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amendment 45; against it 78; majority

33.

After some further discussion, the House divided upon the question, whether the act should extend to Scotland? Ayes 129noes 48.

June 27. The third reading of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill was then moved, which produced a most animated debate, in which several Members who had before voted for the measure took part against it. At the close of the debate, a division took place on the third reading. Ayes 195-noes 65.

The House also divided on the question, whether the act for the suspension should expire on the 1st of March, or on the 25th of December, on the motion of Mr C. WYNN. The numbers against Mr C. Wynn's proposition were 152 to 50.

Monday, June 30.-The House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, and Sir G. WARRENDER moved that a sum not exceeding £1,332,311: 13: 2, be granted for defraying the expense of the ordinary naval establishment for the period of seven lunar months, commencing in June 1817.

Mr ARBUTHNOT, among other items, moved for a sum not exceeding £40,000, for extraordinary charges of the mint, and gold coinage.

£3000 were granted for the Board of Agriculture; £207,000 for disembodying the militia in Great Britain, in the year 1817; and £154,251 for the same purpose in Ireland.

STATE OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

July 3.-Mr M. A. TAYLOR first adverted to a statement made on a former night, respecting the distressed state of the inhabitants of Newfoundland, and now moved that the report on the subject be read; and after drawing a very afflicting picture of the present condition of that island, concluded by moving that the House do resolve itself into a Committee, in which he would propose that a bounty of 2s. per quintal be given on all fish imported from Newfoundland. The motion was negatived by 50 against 29.

Monday, July 7.-The English Savings Banks Bill, on the motion of Mr ROSE, was read a third time; and after an observation from General THORNTON, disap

proving of the clause which allowed those who had money deposited in such institutions to derive aid from parish funds, was passed.

PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Mr BROUGHAM brought up the report of the Committee on General Education; it contained a description of many enormous abuses attending the management and application of charitable funds.

REPORT OF THE POLICE COMMITTEE.

July 8.-Mr BENNET presented another report from the Committee appointed to inquire into the police of the metropolis. The present report embraced two subjects -the policy of granting what was called blood-money, or rewards on conviction; and the state of juvenile offenders.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

Lord BINNING brought in a bill to provide asylums for the Lunatic Poor in Scotland; but observed, that he did not intend to bring idiots within its operation. The bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed; when the Noble Lord stated, that he did not mean to propose any farther proceeding upon it during this Session.

Wednesday, July 9.-Lord BINNING brought up the returns of Lunatics in Scotland, the total number of whom was said to be 4300.

July 11.-Sir FRANCIS BURDETT presented a petition from John Knight, who had been kept in solitary confinement in Reading gaol for more than seventeen weeks, and was now removed to another prison.

The petition was read: it prayed to he brought to trial, or to be transported out of the country. It was ordered to lie on the table.

STATE OF THE NATION.

Mr BROUGHAM made his motion, which stood for this day, on the state of the nation. After an animated debate, in which Lord CASTLEREAGH repelled some charges applying to his former conduct in Ireland, a motion for an address to the Prince Regent was put and negatived without a division.

July 12.-The SPEAKER having returned from the House of Peers, read to the Members a copy of the Prince Regent's speech, and the Members forthwith separated.

JULY.

BRITISH CHRONICLE.

26. Yesterday morning the jail of Ayr was again broken, and three of the prisoners escaped. They were confined in the very strongest room of the prison, usually called the condemned cell. Nevertheless, by means of a single common mason's iron, they raised up one of the flags of the floor, broke an iron grating on which the stone lay, and

also an arch, upon which both were founded. Through the opening thus made, the prisoners dropped into the cellar where the fire engines are kept, the lock on the door of which they wrenched off, and so got to the street. This is the third time within a twelvemonth this prison has been broken.

