The National Register.
London, England, 1817-12-29 00:00:00

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.

PARIS, DEC. 24.—Yeiterday, before mass, the Roman Of
the Chamber of Deptitieit, with the Minister of the Interior
at its head, presented to the King the project of law adopted
on Saturday by the Chamber, relative to the journals. 'lbw
Ket per of the Seals then had an audience of his Majesty.
It is stated that the Minister of Finance receives daily
new prepositions on the loan of the following year, and that
a concurrence to take part in it favourable to its success is
forming both among foreign capitalits, and houses of the first
eminence in the interior ; but it appears to be ascertained
that the Minister who has provided for the charges of that
current service for the commencement of the year, will not
enter into any negneiation on the subject of the loan, till
after the passing of the law on the budget.
The King, on the proposal of the Minister of War, has
accepted the offer made by 401 half-pay officers, in the de-
partments of Oise, the Somme, the Maine, and Loire, to rea
110110CP a fifth part of half-pay, in arrear for the first quarter
tie lsl4. His Majesty has seen with satisfaction their zeal in
thus lending their aid for the relief of the State. An econo-
mical soup establishment, founded by the DoLe of Berry,
commenced on Friday last its distrilmtion of soup to the
poor, Another establishment of the same kind has been
formed under the patronage of M. Benjamin Delessert, the
banker, member of this Chamber of Deputies.,
A decree of the Royal Court of Montpellier indicting Ma-
dame Mattson for perjury, had ordered her to be tried for
that crime before the Court of Assize at Rho dez. M. le Pro-
eureur-general havingiappealed agnitig this demand, has
sent Madame Manson to be tried at Albi.

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
LIBERIA OF THE PREiS.

In the sitting of the Ifith NI. de Cans combated an ohserta•
tiro made by a preceding speaker, that " public opinion is
the regulator of Goer' neaent and woe to those that do not
tulloµ• it."

- -
" I do not think so, (said the Minister.) This opinion, this Queen
of the world, as same think proper to call her, has too often usurped
her throne to be allowed to keep undisputed possession of it. tha
statesman ought to be more occupied with the opinion of to-morrow
than of yesterday or of todlay. Rarely deem she ratify her first ho-
mage ; the idol to whom she offered incense yesterday, she the next
day breaks in pieces, and from the altar to the watleld, from the l'an-
theon to the Jakes, there is often but one step. Hietory alone judges
the acts of Govenitect t impartially. Certainly Government ought
not to despise present opinion ; they ought to study it in order to in.
street themselves by it; they ought to go along with it, but always
at its head, and not in its rear. I know well that it will be said, that
in marching at its head, one .night, in order not to be overturn ed by
it, to keep pace with the rapidity of its march. But do thir.k
that, by blindly following it, yon will be able to stop when you
choose, or when you ought ? Will you, if you once suffer yourselves
to be dragged along, be able to halt when you come to the precipice?
must you not ineviubly tumble down it? What then ! shall we vo-
luntarily go to the edge of the abyss, into which so many have alrea-
dy been precipitated ? Is experience thrown away upon us ? Ass
the tittles so distant when theories of this sort plunged us kilo over.
whelming misery ; and are not the effeets of it still before oureyes ?
Our scars yet unclosed, our wounds still bleeding, the blood of our
relatives, the blood of our kings—do they not still cry out :dont!?
and will you shut. your ears against them? In cntenng upon n dis-
cussion of the projected law, I must protest against those pleasant-
ries (which however, I shall pass over) so singularly misplaced, in a
discussion of so grave a nature, and so inconsistent in the mouths of
those who pretend to consider that liberty is endangered by the pro-
posed measure. 'fhere ore two kinds of opposition to this iaw. lees
class, if I rightly paned ate their meaning, find the law too liberal ;
it favours too mutt the liberty of the press, a liberty which they t'eiele
always dangerous and inoperable from licentiouriess. Others, tot
the contrary, think the law not liberal enough ; art' that while it
aims at repressing lieentiousnees, it in fact puts chains on liberty
itself. And yet of this law en spurned nt by both parties, 1 will yen.
ture to say, that there is rat a single rigulation that is not in favour
of the genuine liberty w the press."
He concluded a speech of two home (which was delivered
extempore, and winch front time to time was received with
marked approbation,) with the following deeloratien
We liztee no need ofjuetifying our intentions; we have mther eo
guard against a just pride which so much injuetice on the pipit of out
tahmeniaters is calculated to inspire."

