relations subsisting between this kingdom and those countries, which bad established their separation from Spain. The first object of importance that came under the consideration of parliament this session, and which, with little exception, may be said to have occupied nearly the whole of it, was the state of Ireland. A revival of the committee to inquire into every circumstance connected with the distresses, grievances, conflicting interests, and abuses of trusts in that country, was moved for in the house of lords, on the 10th, by the earl of Liverpool, and, on the same day, Mr. Goulburn, in the commons, brought forward a bill for suppressing all improper and dangerous associations in Ireland. The direct aim of government, however, was to put down the Catholic Association, an institution which had assumed a very alarming port, and conducted its operations in a manner that too clearly indicated a design hostile to the established church, and even the connexion with Great Britain. The debate was adjourned three times, on account of the magnitude of the subject, and the number as well as the length of the speeches which it produced. On the 15th, the motion was carried by two hundred and seventy-eight votes against one hundred and twenty-three. Mr. Brougham now proposed that the Catholic Association should be heard by counsel, and witnesses examined at the bar; but the motion was rejected by a majority of two hundred and twentytwo to eighty-nine. On the 25th the bill passed the commons, and, on the 7th of March, it was read the third time in the house of lords. In the mean time, the committee appointed to inquire into the state of Ireland made their report, the most interesting part of which was that containing the evidence of the Catholic prelacy. From their united testimony, though very cautiously given, it appeared that the pope exercises an absolute autherity over the whole body of the Catholic priesthood in Ireland; and that this hierarchy not only claims, but exercises, a plenitude of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, exceeding that intrusted by law to the protestant episcopacy. As the time drew near for the discussion of the great question, whether the Roman Catholics of Ireland should be admitted to a full participation of civil privileges, the public mind became much agitated, and numerous petitions were poured into both houses of parliament, for and against the proposed concessions. On these occasions, several members took the opportunity of expressing their sentiments on the subject, and, among others, the duke of York, in presenting a petition from the dean and chapter of Windsor, against admitting the demand of the Roman Catholics, delivered a speech, which produced a lively sensation throughout the kingdom. His royal highness said, that twenty-five years had elapsed since he gave his first vote on this question, and that he had never seen any reason to regret or change the line which he then took. He then proceeded to observe, that, though the subject would hereafter be treated with more ability than he could pretend to, yet that he was anxious to touch upon two or three points; one of which was, that the church of England would be placed, by the proposed grant, in a situation in which no other church in the world stands; because, while the Roman Catholic will not allow the parliament to interfere with his church, he requires leave to interfere with that of the establishment, and to legislate for it." There is another subject, still more delicate," said his royal highness, "on which I cannot help saying a few words. I speak only as an individual; I desire not to be understood to speak for any body else; but consider, my lords, the situation in which you place the sovereign. By the coronation oath, the sovereign is bound to maintain the church established, in her doctrine, discipline, and rights, inviolate. An act of parliament may release any future sovereigns and other men from this oath, or from any other oath to be taken; but can it release an individual who has already taken it? I entreat the house to consider the situation in which the sovereign is thus placed. I feel very strongly on this subject; I cannot forget the deep interest which was taken upon it by one now no more. I have been brought up from my early years in these principles; and from the time when I began to reason for myself, I have entertained them from conviction; and in every situation in which I may be placed, I