ment, suitable provisions were made for the royal personages, though not on an extravagant scale. Dur ing the discussions on the provision to be made for them, Mr. Wilberforce inveighed in strong terms against the royal marriage act: an act which prevented the several branches of the family on our throne from entertaining the best feelings, and from forming connexions which might at once promote their happiness, and guarantee their virtue.

only to protect individuals against public prosecution, | At the recommendation of the prince regent to parlia without interfering with the rights of private men; but the object of the bill was to annihilate all such rights, to take away all legal remedies from those who had suffered an illegal and arbitrary exercise of authority, and to punish those who presumed to have recourse to such remedies by subjecting them to the payment of double costs. Mr. Lambton moved an amendinent that it be read again that day six months, but this was lost by one hundred and ninety to sixty-four. The bill was read a second time on the next day, but the chief discussion took place on the order for committing it, when several petitions, complaining of grievous oppression, were presented to the house: the bill, however, passed on the 13th, and four days after received the royal assent.

EXTENSION OF THE BANK RESTRICTION.

THE SUPPLIES.

The supplies of this year were estimated at £20,952,400. To meet this, in addition to the ways and means, a three-and-a-half per cent. stock was created to the amount of £14,000,000, so that no new taxes were levied, nor any additions made to those existing.

THE ALIEN ACT, ETC.

Sir

During this session it was resolved that the alien act should be continued for two years longer; it being necessary to keep out as well as send out of Great Britain persons who might take advantage of the vicinity of France, to excite a spirit hostile to the security of this and other European governments. Samuel Romilly introduced a bill to do away with the capital part of the act respecting private stealing in shops, &c., setting forth in his preamble, that extreme severity of punishment tends to procure indemnity for crime; but the house was not yet prepared to legislate in a merciful spirit: the bill was rejected, Before the close of the session Mr. Brougham succeeded in his motion for a committee of inquiry respecting the education of the poorer classes; the first step towards that system of popular instruction in which he has effected so much. Fourteen commissioners were to be appointed by the crown, six of whom were to have no salaries. This bill, however, underwent many alterations in the upper-house, chiefly through the exertions of Lord Eldon, who used all his influence against it. The commissioners to be appointed were limited to the investigation of charities connected with education; they were precluded from investigating the state of education among the poor generally; and they were directed to traverse the country and to call witnesses before them, without possessing any authority for enforcing attendance, or for demanding the production of

At an early period of the session, Mr. Grenfell inquired of the chancellor of the exchequer whether any event had occurred, or was likely to occur, which would prevent the resumption of cash-payments by the Bank in July. He observed that the public stood in the situation of debtor to the bank for £3,000,000 advanced without interest, and for £6,000,000 at an interest of four per cent; but as the Bank had secured possession of public money deposited in their hands, which for the last twelve years had amounted on an average to £11,000,000 for the repayment of these sums, he asked whether any arrangement was made for discharging, or placing them on a better footing. In reply, the chancellor of the exchequer stated, that the Bank had made ample preparation for resuming cash-payments at the time fixed by parliament, but that pecuniary transac tions were going on with foreign powers which might probably require an extension of the restriction: as regards the loan of £6,000,000, he said, he should shortly submit a proposal for its repayment, allowing the country still to enjoy the benefit of that on which no interest was paid. Later in the session, in submitting some propositions to a committee of the house, he observed that in January, 1817, the Bank had given notice of its readiness to pay in specie outstanding notes of a particular description, for which cash to the amount of about £1,000,000 might have been demanded, but a very considerable sum was called for. At that time, gold bullion was £3. 18s. 6d., and silver 4s. 10d. the ounce in October notice was given that the Bank was ready to pay in cash all the notes dated prior to cuments. As Mr. Brougham observed, the bill as January, 1817; but the result was very different, for up- it came from the lords left everything to the good wards of £2,500,000 were drawn out, of which scarcely will of those who had an interest at variance with the any portion remained in circulation. This arose from inquiry. Yet much good, he anticipated, might result the large remittances to foreign countries, consequent from the exercise of the powers possessed by the on the importation of corn; the residence of English-house. The means to be used were, that the commismen on the continent; and the negociation of a loan in this country by France. It now therefore became inexpedient for the Bank to resume cash-payments, and the restriction was continued till the 5th of July,

1839.

