SPANISH AMERICA. By accounts from Lima of the 8th March last, it appears that Lord Cochrane, as Admiral of the Chilian fleet, had issued a proclamation, declaring the port of Cillao in a state of blockade. On the 1st March, his Lordship made an unexpected attack on the Spanish fleet in that port, but was repulsed. This fleet consisted of two 40 gun frigates, four strong corvettes, and more than 30 gunboats; and preparations had been made for firing with red shot. A gun-boat, with an officer and 40 men, fell into Lord Cochrane's hands, owing to the boat being involved in a thick fog, and suddenly finding itself in the midst of the Chilian fleet. The loss of the Spaniards in the attack above mentioned was 15 killed, and three or four wounded. Lord Cochrane was said, on the 8th March, to have sent in a flag of truce, proposing an exchange of prisoners,

the afternoon of that day, his Lordship is said to have declared his intention to make prizes of all those vessels not under way, at day-break of the 9th, in conformity with his proclamation. An English gentleman, who visited him on board his ship, was informed, that should the Macedonian frigate, then lying off the harbour, attempt to force the blockade, he should certainly fire at her.

VENEZUELA.-Official accounts have been received from Venezuela, of an important victory which has been obtained by the division of the Venezuelan army under General Santander, over a body of Royalist troops, consisting of 3500 men, who were marching from Santa Fé to Achaguas, for the purpose of joining Morillo. The action was fought on the 15th April last, at Santiago de Pore; and, according to the accounts received, a complete victory was obtained.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-The haste with which measures of much general and local importance are necessarily carried through the House of Commons in the latter end of a Session, is almost always corrected by the veto which the Constitution gives to the Lords. Some of the acts passed 'at the close of last Session in the Lower, have met with a negative in the Upper House. Among these particularly were the poor rates misapplication bill, the insolvent debtor's bill, the Scottish poor relief bill, the Scottish churches bill, and the banishment from Scotland bill. On the latter being brought up, Lord Melville stated that it gave to the Sheriffs of counties and other magistrates, more power than they ought constitutionally to be entrusted with. Lord Liverpool observed, that there were in Scotland two kinds of banishment was the principle of this bill, that if any person banished from Scotland were found either in England or Ireland, he should be sent back to Scotland, thence to be transported to New South Wales.

It

The case of petty larceny was not excepted, so that the operation of the bill would subject a person convicted of a small theft to a harsher punishment indirectly than the law had primarily intended. Various other minor offences would be also visited with disproportionate penalties. In reality, the bill abolished the penalty of banishment as recognised by the law of Scotland, and sub

stituted another and much more oppressive punishment. He concluded by expressing a hope, that if it were contemplated to introduce a similar bill in the next session of parliament, due and deliberate consideration would in the interim be given to the subject-it was one that ought not to meet with a hasty decision.

Prorogation of Parliament.—On the 13th July the Prince Regent prorogued Parliament in person. At two o'clock, his Royal Highness entered the House of Lords in his robes of state, and having taken his seat upon the throne, the Commons were summoned, and immediately attended, with the Speaker at their head, who delivered the following speech at the Bar. May it please your Royal Highness, "We, his Majesty's faithful Commons of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled, attend your Royal Highness with our concluding Bill of Supply.

"The subjects which have occupied our attention have been more numerous, more various, and more important, than are usually submitted to the consideration of Parliament in the same Session.

"Upon many of these subjects we have been engaged in long and unwearied examinations; but such has been the pressure of our business, and particularly of that which ordinarily belongs to the first Session of Parliament-and such the magnitude

and intricacy of many of these inquiries, that the limits of the present Session have not allowed of bringing them to a close. "But, Sir, of those measures which we have completed, the most prominent, the most important, and we trust, in the consequences, the most beneficial to the public, are the measures which have grown out of the consideration of the present state of the country, both in its currency and finances.

"Early, Sir, in the present Session, we instituted an inquiry into the effects produced in the Exchanges with foreign countries, and the state of the circulating medium, by the restriction on payments in cash by the Bank. This inquiry was most anxiously and most deliberately conducted, and in its result led to the conclusion, that it was most desirable quickly, but with due precautions, to return to our ancient and healthful state of currency;-that whatever might have been the expediency of the acts for the suspension of payments in cash, at the different periods at which they were enacted-and doubtless they were expedient whilst the country was involved in the most expensive contest that ever weighed down the finances of any country ;-still, that the necessity for the continuance of these acts having ceased, it became us with as little delay as possible (avoiding care. fully the convulsion of too rapid a transition) to return to our ancient system; and that, if at any period, and under any circumstances, this return could be effected without national inconvenience, it was at the present, when this mighty nation, with a proud retrospect of the past, after having made the greatest efforts, and achieved the noblest objects, was now reposing in a confident, and, as we fondly hope, a well founded expectation of a sound and lasting peace.

