The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-05-12 00:00:00

LONDON LAW REPORT.

BREACH' OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.
WOOD v. HURD.—Sir Frederick Pollock observed that it was
his painful duty to state the circumstances under which this ac-
tion was brought; and a more heartless case of winning the af-
fections of a young and virtuous woman, and then suddenly
breaking off the connection, was seldom presented to a jury.
The young lady was in the same situation in life as the defend-
ant,• and the period was fixed for the marriage, when the de-
fendant chose, for some reason which was unexplained, to break
off his connection with her, and to leave her to the remarks of
an observing world, and a prey to the mortification of disap-
pointment, which had seriously affected her health. Miss Wood
was the daughter of Mr. Charles Wood, a highly respectable
solicitor of Manchester, who 'was the friend of the late Mr.
Philip Hard, the well known solicitor of the Temple, and the
-father of the defendant. The late Mr. Hurd had amassed a very
large fortune. Ile had two sous and daughter, the latter of
'whom died in his lifetime, and he died worth about £lOO,OOO,
the bulk of which be left to the-defendant. Mr. Wood, the fa-
ther of the plaintiff, was introduced to the late Mr. Hurd a great
many veats ago, and the same friendship which existed during
'the lifetime of Mr. Hurd was continued between the families
after his death. In the course of the year 1833 Miss Wood was
perrnittedby her father to pass a short time with Mrs. Hurd, at
their house in Kentish Town, and she remained there about five
or six weeks. .In the, beginning of the following year the de-
fendant for ,the first time made proposals of taarriaKe to her.
This was not an attachment formed by a casual meeting, but a
proposal made to a young lady who had for weeks lived under
the roof of his soother, whom he had every .opportunity of see-
ing from morning till night, and whose temper, disposition, and
character he had the means of studying. To pass under the
same roof twenty-four hours with a young lady gave a man a
better opportunity of learning what she was, and of studying her
character, than twenty-four visits, when the conduct was pre-
pared for the occasion, and when the habits of society forbade
' more than a certain degree of approach, and when the ordinary
topics of the day only formed the subject of conversation. When
' the proposal of marriage Was made to 'Miss Wood she commus
. nicated it to her father, who was then in London. Mr. Wood,
shortly after receiving the communication, waited on Mr. Hurd.
• Mr. Hurd preised -Mr. Wood for his consent to the union, but
Mr. 'Wood declined giving an answer tilt he had seen his
daughter, and the defendant's mother. This occurred in Janu-
ary, 1831. Mr. Wooddhen waited on Mrs. Hurd, and she was
delighted at the prospect of the match. The defendant then
visited at the house of the plaintiff's father at Manchester,' and
corresponded with Miss Wood in the usual manner that a gen-
tleman did who addressed himself to the object of his affections.
'lle would not read the love-letters that passed, and exhibit those
seiSthatents of affection which the defendant displayed; but, if
his learned friend had any desire to read the correspondence,
the' whole of it was entirely at his service. One letter, however,
he should read, and liave the jury to draw their own conclu-
sions from it. (The learned gentleman here stated some por-
tions of the letter; but it was subsequently read by the ofhcer
of the court.) The defendant was introduced to the plaintiff's
friends as her intended husband, and the marriage was spoken
of among their acquaintance. In the course of the mouth of
Jutse, however, the defendant's attention, in point of corres-
pondence, fell off; and at length it 'was ascertained from him
that he had no intention of marrying Miss Wood. The circum-
stances had a serious effect on Miss Wood. She was confined
to her bed for some time; and she had not yet recovered from
the effects of the shock which the disappointment had occa-
sioned.- • The learned counsel, after observing that Miss Wood
had great personal attractions, and had youth on her side, being
only twenty years of age, and the defendant twenty-four; said
he defied his learned friend to allege anything against her cha-
.racter, or to assert that anything but caprice had induced the
defendant to cast the young lady from his affections, and to blast
her future prospects in life.