TREATY WITH SPAIN.

During this session a treaty with Spain, by virtue of which, in consideration of a subsidy of £400,000, that country consented to abolish the slave-trade on all the north coasts of the line, received the sanction of parliament. But this was only a half measure: Spain still continued the privilege of retaining the traffic south of that limit. A right of search was stipulated for each nation, but no detention of vessels was to take place, unless when slaves were found on board.

sioners should proceed and call witnesses; that they should report to the house, and make returns of the names of all those who refused to give information or produce documents without alleging any just cause of refusal; and the committee, which would be reappointed next session, might be empowered to call those persons before them.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was prorogued on the 10th of June by the regent in person. In his speech his royal highness stated his intention of giving direction for a new parliament, after which he observed :-"I cannot refrain from adverting to the important change which has occurred in the situation of this country, and of all Europe, since I first met you in this place. At that period, the dominion of the common enemy had been so widely extended over the continent, that resistance During this year marriages were contracted between to his power was, by many, deemed to be hopeless; the Duke of Clarence and the princess of Saxe Menin- and in the extremities of Europe alone was such resistgen; the Duke of Kent and the Princess Leiningen; ance effectually maintained. By the unexampled ex and the Duke of Cambridge with the Princess of Hesse.ertions which you enabled me to make, in aid of cour

ROYAL MARRIAGES.

form the great and binding link of the social chain. To this may be in part ascribed our happiness in having withstood the storm which visited the rest of Europe with all the horrors of invasion or anarchy. "The wicked are overthrown, and are not; but the house of the righteous shall stand."

A. D.
1819.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

tries nobly contending for independence, and by the spirit which was kindled in so many nations, the continent was at length delivered from the most galling and oppressive tyranny, under which it had laboured; and I had the happiness, by the blessing of Providence, to terminate, in corjunction with his majesty's allies, the most eventful and sanguinary contest in which Europe had for centuries been engaged, with unparalleled success and glory. The prosecution of such a contest for so many years, and more particularly the The new parliament met on the 14th of efforts which marked the close of it, have been folJanuary, when Mr. Manners Sutton was relowed within our own country, as well as throughout elected speaker, and Chief Baron Richards the rest of Europe, by considerable internal difficulties took his seat on the woolsack pro tempore, in conseand distress. But, deeply as I felt for the immediate quence of the lord chancellor's indisposition. Both pressure upon his majesty's people, nevertheless I houses were occupied till the 21st in swearing in their looked forward without dismay, having always the fullest respective members, on which day the session was confidence in the solidity of the resources of the Bri- opened by commission. The chief topics of the royal tish empire, and in the relief which might be expected speech were the king's health; the demise of the from a continuance of peace, and from the patience, queen; the evacuation of France by the allied troops; public spirit, and energy of the nation. These expec- the favourable state of the revenue; the improved tations have not been disappointed. The improvement aspect of trade, manufactures, and commerce; the in the internal circumstances of the country is happily favourable result of the war in India; and the extenmanifest, and promises to be steadily progressive; and sion of the commercial treaty now existing between I feel perfect assurance that the continued loyalty and this nation and the United States of America to a furexertions of all his majesty's subjects will confirm these ther term of eight years. In both houses the addresses growing indications of national prosperity, by promot- were carried without a division, though ministers were ing obedience to the laws, and attachment to the con- severely censured by Lord Lansdowne in the lords, stitution from which all our blessings are derived.” and Mr. Macdonald in the commons, for the want of truth in their statements concerning the state of the nation, and for their many political blunders.

