The National Register. — London, England, 1816-04-14 00:00:00

atio nal( Att ii_? ttr+ bit , j, Our /ling, Consititution attl) %Mud. No. 431.—V0!.. IX. Amit4cincitt " Divide SuNn.ty front the Week."—Su IKESPILAR. --.lllllm+ QN EASTER. THE principle of the atiociation of ideas is strong in the human mind. By it, when one thought in a series that has formerly commanded our attention is recalled, the whole train is again brought under our review, at tended with corresponding affectioas, li:clings, or moo tions. It, after a long absence, we return to visit the spot where we first drew our breath, or passel the days °four infimey tind childhood, or if we find our imagina tions led to such a scene by accidental circumstances, our memory runs over the whole transactions of our youthfel days, peopled the place with our youthffil com panions, and., acts over again oar youthful sports and amacineuts. From this principle it results, that the look presented us as a memorandum by a friend, though at a great distance in time or place, recalls his features, hi s actions, or 1 4 is a k rits ; that the Aght of a house where an acquaint:me.; or a relation resides, excites in our minds thei magi: of the gorily roup by which it is inhabited; and th tc the site whare a' celebrated event occarretl recalls the cireanisain,.es with which it was accompanied, and renews the feeliags which it is calculated to inspire. Hence it happeos, that Rome is more interesting to the scholar than Paris, and that Jerusalem is more interest ing to the Christian than either;—hence it happens, that the rubbish of Athens excites grander ideas than the architectural symmetry of other cities;—and hence it happens that the Tiber, though an insignificant stream in comparison with the Don or the Wolga, occupies a larger space in the imagination of all those acquainted wit the revolutions of empire. - That scholar must have a narrow capacity or unsuseeptible feelings, whose ima gination could remain unexcited on the site ofCieero's or beside the tomb of Virgil; anti that Englishman would have no reason to boast of his sympathy in his country's feelings, who did not experience a glow or pride and patriotism on the field of Cressy or Waterloo. Without pursuing these illustrations any further, it may be re marked, that individuals, states, and religions, have grafted upon this associating principle ofour nature, many of those customs and institutions that diversify the pe riods of our existence, and render the recurrence ofdays, months, and years, something more than the revolution of mere divistatif time, or a bare calendar of the changes of the heave n• bodies. Hence we view paillitailar sea sons, not as distinguished by bad or good weather, not as being blessed for a longer or a shorter period with the light of the sun, but as being the remembrancers of im portant events—the chronicle of our fortunes or our hap piness. I fence, among individuals, the observance of the anniversary of their births or their marria!scs—hence, in states, the attention paid to the periodical returns of sea sons diatinguishial for revolutions or remarkable events in their own history, or the history of their sovereigns ; and hence, in religion, the origin of tints and festivals. The Mahometan system, taking advantage of this pro pensity and habit of the human mind, has connected the origin of' the Mussulmati era with the flight of the Pro phet, has ordered all the ftithful to pray with their faces turned to the city in which he was born, and ordained a pilgrimage once in their, lives to Mecca, to invigorate their piety in the temple consecrated by his presence and devotions. The most remarkable events in the history of the Jews were likewise recalled to them by their ca lendar and by rites to be periodically performed. Hence the feast of the Passover commemorated their deliverance Irian Egyptian bondage, and a few simple ceremo- Ines and institutions excited annually through suc ve,sive generations, all the piety and gratitude which the original (injects of such a providential intertir taco must have experienced. Christianity, as it has availed itself of many of the innocent propensities of our nature to promote our spiritual improvement, has not disdained the powerfid principle of associati , n among its ways arid means of warming our feeling+, and influencing. oar conduct. The most interesting events in the history of its founder—those events chiefly calculated to furnish the subject of our most impmving moral reflections, such as his birth, his death, his resurrection, are all written on the wheels of revolving time, :aid with the recurrence of pleticular lays or seasons, are presented to the mind along with the feelings they are calculated to excite. The return of the Sabbath recalls weekly the remem brance of his romrreetion from the deal, and renews the hopes of our own. The appearance of Christmas reminds us of th_ circumstances in which h tame into the world, awl the purpose which his mission was intended to serve. SUNDAY, .A.PRIL 14, 1816. It leads the pious mind to the contemplation of its Sa viour, like the star that guided the wise men to the place where he lay, and makes it a partaker of the joy which the shepherd felt from the songs of the angels that an nounced his birth. The festival of EASTER is accompanied with recollections as interesting, as it places before us the consummation, that train of labours, suffixing:4, and instruction, which he under took to regenerate