nation only against attacks on one's friends, and regarded not the attacks on political enemies.

Mr Scarlett, in explanation, protested that it had no more entered his mind to throw a general stigma on any party, or any class of persons, than it had entered the mind of the noble lord. He had heard people out of doors say, that the particular paragraph complained of must have been written by a member of that House. He had heard no individual named. He did not believe it had been written by a member; and his honourable friend (Mr Bennet) had vindicated the House from such an imputation by proving the contrary from the mouth of the author at their bar.

Mr Bennet, in deference to the opinion expressed by several of his friends, begged leave to withdraw his

motion.

Mr Baring, however, conceiving that the House was thus left in an awkward situation, and that severe punishment was certainly due, moved the committal of Cooper to Newgate.

Lord Castlereagh proposed an amendment, by which he was to be placed in the custody of the serjeantat-arms, but afterwards withdrew it; and the original motion was carried by 109 against 23. In this minority, however, were included several of the most decided popular leaders.

On the 11th of July, the Session was closed by the following speech from the throne, delivered by commission to both Houses, by the Lord Chancellor :

"My Lords and Gentlemen, "We have it in command from his Majesty to inform you, that the state of public business having enabled him to dispense with your attendance in Parliament, he has determined to put an end to this Session.

" His Majesty, however, cannot close it without expressing his satisfaction at the zeal and assiduity with which you have prosecuted the laborious and important inquiries in which you have been engaged.

"He has observed, with particular pleasure, the facility with which the restoration of a metallic currency has been effected, by the authority given to the Bank of England to commence its payments in cash at an earlier period than had been determined by the last Parliament.

"His Majesty has commanded us to acquaint you, that he continues to receive from foreign powers the strongest assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country.

"Gentlemen of the House of Com

mons,

"We are commanded by his Majesty to return you his thanks for the provision which you have made for the public service.

"Although the public expenditure has already undergone considerable reduction within the present year, his Majesty trusts he shall be enabled by the continuance of peace, and of internal tranquillity, to make such further reductions as may satisfy the just expectations expressed by Parliament.

"His Majesty has commanded us to assure you of the gratification which he has derived from the provision which you have made for his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence.

"My Lords and Gentlemen, "It is with the greatest satisfaction that his Majesty has observed the quiet and good order which continue to prevail in those parts of the country, which were, not long since, in a state of agitation.

"His Majesty deeply laments the

distress to which the agricultural interests, in many parts of the kingdom, are still subject.

"It will be his Majesty's most anxious desire, by a strict attention to public economy, to do all that depends upon him for the relief of the country from its present difficulties; but you cannot fail to be sensible that

the success of all efforts for this purpose will mainly depend upon the continuance of domestic tranquillity; and his Majesty confidently relies on your utmost exertions, in your several counties, in enforcing obedience to the laws, and in promoting harmony and concord amongst all descriptions of his Majesty's subjects."

DURING the whole of this year, the personal concerns of the Royal Family, and the feelings of the nation with regard to them, continued to be prominent objects. We have already seen, that the sweeping and boundless enthusiasm, which once absorbed the nation, in favour of one member of that house, gradually abated. Even at the commencement of the present year, it was kept alive, almost wholly, by curiosity as to the measures to be taken by Parliament, and the situation in which her Majesty was to be placed. When the consequent debates were over, and when it was announced that the Queen had accepted the provision voted for her, an entire revolution ensued in the public mind. That impassioned interest in her concerns, which had perva ded the people, suddenly expired. The name which had resounded in every popular club and meeting, and filled the pages of every journal, was heard no longer. Even the most zealous of the popular leaders, no longer found that it could be employed with benefit to their cause. It had been well enough if matters had stopped here; but the

British public, though they may in time recognize their errors, seldom can take any moderate course to correct them. With a cruel caprice, they took delight now in trampling under foot the object of their former blind idolatry. It was by availing itself of this revolution, that a clever, witty, licentious, ultra-tory journal, succeeded in founding an almost unprecedented popularity upon unmeasured abuse of this recent favourite.

While one side of the Royal House thus suddenly sunk, the other as rapidly ascended in the favour of the public. There seemed to arise in the people an anxiety to atone for the readiness with which they had received, and listened, to the lavish insults poured forth by the enemies of royalty. These sentiments, on occasion of his Majesty's appearance at the Theatres, and other scenes of public resort, were testified by the loudest and most enthusiastic plaudits. Nor did the popular feeling evaporate with the moment, or experience that ebbing to which it is so liable. On the contrary, it has ever since flowed on in an uninterrupt

ed and increasing tide. Perhaps, indeed, there never was a sovereign who acted royalty so well as George IV. A deportment, in which majesty and graciousness are felicitously combined, which enables him to maintain all the dignity of the monarch, while it makes him felt as the personal friend of every one present, made it impossible for him to appear in public, without commanding the homage, and winning the heart, of every spectator.