Mr. Wood, the plaintiff's father, proved the promise. Had
been on terms of friendship with the defendant's father for
several years. Before witness gave his consent to the match he
saw the defendant's mother on the subject, who subsequently
visited him at Manchester. Witness is a widower. There was
not the slightest pretence for saying that he had made Mrs.
Hurd, the defendant's mother, an offer of marriage.
The defendant's letter was then read. It was to the following
effect
" My Sweetest Rose,—My wish and daily expectation of
being enabled to inferm you that I had taken a house is the
reason why I have delayed writing. I have made an offer fur
-a house in Russell-square, but have not yet received an answer
to my proposal. lam already quite weary of my own company,
and long to reach Manchester. I really trust that if your papa
is suited with a -housekeeper, my state of probation will be
shortened. You know not, love, how unsettled I am unless
from your own feelings, which will no doubt represent me as
sighing like a furnace.' I really cannot do anything. You
are indeed hard with me. An acquaintance of mine who made
an offer, of marriage to a very prudent young lady a month ago,
is to be married next week. if I meet the chap 1 will ask bun
how he managed it ?. It is certainly not etiquette in this part of
the world to keep the public expectation on the qui vise for five
months. 1 really feel quite poutish, and on my arrival at Man-
chester I-shall cause a scene about it. I cannot conceive what
I wait for, except the stupid old housekeeper. If your papa
cannot find such a commodity at Manchester, let him commis-
sion me to bring a dozen in my hand, or per Procter's barge,
for examination. (After mentioning some matters about his
mother, which it is not necessary to state, he said,) I have not
sought your affections to betray them, and know you have full
confidence in me, which, with God's blessing and my best exer-
tions, you shall never repent of. I love you dearly, Rose, more
every day, and it' not interfered with—and we ought not be—we
shall be the happiest pair in Europe—aye, or in the great globe
itself.' You mast give me a commission to execute for you. I
must have exercise in your taste. You must want many things,
and as for attending to business, I really cannot. My regards
-to all; and pray write! write ! write t—l am, my dearest girl,
your, own attached, ' P. HURD."
Mr. Charles Bird and his sister, of Liverpool, proved that the
itenlralant visited with the plaintiff at his house. He talked of
the plaintiff as his intended wife.
The probate of the late Mr. Hurd's will was then read. The
personal property was sworn under 1:80,000. lie gave to Mrs.
Hurd for tier life his horses, carriage, furniture, Kentish-Town,
% and library, and an annuity of £IS(X). To three relations be
gave annuities of£so each. To his son Thomas he gave two
• estates and £lO,OOO, and £20,000 snore on the death of his
• mother. To his son Philip he gave the residue of his property,,
including the Kentish-Town property at the death of the widow.
In reply to a question, put by the learned judge, it was stated
that'tho defendant had not married any other lady.
This was the case on the part of the plaintiff.
The Attorney-General then addressed the jury for the defend-
' atit. After expressing his opinion that the action had not been
brought by Miss Wood, but by her father, who had been called
as-a witness to excite the feelings of the jury, and swell the
amount of damages, he said he was ready to admit that Miss
Wood's character was pure and uuspotted, far above all suspicion
arid reproach ; and Mr. Hurd now, in the most public manner,
acquitted her of all blame. Mr. Hurd admitted that he was
liable to the consequences of this action for not having fulfilled
his engagement ; and, let the amount of damages be what they
might, he would rather pay them than enter into any engage-
ment, which he felt convinced would end only in disappointment
• and misery. Mr. Hurd could not be put into the witnesses' box
to-state wby he refused to fulfil• the engagement; but he (the
Attorney-General) took upon himself to state that it was a most
fortunate thing for Miss Wood that the union did not take
place; and he hoped she had those prospects before her which
would enable her to enjoy the happiness to which she was so
much entitled. That defence would not entitle Mr. Hurd tothe
verdict of the jury. 14e had no legal justification or excuse to
cut down the damages, but at the same time it should be borne
in mind that his case was not so aggravated as his learned friend
h'ad described. There was no evidence that before January,
1834, any promiie had been made by the defendant, and from
that time the parties were together only on two occasions. He
• could not call upon Mr: Hurd to explain what was passing in
his mind for declining to fulfil the contract. If he had met with
another lady and married. her, then his conduct might have been
. represented tube of the base description described by his-learned
friend. He had no other motive for not entering into the en-
gagement than that he felt a union with this young lady would
produce ouly, Misery and disappointment; and respect for her,
therefore, made' him break off the match. Of what use could
large dimages be to Miss Wood or to her father ? His lealued
friend said that the equivocal situation in which Miss Wood was
placed rendered the action necessary, but any reproach upon
her was removed by
,his solemn declaration that her conduct
was above ail suspicion.' The learned gentleman then proceeded
to remark that the action might have been prevented if Mr.
