1820.]

sury Department at Washington, addressed to the Collectors of the different ports of the Union, for carrying these regulations into effect.

Notwithstanding the prohibitory laws of the American Legislature, two vessels sailed from New York on the 1st ult. wholly laden with arms and ammunition, known to be for Lord Cochrane's squadron, and other Patriot armaments. The cargoes were paid for in hard dollars.

King Christophe, of Hayti, has taken the prudent course of securing the attachment of his troops, by conceding to them grants of land, and advancing to them the means of cultivating them; while they are still within the reach of a summons to military duty. Conscious of his strength, the King rejects all overtures from France, that shall not come to him, with the recognition of his independence, as from one brother King to another.

The two Houses of Congress met on Monday, the 6th ult. In the Senate, the proceedings were confined to the appointment of some standing committees, and other matters of regulation. In the House of Representatives, an election took place for the office of Speaker; when Mr. Clay, of Kentucky, was re-chosen, by a majority of 147, out of 155 votes. Mr. Clay, in his address of thanks, observed, that "during the Session which was about to open, there was every reason to anticipate, that the matters which the House would be required to consider and decide would possess the highest degree of interest."The Houses having dispatched preliminary business, on the next day the President, Monroe, transmitted to the Congress the 'opening Message, or Speech, which presents an interesting view of the political state of the Union, with reference to its external relations and domectic economy.

The President commences by congratulating Congress on its once more being enabled to meet in the Capitol, in consequence of the restoration of the public buildings.

He next notices the sickness which has lately ravaged some of the principal cities; the health of which, he now assures them, the is completely restored. unusual drought which has prevailed in the Middle and Western States; but says, the harvest, though less abundant than usual, will be sufficient for home consumption, and will even leave a large surplus for exportation -and the derangement of some of the monied institutions, which has, however, diminished" by being left to those remedies which its obvious causes suggested."

The President then directs the attention of Congress to concerns with Foreign Powers. The negociations with Spain relative to the cession of Florida, being primary in point of interest, have the

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precedence; and it may be seen from the context of the Message, that the fate of Florida is determined. The President, in justification of the conduct of the American Government, enters into an historical narrative of the wrong's sustained by American citizens from Spain some twenty years ago, and of the engagements entered into by the Spanish Government for making compensation to the Americans for their losses. The negotiations on these points are represented to have been conducted on the part of Spain with all the wily hypocrisy which, unhappily for the interests of mankind, too frequently distinguish the diplomatic intercourse of rival States, and were protracted until the year 1818, when Don Onis, the Spanish Minister to the United States, with the full concurrence of his Government, concluded a treaty with the United States; by which, among other points, Florida was to be ceded to the Americans. The King of Spain has hitherto refused to ratify the treaty; alleging, that the Government of the United States has attempted to alter the effect of the 8th article of the treaty, relative to some private grants of land in Florida; and also, that it encouraged the buccaneering expedition which some time since seized upon the province of Texas. The President replies to the first charge, that these grants were actually antedated, in order to come within the treaty and if so, this, it will be acknowledged on all hands, was a transaction so much in the nature of a fraud, that it ought not to be suffered to stand for a moment against the fair sense and honourable construction of the treaty. The second allegation is met by a positive denial on the part of Mr. Monroe; who declares, that every sort of discouragement had been shown to such adventurers, whose project had utterly failed. The President having argued the merits of the case, and shown not only that Spain was bound by good faith to ratify the treaty, but that the opinion of France and Great Britain had been unequivocally expressed in favour of the ratification, he suggests to the Congress the propriety of considering, "whether it will not be proper for the United States to carry the conditions of the treaty into effect, in the same manner as if it had been ratified by Spain, claiming on their part all its advantages, and yielding to Spain all those secured to her." He admits, however, that the case forms a strong appeal to the candour, magnanimity, and honour of the United States:" that "much is due to courtesy between nations ;" and, above all, that " by a short delay they should, lose nothing; and thence concludes, that it "might be proper to make the law proposed for carrying the conditions of the treaty into effect, contingent; to suspend

its operation upon the responsibility of the Executive, in such manner as to afford an opportunity for such friendly explanations as may be desired during the present Session of Congress."

