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Cornwall and Devon; and for granting Allowances in certain Cases to Subaltern Officers, Adjutants, Surgeons, Mates, and Serjeant-majors, of Militia, until the 25th day of March, 1816. July 11.-3. CLXVI. An Act for defraying the Charge of the Pay and Clothing of the Local Militia in Great Britain to the 25th day of March, 1816. July 11.-2. CLXVII. An Act for defraying, until the 25th day of June, 1816, the Charge of the Pay and Clothing of the Militia of Ireland; and for making Allowances in certain Cases to Subaltern Officers of the said Militia during Peace. July 11.

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Offences committed while militia are assembled for training or embodied, may be afterwards tried by court-martial: but charges must be made out and delivered within six months after training or being disembodied. General courts-martial may be appointed, as if the militia were embodied: and officers summoned upon them shall be allowed 25. per mile in going to and returning from the place where they are held. Regimental courts-martial may be appointed.

CLXIX. An Act to provide for the Charge of the Addition to the Public Funded Debt of Great Britain, for the Service of the Year 1815. July 11.-1. The preamble recites that, whereas the sum which, on the 1st Feb. 1815, was

deemed to be applicable in that year to the

reduction of the national debt amounted to

11,324,760l.; and whereas, by two several acts of the present session for granting annuities to discharge certain Exchequer bills, the sums of 11,127,500l. and 7,008,0891. 3s. 6d., have been subscribed to be funded in the 5 per Cent. Consolidated Annuities; and whereas by another act of the present session for raising 36 millions by way of annuities, the sum of 27 millions was raised for the service of Great Britain; and whereas the charge of the said sums will amount to 3,689,351. 10s. 24d.; and whereas it is expedient to make provision for a part of such charge in the manner directed by the act 53 Geo. III. c 35, it is hereby enacted, that the sums of 7,796,400l. 4 per cents., and 51,271,4671. 3 per Cents. Reduced, standing in the books of the Bank in the names of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the

National Debt, shall be cancelled, and the Dividends shall form part of the produce of the Consolidated Fund, for the purpose of defraying in part the charge occasioned by the additions made, or to be made, to the public funded debt in the present year. The

[May 1,

duties of customs, excise, and postage, granted in the last and present session, shall be deemed a permanent increase to the revenue for defraying any increased charge occasioned by any loan made or stock created.

CLXX. An Act to amend an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament for better regulating the Office of AgentGeneral for Volunteers and Local Miltia, and for the more effectually regulating the same. July 11.-1.

CLXXI. An Act to continue for One

Year certain Acts for the better Preven tion and Punishment of Attempts to seduce Persons serving in his Majesty's Forces by Sea and Land from their Duty and Allegiance to his Majesty, or to incite them to Mutiny or Disobedience. July 11.-1.

CLXXII. An Act to provide for the Support of Captured Slaves during the period of Adjudication. July 11.-1.

CLXXIII. An Act for the better Protection of the Trade of the United Kingdom during the present Hostilities with France. July 11.—2.

CLXXIV. An Act to extend the Exemption granted by Law on Coals and and Culm, for which the Coast Duties have been duly paid on being again exPorted and carried to any other place in this Kingdom, to Cinders or Coked Coals burnt from Pit-Coal which has paid the Coast Duties. July 11.-1.

CLXXV. An Act to continue until the 1st day of August, 1816, two Acts of the 50th and 45th Years of his present Majesty, allowing the bringing of Coals, Culm, and Cinders, to London and Westminster by Inland Navigation. July 11,

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CLXXVI. An Act for allowing certain Tiles to be made Duty-free to serve for Draining. July 11.-1.

CLXXVII. An Act for the further Prevention of Frauds in the Manufac ture of Sweets. Julv 11.-1.

Makers not to send out sweets or madewines in less quantity than casks of 15 gallons on pain of forfeiting sol, for each offence. Persons having in their possession sweets exceeding 100 gallons to be deemed makers.

CLXXVIII. An Act to revive and continue until the 25th day of March, 1820, an Act of the 28th Year of his present Majesty for the more effectual Encouragement of the Manufacture of Flax and Cotton in Great Britain. July 11.-1.

* From the Act itself it appears that this should be the 23d.

1816.]