Wood, or one of his sons, had called upon the defendant for an
explanations and concluded by entreating the jury to give only
such an amount of damages as, on a dispasSionate view of the
case, they considered the plaintiff was entitled to-receive.,
Mr. justice Vaughan,. in summing up. the case to the jury
said healid riot exactly feel that this was the action of the young
. Istay'a father,. II is being- an attorney ex posiett• hfin ,trrilikett rttr,t
nervation ; but the .jury were,able to judge whethethe was-liable
toalie reproach.. 'lacy hived in an ill-natured world, and many:
thihgs miglit'haVe been said if proceedings had not been taken
• against the defendant. Ile did not wonder, therefore, that: the
Sather had taken up the matter in the manner he had done. Ile
-ghotild Dot, have recommended that Mr. Wood's son should have,
called on the .defendant for an explanation. It might have led
to unpleasant ,conseritiences ; and he thought that the most
prudent plan was to adopt the course that had beau taken. it
had been said that it was fortunate for Miss Wood that the
marriage had not taken place, and that it would have ended in
disappointment'and unhappiness. Upon that subject she was,
the best jndge.. There was nothing suggested in the way of ob-
jection tothe sounglady. Without any reason the engagement
wag broken off, and a hope was expressed that in time the atfec-
- tinn might Wear off, and she might become the wife of another.
But ane could not help feeling that a woman having been ad-
dressed by a man,aad viewed as his intended wife, does sustain
some. injury
.on the connexion being broken off. Damages,
altbotigh they would oat heal wounded pride, was the only coin-
.pen.sation that could be made under such circumstances: It
was not the: best way of compensating parties in such a matter,
but it Was the only way in which the law awarded compensation.
The cast. stood cleat of all reproach, and nothing could be more
honourable than the mariner in which the defendant had vindi-
%sated the character of the'young lady. As to Mr. Wood having
an eve upon the old lady that had nothing to do with the case.
It was a mere diversion, got up for the occasion. The question
was, what damages-the young -lady was entitled to for the loss of
the defendant as her husbaud.
The jury, after consulting together about a quarter of an hour,
returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, £3500.

CONSISTORY.COURT.—wEDNESDAY, M•Y 6.
treptcs OF, THE JUDGE PROMOTED BT CHICK. AGAINST
BAMSDALE AND CHIFK, FALSELY CALLED RAMSDALE.
Dr. Addams said the court was aware,.of the circumstances
marriedof this
a.
ca" Se. Us on the. last court day the nurrrisge had between
the parties in the cause was annulled (Ramsdale having
Joan Chick,' the sister of his former wife); they Were d
monished to live separate and apart fortbe future; and genance
was directed to be performed by them on the following Sunday.
The application he bad now to make to the court was, that, un-
der the. peculiar circumstances in which the parties Were placed,
tliatitaft,9f the sentence relative to the penance should ;not be
enforcefili. He had a precedent in the case' of Burgess r. Bur-
gess, Where" the parties had been guilty of an it c.oliabi-;
tution, taut the judge had directed that the penance should not
be enforced. The Medical certificate, which was ,produced in
the present ewe, would show to the court the dangeroui situ=
sou in which the parties had been placed by the decision of the

court, and he was not aware if the application he bad made
would be opposed.
