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There is the same contest in France as 004 in England, with respect to the inagnitude of the military establishment. Member, in speaking of the respective expenses of the two armies in this country and in France, says, that the regular forces of the British army amount, by Lord Castlereagh's statement, to 81,000 men; and the expense of their maintenance is only four millions sterling, or less than a hundred million of francs; while the French army, which is under 80,000 men, costs an hundred and thirty millions.

The Army of Occupation is to take up fresh cantonments, in order to relieve the districts in which they are now stationed.

The Duke of Wellington gave a grand masked ball on the 18th ult. which was attended by the French Princes and Princesses.

Application, it is said, has been made by the French Government to our Ministers, for issuing the usual orders to our settlements, for giving facility to an expedition under Mons. Freycinet, which consists of the Uranie frigate and a corvette, about to sail from France to finish their survey of New Holland. Of course this request will be complied with; and, it is added, that Government have come

to the determination of undertaking a similar enterprise; and have sent for that purpose a lieutenant, accompanied by two young midshipmen, who are to perform the service in one of the small vessels belonging to Port Jackson.

Several expeditions are described to be in preparation for Cayenne, and other French colonial possessions.

Alarming disturbances have been occasioned in French Flanders by the scarcity of provisions; and it has been found necessary to call in the military to preserve the public tranquillity: the British troops SENT. MAG. March, 1817.

have received the thanks of the civil authorities for their exertions.

There are two thousand English now at Boulogne; many of them persons of respectability, husbanding their fortunes.

The price of provisions at Boulogne is thus given in a letter from an officer to his friend at Christchurch, dated the 5th instant:-A leg of mutton from 74d, to 8d. per lb.; beef and pork 7d.; inferior sorts, 5d.; poultry very dear; wild fowl cheap; a good widgeon or wild duck, from 6d. to 9d.; a pair of very good soles, 10d. which is considered dear; a turbot from 81b. to 10lb. for 2s. 6d. or 3s. ; 26 eggs for 10d.; vegetables very cheap: all articles of liv ing are one-third dearer than in June 1816, NETHERLANDS.

The Princess of Orange has been delivered of a son, at Brussels. The joyful event was announced by a salute of 101 cannon. He is to take the title of Duke of Brabant.

Holland has suffered much from inandations.

The Dutch papers communicate a measure calculated to injure, if not ruin, the trade of Antwerp. A toll is ordered to be collected upon all vessels entering or leaving the Scheldt, in addition to the custom-house duties. Its weight is represented as incompatible not only with any prosperous commerce, but with any other intention than that of destroying it; for the toll is seven times greater than the freight of goods brought from a shot distance-England, for instance. The king has been petitioned, but his decision is yet unknown.

SPAIN.

From Madrid, it is stated, that the prohibition has been renewed with great seve rity against the introduction into Spain of any of the journals published in England or the Netherlands.

Private accounts represent the minds of the people as in the highest state of irtation. Every one repines at the existing system pursued by Government; and the numerous arrests for political offences, it is said, revolt the feelings of every one.

For some time past reports have prevailed, of a commotion in Valencia, which are strengthened and confirmed by the following letter:-" Pamplona, Feb. 10.

On the 24, 3d, and 4th of this month, and in the prison of this city, the torture was inflicted on Captain Olivan; who, for this purpose, was brought down from the citadel, where he had been confined during eight months, merely because he was suspected of disaffection to Government. Amid the most excruciating pangs, no other than energetic declarations of his own innocence were heard, as well as that of more than 30 other officers, confined with him under similar circumstances.In the night between the 15th

and 16th ult. a most serious commotion broke out in Valencia. From 70 to 80 persons, partly soldiers and partly private individuals, fired on the Captain-General Elio, who escaped into the fortress unhurt, with some soldiers who joined him. The cry of the people was, "Constitution and Cortes," and the troops took an active part,some in favour of the people, and others in behalf of the King. In the afternoon of the 16th, Elio received reinforcements; and on the 17th, after a long and obstinate resistance, he was enabled to restrain the progress of the people. In the contest many were killed on both sides, and many arrests were made. Several also have been executed without trial, This event has created great alarm at Court, particularly as the troops joined in favour of the people. In consequence of this, the King has ordered all the regiments to be changed from their respective quarters. Numberless arrests have again commenced in Madrid, Bilboa, Pamplona, Valencia, Valladolid, and many other parts of Spain."

