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Does he not wander, and with sadd'ning To see no lord claim, as a rightful prize, face, [trace? A tythe bis hand bestows, but heart deThese last remains of native grandeur nies; See Nature beauteous, and indulgent, shine,

Aud man, himself, amidst her works decline!

See his bright plains invite him to ordain, The meed of culture with the hope of gain;

Ah, hopeless gain-ah, unpropitious toil, Where pamper'd Priesthood fattens on the soil!

If wandering where with antient ruins spread,

The Capitol once rear'd its august head,... Prone by some prostrate plinth, whose carv'd design [line, Of fabled history, swells the sculptor'd He lies his senses steep'd in Slavery's dream, [stream: Hears thus the genius of old Tiber's "Art thou a son begot of Roman sires? Whose vestal daughters kept the sacred fires;

Whose sons, when freemen, oft were wont

to lave

Their nervous bodies in my ample wave;
Whose souls, too proud, ne'er bow'd be-
neath a yoke,
[stroke;

And recreant nations fear'd their lifted
An arms invincible, could only feel
The loss of freedom, not the soldier's
steel!

O base, degenerate, fallen son, redeem Thy father's freedom, or forsake my stream."

But he no more the picture of those sires, Resign'd his freedom-quench'd those sacred fires,

A servile subject, base, unfaithful, mean, And poor those virtues which his vices

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When these exist, a country still may boast

Of present blessings neither sold nor lost; May rise and flourish, and long hope to

save,

Their name, and honour, from Destruction's grave.

I turn from Italy; on Fancy's wings, Above the sphere of sublunary things, Imagination soars; dear to my sight Earth still appears amidst the realms of light;

Lo! what is that, on which the sunbeams rest? [breast, That beauteous pendant on old ocean's I see !-around its verge white breakers curl'd,

'Tis the sublime medallion of the world! I know that image in its compass seen, My Island Mother's own benignant mien. Dear as her smile, which once my youth [bless'd;

caress'd,

As her whose care my years of childhood Enchas'd with rocks, and girdled with its strand

That miniature of earth is ALBION's land; This is the spot, or habitable space; This is the nook of most distinguish'd grace!

My birth-place, and my cradle, and my home!

Here spent my childhood-here may be my tomb

Albion my fancy roves to other climes, Contrasts thy beauty, and regrets thy crimes,

Yet is no spot of earth so dear to me,
No place belov'd of Heaven so much as

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Extract from

"ISABEL OF THE ISLES," A Poem preparing for publication. By W. C. H. ALLEN *.

HEARD ye that sound! Gramercie,

hark,

'Twas not the sullen watch-dog's bark,
Nor hollow shriek of boding owl,
Nor the wild fox's distant howl,
Nor murmur of the rising gale,
Tho' on it's wing their mingled wail,
Thro' the dull air pass'd faintly by,
When tho' but now it glinted high,
Sunk down the pale benighted moon,
And toll'd the chime of elve's dark noon.
But 'twas a sound so deep, so dread,
"Twixt death-like groan, and murmur bred,
It seem'd not as of mortal birth,
Nor breath'd with breath of aught on earth,
And you might deem from nether bound,
The yawning grave sent forth the sound.

The gale is past, and all is still,
And silence settles on the hill;
Nor aught its aweful slumber breaks,
Nor the dull ear of midnight wakes,
Save in the Lady's secret bower,

A sob, and stifled sigh,

And round Sir Williams aged bower,
The black bat flying by.

For the Lady has heard the unearthly

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moan,

And her heart throbs fast with fear,

For their soul must be lead, and their hearts of stone,

Who quailed not that sound to bear: And low is the Ladye's bended knee,

And low is the Ladye's head,
And clasp'd are her hands in agonie,
Good saints and angels, I pray her speed,
While Ave she murmurs, with many a bead,
To holy St. Mary for help in need.

The last light dropping circlet fell,
The Ladye ceased her vows to tell,
And anxious listening fear suppress'd
The flutter of her beating breast:
'Twas solemn silent stillness all,
You might have heard the cricket call,
One moment and no more :
For then a moaning wind 'gan creep,
Aud slowly swept the rocky steep,
And round the battlements it pass'd;
It was a chill and sullen blast,

And such a sound it bore,
As if upon the hollow gale,

Came murder'd infant's dying wail,
And the death-groan and mortal throe,
Of one 'neath foeman's deadly blow;
And aweful things that night were heard,
And seen strange sights of portent wind,
And on the breeze was still.
Untouch'd the bell in turret toll'd,
Scream'd the dun owlet from her hold,
One shriek the waken'd lapwing gave,
And dog-fox from his lonely cave

Faint auswer'd on the hill!

*See Literary Intelligence.

