any verdict of a Jury, he must say that there was much doubt as to how far one of them was founded on sound principles of law; and a certain distinguished individual, who composed one of that Jury, had expressed sentiments somewhat similar. Of those who remained, there were 24 on whom capital sentences were pronounced, and he was much afraid that, out of that number, some examples must of necessity be made. The remaining 21 were acquitted without trial. The Learned Gentleman hoped that the manner in which he had treated the different prisoners would give satisfaction; and he did not doubt that much good would be derived to the country from the late trials-as the picture which had been exhibited to them of the pure justice administered in this land must have the effect of rendering them more loyal, by giving them a higher idea of the excellence of the Constitution. Still, however, the country would require to be looked after, and for this salutary superintendence he would trust to the vigilance of the Magistracy. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE QUEEN. In our last number we brought down the proceedings which had taken place in Parliament, on the subject of the charges against the Queen, to Monday the 10th July, (by mistake stated the 3d,) when it was resolved to delay the second reading of the Bill of Pains and Penalties till the 17th of August. On Tuesday the 11th a message was sent by her Majesty to the House of Lords, demanding a list of the witnesses who are to appear against her. This was resisted on the part of ministers, on the ground that it was contrary to the practice followed by the Law of England, which only allowed such list to be furnish ed to the party accused in cases of High Treason. A search for precedents was however agreed to; and a committee appointed, who reported on the 14th, that but two precedents had been found-the cases of Sir J. Bennet, Judge of the Prerogative Court, who in 1621 was impeached for maladministration in his office; and the celebrated case of Lord Strafford. Both these persons demanded a list of the witnesses against them, which the House refused. Lord Erskine then brought forward his motion for giving a list of the witnesses intended to be examined in support of the charges against the Queen to her legal advisers, for the purpose of her defence, which, after a debate of some length, was rejected by a majority of 50; the numbers being-Contents, 28; Non-contents, 78. No proxies voted upon this occasion. In these circumstances, it is said that her Majesty held a conversation with her legal advisers, for the purpose of consider VOL. VII. ing whether it would not be advisable to abandon her defence altogether in the House of Lords, to withdraw from the bar, and to protest against all further proceedings. In this case the bill would pass, and the proceedings would go on in the absence of the accused; and it is expected that the Commons would in limine refuse to entertain a bill so passed. On Monday the 24th July, Lord Erskine again moved in the House of Peers, that, as her Majesty had not been able to obtain a list of the witnesses meant to be produced against her, she should be furnished with a statement of the places where the offences with which she is charged are alleged to have been committed. His Lordship maintained, that, without some information of this kind, the Queen could have no means of repelling or refuting the allegations of her accusers, except by bringing forward, without discrimination, all those who had witnessed her conduct in every place through which she had passed, or in which she had sojourned. Unless she was furnished with some clue, which could instruct her in the nature of the evidence which was to support the accusation, her counsel could not possess the means of effectual cross-examination, especially as it was not to be expected that all the