Thoughts on the Church Establishments. By a Layman. London: Hatchard.

THIS pamphlet is the production of a Church Reformer, but a very moderate one. He laments, as we do, the appropriation of large portions of the property of the Papal Church to favoured laymen, by which the poor lost their fund. He laments that officiating clergy have been so ambitious to signalise themselves as active magistrates and influential politicians. He regrets that the hospitality and charity, which wont to distinguish collegiate establishments, have decayed: he quotes Hooker. He would enforce residence among the officiating clergy, and exhorts the prelates to reside, for at least a considerable portion of the year, in their sees; but we do not suppose he would, like Mr. Cuthbert Ripon, release them from legislative duties altogether. He would equalize their income, by raising all below L.5,000 a-year to that | sum, by reducing the higher ones. He would enjoin the apostolic toil of an annual instead of a triennial visitation; and would hope that by living more among their clergy, and less in the world of politics, the Bishop might be brought to consider his see not as a mere resting-place, whence he was to take wing to some higher eminence. With regard to the acting clergy, residence is to be enforced, and pluralities prevented, and all benefices below L.200 to be raised at once to that sum, with a gradual increase till they shall reach 1.300 a-year.

Fit houses

must at once be provided for every minister. To effect all this, funds and power are necessary. The author, with great humility, hints at the Church furnishing the funds. These matters shall not be dealt with by Ministers, or Parliament, we presume, but by an Ecclesiastical Board, and a few lay commissioners, members of the Church of England, shall be incorporated for that purpose." This plan of commuting tithes is one which would place tithe on a much surer foundation than it is at present. Altogether, this writer is a very moderate Church Reformer.

The Writings of George Washington. By Jared

Sparks. Vol. II. London: Rich.

THIS book is not begun at the beginning. The first volume is to be devoted to the Life of Washington, and is only in course of preparation. Though this work, which will run to ten or twelve octavo volumes, is indispensable to those who would be thoroughly acquainted with his history of America, and must contain much that will greatly interest the general reader, and every admirer of the most truly great men of modern times, it is likely to become too bulky for the kind of success that depends upon a large sale. The letters in the present volume just reach the important epoch of the Revolution, and include Washington's early life and period of service in the King's army. We delay a lengthened notice of this work till more of the volumes are before us. Even in the earliest of these epistles the calm, prudent, and firmly-principled character of the writer is developed.

Progressive Exercises in English Composition.

By R. G. Parker, A.M. London: Priestly. THIS work consists of mechanical helps to thinking and writing. Short sentences are set down with blanks, which the pupil is to supply, so as to make sense and grammar of each sentence. As, for example, "His father was his request." Thus, filled up, "His father was induced to grant his request." From these simple exercises the pupil is led on, in this grammar of composition, to the most difficult combinations of which language is susceptible.

to

The Principles of Physiology applied to the Preservation of Health. By Andrew Combe, M. D. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black.

LET not the reader be alarmed by that formidable word, Physiology. This is not a Doctor's book, though it is the production of an intelligent physician. It more resembles a volume in which Useful and Entertaining Knowledge are agreeably blended; and is an extension of tho e excellent papers which lately appeared in the Phrenological Journal on the SKIN, the BATH, and kindred topics,

The

with an amplification of some of the admirable popular lectures which the author's brother, Mr. George Combe, delivered last year in this city, in the mornings, to an audience of ladies and gentlemen, and, in the evenings, to the mechanics. Dr. Combe has avoided Ultra-phrenology, even where the discussion of the Nervous System forced him on forbidden or debateable ground. work consists of nine chapters, all of a popular character. We find no pedantry, no mystery; science is clothed in the garb of plainness, and speaks the language of common life. We shall give an idea of the book in one sentence: It is as like as possible to the pleasant familiar conversation of a well-informed, sensible physician, among a circle of friends; and not without the sprinkling of literary allusion, anecdote, and lively illustration, which make such conversations as delightful as they are instructive. History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. By the Rev. James Seaton Reid, D.D. Edinburgh Waugh and Innes.

