Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

After some observations from Mr Addington and Sir Francis Burdett, Mr CANNING moved an amendment to the Noble Lord's motion," That a return should be made of the numbers, ages, times, and places of confinement of persons committed under warrants from the Secretary of State."

The House divided; for the amendment 104 to 53.

June 12.-Lord A. HAMILTON obtain ed leave to bring in a Bill to repeal so much of the 43d of the King as relates to the tax on houses in Scotland not having more than four windows, paying a rent not exceeding £3 annually.

The Miscellaneous Services, on the motion of Mr ARBUTHNOT, were referred to a Committee of Supply; when £10,000 was voted for the college of Edinburgh.

Monday, June 16.-The House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, when it was moved, that the sum of £1,400,000 should be granted to his Majesty for the miscellaneous services of the army.

SPIES AND INFORMERS.

Mr BENNET immediately rose, and wished to ask the Noble Lord (Castlereagh) whether Mr Reynolds, of infamous memory, was appointed consul-general to Malta ? (Hear, hear, hear!)

Lord CASTLEREAGH did not know why that question was put to him in these terms. He believed that several juries had given credit to Mr Reynolds' testimony, and he did not understand why the Hon. Member should attach infamy to Mr Reynolds' character, unless it rendered a man infamous to be instrumental in the discovery of treasonable practices.

After a good deal more of angry discussion, the subject was dropped. The resolutions were then agreed to, the House resumed, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow.

June 17. In a Committee of Supply, the House voted £300,000 for expenses not included in the civil list; £300,000 for army extraordinaries; £300,000 for the army in Ireland; and £25,000 for the Inverness canal.

June 19.Sir EGERTON BRYDGES moved for leave to bring in a bill to alter the law of Anne, which gave universities a right to eleven copies of all books gratis; his object was to make the universities pay half price for such books.-The motion was lost by one only-58 to 57.

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE. June 20.-On the motion of Mr BRAGGE BATHURST, the report was ordered to be read. It was in substance similar to the report of the Lords' Committee; and concluded by recommending the same powers to be confided to Government for the further and final suppression of the mischief that may be otherwise apprehended. The reading being finished, Mr Bragge Bathurst moved that the report do lie on the table. The report was ordered to lie on the table. VOL. I.

THE BUDGET.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that the order of the day be read for going into a Committee on the State of the Finances; and the House resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means. The whole of the supplies wanted for the year were stated at £22,137,808, and the total of the ways and means practicable by the ordinary modes of finance amounted only to £9,541,537. There therefore remained a deficit of £12,600,000, to be raised by Exchequer bills. By the method proposed, the Right Hon. Gentleman observed, that the public would be subjected to no new charge whatever; and he concluded by moving a resolution for the issue of Exchequer bills. After some debate, the resolutions were read; and the House having resumed, the report was ordered to be received on Tuesday.

Monday, June 23.-Lord CASTLEREAGH moved the first reading of the bill for suspending the Habeas Corpus Act.

This gave rise to a debate of great length. When at last the House divided, there appeared, for the question 276; against it 111; majority 165.

June 24. Lord CASTLEREAGH moved the second reading of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill.

After a short debate, the House divided : for the second reading 80; against it 30; majority 50.

On the motion of Mr BENNET, a bill to prohibit the sweeping of chimnies by means of climbing-boys was read a first time.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT presented a petition from Mr Wooler, the proprietor of the Black Dwarf, complaining of the mode in which the verdict of the Jury in his case had been taken by Mr Justice Abbot, and of oppression on the part of the AttorneyGeneral, in not having granted him, previous to his trial, a copy of the informations, and in hurrying on the trial of the second information while he was wearied from his defence on the first.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL denied the allegations as far as he was personally concerned, and contended, that the petitioner had been treated with the greatest leniency, in granting him a new trial. He also stated, that he had offered Mr Wooler his discharge on his own recognizance.-After a desultory discussion, the petition was laid on the table.

SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS

ACT.

Lord CASTLEREAGH moved that the House resolve itself into a Committee on the Suspension Bill.

Mr GURNEY voted for the first Suspension, but objected to a renewal of the measure.

Sir JOHN NEWPORT moved, that as the bill was to continue till the next Session of Parliament, its duration should be fixed and limited to the first of December next. On this the Committee divided; for the

4 P

amendment 45; against it 78; majority 33.

After some further discussion, the House divided upon the question, whether the act should extend to Scotland? Ayes 129noes 48.

