The National Register.
London, England, 1820-12-17 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

and unless all classes of Reformers will speedily
re-unite, the chains which are prepared will be
rivettcd, and the liberty of Englishmen will only to
be talked of, as a thing that was. Though professing
ourselves belonging to the class of moderate Re-
finnen, we do not mean to except them, from the
censure which is due to this unentable want of
co-operation. We too well know that in a meeting
to promote Itecorm, the moment any one expresses
an idea that Annual Parliaments are desirable, those
who advocate Triennial Parliaments avoid him as
they would a man under the influence of some pesti-
lential disorder, and in derision call him a Radical—
on the other hand, if on such sa occasion an opinion
be given that an Election Triennially would be often
enough, the glance of contempt or suspicion accom-
panies the muttered epithet of "A Whig." Why
should this be? The advocates of Refin•m all wish
to promote a shortened duration of each Parliament,
because they well know that is the first, the neces-
sary, and fundamental step towards a restitution of
those rights and immunities which arc included in
what was the English Constitution. NVell, Wall go
together till triennial shall be substituted for sep-
tennial Parliaments, much is gained ; and those
who arc co :tented may secede while those who are
the advocates of Annual Election will have a much
better chance of success when endeavouring to carry
their point, than though they had, as they have at
present, to contend against the Septennial Act.
Again, one class of Reformers contemplating an
extention of suffrage, wo-ild have that privilege ex-
tended to the payers of a certain amount of assessed
taxes, another to all who are rated on the King's
books, while a third would have adopted what is
termed Universal Suffrage. The argument that
applies to the curtailment of duration, holds equally
good when applied to the extcntion of the right of
voting. Let all move together' till some concession
is obtained—when so much has been granted as any
one may think sufficient, that. indivittual may retire,
while each, following his example, may continue his
exertions till the point is gained which is in his
estimation, us far as it is prudent to go. If the
Reformers would pursue this line of conduct, eve
pledge our most decided opinion that their progr2ss
would be greater than the must sanguine among
them anticipates—while they continue to act its
they do, Reform may be talked of, but will 'never
be obtained.

The New York rpm, of the 18th* ult. are before
us, they coat tin the Message of the Pr,2si:leat of the
United States to both Ilouses of Congress, and as
Englishmen we much regret that justice demands
of us the acknowledgment of the great inferiority of
of our recent speeches from the throne or by Com-
mission, when compared with this able, enlightened,
Cit., candid, and satisfactory view of the t•tate of the
American dominions—our late speeches have been
a concoction of deception, trick, and sophistry, which
is e::actly opposed to the honesty and perspicuity of
the dwument in question. Its length forbids our
giving-, at present, more than an abstract of it. In
those parts which advert to the internal condition of
the Union, the President speaks with satisCtetion of
the improving prosperity, and with cottlidence of
of its increase. His tune, also, is amicable, us res-
pects the fbreign relations of the United States.—
The Florida question is not yet settled with Spain.
but a friendly adjustment is anticipated. A brief'
allusion is made to the c ommercial restrictions im-
posed upon the intercourse between the United
States and tin' British West India and American
Colouies, restrictions, it is observed, which " it is
satisthctory to recollect are defensive only,'' on the
part of the former. It is also added that " the txpe_
rinicnt is advancing in a spirit of' amity between the
parties." The question depending between the
United States and Great Britain, respecting the
construction of the first article of the Treaty of
Client, has been referred by both Governments to
the decision of the Emperor of Russia, " who has

405

accepted the umpirage." The discussions between
France and the United States respecting the new
tonnage duty upon French vessels, arc to be carried
on at Washington, whither the French Minister
Plenipotentiary was ordered to repair for the pur-
pose. The state of the South American Colonies is
gla.kccd at, and a confident hope expressed that their
independence must be acknowledged by the mother
country. The Revenue of the Union is represented
as in a flourishing condition. Within the five years
from 1815 to 1820, the National Debt, which
amounted altogether to upwards of one hundred and
fifty-eight millions of dollars, had been reduced to
about ninety-two millions. The rapid prsgress of the
fortifications erecting along the coasts of the Union,
and the increase of the navy, are also dwelt upon
with much satisfaction.

The House of Representatives found an extraor.
(Heavy difficulty in electing a new Speaker in th
room of Mr. Clay, who has resigned. There were
four candidates, but the successful one must have an
absolute majority of the whole number of votes.—
The number of ballotings, which amounted to 21,
is said to be wholly without any precedent. At last
the choice fell upon Mr. John Taylur, who woe
elected by a majority of four.

The Universal Gazelle contains a letter of the
_King of Spain, addressed to the permanent depu-
tation of the Cortes, in which he enlarges on the
sacrifice which he made to the public tranquillity,
by dismissing at. their request, his Confessor and the
Superintendent of his Household. In this document
he protests that these individuals did not intermeddle
with politics. Such indifferent confessors are rather
extraordinary when possessed of such good materials.
We have received the Bombay papers up to the
13th of August. They arc extremely barren of
intelligence. The ceremony of proclaiming the
accession of his present Majesty took place at
Bombay or. the 7th of June, amidst a large assem-
blage of the natives, together with the principal
officers and European inhabitants of Bombay
Towards the cher:, however, of these demonstrations
of loyalty and dutiful affiation, a considerable
degree of alarnt and agitation was created by the
explosion of a powder chest on one:f the batteries,
by which accident six European artillerymen and
two Lascars were killed. and one Matross desperately
wounded. Large fragments of the gun carriages
were hurdled to a distance from the spot, and
almost every house in the vicinity suffered from tha
concussion. His Majesty's ship Carron, Capta'n
Furncaux, was totally lost on the 6th of July, on
the coast of Juggernaut. Lieutenant Sconce of the
Royal Artillery, the master, and 19 of the crew,
were drowned; the rest only preserved their lives.
Unif am tranquillity appears to reign throughout
the interior of Hindostan.