1830.] Antiquarian Researches.-Select Poetry. vered, all of them exquisitely fashioned, and, for the most part, adorned with paintings, which have drawn forth the warmest expressions of admiration from the first artists of the day. Thorwaldsen, the celebrated sculptor, was quite lost in wonder at the sight of these treasures of art: Cammuccini, and his brethren of the easel, pronounced the paintings, with which they are all more or less embellished, capi d'opera: Dr. Nott, our countryman, formerly subpreceptor to the lamented Princess Charlotte, who, from a residence of many years in Italy, is become a cognoscente of the first order, considered one vase in particular, called the "Cup of Hercules," as a matchless production, and beyond all price. The most eminent antiquaries were deputed by the Archæological Society to inspect these treasures on the part of the government, who regard their removal to other shores with a jealous eye. It is agreed on all sides, that no discovery, since Pompeii and Herculaneum were disclosed to the view of us moderns, has caused such a sensation Superior in every respect to those at Naples, they have the additional interest of being enriched with inscriptions, which are to be seen on a great number of them, chiefly in the Greek character. Scenes from the Theban war, and the Iliad and Odyssey, are very common, and the names of the gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, are generally inscribed. These vases are ascribed to an age anterior to the foundation of Rome, not long after the Trojan war, the actions of which are here represented, varying in many particulars from Homer's account of them. They are all supposed to 353 have been found on the site of Vitulonia, a city, according to Pliny, destroyed before the foundation of Rome. ANCIENT TOMBS OF ETRURIA. March 4. During the excavations of the Campo Scala, conducted by Campanari and Fossati, the proprietors of the spot, there was discovered the tomb of a wrestler or pancratiast, who had gained a prize in some games. He is characterized by the disk of iron; the arms, of bronze, were placed near him; these consist of a vast clypeus, the greaves, and the hilt of the sword. The most beautiful tripod, the prefericoli, and the crater of bronze, are the prizes which he gained. Near the tripod was one of those large painted vases, which bear the well-known inscription, and Minerva, who has here for ensign a siren playing on the double flute. Two little images of Iole and Hercules stood on the other side. This tomb had three chambers: most of the things found were in that on the left hand; there were some articles in the two others, but of less value, if we except a gold ring, with a lion engraved on it-a symbol very suitable to the deceased-and part of a gold necklace. -A third tomb strikes the eye at first sight, by a certain novelty in the design, and the ornaments shew that an Egyptian chose to be buried in Etruria in the Egyptian fashion; in fact, no vase records a Greek or Roman rite. Two little marble statues of Isis and Osiris, many vases with animals, twelve gold clasps, a very singular gold ring, and a broken spherical paste vase with hieroglyphics, were also discovered. SELECT. POETRY. THE ADVENTURER'S WISH. OH! would that I could feel again As I have felt of old, Ere I had cross'd the treach'rous main, As I feel even now! My hands had not been stain'd with guilt, Oh would that all were now the same I e'er had heard the trump of Fame, That dreamt the world was full of joy, GENT. MAG. April, 1830. 354 Select Poetry [April, : ON THE FUNERAL OF CHARLES THE FIRST. At Night, in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.* (From the "Life of Bishop Ken," by the THE Castle-clock had toll'd midnight,— The coffin bore his name, that those Of other years might know, "PEACE TO THE DEAD" no children sung, Slow pacing up the nave ; No prayers were read, no knell was rung, We only heard the winter's wind, We murmur'd, "Dust to dust!" A moon-beam, from the arches' height "Tis gone! again, on tombs defac'd,t Our shadows on the ground. No name, no trace appears- As this composition might appear, in some turns of expression, to resemble a celebrated military funeral dirge (the death of Sir John Moore), I can only say, it was written soon after the account of the late disinterment of Charles. The metre and phrase is the same as some lines published twenty years ago : "O'er my poor Anna's lonely grave Every thing in the chapel was defaced. The service by the prayer-book was forbidden. DEATH'S DEEDS. THY path, oh Death! with fear I trace, Thou meagre, ghastly, shapeless thing, How oft, o'er youth and beauty dead, Yon little, wretched, helpless band cry Lies number'd with the dead! Is snatch'd into the tomb! The wife belov'd, the mother dear, The husband raves in vain, The much-lov'd youth deplore; But now what terror shakes my hand? To tell thy horrid ways, The prowling murd'rer strays! He darts upon his prey; Unseen he glides away! Be subject to thy sway; Great Power Supreme! who reign'st above, Stretch forth thy mighty hand! THE PHYSICIAN AND THE MAGPIE. A TALE. (Founded partly on fact.) By the Rev. RICHARD PEARSON, M. A. WHERE Lincoln's fens extended lay, And noxious vapours rose, A Pastor's aged widow dwelt, Oppress'd with cares and fears; But oh! what agony o'ercame Her mother's frame possess'd! Where Learning's sacred tow'rs abound, To him for aid MATILDA turn'd, Nor sought his aid in vain ; No more the wasting fever burn'd, That waken'd Mem'ry's pow'rs, The youth perceiv'd the rising sigh, Returning smiles to see, And comfort cheer the widow weak, "Yet could I thy sweet care