depths to trace from the present times up even to the days of the Norman conquest, the course of this illustrious house, and the eventful doings of its spotless members; and a most delightful record he has made of it. He appears to have been indefatigable in his researches, and to have entered into the spirit of the undertaking like a true historiographer. The armorial bearings and heraldic signs, with which the volumes are studded, and the masterly manner in which he handles the technicalities of heraldic discourse, (high Tartary to us,) is proof sufficient of his ardour alike and his capability. If his Grace of Bedford, the present head of the house of Russell, be half as satisfied with these memoirs as we have been delighted in their perusal, Mr. Wiffen will not have to regret his undertaking. Then come other memorials, not of a noble house, but (what in our estimation is far more exalted) of a noble man. Mrs. Austin's CHARACTERISTICS OF GOETHE, translated from the German of Falk Von Muller, and others. The volumes abound in passages and anecdotes illustrative of his life, each of which were a text for an hour's sermon by the reviewer. Mrs. Austin has executed her task with great ability, and great discre.. tion in the selection of materiel; she deserves and will receive the thanks of all who are desirous to mark the current and the power of a great mind, for removing the barrier which ignorance of the German tongue would, but for her labours, have interposed. Here we have volumes of versification not a few-of "Poems," so called by their fond authors, but of doggrel rather, saith the unkind critic. There are, happily, two or three exceptions, and amongst these are a fasciculus of SONNETS by one EDWARD MOXON, of whom report speaketh indulgently, and of whose works, as a sonneteer, we may speak favourably without tempering justice with too much mercy. There is a very pretty one (No. 18) beginning with, "Ah! what is life?" which we should like to quote, but may not. They are all worth the binding, and from its elegance that is saying not a little.. Mr. Robert Folkestone Williams has published a volume of "RHYMES and RHAPSODIES," with which we are, so far as we have proceeded, much pleased; it consists of poems, songs, and sonnets, several of which, we believe, have appeared in a monthly contemporary, not very likely to countenance trash. Many of his songs have been set to Barnett's music, and one or two has figured away in the "Noctes" of Blackwood. The present (his first) volume contains a good deal of poetry, of the very highest order. "BARBADOES, and other Poems," by Mr. Chapman, comprises a modest, unpretending volume enough. There are some very pretty lines and turns of thought in it, which bespeak a vivid imagination and correct judgment, and nothing have we noticed which can offend good taste. "THE YOUNG ENTHUSIAST, a Simple Story," is the production of a young person of humble birth, and under the pressure of poverty, which its sale is intended to alleviate; and we trust the praiseworthy object of the publisher, in his endeavour to effect a sale, will be accomplished. Under the circumstances of his case, the little book claims a precedence which might else be yielded to others of greater importance; and we recommend it to those who have the ability, as well as the disposition, to stretch forth a helping hand to a young person, under the sorrowful cloud of indigence. POLITICAL REGISTER. GREAT BRITAIN. THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Session is now rapidly draw ing to a close, but little real business has yet been transacted. Many important measures have been introduced, of which we may instance West India Slavery, the Bank Charter, the East India Charter, the Irish Church Reform Bill; but it is doubtful how many of the Bills brought in on these questions will become law, so slow are the proceedings of the House, and so precarious the situation of the Ministry. Attempts have been made to blame the opponents of Ministers for the slowness of the proceedings in Parliament, but it is rather to be attributed to the crude and indigested state in which the ministerial measures have been introduced, requiring numerous amendments and alterations to put them in a practicable shape. The repeal of the House and Window Duties seems a measure the inhabitants of the metropolis are determined to carry. It was again brought forward by Sir Samuel Whalley, on the 21st of May, but lost by a majority of 273 to 124. On the same day a motion of Mr. Harvey for a return of all persons having pensions heretofore paid out of the Civil List, specifying the sum received by each individual, the period of the grant, "the public grounds, or other consideration, as far as practicable, on account of which the pension had been granted," was agreed to without a division. In the course of his speech Mr. Harvey gave some striking examples of the manner in which the aristocracy plunder the people. The free revenue of the country, after deducting the interest and expense of managing the national debt, hardly exceeds sixteen millions; yet no less than nine millions are paid in pensions, in one way or another, by superannuations, compensations, and the like; and 22,912 persons receive L.2,788,000 annually. Of 1303 persons on the English, Scotch, and Irish Civil Lists, 