more extensive. We are gratified also to know, that the Duke of BEDFORD, Lord Northwick, Dr. MacKIE, and several other distinguished Patrons, have given commissions for Pictures to several of the Artists We most cordially wish the Society every success it so justly merits, and have little doubt that each succesive Exhibition will add to its character, by a pictorial display at once honourable to native talent, and worthy of the public support. THEATRICAL EXAMINER. DRURY-LANE. business was not a whit more absurd than our own. We suspect that the anointing was slurred over, as we saw but a single application of the heavenly oil. Mr.O SMITH, who represented the King, is a meritorious performer. "Oh the father!" as Dame Quickly says, "how he kept his countenance!" There is some good stage management in the conduct of the close of this scene, when the various corps of the military successively rush on the stage; and, in a word, taking the assumed accuracy for granted, we know not that, in the proper business of the piece, anything more could be expected. Having thus far expressed ourselves, with a due consideration of the fact, that there are people who admire these things, and that managers at least act with an intention to please the town, we must now be allowed to speak our minds. We declare then, that, in our estimation, if Ennui itself-making her a goddess for the occasion-was to construct an entertainment with a view to an interminable yawn, she would enjoin the frequent exhibition of spectacles of this nature, which positive novelty alone can render_bearable. A priori, we strongly doubted the attraction of another Coronation to a population so recently dosed ad nauseam with a similar exhibition; and if we may judge from the very moderate attendance on the first and second nights of this really expensive production, our surmise will prove accurately correct. We say this impartially; for, in point of fact, we are not sorry that the public should be familiarised into a due appreciation of the egregious mummery which these exhibitions are calculated to expose. The monstrous no-meaning of all this farce, on repetition, becomes self-evident to the meanest capacity; and the boy at Drury-lane, on Wednesday evening, who, on the placing of the crown on the King's head, crowed Cock-a-doodle-doo, was a spontaneous critic of excellent discrimination. But the folly of all this superstitious and antiquated burlesque is nothing, compared with the wretched theories and covert notions of inherent authority and divine right, which they are intended to insinuate and sustain. They are not of the present age in fact, and ought no longer to be so in form. If ceremonies be necessary, let them be brief and manly, and, above all things, be divested of all connexion with slavish and priest-constructed theories, which are no longer openly tenable in any civilized community where common sense can have fair play. While they last, however, let the stage represent them; they are a stage business at best, and Mr. O. Smith is not a jot more a masquerader than the person whom he represents. If, therefore, the honest folk in this town can stand another long infliction of this sort without mutiny, be it so. To say nothing of other people, if the sight of the antics of poor Charles X. in his silver shirt can advance the revived doctrine of legitimacy, we know nothing of human nature: so proceed, Mr. ELEISTON, and make haste, Covent-Garden. ENGLISH-OPERA HOUSE. ON Tuesday evening, a piece called Five Minutes too late, or an Elopement to Rheims, was produced at this theatre, as a vehicle for introducing the long-promised display of the French Coronation. All attempts to give a due notion of this indescribable envelope would be altogether futile; there is a species of demerit it would be altogether degrading to criticise, and such is the case in the present instance. Suffice it therefore to say, that the apprentice of a Cockney pawnbroker runs away with his master's daughter to France, and is pursued by his father and an old housekeeper successively to Brighton, Dieppe, Rouen, and Paris, the aforesaid father and housekeeper being always five minutes too late! In the French capital, however, the precious pair are overtaken, but not until they have been married; and then, of course, it is the most natural thing in the world for the whole party to proceed to Rheims and witness the Coronation. The four characters which we have specified were performed by HARLEY, TERRY, Miss I. PATON, and Mrs. HARLOWE, who did their best to convey the Cockney slang and sentiment, and to produce laughter at the blunders in the French language, for the manufacture of which the author, with implicit confidence, advanced a claim to the approbation of the most thinking people upon earth! The aforesaid people did laugh indeed, but it was something after the manner of Cassius; and for our own parts, we shall think and speak more respectfully of the jocularity of Bartholomew Fair as long as we live. Here, however, our absolute censure ends; for in respect to the pageantry, dresses, decoration, and scenery, the Management and the Artists seem to have done everything in their power. The first part or act ends with the departure of the lovers in the steam-packet from Brighton, which is illustrated in an excellent scene by ROBERTS, representing the south-east end of the Steyne, with a distant view of the chain-pier. The second part opens with a series of panoramic views by STANSFIELD, in which the arrival at Dieppe, steam voyage