The President speaks of the South American contest with a manifest leaning to the Independents-either with the view of intimidating Ferdinand, or conciliating the new republics. The progress of the war, he remarks, has operated manifestly in favour of the Colonies; and he glances generally at the probable acknowledgment by the United States of the Independent Governments in South America as an event not far distant. The observance of a strict neutrality between the contending parties is, however, still to be enforced.

The relations between Great Britain and the United States occupy a short, though pithy portion of the Message. The sum of what the President communicates on that head is, that, having found it imprac ticable to obtain from England a more unrestrained and ample intercourse between the United States and the British colonies, both in the West Indies and on the Continent, he recommends to Congress further "prohibitory provisions" in the laws relating to that intercourse.

The true intent of the article of the treaty of Ghent, in relation to the carrying off, by British officers, of slaves from the United States, has been referred to the decision of a foreign Sovereign, the common friend of both parties; and his answer is to indicate what further measures are to be pursued by the United States on this subject.

Mr. Monroe describes the revenue as being in a flourishing condition, notwithstanding the pecuniary embarrassments which still continue to exist in various parts of the Union; and which have, he

He then notices the new works that are nearly completed, or going on; such as those in the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesa peake Bay, on the Pontomac, below Alexaudria, on the Peapatch in the Delaware, and at the Narrows in New York Harbour; as well as the establishment of new stations on the Mississippi and the Missouri.

"Much progress has been made in the construction of ships of war, and in the collection of timber and other materials for ship-building."

The Message concludes by recommending, that the American squadron shall not be withdrawn from the Mediterranean and states, that it has been found necessary to maintain a strong naval force in the Atlantic, the Pacific, and Indian Seas, to protect their commerce from the piracies of adventurers from every country.-Orders have been sent to the commanders of their public ships, to bring all such vessels, navigated under the American flag, to be proceeded against according to law.

Such are the leading points of this im portant public document; in which the President of the United States has displayed a degree of wisdom and moderation highly honourable to himself as a statesman; and which, if strictly acted upon, cannot fail to redound to the cha racter and interests of his country.

New South Wales.-The population in 1817, was 17,165: in 1818, 21,294. In 1817, the acres of land in cultivation were 230,361; in 1818, 284,852. In 1818, the colony contained 3454 horses, 6457 horned cattle, 73,361 sheep, and 22,633 hogs.

INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS. Dec. 7. At two o'clock, his Royal Highness the Prince Regent held a Court at Carlton House. His Royal Highness the Duke of Glocester (who arrived in London on Monday evening, to be in readiness to head the University of Cambridge in presenting the Address to the Prince,) came to Carlton House at a quarter past three o'clock, to meet the Members of the University, who arrived in procession, two and two, from Willis's Rooms, where they had assembled at three o'clock. The Duke of Gloucester, as Chancellor, presented the Address, which was as follows:

"We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Chancellor, Masters,

and Scholars of the University of Cambridge, beg leave to offer to your Royal Highness a renewed assurance of our un abated, devotion to your Royal Highness, and to his Majesty's Government.

"Connected, by the most sacred obligations, with the support of the civil and ecclesiastical establishments, we trust that the sincerity of our attachment is unquestioned. But we are peculiarly anxious, at this juncture, to express to your Royal Highness how deeply sensible we are of the dangers by which they are assailed.