1022 are females, 208 of whom are persons of title and distinction, and 124 ladies of family. The servants of the late King, 98 in number, receive in pensions L.14,446 annually. Several bills for the improvement of the law of England have been introduced in to Parliament during the session, and these VOL III. XVI. for regulating Fnes and Recoveries, Inheritance, Limitations of Actions, Dower and Courtesy, have been passed by the House of Commons. The bill for the removal of Disabilities from the Jews, though keenly opposed by Sir R. Inglis and the other bigots in the House, was read a second time by a majority of 189 to 52, and subsequently passed. The terms on which the Government has agreed to renew the Bank Charter are as follows: "1. That the Charter of the Bank be renewed for 21 years, subject to this consideration—that if at the end of 10 years the then existing Government should so think fit, they may give twelve months' notice to the Bank that it is their intention the Charter should expire at the end of the eleventh year. "2. No banking company consisting of more than six partners shall issue notes payable on demand in the metropolis, or within sixty five miles thereof. Banking companies consisting of a greater number of parties than six, carrying on business at a greater distance than sixty-five miles from London, shall have the right to draw bills on London, without restriction as to their amount, and to issue notes payable in London. "3. The Bank of England notes shall be a legal tender for debts above the amount of L.5, and the notes of the Bank shall not be payable in gold, except at the Bank of England, or at its various branch banks. "4. Bills not having more than three months to run before they become due shall not be subject to the usury laws. "5. An Account similar to that laid before the Bank Committee shall be transmitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer every week, stating the amount of bullion in the Bank and the amount of notes in circulation; such account to be considered confidential between the Government and the Bank. These several weekly accounts to be consolidated at the end of the quarter, an average to be struck, and published in the succeeding quarter in the Gazette. "6. A Bill shall be introduced into Parliament to regulate country banks, the provisions of which shall be such as to encourage joint stock banking com 2 R panies in the country to issue the notes of to the differences now existing in that unthe Bank of England." happy country." The allowance to the Bank for conducting the public business is to be reduced by the sum of L.120,000, and the Bank is to receive from the Government L.25 per cent. of the debt of L.14,500,000 now due. The terms were generally approved of in the House, and they have also met with the approbation of the Court of Directors and Proprietors of Bank stock. The country bankers have expressed some disapprobation of the plan, but the probability is that it will be adopted without any material modifications, though considerable opposition in Parliament may be expected. The general opinion is that the Bank has made a good bargain with Government. The resolutions regarding slavery in the West Indies, which we gave in our Register for June, have been agreed to. The most material alteration on them was proposed by Mr. Stanley, that instead of a loan to the planters of fifteen millions, they should have an absolute gift of twenty. This alteration has not given satisfaction throughout the country, for it is generally supposed that the compensation allowed is by much too great. Another alteration is that the slave is to be allowed to dispose of the fourth of his time as he thinks proper, and is not to be compelled to pay any portion of his wages to his master or any one else; but if he choose to save his wages he may purchase his freedom before the expiry of the twelve years' apprenticeship. The West India body has been propitiated by the gift of the twenty millions, and there will not likely be much difficulty in carrying the measure through Parliament, particularly as the emancipationists have expressed their intention of giving it their support. In consequence of the vote of the House of Lords on the 3d June, on the Portuguese Question, by which Ministers were left in a minority of 12, Colonel Davies moved, on the 6th ult., "That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, regretting the continuance of hostilities in Portugal, and expressive of the grateful acknowledgments of that House for the conduct pursued by his Majesty's Ministers with respect to the affairs of that country." After an animated debate, the motion was carried by a majority of nearly four to one; 361 voting for the motion, and 98 against it. To this address the King returned the following gracious answer, "I have received with great satisfaction the expression of your concurrence in the policy which I have pursued with reference to the affairs of Portugal, and you may be assured that I shall use all my influence to put an end On the 13th of June, Mr. Charles Grant in a speech which occupied upwards of three hours in the delivery, brought for ward the resolutions proposed by Government for the renewal of the East India Charter. They are expressed in the following terms; 1. That it is expedient that all his Majesty's subjects should be at liberty to repair to the ports of the empire of China, and to trade in tea, and in all other productions of the said empire, subject to such regulations as Parliament shall enact for the protection of the commercial and political interests of this country. 