along the French coast, the town of Rouen, and subsequent journey by land to Paris, are displayed with admirable effect. The harbour of Dieppe is very beautifully represented in a strong sunshine, in the execution of which we suspect that the Artist has borrowed a hint from TURNER'S striking picture of the same subject, in the present Exhibition. The A new opera, with a pleasing selection of music by Mr. HAWES, city and cathedral at Rouen form also a very striking part of this was brought out at this house on Tuesday evening, under the somevariable spectacle, which terminates with a fine view of the country what elaborate title of Broken Promises; or, the Colonel, the Captain, in the vicinity of Paris. All this was very good in its way, and much and the Corporal. In texture, it is light enough, and if not quite applauded. Nor was the representation of a French military fete out original, something very near it. Mrs. Woodland, a rich widow of keeping, to say nothing of its giving a legitimate reason for the (Miss GRAY) a debutante and pupil of Miss KELLY, is addressed by introduction of a dance, in which NOBLE burlesqued a pompous Colonel Coolard (WRENCH) a man of honour and fashion, but so drum-major with much befitting grimace and humour. In the third provokingly cold and tranquil in his manners, that, piqued at his part, the spectators are transported to Rheims, where they are apparent indifference, and led to suspect an intrigue with another favoured with a striking view of the exterior of the Cathedral, by lady, she is induced to accept the sudden offer of a Captain Fairfield ROBERTS; and subsequently of the avenue and barrier leading into the (Mr. THORNE) a new singer from Edinburgh. This Captain Fairfield town by the same Artist. Here the real and delectable business of the is the son of a neighbouring gentleman farmer (BARTLEY) who designs piece begins, that is to say, the grand procession to the Cathedral of to unite him and his other son Charles (BROADHURST) to his wards, Emma the Gallic Solomon, in all his state and glory, takes place. By a really and Louisa (Misses STEPHENS and NOEL) the orphan daughters of an very clever arrangement, a number of flaps, forming false fronts to old friend, to which young ladies they are respectively much attached. the lower circle of boxes, are rapidly let down, and behold, in two The naughty Captain, however, going to London with money in his minutes a semicircular platform is formed, on which the procession pocket to purchase a regiment (fie, Mr. Dramatist, regiments cannot be marches from one side of the stage, to return on the other, over the purchased by Captains, or at all in this way, therefore instruct the actor heads of the people, at the sides and back of the pit, all of whom to substitute the word majority), he loses it at play, and can think of however can see it at some point in the progress or other. We shall no better mode of retrieving the loss than by offering himself to the by no means attempt to describe the procession itself; except by ge- rich and agreeable widow in breach of his vows to Emma, and nerally observing, that in gorgeousness of display it by no means unknown to his indulgent father. The play opens on the evening equals the English exhibition of the same nature. Taking for granted, preceding the wedding of Charles and Louisa, and the wedding-day however, that the costume is faithful, it will possess its interest with itself is taken up with discovering to the Captain his own perfidy, connoisseurs in this very profound and substantial species of and the principled resentment of his father; to Mrs. Woodland, that pageantry. The most ludicrous figure was Charley Dix himself, as she loves the Colonel best after all; in short, through some the young pawnbroker calls him. Conceive a very tall, thin old gen- diverting equivoque, it elicits the real inclinations of all the tleman, stalking solemnly along in a close silver-tissue night-gown, as parties. An underplot is formed by the loves of Corporal O'Conner if he were walking in his sleep, and his Majesty of France is before (POWER) and Susan Roseby, a farmer's daughter, (Miss KELLY) in the you! A more accurate type of worn-out Superstition reanimated service of Mr. Fairfield. Having obtained an annuity by a gallant could not have been imagined. In the cathedral the coup d'ail was exploit, the Steward of Mrs. Woodland wishes to obtain the Corporal striking, but to our infinite mortification, the ceremonial part of the [ for his niece; and by suggesting the purchase of a company, induces him to claim the return of his written promise of marriage from Susan Rosely. This he attempts to do, and has not the heart to go through with it; but, like his Captain, he turns out repentant, and all ends as it should do. The music of this piece not being original, it is only necessary to say that it is tastefully selected. Two or three Scottish melodies were executed by Miss STEPHENS with admirable sweetness; as also a beautiful song, My morning prayer to Heaven is flown, by Mr. HAWES. Miss NOEL sang an air from WEBER, and joined BROADHURST in a duet from the same master, with an exhibition of taste and of improvement which exacted and merited considerable applause. BROADHURST's airs also suited him, a thing which is always much in his favour; and the new actor-we beg pardon-singer, Mr. THORNE, executed two or three melodies very pleasingly, because his voice, though not powerful, is exceedingly agreeable, and he aimed at nothing more than he could tastefully