Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

Quicquid habent sancti leges-venerabile quicquid
Religio-id colere-id summa adamare fide-
Hæc vera, hæc nostrum virtus-Hoc denique chartam
Versiculi monitum dirigat usque meam :
"Libertas sub rege pio!" Duce et auspice tanto
Vivere pro patria nunc populoque lubet.

Cambridge, Dec. 24. There being two of Sir William Browne's Medals which have not been disposed of in former years, it is the intention of the ViceChancellor to give one medal for the best Latin Ode in imitation of Horace, and one medal for the best Greek and Latin Epigrams, after the manner of the Anthologia, and after the model of Martial, respectively.

Subject for the Latin Ode:

Χρύσεα Φορμιγξ.

For the Greek Epigram:

Εις Αγαλμα

της μακαρίτιδος Καρολέττας, Γεωργίου του των Βρεταννιων Αρχοντος Θυγατέρος.

For the Latin Epigram: "Optimos nos esse dum infirmi sumus.”

Dec. 29. The hope that the valuable living of Wilmslow in Cheshire had lapsed (which was supposed) to the University of Cambridge, has failed; the Counsel for the University has been consulted upon the subject, and have given an opinion decidedly unfavourable to its claims.-There are no less than one Archbishop and five Bishops now living, who were members of St. John's College, Cambridge. The Hulsean prize for the present year is adjudged to the Rev. E. White, B. A. of Corpus Christi College, for his essay on "The fitness of the time when Christ came into the world."

The subject of the Chancellor's (of the University of Cambridge) third gold medal for this year is "Waterloo." That of the Hulsean Prize Dissertation is, "The Importance of Natural Religion."

Oxford, Dec. 25. The whole number of Degrees in Michaelmas Term was, D.D.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

3; B.D. 1; B.C.L. 2; M.A. 30; B.A. 65. Matriculations 95.

Some time since the The Mirroor of the Worlde, edited and printed by Jonx CAXTON, in 1487, in perfect condition, was sold for the small sum of 2s. 6d. through the ignorance of the vender, a poor illiterate widow, in the Isle of Wight. The book is at least worth 70%.

A German Journal mentions a MS. of the 14th century having been found in the library of Hanover, throwing considerable light on the early history of Northern Europe. It is entitled Conradi Hal berdstadensis Chronographia summorum Pontificum et Imperatorium, or a Chronological Narrative of the Emperors and Roman Pontiffs, by CONRAD of Halberstadt.

The Bible Society of Russia printed last year 72,000 copies of the Holy Scriptures. This year, 101,500 copies will be printed in various languages, namely, in the Chewoshirn, Ostiakian, and Vogulian.

The Swedish Government has ordered a new Translation of the Bible, and a new book of Hymns for Divine service. Reforms are also in contemplation for the amelioration of the Civil Code, the Forest Code, and the System of Military Tactics. A new College at Stockholm will raise the number of Public Colleges in the Kingdom to eleven. These Colleges or Universities are, at present, represented as in a flourishing condition. In the first quarter of the current year, there were at Upsal 1197 Students, and at Lund about 600. The total number of Pupils at the different Establishments for the purposes of Classical Literature, amounts to 3485.

POETRY.

Say where can sorrow's dul!-ey'd trance,
Meet the kind consoling glance?
Or where can the lack lustre beam
Seek for an enlivening gleam?
'Tis in Friendship's ray benign,
Sickening grief forgets to pine.
Should hapless hours polluted pass,
Turn to Friendship's faithful glass,
Neither heightening nor concealing,
But the honest truth revealing,

In that look of tender anguish.

Friendship chides but will not languish.
It never faints, or stands aloof,
Spares nor praise, or kind reproof,

[ocr errors]

Curbs your passions, heals your pain,
And smiles you into peace again;
No pang like its reproving eye,

Or heaven that with its smile can vie.
Never malice mark'd the brow,
Flattery never yet did flow;
From those lips which truth impart,
In the pure language of the beart;
Friendship knows no varying wheel,
Nor says the thing it cannot feel.
Purest passion of the mind!
'Tis in thee alone we find
Mild forbearance, void of fear,
Virtue firm, but not severe;
Thou art all that poets feign,

Of good, who knows thee not is vain.
Social love, and public faith,
Are the issue of thy breath,
And from lack of thee must flow,
Public feud and private woe;
I ask but thee to crown our land,
Other blessings court thy hand.
Fortune's frowns with thee are fair,
Desarts bloom when thou art there;
The guilty wretch in peace can die,
And laugh at death when thou art by.
Then let me ne'er thy presence flee,
Nor own a Heaven unknown to thee.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

J. C. J.

My dearest friends, once more
Congenial Mirth restore,

And drive desponding gloom away;—
Let young-eyed Pleasure smile,
And all our cares beguile,-
Again we meet on CHRISTMAS-DAY.