2. That it is expedient that, in case the East India Company shall transfer to the Crown, on behalf of the Indian territory, all assets and claims of every description, belonging to the said Company, the Crown, on behalf of the Indian territory, shall take on itself all the obligations of the said Company, of whatever description; and the said Company shall receive from the revenues of the said territory, such a sum, and paid in such a manner, and under such regulations, as Parliament shall enact. 3. That it is expedient that the Government of the British possessions in India be intrusted to the said Company, under such conditions and regulations as Parliament shall enact for the purpose of extending the commerce of this country, and of securing the good government, and promoting the moral and religious improvement of the people of India." The Company are to retain the government of India for a fixed term of twenty years; an additional Presidency is to be established in the north-western districts, now included in the jurisdiction of the Bengal Presidency; and a body of Commissioners are to be sent to Canton to watch over and protect British interests in the place of the Company's Factory. All distinction between Europeans and the natives is to be removed, and both subjected to the same laws. Instead of discouraging the settlement of natives of Britain in India, according to the narrow policy hitherto adopted, such settlement is to be promoted. The guarantee fund is to be increased from £1,200,000 to £2,000,000. The proprietors may claim to be paid off at the rate of £100 for every £5, 5s. annuity, whenever the political government is taken out of their hands. The East India Company have agreed to the terms proposed, and the House of Commons passed the resolutions without a division. The bill has already been ordered to be brought in, and it will ́ likely be carried through before the end of the session, unless a change of Ministry should take place. 1 On the 13th June, after the order of the day had been read for the House to resolve itself into a Committee on the Tithe Act for Ireland, Mr. Lambert complained of the Coercion Bill having been used in many places for the purpose of collecting tithes, in direct violation of the pledge given by Lord Althorp during the discussion on the bill. Mr. Lambert gave many instances of this application of the bill, and moved an amendment to the motion, that the Speaker do leave the Chair, to the effect that the pledges given by Ministers had not been fulfilled, and that the employment of the military and police, in serving civil process and the collection of tithes, is highly unconstitutional. Ministers admitted the truth of Mr. Lambert's statement, but entreated the House not to adopt the amendment which amounted to a strong censure on the Government. On the division, there appeared a majority for Ministers of 152,-45 voting for the amendment, and 197 for the motion. The House having gone into committee, Lord Althorp explained his plan for the extinc tion of Irish tithes. By an act of Parliament, passed in the last session, for the composition of tithes in Ireland, from and after November, 1833, tenants of land were not to be liable for payment of tithes; but as he considered it desirable that tenants should be relieved from payment of tithes from the present time, he proposed that a sum of money should be voted for the clergy, on receiving which they were to give a receipt in full for the arrears of tithes in 1831, 1832, and 1833; and that the money should be repaid by a land tax, imposed upon land upon which tithes had not been paid during these three years. subsequent sitting, a resolution to the above effect was moved, and carried by a majority of 270 to 40. The resolution was generally supported by the Irish members. Mr. O'Connell stated that he took it to be a virtual extinction of tithes in Ireland, and suggested that lay impropriators should come under its operation,-a suggestion which Lord Althorp undertook to take into consideration. At a Leave was obtained by Sir John Campbell, on 13th June, to bring in a bill to amend the law between debtor and creditor in England. The main object is to give the creditor a remedy against the property rather than the person of the debtor. The first provision of the bill is to allow immediate execution to proceed upon bills and bonds when due, unless security for their payment be given to the judge. It is farther proposed that the debtor shall be brought before a commissioner, and, if he does not honestly give up his property, he will then be sent to prison. Creditors are also to have facilities given them to attach copyhold and freehold estates, money in the funds and securities. Debtors are to be empowered to make a cessio bonorum, and then four-fifths of the creditors may discharge him from his debts by granting him a certificate. Imprisonment for debt, except in cases of fraud, is to be abolished; and it is proposed that in all cases where a creditor swears before a magistrate that his