Extraordinary Circumstance.-At the Stafford Assizes, on the 26th instant, two

soldiers, named Hall and Morison, were convicted of robbery, and ordered for execution. They were prosecuted by a man named Read, a bricklayer's labourer, who swore that they knocked him down, and robbed him in the church-yard of Wolverhampton, on the 23d of July; and the evidence of the woman in whose house they resided, went to prove they did not sleep at home that night. There was no other evidence. It appeared, however, subsequent ly to the conviction, that the soldiers did take 1s. 1d. which fell from the prosecutor's pocket while he was wrestling with Hall for amusement, but they had no intention of felony; and that Read had no idea of indicting them, until he was instigated by a man of the name of Roberts, the keeper of the house of correction at Wolverhampton, with the view of gaining the reward called "Blood Money," which was accordingly pocketted by Read and the keeper of the prison, to the amount of £80. This case having been fully established, and laid before Lord Sidmouth, by the Rev, Mr Guard, a highly respectable clergyman, his Lordship granted a respite. The men, who bear good characters, have since been liberated.

29.-Swindling. This day a fellow contrived to carry off a considerable sum from the Glasgow Bank, by using the name of Adamson and Logan, manufacturers there; whose proceeds of bills dicounted he auda ciously called for, and received from one of the tellers. The amount was £1314; but this being a larger sum than the swindler wanted, or was able to utter, he next day returned £900 enclosed in a letter, in which he promised to repay the remainder on his arrival in America.

AUGUST.

Marines. By a recent order from the Admiralty, there is now fitting at Plymouth dock-yard, a machine, in all respects similar to a part of the gun-deck of a man of war, having quarters for three pieces of ordnance, and which, when completed, is intended to be placed in the rear of the Marine Barracks, for the purpose of exercising the whole division of marines at that port in the necessary manœuvres of great guns for sea-service; and, as the different parties are deemed sufficiently skilled in this exercise, they are to fire with shot, at a mark, from the battery at Devil's Point. Lieutenant Woolridge, of the royal marine artillery, is appointed to this particular service.

The Navy. An important document has just been published, in the shape of proposals and regulations relative to the navy made by the Board of Admiralty, and sanctioned by an order of Council. After elucidating the accidental causes which have introduced the existing anomaly of rating ships at a certain number of guns, while their real complement exceeded that nominal amount, the Board make the following observation:-" We trust we shall be excus

ed for observing to your Royal Highness, that it is wholly unworthy the character of the royal navy of this kingdom to maintain this system, which, though introduced without any design of deception, yet may give occasion to foreign nations to accuse us of misrepresentation, when we state that a British frigate of 38 guns has taken a foreign frigate of 44, when, in fact, the British frigate was of equal, if not superior force." It is then stated, that the American ship President had 55 guns mounted on the day of her capture, though she was rated at only 44. In the British navy this practice will no longer continue, for it is now ordered, that the rule which prevailed prior to 1793 shall be revived, and in future all his Majesty's ships will be rated at the number of guns and carronades which they actually carry on their decks, quarter-decks, and forecastles.

2.A New Frigate. A fine new frigate of 46 guns, named the Arethusa, was launched on the 29th ult. from the new dock-yard, Pembroke. Her dimensions and tonnage are as under :

Feet. In.

Length of keel for tonnage, 126 1 Breadth,. 40 1 Tonnage, 1,934 60-94ths. This vessel is a sister ship to the Thetis frigate, launched from the same yard in February last.

University of Edinburgh.-This University yesterday conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine on ninety-two students, after their usual trials, viz. thirty-seven of Scotland, thirty-two from Ireland, eighteen from England, three from Jamaica, one from Barbadoes, and one from Hamburgh.

4.Water Spout.-On Friday, the 1st current, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, Cupar-Fife was visited by a thunder storm of about an hour's continu

ance.

It was attended by the singular phenomenon of a water-spout, which discharged itself on Tarvit Hill, over the north side of which it descended in a torrent on the adjacent fields; and these, to a considerable extent, were entirely flooded. The violence of the torrent was such, that large stones were rolled along; deep trenches were formed; and from the ground over which it passed, every trace of vegetation has fled.