As Greeks and Romans sung
"Of Bacchus fair and young,"
So now we hail this festal day;-
Let Bacchus sparkle round-
Let rosy Joy abound,

And thus revive old CHRISTMAS-DAY.

To-day's the time designed,
For each convivial mind,

To" moisten well his clay;"

With wine his sorrows drown,-
With wine his pleasures crown,
And freely drink to CHRISTMAS-DAY.

Hence from my social home
Should Fortune bid me roam,-
A lonely wanderer far to stray,—
My thoughts shall turn to you,
As Memory brings to view
The dear delights of CHRISTMAS-DAY.

Let genial Friendship glow,
And social converse flow;

Be happy, jocund, blithe, and gay;—
On Pleasure's balmy wing,
Carouse, converse, and sing,
And toast around to CHRISTMAS-DAY.
P. A. NUTTALL.

Dec. 25, 1819.

SPANISH EPITHALAMIUM. In imitation of the Epithalamium of MANLIUS and JULIA in CATULLUS.

EPITHALAMIUM.

Trouvé par un Voyageur dans le Chemin,

SALVE grado Himeno

Ya Hespero en el cielo
Enciende, fiel consuelo,

La vela del Amor.

Llega, alla, Selina
A su caro marido,
Roxeante en el vestido
De carinoso ardor.
Como en las florestas,
Temprana y dichosa
Es la sagrada rosa

Pintada por Amor..
O Musas de Helicone,
Enterpe y Clio amada,
Con vuestra voz sagrada
Centais en su honor.
Las Dias de verano,

Maia, y pintada Flora,
Pingan la terra ahora
Con vario color.
Feliz feliz marido,

A te echa sus brazos,
En amoroso lazos,
Objeto del amor.

[blocks in formation]

HISTORICAL CHRONICLE.

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, December 1. The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, Sir George Warder stated, that it was found expedient to increase the Marine Forces of the Kingdom by adding 2,000 to their present number. By that means the Marines would be able to perform all the duty in the Dock yards; which had heretofore been performed by troops of the line. He should therefore propose a permanent increase of 2000 men; and concluded by moving that 23,000 men, including, 8,000 Royal Marines, be employed for the sea service during the year 1820. After some conversation, the motion was agreed to.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed a resolution for subjecting Pamphlets of a certain description not exceeding two sheets in size, and sixpence in price, to the same Stamp Duty as Newspapers.

After a few words from Mr. Brougham, the Resolution was agreed to,

HOUSE OF LORDS, Dec. 2.

The Training Prevention Bill, and the Seizure of Arms Bill, were severally read a second time. The only new feature in the debate on this subject was the admission of the Earl of Darlington, a Whig hitherto staunch, that some such measures as those now proposed by Ministers were necessary; and that he had received information from the county of Durham, since his departure from thence to attend his duty in Parliament, that secret associations were still held in that part of the country.

In the Commons the same day, on the motion for the second reading of the Seditious Meetings Prevention Bill, which was proposed by Mr. Grenfell, from the opposition bench, that gentleman stated, that he was prepared to give his steady and hearty concurrence and support to all the measures recommended by Lord Castlereagh. (Hear! hear!) A lengthened discussion took place. The speakers in support of the new Bills were the Solicitor General, Lord Lascelles, Mr. Peel, Mr. Wilmot, and Lord Palmerston.

Mr. Abercromby stated, that as far as he could collect the state of opinion in the House, in this case, there were three parties: one comprehending those who were ready to support the noble lord (Castlereagh) to the full extent of his proposition; another, who were determined to oppose his views altogether; and a third, who,

[ocr errors]

thinking the dangers of the country of such a serious character as to require some measures of restriction, were still unwilling that those measures should be either general or permanent. To the third party he himself inclined, and therefore his vote for the second reading of this bill should be conditional namely, that its existence and operation should be temporary and local.

-

Lord Archibald Hamilton, Mr. John Smith, and Mr. Maxwell, professed that they should give their vote for the Bill under the same view as Mr. Abercromby.

Lord Folkestone, Mr. Lytlelton, Mr. Brougham, Mr. Coke (of Norfolk), Mr. W. Smith, and Mr. Macdonald, spoke against the Bill.

On a division, the second reading was carried by 351 to 128.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Dec. 3.

The Lord Chancellor moved the second reading of the Bill to accelerate trials in cases of Misdemeanour. His Lordship explained the inconveniences felt from the existing delays, and said he should have no objection to the introduction of a clause, for allowing a defendant a copy of the information or indictment against him, free of expence.

