treasury of Paris the sum of 31,000,000 francs, by 19 instalments, the first of which to take pace on the 1st of June, 1817, and the last on the 1st of June, 1918. For the liquidation of this of 31,000,000, the city of Pars bands itself to pay to the eontractors, in the course of 19 wars, the sum of 52,176,000/ in 48 quarterly payments of 1 DS7 0001. each, between the 1st of October 1817, and the 1st of July, 1829. The city of Paris engages to make no loan during avear, to employ the sums contributed by the contractors for the purposes mentioned in the ordisance, and to create 33,000 obligations of 1,000 francs each, mak.ng... .... 33,000,000 These obligations I bear an interest of 6 per cent. each, per annum, which in«erest, in consequence of successive liquidatom of capital on the same bills, will a unt, the space of 19 years, to.... 13,094,770 Will raise the whole .. 52,176,000 BIOTU BRANCES IN THE PROVINCES. however, some machinations of greater importance appear to have been in agitation; and the following proclamation, by the Comte de Fargues, Mayor of Lyons, evidently points out an intention in certain individuals of exciting a political conspiracy. MAYORALTY OF LYON. PROCLAMATION. Inhabitants of the City of Lyon. -For several days sinister reports, which are but too frequently the forerunner of storms, have awakened the attention of the authorities, and led to the developement of the wicked designs of the disaffected, the gloomy advances of which, notwithstanding the shade of mystery under which they endeavoured to conceal them, could not escape the penetration of the magistrates. A plot, as extravagant as criminal, was contemplated; and its ramifications extended to the surrounding country, where misguided individuals, seduced by fallacious promises, gave ear with confidence to the seditious discourses of the vilest instigators. Their aim was disorder, pillage, 6,081,230 and assassination; it was to these that their wishes and efforts were directed, and they were about to employ the most horrible means for their purposes: but all the details of this odious plot were in the hands of the authorities. Every means was taken to oppose a vigorous and legitimate resistance to the attempts of these scoundrels, whose criminal intentions were carried no farther than in assassinating, in the most shameful manner, the brave officers of the legion of l'Yonne. In June it was announced in a Para paper that the disturbances which had taken place in several parts of France had entirely subaded They appear to have risen they from the high price of provers, and the leader of a band so disturbed the markets at Jane was condemned to twenty year captivity in irons. At Lyons, Thanks to the wise and prudent arrange. cluded on July 12th, with the following speech from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent. "My Lords and Gentlemen; "I cannot close this session of parliament, without renewing my expressions of deep regret at the continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition. "The diligence with which you have applied yourselves to the consideration of the different objects which I recommended to your attention at the commencement of the session, demands my warmest acknowledgments; and I have no doubt that the favourable change which is happily taking place in our internal situation, is to be mainly ascribed to the salutary measures which you have adopted for preserving the public tranquillity, and to your steady adherence to those principles by which the constitution, resources, and credit of the country have been hitherto preserved and maintained. "Notwithstanding the arts and industry which have been too successfully exerted in some parts of the country to alienate the affections of his Majesty's subjects, and to stimulate them to acts of violence and insurrection, I have had the satisfaction of receiving the most decisive proofs of the loyalty and public spirit of the great body of the people; and the patience with which they have sustained the most severe temporary distress cannot be too highly commended. "I am fully sensible of the confidence which you have manifested towards me, by the extraordinary powers which you have placed in my hands: the necessity which has called for them is to me matter of deep regret; and you may rely on my making a temperate but effectual use of them, for the protection and security of his Majesty's loyal subjects. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "I thank you for the supplies which you have granted to me ; and for the laborious investigation which, at my recommendation, you have made into the state of the income and expenditure of the country. "It has given me sincere pleasure to find that you have been enabled to provide for every branch of the public service without any addition to the burthens of the people. The state of public credit affords a decisive proof of the wisdom and expediency, under all the present circumstances, of those financial arrangements which you have adopted. "I have every reason to believe that the deficiency in the revenue is, in a great degree, to be ascribed to the unfavourable state of the last season; and I look forward with sanguine expectations to its gradual improvement "My Lords and Gentlemen; "The measures which were in progress at the commencement of the session, for the issue of a new silver coinage, have been carried into execution in a manner which has given universal satisfaction; and to complete the system which has been sanctioned by parliament, a gold coinage of a new denomination has been provided for the convenience of the public. "I continue to receive from foreign powers the strongest assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country, and of GENERAL HISTORY, their desire to preserve the general tranquillity. "The prospect of an abundant harvest throughout a considerable part of the continent is in the highest degree satisfactory. This happy dispensation of Providence cannot fail to mitigate, if not wholly to remove, that pressure under which so many of the nations of Europe have been suffering in the course of the last year; and I trust that we may look for ward in consequence to an improvement in the commercial relations of this and of all other countries. "I cannot allow you to separate without recommending to you, that upon your return to your several counties, you should use your utmost endeavours to defeat all attempts to corrupt and mislead the lower classes of the community; and that you should lose no opportunity of inculcating amongst them that spirit of concord and obedience to the laws, which is not less essential to their happiness as individuals, than it is indispensable to the general welfare and prosperity of the kingdom." CHAPTER IX. Domestic Events.