The National Register.
London, England, 1820-01-09 00:00:00

,IRELANA

DEATH of the "RIGHT HON. the COUNTESS TALBOT.
Dublin, Thursday Evening, Dec. 30.

(From The Patrioo
It has pleased Divine Providence to visit our.
illustrious Viceroy, the good and popular Lord Tal-
bot, with one of the severest trials that can afflict
man in this world. At a quarter btifore six o'clock
this morning. the amiable and most excellent Count-
ess Talbot departed this life. Her Ladyship's
order was an inflammation of the bowels.
Frances Thom: vine Countess Talbot was married
to our beloved Viceroy on the 28th day of Auguss‘
IVOO, She was our countrywoman,: she was still
more—shn was the friend of our country, the pm-
tectress of its industry, the patroness of all its
benevolent mid useful institutions. The whole king-
dom will mourn sincerely the death of this most
excellept Lady, whose exemplary dtnucstie virtues
and amiable private character set a distinguished
example to females of all ranks. Her Ladyship has
left eleven children. Viscount Ingrstrie, the heir.
apparent of this noble house, wits born on the 1 Ith
of July, 1802.
His Excellency Lord Talbert was a constant
attendant at the bed-side of his Countess from the
first moment of her illness. We shall not attempt
to describe his Excellency's agony of grief: it is too
sacred for public observation.

--
ROBBERY or Trill SOUTIIAMISTON BANK.-111 con‘es
qttence of the M4.44'1%4.114.4'4e and distress 41'11119g fl oft she
stespeu•iott of meta at haves. Smith's Musk. a meet-
itta oat. Ittild at Fietelaer's Library on Tortola.) Itst, cosi-
si•tilig of several highly I espectahle gentlemen of
ta‘eo dull ne.l4l.hotil hood, who panbril a at t ing of resuiti-
tion•, pledging themselves to distil:tree the sshole of the
hills of [heir lespectiye tradesnlen be lure the Ist of Fe-
brit as y. This ell-conti iv ca, lintiottrable, and joiliciena
meastue, has also the moue eenclit renCE and apptobatioh
of many other 01 the prineiiial gentlemen iti the vicinity.,
*lsom the shot tlit•ss of the notice and the slate of the
uralloir prevented ft being psesent ; and it is
not &misted that it will be the means 4)1 Minding mall
rhausanda ef pounds into i ttttt treliate eilenhthsit sinus g
muse who have been principally incommoded by tile
aeci.lent of the I'. sok • 'The chair was taken by Admiral
.ileutt, and the remittal...its were moved a 1.41 sr cuwiril by
W. A. Mackinnon, Esq. M. P., end Sir Janos Lindy
K.C. R.
A young net of the name of Jones (whose mother
and family reside in Ilittington) met with an untimely
death recently, while in the act of rowing his little punt
to the shore (he having pine out for the purpose of Attain.
Mg some wild fowl; its order to avoid the effects of an
approaching storm. Capt. Lister, of the Resolution
ree rinse cotter, perceived him sirmaling in the water,
an .1 immediately ordered a boat to be maimed ; but his
praiseworthy eXelrllollll were unfortunately frustra.ed, be
having, stitlk before the boat reached the spot.
Samuel Wellington, private in the 23d rstsileers,
lately tried by a general courisniartiel at cork, for pre-
senting his musket at %elitist exercieli4 at
Newcastle. county of Limerick. was ..-ntenced to itoo
lashes. The sentence has been commuted to drum-
ming hitn, with tottoutiala stit of (hitt telinlaillbl•
estop.

