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ministration of the public affairs,
daring the little interval which is
likely to elapse before his Majesty
shall be able to resume his func
tions. We are inclined to think that
the opposition, plainly perceiving
that the period for which they could
expect to be in power would, in all
human probability, be extremely
short, have been, to say the least,
Very well disposed to acquiesce in
the decision of his Royal Highness.
If they had come into place, they
would have had to undergo new
elections, and to encounter at once
the attacks of those to whom they
should succeed, and the rude pelt,
ing of the party of Sir Francis Bur-
deu; and they would have felt ex
tremely embarrassed as to the de-
gree of change in the public mea-
sures which they ought to suggest.
If they had altered nothing, or next
to nothing, as would probably have
been the case, then the cry would
have been resumed, that one set of
men is exactly like another; and
that what an oppositionist desires,
is not reform, or change of measures,
but possession of office. If they
had given a new direction to any
part of the political machine, then
the party of Mr. Perceval, and es-
pecially after their return to power,
would have no less vehemently, and
perhaps still more reasonably, have
exclaimed against the precipitancy
and presumption of men, who,
though they knew that their tenure
might only be for a few weeks, had
disordered the public affairs, and
thus involved their sucessors in the
most serious embarrassment. Mr.
Cobbet, in one of his late numbers,
represents the Prince as deprived of
all means of acting according to
his individual judgment, through
the toils in which he has been en-
tangled by Mr. Perceval and the
parliament. The Regent is un-
doubtedly much limited in his
powers, but he is restrained by
the general circumstances in which
every Regent, who expects to exer-
cise his functions only for a few
weeks, is, in times of contention and

difficulty like the present, necessarily
placed, and more especially if he
inclines to a policy somewhat dif
ferent from that which he finds to
be acted upon. A letter of the
Prince Regent to Mr. Perceval,
calling upon him and his colleagues
to continue in office, and the an-
swer to it, have been published in
some of the newspapers. In the
letter of his Royal Highness, feeling
for the king is made the ground on
which the ministry is continued,
and a preference to the other party
is plainly manifested, May we
venture to express our doubt, whe-
ther sensibility towards his royal
father ought to have been made so
prominent, we had almost said so
exclusive, a ground for detaining
the ministry in their places? Some
wish, not to disturb a course of pro-
ceeding, to which, in the event of
the king's recovery, the government
would be not unlikely to return,
may surely be considered to have
also deserved a place in the mind of
his Royal Highness. The present
system, though not the best in
the judgment of the Regent, might
yet be better than a very temporary
change. If indeed the ministry
were, in the opinion of his Royal
Highness, utterly contemptible, or
their measures plainly and rapidly
tending to the ruin of their country,
then the men ought, at any rate,
to be changed, and the progress to-
wards destruction arrested. Surely,
then, a certain degree of respect for
the existing administration may fair-
ly be inferred from the disposition
to keep them in power; and the
general sentiment which we have
stated might not improperly have
been intimated. How far the mea,
sure lately adopted in Ireland may
create new embarrassment to his
Royal Highness, we will not now
venture to discuss. On the whole,
we still cling to the opinion, or ra-
ther perhaps to the wish, expressed
in our last number, that the present
events may serve in some degree to
mitigate the mutual animosities
between the heads of our

two

great parties. A Prince Regent, the people on his account. In announcing though more especially a King, has this determination to the house, Mr. Perceval the means of moderating the tone justly observed, that by this act of selfof all those leaders in the senate denial, this economical and benevolent con who aspire to be his ministry; and sideration of the necessities of the public, the dangers and distractions of the the Prince Regent had drawn round his empire at this singular era of the character more real splendour than he could world, imperiously call upon our acquire by the most brilliant establishment. statesmen and politicians not to magnify their differences of opinion, by an inflamed description of them, beyond their true dimensions. Moderate reform, increased economy in the public expenditure, and, above all, a fervent patriotism and exact integrity, are rallying points towards which fair men of different sides may safely, as we think, incline; and it is our earnest wish to sée party spirit subside, and, after no great lapse of time, some new banners displayed, which may be inscribed with these characters.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

