FOREIGN

FRANCE.

M. Ravez has been appointed President of the Chamber of Deputies. Party spirit, out of doors, runs, if possible, higher than ever since the rejection of M. Gregoire. The present Royalists have not all come with clean hands out of the revolution, any more than their adversaries; and hence private history is raked up on both sides with malignant industry. M. Laine, for instance, now an ardent RoyalIst, is charged with having been the courtier and flatterer of the notorious Camba, ceres in 1808, and with having paraded the streets of Bourdeaux in a red jacobin cap in 1793.

A circular has been addressed by the Marquess de Latour Maubourgh, the Minister of War, to the Lieutenant-Generals, &c. commanding divisions, and to Colonels of regiments, complaining of the circulation of seditious publications amongst the soldiers in several garrisons, and directing the utmost vigilance to be used to prevent this evil, and to maintain discipline and subordination.

On Dce. 20, M. Roy, the Minister of Finance, submitted to the Chamber of Deputies a projet for authorising the provisional collection of six-twelfths of the direct taxes for the ensuing year, which was ordered to be referred to the Bureaux. The Minister afterwards went into a detailed explanation of certain heads of the finances, beginning with the subject of arrears still unliquidated. He announced, that the total expense uuder the Budget of 1818, ending 1st Sept. 1819, was 1,415,688,762 francs; and the deficit of ways and means, 35,854,351 f. to be borrowed from the resources of the present year. Next, that during the four years, 1815, 16, 17, 18, the expenditure which France had to bear, was 4,144,000,000f. (upwards of 43,000,0001. sterling per annum ;) of which only about 120,000. is wanting to complete the means of discharging every part of her engagements; and this sum is already provided for from collateral sources. This highly-favourable declaration produced a lively movement of satisfaction among the Deputies. Of the above sum, more than three-fourths were furnished by taxation; the remainder only by credit. The sole trace of the past misfortunes of France will be the debt which she has contracted; and of that above 14,000,000 have already been paid off; besides which, there is an unimpaired and accumulating Sinking Fund. M. Roy finished by pledging his word to the Chamber, that there is nothing in the present situation of the finances, or in the prospects connected with them, which leads to anticipate any obsta

cles toward realizing all the blessings of which the harmony that he recommends to them ought to be productive.

The most recent French Journals bring the result of an important discussion in the Chamber of Deputies on the projet of the Ministers for a provisional grant of one half of the taxes for the current year. It appears, that, the projet being referred to a Committee, they recommended that only four twelfths be granted, instead of sixtwelfths. This suggestion was supported hy M. la Bourdonnaye, who opened the debate, and who argued that the Ministry were deserving of no confidence, and were therefore to be trusted as little as possible. M. Froc de la Boulaye, who followed, confined his speech entirely to the question; contending, that the finances of France were in a situation to excite the envy of their enemies, and to exalt them in the estimation of their friends; he voted for the six-twelfths. M. Mechin, on the other hand, maintained, that when constitutional rights were called in question, it was not a moment to give new arms to power. Roy, the Minister of Finance, argued, that this measure was rendered absolutely necessary by the rejection last Session of the Financial project proposed by the Minis

ters.

M.

M. Demarcay was so ill disposed to place any confidence whatever in the Ministers, that he proposed to reduce the grant to two-twelfths. The Count de Cazes, in explanation, in allusion to those who, as he said, pretended to be the exclusive defenders of liberty, observed, that liberty could only exist by means of the Throne, and with it. M. Manuel, admitting that a constitutional Throne was the true support of liberty, advised the Ministers not to forget, that, without liberty, there would no longer be any solid support for the Throne. The discussion having been closed, there appeared in favour of the projet, 137; against it, 79; majority, 58. The projet was therefore adopted.

The Paris papers of the 29th and 30th have been received. On the 28th, the Chamber of Peers agreed to the Projet de Loi for the provisional collection of sixtwelfths of the taxes, according to the assessments of 1819.