"The attacks of infidelity and blasphemy, (audacious and persevering beyond all former example,) have awakened our liveliest apprehensions: convinced as we are that the corruption of the human heart renders it liable to be seduced, by

doctrines

́preached an appropriate discourse, from Gen. XXVIII., 16, 17. "Surely the Lord is in this place! This is none other but the House of God; and this is the gate of Heaven." The discourse, we understand, will appear in the two volumes, which will soon be published by that Gentleman, towards liquidating the debt which the great and expensive work of building the Church has necessarily drawn upon the parish. The edifice is in the florid Gothic style, and contains, we are happy to hear, a considerable number of free sittings for the poor. The windows are of cast-iron, covered with a stone paint of the same colour as the structure itself, whose lofty Spire is a fine object to the surrounding country. In the Parliamentary act for building this church is a clause, which though militating against his own interest, was adopted at the express desire of the present Vicar, (viz.) that no vaults or graves be made in the ailes: a practice which, elsewhere, is too prevalent, detrimental not only to the fabrics thus excavated and undermined, but also, perhaps to the health of the living worshippers, without any way benefitting the dead*.

Dec. 21, being St. Thomas's Day, as usual, a stag was turned out from Blenheim Park, the property of his Grace the Duke of Marlborough. It directed its course towards Wickham; from thence it took the high road and proceeded to Oxford; and then formed one of the most beautiful and picturesque sights that can be imagined. The stag, and dogs in close pursuit, followed by a great number of well-known and experienced sportsmen, proceeded up the High-street, as far as Brazenose College; when, to the no small astonishment of hundreds of spectators, the stag took refuge in the chapel, during divine service; where it was killed, sans ceremonie, by the eager dogs.

Dec. 21. In a petition presented by the Presbytery of Hamilton, printed by order of the House of Commons, it is stated, that "in many instances nearly one half of the weavers are unemployed at the looms, and even when so employed, the pittance of wages is in most cases so scanty, that when a family has to be supported by the earnings of one man, it is absolutely impossible for him, without other aid, to keep them in existence. Many families in the several parishes cannot now attend, as formerly, their public ministrations in church from the want of decent clothing; and the education of their children is now, in many cases, neglected from the same cause;" adding, "that if the pressure of want could be removed, they feel perfectly assured peace and quietness, so far as respects the great body of the manufactur

* See the Gent. Mag. for last Nov. on this subject, p. 406.

ing population, would follow of course." The heritors of the parish of Rutherglen make a statement concurring entirely with that of the Presbytery of Hamilton as to the inadequacy of wages, want of employment for, and sufferings of the manufacturing population.

Dec. 26. As Mr. Puddecombe, a respectable farmer, was returning from Barnstable market with a considerable sum of money in his pocket, he was thrown by his horse over the bridge, and has not yet been found. It is supposed, some persons held a rope across, and by lifting it up when he was passing, frightened the spirited animal; and thus, by an idle frolic, caused his untimely and lamented death. He has left a wife and five small children to bewail his loss.

Dec. 30. Benj. Surr, of Leeds, an unfortu nate maniac, was lately discovered chained in his father's cellar, where he had remained about sixteen years: he was conveyed to Leeds workhouse, and there died on this day. The warmth and comfort which he experienced during the week that he was in the workhouse, were so different from the rigours to which his constitution had been habituated, that they produced the evil they were meant to avert.

Sidmouth, Dec. 30.-Yesterday and this day, the weather proving favourable, their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and the Princess, have been each day on the promenade, where they continued walking a considerable time. The dangerous practice of inexperienced persons being trusted with guns had yesterday been nearly attended with disastrous consequences: an apprentice boy, shooting at small birds, had the audacity to approach so near the residence of their Royal Highnesses, that the shot broke the windows of the nursery, and passed very near the head of the infant Princess, who was in the arms of the nurse. The delinquent was detected; but, at the request of the Duke, he was pardoned, upon a promise of desisting from such culpable pursuits.

Jan. 7. This morning the Birmingham Theatre was totally destroyed by fire. The manager, Mr. Bunn, left the theatre at eleven about one, the flames were discovered, and at three the roof fell. Pizarro had been performed that evening; and the wadding from the pistol fired at Rolla is supposed to have lodged in the scenery. It is remarkable, that to a like cause, in the same play, the destruction of Covent Garden Theatre was attributed. The building was insured for 70001. and the furniture for 20001.

Jan. 15. On Sunday morning last, about half-past three o'clock, the range of building in the northern part of Magdalen Hall, in the University of Oxford was discovered (by the guard of a mail coming