The National Register.
London, England, 1820-05-07 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

1 PI

ON TUE PRESENT SESSION OF PARLIAMENT.
Tat subject which first attracts our attention on
the opening of a new Parliament, and of a new
reign, is what is termed " The King's Speech,"
although we both (of course) constitutionally, and
in some measure personally, consider the same as
the speech of the Ministers. We are glad to ob-
serve some notice there taken, at last, of the dis-
tresses of the people, and some expressions of
commiseration for them; but we are sorry to learn
that all the comfort offered to us is, the old song of
Castlereagh and Co., that they are but temporary.
Now if they are temporary (which we have been
told these five years, during which things have got
worse and worse), they must be temporary from
one of these two reasons:—l. Either the fugitiv'
nature of the malady ; or, 2. From some radical
measures likely to be soon adopted, with every fair
prospect of alleviations to the thing complained of.
And yet we find the wisdom and flrtnness of the late
Parliament panegyrized ; a Parliament which contri-
Fated, by the wisdom of their Counsels, not one
individual measure to fill the hungry mouth, or com-
fort and aid the empty belly. To frighten and
deter they did "possit quod vivida virtus," all they
could ! But whether wisdom and firmness, amid
public distress, be simply shewn by measures of
coercion alone, we shall readily leave Lord Castle-
reagh's friend, "Posterity," (to whom he has left
his treaties of peace as a kind and benevolent legacy
—" with all assurances of his high and continued
consideration)," to decide.
What supple kind of a thing posterity may be,
cramped and hood-winked, as the animal will be,
i.shered into the world under the midwifery of that
astonishing accoucheur, Doctor Sidmouth Sangrado,
and dandled by Lord Castlereagh, we cannot ima-
gine; but we must own this ministerial manifesto
and panegyric, under a new reign, does not augur
any thing very good.
The answer of the Commons and Lords is, 'as
usual, an echo of the Speech; and while to forms of
civility and respect, the expression of great truths is
to be sacrificed, we cannot much wonder that Princes
who live at a distance from the bulk of mankind,
and have only a bird's eye view of things below, are
continually misled.. We are sorry to observe, that it
is not Parliament alone, but public meetings called,
upon the accession of his present Majesty to the
throne, which have abstained from addressing the
throne in that language which the times imperiously
require. It is the misfortune of the age, and the
peculiar disgrace of our opponents in public matters,
that the cause of humanity and truth, if advocated
by an oppositionist, is stigmatized with the imputa-
tion of party motive, and we know that an unwil-
lingness to do any thing which could be imputed to
so narrow a spirit, and which, from such imputation,
might have lost its practical effect, alone hindered
some individuals from making comments upon many
of the complimentary addresses lately presented to
a.. .1...... Pcipottlal ulr p./aition looks like ob-
stinacy too often, instead of what it ought to be
deemed, against error, manly perseverance.
In sonic such language as the following we should
with the throne to have been addressed
" Sire,—We approach the throne, not to flatter,
and much less to insult yea, but us addressing a
Sovereign who ought to consider himself as having
no rights acrd nu interests separate from his people,
but whose political existence ought to be identified,
as our father and our friend, with the interests and
happiness of the community, over which, with regal
power, you arc called to preside.
"Do not deceive yourself, Sire, you have suc-
ceeded under trying circumstances to the throne of
your ancestors! and as new situations have actually
some effect in mcdi:yi»g our proceedings, we derive
hopes ,on that score to the public councils of the
country. But, S►re, we cannot conceal from you
that, in our judgment, the true spirit of that free