After this business had been dispatched, a Report was made by the Committee of Petitious. One of the petitions, from a Sieur de Vincens, praying that the law of the 16th January, 1816, which banished the Regicides, might be repealed as unconstitutional, incurred the high indignation of the Peers; which they manifested by ordering the petition to be taken out of the Chamber and torn to pieces: and it was further resolved, on the motion of

Marshal

The King of Sweden has ordered 100 medals to be struck in gold, silver, and copper, in honour of 100 individuals of all nations who have contributed to the civilization and improvement of mankind. ASIA.

The Prime Minister of the late King of Candy is now a prisoner in the fort of Colombo, at Ceylon; his name is Ellepoley, a fine intelligent-looking man, and pos sessed of considerable talents: his title is that of an Adajar. Others of the Candian chief people have been sent to the Isle of France, in the Liverpool frigate; and many inferior ones are in prison in different parts of the Island of Ceylon. The King of Candy has been a prisoner at Vellore, on the Continent of India, some time.

Accounts from Mauritius describe the slave trade as carried on there to a very great extent; and that quite in defiance of public authorities.

Madras Gazettes to the 21st of August have been received. The principal inhabitants of this Presidency held a public meeting; at which it was resolved, among other marks of their high estimation of the services of the Governor General, to present him with a diamond star. The Noble Marquis, however, with a rare spirit of disinterestedness, has declined this splendid testimonial of their regard, and expressed himself contented with the intention of thus manifesting it. The Noble Marquis had been slightly indisposed.Sir T. Hislop arrived at Madras on the 29th June. The Marchioness of Hastings arrived at Calcutta on the 19th of June, in the Company's ship Waterloo; having sailed from England on the 2d of last March.

AMERICA and the WEST INDIES.

Advices from Halifax, of the 18th November, state, that on the 11th of that month, the Naval Hospital in that town was consumed by fire, owing to the carelessness of one of the nurses, who unhap. pily fell a victim to the flames. Fortunately, there was but one patient in the hospital, and he escaped. The loss is estimated at 48,000 dollars.

Halifax papers to the 5th inst. inform us, that the Earl of Dalhousie had received his appointment to be GovernorGeneral of his Majesty's dominions in North America, in the room of the late Duke of Richmond. Lieut.-General Sir James Kempt succeeds the Earl of Dalhousie as Governor of Nova Scotia.

Letters from New Orleans to the 25th November state, that the fever of that place, although somewhat mitigated in its malignity, still raged; making the town, as it were, a grave-yard. The sextons of that city, in a report to the Mayor, state, that upwards of 1,200 bodies were deposited in the grave-yards in the course of 60 days.

Letters from St. Thomas, of the 27th, with inclosures from Margarita, of the 9th October, mention, that great disease prevailed in Margarita; where Gen. English bad died, as well as several other British.

Nov. 23. AWFUL STORM AT MONTREAL. The dark and thick weather which was experienced in this city some time back, it appears from the Papers, extended throughout the United States, as well as the neighbouring provinces. In the district of Maine, the darkness was very great at times, during which period there were occasional peals of thunder and very vivid lightning. The appearance of the firmament was awfully grand and terrific, which excited unpleasant sensations, and gave rise to the most fearful apprehensions in the minds of many persons. In Montreal also, the darkness was very great, particularly on a Sabbath morning, the

whole

whole atmosphere appeared as covered with a thick haze of a dingy orange colour, during which, rain fell of a dark inky appearance, and apparently impregnated with some black substance, resembling soot. At this period many conjectures were afloat, among which, that a volcano had broken out in some distant quarter. The weather after this became pleasant, until the Tuesday following, when, at 12 o'clock, a heavy damp vapour enveloped the whole city, when it became necessary to light candles in all the houses; the stalls of the butchers were also lighted. The appearance was awful and grand in the extreme. A little before three o'clock, a slight shock of an earthquake was felt, accompanied with a noise, resembling the distant discharge of artillery. It was now that the increasing gloom engrossed universal attention; at twenty minutes past three, when the darkness seemed to have reached its greatest depth, the whole city was instantaneously illuminated by the most vivid flash of lightning ever witnessed in Montreal, immediately followed by a peal of thunder, so loud and near, as to shake the strongest buildings to their foundations, which was followed by other peals, and accompanied by a heavy shower of rain of the colour above described.After four P. M. the heavens began to assume a brighter appearance, and fear gradually to subside. Between four and five, it was discovered that the steeple of the French Church in Notre Dame-street was on fire; the flames were seen issuing from the top of the spire, which, through the haze, had the appearance of a lighthouse seen far at sea. A small engine was taken up the steeple, and the fire extinguished after great exertions, between eight and nine at night. At eight o'clock, the iron crucifix fell with a most tremendous crash, and broke in several pieces.