[ 357 ]

ORIGINAL POETRY.

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ONCE more Britannia sheathes her conqu'ring sword,

And peace returns by victory restor'd, Peace, that erewhile enstranged 'midst long alarms, [our arms; Scarce welcom'd home, was ravish'd from What time, fierce bounding from his broken chain,

Gaul's banish'd despot re-aspired to reign, Whilst at his call, prompt minions of his breath, [death; Round his dire throne, rush'd havoc, spoil and With wonted pomp his baleful ensign blaz'd, And Europe shrunk and shudder'd as she gaz'd!

Insulted Liberty, her tocsin rung,
Again Britannia to the combat sprung,
Star of the nations! her auspicious form
Led on their march, and foremost brav'd the
storm ;
[flash'd,
Pent in its clouds, 'ere yet the tempest
Ere, peal on peal, the mingling lightning
crash'd,
[shall'd powers,
While fate hung dubious o'er the mar-
What anxious fears, what trembling hopes
were ours!

For never yet from Gallia's confines came,
War's fell eruption with so fierce a flame.
She sent a chief, matured in martial strife,
He fought for fame, for empire, and for life;
His heart had sworn, deep stung with recent
shame,

To satiate vengeance, and retrieve her fame. Each furious impulse, each hot throb was there,

That spars ambition, or inflames despair.Then Britain fixed on her unconquered son,

TON!

Her eye, her hope, IMMORTAL WELLING [blow, He, skill'd to crush with one collective Sustained sedate the fierce assaulting foe; How stood his squadrons! like the stedfast rock,

Frowning on ocean's ineffectual shock!
'Till forward summon'd to the fierce attack,
They give to Gaul his furious onset back;
Swift on its prey, each fiery legion springs,
As when heaven's ire the vollied lightning
wings!

Then Gallia's blood in expiation stream'd,
Then trembling Europe saw her fate redeem'd,
And England radiant in her triumph past,
Beheld them all transcended in the last :
Yes raptur'd Britons, blest the gale that blew
The tidings home, the tale of Waterloo!
But oh! while joy tumultuous hail'd the
day,

Cold on the plain, what gallant victims lay!

Deaf to the triumph of their sacred cause,
Deaf to their country's shout, the world's
applause!
[breathe,
Rear high the column, bid the marble
Pour soft the verse, and twine the laureate
wreath;

From year to year, let Musing memory shed
Her tenderest tears to grace the glorious dead-
'Tis our's with grateful ardour to sustain,
The wounded veteran on his bed of pain,
To soothe the widow sunk in anguish deep,
Whose orphan weeps to see its mother weep.
Oh! when outstretch'd on that triumphant
field,

The prostrate warrior felt his labours seal'd,
Felt, 'midst the shout of victory pealing round,
Life's eddying stream fast welling from his
wound;

Perchance, Affection bade her visions rise,
Wife, children, floated o'er his closing eyes,
For them alone, he heav'd the bitter sigh,
Yet for his country, glorying thus to die,
To her bequeath'd them with his parting
breath,

And sunk serene in unregretted death.
To no cold ear was that appeal prefer'd,
With glowing bosom, grateful England heard,
With liberal hand, she pours the prompt
relief,

[grief. Soothes the sick head, and wipes the tear of Our humble efforts consecrate to-night, To this great cause, our small, but willing mite. [which grace, Bright are the wreathes the warrior's urn And blest the bounty that protects his race! Thus warm'd, thus waken'd with congenial fire,

Each hero's son shall emulate his sire,
From age to age prolong the glorious line,
And guard their country with a shield divine.

THE LILY,
By MRS. H. TIGHE
How withered, perished seems the form
Of yon obscure unsightly root.!
Yet from the blight of wint'ry storm,

It hides, secure the precious fruit.
The careless eye can find no grace,

No beauty in the scaly folds,
Nor see within the dark embrace,
What latent loveliness it holds.
Yet in that bulb, those sapless scales,
The lily wraps her silver vest,
Till vernal suns and vernal gales

Shall kiss once more her fragrant breast.
Yes, hide beneath the mouldering heap
The undelighting slighted thing;
There in the cold earth buried deep,
In silence let it wait the spring.
Oh! many a stormy night shall close
In gloom upon the barren earth,
While still, in undisturbed repose,
Uninjured lies the future birth;

358

And Ignorance, with sceptic eye,

Original Poetry.