THE Presbyterian Church in Ireland, yea even the Protestant Church in that land of well-paid Churchmen, has hitherto been without a historian. In writing the History of the Presbyterian Church, Dr. Reid attempts to fill a chasm in the ecclesiastical history of the empire. His first volume brings down the annals of the Presbyterian Church to the period of the Solemn League and Covenant. The second, which will relate to events of more recent interest and notoriety, has not yet appeared. To the Catholics the author seems in general very candid and fair; but he has not reached the most ticklish periods. The attention paid to the civil history of the province of Ulster, the seat of Presbyterianism, is a commendable feature of the work; and, with many, will constitute its great value.

The History of the Protestant Church in Ireland has never been written that lavishly endowed Church! It is painful and mortifying to find Dr. Reid intimating a doubt that the completion of his history depends upon the contingency of this volume being favourably received. A son of the Irish Chancellor is appointed to the Deanery of Down, with an income of L.3,000 a-year, in the face of the recommendation of a Parliamentary Commission, at the head of which was his own father; and here a man of learning and piety, who, by patient industry, accomplishes a labour which others have neglected, doubts whether he may find encouragement to finish his work, though that work is an important portion of Irish ecclesiastical history! These things cannot pass unmarked.

Lays and Legends of Various Nations. By W.

J. Thoms.

THIS is a little story-book of national stories, traditions, and legends, to be continued in monthly parts. The first is devoted to those of Germany. France comes next, and Mother Bunch will be rivalled before the collection is closed. The same things have already been seen in a more ambitious form, but not in a better. A Grammar of Elocution. By the Rev. Samuel Wood.

WE recommend this small manual of the mechanical part of the Art of Persuasion, to all young gentlemen ambitious of making a figure in the forum, the debatingclub, the pulpit, and the senate,they will here find much useful advice in small compass.

Cobbett's Spelling Book.

WE rarely interfere with elementary school-hooks: but that of the Memberfor Oldham, in its fourth edition, is irresistible. It is a spelling-book, and a progressive course of lessons all in one, and there is nothing "about Religion, Arithmetic, Geography, and Astronomy.' Though we can conceive of "Hercules with the Distaff,” we must believe that some of the stories here about little Jane, and Sally, and Mamma, &c. &c. are not of the same parentage-nor are they worse for this. The Fables are excellent, and they are illustrated by clever prints; and the work, taken altogether, forms a complete manual from the alphabet to the reading of any English work, and to the study of grammar by rule.

NEW POEMS.

Faust, a Tragedy. Translated by David Syme, Esq. To translate Faust, is becoming as strong a temptation to the ingenious and poetical, as ever was presented to our ancestors, by the discovery of the philosopher's stone, astral science, or the perpetual motion. Mr. Syme is very modest in his avowed ambition. He leaves off, in doubt whether he has succeeded in his first object or not; which was to see the work in the exact point of view its author intended it to appear. But had the author any fixed point of view himself? This translation is more complete than any of its predecessors. It is executed with great care, and abounds with spirited and fine passages; but, as a whole, "the effect," as the translator says, on another subject, "depends much on the disposition of the spectator's mind."

It is scarcely fair to name the new translation, when we can afford such scant immediate notice to the fond labour of a scholar and a man of talent, nor should we have done so but in hope.

O'Fluminense, a Poem, suggested by Scenes in the Brazils. By a Utilitarian.

The author of this poem says, "Nature intended me for a tradesman,-circumstances have made me a poet." The thing is impossible. Had he asserted the reverse he might be credited. Nature makes poets, circumstances tradesmen. The commercial Byron has, somehow, acquired considerable descriptive power. On what he rests his claims, as a Utilitarian, we do not exactly see. Is the name really coming at last into vogue?

THE PARLIAMENT. The proceedings in Parliament during the month have been of considerable interest, and the votes show that Ministers are not so powerful as they were during the last session. On the motion of Mr. Harvey, for an inquiry into the state of the pension list, they escaped defeat solely by the support of the Conservative members; and, after all, the majority in their favour was only 8, in a House of 376 members. The speeches in opposition to the motion were extremely feeble, and it is understood, that the Cabinet were not at liberty, on this occasion, to follow the most correct course. The King, it is asserted, stands boldly up in defence of the pension list; and it is upon the sole condition of maintaining it untouched, that Ministers hold office. It is now, however, obvious, that the country will not tolerate much longer, the burden of unmerited pensions; and, as the question is again to be brought forward this session, we should not be surprised if an inquiry into the pension list would be granted by Parliament, whether Ministers consent to it or not. A few days after Mr. Harvey's motion, Ministers were again all but defeated, on a motion brought forward by the Marquis of Chandos, pledging the House to take into special consideration the burdens of the agricultural interest, in any remission of taxes, which the state of the finances would permit. Notwithstanding the opposition of Lord Althorp, the motion was lost by a majority of four only, the numbers being, 206 and 202. Again, upon the motion of Sir Edward Knatchbull, to discharge the order for the appointment of a committee to inquire into Baron Smith's conduct, Ministers were left in an actual minority; the numbers being, for the motion 161, against it 155. Thus, we have another instance, in addition to the proceeding relative to the malt tax last session, of the House rescinding a vote which it had previously passed,—a kind of conduct which is not likely to raise its estimation in the public opinion.

