third reading of the bill. I would rather the Queen should remain Queen, notwithstanding the charges which I think have been proved against her, than that a bill for her degradation should pass with this divorce clause." The Bishop of London said, that as to any objection to the divorce clause of the bill, founded on the supposed conduct of the complaining party, he thought it quite inapplicable. A great constitutional principle was involved in the present case. The King" could do no wrong;" he could not commit a folly, far less a crime; and, therefore, recrimination was out of the question!-Hear, hear.) Nov. 9.-Lord King moved an amendment, that there should be a clause intro duced to the following effect, after the word "abroad,"_" That certain English commissioners appointed at Milan, with an Italian Attorney, named Vilmacarti, had collected a mass of false and calumnious witnesses, who had been produced, and had given false testimony at their Lordships' bar for many weeks, whereby the dignity of the Crown, the nation, and Parliament, had suffered great scandal and dishonour, and that the House entreated that it should be enacted that the persons who had acted on the Milan commission should be rendered for ever incapable of holding any place or pension whatever." The amendment was negatived. Lord Kenyon again moved an amend ment, that the divorce clause should be wholly omitted, which was also negatived without a division. Nov. 10.-On the question being put that the bill be read a third time, a short discussion took place, when the House divided, and the numbers were, For the Third Reading,. 108 Majority, 99 9 When the decision was announced to her Majesty, who was in her private apartment in the House, she ordered her Counsel to write out a petition to the House, claiming to be heard by Counsel against the passing of the Bill, which was put into the hands of Lord Dacre to present; but the moment his Lordship rose with that view, the Earl of Liverpool interrupted him, and addressed the House, stating, that, with a majority so small, and feeling how difficult it would be to impress conviction on the public mind, he should feel it his duty to propose that the farther proceedings on the Bill should be postponed until this day six months, which was carried without a division. The Bill is therefore thrown out. His Lordship's declaration was received with loud cheers by the House. Their Lordships then adjourned till the 23d instant. When the Queen was afterwards told by a number of Peers, and by her Counsel, that Ministers had withdrawn the Bill, her Majesty almost fainted, and was obliged to be conveyed into the open air. She said nothing, and it was recommended that she should be immediately conveyed to her carriage, where a flood of tears soon came to her relief. She was followed by an immense multitude, and cheered most enthusiastically. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-Oct. 17.-The House met agreeably to adjournment. Mr Hume brought forward the subject relative to the seditious placards, and complained of the conduct of Sir R. Baker, in allowing Mr Franklin, charged with fabricating them, to go at large without bail, and moved that he should be examined at the bar of the House. Lord Castlereagh opposed the motion, but stated the facilities which Government had afforded for apprehending Mr Franklin on the Continent. After a debate of some length the motion was withdrawn. A committee having been appointed to examine the Lords' journals, as to the state of the proceedings on the Bill of Pains and Penalties, they made their report, when Lord Castlereagh moved an adjournment to Thursday the 23d of November, which, after a discussion, was ultimately agreed to without a division. OCTOBER. BRITISH CHRONICLE. 2. CIRCUIT INTELLIGENCE-Stirling. The Court was opened here by Lord Hermand. James M'Alpin, aged 19, was placed at the bar, charged with shooting at A. Dunlop, Esq. of Clober, on the 24th of June last, with intent to murder; and, after a trial of some length, was dismissed from the bar by an unanimous verdict of Not Proven. John Gruham of Bannockburn, a miserable looking old man, about 70 years of age, having a wooden leg, and leaning upon crutches. was charged with celebrating clandestine marriages, and on his own confession found guilty, and banished Scotland for life.