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portance, and very praiseworthy in the gentlemen

who introduce the same:

"MR. PETER MOORE-An Act to abolish the River Thames, and to substitute instead thereof a canal from Staines to Sheerness, to be called the Royal Clarence Canal."*

"Thursday, Feb. 2.

"LORD NUGENT-Motion for the production of all the Logs of H.M. packets Montague and Pelham, since they were launched." "Friday, March 17.

"Ditto-To appoint a committee to inspect all mail bags which may have been conveyed in H. M. packets Montague and Pelham in the years 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, and 1813.”

"Saturday, April 1.

"Ditto-To address H. R. H. the Prince Regent that he will be pleased to appoint Timothy Perring, Esq. late Commander of the Lady Pelham packet, Commander-in-chief of the Channel Fleet."

Wednesday, May 31.

"Ditto In Supply, to move a sum of 4,3651.7s. 8§d. towards defraying the expenses of printing the papers relative to the Montague and Pelham packets. Also, to move for an account of the number of purser's lanterns supplied to each of H. M.ships or vessels employed on the Halifax, East India, Downs, and other foreign stations."

* Incredible as it may seem, there was a bill of this or a somewhat similar nature introduced by Mr. Moore.-E.

"GENERAL THORNTON-Bill to compel hackney and other coachmen to be more civil towards female passengers; and likewise to amend the acts relating to the uniformity of the Common Prayer."

"MR.BENNET-Move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the office of necessary woman to the state apartments at St. James's." “Mr. Barham-Bill to make it felony, without benefit of clergy, to intermarry with the descendants of persons carrying on, or related to persons carrying on, the Slave Trade."

"MR. WM. SMITH-Move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the Doctrine of the Trinity."

"MR. M. A. TAYLOR-Bill to regulate the size of paviors, and to prevent parish vestries from employing such men, below a certain stature."*

"Ditto-To abolish the punishment of the stocks; and to provide that all stocks built or building at the passing of the act shall be deemed to be old naval stores, and disposed of as such."

"MR. GORDON-Motion for a repeal of the Alien Act, and for an address to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, praying that H. R. H. will be graciously pleased to inform the House by whose advice a Hottentot Lady, of the name of Sartjee,† has been removed from this country."

"MR.COKE-Motion for leave to bring in a bill to abolish all existing duties of Customs and Excise, and to exempt all persons * Mr. Michael Angelo Taylor has been designated as a "pocket Hercules."

A Hottentot woman was about this time exhibited in London, possessing in a remarkable degree the peculiar protuberance for which her species is noted.-E.

having landed property to the amount of 20,000l. per annum, and upwards, from the payment of the Property Tax.”

"Ditto-Bill to prevent the Crown from declaring war without the consent of Grand Juries of the several counties."

I was somewhat surprised to see so little mention made in this book of the great lawyer Romilly, of whom thou hast heard Gallatin* speak with much applause but Martin, who is a great admirer of Sir Samuel's, (and for good reason, as he liveth next door to him, and thus getteth some law business, which the other is so friendly as to refuse for his sake,) pointed out to me in the book of a former year, of which he obtained me the sight, several attempts in which Romilly unhappily failed, of ridding the Statute Book of all laws of great age and undue severity, and of making in lieu thereof more easy and convenient laws of his own. From this book I will send thee some extracts, sufficient to prove to thee the wisdom and merciful disposition

* M. Gallatin is a Swiss by birth, and Sir S. Romilly is said to be of Swiss extraction.-E.

of this eminent person, which is the name by which he calleth himself, and which his friends delight to repeat.

"SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY-Bill to repeal the existing laws in regard to high treason—and to provide that all persons compassing the death of the King in future shall be guilty of petty larceny, fined five pounds, and imprisoned for a time not exceeding two calendar months."

"Ditto-Bill to repeal so much of a Law of William the Conqueror as provides, that if an Archbishop or Bishop kills any of the King's Deer, without first blowing a horn, that he may not seem to steal the same-he shall be amerced of life or limb-at the discretion of the Court."

"Ditto-Move to repeal an Act passed in the 29th year of Henry VI. chap. 1, for the attainting Jack Cade of High Treason and for the corrupting of his blood."

"Ditto-Leave to bring in a Bill to mitigate the penalties imposed by an Act passed in the reign of Edward IVth, on persons playing at the games of Klosse-Half-bowle-KaylesHand-in-hand- -or Queckborn."

Ditto-Leave to bring in a Bill to amend an Act of the 19th year of Henry VII. chap. 6, for punishing with death all Priests, and religious men convicted of fornication or other fleshy incontinence."

* There are really statutes with these titles; and indeed many of the preceding notices are to be found, with little variation, in the debates of the period.-E.

Notwithstanding it was admitted on all hands that these ancient laws were never enforced, yet strange to say, the House preferred them and the old Code to the new one, which Sir Samuel had prepared.

I say nothing to thee of the entries made on the behalf of Whitbread, because as they are of a marvellous great number, he requireth a larger share of my letter than I can at present afford, seeing that I have now to speak to thee of the business of the tobacco and cotton, consigned by thee unto my care, under the favour of Baring, Brothers, and Co.; but inasmuch as thou mayest choose, in performance of thy duty as a good citizen, to impart these my political speculations unto Mr. Munroe, thou mayest not be willing at the same time to reveal the particulars of thy commercial concerns, I shall talk to thee of these matters in a separate sheet of paper. In the meanwhile, in truth and the spirit, I remain thy loving friend, EZEKIAL GRUB.

P. S. I am minded to leave this great Babylon

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