The Bill was opposed by Lords Grosve nor, Erskine, and Holland, and supported by Lords Liverpool and Lilford. It was then read a second time.

The Seizure of Arms Bill and the Training Prevention Bill went through Committees without any amendment; those proposed by Lord Darnley and others, having been negatived without a division.

Lord Strathmore's assertion on a former night, as to there being 16,000 persons connected with the collieries in the Wear and Tyue ripe for rebellion, was confirmed by the Duke of Northumberland. They were said to be all armed, and boasted that they could muster a force of 100,000 men.

In the Commons the same day, Lord Castlereagh moved that the Seditious Meetings Prevention Bill be committed.

Mr. Lambton aud Sir M. W. Ridley contradicted what had been stated in another place, as to numbers of persons having attended meetings at Newcastle and other parts in the north, with arms in their possession.

Lord Castlereagh brought up a Bill, to make certain publications liable to the stamp duty, in order to prevent the publication of seditious and blasphemous libels.

He

He moved that it should be read the first time.

Mr. Brougham protested against the measure in this early stage, as an unjustifiable encroachment on the liberty of the press. The Bill was read the first time.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Dec. 6.

Viscount Sidmouth rose to move the second reading of the Bill for the more effectual prevention and punishment of blasphemous and seditious libels.

Lord Erskine said, it fell to him to apprise their Lordships, that the Bill related both to blasphemous and seditious libels, two offences totally and essentially different. The present Bill was not calculated to deter the blasphemer; and the object which they all had in view, would be best attained by a rigorous enforcement of the law now in operation. If he were to advise the people how to act, he would say, give up your wild notions of universal suffrage and annual parliaments, which must bring ruin upon your country, stick to your present constitution, and if you unite firmly, and express your opinions strongly, it will be impossible to affect the integrity of your freedom.

The Earl of Harrowby contended that they who proposed the means of correcting the abuses of the press, were the best friends of its liberty; they only pruned its licentiousness to secure its eternity.

The Marquis of Lansdown remarked, that the punishment of transportation was wholly inapplicable to this kind of offence, that it was in itself unequal, and was particularly inappropriate when applied to those individuals who were most likely to compose such writings as would be termed libellous. Buonaparte, whose extraordinary apprehension of the freedom of the press was one of the defects in his understanding, never contemplated so severe a punishment as transportation, well knowing that the very severity of the law would defeat his own object.

Lord Ellenborough said, the libels which had been disseminated, went to dissolve the ground-works of the Constitution, and it was, therefore, that he desired more effectual means of checking them, than existed at present. This would be attained by the present bill, and he doubted not that its provisions would be found effectual.

Lord Holland declared, that of all the measures which had come before Parliament, or were still threatened, not one was possessed of greater deformity than that which was then before them. It went to alter the law of the country by assimilating the punishment for small faults to that for great crimes; and it went to put honourable men, who might err in their zeal, on a

level with felons: for these reasons he would vote against the bill.

The Lord Chancellor said, that the bill was necessary for the support of the constitution of the country.

Earl Grey looked upon these bills as an infringement of the constitution, and that they would tend to the destruction of it. He hoped he might be deceived, and that they would turn out as Ministers had prognosticated, and be the preservation of the constitution.

The Earl of Liverpool contended that the measure was necessary for the preservation of the constitution, and of every thing that contributed to social order in the community.

The Earl of Carnarvon was opposed to the whole of the measure.

The Duke of Sussex and the Earl of Blessinton could not conscientiously support the present bill.

The Bill was then read a second time. On the motion for bringing up the report of the Search for Arms Bill,

Earl Grey said, he must pause before he consented to a bill of this nature. It was a measure of unprecedented power, and subversive of the rights of Englishmen.

The Earl of Strathmore read extracts from letters received that morning from two Magistrates and the CommandingOfficer at Newcastle, which stated their apprehension of a simultaneous movement of the disaffected as likely soon to take place. He hoped no time would be lost in passing the bill, conceiving it, as he did, a measure necessary to prevent insurrection.

Lord Erskine said the bill was without a precedent in the annals of Parliament.

In the Commons the same day, Lord Castlereagh, on moving for the re-committal of the Seditious Meetings Bill, said that it was intended to propose some amendments on it. The first would exclude from its operation all meetings held in rooms or apartments. Another would obviate the objection made on the ground of attaching penalties to persons accidentally attending meetings in the parish they did not belong to, by limiting the penalties to persons knowingly offending: and to prevent strangers going designedly to make the meeting illegal, he should propose that after proclamation made, every inhabitant of the parish should be armed with the authority of a constable, and justified in apprehending and taking before a magistrate any stranger found present. He could not agree to make the measure local, as that would entirely defeat its object; but as there seemed to be a general feeling that it should not be permanent, he would accede to a proposition limiting its duration to five years, and to the then next meeting of Parliament.

