themselves, and a great deal of harm to the rich; and amongst the rich, whether they be manufacturing gentlemen or landlords, or what not, there are a great many as good men as ever lived-such as my master here, and I am sure, I would fight for his property to the last drop of my blood; but I can see very well that there is a sort of bitter discontent spreading fast amongst us labourers, and growing blacker and blacker, just like a cloud coming over the sky, which will end in a storm. It used not to be so long ago, but the new poor-law has done a great deal to make the change, for that first showed the people clearly that the rich were ready enough to take care of their own money, while they refused to do any thing to better the labourer's condition, or make his master deal fairly by him." The guest listened attentively, and then mused; but whether he saw that argument would have no effect, or believed that there might be some truth in the cottager's views, he did not answer, and at length, taking out his watch, he said, 66 Now, I think I will go, my good friend, for it is half-past seven, and, in all probability, they will be at dinner before I reach the house." WHY DO SUMMER ROSES FADE? BY J. E. CARPENTER, ESQ. I. WHY do Summer roses fade, If not to show how fleeting, To join our Summer greeting? II. Then, while Summer roses last, Then comes wintry weather! III. But, though Summer roses die, And love gives place to reason, SECRET HISTORY OF THE COURT, MINISTRY, AND TIMES OF GEORGE IV. WITH ANECDOTES OF REIGNING DYNASTIES, ARISTOCRACIES, AND PUBLIC MEN, * INCLUDING RUSSIAN CZARS, AUSTRIAN EMPERORS, FRENCH KINGS, ROYAL DUKES, SECRET SERVICES, &c. &c. BY AN OLD DIPLOMATIST. CHAP. I. THE kind reception already given to a few extracts, from the very voluminous documents before us, has been such as to induce the hope that more full and important "confessions" connected with those eventful times will not be wholly unappreciated. Consisting as they do of private letters, diaries, and other memoranda, which long protracted correspondence, embassy, travel, and, most of all, the "Open Sesame" into exclusive circles are apt to accumulate on a man's hands, they present a complete series of what may be termed "State Reports" made upon the spot; the time, the scene, and the actors being all brought vividly into display. A full-length portrait of the times, with its minutest accessories-the event of the passing hour-characters and manners, is repictured to the eye. The political" Cynthia of the minute," and all its chamelion hues and changes are here caught and reflected upon future history with the daguerreotype accuracy of nature itself. Many and grave reasons might be assigned for records so interesting, so lively, and often so startling, not having hitherto found their way through the press. Of whatever nature they were, those reasons have ceased to influence; and the more imperative duty of entertaining if not instructing the world, on all questions connected with the political wellbeing and free progress of constitutional states, now more than ever exposed to calumny and peril, is at length free to act. Salutary truths, especially when happily and wittily illustrated in an age of despot-dullness, that has left us hardly the ground we tread upon, ought never to be withheld. While opposed to anarchy, brute force, and misrule of every kind, it will be seen that the able, sagacious, and humorous "Recorder of the Secret History," is a true defender of sound constitutional freedom, full of old English blood of the best breed, and wit to season it. For if valuable for future history, his "Secret Memoirs" are still more so by their amusing and satiric illustrations and spirited remarks, minutely painting characters and manners in all ranks as he found them. These belong to a period interesting in many points of view; exhibit the secret movements of royalty, aristocracy and government, with a master-hand-disclose real motives and objects, and combine graphic power with thrilling incident and dramatic effect. Humorous narrative and playful fancy mingle with keen and caustic reflections upon the meanness, selfishness, and irascibility of men IN power, the low factions of the "outs," and the cold, trick Among these will figure the "facile principes" of their tribe-Metternich Castlereagh, Talleyrand, Polignac, the Orloffs, &c. In another class, Grey, Liverpool, Canning, Peel, Russell, Brougham, and their satellites. ing, heartless, "immoveable system" of the Bureauocracy,* that little "imperium in imperio," which really rules the roast. Hence he shows the sudden transformation and miserable sameness of all men in power. His accurate delineation of the character of the French king—when Duke of Orleans-so like as to seem a prophecy, is of itself sufficient to stamp him a genuine diplomatist, nor are his characters of other princes, throughout these elaborate records less correctly and vividly drawn. He proves to us in what quarters "education" is most wanted, not by the poor and lowly, but by "masters;" not by subjects, but by rulers-not by labourers, but by lords and stewards, and that education, a knowledge and practice of the common Christian duties.