--

The navy estimates, as compared with last year, present a reduction of L.181,000. The number of seamen is reduced 500, but 1,000 boys are taken into the service to be brought up as seamen. The total number of seamen and marines now employed, is 27,500. A motion by Mr. Hume to reduce the number to 25,000, was rejected by 196, to 20 votes. The number of men from 1817 to 1822, was only 20,000; and no good reason was given why so great an additional number should now be kept up. The plan for the commutation of Irish tithes has been brought forward by Mr. Littleton. It is proposed that after the 1st of November next, a land tax, in lieu of tithes, shall be collected by the Commissioners of the Land Revenue, from all persons now liable to pay tithes. The land tax may be redeemed during a period of five years, by any person having a substantial interest in the estate on which it is levied. Whatever portion of it remains unredeemed at the expiration of the five years, is to be converted into rent charges, which may be brought into the market, and bought and sold like any other securities. The money paid in redemption of the land tax, or the rent charges, is to be placed at the disposal of the Commissioners for the National Debt, and is to bear in

terest, at the rate of about 3 per cent. The money is to be drawn out from time to time, and invested in land, for the benefit of the tithe owner; for every L.100 of tithe, land worth L.80 being given in exchange. When the land is purchased, and conveyed to the tithe owner, the Government ceases to have anything to do with it.-It does not appear that Ministers have any intention of introducing Poor Laws into Ireland. Lord Althorp remarked, in answer to a question, that his mind was not made up on the subject, and that the information possessed by Government, did not warrant the establishing of Poor Laws in Ireland.

Mr. O'Connell has obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the Law of Libel. In the case of private libels, he proposes to assimilate the law to that of oral slander, and to do away with all ex officio informations, and also the trial of libel cases before special juries. He farther proposes, that in all cases, the truth of the libel may be pleaded in defence, and to remedy the great and increasing evil of speculative actions instituted by needy attor neys merely for the costs, he intends to introduce a regulation, that in those cases in which the prosecutor does not recover more than 40s. damages, he should not only not obtain costs, but should, on the contrary, pay the costs of the defendant. Where L.20 damages were obtained, the prosecutor is not to receive costs, nor to pay any, but each party is to pay his own expenses. If L.50 of damages be recovered, then an equal sum of costs is to be allowed; and only in cases where more than L.50 of damages is given, are full costs to be awarded. Such a regulation as the above, will, we have no doubt, be attended with the most beneficial consequences, and it is highly desirable that a similar enactment should be passed for Scotland, where speculative actions of damages are by no

means uncommon.

Sir William Ingilby has made another unsuccessful effort to free the landholders of the Malt Tax. Consider. ing the powerful minority on the Marquis of Chandos's motion, relative to relieving the Agriculturists from their burdens, there was much ground for anticipating that the attempt to repeal the Malt Duties in part, would with difficulty be resisted; but the motion was brought forward by Sir William in so ridiculous a manner, and it became so apparent in the course of the debate that the repeal of the Malt Duties must inevitably lead to the imposition of a Property Tax, that Ministers were victorious by a majority of 272 to 170. The question of the Malt Duties may, therefore, be held as set at rest for the Session. Immediately on the result of the division being declared, Lord Althorp gave notice of a Bill for a repeal of the House Duties; and he explained, that he preferred taking off this tax to the Window Tax, because 62,000 persons paid House Duty who did not pay the tax on Windows. The debate and division on Mr. Harvey's motion regarding pensions, were not long in producing' some effect; for, a very few days afterwards, a Committee, on the motion of Lord Althorp, was appointed " to examine the papers respecting sinecure offices, and to report their observations thereupon to the House." The Army