execute. In respect to acting, the new candidate for stage celebrity, Miss GRAY, is likely, we think, to prove an acquisition; her person is very good, and her features are significant and expressive. Owing to the embarrassment consequent on a first performance, her conception was evidently before her execution; but she exhibited enough of both to do credit to her instructor and herself. The significant style of Miss KELLY was indeed evidently traceable, especially in the afterpiece, in which Miss GRAY performed Virginia, in Belles without Beaur, with very promising humour. Time will show if we are right in auguring much latent comic capability in this lady. The Colonel Coolard of WRENCH was somewhat too broad, but certainly very diverting; but he exhibits an assumed and jocose rather than a constitutional coldness of manner. BARTLEY was a very good benevolent father and guardian; but we wish the part was divested of a little of the prosy sentiment so plentiful in plays and novels, and so scarce everywhere else. But what shall we say to Miss KELLY, who in the representation of a simple country girl deserted by her lover, a character a thousand years old, absolutely made herself the heroine of the piece, and, we strongly suspect, like another ATLAS, supported the entire drama by her own individual strength. One scene we are certain would have broken down under almost any other actress, except Mrs. JORDAN Could rise again. In the midst of the assembled villagers, who attend at her desire to witness the surrender, she gave up his promise of marriage to the faithless Corporal, and the force and pathos of the acting were irresistible. A contemporary condemns this presence of the villagers, and, to be honest, it will scarcely bear examination; yet, thus sustained, it proved most effective. The previous comic touches of the same actress were also most excellent; in fact, Miss KELLY has always been a good, but she is gradually becoming a great actress. We must not forget to remark, that POWER's Corporal was also an easy, lively, and very humourous performance; to say the truth, we exceedingly like this actor's Irishman: it is airy and spontaneous, and pleases us much more than that elaborate brogue and appearance of effort which are so much more usual. We have only to add, that the piece might be a little curtailed in places without injury; and that it was received by a respectable audience with considerable approbation. LITERARY NOTICE. Tules, by the O'Hara Family. Q. ALTHOUGH late in our notice of these interesting tales, they are in many respects so characteristic and original, we could not resolve to neglect them altogether. As portraitures of Irish incident, character, and manners, they appear to us to make a very respectable approach to the power and handling of Miss EDGEWORTH, with more of romantic incident and of openness of sentiment, in regard to the political causes of the disorders by which Ireland has been so long afflicted. With this resemblance to Miss EDGEWORTH, the author joins a small dash of the love of mystery and mode of managing it, so prevalent in the novels of the American novelist Brown, author of "Arthur Mervyn," "Ormond," "Wieland," &c. of whose style of invention, the first tale in these volumes, called Crohoore; or the Bell-hook, forms a prominent example; and the second, intitled The Fetches, a still greater. This profusion of the mysterious in a series of scenery and incident, bearing evident marks of a perfect acquaintance with the people and country described, gives a peculiarity to these tales which is in no small degree original and attractive. There are but three stories in the whole three volumes, and two of them afford highly-spirited sketches of the state of the peasantry in Ireland, and of the disorder and oppression produced by the very unnatural construction of the Irish social system. Character is also individualized with considerable humour and vivacity: we are introduced, for instance, to a brace of Catholic priests of most opposing manners and character, yet each exhibiting obvious proofs of verisimilitude. The invisible chieftain acting under the nommes de » guerre of General Rock, John Doe, &c. and their mode of warfare, are also hit off with something of the graphic freedom and felicity of Sir WALTER, and with an evident attempt, like that author in respect to the Scotch, to do something to increase our familiarity with native Irish character in its own soil. The story called The Fetches is of another kind, and forcibly displays the prevalence of that train of association in the mind of our author, which has induced us to par tially compare him with the ingenious BROWN. The hero of this tale is a delicately constructed and romantic young student, who, in consequence of falling into a particular line of reading, forms a theory in respect to body and spirit which leads him to infer ther occasional separation even in this life; and hence the existence of the supernatural spectres denominated Fetches. He brings over to his own way of thinking a beautiful girl, to whom he is attached; and the excitement produced by their heated imaginations is very skil fully portrayed. Some people may think the non-clearing up of a part of the mystery a defect, others a beauty; but however this may be, both the idea and mode of managing it is interesting and forcible. In short, we are of opinion, that the author of these tales will not stop here; and in that conviction venture to hint, that in the tales of Crohoore and John Doe, we think