This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I. CHANGES IN THE TREATMENT OF CRIMINAL CONVICTS--SETTLEMENT OF THE EDUCATION QUESTION--A NEW REFORM BILL PASSED--DISSATISFACTION WITH BRITISH DIPLOMACY, PUBLICITY OF ALL STATE PAPERS RESOLVED UPON, AND THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE COUNTRY DETERMINED--MASSACRE IN THE SLAVE STATES OF AMERICA--AMERICAN PANIC--SURPRISING MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT--THE EMANCIPATION OF THE SLAVES DECLARED--PROPOSAL TO ANNEX CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES--ONE OF THE ROYAL PRINCES OF ENGLAND DESIGNATED PRINCE OF CANADA, AND ACCOMPANIED BY A NUMBER OF THE YOUNG ENGLISH ARISTOCRACY GOES OUT TO THE PRINCIPALITY--THE COLONIES OF AUSTRALIA DECLARE THEIR INDEPENDENCE, BUT ELECT ANOTHER OF THE ROYAL PRINCES OF ENGLAND AS THEIR KING--GRADUAL EXTINCTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. The Devil seemed to be in the ascendant, and the public journals were mainly filled with the chronicles of his movements. Yet it was a sceptical age, and it would have been thought very impolite, if not insane, to suggest that men now-a-days, as of old, were possessed with devils. The doctrines of human progress, the diffusion of knowledge, universal amelioration, psychology, electricity, galvanism, and the steam engine, were predominant, and the prevailing belief was in the approach of a millennium, in which everybody would have at least £1000 a-year. This faith in the excellence of the age over all former ages, however, got some rude shakes. Some of the lights of the generation went out suddenly, and with an unsavoury smell, while the commonalty began to doubt whether the time had come for that " Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity," which they had believed to comprise all the beatitudes. For, after all, it is rather desirable to choose your company before you make this proclamation of Liberty, Equality, and...