In go

Melancholy Event.-On Saturday night, a most deplorable accident happened at Irvine. The brig Anna had just completed her cargo for Halifax, when the master went on shore to bid farewell to his friends, and convey to the ship two of the last passengers. ing out of the harbour, it was found difficult to row the boat; and recourse was had to a sail. The night was breezy, and the boat wanted ballast, and it is supposed that it was overset in tacking. No one, either on shore or in the brig, observed the catastrophe; and it was far in the forenoon of Sunday before it was known. There were on board, beside Captain Miller, two seamen,

and a member of the Society of Friends from Belfast, with his daughter, who was going out to join her husband in America. It is melancholy to think-they all perished.

8.-Chain Bridge.-A bridge of this description is just finished at Dryburgh, for the convenience of foot passengers, across the river Tweed. It consists of a platform of wood, supported by chains suspended from pillars, on each side of the river, at the height of eighteen feet from the surface of the water; the span, from the point of suspension, is 261 feet, affording an easy and level passage, with very little vibration. The appearance of the bridge is extremely light and elegant, and, connected with the beautiful scenery of Dryburgh, is uncommonly interesting. Much praise is due to the Earl of Buchan, for so noble an example in scientific experiment, as the bridge is done entirely at his Lordship's expense. The bridge was planned and executed by Messrs John and Thomas Smith of Darnick, and does them much credit as architects and workmen.

Trial of Roger O'Connor, Esq.We mentioned in our Number for June, that this gentleman had been imprisoned on an accusation of robbing the mail-coach from Galway, in 1812. He was removed from Dublin to Trim, a few days before his trial, which commenced at the assizes there on the fifth instant. The principal evidence for the prosecution were two infamous characters Michael Owens, who had been pardoned while under sentence of death, in consequence of swearing against Mr O'Connor; and Daniel Waring, who had been himself engaged in the robbery, and whose brother, Richard, was hanged for the same crime. Dorothea Reynolds, a servant of Mr O'Connor's, had also sworn against him, but denied all she had said when before the Grand Jury; she was not therefore produced on trial. Owens and Waring differed widely in their statements in several points: and the Judge told the Jury, he had never seen a charge so completely rebutted by the evidence. The Jury, without retiring, returned an unanimous verdict of not guilty, which was loudly applauded by all present -great rejoicings took place at Trim on the occasion; and the populace could scarcely be prevented from chairing Mr O'Connor and Sir Francis Burdett, who had come from London to countenance and give testimony to his character on the trial. Owens and Waring are to be prosecuted for perjury.

11.-His Majesty.Respecting the condition of our beloved Sovereign, the public have not, for some time past, been put in possession of any particulars beyond the formal announcement in the monthly bulletins. The following circumstances, tending, so far as our means extend, to supply the omission, will, it is hoped, prove acceptable. It has been reported, and we believe partially credited, that his Majesty had lost

his hearing as well as his sight; but we are happy to state, that there is no truth in the report. Indeed, as if Providence kindly intended to compensate for the loss of vision, his Majesty's sense of hearing is not merely quick, but it has become, if we may be allowed to use the term, discriminative. When his Majesty is in a composed state of mind, he can readily distinguish and tell, by their footsteps, the name of any one who is approaching or passing him. As but few are allowed to see him, he generally amuses himself, as they pass, by calling to them by name. His Majesty's habits have not, in consequence of infirmity or old age, undergone material change. His Majesty, as usual, rises early; breakfasts at eight o'clock, or soon after; dines at one, and continues partial to mutton and beef; and, when in a tranquil state, he orders what his dinner table shall be furnished with. The principal page is in constant attendance, as also the subaltern assistants of the medical men. A sunk walk has been made adjoining the King's suite of Rooms; but latterly his Ma. jesty, it is said, has declined walking there, alleging, that it would be no gratification to him as he is deprived of sight. The rooms that his Majesty and attendants occupy consist of thirteen, and they are extremely well ventilated. When the Queen is at Windsor, her Majesty, attended by Dr John Willis, generally visits her consort about ten o'clock.

