View of Publick Affairs.

EUROPE.

The latest European dates which we have seen at the time we write, are from Liverpool of the 14th of July, from London of the 13th, and from Havre of the 14th of the same month.

BRITAIN. On the 21st of June the king met, and delivered his speech to his new Parliament. He went in great state to the Parliament house, amidst an immense

multitude, and great cheering of the citizens of London. We shall not, as on some former occasions, give a complete epitome of this royal speech. It was introduced by telling the Lords and Commons, that having dissolved the late Parliament and called that which he now addressed, for the purpose of ascertaining the sense of his people on the expediency of a reform in their representation, he now submitted that important subject to the assembled houses, and recommended it to their early and most attentive consideration. He then told them that he had received assurances from foreign powers of their disposition to maintain peace, and that he should do all in his power to preserve it. He noticed the discussions that had taken place in regard to Belgium-the insults his subjects had met with in Portugal, and the prompt and effectual measures he had taken to obtain reparation,-the relief his people had received by the repeal of a number of taxes, by the last Parliament-the prevalence of the Cholera Morbus in the north of Europe, and the orders he had issued to prevent its introduction into Britain-the distress which had existed in some districts of Britain, and still more in the western counties of Ireland, and the means he had employed to afford temporary relief-the "local disturbances, unconnected with any political causes," which had taken place both in Britain and Ireland, and the manner in which he had endeavoured to put a stop to these disorders.

Three days after the delivery of the royal speech-the 24th of June-the Reform Bill was introduced into the House of Commons, by Lord John Russell, in a long and eloquent speech: and from that time till the date of the last intelligence, the progress and fate of the Bill seem to have almost entirely engrossed the publick attention and solicitude of the people in Britain. The London Herald of the 13th of July, (the latest London date) says-"The House of Commons were in session all night of the 12th, and adjourned at half past seven o'clock, morning of 18th, after the House had gone into committee on the Reform Bill, which it has been previously stated has passed a second reading. The late hour of adjournment was in consequence of the continued attempts of the opposition to embarrass proceedings; many divisions of the House were made in which ministers in every case had the majority, in no case less than 170. On a motion by Lord Maitland that counsel be heard at the bar against the disfranchisement of the borough of Appleby which was refused, ministers having a majority of 97. The House on the 8th, refused, 117 to 96, to issue a writ for another election in Liverpool, Mr. Dennison, chosen for that place and Nottinghamshire both, having declared in favour of the latter, and left Liverpool unrepresented; it appears, therefore, that she will remain so, unless on a fourth effort a writ is granted." There seems to be no doubt that this important Bill will pass the Commons, by a very large majority; but its fate in the House of Lords is thought to be doubtful. It is said, that the Bishops are in general opposed to it; and some calculations make out that the Lords will reject it by a majority of eight. Should this take place, it seems to be fully understood that the king will immediately exert his prerogative of creating peers, and will send into the House a number amply sufficient to secure a majority in behalf of this his own favourite measure. We are ready to believe that the foresight of such a proceeding, which would deeply mortify their Lordships, will prevent their rejection of the Bill. In fact, when the king and commons are unitedly and determinately in favour of a measure, the Lords cannot defeat it, as it is always in the power of the Crown to have a majority in their house.

Cobbett has been tried for an attempt to promote insurrection. The jury to whom his case was submitted were divided equally-and the consequence was, he was acquitted. A most melancholy occurrence took place in Ireland on the 18th of June. A drove of cattle had been seized for tithes, and were about to be sold. The populace attempted a rescue, and the military fired upon them-killed about twenty, and wounded, some of them dangerously, as many more. This occurrence was likely to be made a subject of Parliamentary investigation. There was the promise of an unusually abundant harvest in South Britain.

Since writing as above, an arrival at New York has brought London papers to the 23d of July inclusive. But little addition, however, has been made to the amount of news. There was an increasing interest manifested by the British in favour of the Poles. It was hoped and expected that Britain and France would unite and interpose in their behalf. Publick dissatisfaction was beginning to manifest itself in London, at the tardy progress of the Reform Bill, which was still before the House of Commons, and opposed at every step, ably and perseveringly, by its enemies. It was proposed and urged that the House should meet at ten o'clock in the morning, instead of a late hour in the afternoon, as heretofore.