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Have increas'd all the charms of their beautiful bowers ?

Can I leave and for ever! this home of my heart, [woe? Without my lyre waking a farewell of Tho' feeble the farewell, its plaint shall impart [go!→

Some solace to sooth me wherever I While wanders my eye o'er these lines in my sorrow, [shall live! Dear scenes of my happiness, here ye Your shades and your solitude Mem'ry shall borrow,

That the past may improve what the future can give,

Tho' dim the eye now, as it tenderly traces, With a lingering look, the fair Eden in

view,

A bright beam of pleasure, the tear-drop effaces, [it adieu !When I think of the spot where I bade The strong chain of feeling no time can e'er sever, [her cell; While Memory mournfully breaks from And the days that are gone must be dear [farewell!

to me ever,

Yet I smile, when I think of my latest The sun, o'er the cedar, and blossoming flowers, [and a tear; Look'd doubtfully down, 'twixt a smile Then burst into splendour-like happier hours, [hours were near! And it seem'd to foretel that those In the rose-cover'd arbour, sweet scene of past pleasures, [store,

I counted the blessings my heart had in And it bounding replied, as I dwelt on the treasures, [murmur no more." "Thy friends still are left thee, then "Tho' 'tis the last look, where thine eye now reposes, [beauties combine; Where Taste and where Nature their Tho' blossom for others those bright blushing roses, [shall press thine! The dear hand that planted them, still And the hearts that have lov'd thee remain to thee yet;

Their truth feels no blight, from the cold

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HISTORICAL CHRONICLE.

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 2. In a Committee of Supply, Sir G. Warrender moved the sum of 2,483,013l. 12s.7d. for the ordinary establishment of the Navy.

Mr. Calcraft reprobated the reduction of the Navy, whilst a Land Force of 100,000 men was kept up. He also blamed the economy recommended by the Finance Committee with regard to the Naval Asylum, whilst no reduction was recommended as to the Military Colleges and Asylums.

Sir M. W. Ridley made some observations in a similar strain, and objected to the retaining of the two Lay Lords, and more than one Secretary, of the Admiralty. He moved an amendment, making a reduction of 200,000/, on the estimate.

After some observations from Sir G. Warrender, Lord Compton, Mr. F. Douglas, and Sir G. Cockburn, the amendment was negatived by 164 to 97, and the original resolution was carried.

t

The remaining sums for the Navy, and those for the Ordnance, were then voted, after some conversation on several of the items.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved for a grant of 8,595,600%. in Exchequer bills, to pay off an equal sum charged on last year's supplies, and now unprovided for.

Mr. Grenfell repeated his argument in favour of applying the Sinking Fund to the supplies of the year, and contended, that had this course been followed with regard to the loans of 1813, 14, and 15, the saving to the publick would have been about 6,000,000%.

Mr. C. Grant obtained leave to bring in a Bill to ensure an easier and better administration of justice in the Court of Chancery in Ireland; and another for a similar purpose, with regard to the Irish Court of Exchequer.

Lord Althorp moved the second reading of the Insolvent Debtors' Bill.

Mr. Alderman Waithman said, the present subject was one of the utmost importance. In the course of four years, persons had been discharged whose debts had amounted to teu millions; and the Act had wholly failed in its operations, as upon the sum of ten millions, only 60,000l. 'had been received in the shape of dividends.

June 3,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer submitted to the House, in a Committee on Public Income and Expenditure, the following resolutions:

and other taxes in Great Britain and Ireland, which yielded a revenue of upwards of 18,000,000l. per annum, have expired, or been repealed or reduced.

"That by an Act passed in the 56th Geo. III. c. 98, the revenues of Great Britain and Ireland were consolidated from the 5th of January, 1817; and that in the year preceding the said consolidation, the net separate revenue of Ireland was 4,561,3534, and the charge of the funded and unfunded debt of Ireland was 6,446,8257., including therein the sum of 2,434,124/. as the sinking fund applicable to the reduction of the debt, which charge exceeded the whole net revenue of Ireland by the sum of 1,885,4727., without affording any provision for the civil list and other permanent charges, or for the proportion of supplies to be defrayed by that part of the united kingdom; and that no provision has been made by Parliament to supply this deficiency.

"That the supplies to be voted for the present year by Parliament may be estimated at 20,500,000%.

"That the existing revenue applicable to the supplies cannot be estimated at more than 7,000,000/. leaving the sum of 13,500,000l. to be raised by loan, or other extraordinary resource.

"That the sinking fund applicable to the national debt in the present year may be estimated at about 15,500,000., exceeding the above sum necessary to be raised for the service of the year by about 2,000,000l. only.

