.-Commencement of the trial of the Directors of the Royal British Bank, who, after a trial lasting for the entire week, were found guilty, and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, their offence being that of making fraudulent representations of the state of the bank accounts to deceive their shareholders and the public.

14. Arrest of Dr. Simon Bernard, at his residence, Bayswater, on a charge of being concerned in the recent attempt on the life of Napoleon III. 16. Loss of the 'Ava' mail steamer, from Calcutta to Suez, by running on a rock near Trincomalee. The mails and cargo, including about

175,000l., for the Bombay Government, were lost. The crew and passengers were saved.

19. A Senatus Consultum published at Paris, according to which no candidate for the legislative body can come forward without making a formal declaration to the proper authorities that he swears obedience to the constitution and fidelity to the Emperor.-The Pacific hotel at St. Louis in the United States, took fire about 3 o'clock in the morning, when more than 30 lives were lost.

21. Earthquake in Greece, felt slightly at Athens, but more disastrously at Corinth and Calamaki. In Corinth only six houses were left standing. The whole of what was standing of the Temple of Minerva fell to the ground, and the fortress on the Acro Corinthus was overthrown.

24. About 50 arrests were made at Paris, 20 at Lyons, 12 at Marseilles, and 4 on an average in 40 of the French departments, in consequence of information of an intended insurrection.

25. Trial at Paris of Felix Orsini, Charles de Rudio, Anthony Gomez, Joseph Andrew Pieri, and Simon Francis Bernard, on the charge of attempting to assassinate the Emperor on January 14th. On the evening of the 26th, the jury returned a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners. with extenuating circumstances in the case of Gomez. Orsini, Rudio, and Pieri were condemned to die the death of parricides. Gomez was sentenced to hard labour for life. Bernard, being under arrest in London, was not present at the trial.

March 5. Twenty persons arrested in Paris on suspicion of projecting a political insurrection.

6. Attempted insurrection at Chalon-sur-Saone, by a party about 40 in number, who about 9 o'clock at night, under cover of the darkness, and during a heavy fall of snow, surprised and disarmed a small guard of infantry, but were speedily overcome and the greater number taken prisoners by a party of soldiers from the barracks.-Destruction by fire of Wynnstay House, near Wrexham, the seat of Sir Watkins Wynn.

8. A pamphlet published at Paris under the title of 'The Emperor Napoleon and England,' professing to be written by M. de la Guerronière, but understood to be revised by the Emperor, in which bitter complaints are made of the alleged unfriendly feeling of England towards the Em peror and his policy.-Meeting held at Dublin, in the house of the Provost of Trinity College, to consider a suggestion made by the Earl of Carlisle for the erection of a statue of Oliver Goldsmith by public subscription, in the neighbourhood of Trinity College. A committee was appointed, and a subscription commenced.

10. The Livingstone exploratory expedition sailed from Liverpool.

12. By correspondence between the Earl of Malmesbury, the new Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Count Walewski, the French Minister, the misunderstandings which had arisen on the subject of the refugee question were removed.-Riot at Dublin on occasion of the entry of the new Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Eglintoun, when the police and the students of Trinity College came into collision.

13. Orsini and Pieri guillotined at Paris. De Rudio's sentence commuted to penal servitude for life.

14. A proclamation issued by the Governor-General of India to the inhabitants of Oude threatening confiscation of the lands of such talookdhars as do not submit to the government. This proclamation was disapproved of by the home government, and the publication in this country of Lord Ellenborough's despatch to Lord Canning on the subject, led to Lord Ellenborough's withdrawal from the Presidentship of the Board of Control.

15. An eclipse of the sun nearly total in England took place to-day, but owing to heavy rain-clouds which obscured the heavens, the phenomenon was in many places not visible, in others it was seen only for a few minutes.

18. Inauguration of the Lyon and Geneva Railroad.-Henry Watt, one

of the English engineers on trial at Naples, released by a royal decree, in consequence of his mental faculties having been impaired during his lengthened imprisonment.

19. Meeting at Drury Lane Theatre in aid of a movement to erect a memorial to the late General Havelock. The Duke of Cambridge, Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord John Russell, General Williams of Kars, Rev. W. Brock, Sir James Grant, and other persons of distinction, took part in the proceedings.-Capture of Lucknow by Sir Colin Campbell, and flight of 50,000 of the rebels.-Arrival of Commissioner Yeh at Calcutta from Canton a prisoner.-Accounts from South Africa represent the Kaffir nation as almost entirely broken up, Kreili, the paramount chief, having fled beyond the Bashu river, and several of the other principal chiefs being in British prisons.

25. Liberation at Salerno of Park, the second engineer of the Cagliari' steamer. On the same day his comrade, Henry Watt, arrived in London, and was placed under the care of Dr. Forbes Winslow.

27. Great fire at Gilbert-street, Bloomsbury, causing the loss of 15 lives, including one family, consisting of father, mother, and 9 children.

28. Opening of Chelsea Suspension Bridge, across the Thames, leading to Battersea Park.

30. Conference at Shanghai of the representatives of Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States. The reply of the Chinese government to the communications of the Ambassadors having been unsatisfactory, it was resolved to proceed to Tietsin.

April 5. The Governor-General of India offers a reward of a lac of rupees for the apprehension of Nana Sahib, with the promise of a free pardon to any mutineer, deserter, or rebel, who may give him up.-Inauguration of the Boulevard de Sebastopol at Paris.

9. A royal decree prolongs the power of the Prince of Prussia for three months longer, in consequence of the continued illness of the King of Prussia.

13. Fire at Christiania, causing the destruction of three-quarters of the City, including the Bank, the Exchange, and other public buildings.-Relief of the garrison of Azimghur by Sir E. Lugard.

14. Soirée at Freemasons' Hall, London, given by friends of Vote by Ballot, in honour of Mr. Nicholson, late premier of Victoria colony, and founder of the ballot in the British dominions.

15 Commander Croft, in the Ethiope,' fell in with a French ship, the 'Regina Coeli,' of 420 tons burden, on board of which were a large number of negroes, who had taken possession of the vessel in the absence of the captain. About 250 of the negroes, who swam on shore, were murdered by the French captain and natives. Commander Croft took the vessel and the remaining negroes to Liberia.-Arrival in London of the Duke of Malakhoff, as French Ambassador to the Court of St. James's. Mr. E. Auchmuty Glover, late M.P. for Beverley, after a trial lasting three days, was sentenced to imprisonment for four months as a first-class misdemeanant, for making use of an insufficient qualification to obtain a seat in parliament.

17. Dr. Bernard acquitted of the charge of conspiracy to murder, after a trial lasting six days.-Riots among the negro population of Antigua, which were suppressed by the police.

21. Public dinner at Manchester to Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, at which Sir James expressed his desire that the British government would take Sarawak as a British dependancy, or protectorate, repaying him the money he has laid out in establishing the settlement.-Discovery of goldfields on the Frazer and Thompson rivers, in British Columbia, the territory on the mainland in the vicinity of Vancouver's Island.

28. A monster nugget, called the Blanche Barkly,' weighing 146 lbs. troy of pure gold, shown to the Queen and Prince Consort. Mr. C. Napier, one of the party who discovered the nugget, attended at the Palace to show it.-At a meeting of the Royal Dublin Society, on occasion of the