ments against paper money, or rather his abuse of it, made not the slightest impres-
sion.

The Radical Reformers are not a party, in the usual sense of the word; they are
no set of men of the same opinions, united for the common purpose of ousting the
party in power from their places, and obtaining power and place themselves, as well
as currency for their particular opinions. They are too numerous, being in fact the
people, to form a party; and their views and doctrines are in many respects dis-
similar. In only one important point they agree, that the good of the people, the
just, and the true, is to be sought, and every thing inconsistent with these objects re-
jected. They support a Reforming Government, by supporting Reform; and do not
profess to support Reform only by supporting a Reforming Government. Every man
sincerely attached to the principle of Reform, for its own sake, and not for the sake
of a party or set of men, is a Radical Reformer. From Reformers of such a de-
scription, much good is to be expected; from such men no evil is to be dreaded.

The Times has given the independent Reformers a new title. After describing
them, with all its usual force of language and carelessness of truth, as the friends of
anarchy and spoliation, it has bestowed on them the emphatic title of "Destructives."
The object of the independent Reformers is, with much fury, declared to be the de-
struction of the institutions of the country, the demolition of the Constitution. Of late
years, we have heard much of the destruction of the Constitution. We should be sorry
to believe the Constitution so very ricketty as it is represented by many of those who
pretend to be its best friends. These gentry remind us of an impostor steward, in one
of Mrs Centlivre's plays, who gave a false account of a feeble old gentleman's sudden
death; adding," that he was very subject to it." The Constitution is always dying, it
would appear. According to Tory notions, it was destroyed by Catholic Emancipa-
tion; by the repeal of Test and Corporation Acts; and, a third time by the Reform
Bill. It is plain, from each of these Acts having been described by the Tories as
destructive of the Constitution, that "the Constitution" must, with them, have
meant, Protestant and Prelatic ascendency, and the Rotten Burghs. When the
Times uses the Tory cry of the destruction of the Constitution," we wish
it would tell us plainly what it means.
The Radical Reformers do not threat-
en to destroy the House of Commons, nor Royalty, nor even the House of
Lords. It cannot, therefore, be what is vulgarly understood by The Constitution
that the Times means by that term. The Radical Reformers insist for the destruc-
tion of Monopolies. Can the Constitution, with the Times, mean Monopolies ? The
Radicals call for the destruction of Pensions and Sinecures. Are Pensions and Sinecures
the Constitution? They ask the Ballot and Short Parliaments. Are the Septennial
Act and compulsory voting (or, as it is falsely termed, the influence of property,) the
Constitution? The Independent Reformers ask for equality, not toleration, of religious
rights. Is the supremacy of one church out of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Catho-
lic, to say nothing of the many other forms of Christian worship, and the compulsory
payment by one man for another man's spiritual teacher, the Constitution? The
same honest Reformers demand the abolition of the Taxes on Knowledge. Is the ig-
norance of the people the Constitution? Which of these things is the Constitution
which the Times says, the Radicals wish to destroy? Is it any, or all of them?

THE MINISTRY AND THE TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE.-It has been proved by the issue of the Elections, that the Whig Ministry has the support of a vast majority of the middle classes of England and Scotland, if not of Ireland. Few Tories have got into Parliament; and still fewer avowed Radical Reformers; although not a few of those members, who call themselves Whigs, and profess to support the present Ministry, are in reality Independent or Radical Reformers, and will only support those acts of the Ministry, which they shall think right. But even making allowance for these, the Ministry will have a decided majority of the House of Commons to support any question they may chuse to make a Ministerial one. It will be impossible for them to plead the want of power to carry any good measure, which they are known seriously to wish carried. The country has, therefore, a right to expect that they will proceed with vigour in those Reforms for which alone a Reform in the Repre sentation was desired. There is one measure, which, if they will give quickly, we shall, for our own parts, allow the Ministry credit for a sincere desire to give, in due time, every other Reform, which the true interest of the people shall dictate; we allude to the Abolition of the TAXES on KNOWLEDGE. Let the light of political knowledge shine freely upon all classes, and no abuse, no fallacy, can long exist. Knowledge is to the health of the popular mind, what free air is to the health of the body. Those who wish the people to possess the means of political instruction, must intend to govern them by the conviction of their understandings, and not by force or improper influences; and that Ministry which excludes knowledge from the poor, must as certainly mean to govern for their own interest, and not that of the naiton. By this infallable test we shall try the patriotism of Ministers.

MONTHLY REGISTER.

POLITICAL HISTORY.

GREAT BRITAIN.

PARLIAMENT was dissolved on the 3d

ary.

of December, and the writs for the election of the members of the New Parliament are returnable on the 29th of JanuThe last of the boroughmonger Parliaments is thus brought to an end, and a new era opens on the country with the commencement of the present year. Public attention has been almost solely directed to the general election, but the early period at which we must go to press, prevents us from recording the result. As far as we can judge from the elections which have already taken place, we may anticipate a great victory for the friends of liberty and order. In London, the whole sixteen members are liberal, not a single Tory being returned. Many of the new members are pledged to support the vote by ballot, and the shortening of the duration of Parliament; measures which are absolutely necessary to complete the reform in the Parliamentary representation.