ITALY.

The French negociations with the Court of Rome are reported to be broken off, and M. de Blacas to be on his way home. The Pope has restored the independence of the little Republick of Saint Marino.

Foreign papers reckon at this moment above 800 English families to be resident in the three cities of Florence, Leghorn, and Pisa. The number of young English who are receiving their education in various schools in Italy, may be estimated at 1,500.

General Maitland has arrived at Corfu, and has convened the Senate, in order to complete the administrative organization of the Island.

GERMANY.

The States of Wirtemberg were opened on the 3d inst. at Stutgard by the King in person; when' the project of the new Constitution was presented to that Body. It consists of 337 Articles, and is highly favourable to the liberty of the subject.

The Prussian Government has refused permission to the States of Lower Lusatia to assemble, on the plea that the arrangements regarding such institutions in the Prussian States are not yet completed.

The Bavarian Minister of State, Count Mon gelas, has either resigned, or been dismissed from office: he was in the Buonaparte-interest.

RUSSIA.

The Emperor of Russia has induced the Nobility of Courland to liberate their peasants. Another noble act of Alexander has been the issuing of a rescript to the Governor of Cherson in favour of the Duchobooze, a-sect of Dissenters from the Greek Church. It is as honourable to

the noble feelings and humane sympathies of the Monarch, as any public act of his life. The rescript forbids all further persecution of this sect; and asks, “Does it become a Christian Government to employ harsh and cruel means, torture and exile, to bring back into the bosom of the Church those who have gone astray? The doctrine of the Redeemer, who came into the world to save the sinner, cannot be spread by constraint and punishment. True faith can only take root with the blessing of God, by conviction, instruction, mildness, and, above all, by good example." This rescript bears a striking similitude to Trajan's celebrated letter to the younger Pliny, in consequence of the accusations preferred against the Christians; but its superiority is unquestion

able.

SWEDEN and DENMARK.

The Hamburgh Journals state, that all apprehensions of a scarcity is at an end in Denmark; and it appears that Sweden is amply supplied with corn for the present year. Bernadotte seems anxiously intent on bringing his son Oscar forward in State affairs.

TURKEY.

Accounts from Constantinople mention, that the German physician, M. Von Rosenfield, who, in the course of trying on himself the experiment of inoculation for the Plague, had been in the Lazaretto thirty-eight days, was attacked by the disorder on the thirty-ninth, and fell a victim to it.

ASIA.

Calcutta papers to the middle of October have been received. According to the latest advices from the Northern stations, an epidemic sickness had broken out in that quarter of India; at Cawnpore, eight or nine Europeans were buried daily; and all the corps cantoned there, but espe cially bis Majesty's 66th and 87th foot, have suffered exceedingly.

The Cornwall East Indiaman has ar rived in only 112 days from Canton. At her departure it was generally understood, that the Emperor of China had declined to accept the presents sent out with Lord Amherst; and that his Lordship and suite were on their way to Canton, to embark in the Alceste, and retura home. The Alceste had come down the Yellow Sea, and was lying at Canton. The cause of this failure of the embassy is thus described:-During Lord Amherst's stay at Pekin, he made various efforts to deliver his credentials to the Em peror of China; but the permission, if promised, was clogged with the necessity of submitting to certain prostrations, or other etiquettes of the Chinese Court, which Lord Amherst considered derogatory to the diguity of his Sovereign, and

