d satisfied the house, so that this motion also was
negatived.

MUNIFICENCE OF GEORGE IV.

This year the king gave an instance of royal munificence, calculated to
benefit not only the present age, but to extend its advantages to remote
generations. By a letter addressed to Lord Liverpool he signified his
intention of presenting the valuable library collected by his father
to the British nation. This letter, with certain resolutions of the
trustees of the British Museum on the subject, was by his majesty's
command laid before the house of commons. The letter and resolutions
were referred to a committee, and on the 16th of April this committee
made a report which noticed the great value and extent of the library,
and expressed an opinion that if his majesty's magnificent donation
were placed under the care of the trustees of the British Museum, the
greatest benefit would accrue to the public. The report recommended
that a building should be raised for its reception, and that successive
grants should be made to effect the purposes above specified. In
consequence of this report the house voted a sum of.L40,000 to commence
the work, and the foundation of the structure was forthwith laid. The
building was completed in 1827, and the following summer this valuable
library was transferred to the Museum. It is a splendid monument of the
good taste and patriotic spirit of George IV., and will to the latest
ages redound to his honour.

IRISH TITHE COMMUTATION BILL, ETC.--PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

During this session an act was passed for the commutation of tithes in
Ireland. A motion was made in the upper house by Lord Lansdowne for the
second reading of the dissenters' marriage bill, which might enable
them to perform the ceremony of marriage in their own chapels. This was
warmly supported by Lords Ellenborough, Calthorpe, and Liverpool; but
if, was thrown out by a majority of twenty-seven against twenty-one. The
session was closed by commission on the 19th of July.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

During this year the prosperity of the country appeared to advance, and
the confidence of the people in the government to be established.
This feeling was chiefly attributable to the altered tone of the
administration, and the tenor of their measures. From their measures
commerce and manufactures revived, and, by a natural consequence,
agriculture was improved. Unfortunately this revival of prosperity gave
a dangerous