respective parishes and countries, and others restored to their friends under circumstances of great interest.

African Institution.-On Wednesday, March 28th, a meeting was convened at Freemasons' Tavern, of the friends and supporters of this institution. The Duke of Gloucester in the chair. The report, which was of very considerable length, commenced by deeply lamenting, that notwithstanding the abolition of the African slave trade by almost every other power, yet the inhuman traffic was carried on, to an incredible extent, under the French flag. It proceeded to detail some facts relative to the ill treatment received by some of the poor wretches who were thus torn from the bosoms of their families, and referred to a French medical pamphlet recently published in Paris, in which an account was given of the Retour, a French vessel employed in this traffic, having brought to Guadaloupe a cargo of slaves, all of whom, together with the crew and captain of the ship, excepting one seaman, were attacked with the ophthalmia, and became blind. The slaves were brought on deck for fresh air, only being allowed half a wineglassful of water per day, and many of them threw themselves into the sea, locked in each other's arms. Some were hanged, and others punished severely, to prevent it, but it had no effect; and the slaves were therefore kept below. The whole of the slaves and crew of another ship. had gone blind from the disease, and the ship was left to the mercy of the winds, without any power to direct it. The Retour saw its situation, but its crew being themselves nearly in the same condition, were unable to afford relief. The ship has not since been heard of. Another French vessel, the Jeune Estella, also a trader in human flesh, was boarded by an English brig, the Tartar, and after a long search two female slaves were found stowed in a hogshead, in the last stage of suffocation. Before reaching the Jeune Estella, the captain of the Tartar had seen a number of casks floating in the sea, which he now imagined to be also filled with slaves: having gone too far to leeward, he was unable again to find the casks. The report then continued to observe upon the attempts which had been made by England, and some other powers, to put a stop to this inhuman trade, and concluded by alluding to the prosperous state of Sierra Leone at the present moment. In 1820 the population was 12,521, being an increase of 2956 since 1818; and of these 2907 were educated in the schools.

Royal Humane Society.-The 47th anniversary of this admirable institution, was on Wednesday, March 28, celebrated by a numerous and highly respectable assemblage of noblemen and gentlemen, at the City of London; the Duke of Northumberland, president, in the chair. The cases which have come under the notice of the society during the year amount to 150, of which number 131 were successful, and 19 unsuccessful. The number of successful cases added to that of former years, amounts to 5020, and the number of claimants rewarded, also added to the total of former years, amounts to 20,340.

Freemasons' Female School. Wednesday, April 4, the anniversary of this establishment was held at Freemasons' Hall, H. R. H. the duke of Sussex, G. M., in the chair, supported by the duke of Leinster, and lord Dundas. Nearly 500 gentlemen sat down to dinner, and the gallery was filled by ladies: 70 children of this school were introduced, by whom a hymn was sung, accompanied by Mr. Wesley on the organ. The collection amounted to near £775. including £20. from his majesty.

Westminster Irish Free School.-On Friday evening, April 7th, a respectable meeting of the friends of this institution was held at the Swan Inn, Westminster; Benjamin Shaw, Esq. in the chair. In November, 1819, and during the winter of that year, some friends visited the poor Irish families at

their own habitations: and such was the distress they endured, that it would be difficult to convey any clear idea of it to persons who had not witnessed the scene. The report states-"That under these circumstances it was proposed to make an appeal to the public in behalf of these sufferers, to provide food for the parents, and education for their children. This was done by public advertisement. The sum of £112. was contributed. Some necessary articles of clothing and bedding were redeemed; and the rest of the money was expended in coals, herrings, potatoes, and bread. An Irish master and mistress were obtained, and instructed in the British system of education-two schools were opened. The children daily increased, and the committee made the experiment of raising a permanent Irish Free School at Old Pye Street, Westminster; after the example of the St. Giles's Irish Free School, on the same basis, viz.: That no books be used in reading but a spelling-book, and the Holy Scriptures; and that the children be at liberty to attend such places of worship, on the Lord's day, as their parents prefer." As yet the coinmittee had obtained but few subscribers; but were desirous of being able to show proofs of the practicability of collecting a number of poor children, who could not pay any weekly sum whatever; and whose parents, being chiefly Roman Catholics, have strong objections to their children being taught the Catechism used in the National Schools. Their worthy treasurer was willing to advance the requisite supplies for fitting up the schools, the rent, and pay of the master and mistress. This encouraged the committee to persevere, not doubting but it would appear to the first annual meeting, that the children would be essentially improved in their morals and conduct. They are now enabled to present before the meeting, both boys and girls, who could not tell their letters when they entered the school, and who now can read the Bible, and write an intelligible hand. They can produce girls who never handled a needle, who now exhibit good specimens of needle-work. Some of the scholars attended, and fully justified the report of the committee. Since the commencement of the schools, in Jan. 1820, 400 children have been admitted, 180 continue on the register. The rooms are completely full, and were the funds sufficient, there is no doubt a much greater number might be collected. The expenditure, for one year and a quarter, has been £142. 5s. 3d.; towards which £30. 11s. 6d. only has been collected, leaving a balance of £111. 13s. 9d. due to the treasurer.