witnesses against her could be detained so as to wait the arrival of counter-evidence. In reply to this, it was stated by Lord Liverpool, that a sufficient time would be allowed, after the case should be closed on the part of the crown, to permit her Majesty to send for any additional witnesses that her defence might require. Lord Liverpool also intimated, very plainly, that Mr Brougham, and consequently all her Majesty's advocates, were well acquainted with all the contents of the green bag, and, of course, with all the particulars of the forthcoming accusation. On Tuesday the 25th the report of a Committee of Peers, who had been appointed to search for precedents relative to the best means of enforcing the attendance of the Members of that House during the trial of her Majesty, was presented by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The decision of the House, conformably to this report, is, that any Lord not giving the required attendance shall be fined L. 100 per day for the first three days, and L. 50 per day for every day after, during the continuance of the trial;-that no excuses be allowed, save those of disability from the age of 70 years and upwards, or from sickness, or being out of the realm, on the 10th July, being the day on which the order for the second reading of the bill was made, and continuance out of the kingdom, or being on his Majesty's service, or absent on account of the death of a parent, wife, or child. NATIONAL DEBT.-Accounts have been presented to the House of Commons, of the amount of the public debt, both funded and unfunded, of Great Britain and Ireland, and the interest on the same, on the 5th of January 1820. The following are the most important of these accounts: An account of the total capital of the funded debt of Great Britain and Ireland, including the Austrian and Portuguese loans, as it stood in the year ended 5th January 1820; distinguishing the amount redeemed and unredeemed, and the total charge of said debt. Total debt, L. 29,789,657 16,987,397 L. 836,946,923 420,828,751 L. 1,257,775,674 In respect of redeemed debt, including sinking fund, Total, L. 46,777,054 An account of the total amount of the unfunded debt of Great Britain and Ireland, in Exchequer bills, navy bills, Ordnance debentures, and Irish Treasu. Charge in respect of unredeemed debt, including annuities for lives or years, and management, Charge in respect of redeemed debt, including sinking fund, Total charge, BRITISH LEGISLATION. L. 32,604,755 16,987,397 L. 49,592,152 Acts passed in the First Year of the Reign of George IV., or in the First Session of the Seventh Parliament of the United Kingdom. CAP. I. For the Support of his Majesty's Household, and of the Honour and Dignity of the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.-June 6, 1820. Cap. II. To enable His Majesty to be Governor of the South Sea Company. June 6. Cap. III. For the Removal of Doubts as to the continuance of Three Acts for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors in England.— June 6. Cap. IV. For punishing criminally Drivers of Stage Coaches and Carriages for Accidents occasioned by their wilful Misconduct.-June 6. Cap. V. To enable Courts of Equity in Ireland to compel a Transfer of Stock in Suits, without making the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, or any Canal Company, party thereto.-June 6. Cap. VI. To amend and render more effectual an Act, passed in the fifty-fifth Year of His late Majesty's Reign, for enabling Spiritual Persons to exchange their Parsonage Houses or Glebe Lands, and for other purposes therein mentioned.―June 6. Cap. VII. To repeal so much of several Acts as requires Bonds to be given to his Majesty in certain Cases, and the taking of certain Oaths in Matters relating to the Revenue of Customs, and to prevent Fees being offered or given to Officers and other Persons in the Service of the Customs. June 22, 1820. Cap. VIII. To allow a Drawback on Goods, Wares, and Merchandize imported into any British Colony or Plantation in America, on the Exportation thereof to any Foreign Country to which they may be legally exported.