that he suspends the catastrophe too long, and that in future efforts, somewhat more compression, in regard to similar scenery and incident, would be found an improve. ment. Q. UNITED PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. Monday, July 4. STATE OF IRELAND. Ireland. The Earl of DARNLEY said that the Report contained many valua suggestions; but he was more than ever convinced that there could be permanent tranquillity in Ireland, till the just claims of the Catholics were granted. He regretted that the Noble Earl opposite had expressed bin ; self so strongly against the claims of the Catholics. The Earl of LIVERPOOL denied that he had given a stronger opinion sa the Catholic Question in the course of this session, than he had given su former occasions. COMBINATION LAWS. The Marquis of LANSDOWN, in rising to present several petitions agaied the Combination Laws Bill, said it was very wrong, that a Bill of stres importance should be brought up from the other House at so late a perial of the session. venience of the bill being brought up at so late a period, but it did not The Earl of LIVERPOOL agreed with the Noble Marquis as to the incas appear that it could be avoided. The necessity for this bill had originated in the bill passed last session-a bill of which he was utterly ignorant till after it had passed, otherwise he would not bave consented to it. The bill by one sweeping clause repealed the whole of the common law betwee workmen and their masters. The consequence was that crying grievanc had reached him from all parts, and it was therefore found necessary reconsider the subject. The present bill applied to the combination d workmen against their masters, and also of masters against their workmen: and further it applied to combinations of the workmen against each other While it repealed the act of last session, it contained the repeal of the obsolete statutes, which was deemed a measure highly desirable, reviving at the same time the whole principle of the common law upon the subject held for the purpose of settling their wages, and gave them the right of It did not at the same time apply to any fair meeting of the workmen | appeal from the Magistrate to the Quarter Sessions. The Marquis of LANSDOWN Cousidered this as a most necessary wee sure; for while he desired that the workmen and their wasters should have } all fair opportunities of meeting for the purpose of deciding upon wages, nothing could be more tyrannical than that any one body should att to impose laws upon another in this respect. The effect of such combi a tions must inevitably be to drive all trade out of the country to the places where the necessary protection would be afforded. But it was because they had acted with precipitancy last year in passing a v foolish bill, that they were to be equally precipitate this year He shoat "pport the measure however from the urgent necessity of the case, hi aggrieved by it, they should be at liberty to be heard against it by cours with the understanding that if any large body of people felt Theiselwa next session. fields, London, Surrey, and Glasgow, Petitions against the bill were then presented from Manchester, Spital The Earl of DArnley could not help expressing his great surprise that a bill so important as that of last year could have passed that House without the knowledge of his Majesty's Prime Minister, or of the Learned Lord on the Woolsack! The petitions were ordered to lie on the table. After which, they went into a Committee on the bill. The Marquis of LANSDOWN objected to the clauses which provided the punishment of the tread-mill for offences committed under the bill. He thought that the punishment of the tread-mill should be confined to offences which were in themselves of an infamous character. The Noble Marquis then proposed an amendment, substituting for "hard labour for TP three months," "six months' imprisonment" The Earl of LIVERPOOL said that the right of appeal to the Quarter assiduity with which you have prosecuted the inquiries into the state of Ireland, which he recommended to you at the opening of the sessions.— It is a particular gratification to his Majesty, that the tranquillity and improved condition of that part of the United Kingdom have rendered the extraordinary powers with which you had invested his Majesty no longer necessary for the public safety.-His Majesty is happy to be able to announce to you, that he receives from all Foreign Powers the strongest assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country, and of their desire to maintain the general peace. While his Majesty regrets the continuance of the war in the East Indies with the Burmese Government, he trusts that the gallant exertions of the British and native forces employed in operations in the enemy's territory may lead to a speedy and satisfactory termination of the contest. