Murmura mortales non imitata sonos ? [April, Who smote the erown'd Master of millions of foes, And sent him back friendless in flight! Then lose not the moment, ye sons of the brave, Who died on Thermopyla's shore, And so well were aveng'd upon Salamis' wave, All redden'd with proud Persia's gore. Oh list to the spirits, the glorious and grand! Who call you from mountain and plain, 'Tis the sage and the hero who once rul'd the land Where tyrants ingloriously reign. Look round on the tombs of your fathers, whose fame, Quis gemuit? certè gemitus fuit-occupat Should teach you to give to your country a In the bright page of History told, horror Pectora; vox imo est visa sonare solo. Nunc tamen æthereas sonitus surrexit in auras, Fallor? an arboreis vox venit illa comis; Undique vox reboat; volat hinc, volat inde vicissim, [sonat. Inde tacet? sonat bine; hinc tacet? inde Nunc summos inter crines, ut musca, su[fremit. surrat, Nunc procul, immanis ceu fremit ursa, Terreor; at tanti quæ sit terroris origo, Nescio; vox talis dic, comes, unde venit? Stulte, quid irrides? non hæc est hora jocandi, Nunc prece, non risu res eget ista tuo. Mene meæ fallunt aures? tua voxne sonabat? [habes? Lingua silet, linguam num, comes, intus Intus habere inquis? vix est quod credere possim, Lingua tacet; vox a ventre diserta venit. Jam nec Agenoreæ celebrent Amphiona Theba, Jam nec Arioniam Lesbia terra lyram, Nam cantator adest, qui vincit Ariona voce, Quique tuas superat, Thrax citharæde, fides. Donec, Alexander, vivis tu, Gallice, frustra Jactet Alexandrum regia Pella suum. Scilicet, O miræ præses mirabilis artis Nomen idem retines, nec tibi fama minor. TO GREECE. OH Freedom! how grand would thy triumph be now, After ages of sorrow and gloom, Should the laurel of Greece be replac'd on thy brow, Renew'd in its brightness and bloom. How glorious thy worship again would arise, O'er the thoughts and the spirits of men, Did thy altar blaze forth beneath Athens' clear skies, And Sparta adore thee again. NOUGHT to sleep can me dispose, Sweet yet be my love's repose. Gently lull his cares to rest, Calm the tumults of his breast; Gayest scenes of bliss inspire, Sparkling bright with Fancy's fire: Yet O let not Edwin know Half my sufferings, half my woe! Half the hours from sleep I borrow, Then lose not the moment, ye children of To bestow on silent sorrow! those Who conquer'd in Salamis' fight, A BELLE OF THE OLD SCHOOL. HISTO [ 359 ] HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 20. Mr. Curwen brought forward a motion for laying a duty on imported tallow, and removing the duty on candles. He stated that the measure he intended to propose would tend to relieve the agriculturist, without adding the least burden to the consumer. His object was to afford a further relief to the agricultural interest by increasing the value of cattle. Mr. Curwen said, that one-third of the tallow consumed in England is derived from abroad. The proportion of this foreign tallow furnished by Russia is said to be 19-20ths. A small duty of 21. per ton is levied on the exportation by the Russian Government. It is not from any want of supply that Europe and America at present furnish us with only one-twentieth, but because they cannot furnish more at the present rate. The Russian tallow is furnished at nearly as low a rate as possible. The effect of imposing a high duty per ton would be the raising the price of foreign tallow by the amount of this duty, and consequently raising the English tallow to the level of the foreign. To obviate this, Mr. Curwen proposed to take off the tax on candles.-Mr. Robinson replied to Mr. Curwen; and contended that the reduction of the Tax on candles would not relieve the consumer from a great part of the duty on imported tallow, while the relief to the agriculturist would be only three shillings in the value of an ox, a matter of no comparative importance. He added, that an advocate of the measure (he did not allude to the mover) was greatly interested in its success.-The Motion was rejected without a division. The remainder of the evening was chiefly occupied with the further consideration of the Army Estimates. March 22. A Petition, with 4820 signatures, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was presented by Mr. Lambton. It prayed for a remission of Mr. Hunt's punishment, and for Parliamentary Reform; stating that the petitioners viewed with alarm and regret the corruptions which had crept into the House of Commons. The House refused to receive the Petition, by a majority of 123 to 22. The House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply; when the Army and Navy Estimates occupied its attention for the remainder of the evening, March 25. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the order of the day that the House resolve itself into a Committee of Supply. After some discussion on the Ordnance Estimates, the House divided on a motion of Mr. Hume's, that a reduction of 10,000l. should be made in that department. This amendment was rejected by a majority of 65. The various Estimates were then voted. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 26. This evening Lord King moved for a farther reduction of the Civil List. His Lordship spoke in becoming terms of approbation of his Majesty's princely sacrifice to the distresses of the country; but he contended that, in the diplomatic department of the Civil List, there still remained a wide field for retrenchment. In proof of this assertion, he brought forward a comparative statement of the diplomatic expense of the country in 1791 and 1821, from which is appeared, that the nation paid to Ambassadors of various orders about 58,000l. more in the latter than in the former year; and Lord this, notwithstanding that the number of these had been diminished by two. King adverted particularly to the appointment of Lord Clancarty, and in conclusion observed, that the vast expenditure in this department was employed merely as a source of Parliamentary influence.