1. The bill appointing a Regent received the royal assent by commission on the 5th instant. The debates upon it run to great length, and ministers were defeated on several divisions in intermediate stages of the bill. It passed, however, finally, with out any material variation from the plan originally proposed by Mr. Perceval; that is to say, it restricts the Regent, for the space of twelve months, from granting peerages, or places for life; and places the Household Establishment, during the same period, out of his controul. With respect to the propriety of these restrictions, opinions are, of course, much divided; but surely their importance has been magnified far beyond the truth. What difference can it make, in the vigour of the Prince's government, whether he grants a peerage or not, during the first twelve months of it; or whether he gives away permanently the few places for lite (not more, probably, than one or two) which may fall vacant in that time? It was intended by Mr. Perceval to propose to Parliament an arrangement for an increased establishment for the Regent, which would amount to 16,000; but his Royal Highness declined it, being determined to suffer no additional burden to be laid on

To this commission the Great Seal was put in consequence of a joint resolution of the two houses.

2. The installation of the Prince Regent took place on the 6th instant, at Carlton House, in the presence of a most numerous assemblage of privy councillors. On the 12th a Speech was made to the two houses of Parliament, in the name of his Royal Highness. It opens with lamenting in strong terms the state of his Majesty's health, and with expressing a confidence in the wisdom of Parliament, and the attachunder the great difficulties of his trust, which ment of a loyal people, for effectual assistance he will endeavour to discharge so as to advance the prosperity and security of his Majesty's dominions. The capture of the Islands of Bourbon and Amboyna, and the successful defence of Sicily, are then adverted to in appropriate terms. In Portugal and at Cadiz, the designs of the enemy have hitherto been frustrated. "The consummate skill, prudence, and perseverance of Lord Viscount Wellington, and the dis cipline and determined bravery of the officers and men under his command, have been conspicuously displayed throughout the whole of the campaign," and have served, it is added, to inspire our allies with confdence and energy. And Parliament is called upon to enable his Royal Highness effectually to assist the brave nations of the Peninsula, in whose success the best interests

of the British empire are deeply involved, With respect to America, it is observed that discussions are now depending, which it is hoped will be brought to an amicable termination, consistently with the honour of the crown and the rights and interests of the kingdom. On the subject of the Revenue, it is remarked, that," although the difficulties under which the commerce of this kingdom has laboured, have in some degree affected a part of his Majesty's revenue, particularly in Ireland, yet the revenue of Great Britain in the last year, though unaided by any new taxation, is greater than was ever known in any preceding year." The speech closes with declaring," that it is the most anxious wish of his Royal Highness's heart, that he may be enabled to restore unimpaired, into the hands of his Majesty, the government of his kingdom; and that his Royal Highness

tarnestly prays, that the Almighty may be pleased in his mercy to accelerate the termination of a calamity so deeply lamented by the whole nation, and so peculiarly afflicting tobis Royal Highness himself."

The address of both houses was carried without any division, and indeed with little or no debate; the leaders of the opposition party intimating their wish, both on-this tad every other occasion, to cause as little unnecessary embarrassment as possible to the premment of the Prince Regent,

1 One of the Physicians who was examined at the bar of the House of Lords as to his Majesty's health, having given some details respecting the course and duration of a former indisposition of his Majesty, during the administration of Mr. Addington, now Lord Sidmouth, which seemed to imply that his Majesty was not in #capacity to exercise his Royal functions, it certain periods, when it appeared that acts had been done in his name, such as the affixing of the great seal, which required his distinct authority; notice has been given, by Lord Grey in the House of Lords, and Mr. Whitbread in the House of Commons, of their intention to investigate the transaction, and eventually to impeach the parties esticerned in it. Lord Eldon was Chancellor at the time.

