No.907. MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1825. THE POLITICAL EXAMINER. Párty is the madness of many for the gain of a few.-POPE. SPECULATION MANIA. ON 30th of January last, we gave a copious list of the new schemes for the employment of money, which had started up in every line of adventure within a few months, in consequence of the rage for speculation which seemed to have seized British society. Though this unnatural excitement has in a great degree subsided, and no further endeavours are needed to open the eyes of the credulous to the absurd number of these projects, and the consequent improbability of the success of more than a few of very superior character, yet we deem it both curious and useful, as illustrative of what may be termed a social disease, to complete the record by the addition of companies formed since our first enumeration. With the exception of about half-a-dozen, which ought to have appeared in our former list, the following have all been made known to the public subsequently to January last. It is probable, that some of them have been silently dropt since the reaction in the public mind began to manifest itself: that we have no means of knowing; we have inserted only such as were regularly advertised in the daily papers, of which prospectuses were issued, and for which applications for shares were received by their bankers and solicitors; and we have struck out such as we have Capital. since seen formally abandoned by notice in the journals:250,000 Worcester and Gloucester Union Canal Jamaica Oil Gas Company Flour and Corn Depot Company Bengal Sugar Company Royal Anglo Hanoverian Hartz Mining Association Irish Shipping Company Grand Commercial Assurance Company and Guarantee Saint Katherine Dock Company Thames and Severn Railway Company Gold Coast Mining and Trading Company Biscaina and Moran Vein Mining Association Colombian Agricultural Association Hibernian Joint Stock Banking Company Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal, &c. Company Canal Gas Engine Company Mediterranean Steam Company Grand Western Rail-Road Pacific Pearl Fishery Association London Drug Company (Beetham and Son) Home Investment and Annuity Company United English and Italian Coral Fishery British Tontine Building Association Pacific Pearl and Crystal Fishery 500,000 1,000,000 250,000 200,000 1,000,000 1,300,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 150,000 25,000 2,000,000 100,000 2,000,000 150,000 300,000 Cornwall and Devonshire Tin, Copper, and Lead Mining 500,000 750,000 1,000,000 300,000 500,000 100,000 500,000 1,000,000 British Invention and Discovery Company 300,000 Bognor and Aldwick Improvement Company 3,000,000 Cattle Food Culture Association British Lead Company Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Ship Building Company 1,000,000 Guernsey and Jersey Patent Ship Building Company' 750.000 United Kingdom Estate Association 1,000,000 Patent Steam Canal Company Philippine Islands Mining and Trading Association 1,000,000 British Rock and Patent Salt Company British Forest Planting Company 60,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 50,000 1,000,000 3,000,000 London Abattoir Association 1,500,000 Birmingham Water Works 125.000 British North American Ship-Building Company - 500,000 50,000 800,000 Cotton Importing and Manufacturing Company 2,000,000 500,000 100,000 Society for the Prosecution and Encouragement of the Herring 500,000 600,000 500,000 French Brandy Distillery Company 150,000 300,000 Royal Cornish Mining Association 1,000,000 Surrey Rail-Road Company 60,000 1,000,000 General Burial Ground Association 300.000 London Cemetery 750,000 Oil Colour, Varnish, and Dry Saltery Company 300,000 600,000 Van Dieman's Land Trading Company 200,000 Society for the Encouragement of Literature 100,000 Ground Rent Company 250,000 Patent Scarlet and Crimson Dye Company National Drug and Chemical Company 250,000 General Stage Coach Company Patent Steam Washing Company London Short Stage Coach Company 500,000 Tropical Free Labour Company 4,000,000 Economic Funeral Society 150,000 Borneo, Loo Soo, and Banca Company 1,000,000 Brazilian Agricultural and Jewel Company 600,000 British, Irish, and Colonial Silk Company Mansion House Street Company 350,000 British and Foreign Timber and Wood Association London and Westminster General Investment Society - 1,000,000 London Company for the Sale of Horses and Carriages 10,000 200,000 Bolivar Mining Association Mexican Colónization, Agricultural, and General Trading Company General Posting Company 1,200,000 City Improvement Company 500,000 West of England Cobalt and Copper Company Devon Haytor Granite Company Persian Mining and Trading Company British Steam and Patent Navigation Company month, and a volume being given to each country: and whether we 1,000,000 regard the plan, the judicious compilation, the extremely neat print500,000 ing, or the useful maps and illustrative prints of costume, &c. it may be emphatically called a "nice little book." 125,000 The Magistrate. When we saw the announcement of this periodical, we were a little puzzled by the title. We thought the editor might intend to set up 500,000 for a justice of the peace in the realms of literature, and deal sumWe cannot quit this subject without expressing our satisfaction at marily with all persons who came within his critical jurisdiction. The the sensible conduct of the Ministers, and particularly of Mr. Hus- second title or alias of the work soon set us right, however; "The KISSON, in regard to legal interference with the speculative rage. Magistrate; or Sessions and Police Review." The design appears to be,— Without a direct refusal, which might have seemed to convey appro- to keep a vigilant eye upon the exercise of the alarming and oftenbation of the excessive adventure, they (with the exception of Lord abused powers vested in the Magistracy; and by reporting and comELDON, who threatened much and did nothing) paid no attention to