M. Leine, the Miuiater ot the Interior, followed in the
same wain, and compared the sun*, ring!: and magnaniniit of
['ranee to the picture of a great ill4ll struggling with adver.
sic', a areentele, gays Seneca, worthy ot Or ends.
In the sitting of the 17th, M. fl in addressed the Chatnb'P,
and made some itdicietta and tenmerate observairms. fie
was stromtly in favour of referring ...uses cothiected with the
almses of the inept 19 a jury; and coin:hided by moving the
following amendment

" The present law shall be In Twee only till the Ist of Ja.ins7.
' •of a la, shall ' •it, •4.

ant,.
abuse
sent

_
sion

the t.
tiptr

been
insc7

_ . .. .
ten; is tare that periol a project of a law shall he submitted, car 7,
stlittriring the application of a jury to (ranee:: r.,sulting from AR
>wie of the ',MK. All the legislative enactments anterior to the pro.
nt law are abrogated." li,
Thus amended, he said he should vote for the project.
The President.—.. M. Latitte has the right next to deliver kb
tyli." (Mangy vet cc, Close the discussion ! Cliwc the &seas-
on
31. Illanquart-Railleul (in his place.)--" Mr. President, I claire e
c. , 0 i
execution of the regulation; you do not call upon the speakers al. . tv•
•
rnately for and against the law." ,
The Pre •ident.-6' I beg the Chamber to observe, that I did not - r •
' • .. I.
;psi this appeal. I call upon the speakers tait,tittlly. according to - ' 41. '.
mender in which their nausea are erdezed ; but it does not depend
pon me to dictate what side they shall take." t 4
NI. iilanquart Ilailleul (from the tnbune).—`. You must have .
:ell much strpri...ai, Gentlemen, that many of those or4tors, who . .
scribed their mums hi favour of the law. have, in cilia. ~,,,e,,,,d
. te.tl aft,:n at all ',MIA:. [A general laugh.l The defenders of V." ..
~.. pro.tect arc rely great orators ; tont if they Were lilleyerz, I w oul.l . . ;
t(I a A them with a cause of mine. [Renewed and 1-ttal hmigiu . -
C 1 1 Giluaid Bay t• atena, if we had to ruins* Att tbstaks for ibilk
' .
•

M. Llrtitie ascended the tribune, and spoke against the
I :w. The Court adjourned.
In the sitting of the Pith, M. de la Boutaye supported the
law in a speech which the French paper, ili-,cribe a. elm-root
and liiminomi, hut which they were unable to give for want
of room. He proposed the following amendment :

" The present law as well, as of the f.).lst Oct. 1914. on
ti police of the press, and the enactments of the law of the utli of
Nov. 1815, relating to the crimes and offences of the press, shall
'seise to have effect at the end of the session lats."
The Minister of the Interior.—" Since the King's Ministers arc
abound of deciding according to caprice or fantasy, of following
the course of what is called the imperious opinion of this Chamber
whether majority or minority, we shall be forgiven for announcing in
the King's name that his Majesty has determined that the amend-
ment cannot be proposal Agitation in me assembly.l I explain the
motive. It is said in the Chamber—The King proposes the taw. I:
may he ameliorated afterwards, but the amendment must not change
both the nature of thu law and the greater part of the criminal legis-
lation." . .

