In June, a deputation of Greeks proceeded to Copenhagen to notify to Prince George his election to the throne. The King of Denmark told them that he accepted the Crown for his relative, and, turning to the Prince, who was by his side, said :

"Before you leave this spot I give you this heartfelt and wellmeant advice. Let it be your constant endeavour to gain and preserve the love of the people. Without boasting, I speak from experience when I say that in this consists the true happiness of a king. Adhere firmly to the Constitution of the country; strive constantly to procure its recognition; watch that it be maintained intact. If you make this your rule, you and your people will prosper."

The young King said in his reply to the address of the deputation:

"I receive the first greetings of the representatives of the Greek people with true joy. It is with profound emotion that I have heard them from the mouth of the man whose name is linked with everlasting fame to the regeneration of Greece. I am deeply impressed with the responsibility of the position which has fallen to my lot, and will dedicate to it the utmost powers of my life. I rely upon the loyal assistance of the Greek people for the attainment of our common object-the happiness of Greece. I have grown up in a country where legal order is combined with entire constitutional freedom, and which has thereby attained large and felicitous development. The lesson I have here received shall accompany me to my new country, and I shall always keep in view the motto of the King of Denmark, 'The love of the people is my strength.'"

The King afterwards proceeded to Greece, to take possession of his new throne, and was enthusiastically received by the people. We trust that his reign may be prosperous; but the Greeks require a firm hand to rule over them; and the finances of the country are sufficiently embarrassed to demand the utmost skill and energy on the part of the Government.

On the question of the cession of the Ionian Islands a Conference was held in London, on the 26th of June, at which were present the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, France, and Russia, and a Protocol was drawn up, which declared :

"1. With regard to the guarantee of the political existence and of the frontiers of the Kingdom of Greece, the three Protecting Powers maintain simply the terms in which it is expressed by Article IV. of the Convention of May 7th, 1832.

"It is agreed that the Ionian Islands shall be included in that guarantee, when their union to the Hellenic Kingdom shall have obtained the assent of the parties concerned.

"2. With regard to the financial obligations which Greece has contracted towards the three Protecting Powers, on account of the loan, in virtue of Article XII. of the Convention of May 7th, 1832, it is understood that the Courts of France, Great Britain,

and Russia will in concert watch over the strict execution of the engagement proposed at Athens by the Representatives of the three Powers, and accepted by the Greek Government, with the concurrence of the Chambers, in the month of June, 1860."

The dissolution of the Ionian Parliament was announced by the Lord High Commissioner, Sir Henry Storks, on the 6th of August, acting under the authority of a Proclamation of the Queen, to whom in Council the power of dissolving the Parliament on any special emergency was reserved by the Constitutional Charter of the Ionian Islands. The object was stated to be "with a view to consult in the most formal and authentic manner the wishes of the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands as to their future destiny."

At the same time a new Parliament was summoned, which was to declare in the most formal and authentic manner the wishes of the inhabitants on the question of union with Greece. The result was an unanimous resolution in favour of that union. In consequence of this a treaty was concluded between Her Majesty, the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the French, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia, which was signed at London on the 14th of November, and by it Her Majesty renounced the protectorate over "the islands of Corfu, Cephalonia, Zante, Santa Maura, Ithaca, Cerigo, and Pano, with their dependencies." It was also provided that the Ionian Islands, after their union to the Kingdom of Greece, "shall enjoy the advantages of a perpetual neutrality; consequently no armed force, either naval or military, shall at any time be assembled or stationed upon the territory or in the waters of those islands, beyond the number that may be strictly necessary for the maintenance of public order, and to secure the collection of the public revenue. The high contracting parties engage to respect the principle of neutrality stipulated by the present article.

As a necessary consequence of the neutrality to be thus enjoyed by the United States of the Ionian Islands, the fortifications constructed in the Island of Corfu and its immediate dependencies, having no longer any object, shall be demolished, and the demolition thereof shall be effected previously to the withdrawal of the troops employed by Great Britain for the occupation of those islands in her character as protecting power."

MEXICO.

A letter addressed by the French Emperor to General Forey, Commander-in-Chief of the French army in Mexico, appeared this year, in which His Majesty laid down the line of conduct which he wished to be adopted by the expedition. It was dated Fontainebleau, July 3, 1862, and in it the Emperor said:

"The object to be attained is not to impose on the Mexicans a form of Government which would be obnoxious, but to assist them in their efforts to establish, according to their own wishes, a Government which may have a chance of stability, and can secure to France the settlement of the injuries of which she has to complain. "It follows, as a matter of course, that, if the Mexicans prefer a monarchy, it is for the interest of France to support them in that path.

"There will not be wanting people who will ask you why we expend men and money to found a regular Government in Mexico.

"In the present state of the civilization of the world, the prosperity of America is not a matter of indifference to Europe, for it is that country which feeds our manufactories and gives an impulse to our commerce. We have an interest in the Republic of the United States being powerful and prosperous, but not that she should take possession of the whole of the Gulf of Mexico, thence command the Antilles as well as South America, and be the only dispenser of the products of the New World...

....

