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posed from the office of King.His family and relatives, ascending and descending, are also for ever excluded from the throne, and all claim of the Malabar race to the sovereignty of the Candian provinces is abolished. The remaining articles prohibit all the relations of the deposed King from entering these provinces without express permission from the British government-declare the dominion of them to be vested in the Sovereign of the British empire

deserted by the inhabitants, and stript of all valuable property.The King had taken to flight with a small number of adherents; and after much inquiry, was known to be in the Dessavany of Dombera, whence he had no means of escaping. On the 18th he was surrounded by his own people, and taken prisoner with two of his wives, his Malabar attendants alone making a slight resistance. He was bound, reviled, and plundered; and every circumstance of his fall denoted the general de-establish the religion of Boodhe testation inspired by a cruel despotism. The conquest was entirely bloodless on the part of the victors, who enjoyed an extraordinary degree of health in the midst of their fatigues.

On March 2d a solemn conference was held in the audiencehall of the palace of Candy, between the Governor and Commander-in-chief on the part of the King of Great Britain, and the Adigars and principal Candian chiefs on the part of the natives, in which a treaty previously framed for establishing his Majesty's government in the Candian provinces was read and unanimously assented to. It was followed by a proclamation declaring the result of the convention, in seven articles. In the first, the cruelties and oppressions of the Malabar ruler are recited, consisting in an arbitrary and unjust infliction of tortures and death, and a general disregard of all civil rights. The second declares that by the habitual violation of the most sacred duties of a Sovereign, the said ruler, the Rajah Sri Wikreme Rajah Sinha, has forfeited all claims to his title and power, and is de

abolish all bodily torture and mutilation-and forbid the execution of any sentence of death except by warrant from the British governor.

Some disputes with the Chinese empire were the source of difficulty and disquiet to our traders in that part of Asia during the last and the present years. Their origin is thus stated: Early in May, 1814, a boat belonging to his Majesty's ship Doris proceeded up the Tigris to Whampoa, and boarded an American schooner lying in the river. The Viceroy of Canton considered this act as an insult offered to the government, and demanded satisfaction from the committee of English Supercargoes. The committee, in various discussions with the Hong merchants and the chief magistrates of Macao, represented that they could not be answerable for the conduct of king's ships over which they had no control. The Chinese government appeared at first to admit the reasonableness of this allegation, but it afterwards addressed the committee, in a memorial stating various complaints, and insisting on the im

mediate

mediate departure of the Doris. A subsequent act of the Commander of that ship aggravated the displeasure of the Chinese government. A vessel belonging to Calcutta was captured by an American privateer, which was proceeding with her to Whampoa, when, perceiving the Doris, she took refuge in the harbour. The governor of that settlement, in conformity with an existing treaty, ordered the prize to quit the Portuguese limits, and sent a guard for her protection till she was beyond them. A boat from the Doris immediately afterwards boarded her, and found in her three British subjects. This was construed by the Chinese Viceroy as the capture of a neutral in Macao roads, and he issued a strict prohibition against supplying the king's ships with provision. To his demand for the removal of these ships, the committee remonstrated that it would be endangering many valuable Indiamen and private traders hourly arriving in the river, which, if deprived of their protectors, would certainly fall a prey to the numerous American privateers on the station; and it was further said, that it was manifestly unjust to admit without question American privateers with their prizes, and exclude British ships of war. The Doris, in the meantime, whilst conveying two English vessels up the Bocca of the Tigris, and protecting them from four Americans, lying there, was fired at by the Chinese ships of war. Capt. Obrien returned one gun without shot, and boarding a Chinese ship, demanded an explanation of the insult. This circumstance was re

