The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-07 00:00:00

or by visionary scletnes of Utopian perfection,
desire utterly to extinguish the power of their op-
pooents. But the prudent and discerning, who
form their opinions by the test of experience, well
know the danger of intruatiog and• set of men,
however Virtuous and honourable, with exclusive
and uncontrolled authority. Cato proposed the de-
stroction of Carthage; Scipio Nasky, with deeper
views and equal patriotism, wished to preserve the
rival of his country : the advice of Cato was follow,
ed, and Rome, after being a prey to tumult and
faction, lo►t her honour arid her independence.
In the preceding remarks we have endeavoured
briefly to point out the advantage resulting from
the great national divirion of Whiggism and Tory-
i►m ; we are, however, far from contending that
this advantage is a pure or unmixed benefit. All
political confederacies may, in respect to feeling,
be divided into three cl : the lukewarm, the
moderate, and the violent. The influence of the
first, with respect to the party to which it belongs,
is negative; the second commands esteem and con.
fidence ; and the support of the third is more fre-
quently injurious than beneficial. The state of
public opinion, at the present period, strikingly
illustrates the truth of the last ub tion. Nu-
merous adherents have ranged themselves under
the banners of the Ministry, and struggle to keep
them in office ; not because they admire Tory
principles, but because they have been alarmed by
the frantic ravings of Radicalism. The Adnsini-
stratioe are well aware of the assistance they derive
from these intemperate politicians; and by con.
founding the moderate Reformers with the disciples
of Hunt and Cubbett, excite the most fatal pre-
judices against the constitutional admirers of civil
arid religious liberty. No artifice has been spared
to circulate this delusion. The writers of the
Treasury huddle unceremoniously together the
Whig and the Radical ; the advocate of judicious
Reform and the fanatical partisan of Revolution k
the admirer of Triennial Parliaments and the sup-
porters of Universal Suffrage.
It was principally with a view to expose this sys-
tematic misrepresentation, and to clear the Whigs
from the disgraceful imputation of being allied with
the Radicals, that the following remarks were
drawn op ; and we shall endeavour, in candid and
dispassionate discussion, to state the real merits of
the two rival parties in a succinct account of the
History of Parliament, and of the progressive alte-
rations in our Constitution.

There are two reasons which induce us to choose
• Newspaper as the vehicle of communicating our
opinions on this important topic: tirst, because they
acquire greater publicity; and secondly, because
there are many men who, though not possessed of
sufficient leisure or patience to wade through •
pamphlet, would devote • few minutes to • short
paragraph, and acquire sufficient knowledge of the
subject to awaken curiosity, and sffurd materials
for future reflection.

Yesterday No. 16 524, drawn a prize of Twenty
Thousand Pounds, was sold in Shares by G. CAR-
-1101.1„ at his old established Offices, 19, Corohill,
and 26, Oxford-street.

The mysterious interment in Harrow Church-
yard, the particulars of which were first inserted in
our paper, we understand from good authority, has
nothing whatever to do with the offspring of a
Greek lady—nor dors the distinguished person en.
tertain any such attachment. The object of his
present affections is a noble Venetian, of high de-
scent, and who has made considerable pecuniary sa-
crifices " to follow the fortunes of her Lord."—
(Morning Paper.)

LONDON AND SHEFFIELD CUTLERY.-..-When
the town of Sbeffieli first became famous for the
manufacture of cutlery, • very curious knife, calcu-
lated for a variety of uses, was executed with great
cure, and sent to the Cutlers' Company in London.
On one of the blades was engraved the following
challenge :
" Sheffield made both haft and blade ;
London, for thy lire, sbew me each another knife."
The London cutlers, to thew that they were not
inferior to their more northern brethren, finished,
and sent down to Sheffield, a penknife, containing
only one well tempered blade, in which was a cavity,
and in the cavity • piece of straw, fresh and un-
singed. Some lines on the blade, mentioning this
fact, induced the Sheffield cutlers to break it,
when they found the ►traw, and, unable to account
for the manner in which it was done, or to imitate
it, they confessed themselves surpassed in ingenuity.
—(Percy Anecdotes, Part 37.)
HYPOCRIST.—The first consideration with a
knave is how to help himself; ■nd the second, how
to do it with the appearance of helping you. Dto-
Imms, the tyrant, stripped the statue of JUPITER
OLYMPUS of • robe of massy gold, and substituted
• cloak of wool, saying, " Gold is too cold in win-
ter, and too heavy in summer; it behoves is to take
care of JUPITER!"

BOTANICAL. NomIiNCLATURE..--BOlanies ocea.
sionally adopt a specific name to some historical
fact belonging to the plant, or to the person whole
name it bears; as Litmus borealis, from the greet
botanist of the north; Mu rotie•, after one of
his favourite pupils, a foreigner; Brocallia demissa
and data, from a botanist of humble origin and
character, who afterwards became a lofty Bishop.
In like manner, Bujimia tex•ifolia is well known
to be • satire on the skader botanical pretensions of
the French Zoologist ; as the Huila parasitica of
J•CQUIEN, though, perhaps, not meant, is an
equally just one upon our pompous Sir JOHN
HILL. " 1," says Sir J. E. SMITH, " mean at
to approve of such satires; they stain the purity of
our lovely science. If a botanist does not deser►e
commemoration. let him sink peaceably into obli.
•ion. It savours of malignity to make his crown
• crown of thoens; and if the application be unjust
it is truly diabolical."

.

-