having produced from the faculty a declaration of the expediency of a course of sea-bathing, her Royal Highness in autumn went to Weymouth for that purpose, whence she returned at the latter end of the year. Since that time she has continued in her residence near Windsor, and nothing farther has occurred particularly to excite the public solicitude on her account.

The introduction into parlia ment, in the early part of the session, of bills for the purpose of making a great alteration in the corn laws, and especially of fixing a much higher scale for the liberty of free importation, excited a very extensive alarm among the manufacturing part of the community, and was the cause of a great number of meetings for petitioning against such changes. Their effect was to defeat the proposed measure, ministers not choosing to hazard the consequences of such a general impression. As the harvest frustrated the expectations that had been formed of a plentiful crop, it is probable that any check given to the large importations of grain, which have since taken place, would have raised that necessary of life to an inordinate price. In the mean time, the farmers, pressed upon by high rents and wages, and burdensome taxes, have not been able to indem

nify themselves by the existing low prices of their commodities, and in many instances have been reduced to considerable difficulty; so that it seems the general opinion that some modifications must be made in their favour.

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The restoration of peace on the continent has proved less advantageous to the commercial interests of the country than might have been expected; and there is reason to apprehend a powerful rivalry to our manufactures in the improved skill, and much lighter expense of workmanship, by which those of our neighbours are favoured. The German fairs are said to have afforded evidence of this successful competition. Meanwhile the opening of the longclosed interior of Europe has duced a vast exportation of English tourists, who, whatever returns they may bring of amusement or instruction, will certainly not improve the balance of trade. Nor are the emigrants few, whom the comparative cheapness of living has drawn to the continent rather as sojourners than visitants. On the whole, the close of the year has not gratified the country with those anticipations of increased prosperity, which a state of general peace might have been hoped to justify.

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JANUARY.

Naples, Dec. 26. ESTERDAY, at five in the evening, commenced one of the most formidable eruptions of which there is any record in the history of Vesuvius. Happily, though it presented a terrific spectacle, it caused no great damage. The explosion began by a shower of volcanic gravel, which was followed by a violent eruption of lava. This ignited matter having divided itself into two torrents, flowed over the ancient lavas towards the Torre del Greco. At ten in the evening, the first torrent stopped; but the second continued to proceed towards Bosco Reale and Bosco-Tre-Case.

This morning the apparent calm of the volcano was followed by an explosion, resembling a violent discharge of cannon. A column of volcanic ashes arose in the air, and obscured the horizon. At the moment we are writing, the eruptions still continue. Redoubled shocks make the houses of the city shake, but have as yet done no damage. We do not know, the direction of the lava.

The government has taken every necessary measure to afford assistance to those who may have need of it. Yesterday the king sent one of his equerries to inform himself of the state of things, and to-day VOL. LVI.

the monarch came out himself to observe the eruption. When arrived in the neighbourhood of the fiery torrent, he spoke to every person with that affability which characterises him, and pointed out to those who appeared terrified, that the direction of the lava secured us from any danger.

P. S. It is two o'clock; the eruption appears to have entirely ceased.

Jan. 1.-A shocking murder occurred. at Camborne, Cornwall, which was not discovered until late the following day. James Rule, a lunatic, who had been confined in ̧ Camborne poor-house for several, years, found means to destroy a female pauper who attended him, and lived in the same apartment where he was chained. It is supposed that he strangled the poor woman, as there was no blood found about the room, nor any noise heard during the night that created alarm. A smoke was observed in the house on Sunday morning, and a bad smell, which at length led to a discovery. At four in the afternoon his room was broken into, and the lunatic was found at large and alone. Upon being questioned about the woman, he said she was gone into Devonshire; but on examining the fireplace, no doubt remained of his having burnt the body, from the smell and half consumed particles

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of human bones that remained. When pressed more closely on the subject, he confessed, that "she was gone to ashes." He was committed for trial.

5. Between 10 and 11 o'clock at night the watchman going his rounds in Troy Town, Rochester, was alarmed by the cries of a female, which proceeded from the house of Mr. G. Peeke. The man endeavoured to procure admission, but was not able to succeed; he at length obtained the assistance of some of the neighbours, and forced the door on entering the room from whence the cries proceeded, a most shocking spectacle presented itself; they discovered Mrs. Peeke lying on the floor, her clothes all consumed to tinder, and her flesh burnt to a state of blackness. She expired in a few minutes. Mrs. P. was sitting up for her husband, and, it is conjectured, had fallen asleep whilst sitting by the fire, when a spark caught her clothes, and produced the fatal accident.