"In considering, Sir, the state of our finances, and in minutely comparing our income with our expenditure, it appeared to us, that the excess of our income was not fairly adequate for the purposes to which it was applicable, the gradual reduction of the National Debt. It appeared to us, that a clear available surplus of at least five millions ought to be set apart for that object. This, Sir, has been effected by the additional imposition of three millions of

taxes.

mit, to enable her to maintain, pure and unimpaired, that which has never yet been shaken or sullied-her public credit and her national good faith. Thus, Sir, I have endeavoured, shortly, and I am aware how imperfectly, to notice the various duties which have devolved upon us, in one of the longest and most arduous Sessions in the records of Parliament.

"The Bill, Sir, which it is my duty to present to your Royal Highness, is intituled An act for applying certain monies therein mentioned for the service of the year 1819, and for further appropriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Par liament. To which, with all humility, we pray his Majesty's royal assent."

The royal assent was then given to the Bill for removing the Attainder of Lord Edward Fitzgerald; after which, the Prince Regent delivered the following speech :"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"It is with great regret that I am again obliged to announce to you the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition. I cannot close this session of Parliament without expressing the satisfaction that I have derived from the zeal and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the several important objects which have come under your consideration. Your patient and laborious investigation of the state of the circulation and currency of the kingdom demands my warmest acknowledgments; and I entertain a confident expectation, that the measures adopted as the result of this inquiry, will be productive of the most beneficial conse quences.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"I thank you for the supplies which you have granted for the service of the present year. I sincerely regret, that the necessity should have existed of making any addition to the burthens of the people; but I anticipate the most important permanent advantages from the efforts which you have thus made for meeting at once all the financial difficulties of the country; and I derive much satisfaction from the belief, that the means which you have devised for this purpose are calculated to press as lightly on all the classes of the community as could be expected, when so great an effort was to be made. "My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I continue to receive from foreign powers the strongest assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country. I have observed, with great concern, the attempts which have recently been made in some of the manufacturing districts, to take advantage of circumstances of local distress, to excite a spirit of disaffection to the institutions and government of the country. No object can be nearer my heart, than to promote the welfare and pro

sperity of all classes of his Majesty's subjects; but this cannot be effected without the maintenance of public order and tranquillity. You may rely, therefore, upon my firm determination to employ for this purpose the powers entrusted to me by law; and I have no doubt, that on your return to your several counties, you will use your utmost endeavours, in co-operation with the magistracy, to defeat the machinations of those, whose projects, if successful, could only aggravate the evils which it is professed to remedy; and who, under the pretence of reform, have really no other object but the subversion of our happy constitution.”

Then the Lord Chancellor, by the Prince Regent's command, said, "My Lords and Gentlemen,

"It is the will and pleasure of his Roy. al Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, that this Parliament be prorogued to Tuesday the twenty-fourth day of August next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the twenty-fourth day of August

next."

The Prince Regent took off his hat; and the Speaker and the Members having made their obeisances, withdrew from the bar. His Royal Highness quitted the House with the same state as on his entrance. The Lords retired, and the House was soon afterwards cleared.

The appearance of the House of Lords was on this occasion extremely magnificent. With the exception of the front bench on either side, the body of the House was filled with ladies, elegantly, and in numerous instances, superbly dressed; the Peers, who occupied the front bench on either side, were in their robes of state; and at the upper part of the House, at the right hand of the throne, were the Austrian, French, Russian, Bavarian, Persian, Algerine, and other ambassadors, in the court dresses and costumes of their respective countries, attended by their several suites. The Dukes of York and Kent took their seats in their respective chairs, at the left hand of the throne; near which the Officers of State also ranged themselves. The Duke of Wellington bore the Sword of State, and stood on the left hand of the Prince.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. On the 1st July, the question of parliamentary reform was brought before the House by Sir Francis Burdett. He laid down no specific plan, whether of triennial or annual parliaments; but contented himself with moving a resolution, pledging the House to an investigation of the subject early in the next session. Several members delivered their sentiments, but none of the leading men in either side of the House took an

Mr Grenfell

active part in the debate. moved as an amendment, that the House should proceed to the other orders of the day. The original motion, on a division, was negatived by 153 to 58.

The Duke of Kent.-On the 2d, Alderman Wood moved for leave to bring in a bill to enable his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent to dispose of his house and furniture at Castlebar Hill, by lottery, for the purpose of raising the sum of L.70,000, in order to relieve his Royal Highness of his embarrassments. It was argued, that, if the House agreed to sanction such a proceeding, it could not, in future, refuse a similar bill to any other individual; and this appearing to be the general feeling of the House, the motion was withdrawn.