15.-Nelson's Pillar.-The first stone of a naval pillar, to commemorate the victories of Lord Nelson, was laid this day on Yarmouth Denes, by Colonel Wodehouse, chairman of the committee of subscribers. In the stone was placed a plate, on which was engraved, in Latin, the following inscription. "HORATIO LORD NELSON, whom, as her first and proudest Champion in naval fight, Britain honoured, while living, with her favour, and, when lost, with her tears. Of whom, signalized by his triumphs in all lands, the whole Earth stood in awe, on occount of the tempered firmness of his counsels, and the undaunted ardour of his courage; this great man Norfolk boasts her own, not only as born there of a respectable family, and as there having received his early education, but her own also in talents, manners, and mind. The glory of so great a name, though sure long to outlive all monuments of brass and stone, his fellow countrymen of Norfolk have resolved to commemorate by this column, erected by their joint contributions. He was born in the year 1758, entered on his profession in 1771, and was concerned in nearly 150 naval engagements with the enemy; being conqueror, among various other occasions, at Aboukir, August 1798,-at Copenhagen, April 1801, and at Trafalgar, October 1805. Which last victory, the crown of so many glorious achievements, he consecrated by a death equally mournful to his country and honourable to himself."

2

Thunder Storm and Tornado.On the 12th instant, Aberfeldy was visited by a tremendous thunder storm, seldom equalled in that high latitude. It commenced about twelve o'clock noon, and continued, with little or no intermission, until two o'clock. The lightning was so vivid that it alarmed every one; and at a Mr Stewart's, a farmer, the fluid struck one of his farm-houses, set fire to the roof, and gave the whole steading a shock resembling that of an earthquake. It went through the roof in a descending angle from the south to the north, ignited the roof on the south, and on the north made a perforation as if a twelve-pound shot had gone through it. This happened about a furlong west from this village; and about 100 yards east from it, and almost at the same time there was a kind of tornado, which swept away or levelled every thing that obstructed its course. It carried some hay quite out of sight into the air. It crossed the Tay, carrying a very large sheet of water into the air, and scattering it in various directions. In its progress, it swept from their roots, corn, potatoes, and shrubbery, but happily neither lives nor houses were injured by it.

Itinerant Preachers.-In the course of last week, James Duncan, an itinerant preacher, was twice before the police magistrate at Glasgow, for collecting crowds of people in the streets of that city. The account which he gives of himself is this:"He was born in Dundee, and is a flaxdresser, and having attended a Latin class in St Andrew's University, and having an extensive memory, he commenced preacher." He was dismissed, and advised to gain his livelihood by other means. His collection

amounted on some occasions to 20s.

21-Life Preserver.-The Commanderin-Chief having lately learned, throu, the official returns, that out of 5511 men, embarked for foreign service, 1702, or nearly one-third perished, through the transports being wrecked, in the course of two years and a half, ordered that experiments of Mallison's Life Preserver should be made, in order to ascertain the service which the introduction of the invention into the British army might produce. A series of experiments was accordingly made at Woolwich, with the happiest effect, in the presence of upwards of fifty officers. Among the rest, a man was selected who could not swim, carried into deep water, and left to himself. In a few minutes after, obtaining confidence, he swam across the piece of water, about ninety yards, and back, nearly as well as the best swimmer, thus decidedly proving the impossibility of being drowned, when equipped with this simple invention.