Mr. Owen's Plan. Mr. Owen has presented to the county of Lanark a report of his plan for the relief of the poor and working classes, to which is subjoined an Appendix, in which is contained extracts from the minutes of a county meeting, held on the 16th of last November, approving many of the practical parts of the said plan, particularly the spade husbandry, and recommending experiments to be made thereon. At the same time, that they avoid sanctioning Mr. O.'s peculiar theories, they pay a respectful compliment to his philanthropy. At the same meeting, Mr. Hamilton, of Dalzell, made the offer of letting from 500 to 700 acres of land at a grain rent, on condition of the county expending £40,000. in forming the settlement, for which they are to receive interest, and a return of the principal în twenty years. Mr. Hamilton undertakes gratuitously to superintend the whole, and intimates his opinion that this economy might save the expense of erecting a bridewell; but Mr. Owen objects strongly to delinquents being mixed with the industrious classes. On the 9th of April, a respectable meeting of the noblemen, freeholders, justices of the peace, commissioners of supply, and clergy of the county of Lanark, was held at Hamilton, to take into consideration Mr. Owen's report and plan for giving permanent productive employment to the poor and working classes; Sir J. Stewart in

the chair; when, after some opposition from lord Belhaven and Mr. Brown, who pressed an adjournment for a month, to give time for considering the matter, on a division of 23 to 7, a committee was then appointed to prepare petitions to both Houses of Parliament, praying them to take the plan into consideration; and, after soine delay, petitions were produced, read, and adopted.

Seamen's Hospital.-Tuesday, April 17, a meeting was held at the City of London Tavern, for the purpose of receiving the report of a committee deputed to make the preliminary arrangements for the establishing of a floating hospital for the relief of sick and diseased seamen, a large number of whom are annually left destitute in the metropolis; the bishop of Chester in the chair, supported by admital lord Gambier, lord Calthorpe, and several naval and mercantile characters. The report, which enforced the necessity of such an institution as that alluded to, was read; and stated, that the hospital will be formed on board the ship Grampus (a two-decker) which has been liberally presented by his majesty's government for the purpose. A naval surgeon will reside on board; it will also be attended by visiting physicians and surgeons, who have kindly offered their gratuitous services, and will be rendered as congenial as possible to the feelings of the individuals for whose benefit it is intended.

Society for the Improvement and Encouragement of Female ServantsOn Wednesday the 18th of April, this society held their eighth anniversary at the London Tavern: at which the lord mayor presided. The report stated, that five servants had received gratuities on their marriage, with consent of their mistresses; and 264 others, for their continuance in the same service for terms of from one to eight years, since their nomination on the society's books. Many of them had lived in service several years previous to that time. Near 400 engagements between ladies who are subscribers, and servants, had been made at the gratuitous registry of the society. It concluded by regretting that a society calculated to do so much good, should be limited to about 600 subscribers only, while, at a very small additional expense, three times that number of families and servants might be materially served....

