INSTITUTED, AT THE CLOSE OF LAST SESSION, TO INQUIRE INTO THE OF FRASER'S MAGAZINE: FOLLOWED BY AN ACCOUNT OF the grand FRASERIAN FESTIVAL. Oliver Yorke to all Men greeting.-Not of our mere motion, but by command of the incomparable REGINA, We herewith issue our Writ of Summons to such of our loving Subjects, in all parts of the World, as have contributed to the delectation and instruction of the rest, desiring that they should all meet, in full Parliament assembled, on the day mentioned in our said Prescript: For which extraordinary Convocation the reason is none other than the important fact, that Her most Gracious MAJESTY hath been pleased, with her own royal hand and golden pen, to indite condescending Address to all who prosper under her beneficent sceptre, and hath confided the same to Our keeping, for communication at the time and place appointed. And we, OLIVER YORKE, design on such occasion to give it audible utterance as a gracious Manifesto, unto all her a VOL. XIII. NO. LXXIII. B loving subjects, of Her MAJESTY's gracious regards and in- ROYAL ADDRESS. My Lords and Gentlemen, Looking forward to the commencement of the seventh year of our reign, and anticipating that in its progress, and at its conclusion, it will prove indeed a season of jubilee—a period of great popular joy-a year of festivity-we deem the present a fitting time for the twofold task of retrospection and of promise. When we, fortified by your applauding voices, assumed the throne which we have sought to fill to general satisfaction—and, as we hear, not vainly we found the realm of Letters suffering famine from the want of About every four weeks, indeed, a NEW periodical nourishment. MONTHLY Supply was sent abroad; but it was destined for the Drawing-room, and not the Library. Men's stomachs yearned for more substantial fare-they were wearied with milk, and wished for We determined that better diet, in both sorts, should strong meat. forthwith be made and provided. For this purpose we gave command, that certain edible animals, passing under the general denomination of "luckless or pluckless wights," should be cut up mangled like carcasses for the hounds" of the provisionally, and “ kingdom, as an appropriate reward for their natural keenness of scent and practised agility in the hunt; and that others of nobler thews and sinews, and of braver mettle, should be "carved as a feast fit for the gods." And by these means, a clearance was made of much that had been suffered to cumber the land, and yet, in its several ways, and after its different kinds, was good for aliment. Moreover, we planted Vineyards of our own; and the people drank New wines, of the genuine juice of the grape, and were refreshed. also, were invented by us; such, for example, as "True and Fearless Criticism," "Right Philosophical Principles," and "Political Facts:" all wines of approved quality, full-bodied, and richly flavoured. For these there was great demand; and the public health and digestion have been all the better and stronger for their general use. ardent liqueurs, also, have not been disregarded: the "Spirit of Independence," much to the annoyance of dishonest Critics, literary Adventurers, and Booksellers who made an impure livelihood out of trash and garbage, has been largely manifested. Nor has the "Spirit of Ridicule" forsaken us, when we needed to laugh, or raise a laugh, at the assaults of puny enemies, open or concealed. If, in the spirit of the enemies of Ishmael son of Hagar, the hairy wanderer of the desert, the hand of every man had been against us, little should we In the contests in have feared to uplift our hand against every mạn. More which it hath been our hap to be engaged, we trust that we have never shewn signs of withdrawing from the fight; but, on the contrary, have grieved only when we have encountered foemen unworthy of our steel-cravens who squeal and gibber under our infliction, or run howling and smarting under their wounds to crave the salves of "old father antic, the law," when our hand has been mighty to hurt. Of these persons we take no heed — none whatever. Let them perish in their own devices! For us it suffices, that, under all circumstances, under good report and evil report, the "Spirit of Allegiance" to the CHURCH, the KING, and the CONSTITUTION, has never refused to answer to our call; and the " Spirit of the Age" has not seldom changed the course of error for that of justice at the bidding of REGINA. In the face of opposition, unparalleled in literary annals, we have persevered and prevailed, and shall prevail more. Our cheer hath hitherto been good, henceforth it shall be better. Gentlemen, 66 Let us, therefore, turn your attention to the future. We would lay upon you the burthen of further endeavour; we recommend you to consider well the ample resources which are at your disposal, to make report thereof at an early day, and thereafter such arrangements for future governance as the Wisdom of Parliament may suggest. My Lords and Gentlemen, Justified by experience, we confide these important interests to your zeal and intelligence, under the deepest conviction that you will perform your several trusts with integrity, courage, and discretion. The time appointed in the Prescript accompanying the above Epistle for holding the said Parliament was Monday, the twenty-eighth of December, being the day of Innocents; and on that day accordingly it was held. The Contributors of REGINA all assembled, OLIVER YORKE having been duly elected to the Chair, as Keeper of the Conscience of REGINA, and Speaker of her Commons. PRESENT, ALL THE FRASERIANS. Among whom we noticed the most distinguished persons in this world, and in the world of shadows. To begin with the latter, we give from memory the following List of 4 Report on Fraser's Magazine. The names of the living lights of literature we shall deal with alphabetically, that being the most impartial mode of arrangement. Accordingly, we subjoin the following train of Mortals. THE KING OF BAVARIA. THE KING OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. BOYTON, REV. CHARLES BULWER, E. L. BULWER, H. L. FRASER, W. FRASER, H. GALT, JOHN GIFFARD, DR. GILLIES, R. P. GLEIG, REV. G. HERVEY, T. K. HODGES, COLONEL HOLMES, WILLIAM HOOK, T. E. IRVING, W. JAMES, G. P. R. JUDKIN, REV. T. J. KIDD, JOHN NAPIER, COLONEL O'BRIEN, D. O'DOHERTY, SIR MORGAN O'DONOGHUE, CORNELIUS O'SULLIVAN, REV. DR. O'SULLIVAN, REV. M. OUR MAN OF GENIUS That, in the above list, many noble and eminent names have been omitted, is possible; for, in so large a space as Westminster Hall, a place with which we have been lately acquainted, it may be naturally We have given a rough estisupposed that oversights would occur. In relating what passed, howmate of the assembly from memory. ever, we are more confident; for we employed Messrs. GURNEY and 1 it " and forty clerks, in taking notes. |