-ED. 66 London, February 13, 1816.-We are here in a state of breathless expectation as to the measures of ministers, particularly those connected with the property-tax. The expectation out-of-doors is, that the measure will not be carried. I know otherwise; they are determined to earry it!! Liverpool is the only one who wants nerve ; and hence, it is rumoured that he wishes to go out. The resumption of this tax we can easily foresee will create not only great discontent, but perhaps some tumult throughout the country. Notwithstanding this, the present prosperous ministry" are resolved to make the experiment, as they say, 66 we are in that flourishing state we can bear any thing!!" Irish property has sunk greatly, scarcely any rents collected for the last year. Of the Duke of Downshire's rental, 22,000l., not a penny yet paid, or likely to be !! A gentleman observed to a noble lord, remarkable for taking every thing with good humour, "that he wondered how he got any person to be his steward in Ireland, the Irish being so disposed to hang those sort of gentry." "Oh," replied his lordship, "I always take care to send one who deserves to be hanged." What think you of 300,000l. as a compliment to the commander-inchief (the Duke of York), for his military services; one of the many applications, it is said, to be made to parliament this session. The Duke of C's debts, and a further provision are again talked of. It was only on Sunday last that I heard from something like authority, that the Prince Regent was determined to pull down the china-shop at Brighton, and erect a palace there. The return of his R. H. to town is uncertain; he is still in a precarious state of health, and innumerable rumours are afloat. The Spanish ambassador gave a grand entertainment, on Saturday, to the Austrian princes; the whole foreign and domestic corps diplomatique being invited to meet them. The archdukes were observed to be uncommonly reserved; they conversed almost wholly with the Dutch ambassador. The embassy to China is said to be merely complimentary. The present emperor has lately succeeded to the throne, and his kingdom been delivered from a serious insurrection. The Prince Regent has written him a letter highly illuminated on vellum. The embassy hope to obtain permission to return from Pekin to Canton through the Chinese territory. The whole is a job. Sir George Cockburn will shortly return from St. Helena; Sir Home Popham succeeds him. To the former I am known; he took the P.'s As shown in the personal influence and intrigues of Louis Philippe, the camerillas of Spain and Portugal, and other powers.-ED. Jan.-VOL. LXXIX. NO. CCCXIII. with him. Can I put any questions to him? The military club and the naval have formed a junction. The Duke of Wellington is expected to be vice-president, when the Prince Regent takes the chair! It is reported that the dinner will take place early in March. The matrimonial alliance between the Princess Charlotte and the Prince of Saxe Coburg is to be ratified in April next. You will laugh when I tell you that it was L himself (his wife was mentioned in the Chronicle) who eloped from Palace-yard. He is to be —what shall I say-lord chancellor !! and thereby hangs a tale. More of him anon. The papers of this day are filled with debates upon the ways and means. The chancellor of the exchequer stated the total amount of the supplies of the United Kingdom at 29,399,000l.!! Among the little items to meet this expenditure are 6,000,000l. of unexpired war taxes, 6,000,000l. of five per cent., property tax, and an advance of 6,000,000l. on the part of the Bank !!! "Lord K arrived in London on Saturday. On Sunday he had a long interview with Lord Liverpool. The circumstance of his lordship having been compelled to quit Paris was the subject of a conversation in the House of Lords last night, but our government, as was observed by Lord Liverpool, cannot, of course interfere in the business. "Four o'clock, P. M.—I have just heard that Lord K- is writing a pamphlet in vindication of his conduct. Ridgeway is to publish it. The total amount of our peace establishment, including the army maintained on the French frontiers, is about 150,000-artillery, cavalry, and infantry. But the army of France of 53,000, will be supported by contributions extorted from that country. The military peace establishment of Ireland alone is 25,000 men, equal to the entire amount of Great Britain, Guernsey, and Jersey. The seamen on the British and Irish establishment are 33,000 men, and the entire expense of both army and navy, including ordinary and extraordinary, exceeds 21,000,000l. Such are the results of those splendid triumphs we have purchased with so much blood and treasure! A peace establishment of 24,000,000l. Tempora mutantur with a vengeance! London, February 16, 1816.