Estimates, which have been brought forward, show a reduction of 8,000 men, and of L.299,000 in the expenditure. 88,952 men were voted; Mr. Hume moved to reduce the number by 9,000; but the amendment was negatived by 282 to 46. On the motion of Mr. George Sinclair, a Committee has been appointed to inquire into the state of Church Patronage in Scotland. The Lord Advocate acceded to the motion, remarking, that the excitement on the subject had become so great in Scotland, that the settlement of the question was absolutely necessary. In the course of the debate which ensued, it was stated, that, in the opinion of Dr. M'Crie, and other men of eminence, the increase of dissenting congregations, now amounting to 553, or a hundred more in number than half the parish churches,—was mainly owing to the system of patronage.

Lord John Russell has obtained leave to bring in a Bill for the relief of Dissenters in regard to the celebration of marriages. The chief provisions of the bill are as follow:-Dissenters must either be married by bans or licence. If they prefer being married by bans, they must give regular notice to the clergyman of the parish in which they reside, or to the clergyman of each parish, if the parties do not reside in the same parish, to publish the bans, and the clergyman, on granting the application, will enter it in a book to be kept as a record. The dissenting minister must then give notice of the day on which he intends to solemnize the marriage, and he is to keep a register of all such marriages. Licenses will be procured by Dissenters in the ordinary way; and notice of the license having been obtained, must be sent to the clergyman. Dissenting meeting-houses are to be licensed upon application of twenty householders, to the magis trates at Quarter Sessions. The Dissenting ministers are to send registries of the marriages which have been performed in their chapels every three months, with a fee to the register of the diocese. These regulations are to apply to Catholic as well as Protestant Dissenters. This measure has entirely failed in giving satisfaction to the Dissenters, and the probability is that it will be with

drawn.

The sugar duties have been continued for another year on their present footing; but from the opinions generally expressed in the House on the impolicy of the present discriminating duties on East and West India sugars, we may anticipate that the time is not far distant when the duties will be equalised. Lord Althorp and Mr. Stanley expressly declared, that the present system was not permanent, but that it would be highly impolitic, by any change at present, to hazard the success of the Emancipation Act. The bill for the disfranchisement of the Liverpool freemen passed its second reading by a majority of 190 to 38. The bribing, during the late election, seems to have been unparalleled; no fewer than 2,661 freemen having received bribes. A transaction was also mentioned in which L.400 had been paid for General Gascoigne's influence in procuring a place in the Custom House for a Mr. Robinson; the 1.400 being applied to defray part of the General's electioneering expenses. Why should the General not be punished for so shameful an abuse of his influence? The rotten burghs of Warwick, Stafford, and Carrickfergus are also in a fair way of being punished for the corrupt practices which have prevailed in them at elections.

The question of the Corn Laws was brought forward by Mr. Hume. His motion was for the appointment of a Committee to consider the Corn Laws, and to substitute for the present fluctuating scale a fixed and moderate duty on the import of foreign grain, and to grant a fixed and equivalent bounty on the export of corn. He thought that the duty should be fixed at first at 10s. a quarter, and reduced by one shilling a-year till it came to the point at which the agriculturists had a claim to protec tion, in consequence of any exclusive taxation beyond what other classes were liable to. The motion was seconded by Colonel Torrens, in an able speech, in which he maintained that it was as much for the interest of the agriculturists themselves, as of the manufacturing classes, that the restrictions on the Corn Trade should be removed. Sir James Graham took the lead in opposing the motion,

which, after a debate of two days, was negatived by a majority of 157; the numbers being 312 and 155. The debate was remarkable from nearly every Member of the Government, not in the Cabinet, supporting the measure. Thus Mr. Littleton, Mr. Ellice, Mr. Charles Wood, and Lord Duncannon, voted with Mr. Hume. Lords Morpeth and Howick also voted on the same side. This is highly creditable to them, and will be duly appreciated by their constituents. Lord Althorp voted against the motion, because there was no pressing exigency for altering the Corn Laws, which, however, in principle, he disapproved of. All the Cabinet Ministers, he intimated, would vote against the motion. His Lordship concluded, by remarking, that he could not answer those with whom he agreed on the subject of the Corn Laws; and of course he could not answer those with whom he was to vote. This seems a singular predicament for a Cabinet Minister to be placed in.

