The National Register.
London, England, 1816-04-15 00:00:00

71;if

TIM NATIONAL lIEGISTr,II._

The rjectlon of the Law of hlection by the Chant-
her of Peen, evidently occasioned by the influence of
the Crown, has produced great and general discontent,
aril will, no doubt, give rise to niu,t important discus-
ititis in the Chamber of Deputies. This law secured
to the Deputies the right of representation for five years,
at the end of which it provided fur a general election,
as is the case with us in England. The wish of Go-
vernment was, however, that the popular representa-
tion should be renewed annually by fifths, a system
which could not fall to establish the control and as-
cendancy of the King over the Chamber.—General
Drotiet, who accompanied liconararte to and returned
with him from Elba, has been acquitted by the Count
eil of War, on the gtcnud ant he weed in confomity
to the commands of Napoleon as a Sovereign Prince,
and that he had exerted himself to prevent the Usurper's
invasion.

The King, we ran glad to find, is so far recovered as
to be able to receive tLefercign Ministers.

Parliament adjourned cn Thursday for the Easter Re-
cess; the House of Lords 6;1 Friday the 26th instant, and
the House of Commons till Wednesday the 24th.
Among the parliamentary business, which lies over for
discussion till after the holydays, arc several matters of
great and serious importance. Mr. Serjeant Onslow's
intended motion for the repeal of the Usury Laws must
doubtless Iced to an investigation of the first princi-
ples of our legislation applicable to the interest of money.
Intimately connected with this is the Bank Restriction
Bill. We should trust that these subjects will nut be
considered in a separate and insulated manner, but in
their relations and bearings on the general principles of
national wealth. It is the object of the learned Serjeant
to leave the rate of interest to find its own level, without
any ccmpulsicn or restraint from legislative enactments.
The present is undoubtedly a period which seems to de-
mand some alteration of the existing system. Monied
capital was never more requisite for the invigoration
of zgliculture and commerce: and never was it more dif-
ficult to be obtained at the legal rate.

Recent accounts from Madrid confirm the conspiracy
which had taken place there. The plot originated with
the disappointed Guerilla Officers, who had assembled
in great numbers at Madrid. Gca. aDnoghtte haul
been set at liberty, having acquitted himself of 'all con-
nexion with the plan for taking away the lives of Ferdi-
nand and the Royal Family.
Advices from the Havannah to the 21st of February,
bring intelligence that Santa Fe had Ehnen into the hands
of the Royalists, utkr a smart action ; General Murillo
himself commanded on the occasion. The insurgents
were worsted in every direction, and there appeared little
chance of recovering their lost ground. Morello, the
insurgent Chief, who was taken brisoner in Mexico, had
been executed. There had hem an arrival at Vera Cruz
from Mexico, of u convoy with aheut eight millions of
dollars, and a huge quantity of cochineal.
Thursday papers and letters reached town from the
Southern parts of the United States. These from
Charlestown are to the 2d ult. and arc filled with com-
plaints against the seizure of Ante: an vessels found in
the harbour of Carthagena, and the imprisanment and
I cruel treatment of the crews.—The ellirit of intiii,metion
excited by these outrages, appears to be generally. and en-
thttaitedically felt, and it is pointedly asserted, that the
present state of affairs in relation to Spain, so injurious to
the honour and national character of the American people,
eon not long exist!
The Hamburg's Papers contain a copy of the new
Russian Tar;ff, which, it is stated, has reccivt'd the
sanction of the Emperor, thou, Its it was not, at the dote
of the last adrices from St. Petersburgh, officially pub.
fished. fhongh this new arrangement will give in-
creased facilities to all mauufat•turing anti commercial
nations trading to Russia, none .will obtain so large a
share of those edvautaaes as our own merchants; and
we consider it as a new proof of the cordial filendship
sulri-tin;; between the Russian Cabatet and ours.

