risonment for
three years and whipping; and the fourth was transportation for seven
years, with the alternative of imprisonment for two years and whipping.
The fourth statute comprised those offences which consisted of
maliciously injuring the property of another. This act reserved capital
punishment for arson, for the demolition of buildings or machinery by
rioters, for showing false lights to a vessel, &c.; but left other kinds
of injury to be repaid by transportation or imprisonment. Altogether
the number of capital offences was considerably diminished; and in many
cases a summary mode of proceeding was introduced, which was so far a
limitation of trial by jury. The last statute regulated the redress to
be sought from the hundred by persons whose property had been injured by
rioters, and laid down the mode for applying for such remuneration.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was prorogued on the 2nd of July. The speech was delivered
by commission, and chiefly referred to the assurances of friendship from
foreign powers; to directions which had been given for a review of
the financial state of the country, with a view to a diminution
of expenditure; to the revival of employment in the manufacturing
districts; and to the corn-law question. On this latter subject the
speech remarked:--"His majesty trusts that, although your deliberations
on the corn-laws have not led, during the present session, to a
permanent settlement of that important question, the consideration of
it will be resumed by you early in the ensuing session, and that such an
arrangement of it may finally be adopted as shall satisfy the reasonable
wishes, and reconcile the substantial interests of all classes of his
majesty's subjects."

DEATH OF MR. CANNING.

The close of this session was soon followed by an event which again
dismembered the government, and disappointed all those hopes which
the genius and enlightened principles of Mr. Canning had raised in the
nation; an event, also, which taught an impressive lesson on the vanity
and uncertainty of ambition. Immediately after the close of parliament
Mr. Canning issued orders to the heads of different departments, that
they should transmit to him accurate accounts of the expenses connected
with their several establishments, with a view to their reduction. He
had no sooner done this than he was visited by an attack of illness.
His attack seemed to yield to medical treatment; and he