State of the Country, external and internal—Agriculture, Commerce, Manufactures, &c. &c. A YEAR of war may afford more matter for the historian, more that sparkles and animates; the imagination may be caught and the heart warmed by the echo of the spirit stirring drum-but a season of sweet peace-of content-of prosperity-of undisturbed tranquillity, makes a fairer picture, and has none of the cruelty, the deformity, and the agony which war conceals beneath its splendid trappings. Did we need proof of the general prosperity of the country, it might be found in the great industry, the order, and general repose of the people. Where are the riots-the petitions-the Spa-fields meetingsthe deprecations of government the abuse of the sovereign and his immediate servants?-We should soon discover it were there a cause. Englishmen are not often chargeable with suffering in silence: even in the grand arena of political contention party has lost half its violence; "people think," said Mr. Brougham, "that the opposition are playing booty." The sedition of the public press is bankrupt-there are no discontented purchasers to support itevery man sits under the shadow of his own vine and his own fig-tree, and none dares to make him afraid. A low rate of interest and abundant capital is also another proof of prosperity; and this year has had few parallels in these points; freehold house property has been sold, at thirty-six years purchase: there is scarcely a country in the world for which we have not furnished loans, amounting in this year and the last to nearly 50,000,000l.; and in speculations of public companies without end, (some of which bore evidence in in their nature to the quantity of spare capital) in this year above 20,000,000l. more. To the too rapid increase of these, however, the house of lords deemed it expedient to place a check, in a resolution that two-thirds of the proposed capital of any joint-stock company, shall be actually subscribed, before the bill for its incorporation be read a second time. The agricultural interest during the past year has considerably improved; it is not possible that agri-. culture should not flourish, when those who support it and who live by its produce flourish; the variety of channels into which the industry of the country has been turned, whether of general manufacture, canals, roads, mines, or any other speculation, must conduce to this improvement. Twenty millions of taxes remitted to the people have afforded them more comfort, and been more productive of general benefit, than forty millions could have been locked up in loans and in government securities. In commercial policy the change has not been less advantageous; the liberal has been adopted in view of the exclusive system; and already Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, and other states, have made equal returnsRussia however, blind, contracted barbarous, despotic Russia, has taken a retrogade step. It is refreshing to perceive the commanding political aspect of the empire, and that this aspect is propitious to the cause of universal freedom. There are at present two great parties in the world, by which it is divided. The holy alliance and its satellites, with all their instruments and weapons of arbitrary power-superstition, despotism, ig norance, bigotry, with every thing that is selfish and short-sighted on the one hand; and on the other, opening aspiring intellect, increasing information, general and rational freedom:-here are ostensibly associated England and the two Americas, with covertly some smaller states, and mind wherever it is to be found, a moral alliance, and truly holy, which not all the tyrants of all the world will be able to overcome, which is viewed by them with fear and abhorrence, against which they have not unfrequently remonstrated, and never without their remonstrances being met by the British cabinet, with a dignified mixture of prudence and of firmness. Ireland continues to be a source of much anxiety: party, which fills it with contention, and an overwhelming church establishment, are the great destroyers of its peace-ignorance and want of employment may have their share in the evil, but while justice is polluted, if not in its fountain, at least in the streams through which it flows to the people; while the few exult over and insult the many, there can be no solid prosperity, no unruffled tranquillity for Ireland. The clergy of England are rich, but the clergy of Ireland are richer, and amazingly disproportionate to the numbers beneath their care, which scarcely exceeded 350,000! -There are four archbishops, all England has but two, eighteen bishops, of whom the estates of three comprise nearly one hundred and fifty thousand acres; thirty-three deans, one hundred and eight dignitaries, one hundred and seventyeight prebends, fifty-two vicars choral, one hundred and seven rural deans, and five hundred and twelve minor canons, besides the inferior clergy; clergy; the property of this church is estimated at 3,200,000l. and in many of the benefices not a single protestant family is to be found. However let us rejoice that education is extending, the national revenue improving, and let us hope for greater and better things yet. The exports of Ireland have increased even by means of those enactments which the natives feared would injure it; of this, the removal of a duty meant for the protection of Irish manufacturers, has been a remarkable instance: this duty was removed in 1823. effectual and decisive measures for ameliorating the condition of the slave population in his majesty's colonies that, through a determined and persevering, but at the same time judicious and temperate, enforcement of such measures, this house looks forward to a progressive improvement in the character of the slave population, such as may prepare them for a participation in those civil rights and privileges which are enjoyed by other classes of his majesty's subjects: that this house is anxious for the accomplishment of this purpose at the earliest period that shall be compatible with the well-being of the slaves themselves, with the safety of the colonies, and with a fair and equitable consideration of the interests of private property." The circular sent to the colonies, further recommended provision for the religious instruction of the slaves; abolition of Sunday markets; of the practice of flogging females; the regulation of the punishment of males; the prevention of the separation of husband and wife, and infant children from the mother, in sale; the giving security to the property of slaves, banks of deposit; the establishment of facilities for the manumission of slaves; and, the allowing the evidence of slaves in courts of justice. In the west, we must not be astonished, if the slave, galled to madness by the cruelty of the oppressor, cause us to hear of insurrections, and possibly of scenes which St. Domingo has not surpassed. The planters have almost universally shown themselves opposed, not only to emancipation, but even to ameliorating