time fortifications had been carried on, permanent magazines and arsenals erected, public buildings restored, the navy greatly augmented, and the military, ordnance, and naval magazines replenished. The net revenue for the year ending the 30th September 1820, was 16,791,107 dollars, the expenditure 16,871,536 dollars. The general tone of the message is pacific; and it dwells with undisguised satisfaction upon the success of the South American revolutionists.

The House of Representatives found an extraordinary difficulty in electing a new Speaker in the room of Mr Clay, who has resigned. There were four candidates, but the successful one must have an absolute majority of the whole number of votes. The number of ballotings, which amounted to twenty-one, is said to be wholly without any precedent. At last, the choice fell upon Mr John Taylor, who was elected by a majority of four.

Four new States have been added to the Union during the last Session of Congress, viz. Illinois, Alabama, Maine, and Missouri, which, with the territories of Michigan and Arkansaw, which will soon have a population to entitle them to become independent States, will double the original number that declared themselves independent of Great Britain on the 4th of July 1776. The number of States being then only thirteen; it is now twenty-four, and with this acquisition will be twenty-six.

SOUTH AMERICA.-It appears that an armistice has been entered into between Bolivar and Morillo, after several actions, in which it is stated that the former had been worsted and driven back to the vicinity of Angostura. The letters state that it was the late revolution in Spain which weakened Bolivar, as it indisposed his troops to further resistance to the mother country. A meeting of commissioners, finally to adjust the differences, and put an end to hostilities, was to take place on the 23d October, at San Fernando de Apure. It is supposed, however, that nothing will be decided, as Bolivar will listen to nothing short of the entire independence of the country, which the other has not power to grant.

Accounts from Chili state the sailing of the expedition against Peru. The naval

part of the armament under the command of Lord Cochrane, and the land forces under General San Martin. The ships consisted of eight vessels of war of various rates, and fourteen transports; the former mounting 236 guns, and manned with 1538 seamen, half of whom are Englishmen.

WEST INDIES. ST DOMINGO.--The accounts from this island are highly im portant. The whole island is now united under one republican government, at the head of which is President Boyer. On learning the death of Christophe, he appears to have moved forward with rapidity and decision. On the 20th of October he took possession of Gonaives, without opposition, his army consisting of 10,000 men. On the 22d October he marched for the capital, where, it seems, every thing had been arranged for his reception; for, on the 21st, a meeting of the principal inhabitants, magistrates, and military officers, was held, and the immediate entry of Boyer was announced, as well as that in future all Hayti would be under one government. He accordingly entered the capital on the 22d, at the head of 20,000 men, and he was proclaimed President on the 26th, on which day he issued a proclamation to the Haytians.

After the revolt of the troops at St Mark's and the Cape, and the death of Christophe, the several quarters of the north declared rapidly for the government of the republic; and the only resistance which continued to be offered to President Boyer was by the fortress of La Ferriere, near the Cape, to which the remainder of Christophe's family had fled, and by some troops under the command of General Romain, (Prince of Kimbe,) who had taken post in the mountains of Gross Morne, near Gonaives, with the assumed title of General in Chief. The fortress of Ferriere appears, however, to have been at last quietly given up to the republican troops, together with the members of Christophe's family, and the whole of the ex-king's treasures, &c. On this, Romain also made overtures to surrender to President Boyer, on condition that himself and all with him should be admitted to the privileges of citizens of the republic. To this proposition Boyer readily acceded.

NOVEMBER.

29.-Arrest for Sedition.-Saturday the 26th instant, the Middlesex Grand Jury found a true bill of indictment against Dennis O'Brien, Esq. of Craven Street,

Strand, for publishing, or causing to be published, divers seditious and inflammatory hand-bills, with intent to excite disaffection in the minds of the subjects of the late and present King, &c. As usual, on

bills of indictment being found, a Judge's warrant was immediately issued to apprehend Mr O'Brien, who, having heard of the circumstance, applied several times on Monday to Mr Birnie, the Magistrate, to allow him to give bail before him without the form of being apprehended. It being a Judge's warrant, however, the Magistrate had no power to take bail; and on Monday evening Holyland, a constable, accompanied by Mr Pearson, the Solicitor, proceeded to the house of Mr O'Brien, took him into custody, and conveyed him to the Judge's Chambers, in Serjeant's Inn; but the Judge having left the Chambers, they proceeded to Mr Justice Bayley's house, in Bedford Square, where the defendant was held to bail, himself in L. 200, and two sureties in L. 100 each. His sureties were Mr Christian, of the Strand, linen draper; Mr Hardie, of the firm of Messrs Greenwood and Cox, Army Agents, Charing Cross.