IM. Truncheon approved of the chief articles of the law,
trot contended that the journals should be entirely tree. He
demanded the closing of the discussion. Several voices ap-
approved this, observing, that the assembly was not midi.
viently numerous to deliberate upon a question of this impor-
tance, Other members insisted upon it.
M. Morrie et.—" I demand to be heard. You have lennl with ex-
treme patience a number of orators who were inscribed in favour of
the project, but who, nevertheless, have attacked it in speeches of
from three quarters of an hour to an hour and half in length.
demand the adjournment till to morrow, that there may be at least
ono Member heard who frankly declares his intention ot speaking in
favour of the project."
The President.—." The Asssemhlr appear to be of this opinion :
Med the discussion is therefore adjourned till to-morrow at noon."
In the sittitte uftite 'nth, a most stormy discussion arose in
which M. de Clianvelin bore a primly:ll part. After re
peated attenipis on the part of several members to prolong
she ilehatr, it was elosed by the consent of a large majority.
Ou the following day the Reporter delivered in the Report on
the law, and, at considerable length, supported the conch'.
sions of the Committee on all the points that had been under
the discussion of the Chamber. The President briefly %m-
-imed u p the veactments of the proposed Law, and recited the
substance of the several amendments that hail been proposed.
The limpet of the Seals then signified the king's assent to
the separation of the Projet into two distinct laws, as hail
been suggested by the Committee ; and also to the proposi-
tion for limiting to the termination of the present Session
the operation or the law relative to the Journals. The Pre-
sident annotineed that he was about to put the question on
the division of the Projet. Benoist opposed this course of
proceeding on a !mint of order. The Chamber, be said, had
been the das nefore mid that the King would not eonseei to
such an amendment, as inteinging the Royal littiative; and it
had been justly observed by M.'Cliativelin, that the Bins;
could not signify his assent to, or his dissent from, any amend
anent until atter the Chamber had declared its opinian in that
respect. The new proposition thereto' e was either a Projet
of law in itself; and as Such ought to be referred to the Ito
lean for examination ; or it was an amendment on the 27th
Article of the Projet, in which case it would stand fur dis-
cussion in its regular order, when the Chamber had gone
through the whole of the previous Artieles• He therefore
Insisted that the Project should be pot to the vote, Ai tiele by
Article. This course was opposed by M. de Courvoiser,
chiefly that the existing law relative to the Journals would
expire on the Ist of January, thin ; that a new law was abso-
lutely necessary, and that only 10 days remained for cat
it through both Chambers. Having alluded to the " rash
expressions" of some of the opponents of the measure, he was
liateritptcill by violent murmurs when. in explanation, he
said he meant " bold assertions." After some farther this.
cussion, the question was put on dividing the Project, which
was carried it; the affirmative by a decided majority. A
ballot took place on the adoption of the amendment of the
Committee, relative to the Journals as a separate law. The
voters were 1128; the white balls 131, the black balls 87.
The Amendment was consequently adopted, by a maj trity of
M. On several of the Articles relative to the repression of
the abuses of the press, some amendments were then unsuc-
cessfully proposed. A long and stormy discussion took
place on the second paragraph. of the 7th Article, which the
Committee had proposed to suppress. It reins thus, " there
will also be a ground of prosecution, if the writing, though a
declaration thereof have been made, contains a direct pro-
vocation to crimes." On a ballot; the number of voters was
211 ; the white balls 110 ; the black 101 ; that paragraph
was therefore rejected by a majority of nine. The voting
.upon the remaining articles was postponed till Monday.
SPAIN.
..C.tnix, Dee. I.—The expedition prepairing in this port,
and which is destined for our South American Colonies, is
much larger than was at first metioncel, and numerous foreign
ships have been purchased, which are to form a part of it.—
The Rnssian squadron is every moment expected, and will
escort them. The number of troops that arc to embark
is double that previously fixed upon, and several battalions
from the frontiers will be employed in this service. A vessel
bits reached this place from Lima, and two others from the
Ilavannah. The first has brought no news of iiimnrtance
from Peru, but the others convvy intelligence that the corps
of Mina, surrounded by the Royalisis,had been almost entire-
ly destroyed, so that scarcely 50 men escaped. We are un-
certain whether Mina be himself taken, but we are sure he
was woundcd in the action.

-...--.•-••••-...
--,
REVIEW OF LITERATURE.

The Bibliwraphical Decameron, or Ten Days pleasant
Discourse upon Illuminated Manuscripts, and Sub-
jects connected with early Engraving, Typography,
and Bibliography. In Three rola.
BY TIM IDLY. THOMAS FROGNAL DIBDEN.