Constitution, of which you are the executive head,
has been under your predecessor's reign, front one
cause or another, much impaired. Not that we
would blame your predecessor, who has paid what
Kings like subjects must pay, the debt of nature,
and with whose reign we join the recollection of
some particular acts grateful to us as freemen, and
the remembrance of distinguished private virtues,
but that we lament the general tenor of the public
course's to which it was nut surprising your prede-
cessor should be favourable, when he saw them
sanctioned by those Parliaments, which were sup-
posed to represent the feelings and the judgment of
the British people, but which appear to have been
too compliant to the feelings of sycophants or min.
taken men, who either to flatter power, or through
some fatal error in judgment, contributed to give
both to their Sovereign and the Parliament erro-
neous views of public affitirs; and who, in partici'.
lar, have dared to avow, and act upon a notion, that
the interests of a community are chiefly confined to
the existence and well-being of particular classes,
and not in the feelings, interests, anti happiness of
that multitude of reasonable beings, with the shape
and intellect of man, who are those subjects which
the King, as the great executive head, is designed
to govern.
" What is the consequence of such counsels? You
have great shew, in certain classes of society, of
riches and prosperity, but amid these appearances,
those classes of the community, whose industry
maintains us all, are oppressed, and a large portion
of them utterly deprived of those comforts to which
even the humblest walk of honest industry is en-
titled; while thousands, beyond those who belong
to professions, or who follow salaried employments
naturally vowing out of a civilized state, fatten on
the labour of their fellow-creatures, amid opulence
which has accrued to them out of public pedlary and
extravagant dissipation of the public burthens—
burthens intended in their nature merely to supply
'the necessary wants of Government, and not to op-
press the people; we are told that these incon-
veniences resulted from wars which have saved us
from revolution, of which, if there ever has been
really any just apprehension, that apprehension
might have been much more easily removed by
timely concessions to the wishes of the people in
political matters, and which ultimately, we are per-
suaded, will be made, when the necessity of those
concessions stares us in the face, amid general ruin.
" Sire 1 These great truths have not been suffi-
ciently pressed upon your predecessor ! and instead
of measures of public relief, the attention of Govern-
ment seems wholly to have been directed towards
suppressing by force the effects, and not relieving
the causes, of public uneasiness.
" The legislative bodies, and especially the repre-
sentatives of the people, were intended to establish
that communication between the people and the
Government, which should hinder such a state of
things. Exercise, then, we beseech you, the con-
stitutional power which you possess, by calling
around you men who shall take every step to identify
those bodies (which were intended to attach and link
the people to the throne), with the feelings anti the
interests of the community, and which, by modifica-
tions and changes no way endangering their exist-
ence, it is both possible and easy yet to accomplish
before an entire distrust of those who govern, arises
in the hearts of those who obey."
Such is the language which we think ought,
under present circumstances, to be addressed to the
throne, and we shall pursue, in our next number,
the thread of our idea.
IVe have iittle to add at present but to look back
with pity (while we acknowledge the necessary jus-
tice of their fate) upon those unhappy men who,
goaded in their minds by a sort of insane despera-
tion, would have snatched the rod of vengeance from
the hands of God and their country, against those
whom they deemed objects of their vengeance.—

Thank heaven! bad as things are, there is no reason
yet to despair, that public delinquency will, wherein
it really merits, sooner or later meet with punish.
ment, without invoking the hand of the assassin to
supply its place. But what must be the feelings, if
any feelings they possess, of those who have been,
and who still persist, the supporters of the Pitt
system, when, as now, they view the effect of their
measures, in having reduced Englishmen to such a
state of poverty and distress, phrenzy and t:espair,
afforded such food for discontent to brood upon, that
thirty or forty individuals (if first accounts be true)
Englishmen, could be found worked upon, by a
sense, however shamefully directed, of public injury,
so as to handle the dagger of the assassin !
We shall drop the subject, content with remind.
log Pittites, wherever they remain unshaken by the
remonstrances of truth, of this aphorism, " OppreF.-
sion and misery are the parents of crime;" because,
though they can never drive a good man to bad
deeds, yet they drive the evil to acts of wicked
desperation.
One more topic solicits our attention this week,
and it is " the Civil List ;" npon which we shall
briefly say, that we arc greatly surprised (heedless
of public opinion as Ministers appear), that they
have nut, in the name of their Royal Master, offered
some diminution of the public burthens connected
with this article, rather than put into his mouth
that he will be content with what was settled in the
year 1816, when it is by no means clear that the
same grounds exist for the different items, and when,
if they do exist, the hourly craving necessity of the
times cries out, that great sacrifiees must be made
somewhere, and where can they begin so well as at
Court?