No day hus yet been fixed fcr the trial of Sir It. Wit-
gar. and his wo coinpanions • but they have received a
copy of the indictment from the Procureur General, which
charges them with a misdemeenour in facilitating and
consummating the escape of Luvalette.
An Article fitora Vicuna, ys—"The last intelligence
from Turkey informs us, that the Ottoman Porte his fur-
molly refused to reccgaisc the independence of the lonian
Liands."
With a view to contribute still further to the accom-
plishment of the public desire for economy and retrench-
ment, it is said that Connoittee appointed by the Cubinet,
consistmg of Lord BINNING, Mr. STUIMF.'3, BOURNE, and
Mr. Pvinot, to emjuite into all the offices, bonxds, com-
missioners, and apixintments made since 1793, and to re-
port as to the necessity of keeping oil or any of them up.
This Committee sits daily at the Treasury Chembers; auncl
it is said that they have already examined the members of
several boaids.

AMU/. 11$.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

RETROSPECT OF THE SiSION.

THE lalxmrs of Parliament are now suspended during
the Easter Holidays, and an opportunity is thus offered to
take a retrospective view of their nature, and of their.
extent. Seldom had more important saltjects attracted
the attention of the representatives of the land, anti sel-
dom have more activity and public spirit becu displayed,
than in. the discussions and divisions which have token
'dare. Little was it expected, that when the grand con-
test in which all the force, and all the hopes and interests
of the country were engaged should have been gloriously
closed, such momentous duties would have remained
for legislative wisdom to perform. The flight of the
storm, it was thought, would be folldwed by immediate
serenity and peace, and no trams would be loft to mark the
'conflict of the elements. This bleseing, however, though
covered with the protection of 'Heaven, we had no right
to anticipate. It was enough to hive been armed with
courage to brave, and with strength to bailie the tempest:
to have risen in all the majesty, and invincibility of free-
dom, against the hostility of the old and of the new
world, and to have conquered only to deliver mankind.,
We could not justly demand to be relieved from the na-
tural results of such exertions. Fatigue and momentary
exhaustion could not fail to overtake us even in the arms
of victory, and difficulties and distresses to attend the
first steps of peace. New efforts, not indeed of national
prowess, but of legislative Wisdom, and patriotic spirit,
were necessary to triumph over those after perils, and to
remove them from our land. Those efforts have been
made, both by the country and its representatives, with
a degree of sincerity mid ardour which, to a very consi- -
durable extent, has already commanded success. Pao
period of Parliamentary history has teemed with greater
activity and importance than that on the borders of
which we now stand, though short and apparently insige
nificant has been its duration. It began by an assurance,
new in the cars of a nation accustomed to almost bound-
less expenditure, that economy would form the principle
of Government, and become the foundation of all its
measures. Hailed with joy, and received with confidence,
this assurance was speedily put to the test. The impati-
enee of the administration seemed indeed to equal that of
the country. Instead of postponing their financial ar-
ran eoements to a period of the session, when all their friends
would be collected aroand them, and secure in their
strength they might deride and defeat opposition, they
unfolded their plans in the very first week of meet-
ing, and int:milk:tele proceeded to lay their estimates be-
film the House. These, however misrepresented, were
not eteimstes of Peace. They were calculated to meet
the exigencies of that state of doubt and experiment,
during which the solidity of the ndvantages obtained,
and of the treaty concluded is tried, and which, accord-
ing as the powers of the Continent, and England their
leader, will ad with prudent wisdom or impolitic rash-
nest, may terminate in safe and undisturbable repose, or
in fresh convulsions and wild attempts to restore the
reign of universal despotism. Considered in that point
of view, those estimates were moderate, and justified the
assurance that a system of political economy was intended
to be pdrsued, which would preserve the greatness of the
country from decay, and her resources from exhaustion.
To support this expenditure, however, an impost was
proposed, which cast upon the whale system a shade cf
the detestation with which it was individually regarded.
Only secondary in fervour to the wish of disarming
France, during the prolonged exertions and appalling ei-
eissitudes of the late contest, had been the hope of con-
quering with peace, a complete release from the exactions
of the Property Tax. Now that triumph was atshievexl
and peace obtained on terms of our own dictation, the
country rose indignant at the prupesal of reviving an
impost doomed by successive administrations to tenuinae
with the war, as one of its meet afflicting scourges.
The alledged insecurity of peace, which exined the
ground of its renewal for two years, become tale of the
strongest arguments against it; as it was apprehended
that it' the Income Tax were granted fer that period, tome
new war would arise 'before it had c:apsed, which wonitt
render the burthen eternal. In vain was it justly teetee
that modifications might he made in the medication of
the impost and the mode of receiving it, which woold
make it at once harmless and productive ; the courtly
would neither credit the practicability of such a else, ,
nor sanction a breath of faith, Her petitieus covered
the tehle of the I louse ; her representatives rellied round
her; in an evil hour ministers peraireed, rely to meet
' defeat and prove to 5um:171414,e el:Liens, that the Ebel--
tic 3 of Eaglishmeer arc net thimerical, end that in curlond