-Graham, we understand, was a dissenting minister near Kilsyth. Mary Brock, a well looking young woman, pleaded guilty of concealment of her pregnancy, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment in the jail of Stirling. Hugh M'Callum and Donald M'Master were on Tuesday found guilty of violently assaulting and deforcing Dugald Cameron, an Excise officer, at Strathblane, in February last, and sentenced to seven years' transportation. 27. Seditious Placards.-Mr Fletcher, or Franklin, accused of fabricating and circulating inflammatory placards, (as stated at page 372 of this Volume,) has escaped, notwithstanding the vigilant pursuit of Mr Pearson the solicitor, along with one of the Bow-street officers. A reward of L. 100 was offered by the Queen's Plate Committee, and another of L. 200 by Government, for his apprehension, but without effect. A letter has been received from Franklin, by one of the Bow-street magistrates, dated Dunkirk, 19th instant, avowing his guilt, but ridiculing all attempts to apprehend him. On the 17th a warrant was granted at Bow-street against Mr Dennis O'Bryen, charged, on the oath of a bill-sticker, with being concerned with Franklin in the manufacture of those atrocious placards. Mr O'Bryen attended voluntarily at the police office, but on a subsequent day the warrant was discharged, the bill-sticker having declared that he was mistaken in the person. NOVEMBER. 16. THE QUEEN. The fate of the Bill of Pains and Penalties against the Queen, noticed in our Parliamentary Register, called forth a burst of public feeling, such as has rarely, if ever, before been witnessed in the metropolis. On Friday, Saturday, and Monday last, illuminations took place. On Friday a disposition to riot prevailed wherever individuals refused to comply with the cry of the multitude for "lights." In the Strand, the offices of the ministerial papers felt the effects of the indignation of the populace. The Riot Act was read in front of the Courier Office by Mr Minshull, one of the Magistrates of Bow-street, and parties of the Life Guards continued parading along the Strand till an early hour in the morning. The people, however, manifested the greatest cordiality towards the military, who, on their part, conducted themselves with the utmost propriety. On Saturday the Lord Mayor gave public notice that the Mansionhouse would be illuminated on that evening and Monday. On these occasions, the illuminations were general and splendid. The villages and towns round London displayed the same enthusiastic joy; and all the coaches arriving or departing from the metropolis were decorated with laurel boughs, and the horses with white favours. The intelligence was received in Edinburgh on Monday, and excited a great sensation among all ranks, although the feeling was not displayed in the same public manner as in London. A few individuals, however, lighted up their windows on Tues day and last night, and at Leith the ves sels in the harbour hoisted their colours, which continued floating in the wind during the whole of Monday. In Glasgow partial illuminations also took place, and the feelings of the populace were displayed by the burning of tar barrels on the streets in the evening. BRITISH LEGISLATION. Acts passed in the First Year of the Reign of George IV., or in the First Session of the Seventh Parliament of the United Kingdom. CAP. LVI. For the summary Punishment, in certain Cases, of Persons wilfully or maliciously damaging or committing Trespasses on public or private Property. July 15, 1820. Cap. LVII. To repeal an Act passed in the fifty-seventh year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, intituled, An Act to abolish the Punishment of Public Whipping on Female Offenders, and to make further provisions in lieu thereof. July 15. Cap. LVIII. For the better securing the Excise Duties on Paper and Pasteboard.-July 15. Cap. LIX. To amend, revive, and continue, until the twenty-fifth day of March. One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, an act of the fifty-second year of his late Majesty, for regulating the separation of damaged from sound Coffee, and for permitting dealers to send out any quantity of Coffee, not exceeding eight pounds weight, without permit.-July 15, Cap. LX. To amend and continue two Acts passed in the fifty-seventh year of his late Majesty King George the Third, for authorizing the issue of Exchequer Bills and the advance of money for carrying on of Public Works and Fisheries, and Em ployment of the Poor; and to extend the powers of the Commissioners for executing the said Acts in Great Britain.