A few experiments of this nature fully established the fact, that the public were prepared to welcome that august ceremony, which it had been hitherto judged unsafe to present to their eyes; yet, without which, installation into the office of King was not thoroughly completed. The arithmetical philosophy of the present day, has counted the cost, and proclaimed the emptiness of regal pageants. In this, it seems to shew itself over wise. Admitting, what may leave room for some controversy, that the people of England are become more grave and reflecting than heretofore, we may still doubt whether the mere abstract consideration of the benefits derived by the constitution from its executive branch, will maintain the "reverence due" in the minds of the multitude. Besides, though the display be made in name of, and with reference to, the person of the monarch, it goes to the behoof of all that endless crowd who attend as spectators, and scarcely less to that of the great body of the nation, to which, for at least a month, it afforded an inexhaustible fund of curiosity and conversation. Thus the people were fully prepared to applaud the ceremony, as made for themselves; and, forgetting all the doleful subjects which had engrossed its past lucubrations, turned an undivided attention to the pompous scene which was to be presented to its eyes.

Due preparation was now to be made for this august ceremony. The Hall and Abbey of Westminster, with the streets connecting them, were fitted up with vast galleries and platforms, capable of containing an almost endless multitude of spectators. All the dignitaries of the three kingdoms hastened from their remotest extremities, to claim the spots assigned to them by court and heraldic laws, on this splendid occasion. All things being duly and carefully arranged, on the 19th July. George IV. was crowned, in full pomp. The order of procession, and other details, belong to a future portion of the work; but it must be observed, in general, that the success was complete. England, on that day, made, in honour of her King, a full display of her modern wealth, combined with all the pomp of her early chivalry. The getting up was perfect; and not one of those marring incidents, which are apt to thrust themselves in on these occasions, and to mingle the ludicrous with the great, injured the effect of this national festival.

One jarring note alone sought to break the general harmony. Had the unfortunate Caroline been in any degree well advised, even as to prudence, she would have yielded to the torrent, and waited some more favourable opportunity of regaining her lost popularity. On the contrary, mortified, and eager to thrust herself forward, she formally advanced a claim to a share in the approaching solemnity, which, she well knew, if made good, would put a stop to it altogether. This claim, which, of course, had extensive usage in its favour, was received with that respect, which, in this country of law, is held due to whatever comes forward in a legal shape. The tribunal, indeed, to which the decision fell, being the Privy Council, could not be said to be a very favourable one. It received the claim,

however, and patiently listened to pleadings continued during several successive days. The decision was, that no such right belonged to her Majesty; and, as her advocates vainly attempted to spur on the public to an interference in the case, the verdict was evidently final. Hereupon, this unfortunate lady was impelled to take, on the very day, a measure involving a total oblivion of the dignity and delicacy suited to her character; but for the narration of which, we glady refer to another part of our volume.

The favourable impression made by these exhibitions, was improved by the King, in a series of excursions, which contributed widely to extend his popularity, and to diffuse through his people the spirit of loyalty. George III., even before the malady which wrapt his last days in gloom, had been of fixed and local habits. London, Windsor, and Weymouth, had been the circle, beyond which he scarcely moved. The appendant kingdoms had felt a dissatisfied surprise, that their royal possessor should not deign even to cast his eye upon them; that their capitals should not be graced, even for a moment, by the smiles and splendour of royalty. It was, therefore, an annunciation widely grateful to his people, that the present Sovereign was preparing to visit these exterior portions of his dominions. Ireland, from its magnitude, might fairly claim the priority; and Ireland was accordingly fixed upon for the summer expedition. In the end of August, the King went down to Portsmouth, and, crossing to the Isle of Wight, embarked at West Cowes, on board his yacht. Thence he proceeded round the western extremity of England towards Holyhead. Before he arrived there, however, an event had taken place at home, which engrossed for a short time the attention of the public.

The event to which we allude, is the death of the Queen, which took place at Brandenburgh House on the 7th August, after an illness of a few days. An obstruction of the bowels, followed by inflammation, and baffling all the remedies of art, led to its usual fatal termination. The death of those who have passed through great vicissitudes, are usually ascribed to mental causes; and the friends of the Queen exclaimed, that the series of wrong and suffering through which she had passed, afforded a too ample solution. Obser vers of a different cast might remark, that the malady affected organs over which the mind exercises no peculiar influence; that a simple physical cause was stated, in the taking of an over dose of magnesia; and that, as the Queen's health remained unimpaired during those critical proceedings which decided her fate, it was not likely that it should give way from mental agitation, after she was restored to comparative repose.

This event made a strong impression on the people. That enthusiastic attachment which seemed before almost extinct, was revived, for a time, in all its force, by this awful and final catastrophe; and manifested itself in an eager desire to pay to their former idolized favourite, a last tribute of homage.

An occasion seemed approaching when such an opportunity could not fail to be afforded. The Queen had expressed her wish to be buried at Brunswick, her native place; and, after some discussions as to the day, preparations were making to carry this desire into effect. For this purpose, the body must be embarked at Har wich for Germany, and, on its way, must necessarily pass through, or close by, London. The passage through the heart of London itself was the most direct and natural; and, in contempla