menting upon all remarkable cases in which magistrates are concerned, the cry for Parliamentary enactment against the scheming. For the to bring Public Opinion to bear upon that irresponsible branch of sake of a doubtful check upon a temporary evil, they would not legis- the judicial establishment. When we consider the total absence under late against political economy and the rights of individuals. The our blessed Constitution of every other check upon the misconduct of result has shown the wisdom of this course: with the aid of free dis- a body of men by no means famous for good sense or good temper, cussion, the fever of enterprise has subsided, with infinitely less mis- and possessing dangerous power, while they are exposed to strong chief than the alarmists anticipated; and in place of disfiguring our temptations to perpetuate injustice and mischief, we feel that a pub statute-book with some clumsy Act which would have fettered useful lication of this nature cannot fail to do great good, if conducted with more than delusive speculation, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL has quietly industry and judgment. This first Number promises well, and displays introduced a Bill to repeal the famous absurdity called the Bubble both spirit and acuteness. We need not observe, that the plan laid Act, and thereby put an end to the disgraceful uncertainty and inde-down gives scope for a great deal of amusing fact and observation, cision lately displayed in the Law Courts respecting the meaning and independently of the interest which may be imparted to the discussions, scope of that legislative abortion. Mr. HUSKISSON's tone throughout A certain Morning Paper which we all know, is thought to have fully the agitation on this subject, does great credit to his judgment and doubled its circulation by means of its police reports alone, sagacity. LITERARY NOTICES. Rebellion of the Beasts. By a late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. EVERY body has heard of the anecdote of the Turkish Vizier who, by his knowledge of the language of beasts, contrived to let his master know what an adept he had become in the art of ruining villages. This work is the production of a sage similarly gifted, who in consequence becomes acquainted with the spread of revolutionary notions among the beasts, and details the particulars of a political bouleversement of a most singular description. The thought is airy, and the execution eccentric; so much so indeed, that we give up in despair the attempt to supply a due notion of it. Suffice it to say, that the satire of our philosopher is exceedingly devious, and that it zig-zags in its career like a flash of lightening. Sometimes it plays on ancient absurdities, not unfrequently on modern crudities; and, in short, seems no way scrupulous of making a hit in any direction in which a hit can be made. The progress of the Beastly Revolution, until the exaltation of the Ass, first to the dictatorship, and subsequently to sovereign sway, is narrated with much vivacity; but with a licence almost as great as that of Rabelais, in reference to oddness and whimsicality. To conclude: the Author, whose vein of humour is very singular, appear to have allowed his invention to freely follow it, sometimes indeed to rather out-of-the-way places, but seldom beyond the pale of legitimate satire. Query, has not the "late fellow" had in his eye the History of Reynard the Fox?" for although after all extremely different, we cannot recollect another production to which this jeu d'esprit bears the slightest analogy. To say that it will amuse, is to say every thing as times go; and that may be said with safety. Q. celebrated " The Modern Traveller.. To bring within a moderate compass, in regard to size and price, the valuable information spread through the many bulky and swelled out volumes in which modern travellers have generally deposited their somewhat diffuse details, is a work of such obvious utility for all classes, and of such particular importance to those whose time and money are inadequate to the consulting of the original sources, that a compilation on this plan could not possibly fail of success, however indifferently done. Indeed, when we saw the announcement of the Modern Traveller, we felt some apprehension lest security of a profitable result might tempt the conductors to slur the execution, and that thus the demand might be in a great measure supplied by an incorrect and mischievous publication. We have however recently seen the volumes already published, and are gratified to find, that there is no foundation for our fears. As far as we are competent judges, the Modern Traveller is compiled with industry and judgment,-giving ample details where abridgment would seriously diminish the interest of the narrative (as in the most delightful parts of the conquest of Mexico by Cortes) and taking a rapid view of the least instructive periods of history and the dryer details of description. The work is now in course of publication, a half-crown number appearing every THEATRICAL EXAMINER. COVENT GARDen. MISS MARIA TREE took her benefit here on Wednesday, when it is understood she appeared for the last time on the stage. The absence of any formal announcement of this fact is attributed to her preference of a silent retirement to the parade of the usual theatrical farewell;a preference quite in accordance with the whole tenor of her public deportment. The entertainments selected on this occasion were old favourites with the town-A Roland for an Oliver, Charles the Second, and Clari, Miss TREE performed in the two latter, the first of which exhibits her in the character of an arch, playful girl (a part she sustains with an exquisite union of spirit and delicacy) and the last, the merest common-place in regard to incident and sentiment, owes all its interest to the delicious pathos of her acting and singing. Had we been consulted in the choice of pieces, we might rather have named