STATE OF THE MANUFACTURERS OF
LANCASHIRE, ETC.

Distress, though mitigated, as stated in the regent's speech, still prevailed in the country. The cottonspinners as well as other classes of manufacturers of Lancashire remained in a state of organized opposition to their masters on the subject of wages. From this cause disturbances took place at Burnley, Stockport, and other places, which could only be quelled by the prompt exertions of the Manchester yeomanry. A diversion from these troubles was created by the general election which took place during the summer. Men were too busily employed in securing the election of their favourites to think of the troubles by which they were surrounded.

DEATH OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE. During the last session of parliament, in consequence of the Queen's declining health, two amendments had been made in the regency bill; the first empowering her majesty to add six new members, resident in Windsor to her council, in the event of her absence from that residence; and the second repealed the clause which rendered necessary the immediate assembling of a new parliament in the event of the queen's death. These amendments were opportunely made, for her majesty, after a lingering illness of six months, expired at Kew Palace, on the 17th of November, in the 75th year of her age. Her remains were interred at Windsor on the 2nd of December, and the day was observed with every suitable mark of respect. Queen Charlotte possessed those accomplishments which add grace and dignity to an exalted station. As a wife and a mother she was a pattern to her sex; performing all the tender and maternal offices of a nurse to her offspring, which is so seldom performed by persons even in less exalted stations than that which she occupied. Her morality was, also, unquestionably of the highest order: during the period in which she presided over the British court, she preserved it from the contamination of vice, notwithstanding the dangers proceeding from the licentious examples of other European dynasties, as well as from that moral relaxation which our own prosperity was so well calculated to produce. During the reign of George III., indeed, England presented from the throne the example of those virtues that

THE DUKE OF YORK APPOINTED GUAR-
DIAN TO HIS MAJESTY.

As the death of the queen rendered it necessary that a guardian of his majesty's person should be appointed, Lord Liverpool named the Duke of York, and his nomination met with general approval. The duke was appointed guardian with a salary of £10,000 per annum out of the public purse for the performance of this filial duty. The grant met with severe opposition, and was only carried by a small majority; and subsequently several debates took place respecting the establishment at Windsor, the expenses of which excited much freedom of remark. It was represented as a mockery of the national distress, no less than of the melancholy visitation of the aged monarch, kept up for the purpose of ministering to the prodigality of the regent, and the rapacity of his courtiers. These sentiments were shared by the people at large.

COMMITTEE ON THE CRIMINAL CODE.

Early this session the attention of parliament was called to the state of the criminal code: a subject deeply interesting to the best friends of humanity. Philanthropists had long deplored the state of our statute-book, more than two hundred crimes being defined by it as worthy of death. This state of things had been denounced as a national disgrace, and Sir Samuel Romilly had frequently brought it under the notice of parliament, and in some instances had been the means of softening down the rigour of our laws. That great man was now dead; but in this session the subject was taken up by Sir James Mackintosh, who proved to be a worthy successor to the deceased philanthropist. A petition from the corporation of London, complaining of the increase of crime, and pointing out the commutation of capital punishment, was referred to a committee for the examination of the discipline and police of the different prisons throughout the country. The appointment of this committee was moved by Lord Castlereagh; but it was thought by some that a distinct committee should be appointed, for the purpose of taking the whole subject into consider. ation. A motion to this effect was made by Sit James Mackintosh on the 2nd of March; and though Lord Castlereagh opposed it, as unnecessary, it was

to give to this country the right of preventing its sub jects from breaking the neutrality towards acknowledged states, and those assuming the power of states; and upon a similar principle, he wished to prevent the fitting out of armed vessels, and also the fitting out or supplying other vessels with warlike stores in any of his majesty's ports. These propositions met with stern opposition. Sir James Mackintosh warned the house, that, in whatever manner the motion might be worded and its real object concealed, the bill ought to be entitled,-" A bill for preventing British subjects from lending their assistance to the South American