the condition of their slaves. Determinate resistance has been made to nearly every effort in- The impotent malice with which troduce among them intellectual these recommendations were received, light, and the generous minds who except at Tobago, and some other would bring consolation to the cap- places, was both lamentable and tive who would point out to him the ridiculous-ministers were insulted, hopes of heaven, beyond the sor-nick-named and set at defiance :rows of earth, have been persecuted even to death-witness the martyr Smith. What could be more temperate and proper than the resolution of ministers sent to the colonies in 1823" that it is expedient to adopt the prohibition of the cart-whip was met by the drivers carrying two whips. Some Quixotics in Jamaica threatened to separate from the mother country. And if government had visited them as they deserved, some of them might have repented it. In February 1824, a numerous meeting of West Indian proprietors assembled in London, for the purpose of petitioning his majesty.In their petition they assert their rights to their possessions, whether of land or of slaves---that the grants of lands made to them was upon the understanding of slave cultivation ;---that purchases of slaves were made under sanction of the British legislature; -that English courts of law had admitted the property;---they therefore petition that his majesty will not sanction the depreciation of this property, till a fund of fair and full compensation be provided. In March, measures were provided by ministers for Trinidad only, to improve the condition of the negroes, of which the resolutions of last year formed the basis. 1. The prohibition of the use of the whip in any case to females. 2. The whip not to be borne by the driver in the field-nor as a stimulant to labour, but only in cases of misbehaviour, fully proved and recorded. that they will eventually be adopted in all the colonies. In the affairs of the East Indies, the cession of the Moluccas, or spice islands to the Dutch, produced in this country a general feeling of dissatisfaction---the true balance of advantage can only be correctly known, by those possessing such information as the best local or official situations may afford them; but in the warmth of national feeling many advantageous circumstances were overlooked, and the importance of these islands to the British government is by no means so great as may have been imagined. The Burmese government, by repeated acts of aggression, compelled the British government to a declaration of war. They had cut off a post of British seapoys, and having enticed the crew of a company's ship on shore, carried them away prisoners: ---for these and other hostile acts, which were continued in spite of remonstrances, war was declared.---In the few actions which had occurred, the British had been victorious. In May general Campbell took Rangoon, but no very serious impression had been made on the Burman empire. 3. Religious instruction, under the care of two bishops and a regular clergy. 4. Marriage to be encouraged, and This country is bounded on the families never to be separated. west by the bay of Bengal, as the British possessions are bounded by the same bay on the east ;-it is about 1000 miles by 600 broad, and is supposed to contain 17 millions of inhabitants. 5. Saving banks to be established, and the property in them to be se cure. 6. The testimony of slaves under certain circumstances to be admitted, both in civil and criminal cases. 7. The slave may if he possesses a certain sum of money, purchase his own freedom, or that of his wife and children. That these excellent enactments are totally so circumscribed, is the only objection that can be made against them.---Let us join in the hope expressed by government itself, ་ town and batteries of Algiers, but the dey did not deem it prudent to tempt their broadsides ;---peace was signed, and lord Exmouth's treaty confirmed. In Africa we have encountered a new enemy, and a war without glory.-The Ashantees had conquered and pursued the Fantees, who took refuge in the British settlement; this povoked the barbarians to warthe governor of Sierra Leone, sir C. M'Carthy, had determined to reduce them to obedience, his force consisting of British and Fantees did not consist of more than 2000 men, but he intended to form a junction with major Chisholm.-The blacks, however, attacked his division before the juncture could be effected. After a long and toilsome march through a dreadful country, sir Charles reached Adoomansoo on the 20th January, which is four miles from Assamacow, where the battle was fought. The Ashantees were 10,000 strong, and were separated from the British by a narrow river about 30 feet wide;-they tried several times to cross it, but were every time repulsed with great slaughter: at last the ammunition of the English failed; they then succeeded in crossing the river-intermingled with our forces, and a dreadful contest ensued ;-the British soldiers used the bayonet with the most dreadful effect, till being unable to do any more, they snatched the bayonet from the musket, rushed into the midst of the blacks, and fell fighting to the last. Sir Charles and the staff retreated. The blacks sent round a body of 2,000 to cut off the retreat; they were thus hemmed in-sir Charles was killed, and as well as Messrs., Buckle and Weatherel who stood by him, was decapitated.-Major Rick etts and some others escaped to the wood, and saw next morning in the jungels a number of infants gasping for breath, whose mothers the Ashantees had compelled to throw them away, that they might carry their plunder. The British in this affair lost 90 men, the Ashantees upwards of 1,000. In an after action the savages were repulsed with great slaughter by col. Sutherland, who succeeded sir Charles McCarthy in the command; the English field pieces, charged with grape and cannister, made strange havock among them; but by no means could the African allies of the British be induced to pursue ;---the victory was therefore by no means so complete, as could be desired.--The British and Fantees lost in this action 53 killed and wounded-the barbarians about 2,000. At the Cape of Good Hope, lord Charles Somerset has not been fortunate, or he has not been prudent.-The introduction of the GAME LAWS in the colony have a novel and strange appearance ;---neither is a fettered press to be admired.---The county town of Bathurst has had its garrison removed, its rank taken away, and its inhabitants been left to the Caffres, who have not only plundered their unprotected dwellings, and driven away their cattle, but have murdered several of the people. It is said that all attempt at appeal or remonstrance was threatened to be put down by force. What injury a free press could do at the Cape is very doubtful: in India the case is widely different; there our empire is an empire of opinions, and it is perhaps better that a few abuses should pass, than that the whole structure should be thrown to the ground. With |