are scarcely so good as the compo- are like olives, or caviare. They sitions which Mr. Bishop has lately must be often tasted to be relished, produced.

though, at first, the palate is allured Absence, and Scenes of Childhood, to overcome the strength of the flaby this composer, are two single vour. Both are, however, worthy of songs of no ordinary conception or Mr. Bishop's genius. merit ; yet we find it difficult to say Mr. I. Cooke has published an in what the peculiarity consists. Overture, as performed at Drury First, however, it lies in the intensity Lane ; consisting almost entirely of of feeling, which is cast into such cu- favorite Irish Airs. It contains many rious melody and modulation, as are solos for wind instruments, particuto be found in these canzonetti. They larly for the clarionet, flute, and trumare both singular and expressive, pet. The Young May Moon is aland we may combine both epithetslotted to the latter instrument, which again, and say their expression is in is, we believe, rather a singular ciritself of a very singular cast ; they cumstance.

ABSTRACT OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES.

one

We should only mistify our readers from commencing operations, having were we to enumerate the various passed away. contradictory reports which have The King of France has called the risen and perished in the course of the Chambers together somewhat earlier last month, with respect to the state than usual, and in his speech acof affairs between Russia and the counts for it by representing the nePorte. The cause of difference be- cessity which exists of liberating the tween these powers remains still as financial administration from the proundecided as ever; and their respec- visional measures to which a recura tive armies still remain in the attitude rence was unavoidable. The tenour of hostility, without, however, hav,, of the speech is favourable to a paciing struck a blow. If we were to fication in the East; and his Majesty incline to the statements on says he hopes that tranquillity may side or the other, it would be to be restored in these countries without that which leans to an amicable the occurrence of a new war to age adjustment; and this opinion we gravate their miseries. The speech draw from the protracted manau- also alludes to the existence of the yres, and the clear disinclination cordon sanitaire, and of the necessity of each to commence the contest. which compels him not to relax in In this view it is not unlikely that the his precautions, at least during the late accounts contained in the Gazette continuance of the present season. de France have some foundation. He, however, deprecates any male- . That paper declares, on the authority volent interpretation on this point, of Austrian letters, that one of the hostile to his real intentions. But objects of the mission of Mon. de why the King of France should Tatischeff to Vienna was to arrange strengthen this cordon now does not with that Cabinet a convenient place precisely appear; the measure cerfor a meeting between the Plenipo- tainly derives no colour from any retentiaries of Russia, Austria, and a cent increase of the disease alluded to. minister of the Porte, in order to However, strong, and, to the Spacome to a definitive settlement. It niards, somewhat suspicious indicais added that the town of Kaminieck, tions begin undoubtedly to present in Padolia, has been fixed upon for themselves. General Donnadieu, a this diplomatic rendezvous. We give violent ultra, has been appointed to a this, however, as one of many state- very high command on this station; ments, and calling for credit only on orders have been issued for the march account of the great portion of the of six thousand men from Lisle, &c. season during which Russia was not to Bayonne and Perpignan; and a prevented, by any local impediments, re-organization of the national guards,

use

in the South of France has been just fell in torrents; and as the Royal resolved upon by the French govern- pilgrim disdained the