MR. DIBDEN'iI labours as a Bibliographer are, we
believe, well known to the public by his I:ypog,raphical
Antiquities, his Bibliontania, and his iiibliotheea
Spea-
ceriana; works of great merit, in this department of
literature, and executed in a style of elegance nut often
equalled even in these days of typographical excellence:
—but in the three volumes which we have now to no-
tice, the author has fir outg,one all his former produc-
tions, and given to the world a work which, we can-.
didly confess, we think has no equal, either in this yr
any other country. The printing is of the most beau-
tiful and perfect kind imaginable; and the graphic
embellishments, particularly many of the portraits, are
executed in the very fir-t style of excellence :—but it
is not merely on these that our praises must be be-
stowed; in the work itself Mr. Dibilin has given, in
an uninterrupted connection, a history of art, of lite-
rature, and of books from the earliest times, in a way
which reflects the highest credit upon his taste and
judgment; his information appears to be derived from
the most approved authorities of all countries, and is
accompanied with much both original and interesting
of his own ; indeed, the immensity and the variety of
matter comprised in these three volumes is really sur-
prising, and proves that their author must be endowed
with a spirit of research and enquiry, in his particular
pursuits, which knows no limits. The division of the
work which treats of ancient Manuscript; is exceedingly
curious, and forms a most judicious prelude to the his-
tory of the invention of printing ; but we have derived
the' most pleasure from the perusal of that part which
treats of celebrated Bibliographers, Collectors of Books,
and Libraries.—We cannot help, however, asking Mr.
llibden, why he sometimes translates his authorities,
and at others gives theta in the original ?—all the cita-
tions ought to have been translated without exception :
—We shall here make two or three extracts from the
biography in the last part of the last volume, which
appear interesting from their subjects and originality :
—The following account of Topliatn Beauclerk was
communicate& Mr. 1). says, by Mr. J. Dalby. of the
College at Farnham, who was some years employed by
Mr. B. in his library_

" Mr, Beauelerk had arevilar observatory at Afntee 11-hill;
hes:des a sei y complete philosophical and optical apparatus ;
a laboratory for chemical experiments, Hut from 177 4 to
1779, I did little (• xcept writing the (11talogne ) 1.41 t
old book atolls, and booksellers shops, and attend book auctions.'
Saell a prelude prepares 111 for the treat which toibms. 6 I
think a Mr. 'lopliain of Windsor bequeathed his library to
Mr. Beduclerk lie haul been eitlare,ing his collection
some years b. fore t knew him. Elnisly was his principal
bookseller. He sometimes advertised in the newspapers f•or
u book—thus he paid 101. for Lord Berner's iroissart. Clarke's
Cesar he bought of some lady, for about 201.: t WA*. a pres
tttt copy to one of the lady's anc• star►, from John l)iike
of :Marlborough. This sold fur 441. to the Duke ol• Gralluu.•
Mr. M. paid 10 louis d'art fur Ilia Dripkin Stating to some
Abbe in Paris, who stole it from a publie library. This ,old
for 171.65. hd. He was particularly anxious lu complete his
collection of voyages and travels and English plays. The
price was no object. And he felt extremely disappointed
when lie found that Mr. Garrick's library t did no. come to

the hammer. About two years before 'his draw he began
collecting old French plays; and some of the early primed
ones, which brought next to nothing at his sale, bit which
cost hint half a guinea a piece. He made it a rule overt. to
lend a book to any person whatever. Mr. Gibbon was the
only exception; who, I remember, when he was writing
the Roman History, had the Byzantine authors a volume at a
time.
" In reply to a quxre, which a common friend between us
submitted, respecting a portrait of Beauclerk, (that desider.
atom, for which Lysander appears so vehemently to hanker
after.) Mr. Darby was pleased to write as follows:
" ' I never heard of any portrait or drawing of 1•Ir. Beau-
clerk except a miniature which I happened to ace just after
his death. I forget, however, whether it belonged to the
lady, or to one of the domestics. But I have heard it re-
marked a hundred limes, how much Mr. Beanclerk resem-
bled his aheestor Charles 11. hi tact there is a small en.
graving by Vertne, from a painting by Sir P. Lely of that
monarch, which (subdocting the wig and whiskers) is a very
good likeness of Mr. B. In person, he ails tall and Win,
with a dark complexion. 1 believe he inherited a keble con•
titution ; but during several years before his death he was
gt ievonsly afflicted with a species of gouty rheumati►m, and,
by way of alleviation, took large quantities of
He did not however, timeavour to restore his health by keep-
ing what are called good hour*, fur be was a constant attend-