the world. The word Easier (or want in German is rolled Ostern), is of Saxon original, and the season is so called from the divinity to whom April was dedicated; but both iu , the learned, and all the southern languages of Europe, the term for expressing the festival is derived from the Pus dial feast of the Jews, during the period of which our Saviour was crucified. The observation of it began early in the Christian church. The disciples of our Lord, and their immediate converts, would remember with peeuliar interest, and with ardent piety, the anniversary of so as tonishing an event that happened so near their own time, or within the verge of their own experience. The prin ciple of as soci ation being natural, would gain strength by its religious consecration, and extended the ►ame pious regard to other days than those connected with the his tory of our Saviour. During the progress of etriesiasti ail corruptions, the number of festivals was accordingly greatly multiplied, a powerful host of saints usurped the calendar, and a gr.:at portion of time was enjoined to be observed in their pa.ssover. This evil had grown to such a height before the reformation, and is now so inveterate in the Roman Catholic system, that out of the 26.5 days of the year, there is not one which is not appropriated to some saint or other, and some days are even encumbered with several. The different reformers that arose about the time of Luther, had different ideas with regard to the number of feasts to be retained, though they all agreed in purging the calendar from ficticious or obtrusive saints. The English church perhaps, retains too many, the Cal vinistic churches too few: "Jack (to use the language of the Tale of the Tub), tore all the lace off his cis.t," and perhaps with the violence of the action, rent a little of the coat itself. Though there be too great a tendency in the popular mind when ceremonies and festivals arc mul tiplied, to depend on ceremonies and festivals alone, they ought not to be entirely disregarded as aids to devotion. There is surely a medium, and as no good Christian would pass the field of Bethlehem without thinking of his Saviour's birth, or the holy sepulchre, without recalling his death and murrection, so we ought not to forget that Christmas and Easter may be rendered subservient to papaws ss pious, and recollections as vivid and inter- IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Mommv, APRIL 8. The Weights and Measures Bill was brought up from the Coannous„ and on the motion of Earl Stanhope, was ordered to be teat' a second time on the 7th \l:w•. BUONAPARTE'S DP,TENTION. Earl Bsritvasr moved the second readin; of Bnonaparte's Detention Bill. Lord Hai t ssn said, on such a motion be had expected the Noble Secretary of state would have given some ex p lanation as to the purport nt• the Hill; and as to the wisdom mid policy of the measure; fur his part he saw neither wisdom, policy , or magnanimity in it. Still he admitted that the greatest part of the people of this connn•y agreed with Ministers, in the pro priety of detaining Htionaparte its custody; hut he could by no means agree in it; and it wax his intention to record his dissent from this Hill on the Journals of that House. This Bill said nil that it was iricessary to consider linonapart e a, a prisoner of war. Now he w Wheel to know from the Judges, whether an alien enemy could he detained as a prisoner of war after the signature of a Trt uty of Peace, and for that purpose he moved. that its se'•ond reading be postponed till after the holiilas is, in order to ;;is e the Judges opportunity of uttendiug, they be ing now absent on the Assizes. Earl BA TH URST had coneeised the object of this Bill to be so clear, and so evident, us to require no explanation. The iiiiii ent Ituonaparte surrendered himself he was as much a prisoner of war as ir he had been taken at Waterloo, became no act of his had put an end to hostilities between us and France. The character of a prisoner of war was wall known to our statute book ; and this Bill was only meant to- declare !Nowt parte a prisoner of war. The Noble Lord had forgot that our uhtriniog possession of fie Isersou of Bitonaparte was the (- salt au common etiert with our allies, and they load a right to be consulted in such rin4 hint. To do which a . ..cut:My, it be came neetissary that one of the Allied Powers should have the custody of his person; and he believed lie was securest with us, anti would base loss chance of again disturbing the repose of Europe, thin he would have lila it he had been placed under the power of ROSS:11, Austria, or Prussia. The Earl of IL it 01121)A LE thought that liminaparte might have remained in this country perfectly safe, under the care ut peare•ottivem The Bill was re el a second time, the amendment of Lard Holland being ne4ati Cgi ,% ALM t a disi,ion.—Adjutotwd. Argti. 9. • Mes‘aue from the I. ...,111110114 brllll4lo lip the Pt itteec.: ('har otte•'e; lstablbehat:ttt e the. Mutter wit! Chem Dist) hupoit4- ---.._~ Palcz 9 ►d. om!!•••• tium and the Pancras Church Bills, which were rend,A,lirst time. The House went into a Committee on the Bill fur distablair Napoleon Iluonapa rte. fl,e Earl of LAI:DEED tr.r. moved an Amendment, to leave out all the words applying the terns af " prisoner of. war" to Buonaporte. 