Cannibalism of the New Zealanders.We extract the following piece of interesting news from the last number of the Asiatic Journal:-for Mr. Leigh's existence, we cannot vouch,-far less for the authenticity of his story, but such as we have it, we give it-quoting our authority. The Rev. Samuel Leigh, a missionary lately returned from New South Wales, resided at New Zealand about six weeks, just before he sailed for England. He gives a melancholy picture of these cannibals; but, notwithstanding their almost incredible ferocity, it seems that they are remarkably ingenious, and enterprising, and discover a surprising willingness to receive instruction. Among numerous facts related by Mr. Leigh, respecting the New Zealander, we subjoin the following:-One day, while Mr. Leigh was walking on the beach, conversing with a native chief, his attention was arrested by a great number of people on a neighbouring hill. He inquired the cause of such a concourse, and being told that they were roasting a lad, and had assembled to eat him, he immediately proceeded to the place, in order to ascertain the truth of this appalling relation. Being arrived at the village where the people were collected, he asked to see the boy. The natives appeared much agitated at his presence, and particularly at his request, as if conscious of their guilt; and it was only after a very urgent solicitation that they directed him towards a large fire at some distance, where they said he would find him. As he was going to this place he passed by the bloody spot on which the head of this unhappy victim had been cut off; and on approaching the fire, he was not a little startled at the sudden appearance of a savage looking man, of gigantic stature, entirely naked, and armed with an axe. Mr. Leigh, though somewhat intimidated, manifested no symptoms of fear, but boldly demanded to see the lad. The cook, for such was the occupation of this terrific monster, then held him up by his feet. He appeared to be about fourteen years of age, and was about half roasted. Mr. Leigh returned to the village, where he found several hundreds of the natives seated in a circle, with a quantity of coomery, (a sort of sweet potatoe) before them, and waiting for the roasted body of the youth. In this company were shewn to him the parents of the child, expecting to share in the horrid feast. After reasoning with them for about half an hour on the inhumanity and wickedness of their conduct, he prevailed on them to give up the boy to be interred, and thus prevented them from performing the most cruel, unnatural, and diabolical act of which human nature is capable." The Emperor of China's Chair Broken. -The Emperor, whilst returning from sacrificing at the tombs of his ancestors, be ing about to pass over the Ma-kwan bridge, had nearly met with a serious accident: a footman belonging to one of the officers in his train led a horse directly against his majesty's chair, which was in consequence broken. The emperor exclaimed against this impropriety, and ordered the officer to leave his retinue, fining him in half-a-year's income. Wang-shin, his footman, was taken into custody, and delivered over to the tribunal of punishments for correction. Discovery Ships.-The following letter from Lieutenant Wm. Edward Parry, commanding his Majesty's ship Hecla, (lately employed with the Griper gun brig on a voyage of discovery in the Arctic Seas,) to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated his Majesty's ship Hecla, west coast of Davis' Straits, lat. 76 deg. 41 m. long. 69. deg. 17 m. W. Sept. 5, 1820, has appeared in the London Gazette of Nov. 4 : SIR, I avail myself of an unexpected opportunity by the Lee of Hull, whaler, to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that his Majesty's ships, under my orders, succeeded in discovering a passage through Lancaster Sound into the Polar Sea, and penetrated, during the summer of 1819, as far as the longitude of 1124 deg. west of Greenwich, between the parallels of 74 deg. and 75 deg. north latitude. In this space twelve Islands have been discovered, and named the Islands of New Georgia, in honour of his Majesty. The expedition wintered in a harbour on the south side of the largest of these islands, (called Melville Island,) in lat. 74 deg. 47: m. N., and long. 110. deg. 47 m. W. and proceeded to the westward immediately on the breaking up of the ice at the commencement of the present season, the ships being in perfect condition, the officers and men in excellent health, and with every prospect of the final accomplishment of our enterprise. At the S. W. end of Melville Island, however, the quantity and magnitude of the ice was found to increase so much, that for 16 days (being above one-third of the whole navigable season, in that part of the Polar Sea) it was found impossible to penetrate to the westward beyond the meridian of 113 deg. 47 min. W. In order, therefore, that no time might be lost, I determined to try what could be done in a more southern latitude, and for that purpose ran back along the edge of the ice which had hitherto formed a continuous barrier to the south of us, in order to look out for any opening which might favour the plan I had in view. In this endeavour I was also disappointed, and the season being so far advanced as to make it a matter of question whether, with the remaining resources, the object of the enterprise could be persevered in with any hope of success, I consulted the principal officers of the expedition, who were unanimously of opinion that nothing now could be done, and that it was on that account advisable to return to England. In this opinion it was impossible for me, under existing circumstances, not to concur, and I trust that a detailed account of our proceedings, which I shall shortly have the honour to lay before their Lordships, will prove highly satisfactory, and that, though our exertions have not been crowned with complete success, they will not be found