sharp visages, indicative of both intelligence and want. I was at pains to inquire into the diet of these poor people." Breakfast, meal and bree, that is water-gruel, not the substantial porridge of the Lowlanders. "Dinner, meal and bree kail, or a kind of soup meagre, in which there is boiled, perhaps, some barley or grits, with some kail, and a scanty allowance of barley-cakes. Supper, meal and bree: or, in place of this, sowens, a kind of frumarty, made from the husks of grits, or oatmeal. On Sundays, or other festivals, they have, after their meal and bree, some milk, or perhaps two eggs. If any farmer is reported to eat flesh; the laird considers this as a fraud on him. "I must look sharp after this man: he has his farm too cheap. They tell me he eats flesh-meat. "It is a common thing for labourers, or farmers' servants, to stipulate with their masters, that, besides their meal and bree, or soup meagre for dinner, they shall have a certain number of stocks of kail to be eaten with bread and sait. This must appear to an Englishman wholly incredible; as being altogether insufficient to keep soul and body together. Nevertheless, there is nothing more certain, and I dare to appeal for the truth of it to any one acquainted with Caithness.". Mr. H. leaving Cape Wrath, an immense rock, but not quite so stupendous as the Red-head in Angus, went back to Thurso; and from thence crossing the Pentland Frith to the Orkneys, and took up his head quarters at the house of his old acquaintance, the Rev. Mr. Allison, minister of St. Andrews, and Deer ness. He did not go to the Shetlands, but an account of the present state of these islands, was communi cated to him by a minister of a pa rish there; which, indeed, forms the most interesting and valuable part of his publication. Leaving the Orkneys, he set sail to the Hebrides; where he found a class of mortals called Scollags, a kind of prædial slaves, in a condition still more wretched than that of the labouring class of people in Caithness. From the lebrides he set sail for Fort William. From thence he went to Inverary, and from Inverary by Lochlomond and Dunbarton to Glasgow. From Glasgow he went up the course or valley of the Clyde, as far as Lanark, and from thence returned to Ediaburgh. G D CONTENTS. CONTENTS. HISTORY OF EUROPE. CHAP. I. General Aspect of Europe.-Resources of the opposite Belligerent Powers-and Views.-Fragility of Confederations.-General Maxims and Measures of Buonaparte.-Position and Strength of the French and Russian Armies.-Military Force remaining to the King of Prussia after the Battles of Jena and Pultusk.--The general Plans of the opposite Armies.-Battles of Mohringen-Bergfried - Deppen -Hoff-and Eylau. - Retreat of the French on the Vistula-and of the Russians behind the Pregel. CHA P. II. 1 Relative Positions in which the French and Russian Armies were placed after the Battle of Eylau.-Pacific Overtures by Buonaparte-Rejected.-Artifices of Buonaparte.-The Russians persevere in their System of acting on the offensive.-Battle of Ostrolenka.-Skirmishes.-Triumphant Proclamation, or Address of Buonaparte to his Army.Positions of the French Army in their Winter Quarters.-Bridges and Tetes-du-Pont on the Vistula.—Continued Skirmishes.--The most important of these.--Artillery taken from the Enemy by the French since their Arrival on the Vistula.Progress of the Allies of the French, under Jerome Buonaparte, in the reduction of Silesia.-Siege of Dantzig-Disposition of the grand French Army for protecting the besieging Army.-Dantzig defended by Nature and by Art.-Arrival of the Russian Emperor at Memel-Followed by that of the Archduke Constantine with a Reinforcement to the Russian Army.-Grand Council of War concerning the Relief of Dantzig.-Of two Plans, that which was adopted.-Prussian Force sent for the Relief of Dantzig, defeated.Attacks of the Russians on the whole Line of the French-Intended to prevent them from reinforcing the Army besieging Dantzig.Dantzig surrendered on Capitulation-Conditions of this.-State of VOL. XLIX. 3 X the the Garrison at this time.-The Fort of Weischelnunde also surren- Meeting of Parliament-His Majesty's Speech delivered to both Houses by commission-An Address in Answer-Moved in the House of Peers, by the Earl of Jersey-Seconded by Lord Somers-Observations on the Speech by Lord Hawkesbury-Replies made to Lord Hawkes- bury, and the Speech in general defended by Lord Grenville-An Address in Answer to the Speech from the Throne, moved in the House of Commons by the Hon. William Windham-Seconded by Mr. John Smith-Speech of Mr. Canning on the present Occasion, and Character of his Speeches in general.-Substitution proposed by Mr. Canning, of a new Address in place of that proposed by Mr. Lamb Reply to Mr. Canning, and the Speech from the Throne in general defended by Lord Howick-Reply to Lord Howick, and various Strictures on the Conduct of Administration, by Lord Castlereagh-The Address, carried Nem. diss.-Thanks to General Sir John Stuart, and the Officers and Soldiers by whose valour the Victory of Maida was obtained, moved in the House of Peers by Lord Grenville-And in the House of Commons by Mr. Windham.