EUROPE IN 1827.

I.

GREAT BRITAIN.

BRITAIN has long stood pre-eminent among the European nations, by the transcendent glory of her arms, the wisdom of her political councils, and the intellectual character of her people. Of late, however, her claims to superiority have become still more evident, from the interesting aspect which her internal policy has assumed. No longer fettered by her connexion with Continental Courts and Cabinets, Britain has for some years past presented in the eyes of Europe and the world, the brilliant spectacle of a government and people advancing with unexampled rapidity and majesty in a career of progressive improvement. Listening respectfully to the voice of enlightened public opínion, the Government, by pursuing a liberal system of policy, completely established itself in the confidence and esteem of the country; and though, by the depression of trade since 1825, the population have suffered severe distress, this commercial crisis has only increased their attachment to government, by affording an opportunity of display

ing the benevolence of the Sovereign and of his Ministers.

In 1826, the Administration became still more popular, by the anxiety which they evinced to relieve the distresses of the labouring classes by the repeal of several oppressive taxes. Nothing occurred in the course of the year to interest the public mind, unless we consider as such the order issued by the King to summon a new Parliament. The bustle and happy festivity connected with Elections now prevailed throughout the country, and tended in some degree to draw off the attention of the people from their sufferings, which had so long discouraged and depressed them. Towards the end of the year the Session of Parliament commenced, but nothing of importance in regard to internal policy was discussed before the Christmas recess.

In the beginning of 1827, the country was considerably affected by the death of the Heir-presumptive to the Throne, his Royal Highness the Duke of York. The decided improvements which the noble Duke had introduced into the organization and discipline of the army; the heroism and intrepidity of his conduct in the Cont nental Wars; above all, the affability and condescension of his private character, as they attracted, while he lived, the love of all ranks in the community, rendered his death a subject of general lamentation throughout the empire. If, at one time, the lustre of his name was tarnished by the public exposure of private errors; these had all been forgot amid those innumerable acts of kindness and attention to the interests of the meanest soldier in the army, which, in the exercise of his duties as

Commander-in-chief, had gained him the proud appellation of the soldier's friend.

His Royal Highness was succeeded in the government of the army, by the Duke of Wellington, whose long experience in military affairs seemed to entitle him, above every other man in the country, to fill this high and important station. The qualities of his mind were not, it is true, like those of his predecessor, calculated to win the affection of the soldiers, but, what is of more importance to a public functionary, they were adapted to call forth respect. There was one circumstance, however, connected with this appointment, which was justly considered as likely to affect his Grace's impartiality in the discharge of his important functions,-his retaining a seat in the Cabinet, after his appointment over the army. It is by no means insinuated that his Grace has, in any case, been actuated in the exercise of his patronage by a motive so mean and contemptible as party-feeling; still the remark holds true, that, in filling such a situation as that of Commander-in-chief, it is of the utmost importance to be free from all temptation to be swayed by political influence.

In, consequence of the lamented death of the Duke of York, William, Duke of Clarence, now became heir-presumptive to the Crown. His Majesty, anxious that his Royal brother should obtain a provision suitable to his new situation, sent down a message to the Commons to that effect, immediately after the House had resumed its sittings. In accordance with his Majesty's request, the sum of 12,000l. additional to the income of his Royal Highness was granted. This motion,

however, met with considerable opposition in both Houses, on the ground that there had been no precedent for such a grant in the case of the Duke of York; and besides, that, in the depressed state of the country, the utmost economy in the public expenditure was necessary.

The suffering condition of the labouring classes in England and Scotland, but still more in Ireland, forced upon the attention of Parliament, at an early period of the Session, the important subject of Emigration. The vast increase of the population of Ireland, beyond the means of subsistence, led Government some years ago to think of a remedy for so serious an evil. In the British possessions, in Canada, the large tracts of uncultivated land, and the great scarcity of labourers, seemed to hold out some promise of relief to the surplus population of this country. It was, therefore, determined in 1823 to institute an experiment, with the view of ascertaining the probable expense of sending out emigrants to that colony. The individuals selected for this purpose were destitute Irish labourers, to the number of 568; and so well did the experiment succeed, that, with the expense of only 221. for each individual, these labourers 'were soon transferred from a state of absolute poverty and wretchedness to the status and comfort of independent landholders, In 1825, another emigration took place of 2024 persons from Ireland to Canada, at the charge of Government; and, certainly, this must be considered as a most encouraging example of the mode in which Britain may rid itself of its surplus population, when it is considered that the produce of their labour for the first year was valued at nearly one-fourth of