and filled two hundred folio pages. In it, the reporter accompanies the convicts from the shores of England on their passage out, to their landing in the region of their banishment. He then pursues them through their several employments in the public service, or in that of individuals, whether free settlers, or emancipated convicts. He describes the course and objects of their work-the superintendence and discipline to which they are subjected the inefficacy of both towards any sensible amelioration of their vicious and abandoned habits-and after enlarging freely on what he conceives to be the errors and abuses of the local government in its treatment of this worse than barbarous population, he recommends the adoption of a series of wholesome, or at least plausible, changes in the future arrangements of the colony, and in the exercise of those extensive powers, which are unavoidably lodged with the governor of such a community, at such a distance from home. The following are some of the most important results of Mr. Bigg's observations. It seems to be acknowledged, that the severe and stern control, which once distinguished the treatment of convicts, both by the officers of government and by the resident magistracy, has been of late years much relaxed. The increasing numbers, both of the criminal and the respectable population, have been assigned as the principal cause of this misfortune. As the free settlers have multiplied rapidly, even in proportion to the number of the convicts, the public sefety of the settlement is of course less endangered, than at an early period of its existence. Moreover, the convicts now exceed ten times their original number; at least 4-5ths of them are of necessity permitted to go at large for several hours of each day, and those inhabiting the towns of the settlement, are allowed to congregate when they are not employed at work. It is plain, therefore, that the same degree of rigorous and constant superintendance would neither be supported by the same stimulus of natural alarm, nor could be applied, were it even thought necessary, with the same success as at first. Instead of being landed as formerly, on a desert coast, with only a detachment of soldiers and a band of constables to superintend them, each cargo of criminals now finds a large assortment of old colleagues in vice-a considerable town with all the resources of licentiousness to give play to their depraved and inveterate habits and a body of free inhabitants fast rising into wealth, that their propensity to fraud or force may not want matter for indulgence. Thus, transportation to New South Wales has ceased to afford the means either of punishing crime, or of reforming the criminal. So large a body as nearly 4,500 convicts of both sexes were in September, 1820, inhabiting in or about Sydney alone; and to show what progress had been made towards a purification of their old practices, the magistrates were obliged to sentence and punish (exclusive of those who were tried by the superior courts) 1,317 of these, or rather more than two in seven! It would appear that the most powerful motive to industry and sobriety in the convicts, viz. the hope of improving their condition through the practice of these homely virtues, has been but rarely or injudiciously called into action by the colonial government. From the want of steadiness or sagacity, neither mildness, nor coercion, have been so managed as to exhibit their just effects; the one having generally produced ungrateful insolence; the other, idle desperation. As a summary of the whole amount of converts decency though even them, according to a respectable clergyman, the generality "resident on their own property are poor and immoral, with little religion among the best, and no appearance of it among the greater part," "-even of such, there could be calculated no more than about 367, out of a total of 4,376 "re to among mitted" convicts; that is, of convicts, who, either having been pardoned, or having completed their period of penal service, had become residents in the colony. The female convicts practise universally and openly the most brutal prostitution. The chief remedy, which Mr. Bigg recommends for the evils which he has pointed out, is, that the greater portion of the convicts, instead of being collected in Sydney, and the four or five other towns of the colony, should be transported to three new settlements on the coast, not affording the means of indulgence to profligacy, and there subjected to a more penal system of administration. CHAP. IX. Motions respecting Sir Robert Wilson's Dismissal-The Queen's Fu neral-Mr. Hunt's Imprisonment-The Conduct of the Bishop of Peterborough-Prorogation of Parliament, and Speech from the Throne-His Majesty's Visit to Scotland-Death of Lord Londonderry-His Funeral-His Character-Mr. Canning succeeds him— Other Official Appointments-Foreign Stocks. Bwhich we have given an majesty, queen Caroline. ESIDES the proceedings of lated at the funeral of her late account, some other subjects were brought before parliament, which excited keen debate, though in themselves of little or no intrinsic importance. Early in the session, sir Robert Wilson made a motion concerning his own dismissal from the service. The gallant general entered into a full explanation of his conduct on the 14th of August, 1821, and moved for "copies of the correspondence which had taken place between him and the commander in chief, and others, on the subject of his dismissal." Ministers resisted this motion, not on the positive demerits of sir Robert Wilson, but on the constitutional prerogative of the king to erase from the army-list any officer in the service, no matter whether he had purchased his commissions or not. The House coincided with their view of the question, by a division of 199 against 97, leaving a majority against sir Robert's motion of 102. On the 6th of March, Mr. Bennet moved, that the respect and solemnity, which by antient custom were observed at the funerals of queens of England, had been unnecessarily and indecorously vioVOL. LXIV. Mr. Peel gave a triumphant refutation to all the charges which were brought forward: and even Dr. Lushington was forced