The subject of the Impressment of Seamen was brought forward, in a very effective speech, by Mr. Buckingham. Sir James Graham, of course, opposed any attempt at the abolition of the practice, on the ground that it was absolutely necessary that the power of impressment should sometimes be exercised, and that its legality could not be questioned. In order, however, to regulate the exercise of impressment, Sir James Graham is to bring in a Bill for registering merchant seamen; and that a certain number should be taken for the Royal navy by the ballot. The prize-money of the common sailors is to be increased, at the expense of the Admirals and Captains, from L.5 to L.15, in the L.10,000. The King's ships are no longer to be converted into prisons; and facilities are to be afforded to parochial authorities to apprentice boys in the service. After a lengthened discussion the House divided, for the motion, 130; against it, 218—Ministerial majority, 88.

In

The presenting of the Devonshire petition for the Commutation of Tithes, by Lord Ebrington, excited considerable interest. There was a much larger attendance of members than usual during the morning sittings, and several of the Cabinet Ministers were in their places. the discussion, Mr. Harvey maintained that tithes belonged to the State. Sir Robert Peel held that they belonged to the Church; but both agreed that the landlord had no right to them. Mr. Parrot, in supporting the petition, explained a matter which has been misunderstood. What the petitioners' wish is, that the land should be valued as tithe free in the first instance, and also as being free of rates and taxes; and that the value being thus ascertained, one-tenth part of it was to go to the tithe owners, subject to the same rates and taxes as the other nine parts. This was a different thing from the tenth of the rent, which might be very low, as being merely a portion of the net produce for the use and occupation of the land. This appears to be a very fair proposition, and we cannot see what good objection the tithe owner can have to it. Were matters put on such a footing the pretence that tithes are a tax on the landowner could no longer be resorted to, nor could a claim for a duty on foreign corn, on that ground, be any longer maintained.

The question of excluding the Bishops from the House of Lords, or, as it was expressed, the relieving them of their judicial and legislative duties, as Lords Spritual, has been brought before the House by Mr. Cuthbert Rippon. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gillon, and supported by Sir William Ingilby, Mr. James, Mr. Buckingham, Mr. E. Ruthven, Mr. O'Reilly, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Hume, Mr. Shiel, and Mr. Ewart. Mr. Tennyson opposed the motion, on the ground that it was part and parcel of the great question of Church Reform, and that it was not quite fair to the Established Church, to deprive it as a preliminary step of its representatives in the House of Peers. He thought, however, there were too many Bishops in the House of Lords, and recommended they should sit there on a principle of rotation. Lord Althorp, who had risen immediately after Mr. Gillon sat down, was interrupted by cries of "Question,” and the majority seemed to wish that the motion should be negatived without discussion. The minority would not, however, suffer it to be disposed of so summarily,

and several speeches were made, all on one side; not a single member of the Government or Conservative opposition offering a word in reply. On the division there appeared for the motion, 58; against it, 125; majority for the Bishops, 67.

On the report of the Mutiny Bill being brought up, Major Fancourt moved the insertion of a clause to abolish the practice of military flogging. Mr. R. Grant, the Judge Advocate, made an elaborate reply, and attempted to show that the general order, which had been issued from the Horse Guards, was in compliance with the wishes of the House of Commons, and that that order had been obeyed by the officers, as was proved by the diminution of the number of corporal punishments. Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Buckingham, Sir Edward Codring ton, and Mr. Hume supported the motion, and on a division it was rejected by 227 to 94. The Members of the Cabinet took no part in the debate.

The reformation

of the Exchequer has been commenced, agreeably to the report of the Commissioners. The present absurd mode of keeping the accounts is to be abolished, and a much simpler form substituted. The saving by the proposed changes is very considerable. At present there are sixtyfive individuals employed, and the expense is L.41,900 a-year, and the cost is to be reduced to L.11,000, and the number of persons employed to twenty-nine.