FRO.II LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE.

This Gazette notifies the appointment of Charles Woodcock,
of Coventry. in the county of Warwick. Gent. to be a Master
Extraordinary in the Court of Chancery.

BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED.
W. Matthews, Birmingham. Warwick, upholsterer.
It. Kay, Bury, Lancashire, cotton spinner.
BANKRUPTS.
.1. Nowill, Cheapside, stationer. Solicitor, Mr. Abbott, Mark
Lane.
J. Oglethorpe, Liverpool, porter merchant. Sol. ,Ir. James,
Ely Place, Holborn.
T• Benson, Sheffield, grocer: Sol. Mr. Hindmarsh, Jcwin,
Street, Cripplegate.
R. Fry, Leicester Square, linen draper. Sol. Mr. Chipchase
Bow Lane. Cheapside.
J. E. Collins, Wood Street, Cheapside, cloth factor. Sol. Mr.
Leigh, Charlotte Row. Mansion House.
T. Moore, Lullington. Derbyshire, dealer. Sols. Messrs.
Alexander and Holme, New Inn.
J. Hobbes, Titchfield, Southampton, drarcr. Sobs. Messrs..
Alexander and Holme, New Inn.
H. Billinge, Liverpool. printer. Sols. Messrs. Adlington and
Gregory. Bedford Row.
.1. Leverett. East Denham, Norfolk, innkeeper. Sol Mr.
Yeates. Temple.
J. Featherstone, Worcester, victualler. Sol. Mr. Berle, De-
vonshire Street, Queen Square.
T. Creasy, Chelmsford, Essex, draper. Sol. Mr. Bond, Ware,
Hens.
J. Beck. Sweeting's Alley, Corrihill, watchmaker. Sol .
Messrs. Mayhew and Co., Chancery Lane.
J. and J. Silver, and A. Boyson, Size lane, merchants. Soli.
Messrs. Kearsey and Spurr. Bishopsgate Street.
DIVIDENDS.
May 30, B. Wells, GrAcechurch Street, hosier-21. E.Bource-
Austinfriars, merchant—Y7, J. Blake, Parson's Green. brewer-
-27, W. Hodge, Great Hermitage Street, ship owner—l 6, W.
Parker, W hitechapel, oiknan-4, M. Buckland. Bayswater,
victualler-27, J. and J. Coombe*, Shadwell, coopers--20, (;•
Brown, Broad Street. Westminster. upholsterer—So. J. Citniaii,
Sun Street, Bishopsgate, tallow chandler-20, W. and H.
Munro, Upper Thames Street, merchants-30, W. Cross, Lom-
bard Street, banker—lli, W. Nicholls, lluntingdon, sack and
rope maker-27, W. Davis, Newbury, Berks. upholsterer-2U,
G. Upton, Queen Street, oil and colour merchant-21, J. Cut-
bush, A ylesford, Kent, barge builder-30, W. E. Browne, Stock
Exchange, stock broker-4, J. Day and J. Spratswell,
Tavis-
t2ck Street, Covent Garden, drapers-27. It. Crunibie, Chelsea,
victualler-30, G. Ridge, Reading, Bettis, millwright—ll, J. S.
Manfredi. T. Luff, and H. lienshali, Norton Falgate, silk
dyers—June 6, T. A. Minchin, W. G. Carter, and A. Kelly,
Portsmouth, bankers.
CERTIFICATES to be granted May 27.
D. Chettleburgli, jun. Norwich, wine merchant—S. Hould,
Laytonstune, Essen, Featherstonliangh, Bishop
Wearmouth, Durham, coal fitter—J. Bone, Truro. Cornwall,
linen draper—T. Salisbury, Preston, Lancashire, grocer—H.
Myers and I'. Holmes, Newcastle upon Tyne, linen drapas—
A. Shaw, East Smithfield, victualler—W. Ilissix. Bristol, pipe
maker—G. Iludd, Norwood, miller—J. Macintosh, Kingcml,
Surrey, maltster—W. Flear, Turnagain Lane, Flcec Mark:,
painter—N. Parker, Compton Street, Brunswick Swale, Till I,
chant—S. Nestle, Leeds. flour sellet—J.ll ells, Newport, Mon-
mouth, boat builder—T. Griffin, Trentham, Suefford, dealer—
H. and J. Hosking, South Brent, Devonshire, yarn makers—T
Leadbitter, Newcastle upon Tyne, linen draper—D. Lalumn
Liverpool, on:reliant—S. George and R. Webb, Bristol, sugar
refine:*.

