The agitation came to a head in 1848. Britain had thus her own 'little
flutter' of revolution, like so many other European countries during that
memorable year. On the 10th of April, the Chartists were to muster on
Kennington Common half a million strong. Headed by O'Connor, they were
then to enter London in procession bearing a monster petition to
parliament insisting on their six 'points.' The demonstration, however,
which had called forth all these preparations, proved a miserable failure.
Instead of half a million people, only some twenty or thirty thousand
appeared at the place of meeting, and the peace of the capital was not in
the least disturbed. From this time Chartism fell into contempt, and
speedily died out. Of the six 'points,' all but the second and fifth have
since that time become the law of the land, as the growing requirements of
the nation have seemed to render them necessary.




CHAPTER V.

The Crimean War, 1854-55--Siege of
Sebastopol--Balaklava--Inkermann--Interest of the Queen and Prince-Consort
in the suffering Soldiers--Florence Nightingale--Distribution of Victoria
Crosses by the Queen.


For a long time the Turkish empire had been gradually falling into decay,
and the possessions of the Turk--the 'sick man,' as he has been aptly
termed--had excited the greed of neighbouring countries. Russia especially
had made several attempts to put an end to the 'sick man' by violent