which

which were waved in the embassy of Lord Macartney. Under these circumstances, Lord Amherst preferred an entire failure in the objects of his mission, to the chance of succeeding through such means as were proposed. There is another circumstance mentioned in these letters, which, we trust, may not lead to any results injurious to our trade with China. The Alceste British frigate, commanded by Captain Maxwell, for some supposed offence taken at her commanding officer, was surrounded in the river by armed boats, which threatened to intercept her supply of provisions. Capt. Maxwell, upon this, unmoored from his troublesome position, and sailed some distance up the river. The boats followed, and tormented him as before. Not satisfied with this, signal rockets were thrown up from the boats and forts on the Bogue channel. A cross fire was suddenly opened on the Alceste from the forts on each side of the stream. Capt. Maxwell moored his ship within pistol shot of one of them, mounting 40 guns, and in two broadsides be silenced both batteries. The Alceste was then quietly suffered to proceed to her destination; and, what is most singular, up to the 17th of November not the slightest notice had been taken of the affair by the Governor of Canton. [It may be proper to state, that although the above information is generally credited, it has not been received in an official form by Government.]

It has been officially announced, and formally registered in Congress, that Mr. Monroe has been duly elected President of the United States, and Mr. Tomkins Vice President, for the constitutional term of four years from the 4th of March instant.-Mr. Monroe is of what is called the democratic interest.

The New York Papers contain an Act of the American Legislature, materially affecting our commercial and shipping interest. In consequence of the exclusion of the American shipping from our West India Islands, an Act of Congress has passed, by which all British vessels, entering the ports of the United States from our Colonial possessions, are to be subject to an additional duty of two dollars

per ton.

The total exports from the United States for 1816, ending 30th September, amounted 81,920,452 dollars; of which 64,781,896

were of domestic materials, and 17,138,556 foreign.

Letters from New Orleans state, that an important battle had been fought on the road from Mexico to Vera Cruz, between the Independents and Royalists; in which the former were victorious, capturing a million of dollars and 500 prisoners. A corps of Kentucky-men, armed with rifles, and who have for some time been flocking to join the Mexican standard, are said to have greatly distinguished themselves on this occasion. Their former leader, Colonel Gallespie, had arrived with a large supply of arms, &c.; and the Mexican Government, for his services, had created him a General of Division. Many of the American officers and soldiers who served in the late war have joined the Mexicans. ST. HELENA.

A letter addressed by order of Buonapare to Sir Hudson Lowe, Governor of St. Helena, by General Montholon, brought to this country by Napoleon's Usher of the Cabinet, M. Santini, has been published the Ex-Emperor loudly complains of the conduct of the Allied Sovereigns, and of the rigorous manner in which he is treated by Sir Hudson Lowe; particularly dwelling on the cruelty of cutting off all correspondence between him and his wife aud child, and the members of his own family.

Lord Holland brought the subject be fore Parliantent a few days since; when Earl Bathurst defended Government from the insinuations thrown out, of inhumanity towards Buonaparte; and the general substance of his defence was this:-that Sir Hudson Lowe had only acted up to his instructions, and imposed such restrictions as were necessary to the secure keeping of the prisoner;-that as to the complaint of Buonaparte not being allowed to correspond with his wife and family, it was always in his power, but the letters must be open and unsealed-only one letter had been sent, and that was from his brother Joseph;-that books to the value of 12001. had been sent him; but newspapers were withheld, because attempts had been made to correspond with him by that means that, having been detected in tampering with some of the sentries and inhabitants, his boundaries for amusement were reduced from twelve miles to eight; but he was at liberty to go to any part of the island, either in his carriage or on horseback, he having a British officer with him of a rank not inferior to a Captain; this he had rejec ed;—that 12,0007. was now allowed for his maintenance, and as he was known to have money, by his offering to draw a bill of exchange to a great amount, if he wanted more, it was but reasonable that it should come from his own pocket and that he was not

stinted

stinted in provisions or in wine; in proof of the latter, 336 bottles of Cape and superior wine were furnished in a fortnight; being at the rate of near two bottles a-day each person. Lord Bathurst said, Buonaparte had expressed the belief that a change of Government in this country, or in France, would be the means of his release all his complaints had arisen from not being allowed to ride out without an attendant officer.

IRELAND.

It appears from the Dublin Papers, that at an Aggregate Meeting of the Irish Roman Catholics held on the 6th of March, a series of Resolutions was unanimously adopted, rejecting every species of Veto arrangement, and substituting Domestic Nomination in its stead. By this arrangement is meant an election of Bishops by natives exclusively, and from natives exclusively, without any interference directly or indirectly on the part of the Pope, and leaving to him the mere religious form of induction and institution.

