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THE

CABINET ANNUAL REGISTER.

CHAP. I.

Bomestic History.

GREAT BRITAIN.-The Opening of the Reformed Parliament— Measures of the Session-The Bank of England and East-India Charters-China and Tea-Trade-Colonial Slavery-Act enabling Depositors in Savings' Banks to purchase Government Annuities— Act regulating the Labour of Children in Mills and FactoriesReduction of Taxation effected during the Year 1833-Events of the Year-State of the Revenue-Proceedings with regard to Foreign Powers.

IRELAND.-State of Ireland at the beginning of 1833-Outrages of the Whitefeet, and pitiable condition of the Clergy-Foundation of an Association of " Volunteers" in Dublin-Recovery of Tithes in Wexford-Appeal on behalf of the Protestant Clergy of Ireland -Fresh Meeting of the self-styled Irish "National Council"The Coercion Bill-Its application, in April-Kilkenny declared within its Provisions-Suppression of the Volunteers' Association, and of the National Trades' Political Union-Mr. Littleton appointed Secretary for Ireland, vice Sir J. C. Hobhouse-The Marquess Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, vice the Marquess of Anglesea-Meeting of the Poor-Laws' Commissioners in DublinThe Effect of the Coercion Bill-Symptoms of renewed agitation in December-Trial of the "Pilot" Newspaper-Outline of the Church Temporalities' Act-Its effect on the Sees, with Table of Values-Values of the Ecclesiastical Benefices of Ireland-Public Works in Progress in that Country—The Cholera.

SCOTLAND.-Municipal Corporations-Scottish Burghs-Trades

Unions.

THE anxiety with which the meeting of the Reformed Parliament of 1833 was anticipated, sufficed to engross public attention until, on the 5th of February, that event took place. The new Parliament was opened by the King in

person, whose speech on the occasion will be found in our PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER, followed by a report, as copious as our limits will permit, of the debates of the whole session. The imagination of the public, strongly stimulated by the excitement incident to the application of new legislative machinery, naturally anticipated preposterous results from its working, and indulged in hopes unreasonable and extravagant. Such hopes, of course, were not likely to be realized to their full extent; not only because they were in themselves fallacious, but because the first operations of the new representative engine were not, for many reasons, likely to be perfect. Time and experience, and a careful watching, by the employers, of the views and conduct of those in whom they repose the trust of influencing the revolutions of the state machine, will be found, it may naturally be expected, to contribute most essentially towards its improved action for the national benefit. Meantime, the first experiment must, in justice, be pronounced to be sufficiently successful to be subject of gratulation. In taking a calm review of the first session of the Reformed Parliament; glancing at the many difficult questions discussed, without immediate result, and the several very importaut measures which have been adjusted, as is hoped, finally; there can be, as we apprehend, but few disinterested persons who can contemplate the labours of the session of Parliament for 1833, without a favourable impression arising from the quality and quantity of the business despatched. The measures for a renewal of the Bank of England and East India Charters, for throwing open the trade with China, and for the Emancipation of Colonial Slavery, were all questions of vital interest, and have each been disposed of, after such cautious deliberation, and with such circumspect provisions, as encourage a wellgrounded hope of satisfactory results.

The Charter is renewed to the Corporation of the Bank of England, for a limited period, to expire upon one year's notice, given at the end of ten years after August, 1834; until when, the exclusive privileges are to be continued to the Governor and Company of the Bank, on the following conditions:-1st, that, in consideration thereof, they deduct the annual sum of 120,000l. from the amount allowed for the management of the national debt; 2nd, that accounts of bullion, &c., and of bank-notes in circulation, be sent weekly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and that an average table of the Bank accounts be published quarterly in the

London Gazette. The other principal regulations of the act are:-1st, that, during the existence of such privileges, no banking company, of more than six persons, shall issue notes payable on demand within London, or 65 miles thereof; but this is not to prevent banks beyond that limit from making and issuing their bills and notes, payable on demand or otherwise, at the place at which the same shall be issued, being more than the 65 miles from London, and also in London, or at any other place at which such bills or notes shall be made payable for the purpose of payment only, but no such bill or note shall be under 5l., or be re-issued in London, or within 65 miles thereof. And any company or partnership may carry on business of banking, in London or within 65 miles thereof, provided it do not borrow, owe, or take up in England any sum on its bills or notes payable on demand, or at any less time than six months, during the continuance of the privileges of the Bank; 2nd, that all notes of the Bank of England, payable on demand, which shall be issued out of London, shall be payable at the place where issued; 3rd, that Bank-notes shall be a legal tender, except by the Bank and Branch-banks; 4th, that bills, not having more than three months to run, shall not be subject to the usury laws.

The Charter to the East India Company is also renewed for the term of twenty years, from the 30th of April, 1834, under the following restrictions:

1. That all privileges, powers, &c., granted by 58 Geo. III. c. 155, and all rights and immunities of the Company, shall be in force until April, 1854.

2. From the 22d of April, 1834, China and tea trade of Company to cease.

3. Company to close their commercial business, and to sell their property not retained for government.

4. Company's debts and liabilities to be charged on the revenues of India.

5. His Majesty may appoint Commissioners for the affairs of India.

6. The Lord President of the Council, the Lord Privy Seal, the First Lord of the Treasury, the Principal Secretaries of State, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer shall, by virtue of their respective offices, be Commissioners.

7. The Governor-General in Council empowered to legislate for India, and for all persons, British or native, foreigners or others, and for all courts of justice, and for all servants of

the said Company; but he is not to do any thing to affect the Mutiny Act, or the prerogative of the Crown, or the authority of Parliament, or the constitution or rights of the said Company, or any part of the unwritten laws or constitution of the United Kingdom whereon may depend the allegiance of any person to the Crown of the United Kingdom, or the sovereignty or dominion of the said Crown over any part of India.

8. If the Court of Directors disallow the laws, Governor in Council to repeal them.

9. Governor-General in Council, without the previous sanction of the Court of Directors, must not make any law or regulation whereby power shall be given to any courts of justice, other than the courts of justice established by his Majesty's charters, to sentence to the punishment of death any of his Majesty's natural-born subjects born in Europe, or the children of such subjects, or which shall abolish any of the courts of justice established by his Majesty's charters.

10. A law commission to be appointed, to inquire into the jurisdiction, &c., of existing courts of justice and police establishments, and the operation of the laws.

11. It shall be lawful for any natural-born subjects of his Majesty to proceed by sea to any port or place having a custom-house establishment within the said territories, and to reside thereat, or to proceed to, and reside in, or pass through any part of, such of the said territories as were under the government of the said Company on the 1st of January, 1800, and in any part of the countries ceded by the Nabob of the Carnatic, of the province of Cuttack, and of the settlements of Singapore and Malacca, without any license whatever; but all subjects of his Majesty, not natives of the said territories, shall, on their arrival in any part of the said territories from any port or place not within the said territories, make known in writing their names, places of destination, and objects of pursuit in India, to the chief officer of the customs, or other officer authorized for that purpose at such port or place as aforesaid. But it shall not be lawful for any subject of his Majesty, except the servants of the said Company, and others now lawfully authorized to reside in the said territories, to enter the same by land, or to proceed to, or reside in, any place or places in such parts of the said territories as are not herein-before in that behalf mentioned, without license from the said Board of Commissioners, or the said Court of Directors, or the said Governor

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