Criminal Laws.-On Tuesday the 6th July, Sir JAMES MACINTOSH presented the report of the committee appointed to inquire into the state of our criminal code, and he at the same time gave some account of the progress made by the committee towards the conclusion of its labours. By this report it appears that crimes of atrocious violence and inhumanity have been greatly diminished in this country. The number of convictions for murder, and executions, are as follow:

From these statements we learn, that, since the revolution, there has been a marked decrease in all crimes of violence, such as murder, &c. Fraud is now the most common outlet for that mass of depravity which, from various causes, is daily accumulated in every community, and the crime of forgery has accordingly become more common. We are not, as formerly, plundered of our property, and menaced with the loss of our lives, by nightly depredators, but we are deprived of it by the more gentle and improved process of cheating. The general improve. ment of the age has in this manner reached the art of thieving; and it is suggested by the committee, and the propriety of the suggestion is confirmed by every person of experience who was examined on this subject, that a distinction ought to be made between crimes of violence and crimes of fraud;-the first, such as murder, burglary, arson, &c. to be punished with death; the latter to be visited with some lighter

penalty. The inhumanity, as well as the mischief, of confounding in one common punishment distinct classes of crimes, is daily proved by experience, in the reluctance of persons injured to prosecute, of the witnesses to swear, and of the juries to convict. This radical defect in our criminal law thus clogs the wheels of justiceit allows many criminals to escape with impunity for want of prosecutors or witnesses, which would not happen if the punishment were more proportionable to the offence. And this improvement, therefore, which is certainly a desideratum in our criminal law, has now apparently every chance of being adopted.

Scottish Burgh Reform.-On Monday the 12th, the report of the Committee on Scottish Burgh Petitions was presented to the House by Lord Archibald Hamilton, the Chairman, who moved that the same be printed. This was opposed by Mr K. Douglas, who stated, as the ground of his opposition, that the inquiry had been conducted in too hurried a manner; at too late a period of the Session; and the allegations in the various petitions had not been sufficiently investigated. He was most anxious that the question should undergo such a full and fair consideration, as would give the country an impartial view of it; but as this had not taken place, he thought the Committee had gone too far in intimating a general impression, that the allegations in the petitions were true. Mr Kennedy, Mr Abercromby, Sir R. Ferguson, Lord A. Hamilton, and Mr Hume, defended the Committee; and maintained, that the inquiry had been conducted with the utmost impartiality, and with unwearied assiduity and perseverance. Lord Binning supported the arguments of Mr Douglas; and contended that the Committee had come to the Report without due examination.

His Lordship moved, as an amendment, that "Parliament should, early in the next Session, take the state of the Scottish Burghs into consideration." His Lordship and Mr Kennedy, however, withdrew their opposition, on the suggestion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who stated that it was the wish of his Majesty's Ministers, that no impediment should be thrown in the way of a full and fair investigation of the question. The Report was accordingly ordered to be printed.

EMIGRATION. The same evening, a measure of some novelty, and more importance, was suggested by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who proposed that a sum of L. 50,000 shall be applied towards enabling artisans and others to emigrate from this country to the colony of the Cape of Good Hope. He observed, that in our North American colonies, it would be long before the soil could be made productive for the sustenance of human life, whilst at the Cape the colonists would have the means of subsistence after a few months from its cultivation. The vine, olive, and mulberry might, he said, be cultivated with the greatest success, thus supplying wine, silk, and oil. There are also the advantages of good climate, soil producing all that is most valuable in the torrid and temperate zones, and a place to receive the new colonists well chosen. A previous advance of a small sum of money is required from the emigrant, which is to be repaid him in such necessaries he may require on his arrival at the Cape, and it is a part of the plan also that parishes shall have the power of sending out those with whose support they are already burdened, provided they are desirous of emigrating.

On the 13th, Parliament was prorogued by the Prince Regent, as stated in the preceding page.

JULY.

Benefit Societies -The following_case was decided lately in the Justice of Peace Court of Pollockshaws, and is of consider able importance to all such societies:The Friendly Society of Eaglesham had caused cite before the Court three of its members, who had fallen several years be hind with their quarter accounts. The defendants pleaded, that, by the regulations of the society, the managers had no claim on them, as, by agreement, those in the parish who neglected to clear their accounts in two years, and those out of the parish in three years, were to be expelled the so

ciety; and that the regulations were not sanctioned according to the act of parlia

ment.