-Course of the Year.-Double suspension of the Habeas Corpus. Celebration of the Queen's and Prince Regent's Birth-Days.— Trials.-Special Commission held at Derby. DOMESTIC EVENTS, &c. THIS year commenced with the distress spread through the greatest part of Europe, in consequence of the late and unproductive harvest of the last autumn. Although the British islands partook in a smaller degree of the prevalent evil than most other countries, from which their free admission to all foreign ports afforded them important relief, yet hardships fell heavy upon certain districts too remote from such tardy aid; and Ireland, especially, suffered severely from the want of the most essential articles of human sustenance. We are informed that the distress was so great in particular parts, that the poor people could find no other resource than that of anticipating their crop of potatoes by an unripe product. As the year advanced, however, better prospects began to open; and it was the general opinion that corn and other products seldom offered a more promising harvest to the cultivator. Whether this promise has not been exaggerated may be a matter of doubt; at least it appears certain that the year has concluded with an advance in the price of wheat and barley which could hardly have been expected at the time of their first decline. A distinguishing character of the present year has been the double suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act; which, after being one of the first parliamentary measures at the beginning of the session, was resumed near the close of it, and voted to be continued till the commencement of another session, in consequence of a renewed alarm. We refer to our view of the debates in Parliament for the particulars of this remarkable contest; of the issue of which we shall only observe, that whilst the ministerial members expressed great regret at being obliged to have recourse to a temporary violation of the constitution for the purpose of preventing the most urgent dangers, their opponents held that no danger was equal to the habit of entrusting ministers, at their own convenience or pleasure, with an expedient fatal to liberty. CELEBRATION OF THE QUEEN'S BIRTH-DAY. Some months ago the Prince Regent, with a view to relieve the distresses of the manufacturing classes, by affording them employment, gave directions in the Gazette for the public celebration of the Queen's birth-day, and of his own; and, in order to make the relief more effectual, notice was given, that it was expected, that on both occasions all those who should should attend the Court would appear in dresses entirely of British manufacture. In further pursuance of this plan, his Royal Highness ordered all his state and household officers to wear costly dresses of home fabrication, and those dresses were directed to be made into three classes of uniforms, according to the respective ranks of those officers. The first class consists of suits for the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Steward, and the Groom of the Stole. The coats are of dark purple, with crimson velvet collars, richly ornamented all over with gold. Not only those persons who are immediately under the command of the Prince Regent had complied with the laudable direction of wearing British dresses, but all the company present yesterday showed that they had been equally anxious to afford relief to their suffering countrymen by employment, which is the only permanently useful mode of relief. The Court, in honour of the Queen's birth-day, was at first fixed for the 6th of February; but her Majesty being at that time unable, from the effects of her late illness, to bear the fatigues incident to these occasions, it was postponed to the 20th, when her Majesty was entirely recovered. as The day was announced, usual, by the ringing of bells and the salute of artillery; and the people reminded by these intimations, flocked in great numbers to the vicinity of the Queen's Palace. The weather, which had been very dull and rainy, began to clear up about 2 o'clock, and the scene became very gay and magnificent. The company began to arrive about one, and continued to do so till half-past three. The Prince Regent arrived in state about half-past three: his carriage was preceded, surrounded, and followed by a party of life-guards. The procession passed along in perfect silence. Most of the Royal Family went in state. The Duke and Duchess of York arrived first: then the Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold; next the Duke and Duchess of Glocester; and lastly, the Duke of Sussex and the Princess Sophia of Glocester. The Speaker of the House of Commons went in state, and also the Austrian and Dutch ambassadors. Her Majesty entered the drawing-room about two o'clock, and first received the congratulations of the foreign ambassadors, of the Cabinet Ministers, and of all who had the privilege of entré. PRINCE REGENT'S BIRTH-DAY. April 23, being St. George's day, had been selected as the day on which the birth of the Prince Regent was in future to be observed, instead of the 12th of August, and a drawing-room, and other splendours, were of course appointed: but a sudden indisposition of the Queen, which occurred in the course of the preceding night, prevented the drawing-room from taking place. Her Majesty was taken ill at an early hour of the morning. Sir Henry Halford was immediately sent for, and attended the Royal patient twice before nine o'clock. Communications of the unlucky occurrence were dispatched to all the branches of the Royal Family; and, in the course of the morning, the streets leading to Buckingham-house and St. James's were placarded with bills, announcing the indisposi |