4. The state of Ireland has attracted the attention of Parliament, in consequence of the circulation of an order of the Irish Govemment to the sheriffs and chief magistrates throughout Ireland, requiring them, agreeably to the provisions of an act of the 3d of Geo. III. chap. 29., to prevent unlawful assemblies of the Roman Catholics, for the purpose of choosing delegates to represent them in Dublin, or elsewhere; and to arrest and commit to prison all persons concerned in publishing any notice to that. elect, or attending, voting, or acting with a view to the choice or appointment of such delegates. This order was given in consequence of a circular letter having appeared from the General Committee of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, meeting at Dublin, addressed to the Roman Catholic body at large, in which they state their conviction that an increase of their number is necesary, in order that there may be managers of their petition to Parliament connected with every district in Ireland." It is highly desirable," they say," that the Committee should be the depositary of the collective wisdom of the Catholic body, and that it should be able to ascertain, in order to obey, the wishes of all their Catholic fellowubjects. This is the more requisite at the

present moment, when there appears to be so near a prospect of complete emancipation; and the Committee are convinced that their emancipation can now be retarded only by criminal apathy or neglect amongst the Catholics themselves." They then suggest the appointment of ten managers of the petition in each county, but add a caution not to suffer any species of delegation or re-’ presentation to take place, as that will be a violation of the law; and, "engaged as we are in a struggle for legal and constitutional rights, it is our duty, as well as our inclination and decided determination, not to violate the spirit, nor even the letter, of the law. The Committée, after quoting a passage from Mr. Burke's writings-"Your enemies are embodied: what becomes of you if you are only individuals?"-go on to disclaim any interference with the mode of nomination, "save that it must not be by any election or appointment to represent any person or per sons, or any district or place whatsoever." They suggest the propriety of expedition, and request to receive as soon as possible the names of the persons who may be thought fit "to manage the petition in your county." "In appointing these managers, the Committee solicit your attention to the many advantages to be derived from naming managers, whose avocations require, or whose leisure permits, their permanent or occasional residence in Dublin, where the ultimate arrangements as to the Petition can best be made."-We can have no doubt that such a proceeding as this required the interference of the Government; particularly as there is far 100 much ground for fearing that the minds of a great part of the population of Ireland are in a very perturbed state. Whether the best mode of interference was adopted, is a point on which we do not feel competent to give an opinion. The debates that are likely to take place in Parliament will not fail to throw light on the subject.

5. Notice has been given of a Bill to be brought into Parliament for rendering more effectual the laws abolishing the Slave Trade.

HIS MAJESTY'S HEALTH.

It is with heartfelt satisfaction, and with gratitude to the Giver of all good, that we announce to our readers the gradual alvance of the king towards recovery. The bulletins of the physicians, during the present month, have been uniformly and progressively fa vourable; and it is said his returning health has been accompanied with a partial restoration of his eye-sight, so that he is now able to distinguish objects, and even to know the features of those who approach him.

OBITUARY.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. I AM induced to take the liberty of ad dressing you, by lively sentiments of grati tude, affection, and sincere respect for the memory of a character, whose very superior worth will be acknowledged by all who had the happiness of being acquainted with it, and in the highest degree by those who were the best able to form an estimate of its value.

A most intimate and closely-cemented friendship with the late Miss Schimmel penning of Bristol, enables me to offer you some further remarks, in addition to the ac count given of her in your last Appendix, which was indeed drawn by a masterly hand; but as it is only a brief sketch, and will therefore bear filling up; and as the talents, acquirements, and genuine piety of my late dear friend were of so superior a class, it will not, I trust, be deemed a waste of time to attempt to elucidate them more fully.

nuine simplicity and refined elegance, stored with the best literature which several modern languages could afford. She had an intimate acquaintance with ancient and modern his tory; and the result of a long continued cultivation of her intellect was an extent of knowledge, which, though' possessed with much meekness, could, if applied to, always instruct and inform.