-Lord Liverpool replied, in the first place, that the expenditure of the Civil List was no proper subject of Parliamentary investigation, so long as the Government confined it within the limits fixed by Parliament. The increased allowances to Foreign Ministers he justified upon the grounds of the increased expence of living abroad, and the necessity of employing ambassadors of the highest rank and talents, which arose out of the present relative condition of Great Britain with the States of Europe; the appointment of Lord Clancarty he explained to have become necessary from the altered condition of Holland and Flanders.-Lord Holland supported the motion, but admitted the propriety of an Ambassador at the Belgian Court; and Lord Ellenborough opposed it on the ground that great part of the allowance to Ambassadors was but an expenditure of secret service money. The motion was rejected. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 27. 360 Proceedings in the present Session of Parliament. Delivery in the year, intervening between the Summer and the Spring Assizes. The Petition sketched a plan by which the petitioners professed to think that the measure might be effected without inconvenience. Mr. Peel objected to some of the details of this plan, but declared that Government was then bestowing its most serious consideration upon the subject, with a resolution to have a third Gaol Delivery. Dr. Phillimore obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Marriage Act. His first amendment was, that in all cases where consent was required by the existing law, it should be competent to the parents and guardians of the several parties to impeach the marriage during the minority of those parties. With regard to marriage by bans, where they had been solemnized in parishes where the parties had not resided for the last fortnight, they might, according to a further amendment, be set aside by suit of parents and guardians. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 29. A Bill was passed through all its stages (the Standing Orders being suspended for that purpose) the object of which was to reduce the number of Lords of the Admiralty necessary to make a quorum from three to two, in consequence of the abolition of the two junior Lords. Viscount Melville assured the House on this occasion, that the abolition of these Offices would not only impede the public business, but would be productive of additional expense. The same Bill afterwards passed the Commons. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, the same day, Mr. Canning gave notice of a very important motion, which he fixed for the 30th of April, and to which he particularly called the attention of his Majesty's Attorney General for Ireland, Mr. Plunkett. The Right Honourable Gentleman prefaced his notice by reminding the House, that when the Catholic question was last year under discusssion, he expressed his determination, in case the Bill should ultimately fail, to propose a partial measure for the relief of Catholic Peers. He now intended to redeem that pledge, and without wishing to interfere with the general question entrusted to Mr. Plunkett (with whose views he was unacquainted), should, on the above day, move the repeal of that part of the 30th Chas. II. which prevented Catholic Peers from sitting and voting in the House of Lords. Mr. Canning further stated, that up to that moment the noble personages most interested knew nothing whatever of his instituting this measure. So pointed a reference to Mr. Plunkett necessarily drew from that Right Hon. Gentleman a few observations explanatory of the course he was now pursuing with respect to the petition entrusted to him by the Irish Catholics. [April, After expressing his hearty concurrence in the measure proposed by Mr. Canning, he said, that whether he should bring the subject of emancipation forward during this Session, or postpone it till the beginning of the next, altogether depended upon the moral certainty or uncertainty of immediately carrying it. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 1. Mr. Gooch presented the Agricultural Report to the House. Several questions were put with a view to obtain possession of the leading features of this production; but nothing could be elicited either from Mr. Gooch or Lord Londonderry, who gave notice of the motion for the 21st of April. His Lordship wished to protect the Report "from that premature publicity which often led to erroneous impressions.' From its conciseness, he said it might be printed and circulated in 48 hours. April 3. Mr. Calvert presented a petition from 1000 of his constituents, complaining of the enormous fees taken in the Court of Requests for Southwark.-Mr. W. Smith presented several petitions from Unitarians for an alteration in the Marriage Ritual. Mr. J. Benett presented a petition from certain agriculturists in Wiltshire, complaining of distress. He said it was only by the removal of taxation that the English farmer could compete with the grower of foreign corn. The Agricultural Report would produce universal disappointment.