-June 22. Cap. IX. For granting the Privileges of British Ships to Vessels built at Malta, Gibraltar, and Heligoland, and certain of those Privileges to Vessels built in the British Settlements at Honduras.-June 22. Cap. X. For applying certain Monies therein mentioned for the Service of the Year 1820.-June 22. Cap. XI. To continue, until the Fifth Day of July 1825, an Act of the Fiftyseventh Year of His late Majesty, for regulating the Trade and Commerce to and from the Cape of Good Hope, and for regulating the Trade of the Island of Mauritius. June 22. Cap. XII. To extend several Acts for allowing the Importation and Exportation of certain Goods and Merchandize to Morant Bay, in the Island of Jamaica.June 22. Cap. XIII. For funding Exchequer Bills to a certain Amount, and for raising a Sum of Money by way of Annuities for the Service of the Year 1820.-June 22. Cap. XIV. To repeal the Drawback on certain Gold Articles exported; and to permit the Exportation of Cordage, entitled to Bounty, free from Right of Pre-emption by the Commissioners of the Navy. June 22. Cap. XV. To continue, until the Twenty-fifth Day of July 1821, an Act of the Twenty-eighth Year of His late Majesty, for the more effectual encouragement of the Manufacture of Flax and Cotton in Great Britain.-June 22. Cap. XVI. To continue, until the Twenty-fifth Day of July 1821, an Act of the Fifty-ninth Year of His late Majesty, to continue certain Laws of Excise with regard to Crown Glass and Flint and Phial Glass, and to alter certain Laws with regard to Flint Glass.-June 22. Cap. XVII. For raising the Sum of Five Millions by way of Annuities.—June 22. Cap. XVIII. For further continuing, until the Twenty-fifth Day of March 1822, an Act of the Fifty-eighth Year of His late Majesty, for preventing Aliens from becoming naturalized, or being made or becoming Denizens, except in certain Cases.-June 22. APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS, &c. 1. CIVIL. June 28. The honour of Knighthood conferred on Colonel Archibald Christie, of the 1st R. V. B. James Pillans, Esq. to be Professor of Humanity in the University of Edinburgh. Captain Pringle, R. N. to be a Deputy Lieutenant of Roxburghshire. July 6. Andrew Alexander, A. M. to be Professor of Greek in the College of St Andrews. 19. John Wilson, Esq. Advocate, to be Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. Stratford Canning, Esq. to be Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America. Members returned to serve in Parliament. 2 Dr. G. L. Williams, Cornet, by Borough of Orford-Edmund Alex. M'Naghten Tavistock-Lord Viscount Ebrington .............. Appleby-Thomas Creevy ............... Scarborough-Hon. Edmund Phipps Athlone-David Kerr City of Carlisle-William James Borough of Truro-Lieut.-Col. William Gosset ....Saltash-John Fleeming ..................Oakhampton-Lord Glenorchy .Malmesbury-William Leake City of York-Robert Chaloner, Esq. Borough of Petersfield-Sir Philip Musgrave City of Dublin-Thomas Ellis Borough of Ennis-Richard Wellesley .........Dundalk-George Hartopp Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed-Henry Heneage Borough of Old Sarum-Josias Du Pre Alexander ..................Grantham-Sir Mont. Cholmondely. II. ECCLESIASTICAL. July 12.-The Associate Congregation of Kirkcudbright gave an unanimous call to Mr George Wood, preacher. 17.-The Bishop of Lincoln, to be Bishop of Winchester. 20.-Rev. Dr Grant, of Edinburgh, to be one of his Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary for Scotland. 22.