The King's Advocate said he certainly was instructed to op-
pose the motion. Had the prayer I.)en, that the penance
should be postponed, and not altogether remitted, he would not
have offered opposition.
Dr. Addams said the party who had promoted the suit was
making preparations t0..c.;.a1t over the individuals against
whom the sentence of the court had been given. A dinner had
been bespoken, and a company would be taken down on the
day the penance was enjoined to be performed, in an omnibus
decorated with ribbons, in order to exult over the unfortunate
parties. Ile hoped the could. would not assent to au outrage of
this kind.

The King's Advocate said he had no objection to assent to
the postponement of the sentence. In the case of Burgess r.
Burgess, ue penance was enjoined.
Dr. Lushington said, in obedience to the forms and proceed-
ings of that Court he had given its sentence, and directed that
the parties should do penance, as it was not competent for him
to depart front the usual course of proceeding. He, however,
entirely acceded to the reasons which fell from Lord Stowell,.in
the case of Burgess v. Burgess, that the principle with regard
to the performance of
.penance in former times did not apply
to the present time—it was not the imperative duty of the
Court to enforce penance in the present times. The affidavit
of Mr. Taylor, the medical man who had attended upon the
parties in the suit, stated thaitiflr. Itamsdale has had an attack
of brain fever, and that the most disastrous circumstances might
result from the enforcement of the sentence with regard to the
penance. As to Joan Chick, she had also been seriously af-
fected in her health, was pregnant, and if exposed to perform-
ance of the sentence her nervous system might be seriously af-
fected. Ile (Dr. Lushington) was bound to believe that the
affidavit of the medical man contained an accurate statement of
facts, and it became the duty of the Court not to run any ha-
zard, as it never could have been intended that the public re-
cantation of the offences the parties had bee'n found guilty of
should be enforced if itrnight lead to serious eonsequences. He
should therefore not attempt to enforce the penanoe tattle pro-
sent time. it remained, therefore, for the Court to consider
whether be should not merely suspend the penance, or whether
he should do away with it altogether. lu.his judgment, if the
infliction of the penance would injure the health of the parties,
allowing the threatto hang over the head•of the female, that
after her confinement the penance should be enforced, the sus-
pense'that would be occasioned might prove as detrimental as
the performance of the penance itself; and as to Mr. Aainsdale
the same reasons would apply. Under all the etreurnst.d,:es,
therefore, he thought it right and tilting to remit that part of
the sentence which enjoined the parties to the performance of
penance.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.
THE PRQCES MONSTRE.

PAHIS, MAT 7.—This is indeed a monstrous process, and the
consequences which may result front it, may be as extraordinary
as the process itself. It is a curious and important fact, that not
one journal of any opinion has to-day blamed the conduct of
the repuhlican prisoners yesterday, is protesting against the
previous conduct of the President of the Court of Peers. And
vet never were such scenes witnessed in a court of justice as
'those which yesterday passed in that court. Even one of the
accused of Lyons felt so forcibly the fact that at least the place
in which they were assembled bore the name of a court of jus-
tice, that he protested against the uproar and the confusion
which took place. This protest was certainly made but by one,
and vet still it was creditable to him who made it, even though
the tumult against which he so protested was natural and almost
inevitable. I say almost inevitable, because the moment the
peers, for fear of hearing republican doctrines broached and
defended, resolve on not allowing any one to plead before them,
who is not bound by his oath of allegiance either as a barrister
or as avuue, to the present order of things in France, and whO
cannot, therefore, defend the principles and doctrines of repub-
licanism—from that moment the defence is not free from the
one hundred and twenty-one republicans who are. brought up
for trial before the court. From the moment the defence is net
free—it cannot excite surprise that the accused should protest—
and the moment their protest is not allowed to be read, it is by
no means astonishing that a large portion of the one hundred
and twenty-one accused should cry out in despair, "You are not
judges—We are not accused—We have no defenders."
