Sixty Years a Queen Part 6

[Ill.u.s.tration: SIGNATURES OF THE QUEEN AND PRINCE CONSORT IN 1840.]

[Sidenote: Peace concluded under the Walls of Nankin.]

Once more peace negotiations broke down: hostilities were resumed; Chusan was re-occupied; Amoy, believed by the Chinese to be impregnable, was taken by a.s.sault on August 25, 1842; the capture of Chinghai and Ningpo followed; and when Sir H. Gough appeared before Nankin the Chinese Government finally agreed to accept the terms imposed as the conditions of peace. Five millions and three-quarters sterling were exacted as an indemnity; the island of Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain, and five princ.i.p.al Chinese ports were thrown open to British trade.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _C. R. Leslie, R.A._} {_From the Royal Collection._

A. d.u.c.h.ess of Gloucester.

B. d.u.c.h.ess of Kent.

C. Duke of Suss.e.x.

D. Queen Adelaide.

E. Archbishop of Canterbury christening F. the Royal Infant.

G. Archbishop of York.

H. The Queen.

J. Prince Consort.

THE CHRISTENING OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, February 10, 1841.

Her Majesty's eldest child, the Princess Royal, was born November 21, 1840, and christened Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa.]

CHAPTER III.

1841-1846.

Unpopularity of the Whigs--Fall of the Melbourne Ministry--Peel's Cabinet--The Afghan War--Murder of Sir A.

Burnes and Sir W. Macnaghten--The Retreat from Cabul--Annihilation of the British Force--The Corn Duties--The Pioneers of Free Trade--Failure of Potato Crop in Ireland--Lord John Russell's conversion to Free Trade--Peel and Repeal--Rupture of the Tory Party--The Corn Duties repealed--Defeat and Resignation of the Government--Review of Peel's Administration.

[Sidenote: Unpopularity of the Whigs]

The closing months of the Melbourne Ministry afford melancholy matter for chronicle. The Government went on steadily losing popularity in the country and forfeiting respect in Parliament. The sword, long impending, descended at last. Mr. Baring, who had succeeded Spring Rice as Chancellor of the Exchequer, had to confess to a deficiency in his Budget of nearly two millions, which he proposed to meet by a re-adjustment of the sugar and timber duties, which brought about the defeat of the Government by a majority of thirty-six. Still, Ministers did not resign. Russell had determined at length to make a bid for the Free Trade vote, and gave notice of his intention to propose a permanent reduction in the duty on corn. But the announcement fell flatly; people only saw in this sudden conversion another desperate effort to retain office, for the Whigs. .h.i.therto had been inflexible in resistance to Free Trade demands. Melbourne had sworn roundly that of all the mad projects he had ever heard of the surrender of duties was the maddest; and Russell had been equally explicit, though employing fewer expletives.

The duty on imported corn had been established by legislation in 1815, and was on a sliding scale according to current prices. The impost was 27_s._ on each quarter of wheat when the price fell below 60_s._, and diminished in proportion as the price rose till it stood at 1_s._ when the price of the quarter was 73_s._ and upwards.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TELEGRAPH CABLE s.h.i.+P "MONARCH."

This s.h.i.+p was built and is maintained by the Post Office specially for the laying and repairing of submarine telegraph cables. She is fitted with sheaves in the bows, over which the cables are led. The "Alert" is another s.h.i.+p employed for the same purpose.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A PORTION OF A TELEGRAPHIC OPERATING ROOM AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, LONDON.

The number of telegraphic messages transmitted from the various London offices in the year 1895-6 was 27,025,193, and the total for the United Kingdom, 78,839,610. As many as six messages--three in each direction--are now transmitted along a single wire at the same time.]

[Sidenote: Fall of the Melbourne Ministry.]

The next move in Parliament was a vote of no confidence, moved by Sir Robert Peel, and then at last Lord John Russell announced that Her Majesty had been advised to dissolve Parliament immediately. Writs were made returnable on August 19, by which date the political tables had been completely turned. The Conservatives who went to the country in a minority of thirty returned with a majority of seventy-six. It is notable that in recording this result the _Annual Register_ for the first time exchanges the t.i.tle of Whigs for that of Liberals.

