with the aggregate high court of parliament. Having exercised that right in the case of Sir F. Burdett, and determined upon the subject matter of the offence imputed to him, no inferior court could take cognizance of that determination. In every view he took of the case, he had no hesitation in conscientiously decla ring, that this action could not be mamtained in any court of inferior jurisdiction. In this sentiment he was joined by Mr. Justice Grose and Mr. Justice Bailey. Judgment for the defendant.-There is, therefore an end to this action. MR. DRAKARD'S SENTENCE IN THE COURT OF KING'S BENCH. The Attorney-General moved the judgment of the court, on May 9, on John Drakard for a libel. The defendant having appeared at the bar, Mr. Justice Bailey, read the notes of the case, which was tried under a criminal information filed by the Attorney-General, before Mr. Baron Wood and a Lincolnshire special jury, when the defendant was found guilty. Our readers are already acquainted with the nature of the publication, which was an article of considerable length inserted in the Stamford News, of which the defendant is printer, publisher, and sole proprietor, on the subject of corporal punishments in the army, and for copying of which article, with the exception of a few paragraphs, into the Sunday paper called the Examiner, Mr. Hunt, the printer and proprietor of that was also tried by criminal information, at the sittings after last term, in Middlesex, before Lord Ellenborough and a special jury, and found NOT GUILTY. paper, An affidavit of the defendant's was read by his counsel, Mr. Brougham, in which he proved by various references to his paper his hostility to the French government, and his constitutional principles: The Attorney-General replied, when Lord Ellenborough ordered the defendant to be committed to the King's Bench, and brought up for judgment on the 24th. He Mr. Justice Grose proceeded to pronounce the sentence of the court on the defendant in this case. was brought up to receive the judgment of the court for a libel, as plain and clear as could well be imagined; going, as it did, to im pute to the military system of the country, improper and cruel methods of punishment, thereby to excite disaffection and disgust among those already engaged in the service of the army, and such a horror of its barbarity, as would prevent others from embarking in it. The court had heard and read his affidavit with surprise, seeing that in it the defendant professed to hold in admiration, the British constitution, and to regard it as affording blessings which no other nation enjoyed. Such sentiments seemed utterly inconsistent with the tenor of the libel in question. The defendant seemed to think that the fact of his having in other parts of his publication, held up the ruler of France to execration and horror, should operate as an excuse for him on the present occasion. The court could not allow, however, that it should serve as a mitigation of a libel against any part of the government of this country, that the author of it had libelled the enemy also! In the circumstances of the case the sentence of the court was, that the defendant do pay a fine of 2001. to the, King, be imprisoned in the castle of Lincoln for 18 months, and at the expiry of that period, do enter into recognizances to keep the peace for three years, himself in 4001. and two sureties in 2001. each, and be afterwards imprisoned till such fine be paid and sureties found. LANCASTERIAN MEETING. A numerous and highly respectable meeting of the friends to the royal Lancasterian system for the education of the poor, was held on Saturday the 11th inst. at the Freemasons' Tavern, at which were pre sent the Dukes of Kent, Sussex, and Bedford; the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Keith, Sir S. Romilly, and several other distinguished individuals. The Duke of Bedford stated from the chair, the object of the meeting. It was for the purpose of receiving an account of the state of the institution, and taking such measures as might tend the most effectually to promote its extension. It was needless, he said, to dwell on the merits of the system, or to observe that the education of the poor had an uniform tendency to bring about a proper subordination, and a well regulated morality; that it was to be considered as the chief source of a nation's strength; and that where it was neglected, we could only expect misery and poverty throughout the main body of a nation. The present was no party question-all ranks were interested in it, from the monarch on the throne to the meanest individiual of the community. There could be no greater proof of the sincere desire of his Majesty for the good of his people, than the manner in which he had patronized Joseph Lancaster; and the wish expressed by his Majesty ought ever to be gratefully remembered," that "he hoped to see the day when "there would not be a child in his "dominions that could not read the "bible." The Duke of Kent then rose, and stated the satisfaction which had been experienced that morning, in examining the free school in the Borough Road. He also stated the success with which the Lancasterian system had been introduced into the regiment of royals; and the probability that it would be soon diffused throughout the army. Mr. Lancaster read a report of his progress in the invention of his system, the difficulties which he had to encounter, and the extension