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons. "We have it in command from his Majesty to thank you for the sup The Standing Order having been dispensed with, the bill was read a plies which you have granted to him for the service of the present year, third time and passed. Tuesday, July 5. UNITARIANS. and at the same time to express the satisfaction which he derives from the reduction you have found it practicable to make in the burdens of his people. "My Lords and Gentlemen, The Marquis of LANSDOWN presented a petition praying that their Lordships would institute an inquiry into the state of the law relating to His Majesty has commanded us to assure you, that he is highly Unitarians. He expressed his astonishment that it should still be wished sensible of the advantages which must result from the measures you have to exclude the petitioners from the benefits of the Constitution, without adopted in the course of this session, for extending the commerce of his there being any case in which their competence to discharge the duties of subjects by the removal of unnecessary and inconvenient restrictions, and good subjects could be questioned. He could not have supposed that from the beneficial relaxations which you have deemed it expedient to persons who founded their belief on the Scriptures, and against whom it introduce into the colonial system of this country. These measures, his Could not be alleged that they impugned the doctrine of future rewards or Majesty is persuaded, will evince to his subjects in those distant pospunishments, need now feel any apprehension of having old dicta and sessions the solicitude with which Parliament watches over their welfare: obsolete statutes brought to bear against them, after the lapse of so many they tend to cement and consolidate the interests of the colonies with years since the Toleration Act had passed. Neither could he have sup those of the mother country, and his Majesty confidently trusts that they posed that Lord Mansfield was in error, when he gave it as his opinion will contribute to promote that general and increasing prosperity, on - that the act placed the dissenters not under the connivance, but under which his Majesty had the happiness of congratulating you on the openthe protection, of the law. It appeared however that doubts were entering of the present session, and which, by the blessing of Providence, contained in a high quarter as to whether Unitarianism was not a great crime, tinues to pervade every part of his kingdom." and the petitioners were therefore anxious to know what their condition was under the existing law They felt that, if their religion was held in the interpretation of the law to be a detestable crime, all their charities and public institutions might be affected in consequence. If he should be asked as to whether it was bis intention to hring in any bill on the subject, he should answer that, looking forward to the necessity which Parliament *must be speedily under of passing some measures to relieve the Unitarians from an oppressive grievance with respect to the celebration of marriage, he should be content to accept such measure as a sufficient recognition of their legal existence. The LORD CHANCELLOR thought that if any doubts existed they ought rather to be construed in favour of than against any class of his Majesty's subjects. It was not for him however to say at present what the state of the law was. Lord HOLLAND said that the Learned Lord declined giving his opinion as to what the state of the law was; all be had said was, that he should not make it more severe. But had the Learned Lord so soon forgotten that he had twice within these two years delivered his opinion on this subject? If the Learned Lord entertained any doubts, he would have acted much more fairly in stating them openly. The allegation implied by these doubts against the Unitarians was, that their existence was of doubtful legality. But upon what ground was it that Unitarians could be said to be indictable at common law? If, as Lord Raymond had said, Christianity was 64 part and parcel of the law," or, as Lord Mansfield The petition was then ordered to lie on the table. PROROGATION.-ROYAL SPEEEU. The LORD CHANCELLOR then signified that the Parliament be prorogued to the 25th of August next. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MR. GOURLAY. Sir RONALD FERGUSSON presented a petition from the inhabitants of Longford, Wiltshire, stating that they had heard that Robert Gourlay-had been confined in the House of Correction, upon a suspicion of madness; they however did not deem him insane, and they considered his treatment cruel and harsh. They prayed the House to direct an inquiry into the case.—Laid on the table. Mr. ABERCROMBY presented a petition from Sir Evan McGregor, Adjutant general in the Indian army under Sir Thomas Hislop, relative to the distribution, or rather non distribution, of the Deccan Prize money, which led to a long conversation, in which a pamphlet issued on the subject was spoken of as being libellous, and some sharp words again passed between Mr Brougham and Sir H. Hardinge. The latter defended the conduct of the Duke of Wellington, and alluded with asperity to the legal profession.—Mr. BROUGHAM observed, that a great deal of what he had said might be very true; there were many bad persons in all professions; some men plundered with red coats on their backs, and some with black! If, however, the pamphlet was a libel, the way to put it down was to make it the subject of an action. (4 laugh) The Gallant Officer might speak as long as he liked in defence of the Duke of Wellington, and use as many hard words as he pleased, but it would do no good. He was surprised that the Duke of Wellington could rest satisfied with general appeals to character, instead of at once bringing an action against the Publisher of the pamphlet. The petition was ordered to lie on the table, as was likewise a petition from Mr. Atcheson, agent to the Deccan prize-money. LORD CHARLES SOMERSET, &c. Mr. BROUGHAM presented another petition from Mr. Bishop Burnet, inculpatory of the conduct of Lord Charles Somerset, at the Cape of Good Hope, which was laid on the table. Mr. HOME presented a petition from Staplesworth and another place in favour of Mr. Gourlay-Laid on the table. Mr. CANNING laid on the table additional papers in explanation of the measures adopted by Government for the amelioration of the Slaves in the West ludia colonies.