discreditable to the naval honour of our country. I beg you will be pleased to acquaint their Lordships, that having proposed to survey the west coast of Davis' Straits previous to my return, and being desirous of losing as little as possible of the remaining part of the present season, which is fa vourable for the navigation of these seas, I have not considered it right to detain the expedition, for the purpose of transmitting by the Lee a more full account of this voyage. I shall only therefore add, that, having accomplished the object now in view, I hope to reach England by the first week in November. I have the honour to be, &c. W. E. PARRY, Lieut. and Commander. Lieutenant Parry, accompanied by Captain Sabine, of the Royal Artillery, attached to the expedition, arrived at the Admiralty Office on the 4th of November. Lieutenant Parry states that the officers and men of both vessels passed the winter without any considerable inconvenience, notwithstanding the intense cold, (the ther mometer having been so low as 35 deg. below zero,) and that only one man was lost, who died of a chronic disease of the heart. POLITICS AND PUBLIC EVENTS. HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE. THOUGH Our readers might not be prepared to expect, from the tenor of our last month's political remarks, that the Bill against the Queen would be thrown out by the Lords, they would nevertheless, we think, be inclined to regard such an event a desirable one. It has happened, after three days of strenuous debate; in which the speech of Lord Grey in her favour seems to have attracted the greatest degree of respect. Ministers carried the Bill even through the third reading; but the small majority of twenty-seven by which the second reading was carried, being reduced to the very inconsiderable one of nine, when the third reading was put, to the vote, Ministers very properly abandoned the measure altogether, by moving that the Bill do pass that day six months-which was carried without a division. "Those who avowed themselves her prosecutors have presumed to sit in judgment on the question between the Queen and themselves. Peers have given their voices against her, who had heard the whole evidence for the charge, and absented themselves during her defence," "Others have come to the discussion from the Secret Committee, with minds biassed by a mass of slanders, which her enemies have not dared to bring forward to the light. On the 7th November, with reference to the second reading, Lord Dacre presented the following Protest of her Majesty against the decision of their Lordships. PROTEST. "CAROLINA REGINA. “To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament assembled. "The Queen has learned the decision of the Lords upon the Bill now before them. In the face of Parliament, of her family, and of her country, she does solemnly protest against it. "The Queen does not avail herself of her right to appear before the committee, for to her the details of the measure must be a matter of indifference; and, unless should bring the bill before the other the course of these unexampled proceedings no reference whatever to the treatment exbranch of the Legislature, she will make perienced by. her during the last twentyfive years. "She now most deliberately, and before God, asserts, that she is wholly innocent of the crime laid to her charge, and she awaits with unabated confidence the final result of this unparalleled investigation. (Signed) "CAROLINA REGINA." Lord Lauderdale and several other Noble Lords remarked on this protest, as a violent attack upon the character of the House; but after ceive it and record it upon the joursome discussion, it was agreed to renals, as the address of her Majesty, containing what she had further to say in her defence. The Report of what took place in. Parliament on this remarkable occa Majority 108 99 9 The declaration of the numbers was received with the loudest cheers from the Opposition Benches. Strangers were not re-admitted into the House, but we understand, before the question was put, that the Bill do pass, or before any of the amendments which had been promised on the third reading were proposed, Lord Dacre and the Earl of Liverpool rose together. Lord Dacre had a paper in his hand, which was understood to be a Protest from the Queen against the proceedings.-There were loud cries of "Lord Liverpool." The Earl of Liverpool then said, that feeling convinced as he did, of the guilt of the Queen, of the importance of the measure before the House, and of the anxiety of the country for some division on it, he should, if the majority on the third had been the same as on the second reading, have deemed it his duty to press the Bill through the remaining stage. As, however, there was not the same, but a much smaller majority, he thought it fit now to move, that the further consideration of the Bill be postponed to this day six months (loud shouts of hear, hear!) As soon as silence was obtained, The Duke of Montrose rose and said, that he had given his vote on the third reading of the Bill, in the clearest and most conscientious conviction of the Queen's guilt. He should, therefore, oppose the motion of the Noble Earl. Earl Grey reprobated, in the most eloquent and forcible terms, the disgraceful manner in which his Majesty's Ministers had persevered in so disgraceful and so disgusting a proceeding; derogatory, as they had even themselves admitted in the House of Commons, to the dignity of the Crown, and injurious to the best interests of the country. The independent part of the House had rescued its character from the impending shame and degradation, leaving its authors in possession of only their own votes, as the prosecutors of the charge they had preferred. How they were to answer for their conduct to the country, it would be now for themselves to consider. Lord Erskine then said, that he could not find words to express the delight he felt at the destruction of the Bill now expiring before them, and in the consequent renovation of the law, in the administration of which he had spent his life; and he could not help therefore borrowing from the VOL. II. eloquent Hooker, speaking of law, from the uniformity of its character a stranger to there can be no less acknowledged than that such anomalies as the present:-" Of law her seat is the bosom of God; her voice the harmony of the world; all things in hea ven and earth do her homage; the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power. Both angels and men, and creatures of what con dition soever, though each in different sort and manner, yet all with one consent admiring her as the mother of their joy and peace."