- Considerations on the late Negociation with France, in the House of Peers-Apology by Lord Grenville for the Omission of certain papers in the Number of those laid before the House. The Ends in view, and the principle on which the British Ministry acted during the whole of the Negociation-Review of the Negociation, in the four different Stages into which Lord Grenville divided it.-Causes of the Rupture of the Negociation.-Address to His Majesty on the Subject of the Negociation, moved by Lord Grenville.—Õbservations on the Address, and the Subject of the Address by Lord Hawkesbury-Lord Sidmouth-Lord Eldon-And the Earl of Lauderdale-Address carried, Nem. diss.-Address to the same effect moved in the House of Commons by Lord Howick.-Conduct of the English Ministry in the Negociation vindicated.-Speeches on the present Question by Lord Mr. Canning-Lord Henry Pelty-and Mr. Perceval-Address carried, Nem. diss..... 52 CHAP. V. The insatiable Ambition and insiduous Policy of France.-No Alternative for Britain between Resistance and Submission.The first Attentions of the Legislature called to the State of the Army and Navy.Ordnance Estimates moved in the House of Commons, by Mr. Calcraft. -Resolutions moved thereon-agreed to.-Motions by Lord Castlereagh, for the Returns of the Effective State of our Military Establishment-agreed to-Army Estimates.-Number and Disposition of the Volunteers.-Result of the Alteration that had been mide in the Recruiting System -Observations by Lord Castlereagh on the Statements that had been laid before the House by the Secretary at War-Reply to Lord Castlereagh, by Mr. Windham.-New System for Recruiting the Army vindicated.-Strictures on that System by Mr. Perceval.-Mr. Perceval answered, and the New System defended by Lord Howick.-Remarks by Sir James Pulteney. --Speech of Sir John Doyle.-Observations by Mr. Johnstone-Mr Roseand Mr. Thornton.-The New System defended by Lord H Petty-The Resolutions agreed to-Navy Estimates moved by Mr. Thomas Grenville.-New Arrangement proposed for a clear Statement of the Naval Estimates in future.-Resolutions moved by Mr. Grenville, agreed to.-Sums for Miscellaneous Services moved by Mr. Vansittartamong these a Sum in Addition to what had been granted before to the Roman Catholic college at Maynooth-Which gives rise to animated conversations on this Subject:-The Speakers; Mr. Perceval—Mr. Banks-Lord Stanley-Sir John Newport-Mr. Grattan- Lord Mahon-Mr. Wilberforce-and Lord Howick.-All the Resolutions moved by Mr. Vansittart, agreed to...... CHAP. VI. 72 Finances of the country.-Supplies.-Ways and Means.-Plan of Finance, with its Object, proposed by Lord Henry Petty.-Eleven Resolutions relating to his Plan laid on the Table for the consideration of the House of Commons-Objections to the Plan by Mr. Johnstone.--and by Lord Castlereagh.-Resolutions relating to a Plan of Finance, submitted to the House by Lord Castlereagh, in place of that of Lord H. P.-Objections to Lord H. P.'s Plan by Mr. Long-Lord H. Pi's Plan defended by Mr. Tierney, and by Lord H P. himself.— Farther Reasoning against Lord H. P.'s Plan by Lord CastlereaghFundamental Error in Lord C.'s Plan of Finance pointed out by Mr. Giles-Lord H. P.'s Plan defended by Mr. David Giddy.-Resolutions on Lord H. P's Plan reported and agreed to.-Plan of Finance 3 X 2 by by Sir James Pulteney.-Lord P's Plan defended, and Lord C.'s at- tacked by Mr. H. Thornton.-Ways and Means.-Progress of the Com mission of Military Inquiry.-Abuses in the Barrack Department.- Fraudulent Dealings of Mr. Alexander Davison.-Proceedings of the Treasury with regard to Darison-Motion by Mr. Robson for the Appointment of a Committee of Inquiry into useless Places, and sinecure Offices. Slightly amended by Lord H. Petty, and agreed to-Reflec tions on the Proceedings in Parliament relating to Finance.-On the Nature of Money, and its great and still increasing Influx.-Bad Ef fects of this.-Observations on the Funding System.-And on the Sink- CHAP. VII. Bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, brought into the House of Peers by Lord Percy-supported by Mr. Sheridan-but not pressed, for the present, by Lord Percy against the general sense of the House.... 140 Motion by Mr. Whitbread for Leave to bring in a Bill for encouraging Industry and the Relief of the Poor.-Description of the Numbers and actual Condition of the Necessitous Poor in England.-Ob- servations on the New Systems of Poor's Laws proposed by Mr. Malthus, and Mr. Arthur Young.-Principles on which Mr. Whit- bread founded his Bill.-The particular Measures proposed to be adopted.-Prophetic Vision of the happy Effects that might be expected to result from their Adoption.-Compliments paid to Mr. Whitbread.-His Bill read a second time, and printed.-Sundry Ob- servations on the Bill.-Fate of the Bill.-Motion by Lord Howick for Leave to bring in a Bill for securing to all His Majesty's Sub- jects the Privilege of serving in the Army and Navy-objected to by Mr. Perceval.-The motion agreed to, and the Bill read a first time, |