The National Register.
London, England, 1819-07-19 00:00:00

No. 1200.—V01.. XII.]

Volitical Uttroopett.

'fur .session of Parliament has now doted, and
presents to us a retrospect of checqucred and varied
character, cheering in some points, but sinserably
calculated to excite despondency in -ethers. The
popular spirit which animated and throated the re-
turns at the late ckctkm, in almost every quarter,
where it could fairly and fully u.. 1, was mzturally
hailed as an auspicious .omen or an approaching im-
provement in our national policy, and a confidence
began to be cherished that all glaring and notorious
abuses of power at least would be no longer sanc-
tioned. -.Ministers themselves were not unalarmed,
and their -sdaole application of political tactics
clearlrproves it. Week after week passed away
beferewny thing was brought forward which could
bring into view the relative strength of their friends
and their opponents. But in the reran time they
were not idle. Not only were those arts which the
long possession of place teaches, and the intimate
aequaintanee will. the weaknc.s of some, and the
wickedness of others, which it affords, turned to
every possible account; but a pretended semblance
of liberality of sentiment and measures was adopted,
admirably adopted to win the young and uususpect-
ng, to lull to rest the vigilance of those who are
not accustomed to political manceavres, and finally
to secure to themselves the conCnuance of place and
power. Nay, tLey did net hesitate, in acme in-
stances, to avow the total change of their own minds
io favour of measures they hail once most violently
opposed, and expressed on :A occasions an anxiety to
be enlightened .and informed. They presented
then:selves as recd.:, Against which the storin might
vent its fury; but could make no impression where it
found no resistance. They talked and vapoured
about purity of elections, and joined in the punish-
ment of. bribery and corruption, when it could nei-
ther be palliated nor concealea. They saw the
:wintry determined upon the removal of the Bank
Restriction, and they immediately united, after
having kept the bubble entire fir twenty years, in
burstieg and trampling it beneath their own feet.
Mr. Grenfel had so long and perseveringly exposed
the glaring impropriety and the evil tendency of the
subsisting connection of Government with the Bank,
that this bond oil union was every day becoming
more hopeless of continuance. The whole body of
the ministry turned at once their backs upon their
&Mies, and ,a rupture, a happy rupture, between
those whom an evil policy had so long held toge-
ther, followed. -The same indefatigable gentleman
recommends, from the opposition, a recourse to the
sinking fund instead of the money market, Mr. Van-
sittart handsomely assares that side of the House how
gratefaily he accepts their assistance, and the 'Aim
is. pursued .accordingly. Sir M. W. Ridley expa-
tiates upon. the vexations and.tronbles of surcharges,
and threatens to .bring forward an awkward motion
fir Ministers to grapple with, unless an accommo-
dation is granted by .allowing a composition at a
giren sum,and for a given period. This plan also
is received with gratitude. Mr. Brougham, how
wisely we must presume to question. is, after every
species of obloquy and abuse being poured upon him,
persuaded to leave in the hands of Lord Castlereagh
hi; subject of enquiry into the public charities, and
his
.Lordship is now the champion of the injured and
defrauded poor. How his Lordship, and .Lord Lass-