-May the pure and uniform system of law be never more disturbed! The question was then put by the Lord Chancellor, that the Bill be read this day six months, which was carried without a division. Loud cheers resounded throughout the House. The Earl of Liverpool then moved that the House do adjourn to the 23d instant, which was agreed to.-Adjourned. The fied his intention to withdraw the Bill, the When the Earl of Liverpool had signiintelligence was immediately communicated to the strangers in the lobby, who could not be restrained from testifying their joy by the loudest shouts. The strangers immediately rushed out into Old Palace-yard, where her Majesty was just at that mojoy manifested by the people who had asment stepping into her carriage. sembled to witness her Majesty's departure when the fate of the Bill was made known is indescribable. The effect of the shouts and congratulations of the people was heightened by the royal salute from the drums of the soldiers on duty. These brave fellows showed by their countenances that they were not behind the rest of their countrymen in exultation, and when they piled their arms after the Queen's carriage had passed, they added their shouts to those their comrades who were drawn forth by of the multitude, while they explained to the noise, the destruction of "THE BILL." Daily Papers. `A most prodigious sensation was caused by the unexpected announcement of this event. It took place on Friday: on that day, and on Saturday and Monday, illuminations were made. On Friday riot prevailed wherever individuals refused to comply with the cry of the multitude for of the ministerial papers, felt the ef"lights." In the Strand, the offices lace. The Riot Act was read in front fects of the intemperance of the popuof the Courier Office by Mr. Minshull, one of the magistrates of Bow-street, and parties of the Life Guards continued parading along the Strand till an early hour in the morning. The 3F people, however, manifested the greatest cordiality towards the military, who, on their part, conducted themselves with the utmost propriety. On Saturday the Lord Mayor gave public notice that the Mansionhouse would be illuminated on that evening and Monday. On these oc casions, the illuminations were very general. The villages and towns round London displayed the same joy; and all the coaches arriving or de parting from the metropolis were decorated with laurel boughs, and the horses with white favours. The intelligence was received in Edinburgh on Monday, and excited a great sensation among all ranks, although the feeling was not displayed in the same public manner as in London. A few individuals, however, lighted up their windows, and at Leith the vessels in the harbour hoisted their colours, which continued floating in the wind during the whole of Monday. In Glasgow partial illuminations also took place, and the feelings of the populace were displayed by the burning of tar barrels in the streets in the evening. In whatever way the decision of the House of Peers be regarded, it is calculated, we think, to give satisfaction to the country. They who maintained that the Lords would do any thing (for such was the common expression) are proved to be wrong; while they who regard the Queen as an unfairly treated woman; as one marked out for persecution in a spirit, not of virtue, or conscientious displeasure, but of unmanly spite and licentious fancy,-they will be pleased that she should have thus: given the crown-party so signal a defeat, aided by the unconquerable support of the people. It would be idle to affect to say that the Queen's reputation as a woman is rendered unsullied and unsuspected by the abandonment of the Bill, or by the course of the inquiry. That is not the case: a very large proportion of the people of England have received strong impressions of a disagreeable nature from all that has transpired:-but it is quite demonstrable that, considering who the parties against her were, and how their measures against her have been taken, they deserved to lose the day, and the country generally has rejoiced they have done so. The pretence of a regard to morality ac tuating the prosecution is a palpably false one ;-the pretence of having ta ken the most candid course in all proceedings against her Majesty, is also false and disgusting, seeing what we have seen :-the rights of justice, the cause of manly feeling, the great principles of public example, and of the responsibility of public men, are signally vindicated in the result of this business, and would have been injured-rather than benefited,—had it taken a different turn. The Lords having come to the final decision here described, the House was adjourned to the 23d of Novem→ ber to which day the Commons had previously adjourned themselves.The object of Ministers, it was under stood, during the interval, would be to get Parliament prorogued, so as to prevent the introduction of any matter of discussion by the Members. The Queen had in the interim ap plied to Lord Liverpool for one of the royal palaces as a place of residence, to which the answer was, that the King could not, under the circumstances, make such an order ;-Lord Liverpool added, that her Majesty's pecuniary allowance would be continued to her