~,~

ArnTL Is.

it!teinistrati:m can still.: ui resist the voice of the peo-
ple. Foiled in their great financial measure, and shaken
in their assts, mliiisters fled for refuge to that system of
retrenchment which they had embraced before, but with
less inflexibility than when their own authority was at
stake. They re-considered the remaining part of their
estimates, and curtailed them, in some instances perhaps,
with too unsparing rf hand. In this manner considerable
charges hare been avoided, and no apprehension can be
entertained, save lest the work of reduction should be
carried too far, and the grand primary object, the main-
tenance of the c9untry in its fulness of glory and power,
should be sacrificed to the wish of regaining popularity.
Such have been the chief results of a few weeks of Par-
liamentary warfare. The enquiry into the distresses of
agriculture continues, and, before the Ses.sion is ended,
etlixtive relief will have been granted to that important
branch, the foundation of all national prosperity.

We understand it to be the intention of Government
to extend the time for the last payment of the tenants' in-
come tax charged on their farms, from July to October.
A steam boat has lately crossed the English Channel,
and ascended the Seine to Paris. The ttetive imagina-
tions of the French see in this circumstance a fruitful
germ of imqortant consequences; and they Ore:l4 speak
of plans for rendering Paris a great Commercial depot.—
The steam-boat, though opposed by the united force of
the wind and stream, made its way in the space of little
core than sixty hours.

By the latest advices from St: Helena, we have a dif-
&rent version of the story, that Buonaparte had been shot
st by a sentinel, fur trespassing beyond his boundaries.
The facts are, that the sentinel, on perceiving that Buo-
raparte and his attendants were passing the prescribed
limas, called to them to return. No attention being
pail to this, he rapidly proceeded after them, in doing
which he fell. At the same time the ramrod got loose
from his musket, and as he was replacing it, Buona-
parte conceived that he was bailing the piece with au
intention to shoot, and so reported it to the Government.
On an enquiry, it proved that the nmsket had not been
loaded, and no farther notice notice was taken of the af-
fair. The sentinel being asked, during the enquiry (not
a Court Martial) if he would have shot Bounaparte,
firmly replied—Yes! Buonaparte, according to report,
has distributed gold mnong the Malay slaves on the island,
with the of inducing them to rise in his favour.
This is very impropable.
The city of Breslau is going to erect a mcaument to
Prince Blucher, at an expenee of 30,000 dollars.
The King's stag-hounds were lately turned out near
Ripley, in Surrey, and had an excellent run of three hours
and a half. Of a numerous field, only 20 sustained the
ilitigues of the day. A little boy, abdut seven or ei4-ht
years old, mounted on a poney, without a saddle, rode
through the chase, and was in at the taking of the deer ;
he had a pin-before on, and was an interesting object
with the sportsmen. His poney carried him through
every obstacle; he came from Weybridgc, and was sup-
posed to have rode :40 miles.
' -

From the Gcnntat pipLrs it is apparent that all tlic
vanments in Europe ale reducing their e:tablishments,
and reso:ting to as much economy as possible.
There seems to have been a considerable filling off in
matters of hire :IS Weis of atiitirs ill tr.ule, a diminution
ii;tving• taken place this prt;ring ACIISYPI of no lest than
17,000 ra;o7l:me.r, eompared with the Two-penny (-Mice
lieturos of the precAling year.