Earthquake.Wanlockhead, Nov. 30. -The weather for some time past has been remarkably stormy; heavy rains accompanied by high winds have prevailed, but in the end of last week and beginning of this, the clouds, which had for some time lowered, appeared to be dissipated, and we had some signs of returning good weather. Tuesday morning was remarkably fine but hazy, the atmosphere still, and the clouds, when they were visible, had no particular appearance. About 8 o'clock A. M. a slight shock of an earthquake was felt at Leadhills and Wanlockhead, attended with a hollow rumbling noise. The miners, who were at work 150 fathoms below ground, heard the alarming sound very distinctly, and being afraid lest the works were rushing down, many of them left their employment, and came above ground. In the evening of the same day, about 11 o'clock, a similar, or still louder sound was heard at the above places, but not accompanied by any trembling or motion of the earth. These phenomena have been observed for eight or ten miles eastward, and three or four miles westward of these places, but whether they have extended beyond these limits is not yet accurately ascertained, but it is probable that the more immediate effects of these awful convulsions of nature may have already been experienced in some distant quarter, particularly as the earthquake, by which Lisbon was almost totally destroyed 65 years ago, was very distinctly felt at Leadhills and Wanlockhead, according to tradition, and in the memory of some old residenters.

DECEMBER.

Ireland. From various accounts that have come to our knowledge from most respectable sources, we regret having it in our power to state that the tranquillity of

VOL. VIII.

this country has latterly been much disturbed by the predominant spirit of disaffection that is making rapid strides, we may say into almost every district of it. Administering illegal oaths, taking arms forcibly by night, &c. has of late been carried on with too great success, and we are sorry to add with impunity. On Friday week an armed banditti broke into the houses of several farmers in the parish of Rahne, during the night, and succeeded in taking 12 or 14 stand of arms. A poor man in a thatched cabin, who, we are informed, belongs to a corps of Yeomanry, was attacked by those ruffians for the purpose of taking his arms also; but we have much pleasure in stating that he made a most spirited resistance, and effectually beat them off.-Westmeath Journal.

2. Glasgow. There has not appeared for the last thirty years so many removal tickets on shops, and that too in Gallowgate Street, as is at present exhibited; nor is this confined to the shops; whole flats of lodgings, counting-houses, and even moderately sized dwelling-houses, are to be had "at present, rent moderate." A flat of a house, in a certain and respectable neighbourhood, that let three years ago at L. 28, has been let at L. 15, and a shop in the same tenement, the rent of which was L. 22, has been let for L. 16. Many shops are shut altogether in the suburbs and even in the town, and those that are kept open generally have just reason to complain of a greater demand being made on their stock of humanity than on that of their wares. A gentleman in Trongate, who rents a shop at no less than L. 100, with a suitable establishment, sells 25 needles, No. 7, neatly put up, at one halfpenny: A Sheffield merchant offers a gross of six bladed knives at 10s.-Glasgow Chronicle.

Fatal Affray. On the 25th uit. a quarrel, which was attended with fatal conse quences, took place betwixt four men who were drinking in a public house at Kilsyth, about 11 o'clock at night. The quarrel is said to have originated in consequence of the landlord, Thomas Cuddy, having refused to supply them with spirits. In the altercation, the landlord, an old man, was knocked down-whereupon one of his sons, and a young man of the name of James Shaw, who were in the kitchen at the time, came immediately to his assistance; a violent scuffle ensued, in which one of the four men, named James Thomson, weaver, was stabbed with an instrument in the groin-He was removed to his father's house in Kilsyth, where he died next morning. Two men, James Davidson Cuddy, and John Shaw, both belonging to Kilsyth, were apprehended and lodged in Stirling jail on Tuesday last, on suspicion of being concerned in this sanguinary outrage. A precognition is now going on

L

before the Sheriff, who has ordered medical men to inspect the body of James Thomson. We understand that Neil Stevenson, another of the four men, was also very seriously wounded in the side. He is at present at Kilsyth, and considered in a very dangerous state.