-July 15. Cap. LXI. To charge additional duties on the importation of certain articles into the Isle of Man, and to regulate the trade of the said Island.-July 15. Cap. LXII. To continue, until the first day of January, One thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, an Act of the fifty-ninth year of his late Majesty, for staying proceedings against any Governor or other persons concerned in imposing and levying duties in New South Wales; for continuing certain duties; and for empowering the said Governor to levy a duty on spirits made in the said Colony.-July 15. 24 22 Hollingworth, fm. 11 Dr. rec. diff. with Lieut. Davis, h. 22 Dr. p. Clarke, fm. 11 Dr. rec. diff. with Lieut. Maxwell, h. p. 24 Dr. Brice, fm. 23 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Douglas, h. p. 66 F. Armstrong, fm. 55 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Troward, h. p. 51 F. M'Anally, fm. 90 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Ottley, h. p. 84 F. Anderson, fm. 1 W. I. R. with Lieut. Half hide, h. p. 3 W. I. R. Cornet and Sub-Lieut. J. Hall, fm. 1 Life Gds. with Cornet C. Hall, h. p. 6 Dr. Ensign Robertson, fm. 53 F. with 2d Lieut. Daly, Rifle Brig. h. p. 11 F. Stretch, fm. 38 F. with Ensign Conolly, -Mathewson, fm. 54 F. with Ensign Pattoun, h. p. R. Afri. Corps Badcock, fm. 81 F. with Ensign Douglass, h. p. 57 F. Qua. Mast. Johnston, fm. 60 F. with Qua. Mast. Kiens, h. p. Capt. French, from 82 F. Capt. vice Hervey, exch. do. Lt. Wall, fm. h. p. 40 F. Lt. vice Gray, exch. do. Ensign Cornwall, from 38 F. Lt. by purch. vice Brooksbank, 26 F. do. Capt. Magennis, fm. 37 F. Capt. vice Moriarty, h. p. 71 F. do. Rist, fm. h. p. 37 F. Capt. vice Burton, exch. do. East, fm. h. p. 30 F. Capt. vice Cox, exch. 18th do. Barrallier, fm. h. p. 71 F. Capt. vice Magennis, 28 F. F. 19th do. H. Grimes, Ensign, vice Cornwall, 24 do. ton, 81 F. G. Strangways, Ens. do. 74 not, 4 F. 75 Lt. Baldwin, fm. h. p. 14 F. Lt. vice Payne, exch. do. 81 -Horton, fm. 71 F. Capt. by purch. vice Bowles, ret. 5th do. THE dry weather which prevailed throughout the harvest months was succeeded on the 16th October by heavy rains; on the 22d, the rain that fell amounted to near an inch in depth, and the whole rain that has fallen since our last amounts to nearly three inches, yet, from the previous very dry state of the ground, it is still (in general) in excellent condition for being turned over by the plough; indeed, breaking up stubble lands is now nearly over, and on light soft soils, we observe some that has already received the seed furrow. On strong black lands farmers are ploughing in the dung with the first furrow, for potatoes; and on high grounds, some clover ley has received the oat seed furOn tenacious soils this operation cannot properly be entered upon till the season is much farther advanced; and farmers are now quite at leisure, and can attend to the thrashing out, and disposing of their grain, with due deliberation. row. The thermometer has ranged between 30° and 50° Fahrenheit for these four weeks past; though it stood several times below the freezing point, yet hoar frosts have not been so frequent, or severe, as is usual at this season. In low lying swamps, vegetation has certainly received a slight check, but in high airy situations, the tenderest plants have hitherto suffered no injury. Turnips have improved much in size since the date of our last, and being for the most part later than usual, they still continue in a growing state. Cattle continue to receive a considerable part of their food on pastures, a circumstance something favourable for hill farmers, whose stock of fodder has been rather deficient, both in barley and oat straw. About the beginning of the present month, grain experienced a slight rise in price, but last weck markets have become rather dull. Cattle have lately met with a brisker sale at some of the northern markets than was expected, and dealers have bought up largely for Hallow Fair. Sheep have also improved in price. Potatoes sell at low prices, occasioned, perhaps, by an expected demand for the London market, which induced many to plant more than the usual breadth, but the demand from the south has not, this season, been nearly to the expected amount. The appearance of young wheat is everywhere most flattering, and seems to be about the same stage of forwardness as at this period last season. 14th November 1820. VOL. VII. 30 |