"That to provide for the exigencies of the public service, to make such progressive reduction of the national debt as may adequately support public credit, and to afford to the country a prospect of future relief from a part of its present burdens, it is absolutely necessary that there should be a clear surplus of the income of the country, beyond the expenditure of not less than 5,000,000l.; and that with a view to the attainment of this important object, it is expedient now to increase the income of the country by the imposition of taxes to the amount of 3,000,000l. per ann.",

Mr. Mellish presented a petition from certain merchants, ship-owners, &c. in Poplar, Limehouse, and Ratcliffe-Highway, against the Foreign Enlistment Bill.

The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Foreign Enlistment Bill. The motion was strenuously opposed by Sir R. Wilson (who moved to postpone the second reading for six months), Mr. Denman, Mr. F. Douglas, Mr. Marryat, and Mr. M'Donald; and supported by the Atin 1815, the Property-tax in Great Britain, torney General, Mr. Wynn, Sir C. Robin

"That since the termination of the war

son,

son, and Lord Castlereagh. On a division, the amendment was negatived, and the original motion carried by 155 to 42. The Bill was then read a second time.

The House, in a Committee, agreed to the resolutions proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, allowing of a composition for the Assessed Taxes, in lieu of any further surcharge, at the rate of 5 per cent, for houses and windows, and 10 per cent. for household establishments.

After a debate on the Frame-work Knitters' Bill, a motion for committing it was carried by 37 to 15.

June 7.

Lord Cranbourn brought up the Sale of Game Bill, which was read the first time.

The House then went into a Committee on the Public Income, &c. Mr. Vansittart addressed the Committee at some length, in support of the resolutions which he had submitted on the 3d inst. (see p. 69.) The revenue, after applying the produce of the Sinking Fund to the service of the year, would afford only a surplus of about 2,000,000%. as an operative sinking fund. This, he contended, was too small a sum to satisfy the public creditor, preserve the stability and dignity of the country, provide for such emergencies as might arise, and hold out to the publick any prospect of the smallest relief from their present burdens. He proposed to raise this sum to 5,000,000l. by additional taxation to the amount of 3,000,000. The details of this measure would more properly come under consideration in the Committee of Ways and Means. He would at present only state that he looked to the consolidation of certain duties of customs, including a duty on foreign wool, for 500,000l. The next resource was a malt tax. The repeal of the war tax upon malt had been expected to benefit agriculture, to increase the revenue by an increased consumption, and also to lower the price of beer, a beverage of so much importance to the labouring classes. In all the three points the expectation had wholly failed. With respect to beer, it was now at as high a price as when the tax was highest upon malt. He proposed, therefore, to lay upon malt one half of the war duty, that was 1s. 2d. per bushel. This would afford a justification for the present price of beer, but no justification for a higher price. He here begged to refer to a most important statement in the Report of a Committee which had inquired into this subject last year. A gentleman of the highest respectability, and of the greatest professional experience on the subject-he meant Mr. Barclayhad given evidence that in May, last year, malt was 81s. per quarter, and hops 247. to 251. per cwt. At present malt was only 63s. per quarter, and hops 87. to 107.

He

He

per.cwt. The brewing of a quarter of malt, which in May last year cost 94.16s. 8d. would now cost only 6l. 17s. 4d. proposed to take 9s. 4d. for the publick, leaving a difference of 21. 9s. in favour of the brewer. From, this tax he calculated upon a revenue of 1,400,000. By an additional tax on British spirits he hoped to raise 500,000, on tobacco 500,0007., on coffee and cocoa 130,000., ou tea 130,000Z., and pepper 30,000l. The total, then, of the increased taxes, would be 3,190,000l.; but, making an allowance for incidental deficiencies in collection, he would estimate it at 3,000,000l. He did not expect that these taxes could be made available for the present year; but in the course of the next, and the following year, much good might be expected. It had been thought that great diminution in the revenue would take place, ou account of the stagnation of trade. The quarter ending the 5th of April, had an increase of 200,0007.; but that of the present quarter, amounted to 107,000l. of a decrease compared to the amount of last quarter. was not so very sanguine as to say, that there would be immediately any very great improvement, but he did believe that there would not be found any further diminution. The alarm which was recently raised about the approaching resumption of cash-payments had already subsided. It was found that the fears which that measure had created were unfounded, and in consequence industry had returned, and our revenue would be restored. He admitted that the imposition of new taxes brought with it the strongest obligation to economy, and he intended to propose a resolution, calling upon the Executive Government to adhere to it in the strictest sense. (Loud cries of hear, hear, from the Opposition benches.) The effects of the calls to this effect had been already seen one of them could not be denied; it was the diminution of expence in the collection and management of the public revenue. Many improvements had been made, and though all that had been suggested could not be carried into effect in the course of the present Session, yet such au amelioration might be expected in the course of a little time as would be productive of the best results. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving (in addidition to the former resolutions (in p. 69.)