-Ordered to be printed. T. Swindells, Bosden, Chester, farmer, Solicitor, Mr. Makinson, Mid- J. Lathbury, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, draper. Solicitors, J. Walls, Aldbourn, Wiltshire, corn-dealer. Solicitors, Messrs. Few and J. Sarfaty De Pinna, Saint Anne's lane, Cheapside, feather-manufacturer. Saturday, July 9. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. Sir P. Baghott, Stroud, Gloucestershire, clothier. Threadneedle-street. BANKRUPTS. M. Lough, Minories, chemist. Solicitor, Mr. Alexander, Hatton-court, H. Thomas, Manchester, silk-mercer. S. Vaugham, Pool,_Montgomeryshire, builder. F. Dent and J. Mannett, Southampton, linen-drapers, Solicitors, Messrs. J. Parr and R. Mercer, Scotland-road, Liverpool, corn-dealers. Solici- R. S. Whitaker, Leeds, common-brewer. Solicitors, Messrs. Battye, J. Naish, Little St. Thomas Apostle, spirit-dealer. Solicitor, Mr. G. THE FUNDS.—Many efforts have been made during the week to depress the price of Consols, by ominous reports of various kinds, for which there was not the slightest foundation. The effect produced however was very trifling and momentary; while, on the other hand, the King's Speech has produced no effect at all. The Foreign Market has been also very stationary, and, generally speaking, prices of all kinds exhibit little alteration. Latest quotations: Consols, 90 3 per Cents. Reduced, 98) PRICES OF FOREIGN Brazilian Scrip (1825) for Acc. & dis. Colombian Bonds (1824) 88 Danish Scrip (1825) for Account, 23 dis. Greek Scrip (1825) 13) dis. Ditto Account 131 dis. Russian Bonds (1822) 965 New 4 per Cents. 104) STOCKS YESTERDAY. Ditto Account, 75 Ditto Bonds (1825) 85 Ditto Scrip (1825) 2 | dis. Ditto Account, 2 dis. Peruvian Scrip (1825) for Acc. 22 dis. our Commissioners, Messrs. MORIER and WARD, intimated their intention to return to England. Subsequent letters, however, assert the ultimate failure of this unexpected opposition, and state, that the Treaty would most likely be formally ratified on the 30th of April. Accounts from Trieste speak very unfavourably of the affairs of the Greeks, although another naval advantage is reported; and it is said, that at length, sensible of the necessity of a more perfect Union, the Greek Authorities have proclaimed a general amnesty, which measure, they hope, will muster many round their standard who at present are kept away. A Conspiracy against the Pope has been stated, which the French papers regard as a fabrication of the Police. We can find nothing to remark upon, in the Royal Speech on the prorogation of Parliament, except the little sanguine tone in which the Burmese war is spoken of. The mixture of rashness, imbecility, and cruelty, which has marked the conduct of the Indian Government at this critical juncture, must occasion great uneasiness to the Ministry, respecting the tenure of our Oriental empire. We are exceedingly mistaken if the massacre at Barrack poor do not form an important epoch in East Indian annals. their The quarterly revenue accounts just published afford the most decisive evidence of the soundness of the principle upon which various excessive imposts have been recently lowered; and prove also-(we may add)—that the same principle might have been extended much farther with similar or perhaps greater success. For it is to be remembered, that these reductions have not been made all at once: the experiment was not new, but was commenced three years ago, and attended with an immediate success, which afforded a glorious opportunity to a financier possessing spirit and correct views. It is plain now, that nearly all the reductions which have been made in the three last Sessions of Parliament, might have been made in the first, with benefit to the revenue; because each rests upon its own merits, upon the sound theory of greater consumption from decreased price in excised articles, and of greater general activity in trade from the remission of direct taxes or custom duties. Ministers are moving in the right track with their financial changes; but while every step is attended, with such brilliant results, they surely might a little quicken pace. They still, however, talk as if the course they had entered upon was a doubtful one, and betray a lamentable want of the confidence which a thorough knowledge of the subject produces. The other day, for example, when Mr. HUME proposed to lower the newspaper stamp-duty one half, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER Cried out directly, that he could not afford to "risk half a million" of revenue. This must have been said in utter thoughtlessness; for we cannot suspect Mr. ROBINSON of the ignorance which its deliberate utterance would imply. The whole produce of the newspaper stamp is not half a million; and as some increase of newspaper sale must have followed the reduction, the amount of revenue risked could not exceed 100,000l.; while that risk was fairly counterbalanced by a strong probability of even augmented return to the Treasury. When the Finance Minister made this answer, he must have known, too, that the receipt from the stamps generally was improving so greatly, that if the risk of losing 100,000l. had been a certainty, the revenue could have borne the loss without