The reivzatei pastpotteraents of the d.,,y of the R9yal
Nuptials, are a great disappointment to the expe.iant
couples who wish to start. fair with the Royal Pair. It
is iinlnd ptuticularly distressing, in the eases of old maids,
onl bachelors, and buxom young widows.
It were to be wished that r.otne other Unit of pres7tits
RCre inven tea for the foreign Courts than nulr-boxes ; the
people complaiu that they pay through the nose for these
trintets.

A letter from Pillan, entA, the 27t1: of N.lareN says—
.' When the Vistula river broke IT on the f 2 Ist inst. tke
cut the bullrurhs aid (laws, and forted its' way on th,/
main land: in 'Alrrienbtlrg Wertler, and t.:•er::oweel aLout
I ('0 F.!..!,lish tailc; ie cireamfer.e... 'rho niiseryove.)-

riane,l by dreadftl, :41l of the poor inhahitants
lort nil their cattle, horscr."
A brat is t 1 of earth 11.1.: lately t.,;:en 113C° in Nor-
way. Oa. :;.ratit of the riv:r thr full vetends
about three ga..,.,:trrs of a milt: into ,he country, and lee
carried away with it the church of Tiller. This fall of
earth took place with ruch violence that the earzli was
thrown to the othcr File of the ri.er, and there: over-
wheiated two dwellings Lek:ming to the. manor rf
notalie, by which ei:.;ht era lost their lives. The
t::Va of earth thrown iuto the Nil was carried by the
t- Trent down to Lizen, where the o:Meted macF.es of
tall', snow, aryl ire, tore awn! seve;rlsluiet,s,&e. in tl.r
n water La there, and the whole mass has
tiTmed a (Ivan I,clow Leer water-fail, nearly a wile
awl u fri:nt Drtmthelut.
Some reauctiona in the cAehlirlitarnt at Carlton :tonne
cry to be udtgited. Four footiten, scia canie of tic sub-
oillinntrattemlants are to.be diaclaitgd. . ,

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

he ROYAL FAMILY.

WINDSOR, APRIL 11.—The Duke of Clarence met
the Queen and Princesses at Cennbourn Lodge, to dine
with the Princess Charlotte of Wales. In the evening
there was a Concert to entertain the Royal party, in
which the Princess took a principal part. Yestereay the
Dube of York came from London, and naid a short visit
to his Royal Mother and Sisters. This morning the
Queen and Princesses went to Frogmore; they return to
the Castle to dinner, to which the Princess Clundatte is
invited, and a party in the evening.
lintnarox, APRIL 11.—The Prince of Saxe Cobourg,
who left us on Sunday last, to meet the Prince Regent ut
Hampton Court, returned to the Pavilion here on Tues-
day. Prince Leopold has announced his intention of
again attending Divine worship at the parish church to-
morrow. His Serene Highness leaves this place on Mon-
day or Tuesday next, for Carlton House. During his
pedestrim rambles yesterday, he sheltered himself from a
sudden all of rain, under the colic:mule of Wall:er's Li-
brary, to which many of our promenading fashionables
had also recourse. The most marked respect was 11.1 U to
the illustrious visitant. The regular pocketing inter-
course between this place and Dieppe is once more in brik
play. The Thomas, which had been seized by the
Custom House Officers, has been restored.

THE ROYAL MAnn►nat;.—Tt is now said that the royal
nuptials arc postponed till Thursday the Dth cf May.
We speak only from report, and it is impossible for us to
state the cause of this delay.—The ceremony will take
place in the grand saloon at Carlton !louse. The ar-
rangements at present are for the wedding being private,
excepting, of course, the Royal Family and Miaisters of
State, &c.
The arrangements for the Princess Charlotte's domes-
tic establishment are nearly completed. Lady Emily
Murray, daughter of the Duke of Northmuherhuul, and
Lady John Thyme, have been appointed Ladies of the
Bedchamber.

The Cobourg livery L to consist of dark bottle-green
coats, as before observed, with white waistcoats mid
breeches; the coats superbly Jared with gold, similar to
those of the Prince. The carriages are built, but the
linings and decorations arc not yet fixed on; an excellent
set of greys are also purchased, and Mr. Phillips, the
newly appointed Steward, has taken possession oi*Camel-
ford house.

