Marvels in Marine Natural History, MISCELLANEOUS,-British Opinion of Jona. Edwards, Burying Alive, 141.--The Transformation of the Locust, A Ready Pen, Curious Legacy, African Exploration, 142.-Remarkable Feat in Metal Casting, 170-Famine in Jerusalem, 180.-Religious Toleration in China, 202-A Mistake, 280.-Anecdotes of the Swan River Natives, 284.-Telegraphic Communication between France and England, A Poem by Abd-el-Kader, 285.-Scraps from Punch, Lord Palmerston in Paris, Inauguration of a Synagogue, 286.—An unpublished work of Linnæus, Painting and Painters, 287.-The Nebula, Should Study be confined to one subject? 425.-Dissolution of the Society of Useful Knowledge, Indian Vocabulary, 429.-Wholesome unfermented Bread, Pronunciation of Indian Proper Names, Increasing Strength of the British Navy, 430.-Detached Thoughts from Jean Paul Richter, 431.-Literary Impositions, 570.-Detached Thoughts from Jean Paul Richter, Drunkenness in Cork, 571.

N

Nelson, Lord, Despatches and Letters of,

Fragments of Life, 281-Two Marys at the Tomb of Christ, Old Friends, Sleep, Three Mansions, 282.-Stanzas to the Art of Printing, Alone, The Harmony of Nature, 283.-Truth and Beauty, A Day of Spring, 426.-The Real and the Ideal, The Living and the Dead, A Victory, Memory, 427.---Blind Girl's Lament, Morning, Sonnet to Truth, 567.-Deeds not Words, The Grave of Two Sisters, Life according to Law, Labor's Thanksgiving Hymn, 568-A Steed in the Desert for me, A Night Thought, 569. Popular Superstitions of the Middle Ages,— Athenæum,

Pretender, the Young, and the Rebellion of '45,-Eclectic Review,

R

Royal and Illustrious Ladies, Letters of,British Quarterly Review,

S

SCIENCE AND ART-Early Map of the World, Steam Boilers,

Schiller, Life and Writings of,-Sharp's Magazine.

176

. 307

482

143

433

Select List of Recent Publications,

144, 288,

North British Review,

432,572

From the Edinburgh Review.
THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.

[The following eloquent and manly defence of liberty has been imputed to the pen of Lord Chief Justice Denman. Though specially designed to rebuke an encroachment upon popular rights which does not exist here, its noble principles and fervid arguments will find a response in every free heart.-ED.]

1. Minutes of the Proceedings of the House of Commons, July 5, 1845.

2. Minutes of the Proceedings of the House of Commons, Aug. 5, 1845. 3. Minutes of the Proceedings of the House of Lords, July 10, 1845. 4. Report from the Select Committee (of the House of Lords) appointed to search for Precedents in reference to the Petition of Thomas Baker for protection. 5. Minutes of the Proceedings of the House of Lords, 10th and 14th of July, 1845. 6. Lord Brougham's Speech on Privilege of Parliament. With his Protest against the decision of the House of Lords. July, 1845.

THE proceedings of both Houses of Parliament above referred to, show that persons VOL. VIII.-No. I.

37

who conceived themselves injured by false evidence, given against them behind their backs, to Committees of either House, brought actions for the purpose of vindicating their character from the slander; and that each House, on being informed, tion had been brought, sent for the plaintiff by petition of the party sued, that such acand his attorney, and, by direct menaces, compelled them to stay their actions, and so far submit to the imputations which the evidence had brought upon them. This was said to be done in exercise of Privilege of Parliament.

The fact cannot fail to awaken the most serious reflections in all constitutional minds. To interpose the authority of either House between any one of the Queen's subjects and the remedy which the law may give him against another for an invasion of his personal rights, would appear to be a most questionable practice; yet the step was taken by the House of Commons almost as a matter of course; in a thin house, towards the close of a session, with scarcely the form of a debate, and without any division. This vote of the Commons became a precedent for a similar vote, on a similar occasion, in the Lords. The greatest judicial body in the empire was strongly warn