supply, The feather'd gift I'd take, For its lov'd donor's sake : "But could her heart divide its love, MATILDA still might be The guardian of her bird, and prove "For Med'cine's art in vain would heal The wounds that I endure, The pains MATILDA makes me feel, Looks spoke th' emotions of the heart, IMPROMPTU 355 On the re-appearance of Miss Stephens a To those all-splendid in bravura grace, LINES, Suggested by a Person remarking, He "should like to be a Poet." OH, envy not the Poet's lot, For he hath fears that few can know; His laurels are too soon forgot Yea, long before his lasting woe. The moment they are budding forth! He hath indeed some hours of bliss, But they are few and scarce his own; For every tranquil stream of peace Is ruffled by some heart of stone! The Rev. EDWARD LEWTON, A. M. Classical HERE Lewton lies, whose birth fond I. U. [356] HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. [April, PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 22. The Lord Chancellor brought forward his proposed alterations in the proceedings of the COURTS OF LAW AND EQUITY. The object in view he said was to assimilate the practice of the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer; to simplify the practice of special pleading, and to regulate the Froportions of business within these courts, so as to afford relief to the Court of King's Bench, which was now overwhelmed with business, by throwing part of it into the Court of Exchequer, the latter being erected into a Court of Common Law, distinct from an Equity Court. An additional Judge in each Court would also be appointed for the dispatch of business, which was to be effected by the doing away with the Welch judicial offices. His Lordship next adverted to the state of the law in Scotland, and mentioned the intention of introducing into that country the trial by jury in all cases; and alluded to the commissions appointed to examine into the laws affecting real property in this country, and also to the commission of enquiry into the ecclesiastical law; neither of which had yet made a report. He then proceeded to consider the state of business in the Court of Chancery, and proposed the appointment of an additional judge to clear off the arrear of business, whose office would terminate when that was effected. With respect to Bankruptcy business, the noble and learned Lord proposed some regulations; among others to make country commissions embrace about the same number of commissioners as London commissions. Having stated all his views upon these important questions, he concluded by asking for leave to bring in a bill for further facilitating the administration of justice in the superior courts of law. The bill was then read a first time. March 23. The Marquis of Clanricarde brought forward a motion censuring the Government of this country for preventing the Portuguese refugees, who were ordered to leave England, from landing at Terceira. His Lordship said it was a breach of our vaunted neutrality, committed in favor of the usurper, Don Miguel.-The Earl of Aberdeen opposed the motion, as casting an undeserved censure upon the Government.-Lord Holland contended that the attack on the expedition was a violation of the law of nations.The Duke of Wellington justified the conduct of Government. Don Pedro, he said, possessed no portion of the territories of Portugal since the separation of the two Crowns.-The Lord Chancellor spoke at some length in defence of the Government.-Their Lordships then divided, when there appeared, Contents, 30; Not Contents, 125. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 25. Mr. P. Thompson moved for the appointment of a Committee to enquire into the present state of taxation, and the best mode of collecting taxes with the least possible inconvenience to the people.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed the motion, and after considerable discussion it was negatived by a majority of 147 to 78. March 26. On the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the house resolved itself into a committee upon the Four per Cent. Annuities Bill. The right hon. gent. said, that it was a matter of congratulation that the time had arrived when Government could relieve the public from a further burden of about two millions. He proposed to reduce the interest upon the stock in question from 4 to 3 per cent., the situation of the country being such as to warrant the proposition. The terms which he proposed to give to the holders of the 4 per cents. were, to give them 100 stock of the 3 per cents. which were at about 994. He also proposed to give an assurance that no further reduction should be made for ten years. The proposed reduction would be a saving to the country to the amount of 778,000l. After some discussion, the resolution was agreed to. In a Committee of Supply, on the proposition for voting 174,584l. 9s. 4d. for the expenses of the superannuation of civil officers in the naval service, Sir H. Heron objected to the retired pensions of Mr. Bathurst and Mr. Dundas, both of whom had retired with allowances of 500l. and 400l. a year; the one as a commissioner of the victualling board, and the other as a commissioner of the navy board, their period of service being only three years. He should therefore move, as an amendment, that the vote be reduced by 9001.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer assured the House, that in deciding upon the claims of these gentlemen, the Treasury had acted upon an old and established rule, without the least reference to the birth or connexions of the parties. - Mr. Hobhouse said, that it was impossible to defend these appointments.