A Bill to declare secret training and drilling illegal. And lastly, a Bill for regulating the Press: this last is divided into two separate acts, though aiming at one common purpose; the First, being to render certain publications liable to the Stamp Duties; and the Second, to punish more effectually blasphemous and seditious Libels. Our limits will not allow us to give the Bills at length; they all passed with a few modifications. So necessary, indeed, did these Bills appear, that they received, not only the decided support of Parliament, but also the unanimous approbation of the Nation; several Noblemen of the first consequence in the country, who usually voted with the Opposition, now gave their willing concurrence to the wisdom of Government. * The good effects which these measures will produce, when in full operation, may be gathered from what has occurred during their progress to maturity; the mischieVous spirit of disaffection is already curbed, and we see, in every part of the country, the Loyal and Well-disposed rallying round the Constitution. Some people, indeed, were afraid that the Bills would affect the liberty of the subject, as relating to the Press; but, for ourselves, we can say, that as we do not mean either to Libel our King or Government, or to hurt the feelings of any individual, we can take our pen in hand with cheerfulness, andwrite on without fear. To conclude, we trust that through the wisdom of Parliament, seconded by the loyal exertions of the people, the desperate schemes of the wicked will be rendered void; and that Great-Britain, now happily at peace within herself, may look forward to the glorious prospect of the enjoyment of Concord and Prosperity for many years. * We beg leave to refer our readers to the Speech of the Right Hon. Lord Lilford, which we have inserted in this number. DOMESTIC CHRONICLE. JANUARY, 1820. WE hail the New Year with pleasure, as opening to us brighter prospects than we have for some time looked to, Circumstances seem to indicate a decided improvement in the state of commerce and public credit. Accounts from Manchester state, that extensive sales were made there on Tuesday last, that many articles had advanced in consequence of a demand for the Spanish market, and that the American dealers, who had not bought for many months past, have begun to resume their purchases. Two very extensive warehouses at Paisley engaged in the course of last week a number of additional hands; and even sent to a distance for plain weavers to execute the orders which they had received. The port of Liverpool is a scene of activity and bustle; great numbers of vessels arrive there daily from all parts of America, and large exports of goods continually take place. By the official statement of the Dock Duties which were lately published, it appears, that the number of ships which entered the port in the course of the year ending on the 24th of June last, was six times as great as it was 57 years ago, and the tonnage employed in 1819 was 92,975 tons more than in any preceding year. These, and many other facts, all tending the same way, give us good reason to hope, that our manufacturing industry will soon find a better, and at the same time a steadier, demand. THE KING.Yesterday the following bulletin was ex'hibited at St James's Palace. Windsor Castle, Jan. 1st." "His Majesty's disorder has undergone no sensible alteration. His Majesty's bodily health has partaken of some of the infirmities of age, but has been generally good during the last month." The number of persons who have already sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, under the new arrangement of Government, amounts to between 4 and 5000. It is under the consideration of Government, to bring Dartmoor Forest into cultivation, consisting, we understand, of 300,000 acres of Waste Land, and about 80,000 acres of Forest: Also to convert Dartmoor Prison into a Metropolitän School, to which the London Parishes may send their children, who, in addition to the common elements of Edu,cation, will be employed in the several processes of preparing and manufacturing flax. A most violent and destructive shock of an Earthquake took place at Forebunder, in the East Indies, June 16th, 1819, levelling with the ground a Fort of immense strength, The shock lasted about a minute and a half. On the 25th of November occurred a most tremendous and awful eruption of Vesuvius; one of the effects of which, as stated in a letter from Naples, was, that the height of the Volcano was diminished upwards of 60 feet. These events naturally excite in the mind serious reflections on the power of that Almighty Being, who "Rides in the Whirlwind, and directs the Storm." LONG SERVICE.- -The following instances of length of servitude, are, we believe, equal to any on record :ANN SQUIRE, late of Wells, Somersetshire, some time since died at a very advanced age, having been in the service of Mr. Fuller and family for more than Fourscore Years :And also lately died at the age of 72, WM. PENNY, who had lived in the service of the same family full 50 years. MATTHEW ROBINSON, Sexton of the Parish of Boston, a few days ago, was found extended lifeless in a grave, which he had commenced digging in perfect health.. Two Apprentice Boys, sent by their Master to look for some cattle on Dartmoor, have unfortunately perished in the snow, which is said to be deeper there than in the meImorable winter of 1813-1814. One of them was found the same day, and was taken into a house, but died almost immediately the other was not found till the following day, and was quite dead. The Master, who went to look for them, was also brought in insensible, and lay in that state for several hours, but recovered by constant rubbing. Two very amiable young men, who supported their mother and sister, a few days since were drowned in the basin of the Regent's Canal, near Battle-Bridge. The elder had gone to skate, when the ice broke, over one of those deep places made by the workmen to fix their pumps in. As soon as the elder "of the two had sunk, the younger, in a praise-worthy attempt to save him, unhappily lost his life also. Their bodies were not found till the next day. PETERBOROUGH BANK FOR SAVINGS.-First Annual Report of the said Bank, for one year ending Dec. 25th, 1819, Invested in Gov. Debent... £9250 0 0 At Dublin, Dec. 30th, 1819, The Right Hon. the Countess Talbot, Lady of Earl Talbot, Lord Lieut of Ireland. The attack, which thus suddenly terminated the life of a most amiable woman, was an inflammation of the bowels, producing mortification; she was in her 37th year, and has left eleven children. She saw her dissolution approach with firmness and resignation, and quitted life, after taking a calm and affectionate farewell of her family. Thus was separated, from a tender husband, and endearing offspring, a wife and mother, exemplary in every virtue, but most in the virtues of domestic life. One of the first families in the Kingdom has thus become the most afflicted;-- the most exalted are become the most unhappy----neither their rank, nor their virtues have exempted them from sorrow.--Let it impress us with a due consideration of the uncertainty of life; and the equal uncertainty of human happiness. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, has just published the under-mentioned Tracts, which may be had at their Office, No. 21, Fleet Street, London, at the subjoined low prices, being less than one-fourth of the usual publication price. Leslie's short and easy Method with the Deists EACH, s. d. 0 3 0 3 Bishop Porteus' Evidences of the Truth of Christianity, bound 0 Bishop Horne's Letter to Adam Smith Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible 6 0 4 0 1 06/ 0 6 Lord Lyttletou's Observations on the Conversion of St. Paul 0 4 0 6 P. Doz. s. d. Hear both sides. Witnesses for and against the Bible 0 4 0.6 Reasons for retaining Christianity 0 10 The Unbeliever convinced 0 8 The Blind Guide, or Thomas Paine ignorant of the Bible 0 6 The Abandoned and Penitent Blasphemer; or the Death-beds of We are obliged to defer the Communication of Z, for the present, on account of its length; though we admire the talents and loyal sentiments of the writer. EUMENES has our best thanks, his dialogue shall appear in our next Number, if possible. In answer to a correspondent, we have to say, that but few copies of the "Weekly Penny" are left ;----a set shall, however, be sent according to his direction. To our other numerous friends, who have favored us with communications for our work, we return our grateful acknowledgments. T. BELL, PRINTER, Oundle. |