THE THREE KINGDOMS.

ENGLISHMEN are said to begin whatever they have to say, by talking about the weather. As the weather
has a very material influence on the condition and prospects of the "Three Kingdoms," in the changing
month of April, we need offer no apology for availing ourselves of an Englishman's privilege in commencing
our account of it.

For, in Spring, as we all know, the first indications of good or bad harvests present themselves. Upon
these, a vast deal nationally depends,—prosperity or depression; wealth or want; employment or idleness;
mercantile activity, or commercial stagnation. In politics, also, "our agricultural prospects" have their
influence. A bad harvest surrounds the minister with accumulating difficulties, while a good one smooths
many away. It is said of an ex-premier, who has been at the head of affairs more than once, that
when called upon to deliberate on taking office, he is guided less by the aspect of what is called "the political
horizon," than by the state of the barometer. He calculates that if there be a reasonable chance of
excellent crops, there is a corresponding probability of the people being good-humoured. It is astonishing
how a man's mind clears up with the weather; and how it darkens (on such subjects as the Income Tax, and
other trifles of that nature) with the sky.

Happily, the month's accounts from almost every part of the country give hope of an abundant season.
A dry seed-time was followed by an unusually cold and nipping frost during March, which, though
retarding vegetation, kept it from peering above ground to be bitten and blighted. April was ushered in
with storms, the disastrous effects of which on shipping we have to record,—but the genial weather
which followed, was only interrupted by heavy showers, much required for irrigation after the long
drought. An unusual amount of electricity discharged itself on two occasions in severe thunderstorms.
Upon the whole, vegetation promises unusually well. And, as things run on smoothly with the human,
as with the equine race, when it can command abundance of corn, we are happy in the prospect before us.

Plenty, however, so advantageous to the buyer, is, according to protectionist theories, a bane to the seller.
Indeed, it is so, unless means of production are multiplied by skill, energy, and industry, in an inverse ratio
to the diminution of prices. It has yet to be seen, whether the downward tendencies in the price of farm
produce will be met by the farmer so as to decrease "the agricultural difficulty" which still exists.

The emigration movement has not slumbered, and is making head vigorously, as the season advances.
Vast numbers of persons have recently departed from Ireland, chiefly to the United States. The
public, at length awakened to a sense of the vast magnitude of the subject, and to its immeasurable
benefits,—both to those who go abroad, and to those who remain at home,—are beginning to bestir
themselves out of doors. Attention is universally directed to our great Australian colonies, but it rests
with the public, still, to enforce upon the Government and Legislature the necessity of a careful,
comprehensive, liberal scheme of popular emigration, and of a system of regulations for the health, comfort,
and happiness of emigrants. There is no question of importance to the community, which is not
included in this question. Its vital interest to every man who has the least care for the welfare of his
country, and the progress of his race, cannot be exaggerated.

The lamentable intellectual wants of a vast proportion of the humbler classes have occasioned during
the month much solicitude and discussion. These are due chiefly to Mr. Fox, member for Oldham,
whose educational Bill—to extend the means of instruction to all sects and classes—has excited
much wholesome and energetic agitation throughout the more thinking districts of the country; by which
we mean the districts where men think, and act. It is striking, but discouraging, to note the contrast
between the manner in which such comprehensive educational projects as that of Mr. Fox are met by the
practical men of action in the manufacturing districts, and by the passive theorists of the House of
Commons. But, in the manufacturing districts, they know the danger, and the monstrous ignorance and
degradation lying at the base of all society; and in the House of Commons they do not,—yet. The party-
walls of that building are extremely thick, and keep out a great deal of social knowledge.

Our record of party politics presents features of vicissitude, and therefore of interest. April has
been (as Francis Moore, physician, might have predicted, if he had foreseen it,) a disastrous month
in the ministerial calendar. In the first week of the meeting of parliament after the Easter holidays, the
Cabinet had to endure, in the House of Commons, three defeats,—two positive, and one comparative;
and, shortly after, a fourth. On a motion, having for its object improvement in the status and accommodation
of Assistant-Surgeons on board her Majesty's ships, ministers were placed in a minority equal
to eight votes. On the measure for extending the jurisdiction of County Courts, to which they were
not disposed to agree, they voted with a minority, which numbered 67 against 144 votes. These were the
positive defeats; the comparative one arose out of a motion to abolish the window tax. Against this the
Cabinet made some effort, but its supporters only mustered in sufficient strength to afford a majority of
three. Their last disaster was in a committee on the New Stamp Duties Bill.

* It will be remembered by the readers of the preliminary announcement of this Supplement, that it is intended that numbers
of the "Household Narrative of Current Events" for the months of, January, February, and March, shall be published, at
convenient intervals in time to complete the volume for the year. This is the explanation of the first page of the present number
being page 73.