commission. The chief topics of the royal speech were the king's health:
the demise of the queen; the evacuation of France by the allied troops;
the favourable state of the revenue; the improved aspect of trade,
manufactures, and commerce; the favourable result of the war in India;
and the extension of the commercial treaty now existing between this
nation and the United States of America to a further term of eight
years. In both houses the addresses were carried without a division,
though ministers were severely censured by Lord Lansdowne in the
lords, and Mr. Macdonald in the commons, for the want of truth in
their statements concerning the state of the nation, and for their many
political blunders.

THE DUKE OF YORK APPOINTED GUARDIAN TO HIS MAJESTY.

As the death of the queen rendered it necessary that a guardian of his
majesty's person should be appointed, Lord Liverpool named the Duke
of York, and his nomination met with general approval. The duke was
appointed guardian with a salary of L10,000 per annum out of the public
purse for the performance of this filial duty. The grant met with severe
opposition, and was only carried by a small majority; and subsequently
several debates took place respecting the establishment at Windsor, the
expenses of which excited much freedom of remark. It was represented
as a mockery of the national distress, no less than of the melancholy
visitation of the aged monarch, kept up for the purpose of ministering
to the prodigality of the regent, and the rapacity of his courtiers.
These sentiments were shared by the people at large.

COMMITTEE ON THE CRIMINAL CODE.

Early this session the attention of parliament was called to the state
of the criminal code: a subject deeply interesting to the best friends
of humanity. Philanthropists had long deplored the state of our
statute-book, more than two hundred crimes being defined by it as
worthy of death. This state of things had been denounced as a national
disgrace, and Sir Samuel Romilly had frequently brought it under the
notice of parliament, and in some instances had been the means of
softening down the rigour of our laws. That great man was now dead; but
in this session the subject was taken up by Sir James Mackintosh,
who proved to be a worthy successor to the deceased philanthropist. A
petition from the corporation of London, complaining of the increase
of crime, and pointing out the commutation of capital punishment,