FRANCE.-In France, as well as in England, two great objects, much of the same character, engross the public mind-important measures in their own legislature, and the cause of Poland. The new Chambers were expected to convene on the 23d

of July. Their convention had been hastened that they might be in session on the annual return of the three great days. It was generally understood that the late elections had terminated in favour of the government; but till the meeting of the Chambers, the majority could not be ascertained. This majority, moreover, will, we think, much depend on the complexion of the King's speech, which, it appears, was looked forward to with much anxiety, and of which a conjectural outline had been published by the paragraphists of the publick journals. If the speech should favour the abolishing of the hereditary peerage, the cause of the Poles, the integrity of Belgium, the evacuation of Italy by the Austrians, and the giving of somewhat more of a republican cast to the institutions of France, particularly in the qualification of electors, we think the majority in the Chamber of Deputies in favour of the government will be overwhelming; and indeed the liberals will have little more to ask or wish. But if the speech should bear strongly toward monarchical and aristocratical claims and measures, we suspect the liberals will find a majority on their side. The anxiety, which had been great, in regard to the popular excitement expected to be witnessed on the anniversary of the last revolution, had been, in a considerable degree allayed, by the circumstance that the anniversary of the destruction of the Bastille had passed over without any agitation. But the truth is, France is still resting on a volcano, which it is our wish may be extinguished without an eruption, but we have our fears. Very much will depend on the course pursued by the existing government. A large French naval armament is lying off Lisbon, and Don Miguel must soon make his submission, or, we hope, be dethroned -we wish him dethroned at any rate. Portugal must abandon him or lose all her commerce, and perhaps, become a conquered country. The French colony at Algiers has lately experienced a severe stroke, by what appears to have been an illadvised measure of the commander of the army there. He marched a considerable distance into the country with a corps of about 6000 men, to chastise some rebellious petty chiefs; and although apparently successful in effecting his purpose, he found himself surrounded on his return, by Bedouins and Arabs, to the amount, it is said, of 45,000 men, and with difficulty got back, with the loss of 700 of his troops.

BELGIUM.-Prince Leopold has at length accepted of the crown of Belgium. He refused the acceptance on any other conditions than those prescribed by the five great powers; and this produced a new conflict in regard to him in the Belgic Congress. His party, however, at length triumphed by a large majority; and a deputa tion of great distinction was sent to Britain. He accompanied them back through France, where he was greeted with many acclamations, and treated with the highest respect. Arrived at Brussels, he was received with enthusiasm by the populace, and with every mark of respect by the constituted authorities. A splendid procession conducted him to the Congress, when he took his inauguration oath on the 21st. It is hoped that the king of Holland, though doubtless with reluctance, will yield without warfare, to the terms on which Belgium has been separated from his kingdom; and that the settlement of the whole Belgic question will be favourable to the union of France and Britain, in favour of the Poles and for the effectual suppression of the African slave trade-two objects which every friend of humanity must desire to see accomplished.

SPAIN and PORTUGAL.—It is stated that Spain has determined to assist Portugal, in the expected war with France, with a large army. Ferdinand and Don Miguel are par nobile fratrum; and they are probably working their way to a common ruin; and if so, who will lament their fall?

GREECE is still in an unhappy and unsettled state, but we have nothing to add to our last account of its internal broils and agitations.

ITALY.-The Austrian troops still remain in Italy, and are to be sustained, it is said, by a large army, raised by the king of Sardinia, between whom and the Emperor of Austria, it appears that a treaty of alliance has been formed. If Europe escapes a general war, it will be a mercy indeed. France will not, we think, consent to see Italy entirely subject to Austria.

AUSTRIA and PRUSSIA.-Inconsistent as it appears with the foregoing article, the last arrivals represent the Emperor of Austria as publishing an order to arrest the farther armament of troops, and even to diminish the number already embodied. We pretend not to reconcile these discrepancies. The united force of Austria and Prussia must exceed half a million of well disciplined troops; and this force will probably be united, if a general war should break out in Europe. Both these powers have shown every favour to the Russians, in their attack on the magnanimous Poles, which they could manifest short of actually furnishing troops and munitions of war. Indeed, it is stated, and we think correctly, that the Russians have lately derived their chief supplies of forage, and food for their army, from the Prussians.