Fire. Wednesday, the 29th ult. a melancholy catastrophe took place at the house of Mr Fulford, bookseller, in Little Bellalley, Coleman Street, London:-Mr and Mrs Fulford in the morning went to see the procession of the Queen to St Paul's, leaving the house and four children in the care of their servant maid. About three o'clock the neighbourhood was alarmed by the servant calling "Fire!" Scarce a moment elapsed before the flames burst out from the first floor window, she exclaiming, "For God's sake, save the children." A Mr Hughes procured a ladder, and endeavoured to get in at the window, but in vain. On the arrival of the engines, the flames were impeded, but not till they had communicated to the adjoining house of Mr Williams, bootmaker; by this time Mr and Mrs Fulford returned, when Mrs Fulford swooned away whilst her husband ran about in a state of frenzy, endeavouring to find his unfortunate children, two of whom were found in a neighbour's house, where they had been the whole of the day; but all search for the remaining two, a girl about two years old, and a boy about six months, were of no avail, and it was afterwards discovered they had fallen victims to the flames. Not an atom of Mr Fulford's furniture was saved, and the house is in ruins, and that of Mr Williams has suffered considerably.

7.-Shocking Accident.—The following shocking accident occurred last week: As the Rev. John Reid, minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Lauriston, was passing some carts laden with hay, at the Boat-house Bridge, near Linlithgow, he was forced from his horse, and, melancholy to relate, a wheel of one of the carts passed over his head. He was carried in a hopeless condition to a neighbouring house, where every attention was paid to the unfortunate gentleman, but he died on Monday the 4th instant.

The following was the state of Newgate

on the 1st instant :

11.-Yesterday afternoon, at five minutes after five o'clock, the Duchess of Clarence was happily delivered of a Princess. His Royal Highness the Duke of York, the Lord Chancellor, and the Right Honourable George Canning, First Commissioner of the Affairs of India, were in attendance. Her Royal Highness is, God be praised, as well as can be expected; and the young Princess, although prematurely born, is expected to live.-London Gazette.

Destructive Fire.-A most melancholy occurrence took place on Thursday night, the 7th inst. at Kirby-Lonsdale, in the total destruction, by fire, of the Rose and Crown Inn, (kept by Mrs Roper,) and the death of no less than five young women, who perished in the flames!-On the alarm being first given, Mrs Roper, her two daughters, and a servant girl, appeared at the windows of the second floor, and, as their escape by the stairs was cut off, they were compelled to leap from the windows, with nothing on but their night-clothes, in order to avoid the destruction which was inevitable, if they remained longer in the house. The five unfortunate females all lodged on the same storey. Their shrieks were heard by the people in the street, and one of them was seen struggling at a window; but their sufferings were of short duration-they were all quickly engulfed in the burning ruins! An attempt was made to rescue the poor sufferers, but the door which led to their apartments was found to be fastened in the inside, and the person who made the humane attempt narrowly escaped destruction.

14.-Execution.-Yesterday morning, pursuant to his sentence, John Dempsey, late private in the 13th regiment, was executed at Edinburgh, for the murder of Robert Simpson and John Pearson, at Greenock, on the 30th July last.-Dempsey was a native of Ireland, and a Catholic, and has been attended by one of the Catholic clergymen here, as well as by Dr Thomson, of the established church, to whose instruction he paid decent attention. After prayers by the Rev. Mr Porteous, he bowed respectfully to the magistrates, and shook hands with those around him, and then mounted the drop, assisted by the executioner, where he continued a few minutes

in most earnest and fervent prayer. After the rope was adjusted, he exclaimed, in a loud and distinct voice, "I am innocent of the charge against me!" and instantly dropt the fatal signal, and was launched into eternity.