27.-Singular Incident.-Yesterday afternoon, a tremendous torrent of rain and hail, accompanied by thunder, came on at Edinburgh, which inundated some of the lower parts of the town. A remarkable and interesting occurrence took place at the foot

of the Cowgate. A crowd of boys, while amusing themselves near the common sewer, the grating of which had been taken up to give the water a free run, one of them, between seven and eight years of age, in endeavouring to save a basket, which had got into the current, was swept into its vortex, and carried down the drain. An alarm was immediately given, but the impetuosity of the current seemed to preclude all hopes of recovering him. The mother, encircled by a prodigious crowd, stood by in the greatest agony of grief. The people had begun to take the covers off the drain, and to use every exertion possible to get hold of him, when a countryman, driving a flock of lambs, came up; and learning the circumstance, borrowed an umbrella from one of the bystanders, and descended into the sewer. The boy, most providentially, had recovered himself while in the sewer, and, attracted by the voice of the countryman, laid hold on the hooked end of the umbrella, by which he was drawn towards his deliverer, who produced him alive to the overjoyed mother and the astonished spectators, after he had been upwards of twenty minutes in the

sewer.

Shooting. The Earl of Fife has been entertaining a party of gentlemen at his shooting lodge, in Mar Forest. The party consisted of General Duff, Sir John Hope, Mr Heathcote, Mr H. Heathcote, Sir Richard Sutton, Mr Hay, and Mr Balfour. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, it having rained almost incessantly, the list of slaughter during the first week, besides the red deer, roes, and ptarmigan, amounted to 821 brace of grouse; a number, we believe, unparalleled in the annals of sporting.

On Monday forenoon, a boat with twelve men, going off to a cutter in Leith Roads, was upset when about half way by a sudden squall. The accident was observed from the shore and from some vessels at anchor, and boats were instantly despatched, and reached it in time to save the whole of the crew, some of whom could not have kept up many minutes longer. In the af ternoon it blew a heavy gale from the eastward, during which a boat, with two men, from Leith, endeavouring to make Newhaven pier, was driven among the rocks to leeward, and soon filled with water. boat from Newhaven attempted their relief, but could not come near from the heavy

sea.

A

Several people from the shore then attempted their rescue; and wading into the water, linked by each other, the tallest of them got near enough to throw a rope, by means of which the men were, with much difficulty and danger, got ashore.

Union Canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow.-The state of the subscription for this work is now such as to enable the committee of management to assure the public that the work will commence as soon as the lateness of the harvest will permit the

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levels to be renewed, and the ground staked out. The surface plan of the country is already more than half completed, and the other preliminary steps are also in progress, so that there is now no doubt of the Canal being begun this winter.

The first meeting of the Union Canal Company was held on the 5th instant in M'Ewan's rooms, Royal Exchange, pursuant to act of parliament,-Robert Downie, Esq. of Appin, in the chair. Mr George Moncrieff was chosen clerk by a great majority, and Mr Hugh Baird was unanimously elected engineer; after which a committee was appointed to conduct the concerns of the Company. The meeting

was numerous,

Salmon Fishing.-Last week the Scotscraig fishings on the Tay were let, by public sale, at £1105 Sterling per annum-to be fished by net and coble. This rent,

though regarded as very considerable, is but about one half of what the same fishings formerly brought when under the improvement of stake-nets.

Edinburgh.The causewaying of our streets with blocks of cast-iron, as has been lately done in London, appears to be in contemplation, as we observe a part of North College Street laid with this material by way of experiment.

So daring have the juvenile depredators of this city become, that they actually scale the walls of the Castle in search of plunder. A quantity of clothes, laid out by a sergeant's wife to dry, near the Sally-port guard, were lately carried off. The fortmajor's servant saw two boys taking away clothes from the Sally-port, who, upon his calling to them, hid them among some nettles, and after descending from the rock, ran off in the direction of Frederick Street.

APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS, &c.

I. CIVIL.

July 1-Knighthood conferred on John Evans, Esq. High Sheriff of Middlesex.

16. The Duke of Wellington granted the royal license to wear the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Sicilian Military Order of St Ferdinand and of Merit, and also of a Knight of the Royal Sicilian Order of St Januarius, given by the King of the Two Sicilies.

30.-Mr Planta to be Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, vice Mr Cooke, resigned.

