Printed by James Ballantyne and Co.

FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND CO., EDINBURGH;
LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN; AND
HURST, ROBINSON, AND CO., LONDON.

1821.
M.V. J.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

HISTORICAL.

CHAP.I.

INTRODUCTORY.

PAGE.

Sources of Public

Parallel between

General Aspect of the Times. Commercial Distress, and its Causes.

Discontent. Views of the Democratic Writers Radical Reform.

the British Constitution at the time of the Revolution, and at present. Royal Au-

thority. Parliamentary Representation,

Prince Regent's Message to the two Houses of Parliament. Committees of Secrecy ap-

pointed. Their Report. Debate in the Lords on the Bill for the Suspension of the

Habeas Corpus Act. In the Commons on the Bill against Seditious Meetings, and two

others. On the Habeas Corpus. These Bills pass the two Houses,

CHAP. IV.

THE SAME SUBJECT RENEWED.

Disturbances at Manchester. Rising in Derbyshire. Message from the Prince Regent.

Appointment and Report of Secret Committees. Renewed Suspension of the Habeas

Corpus Act. On the Employment of Spies,

20

44

66

CHAP. V.

FINANCE.

PAGE.

Lord Castlereagh's Statement of proposed Reductions, and Motion for a Committee of In-

quiry. First Report of the Committee. Second Report. The Budget. Debate on

the War Salary of the Secretaries to the Admiralty-On the Number of Admiralty

Lords-On the Office of Third Secretary of State-On Mr Canning's Mission to Lis-

bon-On Mr Harris's Appointment,

73

CHAP. VI.

POOR LAWS-PUBLIC DISTRESS.

General Observations on the Poor Laws-Remedies suggested. Mr Curwen's Motion.

Committee appointed-Report-Debate upon it. Mr Brougham's Motion on the

Distresses of the Country. Mr Vansittart's Plan for the Relief of the Labouring

Classes,

CHAP. VII.

TREATMENT OF BUONAPARTE.

General Observations. Motion by Lord Holland. Explanation by Earl Bathurst. Mo-

tion negatived,

CHAP, VIH.

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS.

90

109

The Catholic Question-In, the Gommons-In the Lords. Sir Francis Burdett's Mo-

tion for Parliamentary Reform,

114

CHAP. IX.

MISCELLANEOUS PARLIAMENTARY TRANSACTIONS.

Mr Abbot resigns the office of Speaker-Created Lord Colchester, with a Pension. Mr

Sutton Elected. Debate on Lord Sidmouth's Circular Letter. Mr Wilberforce's Mo-

tion relative to the Slave Trade. Mr Lyttleton on the Lottery. Mr Bennet on the

Report of the Police Committee. The Academical Society. Mr Brougham's Motion

on the State of the Nation.

Prorogation of Parliament,

CHAP. X.

136

SCOTLAND.

General View of the Political State of Scotland. The Scottish Bar. Ascendency of the

Whigs. State Trials. Debates in Parliament on the subject. Burgh Reform-Mon-

trose-Aberdeen-Dundee. Ferment in the Nation. Meetings at Edinburgh. At-

tempts to reduce the Charter of that City.

CHAP. XI.

ROYAL FAMILY.

The Princess Charlotte-Her Illness, and Death. Grief of the Nation. The King-

Queen-Princess of Wales,

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160