[Sidenote: Peel's Cabinet.]

[Sidenote: The Afghan War.]

Before following the fortunes of the Administration formed by Sir Robert Peel, reference must be made to mournful news which, while people at home were crowding round the hustings and polling booths, were slowly approaching this country from Central Asia. The most serious reverse to British policy and the greatest disaster to British arms which have happened in the present century were the outcome of events which may thus briefly be recapitulated. In 1837 Captain Alexander Burnes, Orientalist and traveller, arrived as British agent at Cabul, capital of the province of that name, in the north of Afghanistan. The Prince of that fragment of the ancient Empire of Ahmed Shah was Dost Mahomed Khan, an usurper, it is true, but a popular hero, a soldier of remarkable ability, and a sagacious and bold ruler. Dost professed the friendliest feelings towards England, but, for some reasons now unknown, was profoundly distrusted by the Foreign Office. Captain Burnes thoroughly trusted Dost, but his repeated a.s.surance failed to convince his employers that in his disputes with neighbouring States, Dost greatly preferred relying on English influence to accepting the advances continually made to him by Russia and Persia. Burnes was instructed to regard Dost as dangerously treacherous, and at last Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India, made a treaty with Runjeet Singh, hostile to Dost, and with the purpose of restoring Shah Soojah-ool-Moolk, whom Dost had deposed from the throne of Cabul. A British force invaded Cabul, overthrew the brave Dost, and enthroned Soojah, whom n.o.body wanted. But Dost Mahomed was a foe of no ordinary mettle. On November 2, 1840, he encountered the allied force of the English and Shah Sooja at Purwandurrah, and if he did not actually win the battle, the gallantry of his Afghan cavalry caused it to be drawn. Dost, however, was too wise to believe that he could resist for long the force of England. On the evening after the battle he rode into his enemy's camp and placed his sword in the hand of Sir W. Macnaghten, the British Envoy at Soojah's Court. Dost was honourably treated, his sword was returned to him, he was sent to India and provided with a residence and pension.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _J. Doyle_ ("_H. B._").

LORD AUCKLAND,

1784-1849.

Governor-General of India, 1835-1841.]

[Sidenote: Murder of Sir A. Burnes and Sir W. Macnaghten.]

But Dost was the darling of his people. They hated Soojah, whom the English had forced on them, and they rose in revolt against him. Burnes was the earliest victim, for although, in truth, he had all along stood stoutly for Dost, the insurgents believed him to have betrayed their ruler. He and his brother and all their party, man, woman, and child, were hacked to pieces. Akbar Khan, second and favourite son of Dost Mahomed, now put himself at the head of the insurrection, and the shameful part of the story began. Hitherto, there had been blunders enough in English dealings with this brave people: but there is nothing to blush for in blunders provided they are clear of disgrace; one cannot, however, ignore the truth that, after a few weeks' fighting, British troops, having been repeatedly beaten, became so demoralised that their officers could not get them to stand before the fierce Afghans. General Elphinstone, the chief in command, was an experienced, able soldier; but his health had broken down before the insurrection began, and he had written to the Governor-General begging to be relieved of his command, which he felt he was physically unfit to continue.

Unfortunately there was some delay in appointing his successor, and the trouble came before Elphinstone could be relieved. Against the personal courage of Brigadier Shelton, the second in command, no reflections have ever been made, but he proved lamentably supine at moments when prompt action was most required. Affairs went from bad to worse with the British force in cantonments outside Cabul, until at last Elphinstone, grievously weakened by disease, could be brought to contemplate no course but abject surrender. Abject surrender! not quite unconditional, it is true, but on most humiliating terms, including the release of Dost Mahomed and the immediate evacuation of Cabul by the British.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Sir Keith A. Jackson._} {_From "Sketches in Afghanistan."_

CABUL IN 1839.