will maintain them, so help me God!" On the 23d of March, sir Francis Burdett brought in a bill for removing all the disqualifications of the Roman Catholics of Ireland; the second reading of which, after some remarks from Mr. Peel, was fixed for the 19th of April, when the old arguments for and against the measure were repeated, without any novelty of illustration; and the house adjourned till the 21st, on which day the debate was resumed, and exhibited the singular feature of two leading members of the cabinet, Mr. Canning and Mr. Peel, taking opposite sides, the former advocating the claims of the Romanists, in a glowing strain of eloquence, and the other resisting them with equal energy and ability. In the end, the motion was carried, the numbers on the division being 268 votes for, and 241 against the bill. The great struggle was now to be decided in the upper house, where the motion for the second reading was made on the 17th of May, by the earl of Donoughmore, who was aided by the marquis of Camden, the earl of Darnley, the bishop of Norwich, the earl of Limerick, the marquis of Lansdowne, and the earl of Harrowby; who were answered in succession by the marquis of Anglesea, the earl of Longford, the bishop of Chester, the earl of Liverpool, and the lord chancellor. At the conclusion of a most animated debate, the peers divided, for the second reading one hundred and thirty, and against it one hundred and seventy-eight, consequently the bill was thrown out by a majority of forty-eight. On the 28th of February, the chancellor of the exchequer introduced one of the most satisfactory budgets ever brought forward in parliament, when, instead of calling for new imposts, the whole financial plan consisted of a reduction of those already in existence, the principal of which were, the duties on hemp, coffee, wines, spirits, cider, the assessed taxes, and iron. Another measure of great importance, and tending to the annihilation of smuggling, was the Consolidation Act of the Customs, which Mr. Huskisson submitted to the house of commons, in a speech equally profound and luminous, on the advantage arising from a free reciprocation of commerce. He concluded by moving a reduction of duties on various articles of foreign produce and manufacture, as cottons, woollens, linens, books, paper, glass, porcelain, and different kinds of goods. Though objections were made to some parts of the plan, all the regulations were ultimately agreed to. A subject of general interest, which engaged much attention during this session, was the appointment of a committee, to inquire into the effect produced by the repeal of the combination laws. It appeared that, through the pressure of parliamentary business in the preceding year, a bill had been suffered surreptitiously to pass rapidly through both houses, by which, for want of examination, power was given to mechanics of all descriptions, to form themselves into associations against their employers and fellow-workmen, without being amenable even to the common law. The consequence of this mischievous piece of policy was what might have been foreseen; for there was scarcely a branch of business, in which the tyranny of the artificers did not immediately operate to the injury of trade, and the danger of the community. After a long examination of witnesses, the committee made their report, and, at the end of the session, a bill passed through both houses, giving to magistrates the power of imprisoning any workmen for three months, who should leave their labour unfinished, or be guilty of molesting or obstructing any other artificers from exercising their calling. A proposition, founded on the king's message, for granting annuities of six thousand a year each, to the princess of Kent, and the prince of Cumberland, produced a debate, which it would be difficult and painful to characterize. The motions, however, were carried, after a furious and reiteraed contest; but it merits observation, that when, on the 6th of July, parliament was prorogued by commission, the royal speech, delivered by the chancellor, was perfectly silent on the subject. Thus are we arrived at the resting point, where the labours of recording must give place to the indulgence of reflection. The first impression produced by the retrospect, is astonishment at the convulsions and changes that have distinguished tho period through which we have passed. Old empires have been dismembered, and new ones have risen with a rapidity of