The Poles complain bitterly of this, and with great justice. The Hungarians appear to be more and more disposed to favour the Poles, and it would seem that the Emperor of Austria, will, ere long, have enough to do to preserve quiet in his own dominions. The whole truth is, that the entire despotism of the old world trembles, and those whom it supports, and who wish to support it, feel the quaking, and are alarmed. It will fall, despite of all they can do to sustain it. We know not when; but we believe its catastrophe is not distant.

DENMARK is a kingdom which we do not often find occasion to mention, but the last arrivals from Europe bring authentick information that the wise king of this small state has voluntarily given a civil constitution to his subjects, much resembling that of Britain. How much human misery would be avoided, if other European potentates would anticipate rebellion, and do readily, and with cheerfulness, what they must do eventually, or lose their crowns, and perhaps their heads.

POLAND. In addition to their open and cruel enemies, the Poles have had to contend with foul treachery and treason among themselves. Tempted probably by Russian gold, and promises of elevated rank, one of their generals, Janikowski, like the infamous Benedict Arnold in the war of our own revolution, has sought to betray his country to its invaders. The Russian corps, under their general, Rudiger, was completely surrounded, and must have been entirely captured or defeated, if Janikowski had not acted in treacherous concert with the enemy-leaving one of his associated commanders and his men, to be dreadfully cut up by an unequal contest with their opposers. It is even suspected, that he, and others with whom he acted in concert, had betrayed to the enemy, at the sanguinary battle of Ostrolenka, the whole of the plans and arrangements of the Polish commander-in-chief. Two or three other generals, beside the chief traitor, and several civil functionaries, and one distinguished lady, were implicated in the plot-which was, to promote dissention in the army, and in Warsaw, and eventually to put arms into the hands of 13,000 Russian prisoners, who it appears go at large in that city-to get the city with its arsenal and fortifications into their hands, and deliver up the whole to the Russian commanderin-chief. The plot was discovered only in time to prevent the attempt to execute it. The guilty parties have been put on their trial, and will meet their deserts. An immense sum of money was found concealed in the house of the traitorous female. Three proclamations have been issued since the discovery of the plot-two by the civil government, and one by the Polish generalissimo. Much agitation, and a good deal of gloom, was for a time experienced; but the last accounts state, that order and animation were entirely restored, and even increased. One of the proclamations of the Congress calls on the inhabitants of Poland to rise in mass, and to exterminate their invaders by one desperate effort. The result remains to be seen; but to our view, the eventual success of the Poles appears far more probable than it has ever done before. The Russian army had, at the last accounts, advanced to within about twelve miles of Warsaw, and another general engagement was shortly expected.

RUSSIA. This great empire seems to us to be under the signal frown of Heaven. Not only are her armies put to the worse, in an attempt to subdue what was regarded as a contemptible rebellion, and thus dishonoured in the view of the whole world, but the awful scourge of pestilence is added to the desolations of the sword. The Cholera Morbus not only rages in the Russian armies, but is spreading desolation and dismay through the capital of the empire. Petersburgh is not only deserted by the emperor and his court, but by all the wealthy inhabitants and the resident foreigners; and the ignorant populace, under a suspicion that the physicians had administered poison in the hospitals where so many deaths occurred by the Cholera, have risen in insurrection, murdered one physician, and could not be brought to order, but by military force and the presence of the emperor, who was compelled to leave his retirement and appear among them at the hazard of his life. In an early part of the last month, the news of the death of Field Marshal Diebitsch reached us, and the last accounts announce the death of the emperor's brother Constantine, both victims of the Cholera. Thus the two most elevated men of the empire, after the emperor himself, and both actively engaged against the Poles, have been suddenly carried to their last account. Rebellion is also rapidly spreading through the western portion of the empire, once a part of Poland, and its limits cannot be foreseen. It is not for us to predict the speedy death of the emperor himself, nor of Field Marshal Paskewitch, who has succeeded Diebitsch in the chief command of the Russian forces employed against the Poles; but it would give us no surprise if they should soon follow to the bar of the Judge of all, their eminent coadjutors in the unholy work of oppression and carnage. Rebellion is extending through nearly the whole western boundary of the Russian empire.