debtor is about to set off for a foreign country, the latter may be taken and imprisoned. Several of these provisions are obviously taken from the Law of Scotland, in which their efficacy has been proved by long experience; but we have some doubt of the propriety of abolishing imprisonment to the extent contemplated. No offence is of more difficult detection than fraudulent bankruptcy, and the debtor may be possessed of large funds which he withholds from his creditors, and which the latter have not the means of discovering. At the morning sitting, on the 13th June, a lengthened debate arose on the presenting of a petition from the Inquest on the body of Cully the policeman, who was killed at the meeting at Coldbath-fields. Mr. Roebuck strongly reprobated the conduct of Government in the means they had taken to disperse the meeting, and in the proceedings they had adopted to quash the verdict. Mr. O'Connell contended it was only on a technicality that the verdict had been quashed, and that the Coroner had purposely drawn up the inquisition informally. Mr. Godson took the same view, and maintained that the Coroner might have drawn up a good inquisition; and that if he had averred that a number of persons were collected together, that the police made an unprovoked attack on them, that Cully was one of these police, and that the blow was given by a person so attacked, the inquisition could not have been set aside. The debate, after occupying the whole forenoon sitting, was resumed next day, when Mr. Cobbett mentioned several instances of the uncalled-for interference of the police, to whom he very properly gave the name "gendarmerie,' for there can be little doubt that the Whigs, as well as the Tories, are desirous of introducing into every part of the kingdom, a system of military police and espionage, such as exists in France. THE HOUSE OF LORDS. THE defeat of the Ministry in the House of Lords, is a circumstance that might have been anticipated from the commencement of the session, for it is notorious that their opponents greatly preponderate in that House. At the time the defeat took place, however, it was unexpected, and it could hardly have been supposed that the Tories would have chosen the Portuguese Question, on which We beg, now that the greater part of the first session of the Reformed Parliament has passed, our readers will glance over the summary we have given of the labours of the House of Lords, and consider whether it is necessary longer to maintain an institution which is useless for all good purposes, and potent only in thwarting measures intended for the public welfare. The House of Commons and the House of Peers are undeniably in collision, notwithstanding every attempt on the part of Ministry, as they inform us, to prevent this issue. One or other must yield; for the Government cannot go on under the present system: When it is impossible to procure the election of a House of Commons, subservient to the Lords, the result is obvious. ENGLAND. VERDICT ON CULLY.-After a long and arduous investigation, the Coroner's inquest on the body of Cully the policeman, who was killed during the assault of the police on the people at the meeting at Coldbath-fields, returned the following verdict :- We find a verdict of justifiable homicide, on these grounds, that no riot act was read, nor any proclamation advising the people to disperse; that the police did not take the proper precautions to prevent the meeting from assembling, and that the conduct of the police was ferocious, brutal, and unprovoked by the people; and we, moreover, express an anxious hope that the Government will, in future, take better precautions to prevent the occurrence of such disgraceful transactions in the metropolis." The Coroner, who appears to have been a mere tool of the Government, was most anxious to save Ministers from the severe censure conveyed by the verdict, and wished to strike out the whole words, after "justifiable homicide;" but the inquest spiritedly resisted this insidious attempt; and after a long altercation the Coroner was compelled to yield. The Cabinet, however, felt the reproach so severely, that an application was made to the King's Bench, on the part of the Crown, to quash the verdict; and that Court, on the authority of precedents more honoured in the breach than in the observance, did as they were desired. The opinion of every liberal-minded man, is, that the ver dict is the only one which the Jury, with the evidence adduced to them, could have pronounced, and that opinion is not changed by the ex parte proceeding resorted to by Government. In the metropolis, more especially, the verdict was hailed with rapture; and, as we have noticed under the proper head, the measures adopted for setting it aside were loudly reprobated in Parliament by some of its most able and influential Members. ENGLISH LAW.-Mr. William John Bankes, the Member of Dorsetshire, was held to bail at the Queen Square office, on the 7th of June, himself in L.6,000 and two sureties in L.3,000 each, to take his trial for an offence not to be named. The other party, a private in the Coldstream Guards, has been committed for trial. To shew, we presume, the equality of all in the eye of English law, the Member was accommodated with a seat on the bench during the examination: the soldier was, |