terabt. .
,rv.atihn , ,•Johnson
to dill it m
effort, 'Ater, asithor.
..
by one or the Literary-Club, in which lite author, Hr. Bar.
omit, I think;, selects Mr. BeandPl k as the nieitiber who
should teach him ' how to converse.' "

Among Mr. Dilxlen's correspondents was the Rev.
Daniel M'Neille, .► Protestant Clergyman, near Dub.
lip, some of whose letters he has given; the following
anecdotes arc from one of these:

" In return for the very many book anecdotes which yonr
interesting Hibliomania has !Heated sne• with, I can forttish
you only with two at this.rnosnent, that deserve notice for
their singularity. A geutleman of issy acquaintance, who ilt
truth has a most admirable library of rich and rare books,
has takep it into his bead to collect csigry map, plan, view,
head, and every print relative to every country atilt town in
Europe, How many years of a busy life will 'strike to roof
this extensive building? Cedite collectores Loudisenses! 111 r
other anecdote u ill serve as a good sell,/ to the foregoing.--
A Mall Worth atm! 00,000 pounds, who tires within 4 miles
of Dobbs., went into a secoull-Hand book-shop, and told the
bookseller that he st mild give him two 'Minim:a for some pretty
book to anoise him in the long of winter. 'lle book.
seller told him he had the very book that would please him ;
lie Kalil' him iliefinrytisies.a paltry lboto.not worth two pence,
which the count s ylllall carried home in triumph, and has often
boasted of his bargain : for the book has delighted hint for
several years, and u perfectly new to him every time he reads
it—fur lie never begins a fresh tale, without forgetting the
one he had previonsly ended. In sober sadness, Ido not ett-
aggerate may College days I have been infected
with the book disease, tint have always had an ey e to the useful,
as wisely recommended in page 785 of your book. Indeed a
limited income, and a heady snit in Chancery, which after
I o years litigation, I brought to a favourable issue, prevented
almost any indulgence in this fascinating pursuit. In 1798„
my little collection fell mostly in ashes, for my dwelling was
the &sat that was burned in the parish where it stood. My
folios were inetainorphisseil into tuiddtes, tied on horses backs
with ropes. 'the smaller tonics ted the flames. Owe book
only, I recoveted : Meade's ‘Vorks.llt bears the marks of
I sword fire and water ; a pike was driven through Ow cover and
1154 pages: it was scorched by the dames, and was ,muted
with water. My church was burnt to the gr 0000 id. and it was
intended to have put me into the pulpit, the rarishioners into
the pews, and to•have set tire to us ; but God delivered us out
of their merciless hands ! except twelve, who were taken, and
perished by tire at Sciallakogne, about three miles from the
church. One poor woman, who yet lives, lost her husband
and three grown sons. 0%1! But the fate of my poor books
(some ten animas( them) El:airs! has drawn me insensibly into
this horrible subject.