till Parliament had regulated the footing on which she was to be placed. Her Majesty's intention to send a message to the Commons on this communication was intimated by her Counsel; but the greatest precautions were taken by Ministers, that the appearance of the Black Rod in the House at the mo ment of meeting should prevent the reception of Her Majesty's message. The following is the Report of what took place, given in the public jour nals: HOUSE OF COMMONS, Thursday, Nov. 23. The Speaker entered the house at a quarter before two. The gallery was not opened; but the following account may be relied upon : After prayers were read, the Speaker inquired if any new members were waiting to be sworn. Messrs. Lawley and Chaloner came forward, and a few minutes were occupied in administering the oaths. Mr. Mann then moved a new writ for Westbury, and Lord Ossulton for Berwick. Mr Denman then rose, about five minutes past two, with a paper in his hand, which he said was a communication from the Queen.(Loud cries of hear, hear.) 66 At the same time the Deputy Usher of the Black Rod entered the house, and advanced to the table, amidst the loudest cries for Mr. Denman." With these cries were mingled shouts of "withdraw, with draw," addressed to the Black Rod. Mr. Denman continued standing with the message in his hand, and did not for a moment give way to that officer. Not a word the Usher said was heard. His message was drowned amidst the most indignant and vehement cries of "Shame, shame," from all parts of the house. His lips moved, but no sound was audible. After this mummery the Black Rod retreated, apparently much agitated. A pause ensued, when Mr. Tierney rose, and observed that not one word of what had fallen from the De. puty Usher had been heard; and how, then, did the Speaker know what was the message, or whether he was wanted at all in the other house?-(Loud cheering, intermingled with cries of "Order" from the Treasury-bench.) The Speaker then rose, the uproar still continuing, and Mr. Bennet exclaiming, with a loud voice" this is a scandal to the country." The Speaker then proceeded down the body of the house amidst the most deafening and disconcerting cries of "shame, shame," and loud and repeated hisses. Lord Castlereagh, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a very few ministerial members, accompanied the Speaker. Lord Castlereagh followed close to him. A considerable proportion of the members remained in the house awaiting the Speaker's return; but it turned out, contrary to all precedent, that no speech had been made by the commissioners-and the Speaker did not return to the House of Commons, but went straight to his private apartments, leaving the House of Commons to collect as they could that a prorogation had actually taken place. On the Speaker's return from the House of Peers, as he was passing through the lobby, the Sergeant at Arms, who was preceding him, was, as is usual, about to enter the door of the House of Commons, when the Speaker called to him, and said, “ Mr. Seymour, there is no business to be done; therefore I cannot go into the house." The Sergeant bowed, and the Speaker passed quickly into the avenues leading to his house. Mr. Brougham had communicated, in writing, to the Speaker and Lord Castlereagh, that a Message would be delivered from the Queen. The Speaker had returned for answer, that he would take the chair at a quarter before two, although the general practice had been not to take the chair until two. The following is the Message in which Mr. Denman was stopped as he was about to read : THE QUEEN'S MESSAGE. Carolina R.The Queen thinks it proper to inform the House of Commons that she has received a communication from the King's ministers, plainly intimating an intention to prorogue the Parliament im mediately, and accompanied by an offer of money for her support, and for providing her with a residence until a new session may be holden. This offer the Queen has no hesitation i While the late extraordinary refusing. proceedings were pending, it might be fitz for her to accept the advances made for her temporary accommodation; but she natu→ rally expected that the failure of that unparalleled attempt to degrade the Royal Family would be immediately followed by submitting some permanent measure to the wisdom of Parliament-and she has felt that she could no longer, with propriety, receive from the ministers what she is well assured the liberality of the House of Commons would have granted as alike essential to the dignity of the throne, and demanded by the plainest principles of justice. If the Queen is to understand that new proceedings are meditated against her, she throws herself with unabated confidence on the representatives of the people, fully relying on their justice and wisdom to take effectual steps to protect her from the further vexation of unnecessary delay, and to provide that these unexampled persecutions may at length be brought to a close." In the House of Lords nothing took place but the usual forms of proroguing Parliament in his Majesty's name by the Lords Commissioners, who were the Lord Chancellor and Earls Liverpool and Bathurst. The clerk read the commission authorizing the prorogation from that day, Thursday Nov. 23d, to the 23d of January next. As the scene in the House of Com➡ mons was of a most unusual nature, and causes the present day to bear some analogy to the most stormy pe riods of our history, we shall give the narrative a little more particularly than it is given in the above report, and coupled with the remarks of a Journal which has distinguished itself in the discussion of the proceedings connected with this most unfortunate and disgraceful investiga◄ tion: "Her Majesty gave orders that it should be intimated to the Speaker of the House of Commons and to Lord Castlereagh, that it was her intention to send down a message to the house in the morning. It was this notifica tion, which should have commanded |