form was to be an open question like that regarding the Catholics, and be supported by part of the Ministry.-Sir Francis Burdeti declared that nothing of the kind had been sought.-Sir E. Knatchbull said, that, seeing by whom the Ministers were surrounded, he must withdraw his support from Mr. Canning's Administration. Mr. Canning declared he should oppose Parliamentary Reform, and also the Test Act Repeal.-Sir George Warrender said, that he would give the Government his independent support, and he was convinced it had the support of the country.-Lord John Russell said, he was too well pleased at the resignation of the seceders to wish t see them restored now at the price of Parliamentary Reform. May 7. General Gascoyne brought forward his motion for a Committee to inquire into the present distressed state of the Shipping interest. Mr. Huskisson rose to oppose the motion, and expose the fallacy of the gallant General's statements. He declared the allegations of the Ship-owners, that British trade had declined, to be untrue. The Hon. Gentleman then stated that in 1814, our trade with other ports in Europe amounted to 540,000 tons, and in 1826 it came up to 878,000. In the last year, eggs, to the astonishing number of 65,000,000, were imported from France, the duty on which amounted to 22,000l. As respects the trade to the West Indies, one fact is certain, that, in the last year, and while that trade was open to others, the amount of British shipping engaged there, has been greater than in any of the six preceding years. (Hear, hear.) Then as to our trade with North America, in place of 151,000 tons, it now amounts to 391,000 tons; and in the last year, it exceeded that that of every other, except 1825. With the East Indies our trade has increased from 50,000 to 72,000 tons. With respect to the African trade, which is one of a most valuable description to England, the increase has been from 9,000 to 26,000 tons. As to Ireland, in that country there has been a great increase in trade, not only to the Baltic, but to the Colonies, and at that I exceedingly rejoice. In the year 1784, the quantity of timber which came from British North America, was 784 loads; from the FRANCE. Baltic, 105,000. In the year 1895, we imported from America, 407,000 loads, and from the Baltic, 270,000. (Hear, hear.) The coasting trade, so important to this country, amounted in the year 1823, to 7,399,000 tons; in 1824, 8,110,000; in 1825, 8,340,080; and in 1826, 8,306,000 tons. Thus, this trade has grown with our growth, and is of the greatest advantage to the towns along our coasts. Can, then, any one say, after all this, that our maritime interest is diminished? He had heard no one fact laid down in the reasoning adduced to support the motion which could prove the case that it was necessary to establish; consequently he would give to the motion his most decided negative. After some remarks from Mr. Peel, the motion was withdrawn. [Both Houses have been occupied night after night, with acrimonious discussions on the new Administration, resulting from questions put to the Members of Government by the new Tory opposition; but the debates thence arising would be little more than a recapitulation of sentiments expressed in the meetings of the two Houses, which, from the importance of the subjects, we have just given at considerable length.] HOUSE OF LORDS, May 17. On the Petition of W. Turner, esq. of Shrigley Park, Cheshire, leave was given to bring in a bill to annul the marriage of Miss Turner with E. G. Wakefield, who was then a prisoner in Newgate, and from whom Lord Eldon presented a petition, praying to be heard at the bar of the House against the Bill. On presenting an Anti-Catholic petition, a discussion arose, in which Lord Holland and the Marquis of Lansdown opened their Ministerial campaign in support of the new order of things. In this discussion, Lord Abingdon spoke as follows:-"All my life I have been a supporter of regular Governments, and have possessed feelings of loyalty and attachment to the Constitution in Church and State, as by law established: believing that to such principles the country owed its greatness, its peace, and prosperity; I cannot, therefore, with these feelings, join or support a Government, of whose principles I never can approve." FOREIGN A Royal Ordinance has dissolved the National Guard of Paris. That Guard, (says the Journal des Debats,) was composed of the select inhabitants of the capital. It has existed for a series of years, and rendered immense services to order and to NEWS. royalty. Its lines have twice protected peace within and without, against the movements of foreign invasion and anarchy. Twice has the restoration appeared amidst its ranks, protected by its acclamations, supported by its devotion, and sometimes defended by its arms. This Guard, truly national, is no more. It was in the first place, in the midst of the second legion, immediately after his Majesty had passed, (says the Quotidienne,) that one of the grenadiers of the 2d battalion mingled with the general cry of "Vive le