—Mr. Ellis said, that the Committee had been appointed only to amuse the agriculturists, whilst Ministers got through the public business of the Session. The only object to which the Committee looked was to enhance the price of corn. The causes of the existing distresses were passed over without any investigation. Mr. Western thought the Committee egregiously mistaken in one of their remedies, namely, the scale of duties proposed as to foreign corn. It would only increase dissatisfaction and dismay among the farmers. All the distress of the country originated in the measure of 1797, and was completed by the Act of 1819, which attempted to convert our depreciated currency, of 22 years' accumulation, into the standard of 1797. Mr. Wynn, with the leave of the House, brought in a Bill for the regulation of the election of the Knights of the Shire for the county of York. There are to be two Members for the West Riding, and one for each of the other Ridings. The Bill was read a first time. The House was then adjourned to the 17th instant. April 17. Mr. Tierney presented a petition from the land-owners and agriculturists of 1822.] Foreign News. 361 chequer proposed the appointment of a Committee for devising the mode of keeping the Public Accounts in an intelligible manner. At present no one could tell the real amount either of the Income or the Expenditure, or of any branch of them. The Right Hon. Gent. concluded by mov of Maidenhead, in Berkshire, praying for a speedy change of regulations in the mode and manner of licensing public houses. The petitioners (the Right Hon. Gent. said) complained of the bad quality and needlessly high price of malt liquors; both those circumstances having a tendency, as they conceived, to depress the agricultural interesting, "That a select Committee be appointed by diminishing the consumption of malt. After some remarks from Mr. Bennet and Mr. Brougham on the abuse of the Licensing System, the petition was read, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Brougham presented a petition from the Unitarian Dissenters of Kendal, in Westmoreland, complaining that certain parts of the provisions of the Marriage Act pressed on their consciences, and praying to be placed upon the same footing in that respect with the Jews and Quakers in England, and with the Unitarian Dissenters in Scotland and Ireland. A number of Petitions were also presented from various places for the like object. April 18. The Chancellor of the Ex FRANCE. FOREIGN A violent affray took place at Valenciennes on the 18th of March between parties of the 3d regt. of Horse Chasseurs and the 2d regt. of Infantry. It originated in a dispute at a tavern; after an encounter with fists, each side separated to procure sabres, and a serious conflict ensued. The police, aided by their officers and the patrole detachments, succeeded in compelling the combatants to retire to their respective barracks. About 12 were severely wounded. Paris papers give some interesting details of the alarming plot at Rochelle. In the night of the 19th of March information was obtained of a plot formed by some of the subaltern officers of the 45th of the Line. The Prefect, the General, the King's Lieutenant and Attorney met at the Palais de Justice. At the same time the Colonel repaired to the barracks with some officers. He put under arms a company of Grenadiers of tried fidelity, and proceeded to call over the subaltern officers, and to visit their chambers. Twelve were first arrested, and on examining their beds, there were found a great number of daggers and pistols. The twelve arrested were sent with a strong escort to the Palais de Justice, where they underwent a long examination. They were sent to prison, and all communication with them prohibited. A report has been made in the Chamber of Deputies, on Mr. Loveday's petition. It condemned Mr. Loveday's conduct in endeavouring to controul the religious sentiments of his daughter, after she became of age, and recommended that the GENT. MAG. April, 1822. to consider of the best mode of simplifying the accounts annually laid before the Houses of Lords and Commons, relative to the public income and expenditure, the national debt, and the trade and navigation of the United Kingdom." Mr. Maberly said, the errors which were manifest on the face of the public accounts rendered it necessary that a thorough revision of the system should take place.-The Committee were then appointed. Amongst the names were those of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Baring, Lord Palmerston, Sir J. Newport, Hon. F. Robinson, Mr. Bankes, Mr. P. Courtenay, and Mr. J. Martin. NEWS. petition should be disposed of by passing to the order of the day, which course, after a debate of some length, was adopted. M. Girardin made some very severe, and we believe well-merited, remarks on the scandalous practice pursued by the French Post Office, of opening private letters. This dishonourable, immoral, and impolitic task, has beeen performed with equal diligence under the old and the revolutionary regime of France, under the usurpation of Buonaparte, and the monarchy of Louis XVIII. There are now, according to M. Girardin, above thirty officers employed in the business of breaking open, deciphering where necessary, forging seals, and re-en-, closing letters, under the immediate inspec-" tion of the Director General of Posts.' While part of the correspondence is thus violated, another portion is suppressed; and one of the first benefits of a civilized community, that of maintaining the intercourse of its separated members, is turned into the treacherous instrument of a prying and vindictive police. The effect of this on the. character of the Government, as well as, when it becomes notorious, on the national character