June 27. The third reading of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill was then moved, which produced a most animated debate, in which several Members who had before voted for the measure took part against it. At the close of the debate, a division took place on the third reading. Ayes 195-noes 65.

The House also divided on the question, whether the act for the suspension should expire on the 1st of March, or on the 25th of December, on the motion of Mr C. WYNN. The numbers against Mr C. Wynn's proposition were 152 to 50.

Monday, June 30.-The House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, and Sir G. WARRENDER moved that a sum not exceeding £1,332,311: 13: 2, be granted for defraying the expense of the ordinary naval establishment for the period of seven lunar months, commencing in June 1817.

Mr ARBUTHNOT, among other items, moved for a sum not exceeding £40,000, for extraordinary charges of the mint, and gold coinage.

£3000 were granted for the Board of Agriculture; £207,000 for disembodying the militia in Great Britain, in the year 1817; and £154,251 for the same purpose in Ireland.

STATE OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

July 3.-Mr M. A. TAYLOR first adverted to a statement made on a former night, respecting the distressed state of the inhabitants of Newfoundland, and now moved that the report on the subject be read; and after drawing a very afflicting picture of the present condition of that island, concluded by moving that the House do resolve itself into a Committee, in which he would propose that a bounty of 2s. per quintal be given on all fish imported from Newfoundland. The motion was negatived by 50 against 29.

Monday, July 7.-The English Savings Banks Bill, on the motion of Mr RosE, was read a third time; and after an observation from General THORNTON, disap

JULY.

proving of the clause which allowed those who had money deposited in such institutions to derive aid from parish funds, was passed.

PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Mr BROUGHAM brought up the report of the Committee on General Education; it contained a description of many enormous abuses attending the management and application of charitable funds.

REPORT OF THE POLICE COMMITTEE.

July 8.-Mr BENNET presented another report from the Committee appointed to inquire into the police of the metropolis. The present report embraced two subjects -the policy of granting what was called blood-money, or rewards on conviction; and the state of juvenile offenders.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

The

Lord BINNING brought in a bill to provide asylums for the Lunatic Poor in Scotland; but observed, that he did not intend to bring idiots within its operation. bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed; when the Noble Lord stated, that he did not mean to propose any farther proceeding upon it during this Session.

Wednesday, July 9.-Lord BINNING brought up the returns of Lunatics in Scotland, the total number of whom was said to be 4300.

July 11.-Sir FRANCIS BURDETT presented a petition from John Knight, who had been kept in solitary confinement in Reading gaol for more than seventeen weeks, and was now removed to another prison.

The petition was read: it prayed to be brought to trial, or to be transported out of the country. It was ordered to lie on the table.

STATE OF THE NATION.

Mr BROUGHAM made his motion, which stood for this day, on the state of the nation. After an animated debate, in which Lord CASTLEREAGH repelled some charges applying to his former conduct in Ireland, a motion for an address to the Prince Regent was put and negatived without a division.

July 12.-The SPEAKER having returned from the House of Peers, read to the Members a copy of the Prince Regent's speech, and the Members forthwith separated.

BRITISH CHRONICLE.

26. Yesterday morning the jail of Ayr was again broken, and three of the prisoners escaped. They were confined in the very strongest room of the prison, usually called the condemned cell. Nevertheless, by means of a single common mason's iron, they raised up one of the flags of the floor, broke an iron grating on which the stone lay, and

also an arch, upon which both were founded. Through the opening thus made, the prisoners dropped into the cellar where the fire engines are kept, the lock on the door of which they wrenched off, and so got to the street. This is the third time within a twelvemonth this prison has been broken.

Extraordinary Circumstance.At the. Stafford Assizes, on the 26th instant, two

soldiers, named Hall and Morison, were convicted of robbery, and ordered for execution. They were prosecuted by a man named Read, a bricklayer's labourer, who swore that they knocked him down, and robbed him in the church-yard of Wolverhampton, on the 23d of July; and the evidence of the woman in whose house they resided, went to prove they did not sleep at home that night. There was no other evidence. It appeared, however, subsequently to the conviction, that the soldiers did take 1s. 1d. which fell from the prosecutor's pocket while he was wrestling with Hall for amusement, but they had no intention of felony; and that Read had no idea of indicting them, until he was instigated by a man of the name of Roberts, the keeper of the house of correction at Wolverhampton, with the view of gaining the reward called "Blood Money," which was accordingly pocketted by Read and the keeper of the prison, to the amount of £80. This case having been fully established, and laid be fore Lord Sidmouth, by the Rev, Mr Guard, a highly respectable clergyman, his Lordship granted a respite. The men, who bear good characters, have since been liberated.