In "Warden's Account of the United States," under the head of "New Hampshire," is the following passage in reference to the Constitution of that State :"As all political institutions are liable to injury from gradual changes and encroachments, it is provided, that the Constitution of this State shall, every seven years, be submitted to the revision of the whole qualified voters, that it may be purged of any abuses that have crept in, and brought back to its first principles." It thus appears, that our American brethren have a Septennial Reform: but Mr. Warden does not state how this purgation has hitherto operated.

Accounts have been received from Valparaiso of the 15th August. An express had just reached that place from Buenos Ayres, with news that a Spanish squadron, consisting of two ships of the line and three frigates, had been discovered off the Cape de Verd Islands, on the 30th June, destined

for Lima. This information had created a considerable sensation at Valparaiso; and it was determined, that the expedi. tion under Lord Cochrane, having on board 4 000 Congreve rockets, should put to sea as soon as possible, in order to make a second attack on Lima, previous to the arrival of the squadron above-mentioned; and it was expected that it would get under weigh by the 2d of September. His Lordship had shewn himself extremely well inclined to the British interest in those seas; and, by his advice, the Government of Chili had allowed all British vessels to go in and out of the ports on the south-west coast, under blockade, while those of other nations were not allowed to have any intercourse whatever with them. Trade, it is said, was improving at Valparaiso, where there was a pretty considerable quantity of specie collected; a portion of which was destined for this country, but was detained from the want of proper conveyances.

Some of the American papers are full of complaints and menaces against Lord Cochrane, for having confiscated a large sum in dollars (142,000ds.), being the proceeds of the cargo of the American brig Macedonian, which had been sold, as is alleged, at Lima, to the Spanish Phillippine Company. The American Captain, on getting away from Lord Cochrane, asserts, that his Lordship kept him a prisoner until he had signed a certificate that the money was Spanish property; although he (the Captain) had repeatedly assued his Lordship that it belonged to American citizens.Documents, it is said, substantiating this statement, had been transmitted to the American Vice-Cons at Valparaiso.

Accounts from Ro Janeiro, of the 6th of October, state, at the inhabitants of Monte Video, under the apprehension of Spain dispatchingan expedition to the river Plate, sent adeputation to the king of the Brazils, to know if they were to be given up to Spin. The King, in return, assured them of their perfect security under the Portuguese Government.

The Jamala papers contain a narrative of another pedition by M'Gregor, which failed, no 1ss disgracefully than that of Porto Belle The present relation is signed by a few othe surviving victims of an illjudged aack upon Rio de la Hache, a town of Nw Granada, to the westward of the Gulff Maracaybo. With 200 men, the remant of more than 1,200 brave Euglish oldiers, who had mostly perished throughunger or disease, M'Gregor sailed fronAux Cayes for the above mentioned Spaish town. The place was gained, thoug with the loss of nearly one-third of our ufortunate countrymen; and lost after very few days; when hardly one of them scaped the edge of the sword. The Comander-in-Chief remained on board his sp until after the first action ended,

and

and betook himself to sea again before the second began; never having seen blood drawn, nor heard a shot fired throughout the whole expedition. Eight officers, including Col.Norcott, who had hitherto bravely headed the troops, abandoned their unworthy leader at Rio de la Hache, and published the statement to which we refer; as a protest against the conduct of M'Gregor, and an exposure of his character and pretensions to the world.-Killed, Wounded, and Missing.-Major Atkinson, Lieuts. Middleton and Halpin, and 20 rank and

file killed.-Col. De Lima, Col. Beridge, and Capt. Metosa; Lieuts. West, Upton, Gahan, Moran, Lafey, Cray, Cavannah, Mitchell, Mullion, and Suter, and Adjutant Smith, and 31 rank and file, wounded.— Capt. Maher, Lieut. Conway, and 4 rank and file, missing.