The managers, on the other hand, contended, that the quarter accounts were a debt at the end of one year; and, if they were a debt at the end of one year, they were the same at the end of two, as those members had the privilege, if they were visited by sickness, or otherwise disabled from work, to come upon the funds of the society for aliment. The Court, having considered the claims of the parties, decerned the defenders liable to pay two years' quarter accounts, and to give notice in writing to the managers, if they withdrew and ceased from being

members; and that members must be clear of all debts to the society at the time they give notice of withdrawing therefrom.

10. Surgeons and Druggists.-An important decision has been obtained in the Court of Session, by which no medical practitioner, even though he hold a degree in medicine, can legally practise surgery, or carry on the business of an apothecary or druggist, within the counties of Lanark, Renfrew, Ayr, and the burgh of Dumbarton, without undergoing an examination by the faculty.

Highlands of Scotland.-In the last report of the Gaelic School Society, we have the following account of the deplorable state of ignorance, of the Highlands of Scotland:"Out of a population of 22,501, (belonging to a few parishes, of which returns had been made,) 19,367 are incapable of reading either English or Gaelic. Connected with this melancholy fact, it must be observed, that the proportion who are able to read reside in or near the district where a school is taught; but, in the remote glens, or subordinate islands of almost every parish, few or none can be found who know even the letters."

Furious Driving.-A case of some importance was lately decided in the Edinburgh Jury Court, which must, have a salutary effect in preventing furious driving and racing with stage coaches, by which improper practice the passengers' lives are frequently put to imminent hazard. Mr Allan, a gentleman who went passenger in July last by the Waterloo coach, running between Edinburgh and Perth, was, in consequence of its upsetting, thrown off the coach, and had an arm dislocated and a leg broken, with other serious bruises. The accident happened in consequence of the driver having put his horses to gallop, in order to overtake and pass a gig on the road; and Mr Allan brought an action of damages against M'Cliesh and others, proprietors of the coach. The jury found a verdict for the pursuer damages for medical expences, L.200; and for solatium, L.1000. The trial lasted eight hours.

Farm Servants' Wages.-On this subject a very important decision has been obtained in the Court of Session, the First Division of that Court having lately decided unanimously, that farm servants are to be preferred as creditors for their current wages to the landlord, whose right of hypothec must now yield through the whole of Scotland to this equitable and preferable claim.

16. Lord Melville's Monument.-The committee in Edinburgh, on the proposed naval monument to the memory of the late Lord Viscount Melville, have now resolved to adopt as a model the celebrated pillar of Trajan, and have advertised for estimates for the execution of the work.

Accident in Bathing.-On Monday morning the 12th, while a little girl was bathing, close to the machines at Leith, she unfortunately cut her leg a little below the knee; on being brought from the water, she appeared somewhat faint, and, while the owner of the bathing machine was in the act of binding up the wound, she took a lock-jaw, and expired in a few moments.

Convention of Royal Burghs.-The commissioners from the Royal Burghs of Scotland assembled in general convention at Edinburgh on the 13th. Bailie Smith of Edinburgh, in the absence of the Lord Provost, was, after some discussion, and a vote of the convention, called to the chair. Very little business of importance came before the convention. A petition from Arbroath, praying for an enlargement in the set of burghs, was, after some debate, refused by a majority, on the ground that the general question of burgh reform was now before a committee of the House of Commons, and that Parliament was therefore the proper source to apply to in the case. For similar reasons, a motion for petitioning Parliament on the general subject of reform was negatived. L. 400 were granted by the convention to assist in defraying the expences of certain improvements in progress on the harbour of Banff, on the ground that these improvements were of considerable importance in a national point of view; but an application for L.300 for a similar purpose to Lossiemouth harbour was refused. The Provost of Perth moved that the future meetings of the convention should, from this year, be discontinued, but his motion fell to the ground for want of being seconded. The only proceeding of importance this year was the abrogation of the burgess oath throughout the royal burghs. This subject was brought before the convention, in a very excellent speech, by Provost Burnes of Montrose; it was seconded by the Provost of Annan, and warmly supported by the Lord Provost of Glasgow and others; and, on the question being put, was carried by acclamation.

20. Steam Packets.-The Rob Roy steam-boat has been plying between Glasgow and Belfast for eighteen months past; and a vessel of this description, the Talbot, has now commenced running between Dublin and Holyhead. The Talbot measures 170 tons, is 100 feet in length, and is propelled by two engines of thirty horse power each. She is fitted up with two elegant cabins, and indeed her whole appointments are admirable. A vessel of the same size as the Talbot, and named the Waterloo, has also recently been built at Greenock, and is now carrying goods and passengers between Beltast and Liverpool. The Tug steam-vessel has, for the last fortnight, sailed betwixt Leith or Newhaven and Dy