Miss Schimmelpenning's temper was by nature uncommonly sweet; she had great tenderness of feeling to all, and a degree of kindness towards those she loved, which will never cease to be remembered by the friends who experienced it. Firmness, gentlenest, and constancy, truth and solidity in every thing, were her great characteristics. Her piety exhibited all these qualities it was a deep, enlightened, and effective devotion af soul state of constant intercourse" with her Maker, which was manifested to those around her by purity of life and sanctity of spirit. Her death was calculated to exhibit The most eminent feature in her cha- the reality of her principles, its suddèmiess racter was her judgment, which was so pe- being such as to preclude any but her haculiarly sound, clear, and discriminating, bitual preparation. During the few days of that its decisions generally produced imme her illness, however, and in the awful modiate conviction; added to which, she pos- ment of her departure, she manifested so sessed so elegant and correct a taste, that in firm a faith in the merits of Christ, and literary pursuits she certainly had very few such a vital union with him, that the image equals. Every line of her character was of her Saviour, as present with her," and arranged with a finished consistency. It calling her to himself, into a "state of unwas highly polished, and delicately feminine, utterable felicity, was presented to her mind yet it had no false varnish of any kind; in the most lively colours; and she com above affectation, its timidity became graces mitted her soul with full confidence into his ful, because it was counteracted and guarded hands, leaving a fresh example of the unby so striet a love of truth, and such sound certainty of human life, and the necessity ness and rectitude of principle, that the and comfort of a constant and regular walk combination produced a calm dignity of ac- with God, who may call us at an hour we tion, which could not fail of inspiring re- think not of. Happy are those servants spect and esteem. She had a mind of ge who are found watching!

A. F.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Under consideration: A. B.; T. S.; A CONSTANT READER; Remarks on Dr. A. Clarke's Bible; T. H.; and S. P.

OROZO; T. Y.; C. C.; FARMER BLUNT; TUUM EST; and Joux, will find a place. We beg to inform R. Y. that of the tracts published by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, many of which are truly excellent, those which have appeared to us the most objectionable, and to which indeed we chiefly referred, in our number for December last, are three Dialogues by the Rev. Thomas Sykes, contained in the sixth vo lume of the Society's Tracts.

M. M.; A CONSTANT READER ; and CANTABRIGIENSIS, have been received. We request J. B. L. to read a tract published by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, entitled "A Discourse concerning Baptismal and Spiritual Regeneration," by Bi shop Bradford. He will find it to express our sentiments.

ATRAVELLER is requested to name the place to which be alludes.

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hend them with such a moderation as becomes a missionary of Christ. We know, most honourable patrons, that the same God, who hath entrusted us with the grain of mus

tard-seed to be sown in his gar the has hitherto also supported the sowers, and given his divine increase: we have this year gained four-and-twenty souls to our holy religion, who are now as so many branches ingrafted into the tree of life, Christ Jesus. We confess indeed, that, after so many years' labour, we do not see as yet such fruit as we could heartily wish for: but we know that this is the seed-time. Let us therefore be faithful and indefatigable. The word which God has put into our mouth will not return again empty, but will answer the end for which it was sent; and, to use the words of our blessed Lord, he that sows, and he that reaps, shall rejoice together.' Moreover, be pleased to understand, that besides our ordinary schools, we resolved about four months ago to erect a new Damulian school, for the use of the Malabarian children." "Many joyfully embraced the opportunity offered them, and sent their children to this new school; which now, contrary to my expectation, are increased to the number of seventy, who are taught in two distinct chambers by three Christian masters. It is very proper that such schools should be every where erected among the heathen in India, whereby their youth may imbibe Christian principles in their very

Tranquebar, Aug. 29, 1715.-"As to the mingling of other doctrines with the principles of Christianity; we assure you, that we are entirely averse to any such leaven, using our utmost endeavours to render our explications of Scripture pure, simple, and intelligible, such as the Divine Spirit doth teach, and the writings of the faithful servants of God do by their testimony countenance and explain. This true sense of God's word is not to be found in the perplexed and crabbed commentanes of the schoolmen and philosophers: but by a diligent comparing of Scripture with Scripture, endea Vooring to follow in all things, and above all, the Spirit of God himself, who by his divine illumination teaches what ought to be avoided, and what ought to be embraced; what is profitable, and what is to be And since we are surrounded on all hands with the emissaries of the church of Rome, who, foo much laying aside the pure word of God, obtrude the dotages of human wit and invention upon unthinking persons; we take all pro- childhood. per occasions to detect them with a Christian sincerity, and to repreCHRIST. OBSERV. No. 111.

rejected.

We have, by God's help, printed off the remaining part of the New Testament in the Damu

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