Letters from Jamaica, Oct. 23, represent the late sickness in that island as more severe than any felt for twenty years pasttroops lost, 500 rank and file, exclusive of officers.

INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS

PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. It is reported, that the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Egerton has contracted for a freehold mansion-honse at Little Gaddesden, near Ashridge, in order to deposit there his celebrated collection of Original Manuscripts, known as "The Ashridge Collection, MSS. Francis Henry Egerton."

The following particulars, respecting the mode of living usual with the weavers of Glasgow and the neighbourhood, are curious and interesting. They were communicated to Sir John Sinclair by Mr. James Boaz, accomptant in Glasgow:

"Weavers and their families have long been accustomed to make potatoes the bulkiest part of their food, and in the present state of ther business hundreds can get little else. Oatmeal porridge, or pease broth, with butter-milk, or swatts, formed their breakfast and supper; but potatoes being cheaper, many now substitute them for the former, at least br supper. Herrings, cod, or ling fish, sometimes flesh and broth, with potatoes or oat cakes, used to be their dinner; but many are now occasionally at a loss to get even potatos and salt. This has much decreased the consumption of oatmeal, and few now ever get the luxury of wheaten bread. There re great numbers, however, who still make a tea or coffee breakfast, with bread and butter. When dinner-time comes, ea or coffee again, with red or white herrags, or other animal food, if they can get t; and potatoes with salt, or porridge, orsowens and butter-milk to supper. But te. and sugar are so dear, that to make the meal at all comfortable, stretches the feebleneans too much. That fare, however, haing once become habitual with many, ad being more exhilarating, cannot by all be given up. Oatmeal is at present abou 17d. or 18d. per peck, or 2d. per pound voirdupois; from six to eight ounces wll make a good plateful of porridge for a vorking man, which, with salt, butter-milk,butter, or treacle, may cost in all, say d. A

man may live on 21 such meals for 2s. 8d. per week."

It is positively asserted, that there are at this time projects in embryo for ploughing land by means of steam. The late J. Watt, Esq. frequently gave it as his opinion, that this could be effected without any great difficulty.

An American ship, which lately put into Cowes, reports, that Mr. Cobbett, in selecting the relics of Thomas Paine, in America, has made a great mistake; for, instead of bringing the bones of Paine, be has brought the remains of a negro !

DARTMOOR.-Notice has been given of the intention of the Chief Justice of Chester, to bring in a Bill for supplying the poor of the metropolis, and a certain district round it, with employment and subsistence. The plan, we understand, is to form a joint-stock company, with an extensive capital to procure an act of incorporation-and with provisions to settle all claims of right to pasturage, &c.—to convert Dartmoor prison into a metropolitan school, to which the London parishes may send their children, who, in addition to the common elements of education, will be employed in the several processes of preparing and manufacturing flax-and who, when they arrive at the age of manhood, may have allotments of the moor, on lease, to establish themselves in the husbandry they have been taught-the produce of their own labour while apprentices. being bestowed on them, as a capital with which to set out. The forest of Dartmoor, containing more than 60,000 acres, is parcel of the duchy of Cornwall, settled by Edward I. on the Prince of Wales, and on all future eldest sons of the King, who were to have the title of Dukes of Cornwall. The improvement of this track of land has been often contemplated. It was proposed to the Council of his Royal Highness by Mr. Robt. Fraser, nearly 30 years ago, but the project was abandoned. Mr. Fraser made a survey of the Forest thirty years ago, but since that time much practical improve

ment

ment has taken place in husbandry,' through the application of chemical knowledge to the melioration of soils. The use of lime, in particular, has been proved to convert bogs and marshes into productive land; and, wherever lime can be procured on easy terms, its efficacy in improving peat and turfy soils is sovereign. It is, we understand, upon this manure, that the present hope of redeeming Dartmoor from sterility is founded. Experience has been made of its efficacy for the last two years, by Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, who has thereby produced a crop of valuable flax, for which he has received the thanks and the medal of the Bath Agricultural Society.