He

The

Among the miscellaneous business of the month, we may notice that Mr. J. A. Murray has again introduced a bill for the repeal of the Foreign Enlistment Bill. has also introduced a bill to vest the appointment of Procurators Fiscal in Scotland in the Crown. A bill introduced by the same honourable Member to relieve the Catholic Clergy in Scotland from penalties for celebrating marriages has been read a second time. Earl of Rosebery has announced his intention of laying on the table a bill for amending the law of entail in Scotland. The best amendment which can be proposed is the abolition of entails altogether. The Earl of Fitzwilliam is on an early day to bring before the House of Peers the question of the Corn Laws. The fate of a motion for the repeal of these laws in that House may easily be anticipated. In reply to a question from Mr. Robinson, Lord Althorp intimated that there was no intention on the part of Ministers to propose any alteration in the timber duties this session. For the sake, therefore, of the shipowners and Canada, we are to continue to be forced to purchase at a high price bad timber, when we might have timber of a much better quality at an inferior price. But this is the system of protection which our Government seems disposed to uphold as long as the people will permit them. The motion for the repeal of the Union has been postponed to the 22d of April, when the House, on the motion of Mr. Spring Rice, is to be called over. The question of the duration of Parliaments is to be brought forward by Mr. Tennyson on the 15th of May. The shortening of their duration is one of the most important measures which ever came before Parliament; and until triennial Parliaments are obtained, little benefit can be expected from the working of the Reform Bill. The Great Western Railroad Bill has been read a second time, after considerable opposition. The numbers were 182 to 92. Sir Andrew Agnew seems determined to make the people pious by Act of Parliament. He has obtained leave to bring in two bills, one for England and one for Scotland, for the better observance of the Sabbath. In moving for leave to bring in the bill, he carefully abstained from noticing any of its provisions. He afterwards moved for leave to bring in a bill to prevent fairs on Saturday and Monday; but this was too much, and his motion was rejected by 181 to 137 votes. The House of Lords has been doing so little during the month, that we hardly find any thing in their proceedings worthy of notice.

ENGLAND.

LEEDS ELECTION. This election, after a severe struggle, terminated in favour of Mr. Baines. At the close of the poll the numbers were-Mr. Baines, 1951; Sir John Beckett, 1917; for Mr. Bower, the Radical candidate, only 24. Mr. Baines' principles may be estimated from

his answers to the questions put to him. He promised to vote for the Repeal of the Newspaper Stamp Duty, the Malt Duty, and the House and Window Duties; but only under the safe condition, if Lord Althorp could spare the money. He is ready to vote for an immediate alteration in the Corn Laws, the Abolition of Impressment and Military Flogging, an inquiry into the state of Sinecures, with a view to their abolition, and for the Vote by Ballot. He will not vote for a Property Tax including the funds, nor for Triennial Parliaments, nor Household Suffrage, nor for the Expulsion of the Bishops from ParliaThe loss of popularity of the Whigs was clearly shown at this election. The Conservatives polled about 320 votes more than at the preceding election, the Whigs 61 fewer; and had it not been for an accession of Radicals, towards the close of the poll, a Tory would actually have been returned for Leeds, a result which, during the discussion of the Reform Bill, no one could have imagined within the bounds of possibility.

ment.

SHEFFIELD.-A public dinner has been given at Sheffield to Mr. Samuel Bailey, one of the unsuccessful candidates for that town at the last election. Upwards of ninety gentlemen were present. His address to the company proved how wortny a representative he would have made, and it is little to the credit of Sheffield that so accomplished a man should have been rejected.

DEVIZES.-Admiral Durham has been returned member for Devizes, in the room of Mr. Montague Gore. The latter resigned his seat, as he honestly states in his farewell address, because he could not conscientiously support many of these Reforms in Church and State, which, from his former sentiments, the electors might reasonably expect him to advocate. Admiral Durham was Mr. Gore's Tory opponent at the last election; and it is not obvious how the constituency of Devizes have improved their situation, by accepting the resignation of the latter and appointing the former in his stead.

BERKSHIRE. The landowners and farmers of this county have had a meeting at Reading,for the purpose of petitioning Parliament for the repeal of the malt and hop duties, and for the removal of the other burdens affecting the proprietors of the soil. We should imagine that these duties came out of the pockets of the consumers of malt liquors, and were not paid by the land proprietors. It might as well be pretended that these duties were a burden on the brewer, and were ultimately paid by him. The meeting did not pay much attention to a remark, that, if the malt duties were taken off, they must be prepared for a property tax; yet such would be the inevitable result. Were a property tax substituted for the malt duty, the land proprietors would speedily obtain a more clear notion than they have at present, on the point by whom the malt duty is paid.