"At present, therefore, our military honour engaged, the necessities of our policy, the interests of our industry and commerce, all conspire to make it our duty to march on Mexico, to boldly plant our flag there, and to establish either a monarchy, if not incompatible with the national feeling, or at least a Government which may promise some stability."

Puebla, which the Mexican army occupied in force, was regularly besieged by General Forey, and on the 29th of March Fort San Xavier, one of its principal defences, was attacked and taken by assault. "For the first time," says General Forey, "the Mexicans felt the points of our bayonets; they gave way before the impetuosity of our attack." Puebla itself was captured on the 18th of May. The garrison suffered severely from hunger, and General Ortega, who commanded the place, proposed to capitulate, but asked to be allowed to leave with all the honours of war; and with arms, baggage, and artillery to withdraw to Mexico. General Forey refused to listen to this, and told him that he might leave with all the honours of war, but that his army must march past the

French army, and lay down their arms, remaining prisoners of war. "These proposals," says General Forey, says General Forey, "were not accepted by General Ortega, who, in the night between the 16th and 17th, disbanded his army, destroyed the weapons, spiked his guns, blew up the powder magazines, and sent me an envoy to say that the garrison had completed its defence and surrendered at discretion.

"It was scarcely daylight when 12,000 men, most of them without arms or uniforms, which they had cast away in the streets, surrendered as prisoners, and the officers, numbering from 1000 to 1200, of whom 26 were generals and 200 superior officers, informed me that they awaited my orders at the Palace of the Government."

When the news of this success reached France, the Emperor addressed a letter to General Forey, in which he said :

"Tell the men how much I appreciate their perseverance and courage in so distant an expedition, where they had to struggle against climate, local difficulties, and against an enemy the more obstinate because he was deceived in my intentions. I deeply deplore the probable loss of so many brave men, but I have the consoling idea that their death has not been useless either to the interests or to the honour of France, or to civilization. Our object, as you are aware, is not to impose upon the Mexicans a Government contrary to their wish, or to make our success a triumph for any party whatsoever. I wish Mexico to be regenerated to a new life, and that soon, reformed by a Government based upon the national will, on principles of order and progress, it may admit that it owes to France its peace and its prosperity."

After the fall of Puebla resistance may be said to have ceased, and on the 10th of June the French army, under General Forey, made its triumphal entry into the city of Mexico. The throne of Montezuma was now at the disposal of the conqueror; and the question was who would be invited to occupy it. General Forey issued a proclamation, telling the Mexicans that the solution of the political question depended upon them; and after laying down the principles upon which the temporary Government would be administered, he said:

"I invoke the support of all classes. I demand of all parties to lay down their arms, and to employ henceforth all their strength, not in destroying, but in constructing. I proclaim oblivion of the past, and a complete amnesty for all those who will rally in good faith round the Government which the nation, by its own free will, shall impose upon itself.

"But I declare enemies of their country all those who are deaf to my entreaties, and I will pursue them wherever they may take refuge."

Juarez and the members of his Government had previously evacuated the city, and retired to San Luis Potosi; nor was any attempt made to disturb the French occupation. An "Assembly of Notables" was constituted, 215 in number, who were taken

indiscriminately from all classes, and they were to determine what form of Government ought to be definitively established in Mexico; the vote on this question to unite at least two-thirds of the suffrages. On the 10th of July they resolved that Mexico should be an Empire, and that the throne should be offered to the Archduke Maximilian of Austria. In the event of his refusal to accept the Crown, the Emperor of the French was requested to select a candidate for the Imperial dignity. The Archduke was accordingly solemnly proclaimed Emperor of Mexico, and a deputation of Notables proceeded to Europe to offer him the throne. He received them at his residence near Trieste, and in answer to their address, said:

"The wishes of the Mexican Assembly of Notables have touched me deeply. It cannot but be exceedingly flattering for our House that they have turned their eyes to the descendants of Charles V. Although the mission of maintaining the independence and welfare of Mexico on a solid foundation, and with free institutions, is a most noble one, I must, nevertheless, in complete accordance with the views of the Emperor Napoleon, declare that the Monarchy cannot be re-established on a legitimate and firm basis without a spontaneous expression of the wishes of the whole nation. I must make my acceptance of the throne dependent upon a plébiscite of the whole country. On the other hand, it would be my duty to ask for guarantees, which are indispensable to secure Mexico against the dangers which threaten her integrity and independence. Should these guarantees be obtained, and the universal vote of the nation be given in my favour, I am ready to accept the Crown, subject to the approval of the Emperor, my brother. In case Providence should call me to this high mission, I must at once declare that it is my firm intention to open the path of progress by a Constitution, as was done by my brother, and after the complete pacification of the country, to seal the fundamental law with an oath. By such means only can a new and really national policy be called into existence by which all parties, forgetting old disputes, would co-operate with me in raising Mexico to a prominent rank among nations. Carry back with you these frank declarations to your fellow-citizens, and act in such a manner that it may become possible for the nation to declare what form of Government it desires to have."

Difficulties, however, arose in the way, and the year closed without any definitive acceptance of the Crown of Mexico by the Austrian Archduke,