of ment. It is not to be wondered at, either umbrella or hat, he has been that, under such circumstances, very laid up, in consequence, ever since, strong suspicions should be excited with an inflammatory cold, which for as to the real notive for these pre- a time, threatened very serious concautions; and, accordingly, private sequences ! It is stated that General letters from France state, that the Berton has been arrested. assemblage of this large body of In Spain the Cortes have adtroops upon the Spanish frontier is to dressed King. Ferdinand in language prevent, not the physical infection which it is impossible his Majesty pretended, but the moral infection of could misunderstand. They declared Spanish revolutionary principles to him, that "the Representatives spreading into the newly legiti- of the Spanish nation, assembled in mated Southern provinces of France! Cortes, are overcome with grief at France seems to be in a state inter- the prospect of the evils which afflict nally to cause every apprehension in the country; that the heroic nation her present rulers. Even the capital is already fatigued by the continual itself is not exempted from occa- attacks of wicked men, and by the sional scenes of political commotion : blows they unceasingly aim at its during the last month a serious riot wise institutions, and that the Cortes took place in Paris, in consequence and the Constitutional King ought to of an attempt on the part of the law tranquillize it, to secure its repose, students to commemorate the anniver- to put an end to the conspiracies sary of the death of the younger which are on foot, and to prevent the Lallemand, who, it will he recol- horrors which are meditated." They lected, met an untimely fate during also complain, that the enemies of a previous collegiate commotion. the country are “slowly proceeded The authorities, from a foolish obsti- against,” that “ the administration nacy in preventing the design, of some of the provinces is confided caused the gates of the cemetery of to inexperienced hands—to men not Pere la Chaise, to be closed, and liked by the people,"—that “ great posted a civil power in the neigh- criminals” are covered with “impubourhood. When the students ap- nity,” and “ unjust and arbitrary peared clothed in deep mourning, prosecutions instituted.” The Cortes they were refused admission to the have not confined themselves to mere grave of their companion ; they per- verbal remonstrancel; a considerable sisted in their ceremony, they were body of troops has been stationed in opposed with equal obstinacy; and the neighbourhood of the cordon the consequence was a charge of the sanitaire; and by way of a signifi. gendarmerie, in which upwards of cant hint to their neighbours on the twenty of the students were grievously subject, a decree has been passed, wounded, and eight taken prisoners. allowing the same pension to French Some idea may be formed of the old re- refugees flying from prosecution at gime feeling on the part of the Bour- home for political offences, which bons, from the following fact, which they had previously granted to Italately occurred in Paris. The Duke lian patriots, flying from a foreign d'Angoulême thought proper, a short invader! France, on the other hand, time since, to lead a procession of affords a refuge to the mal-content monks, nuns, and friars to Notre Spanish legitimate refugees; and Dame, on the day of the fete dieu. such is the spirit at present sedulousHis Royal Highness proceeded bare ly fostered by the governments of the headed ; and, unfortunately, during respective countries. his progress a dreadful storm of wind

A plot has been just detected at and rain came on. The zeal of the Lisbon, the objects of which were, the Parisians was not proof against the deposition of the King of Portugal, elements, and they fled in all direc- the nomination of the infant Michael as tions, leaving prince, priests, bishops, the head of the regency, the dissolusisters and all, to propitiate the tion of the Cortes, and the establishgenius of the storms by banners, ment of a new legislative body-the crosses, and prostrations: the rain Upper Chamber was to have been

a

composed of the hereditary nobles, to the House of Commons, the state and it was supposed, also of some of of pauperism in four parishes, of the the higher order of ecclesiastics. It county of Sussex, appears to be as was also agreed upon to murder such follows:- In the parish of Northiam, members of the present Cortes and the total population, according to the Ministry as were supposed to be fa- last census, amounts to 1,353-pauvourable to the principles of freedom. pers 636. Salehurst, population 2,121 It is mentioned, we hope without -paupers, 1,062. Burwarsh, popufoundation, that a private secretary lation 1,937-paupers 1,053. Mayto a late British Commander in that field, population 2,698 paupers country, has been deeply implicated 1,391 ! Thus in these four parishes in this base and sanguinary conspi- the number of paupers equals half ras. The discovery of the plot was the amount of the entire population ! said to have taken place in conse- The Court of King's Bench has quence of an application of M. Janu- granted a new trial to the defendants ario des Neves, the secretary just in the case of “ the King v. Conant, alluded to, to General Luiz do Nego Collins, and Mills,” who were lately Barello to join them. The General convicted of a conspiracy, corruptly declined giving an immediate answer, to refuse a license to Mr. Meek, a and desired a further conference on publican. the following day. The minister of The sum received from the Comjustice was informed of the circum- mittee for the management of the stance, and Januario unguardedly ball, lately given at the King's Thedeveloped the whole plot before con- atre, for the relief of the distress in cealed witnesses; of course he was Ireland, amounted to 3,500l. It is immediately apprehended. Many singular enough, that this was the persons of high rank are suspected of only one of all the attempts made to a participation in this conspiracy, raise money by public amusement, but the arrests hitherto have not been for this charitable purpose, which

The affair will, how has not failed. Mr. Kean's benefit, ever, doubtless undergo a full in- which, he so munificently approprivestigation.