LONDON UNIVERSITY.-We are glad to observe, from a report lately read to a meeting of the proprietors, that a considerable improvement has taken place in the affairs of this institution. The amount of money expended since its foundation is 1.162,997, the amount received in various ways, L.165,557. There is a mortgage debt of L.4000, however, over the property. The number of students has been increased during the year from 667 to 753, and the amount received from the students for fees has been raised from L.6158 to L.7343. Considerable progress has been made in building a new hospital connected with the University, which is estimated to cost L.7,556, of which L.5,158 have been received.

DUDLEY.-Sir John Campbell has lost his election. The Radicals, who were exasperated by his prosecution of the True Sun, coalesced with the Tories to support Mr. Thomas Hawkes, who carried his election by 322 to 242. This is another significant hint to the Whigs. SHEFFIELD BANK.-The joint stock banks established in England have every prospect of succeeding. A dividend of 10 per cent. for the past year was declared on the stock of the Sheffield Banking Company, besides an addition being made to the surplus fund. The London and Westminster Bank has begun business. Some jealousy of it has been shown by the private bankers in London, but we have little doubt it will soon be re moved,

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.-The whole of the line has been staked out and levelled, and the plans and specifications of the works for the first seventy miles from London have been completed. The second instalment of L.5 per share has been promptly paid, and a balance of L.120,306 is now at the disposal of the Company.

DISSENTERS. A numerous and respectable meeting of the Dissenters has been held at Manchester, for the purpose of discussing the grievances under which they labour, and petitioning Parliament for their removal. The discussion lasted two days, and the resolutions passed were of a bold and uncompromising nature. The petition to Parliament concludes with praying for a repeal of the Act of Parliament, which authorizes the prelates of the established Church to sit in the upper House; that all laws compelling support of any religious denomination may be repealed, that a universal civil registration of births, marriages, and burials may be established,-that the marriage contract may be legalized, and the burial service performed in parish burial places, apart from all obligatory compliance with the forms of the Established Church, and that Dissenters may have access to the Eng.. lish Universities without any religious test. At a meeting of "Dissenters' Deputies," held in Birmingham, it was unanimously resolved to memorialize Earl Grey and Lord John Russell, in the following words, "That this meeting are no less astonished than mortified, that, a reforming administration should hazard their political honour, by the introduction of such "a Bill of Relief" as the one that has been announced in the House of Commons, and rather than accept it with its present unmeaning, unnecessary, cumbersome, and humiliating provisions, they would prefer remaining in their present degraded condition." The Dissenters at Bristol have also met, and expressed strong disapprobation of Lord John Russell's Marriage Bill, and recommended its withdrawal.

THE REV. MR. GLEIG.-Great offence has been given by the appointment of this gentleman, by Lord John Russell, to the Chaplaincy of Chelsea Hospital. Mr. Gleig has been long known as a keen partisan of the Tories, and a writer in their periodicals. He took an active part in opposing the Reform Bill, and was the real, though not the nominal editor, of a violent conservative newspaper set on foot in Kent. These are the qualifications and conduct which Lord John Russell esteems in a clergyman, and to reward them, he does not hesitate to promote a political antagonist. Other clergymen will, no doubt, now know the road to preferment at the hands of the Whigs.

IRELAND.

Mr. Barrett, the proprietor of the Pilot newspaper, now in Kilmainham jail, has received a notice from the Irish Stamp Office, that the Commissioners of Stamps have ordered, in pursuance of the provisions of an act passed in 1815, that he will not in future be supplied with stamped paper for printing any newspaper upon; and, farther, that he is no longer entitled to print or publish the Pilot newspaper. The act of Parliament is quite peremptory, and prohibits the distributors of stamps from furnishing stamps to any newspaper proprietor convicted of a seditious libel. Its existence appears to have been hitherto overlooked. The proprietors of the Morning Register, in order to counteract this attempt to suppress the Pilot, immediately undertook to print a second edition of their paper, on the days the Pilot usually appears; and they deserve the thanks of every enemy to tyranny for this disinterested conduct. This despotic proceeding was brought before the House of Commons by Mr. Shiel and Mr. Wilks; the consequence of which was, that a bill has been introduced by Lord Althorp, for the purpose of repealing so much of the act in question as relates to the refusal of stamps. It appears, from what was elicited in the House on the subject of Mr. Barrett's trial, that the system of packing juries is in full force in Ireland. It was admitted that the original panel consisted of 714 names, the majority of whom were Catholics. The Crown's solicitor and the defendant's solicitor went through 207 of these names, and selected 48 persons. From this list, the Crown solicitor struck out the names of the only four Catholics among