to which it had been carried in England, Scotland, and Ireland. This report, which we understand is soon to be printed, could not fail to be gratifying to every person who heard it; and it was more particularly interesting from the vein of enthusiasm which run through it. Mr. Lancaster stated that a very considerable damp had been thrown on the undertaking from a malicious report which had been circulated in a very confident manuer, that his Majesty had withdrawn his patronage from it, Here the Duke of Kent rose up, and observed that there could not be the smallest ground for this report; that in the present unfortunate state of his Majesty no person could take upon him to state this as from command; but he would venture to say, that up to the commencement of the illness nothing had escaped his Majesty which had the least tendency to warrant such a report; and he would venture to say, that he was convinced that so long as Joseph Lancaster went on in his present course, abstaining from all party subjects, his Majesty would never withdraw from him his countenance. A report of the proceedings of the trustees of the institution was also read, in which it was stated, that in 1810, Mr. Lancaster had travelled no less than 3,775 miles; that 50 new schools had been founded, in which 14 or 15,000 children were taught; that means had been taken for carrying the invention to Africa; that it had been introduced with success into various parts of North America; and that there was every reason to believe that it would be introduced into South America. The trustees stated the great increase of their advances over their receipts, amounting to no less than 3000l. which sufficiently accounted for the embarrassment felt by Mr. Lancas ter, before the financial part of the undertaking was taken off his hands. -One fact deserves to be mentioned, for the credit it reflects on an hum ble individual, whose name ought to be recorded: A baker, to whom a considerable sum had long been owing, instead of expressing impatience for his money, said he considered Mr. Lancaster as having done so much good, that if he had only a single loaf left he would give him the half of it. Mr. Adam communicated to the meeting the wish of the Prince Regent to promote the object of the system; that his royal highness would be highly gratified in receiving, from time to time, an account of its progress and that he had been authoriszed to state, that from henceforth his subscription would be doubled.—Mr. Adam also stated, that he had a farther communication from the Prince Regent, which he would bring forward at the dinner on Friday next. On the motion of the Marquis of Lansdowne, Mr. Adam was requested to communicate to the Prince Regent the high sense which they entertained of his countenance and support; and the Duke of Kent and the other members of the royal family received also the thanks of the meeting. The Duke of Kent moved a resolution declaring Joseph Lancaster the benefactor of the nation, and that he merited the approbation and support of the empire at large. Mr. Lancaster, in thanking the meeting, said that whatever good he had been enabled to do was owing to his father, who had supported him from his small income when he was carrying through his plans. He said he would never rest while he had strength remaining, till the youth of the kingdom were educated. A number of resolutions were successively adopted, expressive of the various advantages of the system and the meeting closed with an expression of their thanks to the Duke of Bedford and Lord Somerville, for the countenance and sup 283. port which they had from the be ginning bestowed on Mr. Lancaster. The dinner of the friends to the Lancasterian system of education, held on Friday the 17th. was most respectably attended, at the Freemasons' Tavern, his royal highness the Duke of Kent in the chair, supported by his royal brother the Duke of Sussex, his Grace the Duke of Bedford, Lord Keith, and a number of other persons of high distinction. Immediately on the removal of the cloth, the Duke of Kent rose and said, that as many of the society of friends were present, whose customs were different from those of the great body of the meeting, he trusted they would be permitted to act in conformity with their own principles, as they never interfered with the principles of others. The Prince Regent, by his Chancellor, Mr. Adam, directed a subscription to be given of 200 guineas towards building a school, 100 guineas a year to the maintenance of the institution, 100 guineas towards the discharge of the loan, and 30 guineas for 30 copies of the book of the plan to be published for the benefit of the founder's infant daughter. This most liberal subscription on the part of the Prince Regent, was followed by those of their royal highnesses the Dukes of Kent and Sussex, the Duke of Bedford, and others, and amounted in all, befor the Duke of Kent left the chair, to 1,3501.It was afterwards increased to 2,2001. when the chair was taken by the Duke of Sussex, who is to preside at the next anniversary meeting. Mr. Lancaster expressed himself grateful for the patronage he had received, which far exceeded his expectations. CALCULATIONS RESPECTING DOL LARS AND PAPER. The circulating medium being at this time very much the subject of speculation, the following facts and calculations are submitted to our Let a crown piece be considered as worth 5s. A dollar or bank to ken is 1-12th less in weight than a crown; therefore, if the silver in each is of equal quality, the value of a dollar must be 45. 