The Court of Peers felt all the difficulties of this position, and
that was the reason why yesterday nearly four hours were con-
sumed in deliberation out of court, as to what course should be
followed under all the circumstances of this unheard of process.
Several of the peers reproached the government for having en-
gaged in such a contest; others said that to compel the peers
thus to try the republicans, not according to the law, but accord-
ing to arbitrary rules and ordinances, was to insult and degrade
the peerage. And others asked " How it could be expected
by the government that this process could ever be terminated ?"
On the other hand, some newly-appointed peers defended the
government and the process; and others pressed for a. judg-
ment against Cavainac, sentencing him to two years' imprison-
ment for disturbing the court. But the majority of the peers
would not consent to such a measure. They carried a• resolu-
tion that no immediate decision should be come to on the tumults
of to-day; but that if such scenes should be renewed, then the
court would take some steps to put an end to such inter-
ruptions.
The Court of Peers wishes, if possible, to adjourn the case
over for six months, and thus to supply the government with
another opportunity of granting an amnesty. But then this ad-
journment would be the condemnation of the process, the fall of
the ministry, and even the impeachment of Thiers and Persil.
Next to adjournment of the process altogether, the Court of
Peers desire to separate the cause of the Lyons prisoners from
those of Paris. But this is impossible. It would be illegal and
unjust. All are accused of being engaged in one conspiracy—
not in three conspiracies, or four, or five, but in one, and there-
fore they must all be tried together. The Court of Peers can-
not act illegally, public opinion would be too strong for such a
line of conduct. The Chamber of Deputies, the National
Guards, the Court of Cessation, the judges—all would proteit
against illegal and arbitrary measures; and therefore the whole
of these one hundred and twenty-one republicans, accused of
being concerned in the same conspiracy, must be tried together,
and cannot be tried separately. '1 he National Guards of Paris
are already heartily sick of this affair. The tradesmen and
shopkeepers feel it to be most injurious to their trade and busi-
ness; the manufacturers to the demands made on their fabrics;
and all ranks and classes are more or less perplexed andannoy-
ed by this prosecution. If, therefore, the peers should decide
illegally, and should divide a prosecution into two or more pro-
secutions, which cannot legally form but one, since there is but
one indictment, and but one conspiracy laid to all their charge,
there would be such a general movement, not to say insurrec-
tion, that any illegal judgment must and would be overthrown.
Thus it is clear that the only course which is left open to the
peers is to adjourn the prosecution, provided the accused shall,
by their tumultuous proceedings, prevent both.the prosecutor
and the witnesses from being beard; or else to accord to the
accused what they have really the right to demand, viz. to be
defended by their political friends and associates.
The lists hitherto published by the Journal des Debate and
Journal de Paris of the peers who were present at the first sit-
ting, and who can alone judge the prisoners at the bar, are to-
day-admitted to be accurate. Only d 64 peers were really pre-
sent, and 79 were absent, making a total of 243. As the peers
are constantly dying off, and others are being appointed •in
their stead, it is not at all surprising that there should have
been several errors in the lists. It is not, however, quite cer-
tain- that the total number of peers, of which the peettige con-
sists to-day, is 213—that of these 164 were present at the first
sitting—and that 79 do not and will not, and now cannot,
attend. By the rules of the chamber, 82 peers must therefore
be present (being one-third of 243 and one over) to condemn
any prisoner. Such scenes as those of yesterday, if often re-
newed, would certainly thin the ranks of fifty. in a very .few
days ,• and it is by no means certain that even eighty7two peers
will be found able and willin;:: to go on with the process to the
end. Of course this will depend on the conduct of the peers
and on the decision of the president. If the. peers shall decide
after all on allowing the accused to choose their own defenders,
' whether barristers or not, then indeed the process would assume
a different shape—but still its length would be prodigions. Of
this length you will be able to judge from the following fact,
viz., that eighty individuals, some barristers, some armee*, and
most neither, who were charged with the defence of the pri-
soners before the Chamber of Peers, have signed and published
a protest against the decision of the court. Amongst the names
of these eighty defenders I observed the following:—
" Buonarotii, Armand Carrel, arspail, l'Abbe de la ?.lennais,
Thouret, Michael, Thibeaudeau, July (ex-deputy), Blanqiii,
Cannot, Dupont, Vignerte, Voyer d'Argenson, Audry de Puy-
raneau, and Etienne Arago.