them, and so there was nothing but Protestants left to serve on the jury. The foreman, as well as several of the other jurymen, were noted Orangemen, and personal opponents of Mr. O'Connell, while those struck off were among the most wealthy and respectable men in Dublin. It is surely contrary to the first principles of justice that an agent of the Crown should have any power, directly or indirectly, to pack a jury for the trial of an offence against the State. Why are the jurors not chosen by ballot, as in Scotland? The prosecution of Mr. Barrett has cost the country L.702, 9s, 4d.

DUNGARVAN ELECTION. Mr. Ebenezer Jacob, a repealer, has been returned in opposition to Mr. Barrow, a Whig. The voters in the interest of the Tory Marquis of Waterford, voted for the former, The numbers at the close of the poll were, for Jacob 307-Barrow, 200.

THE O'CONNELL TRIBUTE.-The accounts of the parishes that have already paid their rent, have been made up, and the proceeds amount to L. 12,800, which is L.300 above last year's amount. It is expected that L.2000 will be received from the other parishes. This is a proof of the popularity of Mr. O'Connell, which it is impossible to overlook.

OUTRAGES. Numerous outrages have lately taken place in different parts of Ireland. The Dublin Gazalte contained, in a single number, nine proclamations offering rewards for the discovery of the perpetrators of as many distinct outrages.

THE PLUNKETTS.-Another instance of the rapacity of this family has been brought to light. Lord Plunkett, the Irish Chancellor, was at the head of a commission which recommended the abolition of the Deanery of Down as superfluous, but he afterwards procured the appointment to his own son, with the view to its continuance. To make a sinecure of L.3,000 a-year to the Dean, who was an absentee, six parishes were thrown together, while the duty was done by curates for L.76 each. Mr. Stanley, who was Secretary at the time, declares the appointment was made before he knew of it, but he seems not to have taken any steps to annul the appointment. The case is now under investigation.

SCOTLAND.

PAISLEY.-Sir John Maxwell, in consequence, as he states, of being unable to give satisfaction to his constituents, has resigned his seat for the town, Mr. John Douglas of Glasgow, Sir D. K. Sandford, and Mr. Crawford of London, are canvassing on the liberal interest, and Captain Gordon on the conservative.

CORN LAWS. Numerously attended meetings have been held in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Greenock, for the repeal of the Corn-Laws. The Lord Provosts of the respective cities presided. The petition to Parliament from Glasgow, was signed by nearly 60,000 individuals, in the course of a few days.

The following members for Scotland voted in the majority on Mr. Hume's motion for a committee to inquire into the present state of the corn-laws, with a view to establishing a fixed duty in lieu of the present graduated scale-Admiral Adam; Sir A. Agnew; General Arbuthnot; C. Bruce; J. Callender; J. C. Colquhoun; Hon. Captain Elliot; Captain Fergusson; R. C. Fergusson; Hon. Captain Gordon; Right Hon. C. Grant; D. G. Halliburton; Colonel L. Hay; Right Hon. F. Jeffrey; J. Johnstone; R. Macleod; Sir W. Rae; H. Ross; Sir M. Stewart; G. Traill; Captain J. Wemyss. The following members voted in the minority :-J. Abercromby; A. Bannerman; Lord Dalmeny ; Captain Dunlop; James Ewing; W. Gillon; J. Loch; J. A. Murray; Earl of Ormelie; R. A. Oswald; J. Oswald; Right Hon. Sir H. Parnell; General Sharpe; R. Steuart R. Wallace.

The following members were absent :-J. Balfour Sir H. Campbell; Sir J. H. Dalrymple; R. Fergusson; Hon. C. Fleming; Hon. Col. F. W. Grant; Hon. Sir A Hope; Sir J. Hay; A. Johnstone; J. A. S. Mackenzie; J. Maxwell; L. Oliphant; R. Pringle; G. Sinclair; E Stewart.

Scots members who voted in the minority for withdrawing pay from the Yeomanry and Volunteer corps,