IRELAND. All proceedings for the recovery of tithes have been suspended during the general election. The prosecutions which have hitherto taken place, have had very little effect in enforcing the payment of tithes. A change of policy in the management of Ireland is loudly required, for the proceedings of Mr. Stanley have all but driven the country into rebellion. The question of the repeal of the union daily gains supporters; and it is not wonderful, considering that Ireland has been so long treated rather like a conquered country, than as an integral part of the British dominions. That the repeal is a measure fraught with evil to all the three kingdoms, but more especially to Ireland, we cannot doubt. There is little chance of a British and Irish Parliament going on for any considerable time without serious collisions, which will ultimately result in a separation of the countries.

THE CONTINENT.

FRANCE. The French ministry are much stronger than was anticipated. The address at the opening of the Chamber of Deputies was carried by a triumphant majority of 233 to 114. An attempt was made to assassinate the king on his way to the Chamber on the 19th ult.; at least a pistol was fired at him, but whether it contained a ball or not is uncertain; and many entertain strong suspicions that the whole affair was got up by the police. The supposed assassin has not yet been apprehended. The expedition against the Dutch is popular in France.

SPAIN. The Queen's party has great difficulty in keeping head against the Carlists; and the death of the King, who still continues in a weak state of health, will, in all probability, be the signal for a civil war. A serious conspiracy, which was to have been attempted in Madrid in favour of Don Carlos on the 5th of Novem. ber, was fortunately discovered in time to prevent it being carried into effect. The conspirators were supported by the body guards, and the scheme embraced nothing less than the assassination of the King, Queen, and Infantas, and all who had declared for the new system of go vernment. The Spanish Liberals are, in general, unwilling to avail themselves of the late amnesty offered them, fearing that its protection would be at an end whenever either of the contending fac tions obtained a decided superiority.

PORTUGAL. The Marquis Palmella has returned to this country with the view of endeavouring to prevail on our Ministry to recognise the government of Donna Maria. He has not, however, succeeded in this object, though great exertions are making by the French government to induce our government to take this step. Don Pedro is at present completely shut up at Oporto. He has been long blockaded by the Miguelites on the land side; and by means of a fort erected by them at the mouth

of the Douro, they have completely cut
off his communications by sea. Several
vessels which went from this country
with provisions and reinforcements have
in consequence been forced to return. A
vessel which sailed from the Clyde for
Oporto with about 450 recruits, was
wrecked off the coast of Galway, and all
on board perished.

BELGIUM and HOLLAND.-General
Chassé, the Dutch commandant of the Ci-
tadel of Antwerp, having refused to sur-
render the Citadel when summoned, in
name of Britain and France, on the 30th
November, commenced the same day
firing on the French in the trenches,
which they had begun on the night of
the 29th November. The French did
not return the fire seriously until the
4th ultimo. They continue to push on
the siege with much vigour; and it is
now certain that the Dutch will defend
themselves to the last extremity. The
fire on both sides is tremendous. The
city has hitherto been spared the horrors
of bombardment, but how long it may
escape is a matter of uncertainty. The
Dutch army, though in great force in
the immediate neighbourhood, has made
no attempt to raise the siege, and no hos-
tilities have yet taken place between the

French and Dutch armies. Prussia still maintains a powerful force on the Dutch and Belgian frontier, but does not seem prepared to take active measures against France. The state of the finances of Russia, and the failure of the attempt to raise a loan in London, as well as the season of the year, prevent her assisting the Dutch; though little doubt is entertained, that the proceedings of the British and French governments on the Dutch question, are most galling to her govern

ment.

He

TURKEY and EGYPT.-It appears by news from Constantinople of the 10th November, that Ibrahim Pacha, after giving his army nearly two months' rest, has resumed offensive operations. commenced by taking possession of the defiles of Cilicia, and, having dispersed a corps of Turks assembled to oppose him at Ereckli, entered Koniah on the 1st November.-Koniah (the ancient Iconium) is half way between the frontiers of Syria and Constantinople. This news is said to have hastened the departure of the Grand Vizier for the army. The Turkish fleet entered the Hellespont on the 5th ult. The Egyptian fleet had returned to the harbour of Suda. The ravages of the plague at Constantinople were on the decline.

STATE OF COMMERCE, MANUFACTURES, AND AGRICULTURE.

DECEMBER, 1832.

Ir is pleasing to observe that the true principles of commerce continue to gain ground, notwithstanding all the efforts of the supporters of the system of protections. The progress of just and liberal sentiments in France is most cheering. The merchants and manufacturers of Lyons have earnestly expressed their conviction, that the protecting system, injurious as it needs must be to all, is yet far more so to the party which inflicts it, than to those against whom it is in intention directed. Their petition to the Chambers, praying for a relaxation of duties on foreign, and especially British articles of manufacture, breathes a spirit as wise as it is benevolent.