29.-Swindling.-This day a fellow contrived to carry off a considerable sum from the Glasgow Bank, by using the name of Adamson and Logan, manufacturers there; whose proceeds of bills dicounted he audaciously called for, and received from one of the tellers. The amount was £1314; but this being a larger sum than the swindler wanted, or was able to utter, he next day returned £900 enclosed in a letter, in which he promised to repay the remainder on his arrival in America.

AUGUST.

Marines. By a recent order from the Admiralty, there is now fitting at Plymouth dock-yard, a machine, in all respects similar to a part of the gun-deck of a man of war, having quarters for three pieces of ordnance, and which, when completed, is intended to be placed in the rear of the Marine Barracks, for the purpose of exercising the whole division of marines at that port in the necessary manœuvres of great guns for sea-service; and, as the different parties are deemed sufficiently skilled in this exercise, they are to fire with shot, at a mark, from the battery at Devil's Point. Lieutenant Woolridge, of the royal marine artillery, is appointed to this particular service.

The Navy. An important document has just been published, in the shape of proposals and regulations relative to the navy made by the Board of Admiralty, and sanctioned by an order of Council. After elucidating the accidental causes which have introduced the existing anomaly of rating ships at a certain number of guns, while their real complement exceeded that nominal amount, the Board make the following observation:" We trust we shall be excus

ed for observing to your Royal Highness, that it is wholly unworthy the character of the royal navy of this kingdom to maintain this system, which, though introduced without any design of deception, yet may give occasion to foreign nations to accuse us of misrepresentation, when we state that a British frigate of 38 guns has taken a foreign frigate of 44, when, in fact, the British frigate was of equal, if not superior force." It is then stated, that the American ship President had 55 guns mounted on the day of her capture, though she was rated at only 44. In the British navy this practice will no longer continue, for it is now ordered, that the rule which prevailed prior to 1793 shall be revived, and in future all his Majesty's ships will be rated at the number of guns and carronades which they actually carry on their decks, quarter-decks, and forecastles.

2.-A New Frigate.-A fine new frigate of 46 guns, named the Arethusa, was launched on the 29th ult. from the new dock-yard, Pembroke. Her dimensions and tonnage are as under :

Feet. In. Length of keel for tonnage, 126 1 Breadth, 40 1 Tonnage, 1,934 60-94ths. This vessel is a sister ship to the Thetis frigate, launched from the same yard in February last.

University of Edinburgh.-This University yesterday conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine on ninety-two students, after their usual trials, viz. thirty-seven of Scotland, thirty-two from Ireland, eighteen from England, three from Jamaica, one from Barbadoes, and one from Hamburgh.

4.-Water Spout.-On Friday, the 1st current, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, Cupar-Fife was visited by a thunder storm of about an hour's continu

ance.

It was attended by the singular phenomenon of a water-spout, which discharged itself on Tarvit Hill, over the north side of which it descended in a torrent on the adjacent fields; and these, to a considerable extent, were entirely flooded. The violence of the torrent was such, that large stones were rolled along; deep trenches were formed; and from the ground over which it passed, every trace of vegetation has fled.

Melancholy Event.-On Saturday night, a most deplorable accident happened at Irvine. The brig Anna had just completed her cargo for Halifax, when the master went on shore to bid farewell to his friends, and convey to the ship two of the last passengers. In going out of the harbour, it was found difficult to row the boat; and recourse was had to a sail. The night was breezy, and the boat wanted ballast, and it is supposed that it was overset in tacking. No one, either on shore or in the brig, observed the catastro phe; and it was far in the forenoon of Sunday before it was known. There were on board, beside Captain Miller, two seamen,

and a member of the Society of Friends from Belfast, with his daughter, who was going out to join her husband in America. It is melancholy to think-they all perished.

8.-Chain Bridge.A bridge of this description is just finished at Dryburgh, for the convenience of foot passengers, across the river Tweed. It consists of a platform of wood, supported by chains suspended from pillars, on each side of the river, at the height of eighteen feet from the surface of the water; the span, from the point of suspension, is 261 feet, affording an easy and level passage, with very little vibration. The appearance of the bridge is extremely light and elegant, and, connected with the beautiful scenery of Dryburgh, is uncommonly interesting. Much praise is due to the Earl of Buchan, for so noble an example in scientific experiment, as the bridge is done entirely at his Lordship's expense. The bridge was planned and executed by Messrs John and Thomas Smith of Darnick, and does them much credit as architects and workmen.