The site for building the magnificent testimonial in honour of the splendid military achievements of the Duke of Wellington, in Ireland, is at length fixed near the Old Battery, in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, and is to be completed in three years. This obelisk is to exceed in magnitude, grandeur, and elevation (205 feet from the surface of the ground), any similar structure in Europe. Upwards of 16,000l. have been already subscribed.

COUNTRY NEWS.

Jan. 27. The shock of an earthquake was felt at Mansfield and the adjacent villages. As it happened at 11 o'clock at night, many persons quitted their beds under an alarm that the houses were falling.

Feb. 26. A most destructive fire occurred at Darlington, by which a worsted mill and other property, valued at 30,000. were destroyed, and 500 people thrown out of employ.

Feb. 27. At 7 o'clock this morning, one of the most violent storms of wind ever remembered, accompanied by thunder and lightning, was experienced at Beaumanor Park, in the county of Leicester. The wind tore up by the roots many of the immense oak trees, which have stood the shock of seven centuries; many large fir trees, ash, elm, and willows, were broke through the middle, and the top carried to a distance. The oldest people never saw such destruction, trees lying in all directions; many stacks and barns blown down. Near Beaumanor many people left their houses for fear. In Garendon Park also many trees were blown down. The storm continued at intervals during the greater part of the day.-About 7

o'clock, the wind blowing a complete hurricaue, the chimney of the house of Mr. Lawson, a respectable butcher, of Coventry, was blown down, and fell with such violence as to force its way through the tiling, attick, and into the sleeping-room of Mr. L. who was in bed, and who, it is supposed, was instantly killed by the pressure of the fall, a considerable quantity of bricks and timber being upon him when his body was discovered.

From Suffolk, the Newspapers contain the following particulars :-Between eight and nine o'clock, the wind blew a most tremendous hurricane from the West, by which considerable damage was done to the roofs of buildings, &c. in the town of Bury and its neighbourhood. Two of the chimneys of Orbell Oakes, Esq. were blown down, beating in the roof, breaking the glass, and otherwise damaging his dwelling house-the garden wall of Mrs. Palmar, at the back of Northgate-street, was blown down, and a child's leg broken by the fall-a chimney at the King's Head Inn was blown down, and broke in the roof of the chamber. Numerous other houses in the town sustained similar damage in their roofs. Several beautiful trees on Sir Charles Bunbury's lawn at Great Barton, were snapped asunder-A windmill at Wetherden was blown down. The windmill at Cockfield, and several others in the neighbourhood, suffered materially. The great barn at Hornings heath, measuring 112 feet by 40, was nearly all blown down ;-a barn at Rushbrooke; two others at Chedburgh and Shimpling-hall; another at Hawstead; another at Lavenham; another at Thorpe Morieux, and one at Hundon, were either partly blown down or materially suffered in the roofs-the injury sustained by so many barns might, in some degree, arise from their generally being empty.-Numerous stacks of corn and clover were

blown down in most parishes-indeed so heavy a gale was scarcely ever before remembered by the oldest inhabitants. A large barn belonging to Mr. Rivers, of Cauldwell-hall, was also blown down. The sails of the mill on the Whitton-road, near the King's Barracks, were shivered in pieces, and two sails blown off a mill at Westerfield. Two or three chimneys in Ipswich were blown down, much damage done to the roofs of the Horse Barracks, and a garden wall, upwards of 140 feet long, belonging to the Rev. Wm. Fonnereau, at Christ.church, was thrown down; and considerable injury sustained in the tiling, destruction of pots on chimneys, &c.: also several large trees near were torn up by the roots. At Wood bridge several stone and brick walls were thrown down, and many houses unroofed ; two of the sails were blown off Mr. Man

by's

by's mill, one of which was carried a considerable distance, and the other went through the round-house, shattered the brick work, and was found erect among the wheat. Mrs. Packard's house at Basketon received considerable injury by the fall of a large stack of chimneys. During the gale, the Adventure, Unity, Manchester, Friends, Goodwill, and Deborah and Anne, belonging to Ipswich, broke from their moorings; but it being neap tide, the vessels drifted on the hardway opposite, and sustained very little injury, except in their boats: the two wherries on their passage to Harwich met the squall, one of which had her jib sail split, and was obliged to bring up.