Twelfth Night, or Cymbeline, with Rosina perhaps for the afterpiece; but the actual selections, we have no doubt, are more to the taste of the majority of play-goers; and it is very natural for an actress: to wish that her "last impressions" should be of a kind most widely felt. At the close of the entertainments, the audience called loudly and with zealous perseverance for the favourite of the night; they had a suspicion that they might never again have the opportunity, although they could hardly believe her retreat would be so noiseless. She came forward, attended by Mr. FAWCETT, curtseyed to the different parts of the house, and retired evidently much affected. The graceful and feeling verses addressed to Miss TREE in anticipation of this event, which appeared in a late London Magazine, beginning "My Jasmine, my Myrtle, my Rose, My pretty, my favourite Tree," &c. would make any prose effusion that we could supply, appear flat and unprofitable in the comparison; yet we cannot let one who has afforded us so much delight, pass away from the public eye, without recording our final testimony to her merits. Miss TREE is (we had almost said was so strong is the feeling that for us she is gone)—Miss TREE is a first-rate singer, whether we regard her natural power or her great accomplishments. To a voice of moderate compass, but exceedingly rich in tone, and peculiarly adapted to express intense feeling, she unites great taste and perfect science. Wholly free from a too common ambition to astonish by misplaced ornament, she relies for her impression upon nature and propriety; her ear is beautifully true; her tones go right to the heart, and "give an echo to the seat where Love is throned." As an actress she does not rank so high, only because there are many excellent performers in departments which she does not attempt: in her own line she has no rival. She can be occasionally arch and lively; but in her merriest sallies there is a delicacy and modesty which create far more pleasing emotions in the spectator than mere vivacity. Her forte however is the representation of all that is tender and impassioned in early female love. We cannot pay her a greater com pliment, or at the same time convey our idea of her excellence in this dress of body and of mind. It is a handsome and innocent female, such respect better, than by saying, that she excels in SHAKSPEARE'S an one as gallantry directed by esteem would select for a partner in life. 112, The Highland Family, has much of the tasteful touchiness by women-which we conceive to be among the divinest creations of poetic fancy. We are almost convinced that the great poet himself, He has here furnished all the still-life utensils of the Scotch room with which, above all our Painters in his class, Mr. WILKIE is so distinguished. could he have witnessed Miss TREE's performance of his Viola, his admired skill, but he has, for once in his life, omitted much of the main Julia, his Ophelia, or his Imogen, would have experienced the perfect object on his canvass, the facial and personal expression. The subject content of seeing his own idea faithfully reflected by her acting. To is one of kindly and gladsome feeling. It represents a Highlander any one who has a true taste for the drama, it is an irreparable loss, returned from shooting, and receiving his infant from the mother. This is not to have seen this lady in one of those characters. She always done with scarcely a beam of pleasure from either of the parents, but the appeared to give her soul up to the part; she moved and spoke, she child looks eager "to lisp his sire's return," and the pictorial parent hesitated or burst into energy, she drooped or laughed, with an might be proud of such a fine and feeling boy. emotion that forcibly conjured up reality, and dissipated all idea of Allegorical Painting is conventially and properly admitted into: acting. Nothing perhaps can be a stronger proof of native modesty, Even RUBENS looks aukward in some of his allegorical mixtures of Gods poetical subjects, but it is seldom happy in immediate and familiar life. than the manner in which she played in male attire: the sternest and modern drest mortals, in his celebrated pictures of the Life of Mary objector to feminine (or rather in most cases unfeminine) stage- de Medicis in the Louvre a series of splendid flatteries-and the reason personations of man, would have made an exception in her favour. is, that there is a discrepancy in such mixtures in a picture. Poetry She was so gentle, so unaffectedly timid, so unconscious of wrong-might admit them; but in painting, the palpable incongruity to the eye her mind seemed so absorbed in the passion which suggested and is offensive. We felt it so immediately on looking at 141, Guardian warranted the disguise, that no sense of impropriety could find its way Angels, by Mr. HOWARD, representing a young man in the English dress into the thoughts of the spectator, any more than to her own. To of the day, about to read the bible to his parents, while some Angels are As portraits of a religious family so our taste, indeed, we confess she never looked so feminine, as when looking at them from above. habited in the costume of the other sex, because her every word, engaged, the picture is beautifully painted; and its light, if it is not a look, and action, bespoke the feminine devotion which prompted the celestial, is at least a bright and natural one. Mr. MULREADY's Travelling Druggist, 106, is a picture that must assumption, and the internal struggle between all-powerful affection universally please from its harmonious colour and its contrasts of charac and sexual reserve. Her personal advantages contributed to this ter; a stout, travelling Turk, and an anxious and delicate woman and her effect. Without any pretension to beauty of feature, such was the sick child, with a healthy one affectionately clinging to him. charm of her expression, that many who had seen her only in public considered her handsome, and all agreed that she was most interesting. Then her figure was beautifully formed; and her "masculine usurped attire," which was always the most tasteful and becoming imaginable, displayed it to peculiar advantage. 