n his public capacity,
they felt that the empire owed a heavy debt of gratitude for all that he
had effected for its safety and honour. His royal highness was succeeded
as commander-in-chief by the only man in whom personal merit and the
fullest confidence of the country were united--the Duke of Wellington.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament resumed its sittings on the 8th of February. One of its
earliest measures was to vote an address of condolence to the king on
the death of his royal brother, on which occasion all political asperity
was forgotten in an unanimous expression of respect for the private
character and official conduct of the deceased. Men of all parties, as
Mr. Peel, Sir R. Wilson, Mr. Brougham, and others, paid the tribute of
high respect to his memory. Mr. Brougham considered it no small praise
to the Duke of York that, in his office of commander-in-chief, he never
allowed his political principles to interfere in the discharge of the
duties of his office; and Sir R. Wilson remarked, that it was worthy of
observation that the improvement which he had effected in the discipline
of the army was maintained without undue severity. On these improvements
Mr. Peel dwelt at great length, clearly showing that the high state of
discipline now existing in the British army was chiefly owing to the
exertions of the deceased prince.

By the death of the Duke of York his next brother, the Duke of
Clarence, became heir presumptive to the crown. Ministers embraced this
opportunity of proposing an increase of L6,000 per annum to his income,
as well as L3,000 as a jointure to his consort. This motion was strongly
opposed by Lord Althorpe, and by Messrs. Hume, Brougham, and Abercromby.
Mr. Hume contended that it was ungracious and inconsistent to be
proposing an additional burden of L9,000 a year, so soon after a royal
letter to the bishops had exhorted them to use all their influence
in promoting charitable contributions for the relief of the starving
population. He had himself recently presented a petition from the
weavers of Blackburn, praying that something might be done which would
provide them with food; and the answer given to their prayers was a vote
for adding to their burdens. Unwilling, however, to do anything which
might look like a reproach to the crown, he would not oppose the motion
by a direct negative; but, in order to give ministers an opportunity of
withdrawing it, he would move that the chairma