-Mr. Peel said, the compensation made was only what was usual on such occasions.-The Committee then divided, when the numbers were-for Sir R. Heron's amendment, 139; against it, 121. 1830.] Proceedings in the present Session of Parliament. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 29. Lord King moved a series of resolutions condemnatory of the existing regulations, or indeed of any regulations, in the foreign corn trade. His Lordship brought forward, in a condensed form, all the arguments of political economists in favour of an open corn trade.--The Earl of Malmesbury, by authentic returns of enormous imports within the last two years, showed that the British agriculturists had no monopoly of the home market, while the clamour was raised against them by men who in the exercise of corporate privileges, and in severe rules for the regulation of the several trades to which they belonged, proved themselves animated by the most selfish and exclusive spirit of monopoly.-The Earls of Roseberry and Carnarvon supported the resolutions; and the Duke of Wellington pointed out the danger that if this country once threw itself in dependence upon other states for bread, the states from which its supplies were to be drawn might impose upon corn what taxes they pleased-thus in fact rendering Great Britain tributary for subsistence. The resolutions were negatived without a division. In the COMMONS, the same day, the House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, and many items in the navy estimates were discussed, but no division took place.-Mr. Perceval, after stating that this year there would be a net saving of 33,6491., moved, "That a sum not exceeding 85,025l. be granted to defray the salaries of the Master, Lieut.-General, and other officers of the Ordnance."-Sir James Graham, after entering into a lengthened statement, the object of which was to prove that the office was perfectly unnecessary, moved, that the vote be reduced by 1200l., the amount of the salary of the Lieut.-General of the Ordnance. Mr. S. Perceval contended that it appeared quite clear, from the evidence of the noble Duke at the head of his Majesty's Government, that the office was one which could not be abolished without great inconvenience. After considerable discussion, in which Lord John Russell, Mr. Liddell, Lord Howick, Lord Althorp, Mr. Maberley, Lord Morpeth, and Mr. C. Grant supported, and General Gordon, the Earl of Uxbridge, Sir H. Hardinge, Lord E. Somerset, Mr. Peel, and Mr. W. Wynne spoke against the amendment, the Committee divided, when there were-For the amendment, 124; against it, 200. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 30. The Earl of Aberdeen laid on the table, by command of his Majesty, the Reciprocity Treaty between this country and Austria. The Marquess of Lansdowne moved, that an humble address be presented to his Majesty, praying that he would be pleased to give instructions to his consuls in South 357 America to furnish returns of the gold and silver sent from that country.-The Earl of Malmesbury said, that the Consuls ought to furnish very valuable information, for they cost the country a large sum of money annually. The amount of the expense incurred in 1828, on this head, was not less than 97,000l.-The motion was agreed to. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 1. The greater part of the evening was consumed in examining witnesses on the Bill for divorcing Edward Lord Ellenborough from his present wife, on account of adultery with Prince Swartzenberg, and to enable him to marry him again. The Bill was reported, and the evidence was ordered to be printed. The Solicitor-General brought in a Bill for continuing and amending the laws relative to INSOLVENT DEBTORS. The Lord Advocate had leave given to bring in a Bill for uniting the benefits of JURY TRIAL in civil causes with the ordinary jurisdiction of the Court of Session, and for making certain other alterations and reductions in the judicial establishments of Scotland. Mr. Secretary Peel brought forward his important motion for consolidating the LAWS relating to FORGERY. There were, he said, at present sixty-one Acts relating to the crime of forgery where death was inflicted.The Bill would contain not more than four clauses, which at once would point out those cases where death should be inflicted. He avowed himself an advocate for the gradual mitigation of the punishment of death in cases of forgery. The criminal code of this country was more severe than that of any other country. He would continue the punishment of death in case of forgery connected with negotiable transactions, public documents, and wills. Also for false entries in the public stocks, forged transfers, promissory notes, Bank of England notes, and indeed all notes that could be turned into cash. He proposed to remit the punishment of death in cases of forged receipts for money or goods; for uttering forged stamps; for fabricating the material for bank paper, and also in case of deeds, bonds, &c. In adopting this course, he believed he was following closely the plan of the code Napoleon. He should also make the passing of foreign bills of exchange, with the forged name of a British merchant, a capital pu nishment; and also the falsifying in this country wills made on the Continent by British subjects. The right hon. gent. having obtained leave, the bill was brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be committed on the 26th April. The four per cent. reduction bill was read a second time. April 2. Mr. Sykes brought before the House the petition of the ship-owners of Hull, pray |