Aug. 2.-The Prince Regent has, by letters patent, authorised Lord Bathurst to exercise all the rights and privileges belonging to a Knight of the Garter, as fully as if he had been formally installed.

16. The Hon. William Maule, Admiral of the coast from Broughty Castle to the Tod Head, has appointed James Burnes, writer in Montrose, his deputy.

25.-Lieut.-General Francis Thomas Hammond, to be Chief Equerry to the Prince Regent, and Clerk Marshall of the Stables, vice Sir Benjamin Bloomfield, promoted.

II. ECCLESIASTICAL.

Aug. 8.-His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased to appoint the Rev. Lewis Rose to be minister of the church and parish of Nigg, presbytery of Tain, vacant by the death of Mr Alexander Macadam.

12. The Prince Regent has been pleased to ap point the Rev. James Thomson, jun. to be Assistant and Successor to the Rev. James Thomson, sen. as minister in the parish of Rerrick, in the presbytery of Kirkcudbright.

Oxford, Aug. 16.-Friday se'enight, the Bishop of Oxford was admitted Warden of all Souls' College, with the usual ceremonies, in the room of the Rev. Edmund Isham, D.D. deceased.

At a private Ordination, holden by the Lord Bishop of Kildare, Thomas Grantham, M. A. fellow of Magdalen College, was ordained a Deacon.

18. The Rev. George Rous, to the rectory of Laverton, Somerset.

Sunday se'enight the following gentlemen were ordained in the parish church at Kendal, Westmoreland, by the Bishop of Chester.

Deacons. John Wm. Trevor, B. A. St John's College; Robert Brade Brocklebank, B. A. and John William Sinclair, B. A. of Trinity College, Cambridge; Henry Richardson, John Master Waller, Jeffery Hebdon, James Hayes, Joseph Docker, and Humphrey Brown, Literates.

Priests-John Thomas Bowe, B. A. Richard Moore, A.M. Christopher Barnes, Wm Rigg, John Douglas, Literates.

22.The Most Noble the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford have been pleased to make the following presentations:

The Rev. Alexander Macpherson to the parish of Golspie, vacant by the death of the late Mr Keith.

The Rev. Angus Kennedy to the parish of Dornoch, vacant by the death of the late Dr Bethune. The Rev. Duncan Macgillivray to the parish of Lairg, vacant by the translation of Mr Kennedy.

The Rev. Hugh Mackenzie to the parish of Assynt, vacant by the translation of Mr Macgillivray.

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III. MILITARY.

Brevet Major W. M. Leake, R. Art. to be Lieut.Colonel in the Army 4th June 1813

4 D.G. Cornet N. L. Beamish, to be Lieut. by purch. vice Berridge, ret. 31st July 1817 Cornet Wm Locke, to be Lieut. vice Christie, prom.

5

John Gardiner, to be Cornet, vice Watson, prom.

Francis Westenra, to be Cornet,

vice Locke

10th do.

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Assist. Surg. D. M'Gregor, to be Ass. Surg. vice Speer, ret. upon h. p. 56 F. 10th do.

4 Dr. Cornet B. Coney, to be Lieut. by purch.

10

Rev. -Winnington, to the vicarage of Cliftonupon-Teame, Herefordshire.

Rev. F. S. Wall, to the vicarage of Stoke, St Milbro', Salop.

13

Rev. James Sparrow, to the rectory of Hemlock, Devon.

The Rev. George Frederick Tavel, A. M. to the rectory of Campsey Ash, in Suffolk.

vice Gregory, 53 F.

Thomas Harrison, to be Cernet, vice Cazalet, 6 Dr.

Arthur Sullivan, to be Cornet,

vice Coney

John Trollope, to be Cornet, by Brown, retires

Lieut. Geo. Doherty, to be Capt. vice Holmes, retires

Cornet John Hall, from 19 Dr. to by purch. vice Mill, prom. Cornet J. Atherton, to be Lieut. vice Dolferty

John Pott, to be Cornet, by
Atherton

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