42, Portrait of Lord Cosmo Russel, Son of the Duke of Bedford, is a picture so vigorous in tone and character, as to remind us of similar subjects,-a boy on a bounding steed, by VELASQUEZ and other Spanish Painters. The fine effect of rapid motion is encreased by a capitally introduced spaniel. We trust that having begun and succeeded well in a cabinet size, Mr. E. LANDSEER will renew so noble an animal subject as the Horse in action, on a larger scale-190, Taking a Buck, represents a Man and Dogs having just reached and seized a Buck; consequently a look in the deer, are the inspiring qualities of the subject; and they are completely shown, together with all the science necessary to their dis play in drawing, colour, &c. for which Mr. E. LANDSEER is eminent.211, The Widow, is a ludicrous denomination given to a duck, whose male partner lies breathless, and whose upturned head and flapping wings may be considered as denoting uneasiness at her loss. The drake still looks of the most beautiful breed, and might well be lamented by all his dearest ducks." The colour, feathery strokes, and shapes, are bright rivalries of art with nature. We have insensibly run into the past tense again, in spite of our check at the outset. Miss TREE will however forgive us, when we conclude with very cordially wishing her a long term of happiness" breathless haste" and ardour in the sportsmen and dogs, with a piteous resulting from the marriage which has deprived our hearts and ears of their purest theatrical enjoyment, and with expressing our conviction, that possessing as she must the most endearing qualities and accomplishments of woman, it will be passing strange, and certainly no fault of her's, if she is not as happy as the Julias and Violas with whom she is for ever identified in our recollections. FINE ARTS. ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION. In 54, Titania, there is a fancy so affluent and playful, so mixed up of the graceful and the grotesque, that we absolutely imagine SHAKESPEAR'S poetical conceptions transferred to the canvass, in the charming Titania as she sleeps, and in the little Fairies who are at their gambols in a ring about her-throwing somersets, leaping, flying, laughing, &c. But the drawing, or the anatomy and the pencilling, are not worthy of these beauties, neither is the colouring. Mr. STOTHARD composes colour ably as a whole, bat the local or separate tints want purity. His carnations are generally too yellow, sometimes too grey, seldom bright. There is no common charm of innocence, beauty, and tenderness, in 268, Paul and Virginia represented a short time previous to their separation, by T. FORSTER. 126, Juliet. H. THOMSON, R.A. This artist is exactly the reverse of Mr. STOTHARD, and the Juliet is an evidence of it. It has more careful execution, or science and study, than genius or nature. Like one of the late John Kemble's attitudes, it is elegant and expressive, and we like it; and yet it savours too much of study. It has a certain preciseness of look and ostentation of dress, that make its beauty stop short between our eyes and heart; a sort of aristocratical assumption, that will not, like STOTHARD'S Titania, suffer our feelings to approach with familiarity and affection. We admire, but scarcely can sympathize with this Juliet, even though she is in distress. The picture's architectural lines beautifully compose with the figure and the statuary group of Cupid and Psyche, which is very aptly introduced. The moon is seen spreading around her soft and serious light. If our impression of animal nature and art is true, nothing in the latter can be more justly or powerfully relieved from canvass than 10, Nonpareil,-22, Monitor, and 91, Brood Mares, by Mr. J. WARD. In the latter, however, is not the anatomical science rather ostentatiously shown? 149, Lion and Lioness, by Mr. LEWIS, is beautifully pencilled, and has evidently ever-to-be-studied nature for its model. In 276, The Fortune-teller, Mr. OLIVER is by no means happy. 21, Brook Scene, is advantageous to the improved graphic character of the Rev. T. J. JUDKIN. It is a clear imitation of leafy nature, where the sun sheds his beams undimmed by the slightest mist. We wish it was not quite so hard in outline. Mr. F. P. STEPHANOFF paints to our moral as well as to our graphic feelings, in 130, The Widow. We are touched with her faithful remembrance of her deceased husband, as she turns from a suitor to her cradled child. There is a fine mellowness and depth of warm colour in this picture, and the gloom of shade which so largely surrounds the high lights, is in excellent keeping with the sentiment of the subject. Mr. FRADELLE is a successful painter of tender and of lively feeling seen in an elegant exterior. 148, Olivia and Viola, is a good specimen. Viola's burst of surprise and pleasure at Olivia's unveiling herself, is not unworthy of the animated dramatic text. There is good painting in 58, H. R. H. the Duke of York, by Mr. GEDDES; but it is unlucky for it that it hangs immediately above the splendidly coloured, and very elegantly composed portrait of the Prin cess Sophia, by Sir T. LAWRENCE, which is, we think, his masterpiece for fleshy tints in their pearly delicacy, rivalling the best in modern painting. 101, Slender, with the assistance of Shallow, courting Ann Page, C. R. There is great vivacity of mind and person in Mr. PICKERSGILL'S LESLIE, A. is a finished picture of its kind. It is the "sweet Ann Page" portrait of Miss Landon, the Poetess, with bright fleshy tints and depth which SHAKESPEAR and Nature have given us; beautiful and modest, of effect.