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ChV MEM:IIIY 14FL UEII CE.
••••-

M. Cottu, who stands high in the annals of
French literature, was deputed by the French Go-
vernment some time ago to visit England for the
purpose of possessing himself of every information
on the subject of our laws. He has published a large
volume on the subject, " De l'Administration de la
Justice eriminelle en Angleterre, et de l'exprit du
Government Anglais•" The remarks are very good
--those on our criminal law are too long for our
present purpose; but his description of Parliamen-
tary influence is too just to be passed over. He
guys,—

" In England public tranquillity is founded upon
the equal means of attack and defence possessed by
different parties; and it is on this account that Par-
liament always evinces so much difficulty in adopt-
ing any changes that are proposed in the constitution
of the kingdom. This body understands, as well as
any other, the specious good which those changes
promise; but it is restrained by the fear that their
consequences may derange the relation 'of powers
actually sulnisting,destroy the political equilibtium,
and throw the whole systera into confusion. Ad.
verse pretensions are balanced in the actual state of
things ; and k is in this that the wisdom and per-
fection of government are to be fund. Whatever
tends to disturb that even state is absurd, and may
cause the destrtiction uf the political machine.
" Every Englishman is therefore exalted by this
reflection—that it is only by his eourage and de-
votedness that he can preserve his rights, as well as
Isis property, for ever threatened by the attacks of
innovators. He well knows that the loss of his
liberties would soon lie followed by the loss of his
property, and there is no reason why the one should
be respected more than the other. He is, in con-
sequence, always ready to defend them, either with
his person or his purse. Very unlike us French-
men, who, accustomed peaceably to enjoy the fruits
of our industry, or the inheritance of our fathers,
rely on Government for the care .of protecting
them : the English, on the contrary, make this care
the first of their duties, and the meet important bu-
siness of their lives They are born, as it were,
soldiers fur this kind of warfare, and their whole
education is directed with a view to- render them
capable of managing it with success.
Such is the true source of their so much boasted.
patriotism. I would not wish, however, to dispute
what is culled their public spirit, and the disposi-
tion which they manifest to sacrifice all their pos-
sessions to the defence, and even to the glory of
their country; but this sentiment thin!, uodresses
itself to powerfully to their hearts on critical occa-
sions, is not that to which I. conceive. we ought ex-
clusively so attribute the ordinary precision with
which they perform their civil duties. Thispreci-
sion flows from their individual interest, and the
opinion entertained by all—some that their liberty
sad others that their rank and fortune and privileges
depend on the uninterrupted exercise of those rights
which they derive fsom the constitution. It is
this feeling which prompts the chief proprietors in
erery minty eagerly to procure their names to be
enrolled on the list of grand jurors, or in the com-
mission of the prace, and to charge themselves with
the painful fut.etions of the magistracy. The same
sentiment renders those who enjoy the elective
franchise so jealous of rights, ia which, as I shall
afterwards prove, they find a daily source of at.
tention and benevolence on the part of the first
gentry in the country ! and inspires petty juries
with so generous a devotion to their duties, in the
assurance ohith they have, that by these means
their fortunes, liberties. and lives, are secured
against all the assaults of power and tyranny.
" It is also from a similar motive that the sons of
fanners, or proprietors of moderate fortune, are de-
sirous of registering themselves amongst the Teo-
enapry, and form a hotly of cavairy, svhose principal
object is to keep the peasants and artisans in sulior-
dination ; and that the sons of more wealthy pro-
prietors place themselves at. the disposition of the
sheriff, in order to serve as special constables, when-
ever public tranquillity has been disturbed by any
sedition. °ace clothed with this temporary office,
they are seen to precipitate themselves, armed only
with a sitnple stuff, the distinctive sign of their
authority, into the midst of the must temultous as-
semblages, endeavouring to disperse them by
exhortoions ; and if they culvert prevail, urn sting
the disturbers at the peril of their lives. And let
it not be supposed that the offer which they make of
.their assistance may be quite illusory, and that in
of dangee it may be easy to withdraw
t which they have contracted.—
sheriff they should not instantly
disorder, they would not 'fail
aa the restoration of anus-

