judges in the remaining court was diminished by the subtraction of two
from its fifteen lords ordinary, or working judges, on whose ability
to get through the work depends whether the eight other judges, who
sit four and four in two courts of review, shall have judgments brought
before them.

ILLNESS OF HIS MAJESTY.

During the sitting of parliament, business was interrupted by
the illness of the king. His majesty's health had, indeed, for a
considerable time been in a precarious state, but the first bulletin
was not issued till the 15th of April, when it was announced that he
was labouring under a bilious attack, accompanied by an embarrassment
of breathing. The disorder was subsequently ascertained to have been
ossification of the vessels of the heart. The symptoms continued to
vary, the patient enjoying temporary intervals of comparative ease; but
they did not give way, and they brought with them such an accession of
bodily debility as rendered painful even the slightest exertion.

BILL TO AUTHORISE THE ADHIBITING OF THE SIGN-MANUAL BY STAMP.

In consequence of the illness of his majesty, on the 24th of May a
message was sent down to both houses of parliament, stating that his
majesty found it inconvenient and painful to sign with his own hand
those public documents which required the sign-manual, and requesting
the parliament to provide means for the temporary discharge of that
function of the crown without detriment to the public service. A bill,
therefore, was immediately passed, allowing the sign-manual to be
adhibited by a stamp. Before the stamp could be affixed, a
memorandum, describing its nature and its objects, signed by three
privy-councillors, was to be endorsed upon the document. The stamp was
then to be affixed in the presence of his majesty, by some person whom
his majesty should command to do so by word of mouth. The presence of
certain high officers of state was likewise required to attest what had
been done; and the party affixing the stamp was to adjoin to the royal
signature the words, "In his majesty's presence, and by his majesty's
command," and subscribe the same with his own name. The bill was limited
in its duration to the present session.

DEATH OF THE KING, AND ACCESSION OF THE DUKE OF CLARENCE, WILLIAM IV.

About the end of May a favourable turn of the disorder of his majesty
gave rise to a hope of his recovery. This feeling, however, was soon
dispersed, for the ch