7th of June the regent sent a message to each house of
parliament, acquainting them that he had ordered copies to be laid
before them of the information recently received relative to riots
which had recently occurred in the cotton manufacturing districts of
Lancashire and part of Cheshire, the clothing districts of Yorkshire,
&c, confiding in their wisdom to adopt measures for restoring
tranquillity. These papers were referred to a secret committee in each
house, and the result was the introduction of a severe bill for the
preservation of the public peace in the disturbed districts. Some
members questioned the extent of the danger and the policy of the
coercive bill; but it was carried through both houses.

BILL TO EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF DISSENTERS.

On the 10th of July Lord Castlereagh brought in a bill to extend the
privileges of the dissenters. This bill, which proposed to repeal
certain intolerant statutes and to amend others, relating to religious
worship and assemblies, &c. was carried. A bill for improving the
ecclesiastical courts in England also received the sanction of the
legislature.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT, ETC.

Parliament was prorogued on the 30th of July by commission; and on
the 20th of September a proclamation was issued by the prince regent,
announcing its dissolution.

CAPTURE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO BY THE BRITISH.

During the latter months of the preceding year Lord Wellington had
been secretly preparing the means of recapturing Ciudad Rodrigo,
the possession of that place still serving the French as a basis of
operations on one of the frontiers of Portugal. His situation, says
a Peninsular historian, was simply that of a man who felt that all
depended on himself; that he must by some rapid and unexpected stroke
effect in the field what his brother could not effect in the cabinet.
Mar-mont favoured his designs on this place; for, deceived by his
apparent careless attitude, the French armies were spread over an
immense tract of country, and Ciudad Rodrigo was left unprotected. Lord
Wellington marched against it early in January; and in twelve days from
its first investment Ciudad Rodrigo was recaptured. In the assault the
British suffered severe loss, there being in the whole about 1000 killed
and wounded, among whom were many officers. General Mackinnon, and many
of his brigade, were blown up by the explosion of a powder-magazine on
the ramparts, and General Craufurd was mor