Libel.-In the Court of King's Bench on Monday, Mr Wright, who was formerly concerned with Mr W. Cobbett, in his publications, obtained a verdict of L. 1000 damages against the said W. Cobbett for several libels inserted in his Register against Wright, in consequence of his having given up a letter of Cobbett's to Sir F. Burdett's committee, written in 1808, respecting Hunt, and which he charged Wright with having forged. Cobbett, on this occasion, as in the former action, brought by Mr Cleary, (who read the letter on the hustings,) conducted his own defence, and in defiance of repeated interference by the court, contrived to aggravate the injury, and proved that he is totally regardless of what he either writes or speaks, and as indifferent to truth or falsehood, as he is against whom his abuse is directed. He brought his sons to swear that the Register was not his property, but the eldest son's, and that he was only the editor upon a salary.

25.-Death of Moffat, alias M'Coul. It is believed that James M'Coul, alias Moffatt, alias Martin, alius Wilson, alias Moffot, was a native of Berwickshire, and was bred to the business of a tanner, which he for some time exercised in this country. He afterwards went to London, where he connected himself with the most notorious sharpers, and subsequently became himself an adept and a leader. He was, like our famous Brodie, celebrated as a cock-fighter; and, in pugilism, was what would now, in the elegant language of that science, be styled a demi-professional demi-amateur of the fancy. The connections of his gang, of whom the notorious Huffy White was a prominent member, were, it is said, so extensive, that he might with some propriety be called the robber of the world; its ramifications extended over great part of the Continent of Europe, himself at times residing in different towns in Holland. He was in Hamburgh when that city fell into the hands of the French, where he was of considerable service to the British troops, which subsequently saved him from an ignominious death. About fifteen years ago, as a mask for his real intentions, he commenced a morocco tanning and dyeing concern in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, more, as it is thought, with the intent of cloaking his character, and assuming a "visible means of subsistence," than for the purpose of fair gain. About that time he was taken into custody, charged with robbing a gentleman in the theatre, but he got off from want of evidence. His his

as

tory from this period is less perfect with us than in the records of Bow-Street, down to the robbery of the Paisley Bank's branch at Glasgow. Soon after that transaction he was taken into custody, and after remaining long in Glasgow gaol, obtained his liberation, by restoring, through the medium of a friend in London, about ten thousand pounds of the money of which the bank was robbed-having, as it was well known, still a large sum of the money then lost to the Bank.He made repeated visits to Aberdeen and Dundee, in order to convert the notes into bills on London, in which he succeeded. At last, with a large sum of money still on his person, he arrived at Leith, and succeeded in converting it also-being, was proved, the indentical notes of which the bank was robbed-into bills on London, when he was again apprehended, and sent up to the Police Office here; when, after another imprisonment, and much discussion, these bills were, by desire of a very active magistrate of this city, lodged in the bank of Sir W. Forbes and Co. In order to recover this money, Moffat had the audacity to raise various actions in the Court of Session, and unsuccessfully litigated, for a period of eight years, during which he was for the most part to be found about the Courts of Law, or at certain tap-rooms, denouncing city Magistrates, Judges, and Juries. At the final determination of this cause against him in the Jury Court, in May last, the witnesses, it will be recollected, so completely established his being a principal in the robbery, that he was then taken into oustody, tried before the Court of Justiciary in the month of June, convicted, and sentenced to be executed, which sentence was afterwards commuted to transportation; but his health, from the time of his trial, being in a declining state, and being advanced in years, he was permitted to remain in our gaol, where this veteran in villany, contrary to the expectation of all who ever heard of him, died a natural death on Thursday the 21st instant, instead of ending his days in a foreign land, or expiating his crimes on a gibbet.

Destruction of the Lower Assembly Rooms at Bath by Fire.-We regret to have to announce, that on Thursday night the 21st inst. those extensive, elegant, and far-famed premises, the Kingston, or Lower Assembly Rooms, Bath, were totally destroyed by fire. The loss of property is stated to be very great. The insurances effected amount to L. 13,000. accident happened is not known; the vaults, or rather the rooms under those appropriated for balls, reading rooms, &c. were used as a private theatre, and a play had been performed there that evening; next to which was a carpenter's shop, and adjoin

How the

ing that a large quantity of oil; consequently a fire breaking out amidst such inflammable matter, could not be otherwise than destructive. A gentleman named Houlton, one of the proprietors, had lately fitted up a suit of rooms in the premises, with much taste and elegance, for his residence, where he had collected musical instruments, pic tures, and many fine specimens of art, which can never be replaced; the whole of these were destroyed." The loss to the renter, Mr Mills, a worthy industrious man with a large family, is very great. Fortunately no lives were lost. The elegant chandeliers, pictures of Beau Nash, &c. were all consumed.