Botley, near Chertscy, belonging to Sir Joseph Maw-
bey, has been taken for the Princess Ciuu•iotte and Prince
Leopold, as their country residence.
The Queen has ordered a great nwnl•er of wedding
cakes to be distributed on the day of the royal nuptiati.
On the marriage of Queen Anne, when Princess, with
George of Denmark, a very small annuity was settled
up= her hushand. The consequence wa3, that in the
second year of her accession to the Throne, she acne a
Message to Parlament, and they granted the. Prince
100,0001. a year should he survive her.
The applications to become Maids of Honour to the
Princess Charlotte, already amount to 57-S.
M.tuNnAv TnuttsnAN--The Royal donations were
distributed at Whitehall Chapel. In the morning the
Sub-Alnwuer, and Secretary, and others belonging to the
Lord Chamherlein's office, attended by a party of the
Yeomen of the Guard, distributed to 78 poor women, and
as miry poor men, being us many of• each in number as
the King is years old, a quantity of salt fish, cons wing of
salmon, ccid :!nd herrings, pieces of very tine beef, several
of bread, and sonic ale. At throe o'clocl; they met
; the men on one side of the Chapel, and the nom m
on other; a procession then tattered of those ent,ntvil
in the ceremony, consisting of a party ()film Yetancn of the
Guard, one of them carrying a large ps dish en his head,
containing 1.5.6 purses, with 78 penny-piems in each, fbr
the poor men and women, which were placed under the
royal closet; they were folhaved by the :;.at►-Almoucr, in
his robes, with a sash of fine linen over his shoulder and
ensising his waist; lie was tidlowed by two toys and two '
girls, the Secretary and another Gentitta: al, with similar
sashes, and all cirrying nosegar. The c•:euing service
was then performf.:l, ut the crrecinsion t f which the silver
pennys were d:zaributtsl to all, end woollen eletit,
she es and stockin,!ls to the lien, hied aeclrdiag to ancient ,
cuatom, a cop of wine to each, to drink the King's health.

Oa Gut the D.of We:ttnlm:vr Fc.:tvhf:tl
bef::rc the Nui.ility ut the CI pel Royal, M.
PaLwe.

TE! Bon. Mr. Lomhe, s,,n of Lnrkl Melbourne, it is
ss;ui, will be. the utw Meml)er thr 11‘.:tevixwough, in the•
room of the Hon. G. Pousimby, who Weis flr the coun-
ty of Wielldw, v:rant by the death of Mr. Ti .':e.
Laity Frames Brown, si:;:er to the Eurl of Kenmure,
has tAvn the veil of Newhall convent.

- -
A came cf scandal is now penclin,; in the House of
Lonls, Cuatutirif::, appellant, agaimt %V of and
Miss respondents, arisinp tve believe, out of some
asrertions inacle by Lady Ctirnting, detrimental to the
reputation of the h:striling-school kept by the above fe- '
males. So extmor.:inary is the evidence, and :;)-iintit is
it for the pull e eve, that the Counsefis, inet,a (..t. plead-
lug at bar, I:ave bet.it directed to transmit their Argo-
merits in writing, 2:.v.1 the vase. is to Le acciacil en w ith
shut thiors.

;:t,cWcat kVontEor.

N M BER 11.

MMUS POPVLI Burni:l4k r3T LEI

nu•slis

-- nee brachia re.:' at•,-eßtys,,
!'.cc yrs we pot: st. UOID.