it to £2,000,000; and that for the purpose of raising this sinking-fund to £5,000,000, it was necessary to impose annually the amount of £3,000,000. This sum parliament agreed to raise by a large duty on foreign wools, and by sinaller duties on other articles, such as tobacco, tea, coffee, and cocoa-nuts. Two loans of £12,000,000 each were also raised; one of them supplied by monied men, the other derived from the sinking-fund. Out of these sums there was to be a surplus, of which £5,000,000 were to go towards the repayment of the debt due to the Bank, as recommended by parliament previous to the resumption of cash-payments; and £5,597,000 to the reduction of the un-cause, or enlisting in the South American service.” funded debt. "In adopting this course," the speaker observed to the prince regent at the close of the session, "his majesty's faithful commons did not conceal from themselves that they were calling upon the nation for a great exertion; but well knowing that honour, character, and independence have at all times been the first and dearest objects of the hearts of Englishmen, we feel assured that there was no difficulty that the country would not encounter, no pressure to which she would not cheerfully submit, in order to maintain pure and unimpaired that which has never yet been shaken or sullied-her public credit and good faith."

CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

On the 3rd of May, after numerous petitions had been presented both for and against the claims of Roman Catholics, this great question of internal policy was again brought before the commons by the eloquent Grattan. The causes of disqualification, he observed, were of three kinds-the combination of the Catholics, the danger of a pretender, and the power of the pope. Grattan asserted, that not only had all these causes ceased, but that the consequences annexed to them were no more; and he concluded by moving for a committee of the whole house to take into consideration the laws by which oaths or declarations are required to be taken or made as qualifications for the enjoyment of office, or the exercise of civil functions so far as the Roman Catholics were affected by them. This motion was lost by a majority of only two in a full house; but a corresponding proposition made in the lords by Earl Donoughmere was lost by a majority of one hundred and forty-seven against one hundred and six. Subsequently another effort was made in the lords by Earl Grey; but, as before, without effect. The bill Earl Grey introduced was for abrogating so much of the acts of the 25th and 30th of Charles the Second, as prescribed to all officers, civil and military, and to all members of both houses of parliament, a declaration against the doctrines of transubstantiation, and the invocation of saints. His motion was rejected by a majority of one hundred and forty-two against eighty-two.

FOREIGN ENLISTMENT ACT.

On the 13th of May, in consequence of complaints made by the Spanish ambassador that English officers were aiding the cause of independence in South America, the attorney-general brought in a bill for prohibiting the enlistment of British subjects into foreign service, and the equipment of vessels of war without licence. The first of these objects, he observed, had been in some measure provided for by the statutes of George the Second, by which it was an offence, amounting to felony, to enter the service of any foreign state. If neutrality were to be observed, however, it was important that the penalty should be extended to the act of serving unacknowledged as well as acknowledged powers; and part of his intention therefore was to amend those statutes, by introducing after the words, "king, prince, state, potentate," the words, "colony or district, which do assume the powers of a government." It was his wish, he said,

In

The statutes of George the Second, he said, were
not to have been laws of a general nature, apply-
ing to all times and circumstances; but, on the con-
trary, "intended merely for the temporary purpose of
preventing the formation of Jacobite armies, organized
in France and Spain against the peace and tranquillity
of England." He concluded by reprobating the mea-
sure as one which was virtually an enactment to re-
press the liberty of the South Americans, and to enable
Spain to reimpose that yoke of tyranny which they
were unable to bear, which they had nobly shaken off,
and from which, he trusted in God, they would finally
and for ever be enabled to extricate themselves.
reply, Lord Castlereagh argued that the proposed bill
was necessary to prevent our giving offence to Spain,
whom that house was too just and generous to oppress
because she was weak, and her fortunes had declined.
In the subsequent stages of the bill, ministers avowed
that the measure had been suggested by the stipula-
tions of a treaty with Spain in 1814, and by the re-
presentations which the ministers of Ferdinand VII.
had considered themselves entitled by such stipulations
excited severe remarks on Ferdinand's character;
to address to the British government. This admission
but the bill was carried-in the commons by one hun-
and in the lords by one hundred against forty-nine.
dred and ninety against one hundred and twenty-nine,
it was by no means rigorously enforced.
But though this bill was rigorous in its propositions,