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

quality, as guilty of negligence in the exercise of
their functions • and they would inevitably be con.
demned to make IL reparation according to their
means, and to their culpability.
"All these cares, embarrassments,and dangers, are
not felt by the English as oppressive burdens. but
are regarded as the necessary consequences of their
liberty, and are converted into a sort of occupation
into an object both of interest and pleasure. Their
rights and privileges become even more estimable in
their sight from the fistigues attending theqt, as a
child is often more endeared to its mother by the
sufferings. whieh its birth occasioned, and by the
inqnictude produced in its tender age. Without
the sort of agitation which results from these differ-
, ent causes, they would perish in their vast mansions
with abundance, happiness, and ennui.
" But all the sacrifices which 1 have described
are as nothing when compared with those' made by
the principal country proprietors, whether to pro-
cure their own election as Members of Parlia-
ment or the election of their friends and depen-
dents.
‘‘ When I formerly heard in France of the im-
mense sums which the English expended in order
to be returned to Parliament, I found it difficult
to imagine what was the equivalent advantage to
be derived from their nomination, or what recom
pence it could procure them. Where, indeed, was
to be found the compensation for one or two million
of livres ?• This formed a problem which I could
not then explain ; bu.t at that time I was unac-
quainted with their manners.
Accustomed to pass their lives on their estates,
the first want which they experience is that of
public consideration—not of that modest considera-
tion founded solely on an esteem for private virtues,
but of that brilliant and envied estimation which
is the fruit of credit and power. Then, as the
strongest evidence of this credit is to be named
Member of Parliament, there is nothing which an
Englishman is not ready to sacrifice in order to at-
taro it.

"An election to serve in Parliament has more-
over this particular attraction—that besides its
being the most certain mark of the actual influence
which the member exercises in his district, it fur-
nishes the means of acquiring a new influence,
especially when he happens to be in the interest of
the Ministry.. He then becomes the dispenser of
all the vacant employnients, in his own county.
There prey not, perhaps, be one that will not be
granted to hisrecommendation.—emlesiastical bene-
fices, offices with sod without duties- annexed to
them, posts in the excise, favours of every descrip-
tion ; nothing is refused, and the Ministers reap the
double advantage of thus drawing eoser the bond
which attaches the member to their cause, and of
assuring to thee/selves the continuar.ce of his sup-
port iu the next parliament, 'oecause the numerous
services which he ha, rendered in his county have
already prepared his re-election.
" There are: several great families who,_ devoted
in this manner to the government from father to
son, appear to have contractcd with it a secret en-
gagement, by virtue of which they hold themselves
bound to employ every in::ans in their power to
procure the return to parliament of a relation
or a friend, upon the condition that in ex-
change for the sacrifices they make they shall have
almost the absolute disposal of all the offices in their
county.. Thus, when Lord Loruutale, for example,
spends 30,0001. or 40,0001. ire order to bring
about the election of his son, or oue of his depend-
ants, to a seat in the House of Commons, it is not
so much the honour of repres,mtation that he pur-
chases at so exhorbitant a price, as it is the crown
itself of Westmoreland.

" In the cities and comities where the ride of op-
position is embraced. a return to Parliament is not
less eagerly sought after, inasmuch as it is a shining
token that die successful candidate is looked upon iu
his district as the ehiefof his party, or as the man
most competent, by his talents and his influence, to
oppose, or perhaps defeat, the enterprizes of
administration.

" But as this much envied milk with electors,
like all other popular affections, is extremely subject
to alteration, it is only by a continual COMIC of
benefits that it can be preserved entire; and it is
thus that the love of authority and supremacy,
which amongst all other nations is the most fre-
quent cause of public misfortunes and individual
grievance, becomes in England an inexhaustible
source of good offices and of protection.
In order to form easily a conception of the whole
extent of the benefits which those who aim at in-
fluencing elections engage to distribute over their
counties, it should be known that the right .of
voting is not confined in England as in France to r
small number of citizens. It belongs to every
citizen who possesses 40s. of revenue (freehold,
(about 48 livres French); and in some char-
tered towns, it is only accessary to be a part
irf the corporates body, to enjoy tbo elective

franchise: so that it may be said, with the execp..
tion of the low people, whose influence over elec-
tions is still very considerable, as 1 shall hereafter
show, that every citizen has a right to assist in the
appointment of members of Parliament.
( To be comtionted.

pabe moment of danger► it
Orem the obligation whi
k If at the call of the eller
.tepait to the seene of dit,
1. ♦ blibeverely guithiliedi,
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