-Rev. Hugh Heugh, to be Minister of the Associate Congregation, Regent Place, Glasgow. III. MILITARY. Major J. G. Peters, to be Lieut. Col. of Cavalry 13th July 1820. Simpson, R. Horse Gds. Gent. Cadet W. P. Baird, Coll. Cornet by p. vice 6th July. purch. vice 21st June. fm. R. Mil. Barfoot, ret. 22d do. Lieut. Turner, Capt. vice Blankley, dead Lieut. M'Kenzie, fm. 24 F. Lieut. Cornet Hamilton, Lieut. 15th Nov. 1819. 3d do. vice Hand R. Lewis, Cornet, vice Dalzell 1st Jan. Lieut. Beauchamp, fm. 16 Dr. Capt. by purch. vice Stewart, res. 6th July 1820. M. Daintry, Cornet by purch. vice Forward, pro. 22d June. Lieut. Aitken, Capt. by purch. vice Underwood, ret. 6th July. Cornet Ganning, Lieut. by purch. do. W. Underwood, Cornet by purch. do. Capt. Jones, Major by purch. vice Bt. Lieut. Col. Bates, ret, 8th do. Lieut. Elliot, fm. 8 Dr. Capt. by purch. do. Lieut. and Capt. Charlewood, Capt. and Lieut. Col. by purch. vice Ramsden, 6th do. Ens. and Lieut. Fox, Lieut. and Capt. by purch. re. Capt. Champion, Maj. by purch. vice Meyricke, 47 F. 29th June 1st Lieut. Sutherland, Capt. by purch. do. 2d Lieut. Peddie, 1st Lieut. by purch. do. M. C. D. St Quintin, 2d Lieut. do. J. R. Majendie, Ensign, by purch. vice Keppel 1st do. Ensign M'Kenzie, Lieut. vice M'Kenzie, 13 Dr. 3d Nov. 1819. J. A. Campbell, Ensign do. Lieut. M'Leod, Adj. vice Keens, res. Adj. only 22d June 1820. do. Qua. Mast. Serj. Kennedy, Qua. Mast. vice Doyle, dead Hosp. Assist. Robertson, Assist, Surg. vice Trumble, pro. Staff do. Ensign Cornwall, fm. 45 F. Ensign, vice Dunlop, dead 29th do. Bt. Lt.-Col. Balfour, fm. 3 F. Major, vice Bt. Lt.-Col. Browne, h. p. Rifle Brig. 22d do. Qua. Mast. Serj. W. Barefoot, Qua. Mast. vice Macdonald, dead 13th July Major Meyricke, fm. 21 F. Lt.-Col. by purch. vice Cheyne, ret. 29th June Ensign Snow, fm. 66 F. Ensign, vice Ridge, h. p. 6 W. I. R. Hosp. Assist. Mitchell, Assist. Surg. vice Hamilton, dead Lieut. Holt, fm. h. p. 8 F. Manners, cancelled Ensign Ward, fm. h. p. 6 sign, vice Snow, 47 F. Broom, Lieut. vice do. do. Lieut. vice 13th July W. I. R. En 29th June Hunter, dead 21st Oct. 1819. A. Jones, Ensign 13th July 1820. J. W. Bouverie, Ensign, by purch. vice E. Carroll, ret. 29th June Lieut. Dolman, Adj. vice Leche, res. Adj. only do. Lieut. Butler, fm. 32 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Temple, h. p. 14 F. Hodson, fm. 54 F. with Lieut. Manners, h. p. 2 F. F. h. P. Davidson, fm. 22 Dr. with Lieut. Cox, 46 Cormack, fm. 19 F. with Lieut. Durnford, Matthews, fm. 43 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Fraser, h. p. Rifle Br. Luttrell, fm. 47 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Isaacson, h. p. 51 F. Nowlan, fm. 50 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Briggs, h. p. 91 F. Archbold, fm. 68 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Hill, h. p. 43 F. De Lancey, fm. 17 Dr. rec. diff. with Lieut. Lindsey, h. p. 10 Dr. Campbell, fm. 18 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Roberts, h. p. 5 F. Ensign Lodington, fm. 32 F. rec. diff. with Ensign Barkley, h. p. 53 F. Ross, fm. 46 F. with Ensign Cumberlege, h. p. 67 F. Geddes, fm. 46 F. with Ensign Gleeson, h. p. 103 F. Lewis, fm. 12 F. with Ensign Pounder, h. p. 75 F. John O'Meara, fm. 39 F. with Ensign Joseph O'Meara, h. p. 5 W. I. R. Paymaster Otway, fm. 12 Dr. with Lieut. Prior, h. p. 1 W. I. R Qua. Mast. Hutchinson, fm. 55 F. with Ensigu M'Intosh, h. p. 63 F. Assist. Surg. Lawder, fm. 29 F. with Assist. Surg. Resignations and Retirements. Dewguard, 6 F. Redmond, Capt. vice St Leger, Paymaster O'Connor, 11 F. 28th May 1819. 1st Nov. 2d March 1817. 2 W. I. R. 22d June 1820. dead Ensign Kenny, Lieut. C. G. King, Ensign Lieut. Grant, fm. h. p. Paym. vice White, dead Surg. Morrison, fm. h. p. vice Silcock, h. p. C. H. Craigie, Ensign, vice celled 12 F. Surg. 15th July Spens, can22d June Deaths. 12th May 1820. Lieut. Gen. W. Robertson, Edinb. 