"That with a view of accelerating the period at which relief may be afforded to the country from a part of its burdens, a continued and vigilant superintendance ought to be exercised over the expenditure of the State in all its several departments, and that a minute investigation should be instituted into the mode and expence of management and collection in the several branches of the revenue, in order that every reduction may be made therein

therein which can be effected without detriment to the public interest."

The whole of the resolutions were then read, and on the question being put on the first of them,

Mr. Tierney addressed the Committee. They now saw what was the boasted flourishing state of the country. With a debt of 800,000,000l. we had only 2,000,000/. applicable as a sinking fund, and to raise that to 5,000,000%. it was necessary to lay on an already overburthened and distressed people 3,000,000l. more of taxes; and to crown all, this was represented to be for the stock-holder's benefit; and he was to incur the odium of the measure, at a time that a breach of faith was committed with regard to him, by depriving him of his former security to the extent of 13,000,000l. a year. He would not consent to new taxes until every possible retrenchment had been made. An Administration which made economy their object might save at least 1,000,0007. a year to the country. He expected nothing of the sort from the present Ministers. They would not part even with the patronage of two Lords of the Admiralty. If they were sincere in their expectations of a long peace, let them show it by further reductions in our military establishments. The expences of many of our colonies might be diminished; a consolidation of offices under the revenue might take place, and the office of a third Secretary of State, as he (Mr. Tierney) had once proposed, might be entirely abolished. The necessity of a Board of Controul might also be taken into consideration. Might not it be also adviseable to look at the Horse Guards; and to consider the necessity of having a Secretary at War in a time of profound peace ? "But then," say the supporters of the present system, "if these reduc tions are made, no Administration can possibly stand.” He maintained, that any Administration which owed its continuance in power to such support as this extravagance supplied, ought not to stand for a single moment. He should not go into the detail of the proposed taxes, objecting, as he did, to the levying of any, under existing circumstances. He concluded with moving the previous question.

proaching wave. If Parliament withdrew its confidence from the present Ministers, let them not hesitate a moment in carrying that opinion to the foot of the throne. They would be base, indeed, to think of continuing in office, if they were denied the means of meeting the difficulties in which the country found itself placed. But this question had been decided when the House of Commons had had the courage to declare, by its vote, that it placed more reliance on the measures of Ministers than on the speeches of their antagonists.

In the sequel of the discussion, the previous question was supported by Mr. Brougham, Mr. J. H. Smythe, Mr. Scarlet, Mr. C. Calvert, Mr. Calcraft, Mr. M'Donald, and Mr. R. Martin; and the original resolutions by Mr. Huskisson, Mr. Bankes, and Mr. Canning.

On a division, the amendment was negatived by 329 to 132. The resolutions were agreed to.

June 3.

On the motion of Mr. M. A. Taylor, a Select Committee was appointed to inquire into the practicability of constructing Steam-engines in such a manner as to make them consume their own Smoke, in order to prevent the injurious effects to health from the numerous steam-engines in the metropolis.

The House having gone into a Committee on the Slave Registry Act, Mr. Goulburn moved that the Chairman should ask leave to bring in a Bill, establishing

some

new regulations on this subject. The plan to be proposed was, that there should be an office in this country, in which duplicates should be lodged of the number of slaves in each colony; that an individual should be appointed for its superintendance; that power of reference to the duplicates in this office should be given to all parties; and that on the removal of slaves from one colony to another, certificates should be given to that effect; and that precautions should be adopted to prevent abuses of the permission given by the Act 46th of the King, to slaves to accompany their masters from one colony to another. After a short conversation, the motion was agreed to, and, on the House being resumed, leave was given to bring in the Bill.

Mr. Brogden brought up the Report of the Finance Resolutions. On the question that they be agreed to, Mr. Curwen opposed the whole plan of the Minister, and especially new taxes. He could not consent to additional burthens on his constituents, 4000 of whom, by the hardest labour of 14 hours a day, could not earn more than 5s. 9d. per week.

Lord Castlereagh, in supporting the resolutions, vindicated the conduct of Ministers. The present was not a question of party, but one between the Parliament and the country; for no country could be considered safe which did not, in time of peace, make such a progressive reduction of its debt as would enable it to meet the hazard of a future war; the burdens of one war ought not to be allowed to accumulate on those of another, until the ves sel of the state became, as it were, waterlogged, without a chance of reaching port, and dreading destruction from every ap- current services.

Sir H. Parnell objected to the proposed application of the Sinking Fund for the

Mr.

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