We translate the following bitter attack upon the
guardians of the Bodleian Library, in the middle of the
last century ; the original is from the pen of a foreigner
of the name of Uffenbach ; with which, and nn twee•
dote of Tom Hearne, we shall conclude our remaiks
on Mr. Dibdin's book.
" Conceive, with me, my most learned friend, what a treasure
might be derived from the manuscripts in the Bodleian Library alone,
were it not for the obstacles presented in the negligence and pertina-
city of ul osmi, the head librarian ; for he thieks he has sufficiently
eolfined rbe duns, of his office, nay, he a ould have it helloed that
he has echievel a mighty work indeed, in labouring for so many
years aver one single author, Thecyclide:, I think, all care of the
Library completely east aside ; while it would have been more fitting
to have attended to what I before mentioned. I cannot sufficiently
deplore the horrible fate (forgive my just indignation) of this excel-
lent libraly ,* it is in total molest, nobody makes use of its immense
treasures. I frequented it every day for three months, and es I hey,
for salsatinn.l never in all that time saw nine, no, not even seven per-
sons in it all at once ! I mean scholars, for I make no account oldie
crowds of boys, gossips, and rustics that were wandering about, and
ga • ing through the lattices at die immense ranges of volumes. What
shall I say of the Guardians ! Of die carelessness of the head.librarian
I have already spoken : on his portentous ignorance of literary history.
and of libraries, especially of those abroad, 1 shall be silent. The
under-Librarian, named Crab, is a senseless mortal, though a plea-
sant and worthy man, to use a ridiculous term, but which however.
many confer on men of great parts: he is honoured with the appellation
ofa 1 fella°, but noon hooks, butof presents, which 1w greedily accepts
of such etrangers as visit the Library, and straight pays away to the Vint-
ner for liquor to rinse his throat and wash down the dust, that, like a
cloud, or a shadow, accompanies the handling of every volume,—
' though these perquisites are not his right, but that of the lowest
Librarian, whose place it is to clean the books, replace them when
done with, and keep the whole in order. There was, and still is here.
a scholar, as they love to speak, of the name of Hearne, who }lath
given an earnest of his diligence above his fellows, not only by his
writings but by his forming a New Catalogue of the Library, shortly
to be put to the press; hut, what I regret, like the first, which was
sufficieotly meagre, it is Without order, and abounding in lima.
miracles." . .
The diligence and zeal of Hearne in his pursuits
may be estimated by the following pious ejaculation
extracted from his Diary
most gracious and merciful Lord God, wonderful in tlfy
providence, I return all possible thanks to thee for the care-thou but
always taken of me. I continually meet With most signal instances
of this thy providence, and one act yesterday, when I ancrpretals,
THREF. ten seas. for which, in a particular manner, I
return my thanks, beseeching thee to continue the sonic protection to
me, a pour helpless sinner, and that for Jesus Christ, his sake.' "
Hearne is not, however, the only one who manifesta
gratitude on such an occasion. Gronovius says, he never
failed in his private devotions to remember with gra.
titude the day in which he beheld the Florentine ma-
nuscript of Hcrodotus.

ANECDOTE of His MAJEFTN.—triv Majesty tiding from
Windsor one d.y in the month of July, 1773, was overtaken
by a violent storm of rain, and being separated from his con.
pauv, he made towards a cottage belonging to a man named
Styles, near Stoke. Here he alighted, and going into the
house, found a girl tinning a goose which was hanging before
the tire wth a string. The King desired the girl to put his
horse in the shed, which she cmisented to do, at the same
time requesting him to mind the goose. While she was gone
the farmer entered, and great was lug Silfriae to Pre :hr King
ormpinyrd. He, however, had the pa esvuee of wind to
rilieve his Majesty, who, with his wonted good natarr, eon-
on this mode of cookery, and the advantage of a jack,
after which he went away. when he was gone, the
farmer perceived a paper on the Olen*, and having opened it,
Maud flee guineas, with these words written in pencils 4! lb
buy a jack."

AO -HE ATIONAL ItVAISTFAI. Tync ng
snag. • How have you defended us?' Thry would reply. We a great part of the inhabitants, concurred in this; and the ant at W'hile's, and usually turned day into night yet he
" hen spoken anhour against you, but we finished in your favour. I Turki.it soldiers, ninintlnneil by their seniors, trimmed to found time for much reading, and had accumulated very
should answer, • you lave spoken in well, that I tbink it my ditty their barracks, Tv') of the habt mutinous were straliolcd considerable knowledge of sariouvianda4 He e‘ceped in
to send you to my adversaries to receive the whit-Ws you deserve."
there. Ali does not leave the tort, 111 it re, lie is well armed, conversatibit ; and Dr. •Johnson somewhere has reniarke‘
A
Lust laughl , This state of terror does not seem likely to finish *uu. that he did it without etort, 'Riese is aialiort copy of verses
. et.- •.:!,...,. moul cniske. awainst tne liv rm.. la 11. m I.it.•rthrsr,Vl..l% in ..Link 11...,N....• 11. 11,..