ated to this fund, at Drury-lane The plague has broken out at Al Theatre, only netted 21!-A clear giers, and incalculable numbers are proof, that proverbially benevolent stated to have fallen victims. The as England is, she does not wish streets are represented as being in a to blend any other pleasure with state of silent desolation. While charity, except that which charity upon the subject, we may just re- itself originates. mark, en passant, that a report was In the details of our domestic in. very current last week in London, telligence, Ireland still unfortunatethat this dreadful disease had ap- ly takes a prominent and melancholy peared in one of our hospitals; on an station. The accounts from that official investigation, however, it ap- wretched country, transmitted to the peared, that there was no foundation City of London Charitable Comwhatever for the apprehension, and mittee, and but too well authentithat the hospital was never so free cated, are enough to fill the soul from all contagious complaints as it with horror. is at present. Such rumours ought In our Parliamentary report for not to be lightly circulated amidst the month, some questions of consuch an immense population as Lon- siderable importance appear.

The don contains —they may lead to the first in the list is undoubtedly the worst consequences.

discussion on the revision of the criFrom returns lately made to Par- minal code. This was brought beliament it appears, that the debts of fore the House of Commons by Sir six thousand and ninety discharged James Macintosh, in a very able and debtors amounted to upwards of five lucid manner. The learned gentlemillions and a half, while the amount man stated some strong facts to prove of property received by the assignees that, in place of an improvement, was 1,4991. being, on an average, the present criminal code of England about four shillings from each estate ! was producing a rapid demoraliza.

By an official return, also made tion in the country, not to be ac

numerous.

counted for by the increase of popu- to impose upon the country a stilation. As an instance of this, the ave- pendiary magistracy, under the dorage of capital convictions from 1805 minion of the Lord Lieutenant. The to 1809 was 381, and in the last five second reading was, however, carried years it was 1260, or three and a half by a majority of 113 to 55. to one! Such a rapid acceleration Mr. Canning's Bill, for the restoraof crime, was, he said, unequalled tion of their seats in the House of in the history of mankind, and sup- Lords to Roman Catholic Peers, plied a strong argument against the came on for discussion in that House, rigour of our penal code. From 1811 on Friday the 21st, where it was reto 1820, the English capital crimes jected by a majority of 42. The were double those of France, or re- numbers were, for the second readlatively to the population, five times ing, 129-against it, 171. The Lord as many; now they are about ten Chancellor headed the opposition to times the proportion. The English the Bill. had 229 capital punishments ; the The Marriage Act Amendment Bill French only six. The learned gen- has passed the House of Commons, tleman concluded by moving a reso- and is in a successful progress through lution, pledging the House early in the upper House. the next session, “ to take into their Mr. James Daly having in the most serious consideration the means House of Commons withdrawn his of giving greater efficacy to the cri- promised motion upon Irish Tithes, minal law, by abating the present Mr. Hume, who had abandoned a undue rigour of punishment; by im- motion on the subject early in the proving the state of the police; and session, took up the question on the by establishing a system of transpor- sudden, and moved a resolution, tation and imprisonment, which shall pledging the House, “ early next be more effective for the purposes of session to take into its consideration example, and the amendment of of the state of the church, and the manfenders.” The resolution was op- ner of collecting tithes in Ireland, posed by the Attorney General, but with a view to making such alteraon a division, there appeared, for its tion as might be thought fit;" to this adoption 117, against it 101, leaving Sir John Newport moved an amenda majority of 16in its favour; a re- ment, pledging the House to “subsult on which we sincerely congratu- stitute a commutation for the present late the country

precarious and vexatious mode of A long and animated debate took supporting the church establishplace on a proposition of Mr. Peel's ment.” This was met by ministers, to continue the Alien Bill in force for with the previous question, which two years longer. On a division, was carried finally, by a majority of there appeared, for the motion 18973, against 65. A meeting of all the -against it, 92—majority 97. great Irish landholders has since