Trial of Roger O'Connor, Esq.-We mentioned in our Number for June, that this gentleman had been imprisoned on an accusation of robbing the mail-coach from Galway, in 1812. He was removed from Dublin to Trim, a few days before his trial, which commenced at the assizes there on the fifth instant. The principal evidence for the prosecution were two infamous characters Michael Owens, who had been pardoned while under sentence of death, in consequence of swearing against Mr O'Connor; and Daniel Waring, who had been himself engaged in the robbery, and whose brother, Richard, was hanged for the same crime. Dorothea Reynolds, a servant of Mr O'Connor's, had also sworn against him, but denied all she had said when before the Grand Jury; she was not therefore produced on trial. Owens and Waring differed widely in their statements in several points; and the Judge told the Jury, he had never seen a charge so completely rebutted by the evidence. The Jury, without retiring, returned an unanimous verdict of not guilty, which was loudly applauded by all present -great rejoicings took place at Trim on the occasion; and the populace could scarcely be prevented from chairing Mr O'Connor and Sir Francis Burdett, who had come from London to countenance and give testimony to his character on the trial. Owens and Waring are to be prosecuted for perjury.

11.His Majesty-Respecting the condition of our beloved Sovereign, the public have not, for some time past, been put in possession of any particulars beyond the formal announcement in the monthly bulletins. The following circumstances, tending, so far as our means extend, to supply the omission, will, it is hoped, prove accept able. It has been reported, and we believe partially credited, that his Majesty had lost

his hearing as well as his sight; but we are happy to state, that there is no truth in the report. Indeed, as if Providence kindly intended to compensate for the loss of vision, his Majesty's sense of hearing is not merely quick, but it has become, if we may be allowed to use the term, discriminative. When his Majesty is in a composed state of mind, he can readily distinguish and tell, by their footsteps, the name of any one who is approaching or passing him. As but few are allowed to see him, he generally amuses himself, as they pass, by calling to them by name. His Majesty's habits have not, in consequence of infirmity or old age, undergone material change. His Majesty, as usual, rises early; breakfasts at eight o'clock, or soon after; dines at one, and continues partial to mutton and beef; and, when in a tranquil state, he orders what his dinner table shall be furnished with. The principal page is in constant attendance, as also the subaltern assistants of the medical men. A sunk walk has been made adjoining the King's suite of Rooms; but latterly his Majesty, it is said, has declined walking there, alleging, that it would be no gratification to him as he is deprived of sight. The rooms that his Majesty and attendants occupy consist of thirteen, and they are extremely well ventilated. When the Queen is at Windsor, her Majesty, attended by Dr John Willis, generally visits her consort about ten o'clock.

15.-Nelson's Pillar.-The first stone of a naval pillar, to commemorate the victories of Lord Nelson, was laid this day on Yarmouth Denes, by Colonel Wodehouse, chairman of the committee of subscribers. In the stone was placed a plate, on which was engraved, in Latin, the following inscription. "HORATIO LORD NELSON, whom, as her first and proudest Champion in naval fight, Britain honoured, while living, with her favour, and, when lost, with her tears. Of whom, signalized by his triumphs in all lands, the whole Earth stood in awe, on occount of the tempered firmness of his counsels, and the undaunted ardour of his courage; this great man Norfolk boasts her own, not only as born there of a respectable family, and as there having received his early education, but her own also in talents, manners, and mind. The glory of so great a name, though sure long to outlive all monuments of brass and stone, his fellow countrymen of Norfolk have resolved to commemorate by this column, erected by their joint contributions. He was born in the year 1758, entered on his profession in 1771, and was concerned in nearly 150 naval engagements with the enemy; being conqueror, among various other occasions, at Aboukir, August 1798,-at Copenhagen, April 1801, and at Trafalgar, October 1805. Which last victory, the crown of so many glorious achievements, he consecrated by a death equally mournful to his country and honourable to himself."