Hope's patient smile shall wondering view, Or mock her fond credulity,

As her soft tears the spot bedew. Sweet smile of hope, delicious tear!

The sun, the shower indeed, shall come, The promised verdant shoot appear,

And nature bid her blossom bloom. And thou, O vi:gin queen of spring! Shalt, from thy dark and lowly bed, Bursting thy green sheath's silken string, Unveil thy charms, and perfume shed; Unfold thy robes of purest white,

Unsullied from their darksome grave, And thy soft petals' silvery light,

In the mild breeze unfettered wave. So Faith shall seek the lowly dust,

Where humble Sorrow loves to lie, And bid her thus her hopes entrust,

And watch with patient cheerful eye; And bear the long, cold wintry night, And bear her own degraded doom, And wait till heav'n's reviving light, Eternal spring, shall burst the gloom.

LINES

Addressed to Mr. JAMES BISSET, on reading his "GUIDE TO LEAMINGTON." By the Rev. Mr. SMYTH, of Liverpool. Thanks! thanks! lively Bisset-whose excellent "Guide" [reside! First led ine on Leam's pleasant banks to And here am I bound, by your magical spell, Near Leam's pleasant streams for a season to dwell. [pourtray'd Your muse and your pencil have clearly Each object which nature and art have display'd,

In grandeur sublime, or in elegant ease, The mind to enlighten, the fancy to please. Tho' Chelt'nham and Tunbridge have gain'd such eclat, [ton Spa; They both are surpass'd by fam'd LeamingAnd he, who retirement, health, pleasure, desires,

Must pay his first visit at Leamington Priors. By no forms perplex'd, no formality trammell'd, [dows enamell'd; He may stray through dark groves, or in meaIn solitude wander near Avon's sweet stream, And muse on its Bard-on his fair-one may dream; [sound, Be sooth'd by the river's soft murmuring Or list to the songsters that warble around. Though Lethe applause from the poets may gain,

These fountains inspire an oblivion of pain; And, as erst in the pool of Bethesda serene, In these streams (no less pure) you may wash

and be clean.

Here Pleasure is lavish in all its vagaries,Invented, no doubt, by intelligent fairies,For those who are willing, and those who are able,

The social delights of the dance and the table,

[May 1,

Prints, pictures, and medals, a splendid mu

seum,

gatelles,

And piano-fortes-for those who can play 'em, Cards, billiards, and raffles, magazines, ba [belles, And ponies and donkies for beaux and for Excursions on foot, or on four wheels or two, Old mansions or landscapes to sketch or review.

A village supplied with attractions like these, So refin'd, so commodious, is certain to please; [retreat

And soon, we may hope, in this healthful That science and art will establish their seat The scenes you describe with delight I've inspected,

[directed; And found them with ease, by thy guidance And still as I wander by Leam's crystal tide, Your volume I make my companion and

guide.

grace,

[care, May the pleasures advanc'd by your fostering Approv'd by the rich, and admir'd by the fair, Attract to this region wealth, beauty, and [increase! And its fame and its splendours find rapid To its pleasures and taste may you long give the law, [Spa! And be hail'd as the Mentor of Leamington Though my muse you may scom, let my wish be regarded,[warded:It breathes that your efforts be richly reAccept from a stranger on Leam's verdant banks

This feeble address, his memorial of thanks. Leamington Spa, June 1814.

SONG.

Are there no breasts that pant like ours, With the wild pulse of love's warm feeling? Or do they seek the greenwood bow'rs,

Their loves and sports in shade concealing? Do none admire rude nature's baunts, That we thus wander here alone, lave? Or are we of another world,

And all that fairy spot our own, love? The heath-flow'rs close their weary eyes,

And to their grassy beds betake them; The silent wind holds in its sighs,

Fearing to stir, lest it should wake them; Mute echo lays her shell aside,

To break the holy calm forbearing; Then speak, love; for thy voice will swell,

And melt like music on my hearing! And take thine eyes from heav'n's sweet face, Those orbs, intently looking down, [love; Or angels will my rivals be, love;

Are their bright eyes that gaze on thee, They know, if they should search the skies, They would not find a face that's fairer; They know thou'rt life and heav'n to me, That heav'n itself can't hold thee dearer! C. F. WEBE.