-9, Mrs. Morison, is also bright, broad, and is inspired with but with the exception, perhaps, of a little too much sedateness. gentleness and grace. His portrait of J. S. Buckingham, Esq. and his She has a capital foil in the stupid, drivelling, enamorato Slender, and Lady, are painted with a fine decision, and the costume of the Arab, in the pert conceit and forwardness of Shallow. The picture's light is in which the highly intelligent and public spirited Editor of the Oriental brightest accordance with this finely sustained character. It spreads and Herald is dressed, is excellently cast. The face of Mr. Buckingham, and sparkles among strong shadows with a power which rivals the famous his entire air, as he holds his wife's hand and looks at her, is full of Dutch room scenes. The scene is throughout an illustration of Nature, sociality; but we do no texactly like the turning of Mrs. Buckingham's and, with his previous works, establishes Mr. LESLIE as a favourite of animated face so much away from him towards the spectator. R. H. the Muse of Graphic Comedy, Did Mr. COOPER colour as well as he composes, draws, and expresses" Leda." This painting, which was last week on view at Mr. CHRIShis energetic groups of men and horses, his battle pictures would scarcely be surpassed by any previous Painter, not even by BORGOGNONE. 16, 4 Study, is not equal to Mr. HowARD'S Female in the costume of the fourteenth century; but it is one of the same pleasing and amiable family in TIE's Room, is brought into this country for sale by private contract. It is said, that the Proprietor has refused 5,000 guineas for it, and that 7,000 is the large sum required. It is unquestionably a most beautiful work of art; but Mr. CHRISTIE, in his high admiration of LEONARDO DA VINCI, (the painter) should not forget, that this artist was a great one, not in consequence of, but in spite of, his mode of colouring, which is in general absolutely bad. At the termination of a sale on Tuesday, Mr. CHRISTIE addressed the company on the subject of this picture, speaking of it, in the main, as it deserved to be spoken of, and intimating, that, rather than that such a fine production should be lost to his country, he would join in a subscription for its purchase, and that his 50l. were ready for that object. This handsome proposal, and the sensible speech of the tasteful proposer, excited the plaudits of the assembly. KEEPING UP THE ROYAL DIGNITY! A vote of 60001. as an addition to the yearly income of the Duke of Cumberland, and of 6000l. to the Duchess of Kent, has passed both Houses of Parliament. The Peers were of course quite unanimous on the subject; but there was a good deal of grudging amongst the Commons. We should like to see a calculation of what the family of George the Third has cost the nation from first to last. With what truth can we be called a nation of shopkeepers, after rejecting Paine's offer to act the part of our First Magistrate effectively for 10,000l. a-year ?-Dundee Advertiser. The Royal Family have a right to a provision, due to their rank and dignity; but it is preposterous that the country should be called upon to support boundless extravagance and folly. One or two Members of the House seem to have a tender sympathy for the Heir Presumptive to the Crown, who, it appears, is plunged in a vortex of pecuniary difficulties, and who has scarcely a carriage he can claim as his own. Individuals of ordinary station in society, were they similarly situated, would be visited with opprobrium for their improvidence; but, according to the logic of these gentlemen, Royalty is an apology for the grossest indiscretions. The reception which the Duke of Cumberland's claim has met with, although it was finally carried, does not augur very favourably for any appeal from a higher quarter. Of all paupers, Royal ones are the most inconsiderate and difficult to justify. From the confession of his friends, the necessities of the Heir Presumptive seem more pressing than any other branch of his family. It remains to be seen, whether he has equal claims to the possession of modesty, and to a due regard for the public purse.-Belfast Whig. The CHAIRMAN addressed the company. He trusted that the union which subsisted between the freeholders of Middlesex and their Representatives might long continue. As long as the House of Commons should remain unreformed, it was necessary to support individual members who remained independent of the Government. The Chairman, in conclusion, gave the healths of G. Byng, Esq. and S. Whitbread, Esq. Mr. BYNG expressed his heartfelt satisfaction at the manner in which this toast was received. He promised that he should be found on all occasions the determined friend of civil and religious liberty. Mr. WHITBREAD said, that he and his hon. colleague felt that they had independent constituents, and therefore they were proud of the confidence reposed in them. To the best of his ability, he had supported the interests of the freeholders, and, when circumstances rendered it necessary, he should again come forward and request their support. The CHAIRMAN next gave the hon. members for Westminster. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT returned thanks. Whilst he admitted the increased liberality of Ministers, he must be allowed to say, that there were many great constitutional evils still in existence. Unless more was done in the way of reform, ministers would neglect their duty to the public, and the public the duty they owed to themselves. No man could be a friend to civil liberty who was not also a friend to religious liberty. Civil and religious liberty were the same. The hon. gentleman (Mr. W.) had alluded to the subject of private committees of the House of Commons. On this subject his exertions were certainly most useful and meritorious. But this conduct of Committees was only one amongst many evils; it was a spot on the leopard, a stain on a body covered with leprosy. Unless an extensive remedy was applied, we might palliate a trifling evil, but the disease would remain in the same state in which it existed at the present moment. He