Roi!" that of "A bas les Ministres !" The Duke of Reggio ordered him to be arrested, but he escaped among the lines. Passing in front of the 7th legion, the King's ears were again assailed with the cries of a National Guard, who could not restrain his animadversions on the Ministers. His Majesty stopped, and said in a noble and firm tone,-"I came here to receive the homage of my people, and not remonstrances." The King ordered this National Guard to be broken and degraded. To palliate his irreverence, several of his comrades exclaimed, "Vive le Roi!" and taking advantage of this circumstance, he made off. One man belonging to the 8th regiment was particularly remarked for his disrespectful conduct. Count St. Roman ordered him under arrest; and on his promise to surrender himself, he was allowed to remain free in the lines. The clamour appeared to be most violent in the 3d, 5th, and 8th regiments. The 30th Legion on its return from the Champ-de-Mars, in passing through the rue de Rivoli, mingled with cries of "Vive le Roi ! " the exclamation, a thousand times repeated, of "A bas -Villele." " During a debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the Budget for the year 1828, M. Lafitte made an allusion to the late disbanding of the National Guard, which produced great agitation, and a cry of "Impeach the Ministers was raised by several voices. M. Lafitte said, if four Deputies would bring the act of impeachment, he would sign it. Immediately several other members declared they would sign it. Order being restored, M. de Villele observed, that he should have had reason to fear impeachment had he not advised the disbanding of the Guard. "I shall never dread," said he, an impeachment for a measure necessary for the public interest and the safety of the country, which was not to be replunged into revolution by want of firmness on the part of the advisers of the crown." A most lamentable accident lately took place at the commune of St. Jean le Vieux, in the department of Basses Pyrenees. Just as the worthy priest of the Commune had finished mass, the vault of the church gave way, and the roof fell in with a tremendous crash. A great number of persons were buried in the ruins, and eight or ten lost their lives. Several females were most shockingly mutilated, and it was with difficulty that they were extricated from the mass of stones heaped on every side. The church was in a very dilapidated state; but people resorted to it, as there was no other in the vicinity. SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. Orders have been issued from the War Office, for a retrograde movement of the Army of Observation, to the same distance from the frontiers as the English and Portuguese corps. These orders are the consequence of representations made by Mr. Lamb and M. Lima, on the advance of the Spanish army, which appeared to have no object but to support the insurrection of Elvas, and to endeavour to extend it to other frontier fortresses of Portugal. The measures of the present Ministry circular from the Minister of Grace and Justice, addressed to the Presidents of all the superior tribunals of the kingdom, contains the following passage:-"His Majesty, after having heard his Council of State, and Ministers, orders that the members of secret societies, who may not be voluntarily denounced, shall be immediately arrested, tried, and condemned to death, conformably to what is prescribed by the decree passed to that effect in 1824." Intelligence from Madrid announces an engagement on the frontiers of Gallicia, between the Spaniards and Portuguese. The latter, it is said, contrary to the faith of treaties, had penetrated into several Spanish villages, which they pillaged. Some soldiers of the regiment of militia of Montreacy marched against the Portuguese, and, notwithstanding their inferiority in point of numbers, charged them, and compelled them to recross the frontier. The militia, carried away by their ardour, penetrated, on their return, into the Portuguese territory, where a number of them were made prisoners. On Sunday the 29th of April, four companies of the 8th regiment of foot revolted, and attempted to proclaim Don Miguel. They expected to be joined by the artillery, but were opposed by them in Praca. They were surrounded by the 5th foot, 3d cavalry, and part of the artillery, with three fieldpieces. They fired blank cartridges over their heads, when they were persuaded by their colonel to retire to their barracks. After this, all was quiet till about day-light, when we were disturbed by the firing of artillery. They had risen to get possession of the Esquina-gate. In the night a reinforcement had arrived from the 1st Caçadores, and the 5th and 8th cavalry, from different parts. The Caçadores dislodged them from the fort. After pretty smart firing, they got in front of the Royal arsenal and artillery, where commenced a considerable firing for about an hour and a half. They had possession of the convent of Paulistas. One friar was killed; another made prisoner. The peasants were more determined