FROM the earliest period of medicine, the approach of
Spring has always been considered pregnant with mani-
fold evibt to the human frame, and various have been the
expedients by which mankind have end :soured to avert
oramnteract them. Threughout the whole living creation,
whether animal or vegetable, the change operated by the,
season is particularly striking; the circulation of the vital
fluid, whether this be bleed or vegetable sap, receives a
new impetus, its quantity appears to be increased, and
functions long lain dormant are resumed with renovated
vigour. All nature seems revived by its genial influence,
" all is activity, all is life." Shall man alone then entlin
inconvenience and distress from a cause which to the
rest of the creation is the source of joy and delight? How
is the filet? and what arc the causes of this perversion of
blessing? The former is undeniable, the hater arc to be
sought for in the vices inherent in the artificial habits of
society. It is sufficient to mention Apoplexy, Gout, and
Cutaneous diseases of different descriptions, which are
usually more prevalent ut this season, as evidence of the
fact that a certain change is efleseed either in the state of
the solids, or in the composition or distribution of the
fluids by the influence of the Spring. These diseases ere-
said to be much more frequent in this country in the pre-
sent day than formerly, nor would it be an easy matter
with truth to contradict the assertion; let us endeavour
then to ascertain the causes to which such an unfavour-
able change may be justly attributed; this will necessari-
ly lead to the means by which the evil may be diminished.
'We will thr the present confine our attention to Apoplexy,
a disease so sudden in its attack and so rapidly fittal in its
tennination, that it is commonly in our power to use pre.-
ventive means alone to guard against its operation. This
disease, as is well known, consists in a sudden effusion
upon the brain, of blood or serum, in consequence of the
rupture of some vessel within that organ. Whatever
therefore either increases Lite rapidity of the circulation in,
or determines a greater quantity of blood to the head.
may give rise to this effusion. If it be the natural efiect
of Spring to increase the quantity of blood and to impart
vigour ta the vessels, a greater pralisposition to the
diseese must necessarily be produced. Were man to
assimilate his mode of lui with that of the inferior ail
main it is probable that Le would be equally free from
attacks of this disease; but in hint the pralispoeitiea
is called into action by various cecitieg causes Mei-
dent to his habits and permits. With these at present
we have nothing. to do; it is the predisposition only under
considers-ohm; nor are we 11ONV to enter into the quesiina
of this as produced by other causes than that nature;
plethora, the consequence of the influence of the venial
season. The increased frequency of Apoplexy, is I know
to be attributed to other cause's besides this, these I may
hereafter treat of; my business is to enquire if this ahs
has not in modern times a mere extensive operation thas
it formerly had. To deter line this question, it will he
requieite to compare the different modes of life in the
two periods, us connected with this subject. Ido nut
know that individuals of the present time, indulge mots
freely than their ancestors in tl.e pleasures of the table,
so fruitful at source of plethora in the blood vessels:.
Good living has always been the charucteristie pro•
pensitv of an Englishman, ilmt I think that oar fore.
fhthers edupted more precautions to obviate the hurtful
effects of such indulgence, although perhaps not with an
express view to this purpene. What we call the prejue
dices t;fliperstition certaitily prevailed much more former-
ly than at present. Without adverting to the time when
the l'opish religion was the generel religion of the coun-
try, when the practise of overfeeding was seasonably in.
terrupted by the frequent fasts enjoined by its ordinances,
I may olenrve that within our own memory, the majority
of pereons within the pale of the Established Churclekern
with much regularity, the fell or moditied fasts sanctioned
by its Caren:,. In this case the SalS4:ll of Lent must
have been singula-rly beneficial, a vegetable dinner, or
even a mad cenfined to fish alone (exerting at least twits:
in a week, must have had some evident effect in ceunter-
acting the ill clieets of a constant use of meat stud wive,
especially if adapted et eke .very time when the accents-
lation of bleed and increase of vignur were most to be
dreaded. A considerable change .lese ,enetiAnly takes
plum in this respect withinehe hen Eskf. century, perhaps
within the last thirty years. v The prep:teem, of Disco.
tors is within thisiperiod considerably increased, who to.
tally diseegerd the obstenenice of these cussoeus, and even
among the most orthudox they have ecaed to maintain
their thriller influence. If this view of the matter shall
net be thought visionary and unfimndel, it may segnest
some useful precepts for our conduct; but as this is not
the only chantee ill our habits which may have se.i. ea
effect in increasing the frequency of Apoplexy, I ahaall ad•
vest to the others in ply next paper. G.

Thaler, belongirg to the Post Oftle.,, •s•ho W 33 erfkl:ll
cY.eration on \VGOneglay neat fur 2t,-..ling Qoi. 1.. tt
cut or a Idttcr, I.:us iepricrc \ lit s.