OCCURRENCES IN LONDON
AND ITS VICINITY.
Monday, Dec. 13.

An accident occurred, which originated in a false alarm of fire having been given at the house of Mr. Duff, dyer, &c. East Smithfield. It appeared, that the niece of Mr. Duff awoke from a sleep very much terrified, having dreamt that the house was on fire.

She shrieked very loud, the moment she was awakened, "Fire, fire!" and her cries awoke Mr. Duff, who slept in an adjoining room. He, supposing her bed-clothes were on fire, ran down stairs without satisfying himself of the truth of his apprehensions, and procured a pail of He ran up stairs with it; and, by some accident, his foot slipped, and he fell down from the top of the stairs to the bottom, broke his neck, and died immediately. Friday, Dec. 17.

water.

The London Sessions were compelled to adjourn, through the non-attendance of sufficient Aldermen to form a Court. Recorder, Jury, Counsel, and witnesses, all accordingly departed; and six prisoners, to be tried for assaults, were remanded till Jan. 12, unless they could procure bail. Saturday, Dec. 18.

In the Sheriff's Court, Bedford-row, Compton v. Winkworth, a jury was sworn to assess damages against the defendant, who had suffered judgment to pass by default, for breach of promise of marriage. Winkworth was a linen-draper, residing at Guildford; and the plaintiff the daughter of a farmer, living with her mother, carrying on her deceased husband's farm: both parties at the time were under 21. It appeared, that matters had proceeded even to purchasing the wedding-ring; when defendant, without any cause, broke off the match. Numerous letters of defendant were read, some affording choice specimens of accurate spelling and delicate sentiment. Of the former, we give a few examples-has foras'-juel for 'jewel'-know for no-no for know'sole and soal for soul'schocking for shocking,' GENT. MAG. Suppl. LXXXIX. Part II. '

H

and scrall for scrawl.'-One letter, which was dated Guildford, October 11, 1817, concluded as follows:

"I love you to my very heart and soal. I love you more and more every time I see you, my love. You are the sweetest of women, my life, my Angle, my lovliest Girl, and my precious Lamb. I love you, my Dear H. as true I sit by the Fire-side. If you have no time, look your things out for the bearer, please send them by your boy. With love, and remain, your's sincerely, "W. WINKWORTH."

"P. S. Your sweet handwriting is wanting; hope you will oblige me with it; if not, I shall be very low-spirited. My dear girl, hearken to me,

"If you loves I, has I loves you, "'no knife shall cut our love in two." "Saturday Night, 12 o'clock, a few kisses."

The jury gave their verdict, damages300l.

Wednesday, Dec. 22.

This morning, a young woman, named Ann Wilkins, who lived cook in the family of Mr. Coomb, of Cloak-lane, Dowgatehill, Common Councilman for the Ward of Walbrook, threw herself out of the third floor back-window into the yard of the adjoining house, and was dashed to pieces. Thursday, Dec. 23.

In the Court of King's Bench, Lord Ranelagh was found guilty of having applied several offensive epithets to Counsellor Adolphus, for the purpose of provoking him to fight a duel. The circumstances of this case arose out of a late trial at the Middlesex Sessions.

Friday, Dec. 31.

It appears by a return which has just been laid before Parliament, that the number of male and female pauper children, resident and non-resident, between the ages of six and sixteen, who were on the books of the several parishes within the bills of mortality, as chargeable to each parish respectively, on the 5th day of May, 1819, amounts to 13,430. The resident pauper children, are 7,087; the non-resident, 6,343. From twenty-eight parishes no return had been made.

THEATRICAL REGISTER.
New Pieces.

DRURY LANE THEATRE.

Dec. 27. Jack and the Bean-stalk; or, Harlequin and the Ogre, a Pantomime. Neither one of the best nor one of the worst that we have witnessed of these Christmas gambols.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. Dec. 27. Harlequin and Don Quixote; or, Sancho Panza in his Glory, a Pantomime. Nearly on a par with the above.

PRO