Star.
London, England, 1831-01-06 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE JOURNALS.

pa vall
Cnitosta.z.—The Frei Patrie/e—Brussels es a curious
account of something like negoelations with Prince on the sub-
ject of the throne of Belgium. The prince answers 11 e the aucceseful
soldier in Pope, who, when reseed to light once mon, said 14 Let them
take castles who're not worth a groat.* .. There is none but a madman
or a beggar (the Prince used a stronger term) who could desire such a
Throne. The Belgians say that they have among themselves men 6of
the stuff of which Sovereigns are made,' and they seen, inclined to
choose at home, rather than embrace the alternative of baring madmen
or beggars abroad. The Ea-King of Sweden might give them both
qualilications in one ; but then he is a Lutheran, like the Prince Leo.
pad. The German princes used to bring up their daughters without
any religion, in order that religion might be no impediment to their
marriage. it is a pity that they are not equally provident in the case
of sons.

Poss.—The aspect of affairs in Ireland is such as cannot leave
any reflecting man in the least doubt that strong measures of re-
pression are necessary, if it be intended to preserve this fine pardon
of the empire from the utter ruin which an attempt at separation
from England—to be accomplished or prevented by force (for to this
conclusion things are visibly and rapidly approaching)—would inert.
tablistall upon it. Agitation must be put down, or Ireland will,
ere , be in such a condition as may make even moderate and
rat men in both parts of the empire regard the amputation of
this diseased member of the State as an indispensable remedy rather
than an appalling calamity. Mut the Government will find itself greatly
mistaken ifit a:9W. sto cope with agitation, (patronised and rewarded
as it IS in Ireland, by meats only of admonitory IMOD, or preventive
efforts. The severe and certain punishment of professed agitators when.
eve: they violate the law, is of paramount necessity. Without this, to
MOO the temptation which the trade of agitation offers, so long as the
oof the Popish priesthood makes it a highly profitable and ere.
enpWw, Government will struggle in vain against the re-
sources and the ingenuity of demagogues by profession in Ireland.

Trans.—Our readers will find in another part of our paper, tables
of the probed of the revenue, for the years and the quarters ending
on the sth of January, 1830 and 1831. The comparative result, we
are happy to say, is more saddictary than bad been anticipated, and
presents a fairer prospect of improvement in the resources of the country
than we have hd for several years. It is no doubt true that even in
the last quarter there has been a falling d, but the deficiency is ex.
trentely night. Out of a revenue of more than 12,500,0001. the dedewe
is only 29,6031. We should naturally have looked for a much 'treater
defalcation from the repeal of the beer duties, of the tax upon leather,
and other reductions oftaxation which have been effected in the course of
the last year. The Customs have fallen off 82.1811. a eircumatance like.
wise to be accounted, for by the financial arrangements of last widen,
without the necessity of supposing any deterioration in the state of trade.
On the Stamps, Post.oMcs, Assessed and Miscellaneous Taxes, an
increase has taken place of 110,6031. Comparing the produce of the re.
venue for the whole of the year which has just expired with its amount
for the preceding year, we find a deficiency of 640,4501; but it is gra-
tifying to observe, that in every successive quarter this deficiency has
been diminishing, and has now nearly become an evanescent quantity..=.
In the quarter ending the sth of April, it was 245,8121; in that ending
the 6th of Jul), 177,3241; in that ending the 10th of October,
188.8341; and In the quartet which has just expired, only 29,4801.

Iltnar.o.—lt is to be hoped that, in the new arraitgcnient of the
Civil List, the present Ministers will carry into effect the principle which
they advocated when in opposition—that of separating the King's
Household expenses from all other items of expenditure with which they
have no necessary connection, and settling upon his Majesty the sum
required to defray those expenses, exclusive of all salaries to judges,
or other public officers, pensions, Ike. that so the public may know
exactly what sum it is which the Royal establishment costs the
country. A new arrangement was introduced when George the
Third signified to Parliament his consent that his hereditary
revenues should be placed at their dispond, to manage
them as they might think best for the advantage of the public. It was
then, for the first time, that a sum of 800,0001. altogether, independent
of the hereditary revenues, was settled, by way of Civil List, on the
Crown, which was increased some years afterwards to 900,0001. then to
1,000,0001. but amounted, with other sources of revenue, such as the
Duchy of Lancaster and Cornwall, drafts of the Admiralty, &c. to
upwards of 1,900,0001. Under this arrangement the hereditary reve-
nues which the King placed at the disposal of Parliament, were, by
the Act of the lest Geo. IIL cap. I, carried into, and made a part of,
the aggregate fund ; and the aggregate fund was charged with the
Cyment of the whole annuity of 800,0001. as originally fixed to the
rown. All this yearly sum, with the subsequent additions which
have been made to it, is supposed by the public in general to be ex-
pended by the King upon his own eafabiishmantr but this is very far
from being the case, inasmuch as out of the Civil List are defrayed,
besides the expenses of the Royal Household, the salaries allotted to
the Judges previously to the year 1788, Wanes to Akers of State,
the appointments to foreign Ambeeradors, the maintenance of the
Queen and Members of the Royal Family Audi they receive separate
establishments of their own, secret servics.usoney, pensions, and va-
rious bounties. The present Government have here an opportunity of
financial reforms s—wo awes ethey not it.

The Right Hon. C. Grant has been re-elected for Inver-
ness-shire.

Kean is now in town, and apparently enjoying a better
state of health than when be was last in London.
An affairs gran:oar has exploded within the last two days,
which has crested much conversation in certain coteries at the west.end
of the sown, the parties being in some degree elevated in society, and
pawning no inconsiderable property. The husband of the lady in
question had instituted, some few years ago, proceedings in Doctors'
Commons for the restitution of conjugal rights, the lady, shortly after
the marriage, having absented basely from her husband's roof: these
proceedings bad been pending for some time, the lady having neitlected
to pay any attention to them, end an order ultimately beneCfor bar sp-
peehension contempt of Conn. All attempts to trace out thoadence
of the fair fugitive proved unavailing for many months, and until the
present week, when the busbod received private, and whet pew& cor-
rect inhumation, that his lady was residing in a splendid mordes at
the we end of the town. Thither the husband went, secousposied by
es °Sea armed with legal authority, to take the lady no aossedY
they pined ready admittance into the house at an eady how in the
meenkg, and proceeded insists/ft to the lady's lesd-cbsonber, the dose
of which they found locked. The hatband hesitated not a me-
matt in ordering the door to be forced, when, to his peat sur-
prise, net (sly the object of his search presented herself to his view, but
aloe a companion, in the person of lttr. The coneteroation of
the injured husband on thus diecotrery was extreme, so he ha no noon
previously to suspect his wife's fidelity. Legal pweeMop of a differ-
ent nature have now comma in one of the Com-
mies, and bit. is likely to appear as a dellodent in another
Court, the Gendemen of the king rein having shindy received inetrua
dons en the subject. The lady and her injured hothead ere in the prime
of life ; the gallant something more advanced in yeses, and 'woods'
property to a large amount. The lady remains in 6' du/wee" on the
writ issued foe contempt of Gott—Hereld.