6. About half past two o'clock in the afternoon, a dreadful fire broke out at the paper-mills of Mr. Thomas Horn, at Buckland, near Dover, which burnt with such fury, that by six the whole of the mills were burnt down, the dwell ing house was in flames, and the roof had fallen in the furniture had previously been removed, and no lives were lost. It was feared that other houses would also catch fire, as large flakes of burning paper were flying in all directions. Every possible assistance was given by the military and town's-people, but without much effect.

7. On the evening of the 5th the wife of Mr. Mann, who keeps the Marquis of Granby publichouse in Gray's-Inn-lane, left her

home, telling her husband that she had got an order to admit two to the Sans Pareil theatre, and was going to take a female friend with her. She went off accordingly, and between ten and eleven o'clock a journeyman baker, whom the husband knew, called upon him, and told him that his wife had been taken extremely ill, and was at an apothecary's in Fleet-street. He acknowledged that Mrs. Mann did not take a female friend with her to the theatre, as she told him, but had taken him, agreeably to a promise, that the first order she got for a theatre she would take him thither. The husband hastened to the apothecary's, and found his wife in a senseless state. It was the opinion of the medical gentlemen attending her, that she had either voluntarily taken something improper, or that it had been administered to her by some other person. The account given to Mr. Mann of the way in which his wife came there, was very different from that stated by the journyman baker; and was, that she had been brought to the shop from a house of ill fame by three men, but that she refused to tell where the house was, or who the men were. There being no appearance of her recovery, her husband took her home in a hackney coach. Yesterday morning the journeyman baker called in Gray's-Inn-lane, and inquired of Mr. Mann how his wife did. He replied, she was happy, having died at three o'clock. The body was afterwards examined, and some very severe bruises appeared on various parts of it.

Mr. Mann attended yesterday morning at Bow-street, and stated these mysterious circumstances to Mr. Birnie, the magistrate, who

sent for the journeyman baker from Newcastle-street. The man attended, and persisted in the statement he had originally made, and had no appearance of guilt in having administered any thing to Mrs. Mann; his greatest uneasiness appeared to be, the fear of losing his place, in consequence of the officers being sent after him. He was not detained, but was desired to attend before the coroner's inquest, and tell every thing he knew relative to the death of Mrs. Mann.

Upon a full investigation, it appeared that this woman, going to the theatre with her paramour, was seized there with a violent complaint in her head, which became of the apoplectic kind, and occasioned her death. The coroner's verdict was, "Died by the visitation of God," and the man was discharged.

10. Among the prisoners which arrived at Plymouth from Pampelana, there were forty women, in so wretched a state, that they were wholly destitute of the appropriate dress of their sex, and were altogether in the most extreme wretchedness. Two ladies, the wives of gallant officers attached to the navy, with the most humane and ready consideration, immediately set on foot a subscription, and the result has answered so well to the benevolent intentions of the amiable movers, that the unhappy sufferers have been amply secured from the inclemency of the senson, and put in a condition of comparative comfort.

The Hilsborough packet, on the passage from Portpatrick to Donaghadee, was literally covered, in the rigging and deck, by a flock of larks they had taken their departure from some place at or near

Portpatrick, and, in order to have a rest by the way, swarmed about the packet. So soon as they got near shore, they made a rapid flight for the land.

Not less than seven boys were drowned in the Trent, by the breaking of the ice, on which they had imprudently ventured before it was sufficiently strong. sufficiently strong. The accident happened about two hundred yards above Wilford-boat, in the immediate neighbourhood of Nottingham.

11. On the morning of the 4th, fifty boats, manned with six men each, proceeded from Kilkeel to sea to fish; the sea being calm, the wind light and variable, a little snow on the ground, and slight snow showers. About 11 o'clock the day brightened, and shortly after the sun had a muddy appearance through a heavy cloud; at the same time an unusual swell, accompanied with wind, set in from the south, so strong, that the inhabitants on shore were struck with horror for the approaching fate of the men at sea. About twelve o'clock the boats made every exertion to gain the shore at Analong. When about half way, a dreadful storm, accompanied with a heavy snow shower, overtook them. On their arrival off the harbour, signals were made to prevent them coming in there. Two only succeeded in landing out of six who made the attempt; the rest met a watery grave.

The remainder of the boats proceeded along the shore, and were driven in at sundry places, some filled at sea, some were upset, and others dashed to pieces on the shore. Mourne has suffered a loss of twenty-seven of its inhabitants, many of whom have left large and