on..... The Corn-laws..... Dissolution of the
Ministry..... Re-assembling of Parliament..... Explanations
of, and Hostility to the Ministry..... Opinions of His
Majesty on the Catholic Question..... Motion on the
Chancellor's Jurisdiction in Bankruptcy..... Motion
regarding the Stamp Duty and Cheap Publications.....
The Corn-law Question..... Financial Statements..... Corrupt
Boroughs..... The Game-laws..... The Court of Chancery.....
Prorogation of Parliament..... Death of Mr. Canning.....
Administration of Lord Goderich..... Review of Foreign
Policy.

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF YORK.

{A.D. 1827}

The earliest public event of the year was the death of the Duke of York,
the heir presumptive of the crown. His royal highness had been for some
time seriously ill, and as far back as the month of July his disease
had assumed the character of dropsy. The progress of the complaint had
rendered an operation necessary in September; but though the result
of the operation, aided by the effects of medicine, removed the
constitutional complaint, its partial influence on the frame was
followed by a mortification in the legs, which, assuming sometimes a
more favourable, and sometimes a more alarming appearance, gradually
weakened the whole system. His constitution sunk beneath the power of
art which was intended to revive it: nature gave up the struggle on the
5th of January, his royal highness being in the sixty-fourth year of
his age. His death was accompanied by sincere and universal regret; for
though he had failings, they were hidden from the public gaze by his
more prominent virtues. Seldom, indeed, have the public services of one
so near the throne produced to the country so much solid and lasting
good, as resulted from his long administration of the British army. His
private character was also formed to conciliate personal attachments:
he never made a personal enemy, nor lost a friend. Everyone who had
intercourse with him was impressed with the kindness of his heart,
kindness which appeared in all his actions. In a word, his public and
private character excited one universal sentiment of respect and esteem.
The soldier mourned over him as that of a benefactor to whom he was
indebted for comfort, security, and respectability; and all other ranks
of society joined in their lamentations over a prince whose personal
qualities had been always popular, and to whom, i