deranging any previous calculation. In fact, the quarter's account shows an increase of no less than 13 1,0584 in the Stamp Duties alone! We dare say something will be done next Session to lighten the exorbitant tax upon popular literature: we only regret, that the public should have to pay a high price for their newspapers for a year longer, when they might have enjoyed them at a moderate rate, without deducting one penny from the revenue. Everybody now sees the miserable trickery of putting down the A Notice of JAMAICA AFFAIRS, and the Case of the FREE COLOURED POPU- Austrian repayment last year among the items of revenue: in the com LATION, next week. Mr. BRACEY CLARK's improved HORSE-SHOE, also in our next. THE EXAMINER. LONDON, JULY 10, 1825. parative tables just published, it occasions a considerable apparent deficiency in the produce of the present year; and it consequently requires a paragraph to be appended to the figures, to explain tha: there is a real increase! The French Papers received yesterday give an account of a dreadfl riot at Pavia, between the military and the students of the university. Tus substance of the foreign arrivals of the past week, is of that Eight of the latter had been caught bathing in a forbidden place, and vague nature, which demands little detail. The principal event were marched into the town under an escort, and conveyed with some worth alluding to, is the reported demur on the part of the Mexican parade to the Prefecture of Police. This sight so incensed the student Legislature, to ratify the Commercial Treaty with this Country. It and townspeople, that they assembled in great numbers, armed ther seems that every difficulty which a strong Anti-British party in selves with stones and benches torn from the neighbouring coffee Mexico, acting under Spanish, French, and North American influ-houses, and attacked the troops. The contest lasted a long while, and was renewed several times: the result was, that the assailants were comence, could throw in the way of the ratification, has been resorted to. pletely dispersed, seven or eight killed, many more wounded and taken At one time it appeared so certain that it would not be ratified, that prisoners. Some soldiers were also killed. CHANCERY DELAYS." That lamentable delays," said the Courier the other day," occur in the decision of causes, cannot be denied. But it should always be remembered, that it is generally the endeavour of the suitors on one side to cause such delays." What, then, is it peculiar to Chancery suitors, when they are in the wrong, to strive to postpone the judgment against them? We do not want to be reminded that unjust litigants love delay: we want to know why their injustice is favoured and protected in Chancery! We ask, are not the delays in Chancery so dreadful, that even our dilatory common-law Courts seem in the comparison delightfully prompt!" The Lord Chancellor"-(proceeds the hireling above quoted)" cannot prevent this delay, without manifest risk of defeating the object which he has sincerely in view-the due administration of justice." Very manifest indeed! So the "due administration of justice" is to be put in peril, if an iniquitous suitor, who employs a weighty purse to keep a just claimant from his rights, is defeated in his attempts to procure " lamentable delays!" No doubt the system in Chancery causes delays, which Lord ELDON as a Judge cannot prevent; but why has he not used his ample influence as a Legislator to remedy them! Besides, the delays of the system are greatly aggravated by the delays of the man. Mr. John Williams sufficiently proved this in the House of Commons. Not only is Lord Eldon's mind (as he himself has often admitted) peculiarly doubting and indecisive-which should alone be con sidered a disqualification for a Judge--but he has a vile trick of keeping an immense number of causes always before him for judgment, when he knows from experience the impossibility of attending to more than a few; and of setting down an unreasonable quantity for "hearing" on particular days, when they" mentioned," and adjourned to another day, to be then again mentioned and adjourned, to the infinite multiplication of office fees and solicitors' charges for "attendances." ANTIPATHY BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TORYISM.-A correspondent says, "I was much amused the other day with a leading article in the Morning Post, in which the writer seriously argued the political dangers to be apprehended from the rapid increase of Mechanics' Institutions, because their principal promoters were Liberals. This sagacious journalist, seeing such men as LANsdown, Brougham, MACINTOSH, &c. very active in extending to the humbler classes the means of procuring education and acquiring scientific knowledge, thinks it very suspicious: he cannot exactly see the end of it, but he is sure nothing good can come of what is encouraged by Whigs and Reformers! He is afraid that sedition will be insinuated in electricity, blasphemy combined with mathematics, and that the free use of a library of historical and other standard books must inevitably lead to the subversion of social order! It is impossible to avoid. being pleased with the compliment here paid to the enlightened Liberals referred to, or with the indirect, but not less pointed, reflection upon this wiseacre's own rotten cause, and the phalanx of rank, wealth, and power, by which it is supported. If there be any thing in his argument, all the writers on the side of loyalty, religion, and legitimacy, all the clergy, the bible and tract societies, &c. are no match, in regard to talent or influence, for their literary adversaries, notwithstanding the slight matters of Libel Law, Fines, and Prisons, thrown into the scale against the latter! MAJOR CARTWRIGHT.