TURKEY.-The Grand Seignior appears to have been at least temporarily success

ful in contending with his rebellious Pachas; but in the month past we have heard but little of his operations, or of the state of his affairs.

ASIA AND AFRICA.

We had a few things to chronicle in reference to some occurrences in these great sections of our globe. But for the present month we omit them, for matters of more immediate interest.

AMERICA.

BUENOS AIRES and the UNITED PROVINCES, appear, by the last accounts, to have come to a compromise, and we would fain hope to a termination of their party broils and petty warfare. We fear, however, that there is little prospect of permanent peace and order.

THE BRAZILS.-It seems that Don Pedro has made a happy escape with his family, from his new empire. The dissatisfaction and insubordination which caused his departure has since broken out into open and general insurrection at Rio Janeiro. The details of this occurrence have not yet been received; but it appears that there had been much blood shed in the city, and that the inhabitants were flying for refuge to the foreign vessels in the harbour.

COLOMBIA-The New-York Daily Advertiser of the 3d inst. contains the following article: "We have received Bogota papers from our correspondent, extending to the 17th of July, with a Popayan Gazette, of the 26th of June. Things continued entirely tranquil. The elections at Bogota had taken place, and gave satisfaction. The college of St. Bartholomew, (San Bartolome) in Bogota, which had much to endure under the dictatorial government, and was finally deprived of apparatus, books, pupils, rector and professors, to be converted into barracks, is soon to be restored, and it is hoped, in all its vigour. Dr. Raymon Hamaya is spoken of as likely to be appointed, if not actually appointed, Rector of that lately flourishing institution. The mother of the generous and patriotic General Cordova, has presented Gen. Obando with the epaulettes of her son." It appears, however, that there has been an insurrection of the black population in Carraccas, and a revolt of the Tyradores of Santa Martha, and that blood had been spilled before quiet could be restored. Thirty of the insurgents, including two women, had been shot.

MEXICO, and the other South American republicks, that we have not particularly noticed, are, it is hoped, making some advances toward a settled state. Mexico was tranquil at the last accounts.

UNITED STATES.-There has been an unhappy insurrection of the slaves in Virginia, in the county of Southampton, bordering on North Carolina. For a while it assumed a fearful aspect, but it has been apparently of a very partial character, and is now entirely subdued. Yet the insurgent slaves, (few in number at first, but increased to the amount of about 150 or 200, by compelling others to join them,) acted with the most ferocious and unrelenting cruelty-murdering whole families, women and children, without distinction. From fifty to seventy white individuals have been massacred; and a considerable number of rebellious slaves have been shot-a number of prisoners have also been made. It does not appear that there was any general or extensive disposition of the coloured people to join in this insurrection, or to countenance any measure of the kind. On the contrary, all the statements we have seen represent the slaves as generally disapproving of what had taken place, and some of them as having assisted their owners to escape the massacre. While we deeply sympathize with the sufferers, and cannot be supposed to regard with any other feeling than that of horror the atrocities lately witnessed, we cannot forbear the remark, that the late occurrence exhibits the evils of slavery in an affecting and striking light, and shows the unspeakable importance of endeavouring, by every proper method, to hasten its extinction in our happy country.

Within the last month, the publick papers have exhibited statements of the arbitrary and inhuman treatment of the missionaries among the Cherokee Indians by the publick authorities of Georgia, which are fitted to dishonour our country before the whole civilized world. We have not seen any denial of the truth of these statements, and if they are correct, we know not how to account for it, unless by supposing our countrymen wanting in moral sensibility, that there has not been an expression of general indignation. We are well assured that there are many of the citizens of the state of Georgia, who disapprove, as much as we do, of the proceedings to which we have referred the chaining of unresisting missionaries, free citizens of the United States, like convicted felons, or desperate pirates, and dragging them, bound to a carriage, or tied to a horse, for many miles, under a military escort! If a foreign State had treated any of our citizens in this manner, the whole country, before this time, would have resounded with a call on the government for the most exemplary retribution-We drop the ungrateful subject for the present.