Mr.

Mr. Curwen could not vote for the measure, unless confined to the disaffected districts.

Mr. V. Fitzgerald strongly approved of the measure, more especially as proposed to be amended by Lord C.

Sir R. Wilson strongly reprobated the series of measures in progress, as shewing an inclination to govern by the sword instead of the law.

Mr. Grenfell approved of the Bill, limited as it was to five years. He regretted the countenance given by the gallant General to Mr. Hunt, at the Southwark meeting.

Sir R. Wilson said, he had shaken hands with Mr. Hunt as a man who stood forward in support of the liberties of his country. He should have felt himself more dishonoured if he had stretched forth his hand to take the bloody hands of those who had presided over the massacre of their countrymen. (Order, order!)

Mr. V. Blake thought it might reconcile the gallant General to the Bill, that Cobbett had said there was still enongh of the liberty of the press for him (Cobbett) to work with.

Mr. Ricardo thought a moderate parlíamentary reform the best means of preventing the meetings complained of.

Mr. Alderman Waithman condemned the proceedings at Manchester, and the whole series of coercive measures now resorted to. Mr. Wilson (Member for the city) supported the Bill.

Mr. G. Lambe said, the only remedies for the distress of the country were the equalization of the national income with the expenditure, and parliamentary reform. He wished the poor to be relieved from a number of taxes, and a tax on property to be substituted.

After some observations for and against the Bill, by several other Members, the question for the re-committal of the Bill was carried without a division. On that for the Speaker leaving the chair, Colonel Beaumont moved an instruction to the Committee, to provide that the Bill should not extend beyond six weeks after the commencement of the next Session of Parliament. Mr. Vansittart proposed an instruction limiting the duration of the Bill to five years. Mr. Calcraft and Lord Milton opposed the measure in toto. Mr. Bankes supported it. Mr. Perceval said, he should vote against the Bill, as a dangerous innovation on the constitution. Mr. Wilberforce approved of extending the period to five years. Mr. Marryat wished the period to be three years; and Mr. F. Buxton said, if Col. Beaumont's motion was negatived, he should move an instruction to that effect.

After some observations from Mr. C. Wynn, Mr. Maxwell, and others, Colonel Beaumont's motion was negatived without

a division; and that of Mr. Buxton was negatived, on a division, by 328 to 153. Mr. Vansittart's instruction was then carried without a division, and the House went into a Committee, pro forma, when progress was immediately reported.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Dec. 7.

The Misdemeanour Traverse Prevention Bill went through a Committee, in which, on the motion of the Lord Chan

cellor, the blank, as to the time within which parties must plead, was filled up, with the words "twenty days;" and a clause was added for granting copies of indictments to defendants.

On the question for the third reading of the Search for Arms Bill, Lord Darnley again urged the propriety of limiting the right of search to the day time.

Lord Sidmouth could not consent to any alteration. The Bill was then read the third time, and passed, as was also the Military Training Prevention Bill.

The Libel Bill went through a Committee, in which some amendments, proposed by Lord Sidmouth, were agreed to.

In the Commons, the same day, Lord Castlereagh moved the order of the day for going into the Committee ou the Seditious Meetings Bill.

Mr. C. Hutchinson opposed the extension of the Bill to Ireland. He was convinced, when the Noble Lord brought this measure forward, he did not contemplate extending it to that country, which he had described as quiet and flourishing. He should certainly move to exempt Ireland from the operation of the Bill.

Lord Castlereagh said, the proper time for doing so would be in the Committee.

The House then went into a Committee. Sir Charles Monck, as an amendment, proposed to exclude Lord Lieutenants of Counties from any power of granting meetings, but the amendment was negatived without dividing.

Mr. Brougham strongly objected to the clause confining the right of meeting in aggregate numbers to cities, boroughs, aud corporate towns. This clause, as it was now worded, would exclude some of the most populous towns in the kingdom,and amongst them Manchester and Birmingham.

Lord Castlereagh stated, that it was his intention to extend the provisions of the Bill to meetings for the purposes of trade and manufactures, if held in the open air. From recent examples, it appeared that such meetings had occasionally deviated into political discussions, and made such a provision necessary.

Mr. Marryat stated, that no room would be sufficient to hold such a number of the merchants, traders, and bankers, of London, as had upon former occasions, by the resolutions.

« ÖncekiDevam »