LINES Occasioned by the Death of Mrs. SOANEI did not know thee in that happier hour, When smiling youth upon the lap of life,

1816.]

Mr. Western's Resolutions on Agriculture.

Sprinkles her gayest flow'rs; it was not mine,
To catch the early sparkles of thine eyes,
Or list the playful wit of youthful hours,
Dew-drops that gem the rosy bands of hope,
And love and joy, with graces all their own.
Yet oh! how much remain'd to tell the past,
How rich an harvest shew'd what spring had
been!

Lamented friend, thou hadst indeed a heart
Illumed with virtues, whose transcendant
blaze,

Like the bright comet seldom seen, nor long,
But once beheld, can be forgot no more.

is one

Gentle as firm, benevolent as wise, Intelligent as good; a woman thou, Whose noble nature honour'd all thy sex, And show'd what woman should be; there [bending eye, Whose stricken heart, whose downwardBest tell thy goodness, best proclaim his loss, For he hath climb'd the steeps of life with thee, [smile, Repos'd in myrtle bowers, gain'd fortune's Inhal'd the noblest breath of fame, and feit That all were sweet, for all were shar'd with thee.

Hath he not also known (unblest in this) To drain from disappointment's bitterest source,

The very dregs of vile ingratitude,
(The "serpent's tooth" which gnaws while
it destroys)
[good
And found thee then, the one unequall'd
In which his heart could rest, his soul con-
fide,

359

Whose gen'rous fortitude where most it felt
Could most endure, whose active love es-
say'd,

By tender skill, or boundless sacrifice,
To win the barbed arrow from his breast,
Tho' in thine own it rankled still and urged
The very life-blood from the wounded heart?
Poor hapless wanderer! thro' this "vale of
tears"

He looks in vain to meet the answering look
Which sooth'd, upheld, inspir'd him; death
hath seal'd

The dearest eyes that ever beam'd on him.
Unskill'd are they to read the human

heart,

Who dream the gifts that fill his ample mind,
The stores of knowledge and of taste that
grace

His lotty intellect, will aught avail,
To save him from the pangs that now await
His death dissever'd heart. Ah no! where

heaven

Bestows its higher pow'rs, its finer sense
Of nature's harmonies, acutely then
Keen Sensibility but points the dart,
And Genius guides it to the inmost core.

Eternal Father! Thou! whence all pro-
ceeds

Of woe or joy, that marks this mingled state
Of transient being, look in mercy down,
To soothe and heal his lacerated heart;
And thro' the weary lapse of ling'ring time,
Support him till that welcome hour arrive,
Which grants re-union in thy better world!

DIGEST OF POLITICAL EVENTS.

GREAT RRITAIN.

SINCE our last report, the attention of parliament has been chiefly engrossed by the consideration of the Ways and Means for the service of the present year, and the collateral question of the peace establishment. On the 28th of February, after an adjourned debate of three nights on the army estimates, it was decided by a majority of 241 to 121, that they should be referred to the committee.

par

On the 6th of March, Lord Cochrane in a speech, during which he seemed quite overpowered by his feelings, in alluding to the indignities he had experienced, brought forward charges against Lord Ellenborough, accusing him of tiality, oppression and injustice on the trial of his lordship, in June 1814. These charges, 13 in number, embracing all the details of the case and a long commentary on each charge, were ordered to be printed.

March 8th, Mr. Western in an able and argumentative speech, developed the various causes of the present agri

cultural distresses, introductory to the following resolutions :

1. That the portion of the community, whose capitals are engaged in agriculture,

ployment depends thereon, are at present suffering under the pressure of unexampled distress.

as well as those numerous classes whose em

2. That the continuance of such distress

is fraught with extreme danger to the most important interests of the country.

3. That the demand for the extended produce of our agriculture is, at this time, insufficient to produce that price which is necessary to cover the heavy charges and burdens upon it.

4. That the demand for barley has been very materially reduced, by the excessive duties to which it is subjected, in the course of the various operations which adapt it to the use of the consumer.

during peace, when the facility of smuggling

5. That the continuance of those duties,

the home manufacture of spirits, which is so much increased, cannot fail to injure

must still further diminish the demand for

barley.