If these fifteen alone shall be allowed to defend (he 121 pri-
soners, to say nothing of the sixty-five others whose names I
have riot cited,. still the prosecution might last six months ;
but if all the eighty defenders should plead for all their clients,
the process would lie interminable ; and yet I'2l defenders haYe
the right to be heard for their 121 clients, besides the 121
soners themselves. Add to this three hundred witnesses, and
twenty thousand printed and other documents and letters; the
eXamination, cross-examination, and re-examination-Of all the
witnesses, and the tumults and disorders to which these roust
give rise; and I ask you whether it would nut take years, in-
stead of months, to conduct this trial to a termination, if the
accused should really avail themselves of all their means of de-
fence ? It has been well called the proces-monstre, and it may
also be called the proces-interminable.

--7 , • miscruLaNaous.
The Chamber of Deputies was yesterday again occupied with I
the Preneh River Law. It voted several clauses and then ad-
journed but it is generally believed that to-day it will be
thrown but altogether, by a considerable majority.
The Count de Chabrillon, peer of France, has published a
-prrayst
,agaiUst what Itt tarns 'the' "'iniquitous prosecution "
before the:Chaniber, of Which.he is a member. ' • .
M. Pepsi' and Baron Pasquier were yesterday so much agi-
tated after the tumult, in the Chamber of Peers, and after the
sitting whiCh was held by the peers in their usual place of meet,
ing, tliat it appeared evident to all who saw them, that they
trembled forthe consequences which might result from a parse.
verance in this prosecution. M. Persil, during the whole even-
ing, was anxiously enquiring in different salons of Paris what
effect the sitting of yesterday produced on public opinion, and
the answers he received were very far from satisfactory.
POST SCIIIPTUM.
Thursday Ajlernoon, Quarter to Four.
The third sitting held to-day has been as stormy, violent, and
outrageous as yesterday; nay, even more so. Your short-hand
writer writes me word that personal conflicts and blows had be-
gun between the accused and the soldiers; that the Lyons as
well as the Paris prisoners werneugaged in such conflicts; that
the scene was impossible to be described; that the agitation was
really terrific • that nothing could be heard; and that the court
had gone out deliberate on some demand of the Procurcur-
General, which no one could hear. and even the nature of which
no one could devise. This state of things cannot continue. The
process has become impossible. The court may meet, indeed,
from day to day, but nothing will be done, and nothing can be
done, until the court shall allow to the accused the defenders
they base selected. If the court will not do this, then it must
close its proceedings, shut up the court, and adjourn indefinitely
the proces monstre.

PORTUGAL.
The following is the speech of the Queen of Portugal on
closinhe session on the 22d tilt:—
"Worthy Peers of the Kingdom, Gentlemen Deputies of
the Portuguese Nation,
"IL is exceedingly painful to remind you, that an untoward
event hes lately once more filled my heart, as well as the na-
tion, With mourning, depriving us of a magnanimous prince,
who being a model of every virtue, entirely corresponded to
the high opinion in which my august father, of happy memory,
held him.
"Notwithstanding, however, toy very deep as well 'as recent-
affliction, upon this the last day of the session'of the present
year, after so many and such "weighty affairs as have been sub-
mitted to your consideration, I owed you a great effort—viz.,
that of coming personally 'to have the satisfaction of cOng-ratu-,
l.ating von on the proofs. Which you have given of your wishes to
consolidate the scoustitptional throne, adopting moasnrett•Of the
most saintary as well es transcendant utility. - = f •
" The laws .which you have proposed for my royal sanction,:
establishing the principles which are deemed necessaYy in order
to carry into effect, throughout the kingdom the newiuditial
reform, as well as for the new decinial coinage of the realm,
and likewise for correcting and iinproviog the collection of the

decirni (income-tax). and the taxes thereto annexed, and finally,
fer a variety of matters worthy of your attention, are so many
testimonials of your illustraiiwi will love of country..
