2 THE TWENTY-TWO WARS OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S REIGN. 



1837, with the boom of Cannon and the fluttering of Flags, almost on 

 the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, England was at peace 

 with the whole of the Nations of the World. 



The whole of Europe, so long convulsed with the protracted 

 struggles which had raged since 1793, and which had deluged the 

 Continent with blood, was once more restored to tranquihty and the 

 priceless blessings of peace, and the Nations and peoples were rejoic- 

 ing in the cessation of hostilities. 



Queen Victoria, in her first Speech from the Throne, October 20, 

 1837, addressed to the British Parliament, rejoiced in the amicable 

 relations between Great Britain and all Nations, and used the follow- 

 ing words : — 



" I rejoice that, in ascending the Throne, I find the country in 

 amity with all Foreign Powers ; and while I faithfully perform 

 the engagements of my Crown, and carefully watch over the 

 interests of my Subjects, it shall be the constant object of my 

 solicitude to preserve the blessings of Peace." 



When the Queen succeeded to the Throne of England, vacated by 

 the death of William IV., Lord Melbourne, at the head of the Liberal 

 Party, was the first Prime Minister of the Crown, a Minister to whom 

 the Queen was much attached, and not to be wondered at, for he was a 

 man of kindly nature, generous to his opponents, and genial to his 

 friends, but he was not a strong man, he was not a Statesman. 



With Lord Melbourne were associated in the government of 

 England the Liberals and Radicals of that day: Edward Grote, Edward 

 Lytton Bulwer, Lord John Russell, Benjamin Disraeli, Charles 

 Buller, Sir William Molesworth, J. A. Roebuck ; and among the 

 Leaders of the Conservative party were Sir Robert Peel, Lord 

 Stanley, and W. E. Gladstone, and many others; and it is somewhat 

 remarkable, of that brilliant array of political Leaders, Orators, and 

 Statesmen, one only remains — William Ewart Gladstone, of whom it 

 may be said, after his lifelong labours for Progress, Liberty and Peace : 



" Like some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, 

 Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm ; 

 Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread. 

 Eternal sunshine settles on its head." 