PRIVITE PETWONS.-It will be seen by our
report of the proceedings in the House of Commons
on Thursday night last, that the time for receiving
private petitions, which was originally limited to
the sth of May, has been extended on the motion
of the Speaker to the 12th instant.

Lemon.
SUNDAY, MAY 7.

We this day give a full account of the execution
of Thisticwood and four of his associates ; we wish
we could have stopped here, but, as faithful jour-
nalists, we arc bound to record all that passes, and
have therefore narrated the bloody, brutalizing exhi-
bition that followed it. The immense assemblage
that was collected, uttered not a single murmur
while the unhappy men yielded their lives to the
offended laws of their Country, but the moment the
butchery began,execrations burst from every quarter.
The French populace were prepared for the scenes
that disgraced the national character during the
Revolution, by such scenes as the execution of
Damiens, Ravillac, &c., and we are confident that
had the people of England for one year witnessed
an exhibition of decapitation every week, the pro-
duction of the knife at the Old Baily, which was
intended by lags to have been the means of murder.
ing his Majesty's Ministers, would not have pro.
duced that involuntary shudder which was lately

heard in that Court. The de-moralization of the
of the human mind is not so difficult as some persons
seem to think, and we would advise our govenors
to bear that fact in mind.

Mr. Brougham put the propriety of Government
employing Agents or Spies, to make discoveries in
in case of the existence of plots or conspiracies against
the State, in a proper point of view is the House
of Commons, on Tuesday night. All Governments
have recourse to such means to discover plots ; but
if the persons who are employed for that purpose
become plot-makers themselves, then their conduct
is calculated to bring odium on their employers, and
they are no longer deserving of their protection or
support. We do not know what course the Ad-
ministration will pursue with respect to the disclo-
sure made by Alderman Wood, in the House of
Commons, respecting Edwards, whose name ap•
pears recorded in the State Trials. If the charges
against him can be proved, then Government has
nothing further to do with the business but to let
justice take its course. We cannot see how such a
proceeding can in the least embarrass administration ;
on the contrary, it must lead to the most salutary re-.
sults, and prevent those observations which are now
heard in every society, where the proceedings in the
late State Trials are discussed.

Letters were yesterday received in town, dated
from her Majesty's Villa at Pesaro, 15th April, and
announcing her departure fur England on that day.
and her Majesty's intention of travelling hither
without stopping.

From the expedition made by the Queen in her
route, it is believed that her Majesty will arrive at
Calais by the end of this week, where apartments
are taken for her residence ; and Lady Ann Hamil-
ton, with other persons of her establishment, have
received an intimation to proceed to l)over to wait
her further instructions.

We learn from the Paris Papers of Sunday and
Monday last, that the King of England has given
1001. towards the subscription for erecting a monu-
ment to the memory of M. Malesherbet, the heroic
defender of the martyred Louis XVI. A letter from
Inspruck, dated the 19th ult. states, that on the
19th ult. Queen Caroline quitted Rome, with all
her suite, for Pesaro, where her Majesty was to
remain only a few days, and then take her depar-
ture for Milan, on her route to this country, and
was expected to embark fur England on the first of
the present month. The accounts from Madrid in
hoe papers are of the 22d ult. Ferdinand, it is