March 2. This morning a fire occurred in the poor-house of St. Burian, near Penzance, by which the whole range of buildings was destroyed, and two men and four women perished in the flames! One of the unhappy victims was a young woman, aged 19, who, being in a state of derangement, had been secured by a chain, in which she was seen struggling violently, but ineffectually, to escape the fury of the merciless element! There were 27 persous in the house at the time the flames were discovered; and those who saved themselves, could only do so by leaping through the windows. The overseer had visited the poor-house about 9 o'clock, and soon after left every thing, apparently, in proper order.

March 3. A Chapel was opened at Bagshot, in the Wesleyan connexion. The minister who officiated emphatically declared they had no views hostile to the Established Church; and quoted, in support of his declaration, part of a charge or request made by the Rev. John Wesley to his followers, not to separate from the Church of England.

March 10. At Shrewsbury, this evening, The Wheel of Fortune and Miss in her Teens were performed at the Theatre, for the Benefit of the Poor, by a private Com. pany of the Inhabitants; aided by the services of the Quartette Society, and Messrs. Humphries with their trumpets and horns. A more elegant assemblage of the first families of the town and county was scarcely ever attracted, even on the most brilliant occasions. The most cordial and liberal disposition to be pleased, was constantly shewn by every individual; and the first grand symphony was received with reiterated bursts of applause. The highest praise is due to the gentlemen of the Orchestra, under their able leader, Mr. Tomlios: and the celebrity of the trumpet and horn-players is well known. On the advancing of Counsellor Dovaston before the curtain to speak the Prologue, in the character of Prospero, he was greeted by the Salopians, as their native

poet, with the warmest applause of welcome. (See p. 255.) It is difficult and somewhat indelicate to attempt at any thing like regular criticism on private Actors, and more particularly so on such an occasion; and unpleasant to wound the feelings of some by superior praise of others,--when all are entitled by their motive to unqualified approbation. So perfectly was the audience disposed to liberality, that, on the slightest occurrence of any embarrassment, the readiest expressions of encouragement were instantly renewed; and the curtain fell amid peals on peals of genuine applause, and reiterated huzzas: after which all the characters appeared on the stage, and, to the full chorus of the Orchestra. with horns, drums, and trumpets, sang our national strain of "God save the King."-The fe male Characters were kindly and spiritedly supported by Miss Willis and Miss Waterson, two actresses belonging to Mr. Crisp's Company, whose expences and remuneration the gentlemen paid from Worcester, together with all o' her charges. The receipts of the house amounted to 113. 11s. 6d-After deducting the unavoidable expences, there remained a balance of 901. 15s. 5d. which sum the Treasurer of the Theatrical Performance paid into the bank of Messrs. Beck, Dodson, and Co. to the account of the Chairman of the Committee for the Relief of the Industrious Poor.

March 18. This day, between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, when the Pump-room, Bath, was full of fashionables, a Mr. Fox, attended by several other Quakers, addressed the company for some time; after which Mrs. Priscilla Gurney, of the same persuasion, commenced an oration, but was prevailed on by some gentlemen to desist.

March 18. Numerous arrests have been found necessary at Manchester. By dint of secret researches it was discovered, that there were emissaries busily at work on plans to engage the populace in a treasonable movement. One of these had been heard to declare, that there were 25,000 stand of arms at Birmingham which might be secured for their use. Satisfactory proof having been procured of the criminal plots of these men, an express was sent off to the Secretary of State's Office; when Mr. Baker, the magistrate, and some active police officers, were sent down with warrants to arrest certain individuals on charges of high treason. The Manchester paper furnishes ample details of the subsequent oc currences:-Throughout last week notice had been given of a meeting to be held on the following Monday; whence the espousers of the seditious doctrines that had been promulgated, were invited to proceed