-We alluded in a late paper to the attempts frequently made by the tools of the Tories to throw ridicule on the labours of this admirable Reformer. Whenever he appeared at public meetings, &c. these agents of corruption used to commence their reports by noticing him as "the poor old Major," as if, instead of possessing, as he did, every other vigour but that of the body, he had been a mere political driveller, like the Duke of , or Lord! Never was phrase less adapted to the character than this. Major CARTWRIGHT was "poor" in no possible sense of the word. He was, on the contrary, "rich" in every thing that makes life honourable-rich in years, in integrity, in wisdom→→ in the respect and affection of the good and wise. He had not, to be sure, put his hand into the public purse, or filled his pockets by libelling the friends of liberty and running down freedom itself. He was neither place-hunter, placeman, nor pensioner; but, from early life to its protracted close, he was the able, consistent, and disinterested advocate of the rights of his fellow-men. Hence the hatred of the vermin tribehence the venal abuse of the STEWARTS, the STODARTS, the MUDFORDS, and the THEODORE HOOKS. MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.-The new Theatre belonging to this excellent institution, which has been erecting during the last eight months, was opened for the first time on Friday evening. It is calculated to contain near 2,000 persons. Among the distinguished visitors on this occasion, we observed the Duke of Sussex, the Marquis of Lansdown, Dr. Birkbeck, Mr. Brougham, Sir Robert Wilson, Mr. Hume, Alderman Wood, &c.-Dr. BIRKBECK opened the business of the evening by a long and impressive discourse on the utility of the institution: he was followed by Mr. BROUGHAM, who made a powerful and eloquent speech, in which he humourously alluded to the closeness with which the poor were treading upon the heels of the rich. The Duke of SUSSEX delivered a neat and appropriate address; and the meeting broke up a little before ten o'clock, in the greatest harmony. Great numbers who had tickets were unable to gain admission, as the Theatre was completely filled at a very early hour. The general effect of the proceeding was exceedingly cheering to all who take an interest in the enlightenment of mankind. The burial places of the ancients were universally excluded from the precincts of their cities, a custom in which the moderns would do well to follow them, A Concert, aided by the united talents of the whole Operatic Corps of the King's Theatre, will be given at the Argyll-rooms to-morrow, for the benefit of poor PLACCI, who is now confined in a private madhouse, labouring under the most dreadful of human afflictions. Such attractious as the musical entertainment offers, in addition to the powerful motive of sympathy with its object, cannot fail, we are sure, to procure the public patronage. Signor DE BEGNIS has done himself honour by the lead he has taken in arranging this mode of alleviating the sufferings of a fellow-performer. ROBERT SOUTHEY.-[The following is the conclusion and summing-up of the article on Mr. Southey in the powerful series of sketches, entitled the Spirit of the Age. When we consider that the Laureate has often assaulted the writer of this article with no common bitterness, its liberality will appear greater than even its vigour and critical excellence.] "In all the relations and charities of private life, he is correct, exemplary, generous, just. We never heard a single impropriety laid to his charge; and if he has many enemies, few men can boast more numerous or stancher friends. The variety and piquancy of his writings form a striking contrast to the mode in which they are produced. He rises early, and writes and reads till breakfast-time. He writes or reads after breakfast till dinner, after dinner till tea, and from tea till bed-time"And follows so the ever-running year With profitable labour to his grave" on Derwent's banks, beneath the foot of Skiddaw. Study serves him for business, exercise, recreation. He passes from verse to prose, from history to poetry, from reading to writing, by a stop-watch... He writes a fair hand without blots, sitting upright in his chair, leaves off when he comes to the bottom of a page, and changes the subject for another as opposite as the Antipodes. His mind after all is rather the recipient and transmitter of knowledge, than the originator of it. He has hardly grasp of thought enough to arrive at any great leading truth. His passions do not amount to more than irritability. With some gail in his pen, and coldness in his manner, he has a great deal of kindness in his heart. Rash in his opinions, he is steady in his attachments-and is a man, in many particulars, admirable; in all, respectable; his political inconsistency alone excepted." HYMN TO GOD. IN thy large temple,-the blue depth of space, (Fit shrine for the beauty of thy love) For Hope-sweet hope! unconscious of alloy- ΤΟ WHERE is he, whose beautiful arm Where is the pale, expressive face, Which looked such love on his loved maid? Where is the form whose slender grace Shaded my harp-strings as I played? Those trembling strings have never known C. Is breathed to Heaven-accepted there !-FRANCES XAVIER. |