7d. readers, leaving them to form their Its height in guineas, supposing own conclusions:20 guineas in 'thickness an inch, would be 610 miles, 339 yards, 9 inches; and supposing each guinea an inch in diameter, they would extend in a right line 12,203 miles, 150 yards, 7 inches. Moreover, the said guineas would cover 348 acres, 2 roods, 202 yards, nearly.-And lastly, in shillings, each an inch in diameter, would cover 7319 acres, 1 rood, 349 yards!! Silver may be exchanged for pa per at the rate of four dollars for 22s. Then, 100 crowns, or 251. in crowns, are worth 109 dollars and 5d. which dollars may be exchanged for paper to the amount of 291. 19s. 11d. In other words: by exchanging crowns for dollars, and those dollars for bank notes, 24s. 3d. in paper money may be had for four crowns, or one pound. Twenty shillings are barely equal in weight to three dollars, worth as above 13s. 9d. Then, as many shillings as are worth 13s. 9d. in dollars, will exchange for 20s. in paper money. What would have been the difference to the public if the Bank of England had lowered one pound notes to 18s. instead of raising four dollars to 22s.? A one pound note and 2s. would in that case have exchanged for four dollars, as they do now. Singular Calculation. The national debt, funded and unfunded, on the 5th of January, 1810, was 811,898,0811. which are equal to 773,236,207 gs. which at 5 dwts. 8 grains each guinea, weigh 6312 tons, 11 cwt. 3 qrs. 5 lbs. 1 oz. 6 drs. nearly avoirdupoise.-Now, supposing a waggon and 5 horses to extend in length 20 yards, and to carry 2 tons of the said guineas, the number of teams necessary to carry the whole would extend in length 28 miles, 23 yards, nearly. -To count the debt in shillings, at the rate of 30 shillings in a minute, for 10 hours a day, and six days in a week, would take 2469 years, 306 days, 17 hours, 30 minutes, nearly. Independence!-Mr. Chs. Yorke's clearing system has not been confined to the gallery of the house of Commons. Not considering himself sufficiently rewarded for his meritorious services in being made first lord of the admiralty and a teller of the exchequer, from the first of which he gets 3000l. a year, and from the latter 27001.; he has continued his system by clearing a way for his brother, Sir Joseph Yorke, whom he has made a lord of the admiralty, with 1500l. a year; and his half brother, Mr. Manningham, a deputy teller of the exchequer, with a salary of 1000l. a year.Even the man who hissed his opponent at the last election has been provided with a place. Yet this right hon. gentleman could talk of his independence! 66 King's Friends.--The present set of ministers are eternally telling the people that they alone are the King's friends: as if," says a celebrated writer," the body of the people were the King's enemies; or as if his Majesty looked for a resource of consolation in the attachment of a few fa vourites against the general contempt and detestation of his subjects." Such a body is well described by Davenant:- "An igno 66 rant, mercenary, and servile crew; "unanimous in evil, diligent in mis 66 chief, variable in principles, con stant to flattery, talkers for liberty, "but slaves to power-styling them"selves the court party, and the "prince's only friends." [B. Flower, Printer, Harlow.] The Catholic Clims.-In our last we congratulated our readers, and the friends of religious liberty throughout the nation, on the check which had been given to intolerance by the rejection of Lord Sidmouth's bill, by which the sacred rights of protestant dissenters were so far happily preserved. Still more happy would it have been for the interests of freedom, both civil and religious, and for the inte rests of the empire at large, had the opinions so generally expressed and acted upon in the house of Lords on that occasion, proved the omen of their being shortly adopted on another important occasion, in which the civil and religious rights, not only of numbers of the people of Britain, but the great majority of the people of Ireland are most materially affected, and which indeed involves the welfare, if not the existence of that part of the empire. The rejection of the petitions of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, and the refusal of both houses of parliament, even to enquire into the justice of their claims, has unhappily proved that our ministers are resolved not to restore those rights which that long oppressed and insulted body of people have so repeatedly, and peaceably demanded, and which national justice and policy equally demand for them. In the house of Commons, on Mr. Grattan's motion for referring the catholic petitions to the consideration of a committee of the whole house, the numbers were-For the motion 83Against it 146-Majority against it 63. In the house of LordsOn a similar motion made by Lord Donoughmore, the numbers were-For the motion, 62-Against it 121-Majority against it 59. After the frequent discussions which have taken place on this important subject, little that is new can be expected. The same arguments were enforced in the same strain of eloquence in both houses, by the champions of toleration, as on former occasions; and the same repeatedly refuted assertions of that infuriated bigot, Dr. Duigenan, who still fiercely maintains that the catholics of the |