than the troops; women joined, crying "Viva Don Miguel." The Princess Regent has published an amnesty for the rebels, excluding from pardon all officers who deserted, all chiefs of the revolted peasantry, the magistrates and ecclesiastics, who joined them, and the rebellious junta denominated the Supreme Government of the kingdom. Her Majesty has been labouring under a severe illness for some time past. AFRICA. Major Laing has fallen a victim to his perseverance in endeavouring to explore the interior of Africa, after reaching Tombuctoo. On his arrival, the Fellahs, to the number of 30,000, demanded him, in order to put him to death, "and to prevent thereby," they said, "christian nations from profiting by his information to penetrate some day into these distant countries for the purpose of enslaving them." The Prince who commanded at Tombuctoo, refused to give him up, and sent him out privately under an escort of fifteen of his own guard. The Fellahs, however, discovered this, pursued, and murdered Major Laing, and those who guarded him. Meanwhile the Fellahs, whose ambition is equal to their ferocity, availing themselves of Major Laing's arrival at Tombuctoo, and of the species of protection which he had received there, seized upon that city, and imposed an annual tribute, which the inhabitants, unable to offer resistance, are in future to pay, for having, as it is said, made themselves accomplices in a project of invasion meditated by the infidels. This information is communicated by a Scheik of Tripoli, who has long resided at Tombuctoo. He declares that there exists a very interesting history of this town, which traces the foundation of it to 510 of the Hegira (1116 of J. C.), written by Sidi Ahmed Baba, a native of Arawau, a small town of the country of the Kentes, a considerable people of Soudan. DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. April 8. A numerous and respectable meeting of members of the London Royal College of Surgeons was held at the Bath Hospital, when it appeared to be the general opinion that the powers entrusted to the Royal College called for the interference of the Legislature, and a resolution was adopted to the following effect:-That the testimonials of hospital attendance required by the present system of the College are both inadequate and unjust; privileges being granted to one year's walking through an hospital in London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, which are denied to several years' attendance and dressing in the provincial hospitals of this country, although the latter afford, in many instances, more ample opportunities of acquiring surgical knowledge. It was agreed to petition Parliament. April 23. The Shakspearian Jubilee, at Stratford on Avon, was celebrated, in commemoration of the natal day of Shakspeare. During the whole of Sunday, the 22d, the several stage coaches from London and the neighbouring towns, were crowded with passengers, and vehicles of every description were put in requisition at Birmingham, Warwick, Leamington, and the adjacent villages, to convey the immense number of individuals who were anxious to witness this splendid pageant, the first upon any scale of magnitude that has taken place since the Garrick jubilee, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of September, 1769. The festival was conducted by the Shakspearian Club established at Stratford-upon-Avon, who, anxious to do honour to their illustrious townsman (Shakspeare), and to show their loyalty to their Sovereign, have proposed holding_a Triennial Commemorative Festival on St. George's day, the 23d of April, and to continue the same on the two following days. The subscriptions have been most liberal. Soon after six, the inhabitants were serenaded by the various bands of instrumental performers parading the town, and subsequently by the ringing of bells, firing of cannon, &c. The arrangements in the line of procession were very judicious, and controlled by the committee, wearing sashes and medals, assisted by about 50 constables. The procession, which had a most brilliant effect from the splendor of the armour, dresses, banners, chariots, and other decorations by Mr. Palmer, passed through the principal streets, amidst the plaudits of an immense congregation, to the birth-place of Shakspeare, which still remains in its former state. In front of the house a temporary hustings had been erected, and upon the cavalcade arriving at the spot, the officiating gentlemen having taken their places, the bust of Shakspeare was crowned by Thalia and Melpomene, and an appropriate address was delivered. At the conclusion, the procession moved on to the church, and at the termination of divine service, returned to the site of the intended new Theatre, which is partly erected, where the Mayor, assisted by the Corporation, laid the chief corner-stone in due form. The Gloucester and Berkeley ship canal which commenced in 1792, has been opened; and at high water the ship Anne, of three hundred tons, Philips, master, belonging to Mr. Irvine, Bristol, was hauled COMMONERS.