'flit, Amendment was negatived without a division. l'he Earl of LAUDERDALE said, that altlinisgßparsons were • liable for assisting Buonaparte out of the bounds of the island of St. Helcua, yet it was ambignolis; and he should, therefore, move the insertion of the words " or further" the es cape of Bnonaparte. This Amendment was agreed tn. Lord iiiii.Lasu mused a proviso, that no defendant, agahist whom Buonaparte might bnng an uctiou, sbonld be idlowedio plead that he was an alien enemy. On this Ainendinsut the House divided..-For the Amend ment, 5. tgaiust it 10. The preamble then received some verbal anienihnauts, and the Bill meet through Me Coentsittee; and was ordered to be reported to.inorrow—Adjorrned. WEDNESDAY, APRIL IG. Earl Bathurst presented an account of the thaw already paid by France, as part of the war contribution to-this country. Had a Noble Marquis been present. be could have *hewn hint that this and every sum which France bad to pay yearly, would be more than sufficieut to defray the expence oar army in France.—The account was laid on the table, and orderearto be printed.—Adjourned. . THURSDAY, Arm:. 11. The Royal Assent was given, 6y Commission, tn— The Princess Charlotte's Annatty Bill, Ittionaparte's Deteo4• Lion Bill, the St. Helena Intercourse Bill, the Excise Ditties Bill, the Lead Bill, the Promissory Notes Bill, the American Trade Convention Bill, the Irish Excise Duties.' Bill, the Fixol. Advance Bill, the• llnnchester Waterworks Bill, the Exeter Gas Lights Bill, the Southwark Bill, and several others • of a private nature. The Transportation Rill was read a second time. The Bat ter and Cheese Bills went through the Committees. The Coroners, and the Highland' Snciety's 818. were read a first time.—Adjourued till Friday, die ioik instant. Y, Apari 8 HOUSE OF Petitions were presented from the Tan nets and Leathe r.sellene of Cumberland,Ludlow,Macclediekl,belep,l)nricana, andothor plates, against the Tax on Leather ; from the licensed Vio tnallers of Cauterisnry and Knareshorough, against the Li cense Duty ; one from the Freeholders of Somerseaohire against the Leather-tax, the Poor's-rate, and.tbe oppressive weight of Taxes generally; and praying for every possible retrenchment in the expeaditure; also from Worcester and Beverley, against the Insolvent Act; and one from Dumfries, praying relief ter the .Agricultural Interest. Mr. HARVEY presented a petition from the porter and ale brewers of Norwich, praying that some allowance should be made to them, equal to the war duties, upon the stuck in hand. The Hon. Member eontended, that unless some such waxers were adopted, the repeal of the war duty would prove an in jury toeliens. Mr. CakreaT was convinced, unless the suggestion was at tended to, the brewing trade would be suspended. An Hon. Hart. (Sir . M. W. Ridley) had said on a. former night, . that if. this duty were token ott, porter ought to be, lower a penny in the pot. That Hon. Bart. should have recollected, that whets • this duty was laid on, the brewers inerearevl their price wily • one lialtpeunr, and it would now, when the ditty was taken ott, be lowered a kalfpenuy, , and that lie thought might satisfy the Hon. Gentleman. Sir M. W. ltinesx desired only that the reduction:hi the price, now the duty was about to be t skim ntE , should be equal to the advance which took place at tile. time the duty was laid on, and that the quelik of the article sold should be file uane, lie con•idered that the greet root of evil in this case was the. monopoly of public houses which existed amongst the great brewers. Mr. C. liAnctuir contended that the advance of one for. thin; per pot !tinee 117,12. %% as by no weans equal to the advance which ha.l taken place during the tame period on e% et y atitor article of life. Mr. WESTERN wished for the immediate repeal of the ditties in every respect, as the only step which .could afford relief to the barley growers. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would advise this hreuers, as a measure of economy, to brew ncdiately and iargely, and to buy up aU the malt they could before the price of bailey, and consequently of malt, shook' increase, a circiiin. stance which certainly must occur, and that at no very alistant perioil.—(A.lattgh.) Sir F. Ituftnim presented a petition from time county of Wilts, complaining of the weight of taxation under %%Inch the country laboured : it also complained of the la rgemilitary tahlishment proposed to be kept ; and of the present state of the Representation .of the kingdom, and • pra) ed Parlia mentary Reform. Mr. METHUEN stated, that he had understood *here were - not more than 20 persons present at the meeting at which this petition was agreed to. Another petition, which, he trusted, would convey the sense of the County, was in preparation, and would, in a iCW dAys, be presented to the House. Mr. DocoL as a lid, reship. to the House cuing into a CUM. mittee, he wished to ask the euble Lord whether h e h a d" o b. jeetion to producing certain Papers relating to the receipt and application of BSO.OOOI. from France, and which, without any application to parliament, had been appropriated to the pay ment of the army. He at present knew of no part of our Con stitution which gave so dangerous a power as this to the Minis ter of the Crown.---if a power so dangerous to the Constitut:on did ekist, the House sh.oild lost. no time in interfering and pot t;?i,. 3o cod to p. He .I'lo'll now, if the Nehle Lord had no oh_ jce tun , 111!)Ve for Pr' • s relative to this subject. Lard CAtTLEItE/AGJa bad LW o!) . iPetion to We motion, amnia, .....erormilliA _, l