28.-Friendly Societies. A case, important to the members of friendly societies, was lately decided by the Justices of the Lower Ward of Lanarkshire. A society had advertised its intention of shutting, with an ulterior view to total dissolution, should the funds not recover within a specified time. By Mr Rose's act it is provided that such a measure is only justifiable when 4-5ths of the members consent, and also all the members receiving, or entitled to receive, aliment. A member of the latter description alone opposed the shutting or dissolving of the Society; and, -having applied to the Court for an interdict, he succeeded, and compelled the Society to keep its box open.

JANUARY.

1.-Edinburgh. The new year was welcomed here this morning with the usual noisy festivities. The streets were crowded, with parties on visits of congratulation to their friends. Harmony and good humour, however, generally prevailed; but such an occasion was not to be neglected by the numerous pickpockets who have of late infested the city; and we accordingly hear of many individuals who have been relieved of watches, snuff-boxes, handkerchiefs, &c.

6. Monument to the late King-The plan of an appropriate monumental groupe, to be executed in bronze, and erected in some public place, in commemoration of his late Majesty, has been submitted by an eminent artist to the principal Members of the Royal Family, and several of the nobility most distinguished for their taste in the fine arts. It has met with the most flattering approbation, and a committee of noblemen and gentlemen has been formed, under the immediate patronage of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, to carry the plan into immediate execution.

13-PUBLIC MEETINGS. Previous to the assembling of Parliament, the two great parties, Whig and Tory, have been making strenuous exertions throughout the country, for obtaining addresses to the throne, expressive of the views and opinions they entertain on the state of the nation, and the administration of its affairs.

With this view, meetings have been convened of corporations and other public bodies, presbyteries, counties, and the inhabitants of great towns. At these, the ministerial party have generally carried addresses expressive of their loyalty and attachment to the king and his government, and of their determination to support the constitution against the attempts which they assert have been made to subvert it, by the exertions of disaffected persons, in spreading seditious and irreligious opinions among the people. The opposition party, on the other hand, denying the existence generally of such a spirit, impute the distress and discontent which is acknowledged to prevail in the country, to the misconduct of the administration; and in several county meetings have moved amendments to the addresses expressive of this conviction, and praying his majesty to dismiss his present advisers. The fate of these amendments, in general, has been their rejection by considerable majorities, with the exception (in Scotland) of the county of Lanark, where the Whigs triumphed by a division of 94 to 90. In Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and other places, petitions to the king to dismiss his ministers have been carried in general meetings of the inhabitants. The meeting in Edinburgh took place in the Pantheon by public requisition on the 16th of December, and was attended by about 4000 of the inhabitants, Mr James Moncreiff, advocate, in the chair, when the resolutions were passed with only one dissentient voice. The same week, a meeting was held in the Council Chamber, where a counter address was prepared. The strongest efforts were made by the two parties to obtain signatures to their respective addresses. The public were invited to sign them by the circulation of pamphlets and the exhibition of placards in different parts of the town. The result was, that the Pantheon address obtained upwards of 17,000 names, and the Council Chamber one about as many hundreds. In the first, the middling and labouring classes of society greatly swelled the numbers, while the latter was mostly confined to persons of rank and property. Another display of strength took place yesterday in Edinburgh, where the adherents of the late great statesmen, Pitt and Fox, celebrated their anniversary, the former in the Assembly Rooms, and the latter in the Waterloo Hotel. The Marquis of Huntly presided over the Pitt party, to the number of 700, and the Earl of Rosslyn headed the other party, amounting to about 500.

Throughout England the parties have been equally industrious; and in several of the counties the opposition have carried addresses strongly condemning the conduct of ministers. At Chester county meeting the high sheriff declared the loyal address to be