to make such admissions, as overthrew the alleged reasons by which the motion was supported. It was accordingly negatived without a division. Many petitions were presented, praying the House of Commons to interfere in behalf of Mr. Hunt, who was still a prisoner in Ilchester gaol; and sir Francis Burdett made a formal motion to the same effect. The misconduct of the governor of Ilchester gaol, and the exertions of Mr. Hunt in exposing his alleged mal-practices, were, the principal arguments urged to show that the period of confinement, to which the latter had been sentenced, ought to be shortened. Mr. Peel resisted the motion strenuously; and declared, that even if the House voted an address to the effect now sought, he would not advise the crown to accede to it. Sir Francis's proposition was of course rejected. In this session, also, as in the former, the conduct of the bishop of Peterborough was rendered the subject of discussion in the House [N] of Lords, in consequence of a petition from a clergyman of the name of Grimshawe, complaining that he had been excluded from his preferment in the diocese of Peterborough, because he had been unable to answer satisfactorily 87 questions, propounded by the reverend prelate. Lord Dacre introduced the petition with a speech of some length, in which he described the course pursued by the bishop, as unusual, uncanonical, illiberal, and in opposition to the spirit of the constitution. The bishop of Peterborough defended the right of every prelate to examine both candidates for orders, and also ordained clergymen seeking admission into his diocese, except when the latter had obtained from his former diocesan a certificate of the correctness of his life and morals, and of the conformity of his religious opinions to the articles and liturgy of the church. Mr. Grimshawe had not obtained any such certificate of conformity, and, in the absence of that testimonial, he felt himself fully justified in propounding the questions alluded to, which were, however, strictly regulated by the liturgy and the 39 articles. Lord Holland charged the reverend prelate with sophistry and subterfuge, and maintained, that, if the power of examination claimed by him had a legal existence, it ought to be abolished. The earl of Harrowby hinted his disapprobation of the course taken by the bishop, but the lord chancellor warmly defended it. The earl of Carnarvon spoke shortly, taunting the reverend bench (which he said was unusually crowded) with its silence upon an occasion so interesting to the whole order. After the petition had been laid on the table, lord Dacre moved that it should be referred to a se- The earl of On the 6th of August, the parliament was prorogued by his majesty in person. The peers attended in their full robes, and the foreign ambassadors in the statedresses of their respective courts. A little after two o'clock, the king entered the House in his parliamentary robes, wearing the crown, and took his seat on the throne. The duke of Wellington carried the sword of state. Liverpool as prime minister, the lord chancellor, and the archbishop of Canterbury, took their stations near the throne. The Commons were immediately (summoned, who appeared at the bar in considerable numbers, preceded by the Speaker. The right hon. gen tleman, on presenting some bills for the royal assent, entered into a review of the labours of the late session; he dwelt particularly on the attention which had been paid to the finances, on the great remission of taxation which had been effected, and on the benefit derived from the reduction of the five per cent annuities. He also alluded to the state of Ireland as reported by lord Wellesley at the commencement of the session, and to the measures which it had been found necessary to adopt. After this, he adverted to the subse quent famine, and the means which ministers had employed to mitigate it; concluding his brief epitome of the labours of the session, by declaring that "the Commons had performed their duty, and hoped that they would meet the public approbation." The royal assent was then given in the Commons; "I thank you for the supplies which you have granted me for the service of the present year, and for the wisdom you have manifested in availing yourselves of the first opportunity to reduce the interest of a part of the national debt, without the least infringe ment of parliamentary faith. "It is most gratifying to me that you should have been enabled, in consequence of this, and of other measures, to relieve my people from some of their burthens. "My Lords and Gentlemen; "The distress which has for some months past pervaded a considerable portion of Ireland, arising principally from the failure of that crop on which the great body of the population depends for their subsistence, has deeply affected me. "The measures which you have adopted for the relief of the sufferers meet with my warmest approbation; and, seconded as they have been by the spontaneous and generous efforts of my people, they have most materially contributed to alleviate the pressure of this severe calamity. "I have the satisfaction of knowing that these exertions have been justly appreciated in Ireland, and I entertain a sincere belief that the benevolence and sympathy so conspicuously manifested upon the present occasion will essentially promote the object which I have ever had at heart-that of cementing the connexion between every part of the empire, and of uniting in brotherly love and affection all classes and descriptions of my subjects." The Lord Chancellor then declared the parliament prorogued to the 8th of October. It was subsequently further prorogued by proclamations; so that it did not again assemble in the course of the present year. On the 10th of August his majesty embarked at Greenwich, for Scotland, on board the Royal George Yacht. Off Berwick-uponTweed, a smart gale coming on, the royal squadron put into that port for some hours, and afterwards setting sail, reached Leith on the 15th. The king having landed, proceeded, accompanied by the different officers of the city and an immense concourse of people, to the ancient palace of Holyrood-house, where the lord provost, |