SLAVE TRADE, ETC.

parliament of the reluctance displayed by the two During this session Mr. Wilberforce complained in for carrying into effect the total abolition of the slavegreat powers to enter into the arrangements necessary trade. It grieved him, he said, to cast this reproach still more grieved to find that America was not free on a high-minded people like the French; and he was from blame; but he still trusted that all nations would

unite in their endeavours to civilize the inhabitants of

Africa. He concluded by moving an address to the prince regent, to renew his exertions for the attainment of this noble object, which was agreed to unanimously, as was a similar one in the lords, on the motion of Lord Lansdowne.

An act of grace for reversing the attainder of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, also passed this session without opposition. The preamble of the bill stated that his lordship had never been brought to trial; that the act of attainder did not pass the Irish parliament till some months after his decease; and that these were sumcient reasons for mitigating the severity of a measure decreed in unhappy and unfortunate times. The attainder itself, as passed by the Irish parliament, was an instance of contemptible servility to the ruling powers by that corrupt assembly. A bill was introduced in the commons on the 11th of May, for enabling the public to accept the Marquis Camden's libera! sacrifice of the surplus profits accruing from his unre duced tellership of the exchequer, as mentioned in a previous page. It was necessary to carry a bill to authorize contributions by his majesty's ministers and other public officers, lest his donation of £9,000 per annum might be considered an illegal benevolezov.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was prorogued on the 13th of July. The prince regent in his speech expressed a confident expectation that the measures adopted for the resumption of cash-payments would be productive of beneficial consequences; regretted the necessity of additional taxation; anticipated important advantages from the efforts made to meet our financial difficulties; and avowed a determination to employ the powers provided by law for the suppression of sedition, which still existed in the manufacturing districts.

SEDITIOUS ASSEMBLAGES.