-Secretary of State for the Home Department, Rt. Hon. W. S. Bourne ;* President of the Board of Trade, Rt. Hon. W. Huskisson;* President of the Board of Control, Rt. Hon. C. W. Wynn;* Secretary at War, Visc. Palmerston ;* First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt. Hon. G. Canning." NOT IN THE CABINET.-Lord High Admiral, the Duke of Clarence; Master-Gen. of the Ordnance, Marq. of Anglesea; Lord Chamberlain of the Household, Duke of Devonshire; Master of the Horse, Duke of Leeds; Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieut. of Ireland, the Hon. W. Lamb.* LAW APPOINTMENTS.-Master of the Rolls, Sir John Leach;* Vice-Chancellor, Sir Anthony Hart; Attorney-General, Sir James Scarlett; Solicitor-General, Sir N.C.Tindal. April 7. At the Kingston Assizes, Daniel Buckley, Jeremiah Andrews, and Dan. Pycroft, were severally indicted for feloniously and traitorously coining at Lambeth, adjoining the Vauxhall Road, four counterfeit sovereigns, one hundred counterfeit half-sovereigns, one hundred counterfeit half-crowns, one hundred counterfeit shillings, and one hundred counterfeit sixpences. It was proved on the trial that this illegal traffic was carried on to a most extraordinary extent. Buckley and Andrews were convicted, and Pycroft acquitted. On the 23d of April Buckley and Andrews underwent the sentence of the law at Horsemonger-lane Gaol. As is usual in cases of high treason, the men were drawn across the yard on a hurdle, the executioner standing behind them with a drawn sword to the scaffold. The last execution at this prison for high treason was that of Colonel Despard and his associates; but since that time the infliction of the mutilation of the bodies, prescribed by the old law, has been repealed. The noblemen and gentlemen whose titles or names are marked with an asterisk, have voted for the Roman Catholic question. GENT. MAG. May, 1827. May 8. At a public dinner of the Clergy of London, where the Bishops of London, Chester, and Landaff, and about 150 Clergymen, were present, the toast of "Church and King" was given (with great applause) : the Bishop of London then addressed the Meeting, and told them that on the occasion of the late Ministerial changes, his Majesty had graciously sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury and himself, requesting they would wait on his Majesty. They accordingly did so, and in the interview with which the King honoured them, his Majesty stated most explicitly, that he had sent for them, as the heads of the Metropolitan Clergy, in order, through them, to lic at large, what his Majesty's sentiments satisfy their respective Clergy, and the pubwere with respect to the much-agitated Catholic question. His Majesty declared most Positively, that he entertained the same Father, and those which his Majesty was known to entertain when Prince Regent. His Majesty further gave as his reasons for those sentiments, that he took precisely the same view of the Coronation Oath which his revered Father and his lamented brother the Duke of York had taken; and that his sentiments as those of his late revered Majesty felt convinced that nothing could shake or alter his opinions on this momenmanded the Archbishop of Canterbury and tous question. His Majesty then comsentiments known to their respective Clergy, the Bishop of London, to make these his in order that no misconception might, by any possibility, exist, as to his Majesty's views in the late Ministerial arrangementsthe result of circumstances equally unforeseen and unpleasant to his Majesty. A general Meeting of the Protestant Society for the protection of Religious Liberty was lately held at the City of London tavern ; Lord Milton in the chair. It was supposed more than 3000 persons were present. The great object which occupied the attention of the Meeting was the measures now in progress for procuring the abolition of the Corporation and Test Acts. Mr. Wilks read the report, which stated that in every part of England and Wales; in every city, town, and village, petitions upon the subject were in preparation, and were in numerous instances signed by Clergymen of the Church of England and Magistrates. The various resolutions having been proposed and carried, Lord Milton, in conclusion, exhorted the Society to persevere, for that, "among the persons who were now entrusted with the administration of the affairs of the country, there was so much liberality and talent, that he felt assured it was impossible for the statute book to be much longer disgraced by the continuance of any religious tests."