"I must vet make particular mention not only of the law on
the indemnities, wherein you had the tea to combine justice I
due to the sufferers with the peace and tranquillity due to all the
nation, but also of the capital measure for the sale of the na-
tional property, which, abundant-in immense riches, opening
the first fountains of wealth, and consolidating the institutions
which produce such copious fruits, would in itself be sufficient
to immortalize the era of the restoration of these kingdoms.
" The votes of confidence granted to my government, in order
to enable it to carry important improvements into effect, are no
less worthy of my special gratitude; the delay in the judicial
and administrative organization, the clashing between the old
and new laws, as well as the conflicts between the old authorities
and those established iu virtue of the charter, could not but be
very detrimental to the good name of the constitutional priuci-
pies, and to the welfare of my people.
" It could not be expected that evils which date from many
years and even centuries back should be remedied in a few
'mouths ; but appreciatiug this state of things, you have in your
wisdom euthorized the government with full powers to proceed
to the general statistical survey of the country, to open and fa-
cilitate the interior communications, to improve-public instruc-
tion, to effect the new territorial division of the country, and,
finally, to establish the administration of the kingdom under its
various considerations.
" I trust that your confidence will not be misplaced, and that
ere long, when considerable benefits emanating from the char-
ter have been realized, the Portuguese people will feel prac-
tically that our fundamental law is not a mere theory. •
"Upon the occasion of the unhappy and mournful. event
which we all deplore some misguided or troublesome individuals
attempted, under the plea of great zeal, to disturb the tran-
quillity of this•capital,but public opinion, which is all in favour
of the charter and my government, rendered the interference.
of the authorities, in order to re-establish general quiet, almost
unnecessary.
"Tranquillity prevails throughout the kingdom, as well as in
our provinces beyond the seas, and I have reason to believe that
the time is not far distant when all my subjects will dismiss from I
their minds every! prejudice of party spirit, hulaing the charter
as their only device, and that they will show themselves in every
respect worthy of the generosity and great kindness of the im-
mortal Liberator.
" My relations with the foreign powers and allies continue on
the most friendly footing, and I' shall not neglect to put in prac-
tiuo nosy nouns, enUkiktellt with the nationid honour, in order
to establish convenient relations with other foreign states, di-
recting principally my attention towards those from whence we
are likely to derive greater commercial advantages. -
"'Gentlemen Deputies of the Portuguese Nation,
"The multiplicity of business before you has not permitted
you to examine the budget fur the present year, notwithstanding
which the present taxes will continuein force, in compliance
with what Article 137 of the Charter provides, and you may
rely on my government making every effort within the limits
of its power in order to increase the revenue aud diminish the
chae. •
"Our credit both at home and abroad stands on that elevated
ground of prosperity which.was to be expected both from the
good faith with which we keep our legitimate engagements and
treaties, as well as from the plain and straightforward course we
pursue in order to render our immense resources available.
" Worthy Peers of. the Kingdom, Gentlemen Deputies of
the Portuguese Nation,
"On your' return to your respeetiVe homes, pray inform your
constituents that you have heard all these truths from my own
lips. Instruct them by your good example in the faithful ob-
servance of the laws and proper respect for the authorites; in-
spire them with a due sense of horror towards rioting and
anarchy, the fatal enemies of freedom and -infallible precursors
of the ruin of any country; instil into their minds the fruits of
your wisdoM and patriotism, and be yourselves keen observers
of the public and local wants iu order that,'when you are again
called together to perform your high functions, you may, contri-
bute by your talents and experience towards the completion of
the great work of Portuguese restoration, by which means you
will have the benedictions of the present and all future ages."

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.