6. That it is therefore necessary to reduce the duties on malt, beer, and spirits.

360

Provision for the Princess Charlotte-Property-tax. [May 1,

7. That in order to equalize the supply of grain, and promote its cultivation, it is desirable that an appropriation should be made from the extra produce of abundant harvests, to supply the deficiency of seasons less favourable.

s. That the admission of foreign corn to be warehoused, prevents such application of our own occasional abundance, and as

signs to foreign agriculture the formation of those stores, which might otherwise be created from the produce of our own.

19. That it is therefore expedient to repeal so much of an act of last session for the regulation of the corn trade, as permits the warehousing of foreign corn, at all times, duty free.

10. That in order further to promote the appropriation of a part of our present abundance, and reserve it for future consumption, it is expedient to aid the means of those individuals, who may be disposed so to employ their capitals, by an advance of Exchequer Bills, to a limited amount.

11. That excessive taxation renders it ne

cessary to give protection to all articles, the

produce of our own soil against similar articles, the growth of foreign countries, not subject to the same burdens, and in conformity with that policy which has been uniformly observed, of protecting by duties, and encouraging by bounties or drawbacks, all

our other manufactures.

12. That it is therefore expedient to impose additional duties and restrictions on the importation of all articles, the produce of foreign agriculture.

13. That it is expedient, under due limitation, to encourage, by bounty or drawback, the exportation of the redundant produce of the agriculture of the united kingdom.

14. That the tithe and the poor-rates, to the payment of which those whose capitals Care engaged in agriculture are almost exclusively subjected, have recently been felt to press with increasing and unexampled severity, and that it is therefore necessary to relieve them, as far as possible, from the operation of other burdens..

Mr. Western concluded with a motion that the house should resolve itself into a committee, to take into consideration the distressed state of agriculture, which was agreed to, and a day appointed for the purpose.

March 13th, Lord Castlereagh brought in a bill to provide for the safe custody of Bonaparte, and another to regulate the intercourse with St. Helena. In moving the preceding evening for leave to bring in bills to this effect, his lordship observed that as doubts had been started respecting the competency of the crown, to secure Napoleon, it was considered advisable to enact a specific law on the subject. In reply to questions proposed by different members, his lordship stated

that the ex-emperor would be considered not as a sovereign prince, but as a po soner of war, but that the persons who had accompanied him to St. Helena were not included in the sentence of confinement.

March 13th, in the House of Lords. the Duke of Bedford called the attention of their lordships to the state of the nation. He dwelt upon the distresses under which the country at present labours, and commented strongly on the impolicy of keeping up a large military establishment. He concluded with moving for a committee of inquiry, which was however negatived by 140 to 71.

On the 14th, Lord Liverpool in the House of Lords, and Lord Castlereagh in the Commons, delivered a message from the Prince Regent, announcing that the royal consent had been given to a marriage between the Princess Charlotte of Wales and his Serene Highness Prince Leopold George Frederick, of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and recommending that a suitable provision be made for them on the occasion. The following evening, in a Committee of the House of Commons, it was proposed and unanimously agreed that the establishment of the illustrious couple be fixed at 60,000l. per annum, 10,000l. of which is to be reserved for the privy purse of her Royal Highness. Should the Prince die first, her Royal Highness will still enjoy the full income; but should the prince survive her, be is to receive after her death 50,000l. year. The sum of 60,000l. was voted by way of outfit, and it was intimated that made to parliament to provide a a further application might probably be table residence for the royal pair.

Camelford house, in Oxford-street, the property of Lord Grenville, has been since engaged for their reception.

From the time that the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice of his intertion to propose a continuance of the In come-tax, to the 18th of March, when this measure was submitted, not however without various modifications to the Committee of Supply, petitions every day poured in unexampled numbers to both houses, mostly expressing a decided ab. horrence of the principle upon which the tax was founded. We did certainly anticipate, that the right hon. gentle man, yielding to the manifest sense of the country, would have withdrawn this obnoxious item from the list of Ways and Means, especially after the determined hostility, evinced by many of the firmest supporters of government, during the dis

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