Thunder Storm and Tornado.On the 12th instant, Aberfeldy was visited by a tremendous thunder storm, seldom equalled in that high latitude. It commenced about twelve o'clock noon, and continued, with little or no intermission, until two o'clock. The lightning was so vivid that it alarmed every one; and at a Mr Stewart's, a farmer, the fluid struck one of his farm-houses, set fire to the roof, and gave the whole steading a shock resembling that of an earthquake. It went through the roof in a descending angle from the south to the north, ignited the roof on the south, and on the north made a perforation as if a twelve-pound shot had gone through it. This happened about a furlong west from this village; and about 100 yards east from it, and almost at the same time there was a kind of tornado, which swept away or levelled every thing that obstructed its course. It carried some hay quite out of sight into the air. It crossed the Tay, carrying a very large sheet of water into the air, and scattering it in various directions. In its progress, it swept from their roots, corn, potatoes, and shrubbery, but happily neither lives nor houses were injured by it.

Itinerant Preachers.-In the course of last week, James Duncan, an itinerant preacher, was twice before the police magistrate at Glasgow, for collecting crowds of people in the streets of that city. The account which he gives of himself is this:"He was born in Dundee, and is a flaxdresser, and having attended a Latin class in St Andrew's University, and having an extensive memory, he commenced preacher." He was dismissed, and advised to gain his livelihood by other means. His collection

amounted on some occasions to 20s.

21-Life Preserver.-The Commanderin-Chief having lately learned, through the official returns, that out of 5511 men, embarked for foreign service, 1702, or nearly one-third perished, through the transports being wrecked, in the course of two years and a half, ordered that experiments of Mallison's Life Preserver should be made, in order to ascertain the service which the introduction of the invention into the British army might produce. A series of experiments was accordingly made at Woolwich, with the happiest effect, in the presence of upwards of fifty officers. Among the rest, a man was selected who could not swim, carried into deep water, and left to himself. In a few minutes after, obtaining confidence, he swam across the piece of water, about ninety yards, and back, nearly as well as the best swimmer, thus decidedly proving the impossibility of being drowned, when equipped with this simple invention.

27.Singular Incident.Yesterday afternoon, a tremendous torrent of rain and hail, accompanied by thunder, came on at Edinburgh, which inundated some of the lower parts of the town. A remarkable and interesting occurrence took place at the foot

of the Cowgate. A crowd of boys, while amusing themselves near the common sewer, the grating of which had been taken up to give the water a free run, one of them, between seven and eight years of age, in endeavouring to save a basket, which had got into the current, was swept into its vortex, and carried down the drain. An alarm was immediately given, but the impetuosity of the current seemed to preclude all hopes of recovering him. The mother, encircled by a prodigious crowd, stood by in the greatest agony of grief. The people had begun to take the covers off the drain, and to use every exertion possible to get hold of him, when a countryman, driving a flock of lambs, came up; and learning the circumstance, borrowed an umbrella from one of the bystanders, and descended into the sewer. The boy, most providentially, had recovered himself while in the sewer, and, attracted by the voice of the countryman, laid hold on the hooked end of the umbrella, by which " he was drawn towards his deliverer, who produced him alive to the overjoyed mother and the astonished spectators, after he had been upwards of twenty minutes in the

sewer.

Shooting. The Earl of Fife has been entertaining a party of gentlemen at his shooting lodge, in Mar Forest. The party consisted of General Duff, Sir John Hope, Mr Heathcote, Mr H. Heathcote, Sir Richard Sutton, Mr Hay, and Mr Balfour. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, it having rained almost incessantly, the list of slaughter during the first week, besides the red deer, roes, and ptarmigan, amounted to 821 brace of grouse; a number, we believe, unparalleled in the annals of sporting.

On Monday forenoon, a boat with twelve men, going off to a cutter in Leith Roads, was upset when about half way by a sudden squall. The accident was observed from the shore and from some vessels at anchor, and boats were instantly despatched, and reached it in time to save the whole of the crew, some of whom could not have kept up many minutes longer. In the afternoon it blew a heavy gale from the eastward, during which a boat, with two men, from Leith, endeavouring to make Newhaven pier, was driven among the rocks to leeward, and soon filled with water. boat from Newhaven attempted their relief, but could not come near from the heavy sea. Several people from the shore then attempted their rescue; and wading into the water, linked by each other, the tallest of them got near enough to throw a rope, by means of which the men were, with much difficulty and danger, got ashore.

A

Union Canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow.The state of the subscription for this work is now such as to enable the committee of management to assure the public that the work will commence as soon as the lateness of the harvest will permit the

« ForrigeFortsæt »