Royal Universal Dispensary for Children, St. Andrew's Hill, Doctors' Commons. This important institution, founded in the year 1816, by Dr. John Davis, for the sole purpose of affording prompt medical and surgical aid to the sick children of the necessitous poor in all parts of the metropolis and its vicinity, without recommendation where danger exists, has been recently honoured with the approbation and patronage of his majesty. A special general meeting of the directors and governors was held at the Mansion House, on Thursday the 19th of April; the lord mayor in the chair, to receive a communication from the king, addressed by lord Sidmouth to the duke of Beaufort, one of the vice patrons, in which his majesty was graciously pleased to signify that he had taken this charity under his royal protection. Since its opening no less than 13,202 objects have been relieved, and with a view to increase the facilities to the poor for assistance for their children, stations have been opened in Lambeth and in Southwark, offering the same benefits as the Parent Institution.

The Public Hospitals.-On Easter Monday, at noon, after a grand déjeuné given by the lord mayor, the usual procession of the Christ's Hospital and Bridewell boys took place from the Mansion House to Christ's Church, Newgate Street, where a sermon was preached by the bishop of Llandaff, from Llebrews, x. 22d and 28th verses. After the sermon, the state of the different hospitals was read as follows :—

London Female Penitentiary-Monday, May 7th, the anniversary of this institution was held at Stationers' Hall; W. Alers Hankey, Esq. in the chair. The report stated, that the committee had great reason to hope that their efforts to restore helpless females who were in imminent danger of irretrievable destruction, had in many cases been effectual; and represented the necessity of supporting the society by an increase of subscription, as the funds had fallen £200. short of the expenses in the last year.

211

OBITUARY.

MR. JOHN SCOTT.-This lamented victim to a false sense of honour, and to the toleration of a barbarous custom in Christian countries and civilized life, was a native of Scotland, and received his education in the University of Aberdeen. On leaving his native country, he obtained a situation in the War Office, which he soon relinquished for the hazard of a literary life, though in his case, an unusual degree of success rendered the change no less advantageous to his interests, than it was congenial to his taste. For some time he edited the Stamford News, a provincial paper in considerable repute amongst the opponents of the present ministry; but returning to London, he conducted for a while the Champion, a weekly paper, which he himself established. In 1815, he published his "Visit to Paris," the most popular, perhaps, of all the tours, with which, on the opening of the continent, English curiosity was so abundantly supplied. The rapid sale which it experienced, enabled him to take another trip to the French capital, and the result of his acute, though somewhat prejudiced observations, upon the manners and institutions of our gay and volatile neighbours, was soon presented to the public in a lively and animated work, called "Paris re-visited," which, also, deservedly obtained a wide circulation. Shortly afterwards, he experienced a severe domestic calamity, in the decease of one of his children, when he gave vent to his grief in a poem, entitled "The House of Mourning," a production which did more honour to his feelings as a man, than to his reputation as a literary character. On the establishment of the London Magazine in the beginning of the last year, he was engaged as its editor, an office for which his talents and his industry eminently qualified him. Under his able conduct, the work rose into considerable repute, and its increasing sale afforded him the prospect, not only of a comfortable livelihood, but of making some provision for his family. In an evil hour, however, he inserted in its pages an attack upon Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, in the course of which he made some very severe animadversions upon Mr. Lockhart, a Scotch advocate, who is generally supposed to be one of its editors. For those animadversions, that gentleman called Mr. Scott to an account, or in the language of the world, demanded satisfaction, through the medium of a friend in London. That satisfaction Mr. Scott refused, until Mr. Lockhart should disavow the connexion with the Edinburgh Magazine, imputed to him; and on his declining to comply with this preliminary demand, a statement of the correspondence was published on both sides, in the course of which, Mr. Christie, the friend of Mr. Lockhart, who had originally waited on Mr. Scott, made some remarks, which the latter gentleman conceived to be derogatory to his character; and thereupon, after all explanation had been refused, called him to the field, in which he himself met with his deathwound from the second pistol-shot of his opponent, on the 23d of February. The place of meeting was Chalk Farm-the time between eight and nine o'clock on a moonlight evening. Mr. Christie fired his first shot in the air, and meant not to have taken aim the second time, but a lamentable want of consideration on the part of the seconds, and of Mr. Scott's, especially, seems to have prevented that explanation, to which the principals were, evidently, both favourably inclined. On this point we wish not, however, to enlarge. The survivors of this unhappy party have been put upon their trial for murder, and acquitted by a jury of their country, of whose verdict, as the law now stands, we do not complain, especially as a technical objection, founded in the main upon just and correct principles, prevented the chief evidence against them from being given. But on the other hand,