ported to the government in a manner unfavourable to the British captain; and though proper representations on the subject were transmitted to Canton, they were returned unopened. About the middle of September, the Viceroy issued an order forbidding all Chinese subjects to enter into the service of the British resident in the factory. The committee thereupon stated, that for more than a century the servants employed in the factory were chiefly Chinese, and that the houses of the factory were not capable of containing the number of Europeans requisite for the necessary duties. These, and other representations, were made in the Chinese language, which were returned by the Viceroy unopened, with the declaration that he would receive addresses from the English only in their own language; the obvious reason for which was, that by the medium of false translations he might transmit to Pekin garbled accounts of their contents. After various other indications of ill-will to the English, all intercourse was prohibited between the Company's ships at Whampoa and the king's ships at Champee, boats passing up and down the river were stopt, and several English vessels provided with port-clearances were fired at. The committee at length, finding that no justice could be expected from the Viceroy, who appeared to be entirely gained over to the American interest, resolved upon appealing to the imperial court; and in the beginning of October issued orders for all British subjects to quit Canton within four days. The order was suspended for the purpose of trying the effect of a negocia

negociation by the medium of Sir G. Staunton, who acted as representative of the Company; but this having proved unsuccessful, Sir George, in November, left Canton, accompanied by all the British subjects, ships, and treasure, leaving with the local government a sealed letter to be forwarded to the court of Pekin.This decisive proceeding alarmed the Viceroy, who, dreading the defalcation of the revenue, and the consequent displeasure of the Emperor, deputed the Hong merchants to follow Sir G. Staunton, and renew the conference. He was persuaded to return, and negociations being recommenced, several important concessions were made by the Chinese. The king's ships returned to Champee, those of the Company proceeded to Whampoa, and the usual amicable relations were resumed.

Subsequent advices, however, convey the information that these appearances of conciliation were fallacious. A month had scarcely elapsed when an imperial edict was received at Canton, extremely hostile to the British both in its style and spirit. After renewing the complaints against the conduct of the English men of war, it peremptorily ordered the dismissal of the younger Hong merchants, and the consignment of the whole British trade to three or four persons. It expressed great displeasure against Sir G. Staunton for his interference, and appeared to enjoin his detention. It accused the English of being a litigious and ungrateful race, delighting in broils, and insensible of the blessing showered upon them. With the real or affected contempt of

the commercial relation between the countries, it affirmed that in return for the valuable products exported from China, the English have introduced only articles of luxury, the effect of which has been to corrupt his Imperial Majesty's subjects. In conclusion, it informed the supercargoes, that if they were discontented with the paternal protection of the Chinese government, the wisest thing they could do would be to withdraw themselves from it. Whether or not the supercargoes would take this advice seemed at that time undetermined; but the state of affairs was on the whole so unpromising, that a mercantile house in London was strongly advised to lay aside speculations to China for a twelvemonth to come.

In the mean time another embassy to the court of Pekin has been resolved upon by the British government, at the head of which Lord Amherst has been placed, and great preparations are making to give it due splendour. Whether it will prove more beneficial than that of Lord Macartney, time must discover; there is however too much reason to apprehend that in the Oriental regions the English nation is regarded with more fear and suspicion than good-will; and probably the war in Nepaul, and the revolution in Ceylon, if brought to the knowledge of the Chinese government,' will tend to augment the unfavourable impressions it has already received.

Reports have been made to the Court of Rome from the Roman Catholic Missionaries in China of a great progress of the Christian religion in that empire. M. de

Molke,

Molke, the titular bishop of Cathay, states that in the province of Fo-kien, twenty-two families had been converted by him, who, in the course of one year administered baptism to 10,400 children, and 1677 adults, and that 2675 catechumens were under preparation for receiving the holy sacrament. In Ho-nan the labours of the fathers had effected the conversion of 126 families, and 16,000 adults and children had received baptism. In other provinces some progress had been made; and churches were gradually multiplying, one of which had been erected in sight of the grand temple of the idol Fo, in Fo-kien. On the whole, it is supposed that the new Christians in China cannot be fewer than 60,000 souls. In Tonquin, likewise, the missionaries had been permitted to pursue their labours, the fruits of which had been upwards of 6000 converts. When the many vicissitudes of the Christian religion in the Chinese empire are recollected, and that when it has become an object of political suspicion, it has always been suppressed by despotic power, little confidence will probably be placed in this revival; not to add, that among a people so immersed in ignorance, it can only be exchanging one form of superstition for another.