succession, to which ancient history cannot supply a parallel. We have witnessed, with awful apprehension, the most tremendous revolutions, shaking the nations, overturning thrones, and spreading desolation throughout the civilized world; so that it seemed as if the very ligaments and bonds of society were dissolving, and the whole moral frame tended to universal anarchy. Amidst these commotions, it has been the lot of Britain to stand eminently conspicuous; assailed on all sides for a long series of years, and yet enduring every new attack with increasing fortitude and vigour of repulsion. Like the palm-tree, her strength became more energetic, in proportion to the difficulties which surrounded her, the enemies she had to encounter, and the combinations that were formed to accomplish ber destruction. By the stability of principle, she not only ensured her own safety, but became the refuge of the oppressed, and the deliverer of those states which had been drawn into a confederacy against her. Nor should it be forgotten, that while the world was in arms, and the most desperate designs were formed to bring all Europe under the despotic sway of one power, Britain was extending justice and benevolence over the earth, breaking the chains of slavery, colonizing uncultivated regions, and spreading the light of knowledge among barbarous and wandering tribes, who had been hitherto as ignorant of moral truth, as of the means of improving their natural condition. At home also the horrors of war were softened by the duties `of bumanity. Against a proud and domineering foe, whose progress was marked with blood, the whole British population rose with spontaneous animation, and with one voice dared the threatened invasion, resolutely determined to live free, or die gloriously. Yet in this arduous struggle, so far were the malevolent passions from intermingling with the spirit of patriotism, that never were the charities of social life more beautifully displayed, or actively employed, than at the very crisis when, if any of the surrounding nations felt a concern for Britain, it was only one of tremulous anxiety for her approaching fate. Collected, however, in herself, while she presented a fearless front to the danger that awaited her, the exercises of love and beneficence were not suspended; but, on the contrary, the arts flourished, industry went on, new plans of charity were devised, education was extended, and the offices of religion sanctified the preparations for national defence. Such was the part borne by this country, in that, season of peril, when few could hope for a favourable termination of the contest, and none thought that ever a permanent peace would be secured. At length, one tremendous shock closed the trial, out of which Britain rose with fresh glory, so that, instead of exhibiting what the timid feared, and the evil-minded anticipated,-desolated cities, and wasted provinces,—she displays, in every quarter, a flourishing commerce, an increasing population. and extensive improvements of every description. Distrust has given way to confidence, and moral harmony is restored for the furtherance of those great designs which Providence has yet to accomplish : At whose command th' up-rooted hills retir'd THE END. LONDON PRINTED AT THE CAXTON PRESS, BY H. FISHER, SON, AND CO. INDEX. ABERCROMBIE, General, defeated before Ticon- | Baliol, Edward, crowned at Scone, 126; deposed and derago, 440 Abercromby, Sir Ralph, mortally wounded in the battle of Alexandria, 603 Aboukir, battle of, 594 Academy, institution of the royal, 461 Acre, sieges of, 77. 593 Adams, Major, defeats Ali Cawn, 454 Addington, Henry, administration of, 604 Aghrim, battle of, 354 Agricola, his exploits in Britain, 7 Aix la Chapelle, peace of, 424 Alban's, Saint, battle of, 104 Albuera, battle of, 650 Alexander, Emperor of Russia, makes war on France, 627; attacked by Napoleon, 656; his magnanimous Alexandria, battle of, 602; the city taken, 603 Alfred, the Great, sent to Rome, 19; his accession, Algiers, bombardment of, 685; humiliation of, 712 Almanza, battle of, 368 Amboyna taken, 647 Amelia, death of the Princess, 6-48 America, discovery of, 188; war with France respect- Andre, Major, cruel case of, 494 Anglesey, reduced by the Romans, 6 Angria, an Indian adventurer, defeated, 436 Princess of Denmark, succeeds William III. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, quarrels with Anson, Admiral, his voyage round the world, 409 Argyle, the Earl of, conspires against James II. and duke of, defeats the rebels, 393 Arlington, the earl of, a member of the cabal, 320 Arras, the league of, 155 Arthur, king of Britain, his story, 12 nephew of king John, murdered, 83 . son of Henry VIII. his marriage and death, 187 Ascalon, battle of, 77 Ashantees, war with the, 712 Ashton, executed for his loyalty, 355 Askew, Anne, a protestant martyr, 213 Asperne, battle of, 640 Assassins, a tribe of, 105 restored, 127 Balmarino, lord, beheaded for treason, 422 Barbadoes, insurrection of the negroes at, 685 Barnet, battle of, 168 Baronies, first created, 41 Barons, dispute between them and Johu, 84; their con- Barossa, battle of, 649 Bavaria, reduction of, 619 Beaufort, cardinal, his character, 161 Becket, Thomas-a, archbishop of Canterbury, his dis- Benbow, admiral, his bravery, and death, 362 Bible, translated into Saxon, 24; into English, 204 Bishoprics, six new ones erected, 204 Bishops, twelve sent to the tower, 282; trial of the Black-hole in Calcutta, catastrophe of the, 436 Blakeney, general, his defence of Minorca, 430 Bloody statutes, enacted against protestants, 204 Blucher, marshal, his progress in France, 668, 670, 679 Bohun, Humphry, his reply to Edward I. 113 Bonner, bishop, his cruelties, 230 Boston, America, riots there, 460, 464; deprived of its Bothwell, earl, murders Darnley, and marries Mary, 239 Boulogne, expedition against, 604 Bourbon, capture of the island of, 647 Bourdeanx acknowledges Louis XVIII. 670 Boyne, battle of the, 353 Braddock, general, defeat of, 429 Bradshaw, president at the trial of Charles I. 297 Breda, peace of, 319 Breton, Cape, taken, 440 Bristol, council held at, 94 Britain, origin of the name, 1; manners and customs Brooklyn, battle of, 474 Brace, Robert, competitor for the kingdom of Scot- Brunswick, duke of, his imprudent manifesto, 541 Villiers, duke of, his rise, 263; accom- Bunker's Hill, battle of, 470 Buonaparte, his rise, 566; his progress in Italy, 575; A Burdett, Sir Francis, sent to the tower, 615 Burke, Edmund, his description of lord Chatham's Bute, earl of, his administration, 448, 452; resigns his Byng, Sir George, his achievements, 398 admiral John, his hard fate, 431 Byron, admiral, his voyage of discovery, 461; his C Cabot, Sebastian, discovers part of America, 188 Cabal, a scandalous administration, 320 Cadiz, expedition against, 207; another by Ormond Caer Baden, battle of, 12 Cæsar, Julius, lands in Britain, 3 Calais, siege of, 132; taken by the French, 233 Caligula, his expedition to Britain, 5 Camden, chief justice Pratt, created earl, 457 Canada, conquest of, 442; bill for the government of, Canning, Mr. duel between him and lord Castlereagh, Canute, the Dane, his reign, 30; anecdote of, 31 Carlisle, lord, sent to America, 480; challenged by La Caroline, the consort of George II. her character, Matilda, married to the king of Denmark, Amelia, married to the prince of Wales, 561; Cartaret, lord, his administration, 414 Castlereagh, lord, charged with bribery, 639; duel be- the empress, usurps the throne of Russia, of Braganza, married to Charles II. 317 Centaur, loss of the ship, 509 Ceylon, reduction of the Dutch settlements in, 569 II. invited to Scotland, 300; his treatment Charles the Wise, king of France, 136 king of Spain, lands in England, 367 Edward, grandson of James II. lands in Scot- Charlestown, in America, unsuccessful attack on, Charlotte, queen, consort of George III. 449; her princess, daughter of George prince of Charter, the great, 90; renewed, 98; established, 113 Chesapeak, American frigate, taken by the Shannon, China, embassies to, 689 Cider, commotions occasioned by the tax on, 453; Cintra, convention of, 637 Ciudad Rodrigo, capture of, 646 .. Hyde, earl of, his excellent character, Claudius, subdues part of Britain, 5 Clergy, curious distinction of the, 112 Clinton, sir Henry, his conduct in America, 474, 479 Cobham, lord, cruel death of, 152 Coleman, Edward, suffers for a pretended plot, 327 Columbus, makes overtures to England, 188 Cook, captain, his voyage of discovery, 461; killed by Coote, sir Eyre, his exploits in India, 477, 509; his Copenhagen, expedition against, 600, 629 Corporation, account of the Charitable, 405 Cossim Ali Khan, defeated in the East Indies, 454 Cressy, or Crecy, battle of, 130 Cromwell, Thomas, lord, his rise, 202; promotes the Cromwell, Oliver, gains the battle of Marston Moor, 465 Richard, proclaimed protector, 309; abdi- D Danby, earl of, impeached, 329 |