said, daily gives new guarantees to the Constitutional
Party. He has decreed that all functionaries who
lost their places by the decree of 1814, which an-
milled the Constitution of the Cortes, shall be in-
demnified to the -amount of the loss they have
sustained by their removal from their former
appointments. The battalions of Guides and Lealtad
rendered infamous by their atrocious exce!ses at
Cadiz on the 10th of March, are at Ayamcnta, in a
state of open insurrection. Don Raphael Riego has
set off with a division to attack these rebels. Every
arm in Spain should be raised agaiust these cowardly
assassins, who are a disgrace to their wuntry.—
Private Tatters from Barcelona mention, that in all
Catalonia a National Militia, or more properly per-
haps, Volunteer Army, is organising with the
greatest enthusiasm. It is calculated, that if the
other Provinces arm with the same spirit, in six
months the Kingdom will have under arms a mil-
lion of men, able to defy all its internal and external
enemies.

American Papers to the 6th of lust month reached
WI on Thursday. They confirm the previous
accounts received, that the question between the
United States and Spain, respecting the cession of
the Floridas to the former, has been suspended.—
The reason assigned in a message front the President
to Congress is. that the French and Russian Govern:
ments have expressed a desire, that the United States
would take no steps for the present, on the prin-
ciple of reprisal, which might possibly tend to
disturb the peace betwien the United States
and Spain. The President, under all the circum-
stances, thinks it desirable to postpone the decision,
and in a manner highly creditable to the American
Government, observes, that " the distress of Spain
at this juncture affords a motive for this forbearance,
which cannot fail of being duly appreciated.' The
Philadelphia Theatre was totally consumed by fire
on the 4th ult. The American Papers contain a
copy of the confession of Hall, one -of the two men
who robbed the Baltimore mail and murdered the
driver. The money, amounting to 5000. dollars in
notes, besides post and cut notes, has been recovered.

Copy of a letter from a Gentleman at Pesaro,
dated the 7th Her Majesty, Queen Ca-
roline, will leave this for England on the 19th.
Yesterday she took leave of most of her friends• in
the neighbourhood of Pesaro; she gave them a
handsome dinner; the guests gave her Majesty un-
feigned testimony of their attachment, and expressed
much regret at her intended departure for England.
Hcr Majesty drank Health and prosperity to his
Wiest), George LV.' the toast was received with
enthusiasm by the whole company. The guests left
the Palace at eight o'clock, highly gratified by the
amiable and condescending manners of her Majesty.
The health of her Majesty is as good as her sin-
cerest friends can wish; she will thus be enabled to
travel rapidly to England."
Mr. Bennett, lately of Sinulwell Office, is ap-
pointed to Worship-street, in the room of Mr.
Mainwaring, who succeeded Mr. Baker at Marlbo-
rough-street.
The Irish Judge Lord Norbury, having accident-
ally met Counsellor Spear, who had recently pur-
chased a horse, was asked by his Lordship how he
approved of the animal? " Not at all, my Lord,"
replied the Barrister, " tOr he trots very high, and
is very uneasy." " Then," rejoined the Judge, "if
you have not already named him, I will advise you
to call him Shake-spear."
A superb vase of silver plate, and gilt within, va-
lued at forty guineas, has been executed iu Shef-
field, for the purpose of being presented, on his
Lorship's return into Yorkshire, to the Right Hon.
Earl Fitzwilliain, by the artisans of that town and
neighbourhood, as a teetimony of their respect and
approbation of his exemplary and patriotic conduct
during the last twenty years, while he held the
offices of Lord Lieutenant and Cento.i• nu/donna of
this Riding. The vase is twenty inches in height,
richly embossed with suitable ornaments. and bear-
ing two inscriptions. The workmanship reflects us
much credit on the ingenuity of the Sheffield work-
men as the magnificence of the gill does Ull their
liberality ; the expellee having been principally
raised by individual coutributions of one penny each.
Miss Splmy, who led the business at the Rich-
mond I !mare during the last two. seasons, with
great success. is engaged uu. Liberal terms at the
Coburg Theatre, and will shortly appear there in a
new piece, founded on an interesting period ut' the
Roman history, which is gettirig up with great
splendour.