Mr. Goulburn introduced a Bill been held, at which they unanimously for the regulation of the Irish police recommended the adoption of a cominto the House of Commons, which mutation, in preference to any other we consider it unnecessary to discuss remedy. now, as it is understood that it must The following important resolution undergo very considerable modifica- has been adopted by the Bank of tions in the committee. It was vio- England : lently opposed, and the opposition “ Bank of England, June 20, 1822. was the more remarkable, as it came « Resolved-That all Bills and principally from Mr. Charles Grant, Notes approved of in the usual manthe Irish ex-secretary, a gentleman ner, and not having more than ninewho generally votes with administra- ty-five days to run, be discounted at tion. He deelared that it was an at- the rate of four per cent. per annum, tempt to place all Ireland under an on and after the 21st of June, 1822." armed police--a gens-d'armerie; and

MONTHLY REGISTER,

JULY 1, 1822.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

The New Corn Bill has passed the abroad. Yet such is the nature of the proHouse of Commons, receiving from Mr. visions of the present act, that they proWestern his “ final malediction," on its mised the farmer a protection, which, at third reading. That gentleman pronounced the very time of making such promise, the it to be calculated to increase every existing Minister declares is not likely to be de. evil, and to add others to the miserable ca- manded. Nothing indeed could be more talogue.

delusive than the whole proceeding of the There is, in truth, not any party in the Agricultural committee, and for this plain commonwealth, who will be satisfied with reason; they have evaded, not met the dif. its provisions ; for they recognize no one ficulties of the Agricultural case. Minisprinciple, yet partake of all. They impose ters, who in point of fact appointed the a duty, which, should importation be re- committee, and framed the first report, saw sorted to, will, for a time, raise the price only the imperative necessity of supporting considerably (about 75 per cent.) above its the revenue, and they saw also this could natural level. This rise will, of course, not be done, if the question was fairly press severely upon the manufacturing treated. In the endeavour, therefore, to classes, and upon persons of fixed income; conceal from public view the operation of it will, in fact, have the effect of elevating taxation, the whole thing has been mysthe price of commodities to that amount tified and perplexed. No principle has above the continental price. But the worst been established. It has neither been stated of its pernicious consequences will be, that that the farmer is to be protected, nor that by its artificial regulations, a pretext will he is not to be protected. A sort of middle be set up similar to that afforded by the term has been adopted, which will be former Corn Bill, for the continued exalta- found to strip the farmer of the property tion of rents, tithes, and taxes. Ministers that remains to him, and plunge the prowill say to the complaints of the farmer; prietor hereafter into difficulties scarcely we have given you a duty of 75 per cent. less severe, by making him the accessary which is intended to operate as a bounty and instrument of absorbing the operative upon your production, we have hazarded capital of the occupier of the soil. The much by the protection of your interests at whole evil has originated in this sort of the expense of the public; we therefore shift and evasion on the part of ministers. have done all that we can do, and more It was the same in 1815-1816 as now. than we ought to have done for your relief. It is quite clear that the admission of the

The farmer, however, will perceive no principle of free trade is approaching raeffect, but occasional fluctuations, to him pidly we are recognizing it in almost ruinous, because the casual elevation will every instance. How infinitely absurd then be turned against him, and will, indeed, to impose restrictions, which, if they can inspire hopes that cannot be realized ; for, act at all, will lay an addition of nearly cent. should the ports be opened, it is to be per cent upon the cost of subsistence, the proved by figures, that the price of wheat real foundation of the price of all other (and other grain in proportion) will imme- commodities. Yet so it is ; and if called diately sink to about 55s. per quarter, or into action at all, the effects of this Bill almost 15s. less than the farmer, with all will be again what they have heretofore his present deductions, alleges it costs him been in the last Corn Bill, exaltation of to grow it. In the mean time, we have price, and a subsequent ruinous depression. the assurance of Lord Londonderry, that But while these results are but too obthe ports are not likely to open for three vious there are good grounds for differing years, if at all, which assertion goes to es- with the Marquis of Londonderry, as to the tablish the fact, that England grows enough, probable period when the provisions of the or more than enough for her own consump- new bill may be called into action. These tion ; in which case, the consumption will reasons, which we lately gave, are augprobably fall to the continental average ; mented by the present prospect of the har. because, if the supply be superabundant, vest and of the country, particularly of Ireas Lord Londonderry holds out, some part land, whose consumption of corn must, of our supply must be exported, and no both this and next year, be augmented, one will export till he finds he cannot oh. unless famine be allowed to depopulate her tain so good a price at home as he can towns and cities. The strong argument

Vol. VI.-Mon. Reg.

a