returned again to the principle, that nothing could be expected from a House of Commons constituted like the present. When an inquiry was made, in compliance with the irresistible complaint of the public, nothing was done by the House of Commons that could be helped, and the effect often was only to postpone the remedy or to perpetuate the evil. This was well exemplified in the case of the Court of Chancery, a vortex in which the property of whole families was daily swallowed up. In this case, when the public complaints could no longer be turned a deaf ear to, the House of Commons did not go to the root of the evil; they only voted that a Commission, consisting of Lord Eldon himself, and a few of his friends, should be appointed to inquire into the conduct of Lord Eldon, and the practices of the Court! (Hear, hear) In this way evils were carried to a most enormous extent. Some reformer proThis was certainly less objectionable than allowing them to fix the amount of their own salaries by taxing the public under the name of fees;, but he did not see why the public should be burdened by an augmentation of the Judges' salaries. It was not because ministers consented to some amelioration of the condition of the country, that the country should approve of all their measures. The real virtue of a ministry was best proved by their disinclination to dip into the public purse. The present ministry had no peculiar merit in this particular. The people had obtained every thing; though their condition was somewhat improved, the guardians of the public interest were as faithless as ever, and the people had made no progress in obtaining faithful stewards. Many things now existed which could not be approved of. The intolerant principles of the High Church Tory Party remained unabated. This was the only party which had ever advocated the abominable doctrine of passive obedience. It was the influence of this party which deprived the Roman Catholics of their civil rights, because of their religious opinions; and never was there a more base, hypocritical, and silly pretence than that which deprived any body of men of civil rights, because they had peculiar religious opinions. Ministers were yet half a century behind the public mind. Why had we the visitation of the excise laws continued? and why was the country covered with armed men, under the pretence of protecting the revenue? The whole administration of justice should be looked to." So enormous were the expenses of legal proceedings, that a man had rather give up his legal right than go to those much-lauded tribunals. The evil from which all other evils branched was, a badly constituted House of Commons, which went hand in glove with every abuse, and when the publie complained, gave only a sham remedy, or as little remedy as they could. no individual to whom a grant could be proposed, so objectionable to the people of England as the Duke of Cumberland. As to the pretence of giving it for the education of his son, it was ridiculous. Ben Jonson had said," Princes were taught nothing but to ride, because a horse is a noble animal and would throw a prince as well as another." Men were rational beings; he wished they would take the example of the horse The true education for a prince would be, to make him forget he was a prince, or only to remember he was a man. Nothing could be more absurd than to surround an infant with state, like a grand lama. It was no reason, because certain blood flowed in his veins, that he should be shut out from the common virtues of mortals, whilst he was destined to exercise such an important influence over the happiness of his countrymen. If, as it was stated, the grant was intended to enable his Royal Highness to return to this country, he (Sir F. Burdett) would say, add 6000l. to the six already granted, and let him remain abroad. (Cheers.) This grant sufficiently proved that no sympathy existed between the people of England and the bulk of their Representatives. It brought him back to his text, that no liberty or security could be depended upon whilst things remained as they were. He hoped English, Irish, and Scotch, would lay aside every feeling of disregard to each other, and It will be recollected that an attempt was made to saddle the country with an annuity to the Duke of Cumberland on the occasion of his marriage with his present illustrious Consort; and that Parliament, while it granted a similar provision to other branches of the Royal Family, refused it to his Highness of Cumberland, in spite of the King's " mes-posed to abolish fees, but to make the Judges an ample compensation.. sage," and the efforts of his Cabinet to boot.-After this, his Royal Highness goes abroad, where his income of 18,000l. or 19,000l. a year is equal in exchangeable value to 30,000l. a year in England; and there he resides, until, having a son six years of age, he deems it necessary, for the poor child's sake of course, to receive an addition to his income of 6,000l. a year from the public purse. Now the Duke did want 6,000l. a year, and the Duchess (of Kent) did not. But it so happened. that the Duke of Cumberland, having the fear of Opposition before his eyes, did not find it convenient to face Parliament "single handed," and so he walks in manfully in the rear of the Duchess of Kent! In this instance at least, his Royal Highness evinced a taste for good company; and none can doubt but that he acted wisely in placing himself under the protection of a petticoat. Well!-The Lady (Heaven bless her!) curtsied gracefully and somewhat proudly through the House, and was greeted on all sides with gallantry and good feeling; but the Gentleman-we beg pardon-we mean the Duke, though sticking close to her skirts, was doomed, once more, to run the gauntlet of rebuke. Mr. Hume, the sturdy and ever vigilant guardian of the public purse, stopped him at the very threshold, with a manly and straight-forward negative to his claims, and was supported by 97" honest men and true." Sir George Rose gave his Royal Highness a four years' character, and justified his residence abroad upon the simple principle of his being very much disliked at home. Now this must have been very refreshing to the Honourable House; for if his Royal Highness' reputation was in somewhat ill savour there, what | so delightful as a Rose to sweeten it? And so the six year's old Prince George Frederick Alexander Charles Earnest Augustus(whew!