An article of intelligence from Egypt, dated July 25th, affords information which, if to be relied on, would import nearly the final suppression of the Wahabee Arabs. Mahomet Ali, the Viceroy of Egypt, had returned to the capital after an absence of almost two

years, in which he had been engaged in an expedition for the purpose of recovering the holy cities of Mecca and Medina from the Wahabees, and for removing the obstacles presented by those marauders to all commercial intercourse by sea and land. It is affirmed that his exertions have been attended with complete success; that he has driven them from the holy cities, and the ports along the coasts of the Red Sea, has taken possession of their great inland capital Tarabe, their principal strong hold, and has effected their total defeat by pursuing them to the remotest confines of their widely extended territory. It is, however, known from the experience of ages, that the dispersion and discomfiture of an Arabian tribe are far distant from their extirpation.

The Tunisian government has undergone a revolution in this year, accompanied with circum, stances of barbarity characteris tic of this part of the world.The old Bey, Sidi Ottoman, was assassinated on January 20th, by his cousin, Sidi Mahomet Flassen, who had long enjoyed his confidence and favour. The two sons of the Bey, who were in the apartments of their wives at the time of the assassination, took to flight, but were overtaken, and dragged into the presence of Sidi Mahomet, who caused their heads to be immediately struck off. He was then recognized as absolute Chief of the Regency; and his prime minister, Jussuf Rogia, commenced his functions with ordering a favourite of the former Bey to be impaled, and another to be strangled.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER XV.

Domestic Occurrences.-Extension of the Order of the Bath.-Internal Disorders.-Riots in the Metropolis in consequence of the Corn Bill.— Combination of the Sailors in the Coal Trade.-Dangerous Disturbances in Ireland-Proceedings of the Irish Catholics..—Collection for the Sufferers at Waterloo.-Commercial Affairs.-Distress of Agriculturists.-Marriage of the Duke of Cumberland.-State of the King.

THE

HE martial glory acquired by the British nation in its long war had thrown such a lustre on the military character, that it had become almost as much a favourite here, as in the monarchies on the continent; and the Prince Regent determined to signalize the conclusion of the arduous contest in which the empire had been engaged, by a splendid display of his sense of the meritorious services of the officers of his Majesty's forces by sea and land. The military order of the Bath was the institution by which he was pleased to execute this intention; and in virtue of the powers reserved to the Sovereign in the statutes of this order, he made an extension of its plan and limits for the purpose of including a greater number of individuals in the honours bestowed by it. On January 3d, there was published in the London Gazette an ordinance, the substance of which will appear in the following summary:-It begins with declaring that from this time forward the Order of the Bath shall be composed of three classes, differing in their degrees of rank and dignity. The

first is to consist of Knights Grand Crosses, which designation is substituted for that of Knights Companions. The number of these is not at any time to exceed seventy-two, of which a number not exceeding twelve may be nominated in consideration of eminent services rendered to the state in civil and diplomatic employments. By a subsequent article it is ordained, that Princes of the blood-royal, holding high commissions in the army or navy, may be appointed Grand Crosses without being included in the number above-specified. The military rank required for this dignity is that of Major-general in the army, and Rear-admiral in the navy. The rights and privileges in which they are invested are the same with those formerly belonging to the Knights Companions.

The second class is to be composed of Knights Commanders, who are to enjoy precedence before all Knights Bachelors. Upon their first institution, their number is not to exceed one hundred and eighty, exclusive of foreign officers holding British commissions, of whom ten may be

admitted

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