THE COTTON MANUFACTURERS are

well employed, and the large demand
which they now have for the home mar-
ket is clearing off the heavy stock of
goods they had accumulated. They also
find their payments come in punctually;
which speaks well for the situation of the
drapers. The foreign trade is improving.

IN WOOLLEN CLOTHS there is a declension of the demand. Some orders for army cloth have been received, but the prices offered are so extremely low that it is difficult to find clothiers to undertake the working of them. There is some demand for merinos and the finer qualities of stuff goods; but with regard to lowpriced articles, the market is extremely

flat.

THE WORSTED STUFF TRADE continues in a very good state; all the mills are fully employed, and the markets are regularly brisk.

SILK TRADE.-The silk-weaving in

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE literary increase of the last month exceeds all ordinary limits. The biographers muster strong, the young poets come forth singing in bands, the novellists are in formidable force, and the class miscellaneous exceeds calculation. To our regiet and disappointment, a bare dry notice is all we can accord to the merits of some, and a mere intimation of existence must supply what we should have liked to say of others.

MEMOIRS OF SIR WALTER SCOTT, BY W. WEIR, ADVOCATE. Besides the maxim, that "fools and bairns should not see half done work," we have an objection to thrusting the first published Memoir of the first man of his age and country, into a nook of this Magazine. Ampler space is required to do justice to both the writer and the subject. The former, who already enjoys a considerable local reputation, if he be not in very truth "the rose and expectancy of our literary state," comes forward avowing his name, and staking his reputation upon his work. All, therefore, that we propose doing, till the book be completed, is to notice that it is in course of publication, and excites a great sensation in our literary circles. The Part published, relates to the childhood, boyhood, and youth of Sir Walter. It is full of interest and beauty.

SELECTIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. BY S. AUSTIN. In this volume, which is introduced by a very modest preface, the Hebrew Scriptures are, without in the least disturbing the literal text, so arranged as to form separate books, sections, and lessons of some length, illustrative of Scripture doctrines and precepts. The plan will be at once understood, when we mention that one book is devoted to the attributes of God, another to the condition, duties, and destinies of man; and that under the last one, there are such sections, as Duties of Children, Humanity, Humility, &c. This is a useful and loving labour for the young and the uninstructed, and should be so received by parents, and all who have the religious interests of their humbler fellow-creatures at heart.

MR. KNOWLES' TALES.‡ Mr. Knowles has done himself the justice, and the public the kindness, to collect his strays and waifs into the penfold of one small volume, instead of permitting them to ramble where few could see them, through Magazines and Annuals. The Tales bear ani

Ireland, Junior, Edinburgh. Part I. With Portrait of Sir Walter. Pp. 99.

+ Effingham Wilson, London. Pp. 304. Moxon, London. Pp. 6.

mated traces of the author of the Hunch-
back, but cannot add much to his reputa-
tion. Our favourites are Love and Au-
thorship; and the story of the Bastile.

THE AMULET.*—The Amulet is, so to
speak, a religious annual, par excellence.
If not told this on the title-page, we should
conclude the present volume to be much
like its less professing contemporaries. The
Amulet contains some pretty, a few good,
and a great many so-so pieces, and the
usual number of engravings; of which the
The Gentle Student, The Evening Star,
The English Mother, and perhaps the
Duchess of Richmond, are pretending;
while The Theft of the Cap, The Young
Navigators, and the vignette, The Gol-
den Age, are really beautiful.
There is,
besides, a portrait of John Kemble, in the
character of Cato, painted by Sir T. Law-
rence, and beautifully engraved. But
altogether, there is too much Lawrence.
Grace Huntly is a pleasing tale, by Mrs.
Hall; and the Wonders of the Lane, are
verses in the best manner of the author of
Corn Law Rhymes. There are several
things, but none very noticeable, by L.E.L.,
and a slight sketch, Soldiers' Wives, by
the Rev. Charles Tayler, much to our
mind. Every thing the pen and burin
of the annuals could do to please and at-
tract, has been done for the Amulet.

THE JUVENILE FORGET-ME-NOT.†
-Our manhood and literary taste apart,
we should not scruple to confess that we
generally like the annuals of the juve-
niles, much better than those got up for
the ancients or the adolescents. This of
Ackerman's is always a charming one, and
was never more so than for 1833. The
ladies who contribute so much to these
pretty volumes, seem to feel more at home
and at their ease in the nursery, than
when striving to minister to the caprices
of the over-grown, spoiled children on the
floor below. Yes the floor below; for
every body knows that it is the custom of
England to send the children to the at-
tics, and keep the best rooms sacred to the
bronzes, or-molu ornaments, and China,
and other gregarious monsters, dead and
alive. Miss Landon contributes some sweet
verses for a print, (the Grandmother, a
clever picture by Fraser,) and a pretty and
fanciful, if not very probable, Indian Tale.
Mary Howitt writes the Sailor's Wife;
and her verses are much better than so
gawky looking a Sailor's wife deserves.
The First Sad Lesson, by Miss Bowles,
is the finest thing in the volume; full of
pathos and beauty.

Westly and Davis, London.
+ Ackerman, London.