-a little breath for charity) of Cumberland, is likely to bless his August Papa with 6,000l. a year. Who would not beget Princes!-Hereford Inde-The grant to the Duke of Cumberland had been referred to. There was pendent. The Duke of Cumberland receives nineteen thousand pounds a year from Johnny Bull, and spends it abroad-where his nineteen thousand are equal to the required twenty-five thousand, and where he begets a child, and, on pretence of giving it a suitable education, a request of an additional six thousand a year is modestly made, because forsooth it is within the bounds of probability that that child may, at some remote period, be the King of England :-and honest John, in his love for Kings,-past, present, and to come,-accedes. Surely, John's godmothers have mistaken their godchild's gender-a creature so full of milk, and so profuse of it, must be feminine; a she-ass, perhaps, to suckle foals' fools,' Shakspeare writes it, but this is a poetical licence' which we dare not assume.-Stamford News. MIDDLESEX DINNER. The Anniversary dinner of the Freeholders of Middlesex, in commemoration of the return of G. Byng, Esq. and Samuel Whitbread, Esq was held on Wednesday, at the Mermaid Tavern, Hackney.-S. Lefebvre, Esq. presided. The cloth having been removed, and the usual toasts drank, cordially join in removing an evil which affected all classes, the corrupt | attention, as it came from one who must be acknowledged to be a very state of the House of Commons. This was the long and the short-the burden of his song. The public had heard this note from him for the last twenty-five years. He hoped he should have the honour to meet the present assembly for twenty-five years more; but long before the termination of this period, he hoped to have to congratulate them on the enjoyment of their right to a full and fair representation of the House of Commons. (The Honourable Baronet concluded amidst long continued cheers.) Mr. HOBHOUSE returned thanks. He said it was well that ministers should claim credit for the practice of liberal principles; but it should not be forgotten that the people of England, in the worst of times, advocated those opinions which ministers now acted upon. To the spirit of the people of England, ministers owed all that made them popular. In these halcyon days, however, whilst the people of England were suffering under what had been well termed "a plethora of wealth," the ministers should not press too heavily upon the public purse. During the present session additional salaries had been granted to police magistrates, to judges, to princes, and to certain of the ministers. This was not the way for ministers to keep themselves popular. Unless the public kept a watchful eye upon the conduct of the House of Commons, nothing could stem the torrent of corruption. Allusion had been made to the spots of the leopard; but the leopard was beautiful, and he confessed he saw nothing beautiful in the House of Commons; he should correct himself, however; there was some similarity in sound, if not in sense-if it was not like the leopard, it might be said to be like the leper. (Hear, hear! and laughter.) "The health of Lord Nugent and his Constituents," was then given, and received with considerable applause.-Lord NUGENT returned thanks. The cause they met to promote was that of parliamentary reform, and civil and religious liberty. This cause might be postponed, but it must be ultimately victorious. He had imbibed the principles of civil and religious liberty, which he had never deserted, from Mr. Whitbread, when a boy, and he was now proud in being allowed to celebrate the triumph of those principles in the person of that great man's son. (Continued cheers.) Mr. BYNG next proposed the health of the Chairman, which was received with loud cheers.-The CHAIRMAN returned thanks; and gave "Civil and Religious Liberty all over the world," which was drunk with enthusiasm.-Shortly after the assembly separated, CORN LAWS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER. SIR, One of the arguments used in favour of the Canada Corn Bill is, that it will be beneficial to Canada, in whose prosperity, as one of our Colonies, we are as much interested as in that of Yorkshire, or any other county. Now, one of the effects of the Bill will be, to raise the prices of corn in Canada; a measure which there, it seems, would be productive of good, but which, in England, would be antihuman. I shall be glad if you, Mr. Examiner, or some of your correspondents, will explain this apparent inconsistency, and show how the same principle, viz. that of raising the price of wheat by legislative measures, is to be beneficial in the one country and ruinous in the other. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, K. CONTAGION AND QUARANTINE. The question as to the existence of pestilential contagion, which is ǹow so generally agitated, may be thus succinctly stated:-Diseases which are capable of affecting the same person repeatedly, if they were also contagious, would never cease until communities were extinguished. Plague and other epidemic diseases are capable of affecting the same person repeatedly; communities continue to exist-these diseases, cannot, therefore, depend upon a specific contagion. This important deduction is confirmed by every variety of proof, positive, negative, analogical, circumstantial, and ad absurdum. Again :-Either epidemic diseases have been proved to depend, or not to depend, upon a specific contagion; or the question remains undecided. In the first case, as these diseases are capable of affecting the same person repeatedly, quarantine ought to be augmented in duration, increased in vigour, and universally extended. In the second, it ought to be wholly abolished, as being without an object: and, in the third, an unbiassed inquiry into facts ought to be forthwith instituted. Those who differ respecting the two former, will agree respecting the latter proposition. The only practical test of the value of testimonial evidence upon this subject, with whatever good faith, and with however honest intentions it may be brought forward, is the result of absolute contact of the sick with persons in health upon an extended scale; which experiments I am at all times ready and willing to repeat, in those countries where, from the frequent recurrence of pestilence, due facilities are afforded. CHARLES MACLEAN. UNITED PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. QUARANTINE LAWS. Lord KING presented a petition from Dr. M'Lean against the Quarantine System. The Noble Lord observed, that the petition deserved serious ardent searcher after truth, even if he were not right. The petition prayed for a revision of the laws, on the ground of their being founded on the belief that the plague depended on contagion-a doctrine which many eminent physicians regarded as founded in prejudice and ignorance. The petitioner was one of those who contended that the plague was epidemic, not contagious. This question had been referred to the College of Physi cians, but he did not think that the best mode of getting a question of difficulty solved. That Learned Body probably had, like some others, a great dislike to innovation, and would, no doubt, very willingly swallow the whole 39 Articles in one bolus. He did not think these persons the best men to reform physic, any more than he should think lawyers the best men for reforming the law. He would just as soon apply to the Archbishop of Dublin for the reform of St. Athanasius's Creed, who, on his oath before a Committee of the House, had declared that that creed, contained no damnatory clauses, but was merely a parenthesis from one end to the other! Whatever their Lordships might think of this quarantine question, it appeared to him that a very sore disease, whether contagious or epidemic he could not determine, afflicted the House. Their Lordships met every day to hear causes, not to determine, at ten o'clock; and the suitors by whom the House was beset, called the disease the PLAGUE OF INDECISION! On Monday last, the Noble Earl opposite was very seriously affected by it. He stood between the fire and the woolsack in the very line of the draught of indecision. He then came towards the table to speak on the Canada Corn Bill, and immediately the Noble Earl' found himself seized with this epidemic of indecision. He first proposed five years for the period of the bill; by and by he sunk down to three years; and lastly, to one year. To show, however, how different the epidemic was from a contagion or animal poison, the Noble Lord soon the President of the Board of Trade, who had not been affected by the recovered. He went to dine with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and disorder, but stood firm. With them he got rid of his epidemic indecision, and promised to carry his bill through the House. The Noble and Learned Lord, too, could get rid of his indecision on certain questions. There was a good air as well as a bad air, and there was no want of decision against the Catholics. The Noble and Learned Lord doubtless thought that the Vatican was full of contaminated air; but if he went there, and could see how well the system worked-that everything was done snugly without the interference of any Commissioners of Inquiry, he' was sure the Noble and Learned Lord would no longer exclaim "No Popery!" but would with all his heart cry "O! Popery!" The LORD CHANCELLOR did not rise to oppose the petition, but merely to say, that if a Plague was to be removed from that House, he could very easily tell their Lordships what its name was. The Colonial Intercourse Bill and the Duke of Cumberland's Annuity Bill went through Committees. Mr. LITTLETON presented a petition from the artisans of the town and county of Nottingham, praying that Parliament would not repeal the laws which prohibited the exportation of machinery, to which they attributed the prosperity of the British manufactures. Mr. HUSKISSON remarked, that the continuance of the laws in their old state was inconsistent with the more liberal policy in trade which the country had recently adopted. Still, however, he would by no means recommend any serious alteration without hearing the opinions of those practical men, who ought perhaps to be the best judges of what seemed most likely to affect their interests. Mr. HUME said, that as one of the Committee upon Machinery, he agreed that all parties ought to be fully heard before the law was altered, although nothing had occurred to change the opinion he had long formed, that the laws relative to the export of machinery ought to be made to partake of the general improvement in the principles of trade. The Committee would report in the present session, and then, early in the ensuing, they could consider what further steps they ought to take. Mr. BARING thought it clear that nine-tenths, of these machines might. be exported without detriment to any British manufacture. Mr. PHILIPS praised the conduct of the petitioners, and strongly recommended their opinions to the deliberate consideration of the House. He was sure that it would answer every purpose, to except from the prohi bition such machines as could with safety be exported. COMBINATION LAWS. To a question put by Mr. ELLICE, Mr. WALLACE replied, that so far as he knew the intentions of the Committee, they did not mean to revive the old Combination law, neither was it their desire to re-enact the statutes so long in operation upon the subject. They certainly wished to leave " |