31st Jan. 1820. Lieut. Col. Fehrzen, 53 F. Namuel, Madras Meadows, 15 F. London, Major Stewart, 19 Dr. M. Cassan, Ensign, vice Rose, 19 F. Capt. 6th July Med. Dep. Staff Surg. Joseph Taylor, Physician to the Forces, vice Keating, dead 22d June Assist. Surg. Trumble, fm. 37 F. Surg. vice Taylor do. Burton, fm. h. p. York Lt. Inf. Vol. Assist. Surg. 25th do. Hosp. Assist. Cannan, fm. h. p. Hosp. Assist. vice Farquhar, dead do. Freer, fm. h. p. Hosp. Assist. vice Ward, dead Chap. Dep. The Rev. R. G. Curtois, fm. h. p. Chaplain to the Forces, vice Arnold, dead Bar. Dep. A. W. Durnford, Bar. Mast. in Great Britain Exchanges. 9th May Capt. Moore, from 11 Dr. rec. diff. with Capt. White, h. p. 24 Dr. Nixon, fm. 60 F. with Capt. Leslie, h. p. Lieut. Oliver, fm. 17 F. rec. diff. with Lieut. Clunie, h. p. 1 F. Weir, late of R, Mar. Douglas, late 3 R. V. B. Pardey, h. p. 56 F. Humphrys, 8th R. Vet. Bn. Lechmere, h. p. Lucas's Dr. Du Platel, h. p. Chas. Britan. 19th Jan. 9th July. July 11th June. 8th July.' 26th Apr. Aberdeen 22d June. M'Queen, h. p. 78 F. Calcutta 13th Nov. 1819. Lieut. Johnstone, 1 F. Mehenepoucaum, Madras25th Dec. Hutchinson, 17 Dr. Kair, Bombay 27th Oct. 20th do. 27th do. 23d May 1820. Quar. Mast. Johnstone, 65 F. Fort George, Bombay Richards, 4 F. Grenada Doyle, 27 F. Macdonald, 46 F. Medical Department. Dep. Insp. W. T. Taylor, h. p. 14th Apr. THAT moisture for which many plants began to languish at the date of our last report was amply supplied to the soil on the 18th of last month. So copious were the rains on that day, as to lay the greatest part of wheat, where that crop was at all luxuriant. Fortunately, however, the blossom was fairly over, and the grain partially filled; and, as genial weather succeeded, with little more rain till the 3d of the present month, the damage done to wheat will be less than was at one time dreaded. Where barley was luxuriant, it has suffered, more particularly where young grass grows over and rots the prostrate straw. Oats have improved considerably since the rain in July, nor have they suffered so much by being lodged. Turnips and potatoes have also been much benefited by the rains, which have been frequent since the commencement of the present month. The foliage of potatoes has been partially blighted by the high winds on the 8th and 9th; wheat on high grounds has been shaken; and peas have been twisted and partially broken: but the damage done to either is inconsiderable. The second cutting of grass comes forward briskly. Hay has been sold in some of the northern counties at 6d. per stone from the field. The price of grain has advanced considerably since our last, and, though of late a slight decline has been experienced in the London market, yet it has been little felt in this country. The harvest has partially commenced in many places, and, should dry weather set in, the crop may be secured nearly as early as last season. Wheat, indeed, being, for the most part, later than usual in being sown, will be a few days later in ripening; in other sorts of grain the difference will be less perceptible, unless damp weather shall now protract the ripening process. The weather has been all along favourable for the operation of fallowing, which is now, for the most part, ready for the seed furrow.-14th August. The herbaceous plants mentioned in the report for August last year have come in flower two days later this than last season. Water plants continue to come in flower five, and the grass of Parnassus, a semi-aquatic plant, about three days earlier than last year, a proof that the temperature has been as uniform for the two past months, and as favourable to the progress of vegetation, as in the two corresponding months last year. It is not the elevation to which the temperature may at certain times arise, but the duration of elevated temperature, which regulates the economy of vegetation, in so far as heat is concerned. Perthshire, 14th August 1820. |