itself, it would not be difficult to imagine. M. Villele made but a feeble defence, consisting merely of assurances, that so long as he had been in office, he never heard this creditable expedient spoken of in the Council Chamber as one among the resources of Administration. things find numerous opponents, and discord has extended in several instances to the shedding of blood. The Priests are the chief agents in exciting hatred of the revolution; and their power is well known over an ignorant race, as a great part of the Spanish population may be considered. A new band of disaffected Spaniards has been formed in Catalonia, on the frontiers of France. One Misas and some persons escaped from the prisons of Gironne are the leaders. The first affair of this new division of the Army of Faith has not had a favourable issue. The militia have beat it, and made seven prisoners. But it appears to have taken revenge on a defenceless Italian refugee who has fallen into the hands of the Insurgents. Fears are entertained for the life of this unfortunate man. GERMANY. The foreign journals are full of accounts of preparations for the reception of the King of England in various parts of the Continent, especially Germany. The sports and pastimes in preparation by the Emperor of Austria, are reported to be on a scale of uncommon magnificence: all the petty Princes and inferior Kings in Germany will assist at these banquets. His Majesty has promised to visit the Principality of Esterhazy, in Hungary, and return by way of Prague, Toplitz, and Dresden. Should the state of the road permit, he will go from thence to Berlin, and take Hanover on his way home. Paris is included in the tour, but in what stage of it is not yet determined. Accounts from Mecklenburg state, that a discovery has been made of an Association, who call themselves the Black Brothers. At Schwerin, on the 17th of February, three placards were seized, which bore the signatures of Romulus the daring, and Brutus the furious. On the following day, a reward of fifty crowns was offered for the discovery of the authors. TURKEY. The long-agitated question of peace or war between Turkey and Russia we may now consider as all but resolved. According to advices from Constantinople, dated 6th ult. the Divan solemnly assembled on 28th Feb. to take into consideration the note of the Ambassadors: when the assembly unanimously resolved, that the propositions contained in the Russian ultimatum were of a nature which never could be accepted.-Repeated interviews took place between Lord Strangford and the Reis Effendi, which terminated abruptly; and on the 3d ult. a note was delivered to the English and Austrian Ambassadors, which recites a number of hostile circumventions on the part of Russia; and particularly as respects Ypsilanti, who, it states, had seized the public coffers, put to death the Mussulman merchants established in Wallachia, and posted proclama [April, tions exciting the subjects of the Porte to insurrection, and promising them the aid of Russia." The note concludes thus: "Finally, it is not for the Porte to send Commissioners to the frontiers to negociate peace-she is not at war with Russia, notwithstanding all the provocations, and if the Muscovite armies shall begin hostilities, she has taken measures to repel them." On the 10th ultimo, Lord Strangford and the Austrian Internuncio presented another note; and it is reported that these representations were accompanied by a note from the French Minister, M. Latour Maubourg, who earnestly invited the Turkish Government not to rekindle those flames of war which had raged so long, and which had been so recently extinguished. The joint note pressed the withdrawing the Ottoman troops from Wallachia and Moldavia. These Notes the Divan consented to take into consideration, and couriers were forthwith sent off to the Austrian Government had been opened to negociation, and that with dispatches, stating that another door hopes were again indulged that the peace of Europe might yet be preserved. Vienna, mention one important concession Letters, dated 8th April, received from made by the Turkish Government, viz. the immediate withdrawing of the troops from Wallachia and Moldavia: but its value is in some degree lessened by new difficulties which have arisen in determining the treatment of the Greeks, a point on which the Divan is extremely irritable, and the demands of Russia difficult to satisfy. The Austrian Government, in its character of mediator, has applied itself actively to heal the breach threatened from this cause. A project has been drawn up, copies of which have been transmitted both to the Emperor of Russia and to the Turkish Government, for determining under what regulations the Government of the Greeks shall be administered. Constantinople is now as light at night as in the day time, on account of the fires of the bivouacs, which fill the city and the environs. This great city resembles a vast camp, and the hopes of making war on the accursed Ghaurs (the Russians), and of enriching themselves by pillage, excites in all the Musselmen extraordinary joy and enthusiasm. Their religious zeal, which has been rather less vehement for some years past, has now resumed all its impetuosity, and the people are more fanatical than ever. According to news from Greece received at Marseilles on the 16th of March, the Congress of Peloponnesus has resolved that representatives shall be sent to the different Courts of Europe, to obtain a recognition of the independence of Greece. RUSSIA. A letter from Petersburgh, dated March 15, gives the following details of two vol canoes |