Cabul, the seat of government of the Ameer of Afghanistan, is at the present time (1897) an open town, though it was formerly surrounded by walls of brick and mud. The only building of any importance is the Bala Hissar, or Citadel, containing the apartments of the Ameer. Besides being a place of great strategic importance, Cabul is the centre of the trade of Central Asia.]

Bad as this was there was darker disgrace to come. The evacuation was delayed--on the part of the British from a foolish "Micawber" hope that "something would turn up"--on the part of the Afghans, no doubt, in order that the advent of winter should make the pa.s.ses impracticable.

Macnaghten, the British Envoy, seems to have been infected by the prevailing demoralisation, and fell into a trap prepared for him by Akbar Khan. At the very moment when he (Macnaghten) was negotiating openly with the chiefs in Cabul he entered into a conspiracy with Akbar to destroy them, to establish Shah Soojah as nominal monarch, and to secure the appointment of Akbar as Vizier. Macnaghten's punishment made no long tarrying, for Akbar was acting a subtle part. Macnaghten, accompanied by three officers, rode out one morning to a conference with Akbar on the west bank of the Cabul river. It was a solitary place, as befitted the discussion of the contemplated treachery, but they had not been conferring long before they were surrounded by a crowd of armed country people. The British officers remonstrated with Akbar; at that moment Macnaghten and his companions were seized from behind; a scuffle took place; Akbar drew a pistol, a gift from the Envoy himself, and shot him in the body. Macnaghten fell from his horse and was instantly hewn in pieces; Captain Trevor was killed also, and the other two officers, Mackenzie and Laurence, were carried off to the town.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _J. Doyle_ ("_H. B._").}

LORD ELLENBOROUGH,

1790-1871.

Governor-General of India, 1841-1844.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _W. Simpson, R.I._} {_From Sketches and Descriptions obtained on the spot._

THE REMNANT OF AN ARMY.

The gate shown is the Cabul Gate of Jellalabad. It was from the top of that gate that the sentry on duty first caught sight of the solitary figure, clad in sheepskin coat and riding a bay pony, lean, hungry, and tired, who alone survived the ma.s.sacres in the Khyber and Jugdulluck Pa.s.ses. Dr. Brydon's form was bent from weakness, and he was so worn out with fatigue that he could scarcely cling to the saddle. The snow-covered mountain in the background is the Ram Koond.]

[Sidenote: The Retreat from Cabul.]

[Sidenote: Annihilation of the British Force.]

Deeper and deeper grows the horror--more profound the shame--as the story proceeds. General Elphinstone and Brigadier Shelton lay in their cantonments with 4,500 fighting men, with guns, and camp followers to the number of 12,000. Macnaghten's b.l.o.o.d.y remains were dragged in triumph through the streets of Cabul, yet not an arm was raised to avenge him. Major Eldred Pottinger was for cutting their way out and dying on the field, but no one would listen to him: negotiations were opened with Akbar Khan, and the British force were allowed to march out, leaving all their guns except six, all their treasure and six officers as hostages. They started, upwards of 16,000 souls, to march through the stupendous Khyber Pa.s.s to Jellalabad in the very depth of winter. Akbar Khan's safe-conduct proved the shadow of a shade; either he would not, or, as seems to have been the case, he could not, protect them from hordes of fanatic Ghilzies, who hovered along the route--shooting, stabbing, mutilating the wretched fugitives. Akbar, indeed rode with Elphinstone, and probably it was true, as he declared, that he could do nothing with his handful of horse to keep off the infuriated hillmen. At last it became evident that a choice must be made of a few who might be saved either from a b.l.o.o.d.y death or from peris.h.i.+ng of cold in the snow and searching wind. Akbar proposed to take all the women and children into his own custody and convey them to Peshawur. The awful nature of the dilemma may be imagined when such a proposal was agreed to. Lady Macnaghten was placed in charge of the a.s.sa.s.sin of her husband: with her went Lady Sale, Mrs. Trevor, and eight other Englishwomen; and, as an extreme favour, a few married men were allowed to accompany their wives.

General Elphinstone and two other officers were also taken as hostages.