-Since this Meetiug, numerous petitions from the Protestant Dissenters have been presented to Parlia ment, praying for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. May 14. In the Court of King's Bench, Edw. Gibbon Wakefield (whose trial and conviction for the abduction of Miss Turner, was given in p. 360) was sentenced to three years imprisonment in Newgate; and Wm. Wakefield, his brother, for the same period in Lancaster Castle. A bill is in progress through the House of Lords for the annulment of the marriage. See p. 454. May 18. About 20 min. before 7 p. m. the water broke into the Thames Tunnel with irresistible violence, forcing its way through that part of the work which the labourers had been employed during the day in excavating, and in a short time the whole of the tunnel, to the mouth of the shaft, was com pletely filled. About 160 men were engaged in the excavation, when the alarm was raised that the river had broken in. Tallat, the under engineer, and Messrs. Brunel, jun. and Gravatt, the principal engineers, remained for several minutes, using every endeavour, at the imminent peril of their lives, to stop up the cavity through which the water oozed; but all their efforts proving unavailing against the increasing rush of the water, they were forced to retreat towards the shaft. The instant the accident occurred, a general consternation prevailed amongst the workmen, and they simultaneously rushed towards the shaft. It appears that at a quarter before seven o'clock, the 12 shields, or frame-works, were in the act of being propelled forward at the end of the tunnel, to enable the workmen to excavate more securely; and at that time the tunnel extended 580 feet under the Thames. The workmen employed in propelling No. 11 and 12 shields, observed the soil to give way between these shields, and in a few seconds afterwards, the water poured in through an aperture about six inches in diameter. Tallat, the engineer, screwed up three doorways as he retreated towards the shaft, and he was obliged to swim a considerable distance. The engineers are quite confident that they shall be able to repair the injury, and that the only consequence which will arise from it, will be the retarding of the work. The greatest exertions have since been made, and with some success, to stop the leak, and the men employed in throwing clay into the river over the spot from whence the damage has arisen. The steam-engine has been in full work, and Mr. Brunel feels confident, from the means he has adopted, that the work will in a short time be re sumed, and proceed as usual. On Monday, the 21st inst. at low tide, Mr. Brunel, sen., Mr. Brunel, jun., and Mr. Gravatt, descended in the diving-bell to the bed of the river, in order to ascertain the efficacy of the measures which had been adopted. In addition to large quantities of strong clay, some bags filled with the same composition have, with the help of long spikes, been lowered into the river, and laid in such a position as would best answer the purpose intended. Messrs. Brunell descended principally to ascertain whether these bags had been properly placed. table Meeting of persons friendly to the May 20. A very numerous and respecestablishment of a Society for the Diffusion of the Principles of the Reformation, was held at Freemasons'-Hall. The committee, among whom were the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, the Bishop of Salisbury, Earls Winchelsea and Roden, Lords Mandeville, Farnham, Carbery, and Barham, the Hon. and Rev. Gerard Noel, the Hon. J. J. Strutt, the Hon. James King, the Baring, Sir Robert Inglis, several Members Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, Sir Thomas distinction, were present. Lord Mandeof Parliament, and many other persons of ville was called to the chair. Mr. Gordon stated, that the objects of the society were first, to assist the resident gentry and clergy of Ireland, and other societies, secondly, to occupy vacant ground, by the in the distribution of the Scriptures; and publication of tracts, and endeavouring to Irish resident in London, upwards of circulate religious instruction among the 130,000 of whom were to be found in one district in this eity.-The Meeting was addressed by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, by Lords and other persons. The sum of 5231, was Roden, Farnham, Winchelsea, Carbery, collected in the hall. May 20. A Cabinet Council was held at the residence of Mr. Canning, at which the three newly-appointed Cabinet Ministers, viz. the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Carlisle, and Mr. Tierney, attended, for the first time; the other Cabinet Ministers present were-the Lord Chancellor, Right Hon. George Canning, Duke of Portland, Marquis of Anglesea, Earl Harrowby, Mr. Bourne, Viscount Dudley and Ward, Lord Bexley, Right Hon. W. Huskisson, and Right Hon. C. Wynn. May 22. The Duke of Clarence presided at the anniversary dinner of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. In addressing the company after dinner, his Royal Highness said, "Whether the declaration I am about to make be popular or unpopu lar, I think it right, in reference to the peculiar character of this Meeting, to declare, at this time, that to the sound and rigid principles of the Church of England I am unalterably attached-and that it will be, at all times, and under all circumstances, my first desire and duty to maintain those principles."-These sentiments, delivered by the next heir to the Throne of these Realms, will be appreciated, as they ought to be, by |