-Intrigue is now at its zenith! A thousand rumours are circulated by the contending parties. The public mind was never more agitated. An idle report that a dissolution may be expected, obtained some credit. The Catholic question is supposed to be connected with it. The opposition calculate upon the pledge given by Lord Castlereagh-they will be thrown over the bridge. Brougham has been brought forward on the political stage to succeed Whitbread, "But," say the ministerialists, 66 Iwe fear him not. His professional avocations interfere too much with his parliamentary duties; besides he has much to learn before he can become formidable." The money to be paid by France as droits to the crown, and not to the people, has excited a great sensation!* We have a political club in Bond-street which is ably conducted; it is opened on Tuesday and Friday evenings, and has more than once been the subject of conversation in the cabinet. The debate this evening is, "Ought the projected nuptials of her R. H. the Princess Charlotte with one of the princes of the house of C to be * As witness the case of the unfortunate Baron de Bode; not a solitary one. hailed as the means of cementing the bonds of union between Great Britain and the continental states, or deprecated as sowing the seeds of future warfare, and endangering the liberties of Englishmen ?" This club is well attended. I have seen there some of the ablest men in the country, and not a few persons of rank. We lose the Austrian princes on Monday. Their peculiar reserve is the topic of conversation. "Does this arise," it is asked among the élite, "from mental deficiency, or are they really arrived at years of discretion ?" Rumour already begins to calculate upon Napoleon's return. And brought back by our ministers to counteract the designs of Alexander!! "Credat Judæus." At Sir Joseph Banks's the other evening, the military button containing the three eagles in the crown, the one in the centre, and the mantle with the bees; also the diamonds, afforded admirable food for the cogniscenti. L's promotion is in a progressive state-he is made chancellor to the Regent. This is through the Hertford interest. It is a preparatory step to setting aside legal claims in favour of Lord Y- who, as residuary legatee in the Q- property, means to pounce upon a great part. "If that young gentleman's papa," said, "is not quickly made a duke, it will be too late; for grace is already extinct in the son.' The Regent does not return to town on Monday as was expected. A great change has taken place since his illness; it is said he has again turned his thoughts towards Methodism !! The situation of Ireland is beyond all description dreadful. There is a chain of frightful calamities, which extends in one unbroken link from the hovel to the castle.* The line adopted by the Times newspaper will perhaps surprise you. It is the most violent anti-ministerialist among all the journals. They take their stand on the broad basis of the Income Tax-" the Curse!!" The paper has been falling hundreds in a day in consequence of its politics; people begin to open their eyes. That "par nobile fratrum," the immense military establishment to keep the peace, and the income-tax, are now before the public!! Mr. Brougham's motion last night in the House for an address to the prince regent, requesting his interference in behalf of the Spanish patriots with the government, was negatived on a division by a majority of 123 to 42. In the course of the debate Lord Castlereagh stated that the government had already interfered to the full extent that promised any advantage. Copies of the (hiatus) papers were laid before the House of Commons last night. They relate to a despatch from Lord B to the Duke of Wellington, informing his grace that the French king consented to the 12th Article of the Convention, which preceded the entrance of the allies into Paris in July last, only with an understanding that it was binding upon none but the British and Prussian commanders, and the commanders of such of the allies as may become parties to it. In this despatch, Lord B also directly disclaims, on the part of the prince regent, any accession to an engagement "whereby it should be presumed that his most Christian majesty was absolutely precluded from the just exercise of his authority." Another despatch is from the Duke of W- in answer to the former, * How perfect the parallel between 1816 and 1846 !-ED. |