The only other business of importance this session stop to these seditious meetings. A proclamation was was the granting of £50,000, for the purpose of ena-issued against them; but still the reformers were rebling government to divert the current of emigra- solved to agitate. Those of Manchester being informed tion from the United States to the Cape of Good Hope, that a meeting they had given notice of, to be held for the colony to which, it was considered, that it might the purpose of proceeding to the election of a reprebe most advantageously directed. This money was to sentative as at Birmingham, was illegal, relinquished be spent in defraying the expenses, &c., of those who it; but they held another for the avowedly legal object emigrated to that colony. of petitioning for a reform in parliament. The estima ted numbers present were 60,000; and among them were two bands of female reformers, under white silk banners. Hunt was again the lion of the day; but no sooner had he commenced speaking, than the commanding officer of a body of yeomanry, who advanced with drawn swords to the stage, took him into custody. Several other persons were also apprehended, and the yeomanry then aimed at the destruction of their banners. A scene of dreadful confusion arose; many persons were trampled under the feet of the horses, and some were cut down by sabres. A few were killed, while there were between three and four hundred wounded. In a short time the ground was cleared of the mob, and military patroles were stationed in the streets to preserve tranquillity. Hunt and his associates were, after a short examination, conducted Many causes operated after the war in producing to solitary cells, on a charge of high-treason. The general distress among the poor, both in the agricul- next day notices were issued by the magistrates, detural and manufacturing districts. The agricultural claring the practice of military training, alleged to population being more thinly scattered, and more pas- have been carried on secretly for treasonable purposes, sive by habit and education, bore their sufferings with to be illegal; and government applauded all that had exemplary patience; but the manufacturing labourers been done. But the public did not look upon the proin the midland and northern districts, as well as in ceedings at Manchester with the same favourable eye some parts of Scotland, exhibited a contrary spirit. as the cabinet. A meeting was held at the Crown and Secret combinations and seditious assemblages became Anchor in London, at which a series of resolutions the order of the day in these parts; nor could all the was adopted, strongly censuring the conduct of the efforts of parliament put down their factions. At this magistrates and military, and returning thanks to time a party, which had denominated themselves Hunt and his colleagues. Meetings in a similar spirit "Radical Reformers," obtained much notice by their were held at Smithfield and in the precincts of the active exertions, and acquired much influence from the palace-yard, Westminster; and at the latter an adsedulity which they propagated the notion that such a dress to the prince regent, founded on resolutions conreform of parliament, as would make its members true spicuous for their violence, was unanimously agreed representatives of the people, would be the surest to. Subscriptions were entered into, likewise, at all means of putting an end to present and future suffer- these meetings, and throughout the country, for the ings. One of the most notorious of the demagogues purpose of defraying the expenses of defending the was Henry Hunt, a man whose only merit consisted in prisoners. Government contemplated the trial of bold daring and mob oratory. The first step of this Hunt and his associates for high-treason; but the cirassociation was to apply to the Manchester magistrates cumstances of the case were not sufficiently treasonto convoke a meeting for the alleged purpose of able to warrant such a course; and the prisoners were petitioning against the corn bill. This request was told that they would be prosecuted for a conspiracy only. refused; and in consequence the meeting was held This was a bailable offence; but Hunt refused to give without authority. Hunt was the hero of the day; bail, resolved to be a martyr in the true sense of the and it was not his fault that the assemblage dispersed word. Some of his friends, however, liberated him; without tumult. The example thus set by Manchester and his return from Lancaster to Manchester had the was followed by the reformers of Glasgow, Leeds, appearance of a triumphal procession. He was the Stockport, and other places; and many were the mob's idol; and he was attended by thousands on horsedangerous doctrines broached by the orators. The back and on foot, who hailed him with loud shouts as strong measures of precaution, however, taken by the the assertor of British freedom. His trial took place in local authorities, in most instances, had the effect of the next year, at York, when he was sentenced to two preserving order and tranquillity; but it was feared years and a half's imprisonment at Ilchester jail, and that if these meetings were allowed still to be held, then to find security for good behaviour during five the inflammatory harangues of their orators would one years. Three of his associates were also condemned day stir up the multitude to acts of mischief. Govern- to one year's imprisonment in Lincoln Castle, and were ment, indeed, resolved to interfere. At a meeting held likewise ordered to find sureties. Still faction preat Birmingham the reformers hazarded a bolder ex- vailed. It requires an iron foot to put down a demoperiment than any before displayed. This was the cratical spirit. Meetings were still held at Leeds, election of a member to represent that great and Glasgow, and other places; and the orators had the populous town in the house of commons. Sir horrible details of the events at Manchester, Birming Charles Wolseley was put in nomination, and instantly ham, and other places, wherewith to entertain their chosen by show of hands. Soon after this Sir Charles auditory. The sufferers at those places were compared attended a meeting at Stockport; and he was taken to the Russells, Hampdens, and Sidneys of ancient into custody on account of seditious expressions used times, and ensigns of mourning were established. The at that meeting. Subsequently a meeting took place corporation of London even ventured to present an at Smithfield, when a man named Harrison was ar- address to the regent, censuring the authorities; but rested for the same offence; and both were tried next the regent administered to them a forcible rebuke, as year at the assizes, convicted, and sentenced to im- prejudging the matter without having had any opporprisonment. The officer by whom they were appre-tunity of understanding it. In order to counteract the hended narrowly escaped assassination at Stockport; effects of these meetings, and the exertions of the and government immediately adopted vigorous mea- regular opposition, or whig party, loyal addresses and cures for the discovery of the offenders, and to put a offers to raise yeomanry corps were promoted by o