The Ministry disallowed the ordinance of Lord Durham, who, finding himself unsupported, resigned his Commission and returned home.

On his arrival at Plymouth, he made a speech, in which he described the rebellion as finally at an end; the news, however, subsequently arrived that after his departure from Canada, disturbances had broken out afresh.

Sir John Colborne was appointed to succeed Lord Durham with full powers.
The Civil War continued in Spain through the year, and intermittent rioting took place in Portugal, a country which was now verging on bankruptcy.

The old Dutch and Belgian controversy as to the possession of Luxemburg was revived, the King of Holland, who had obstinately withheld his concurrence for six years from the Articles on the faith of which King Leopold accepted the throne of Belgium, now showing overt hostility in the disputed territory.

As was natural, France was in sympathy with Belgium, and the two countries entered into a treaty of commerce and reciprocity..