OF ECONOMY.

On the 7th of February a communication was made by Lord Castlereagh from
the prince regent, stating that out of sympathy to a suffering people he
had determined upon a cession of L50,000 per annum of that part of his
income which related to his personal expenses, during the continuance
of the existing distress. At the same time his lordship communicated
the intention of ministers to dispense with one-tenth of their official
incomes, while the necessities of the state should require such a
sacrifice. Lord Camden, also, one of the tellers of the exchequer,
relinquished, _pro tempore_, the whole of his large profits with the
exception of L2,500, the regulated income of the other tellers. On the
reduced scale the expenditure of the year was estimated at L6,500,000
less than that of the preceding year, and a further saving of upwards of
L1,000,000 was calculated upon for the year 1818. On the same day that
Lord Castlereagh made the above communication to the house, he moved
for the appointment of a committee of inquiry respecting the income and
expenditure of the state. The first report of this committee was made on
the 5th of May, when Mr. Davies Gilbert stated that, in recommending the
suppression of certain offices, it was at the same time necessary that
his majesty should be enabled to reward meritorious persons, by the
power of granting pensions according to merit and length of service. A
bill, entitled "the Civil Services Compensation Bill," was accordingly
introduced, with another for abolishing the offices of wardens and
justices in Eyre, both of which passed the houses with very little
opposition. About the time this bill passed Mr. Abbott resigned the
speakership, and was created Lord Colchester, with a pension of L4000
to himself and his immediate successor. He was succeeded by Mr. Charles
Manners Sutton, eldest son of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC LIBERTY.

On the 3rd of February a message was communicated to both houses,
announcing that the prince-regent had ordered the production of papers
which contained an account of certain meetings and combinations held in
various parts of the country, tending to disturb public tranquillity,
to alienate the affection of the people from his majesty's person
and government, and to overthrow the whole frame of the laws and
constitution. His royal highness recommended these papers to the
immediate consideration of parliament; and the