rendered ridiculous," or their "feelings violated," while they were, on the other hand, summarily punished by the House for breach of privilege ?

In 1687, the Rev. Samuel Johnson was tried for writing and publishing two scandalous and seditious libels on the admission of Papists into office, &c. The jury were charged to find only the facts of writing and publishing, and having given a verdict against him, he was sentenced to pay a fine of 300 marks, to stand three times in the pillory, to be whipped from Newgate to Tyburn, and to be degraded from the order of the priesthood, by the Bishop's Commissioners for the diocese of London. In 1683, he had been fined 500 marks for publishing" Julian the Apostate." In 1689, parliament resolved that the judgment against him was cruel and illegal. He obtained no preferment; but the King gave him 300%. a year out of the Post-office, for the lives of him and his son, besides 10007. in money, and 1007. a year to his son.

CATHARINE ULRICA'S SONG.+

LOVELY is eve, in soft green billow

Bathing her cheek and her golden locks;
When the pure moon makes her bosom her pillow,
And silvers the verdure that clothes the green rocks;
But lovelier far would the eve and moon be,

Did they shine on the land of the blest and the free!

Sweet is the breath of the northern spring morning,
When the dark sleep of the winter is past;
And on the hills the fair day-star is burning,
Burning as if it were ever to last:

But sweeter the breeze and the day-star would be,
Did they breathe and beam over the land of the free!

Fast do they fly from Sweregia's mountains,

Dark in the north the chill snow-clouds appear;
Bound to their hills are the soft-flowing fountains,
While o'er their bosoms the wild winds career:
But, my country, the beam of the day-star would be
All unmourn'd if sweet Liberty's shone upon thee.
Oh, when on thine hills shall its bright-beaming light
Break through the dark shadows of slavery's night!
Oh, when shall thy pure-falling beautiful snows
Be untrack'd and untrod with the footsteps of focs!
And the loveliest land that the day-star can see,
Will not be so beauteous, beloved, as thee!

Expressions of Lord Ellenborough, in the King v. Cobbett, and King v. Johnson.- East's Reports.'

+ From the Wanderer of Scandinavia,' vol. ii. p. 96.

156

SPECIMENS OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, AT CALCUTTA, SINGAPO AND THE CAPE.

It has been generally admitted that the periodical literature any age or country, is as unerring a standard as could be chos by which to determine the claims of the society in which flourishes, to mental rank among their contemporaries. The Ed burgh' and 'Quarterly' Reviews contain each a fair picture of minds of the leading classes, in the political circles of Engla The Times' and the 'Courier' present as accurate a portraitur the sentiments entertained by the leading parties among Ne paper readers of the present day. There are shades of gradat connecting the wide extremes, which these Quarterly Periodi and Daily Journals may be said to represent. But the great culation of each of these leading organs of the two great oppos parties in the state, compared with the languid and obsc existence of almost all the moderate or neutral publicati in the country, proves, beyond a doubt, that the great m of the community at least is divided into two great parties, e having distinct and decided opinions on all great topics of pu interest, while the indifferent or the neutral are so few that m trimming moderation under the mask of affected impartiality trifling inanity, finds little or no sympathy from any class, and consequently nowhere to be found in a high state of circulation popularity.

The inference fairly to be drawn from these facts, as app to the people of England, would exhibit that portion of th by which periodical publications and daily journals are chi supported, as persons of a high order of intellect, all nestly intent in encouraging the promulgation of their respec sentiments on public affairs in general, and deeply interested maintaining, by bold and frequent discussion, what they res tively consider (however erroneously) to be most conducive to welfare of the state. There is no doubt that the extent to w this spirit is indulged, depends as much upon the nature of institutions under which men live, as upon their intellectual po or dispositions, if indeed these are not themselves altogether result of such institutions; but, be its cause what it may parties concur in admitting that wherever men are seen to tal deep interest in the public affairs of the country in which they they present greater claims to our respect and esteem than w they are seen occupied in frivolities, and, either from timidity disinclination, afraid to approach the contemplation of the hi duties of their species.

We were recently led into this train of reflection, by the si

taneous receipt, by the same post-man, of three Eastern newspapers; the Singapore Chronicle' of the 2nd of February, the India Gazette' of the 2nd of March, and the South African Commercial Advertiser' of the 31st of May, and 7th of June, 1826. The first of these papers, which has only attained its 46th Number, which is smaller in size than any newspaper now published in England, and which, in the small settlement of Singapore, à colony but of yesterday's formation, cannot have one-tenth the smallest number of readers or purchasers that is found to be indispensable to the support of an English paper, is nevertheless marked by a steady attention to the great interests of the community in which it circulates, by the able and fearless advocacy of their political and commercial rights, and by such investigations as do equal honour to the ability of its conductors, and the good sense as well as good taste of the readers by whom such a journal is supported. The third of these papers is also comparatively in its infancy, having attained the 22nd Number of its second volume at the date already indicated. The size of this is also confined to a small single sheet, the space of which is reduced to one-half, by the necessity of printing its original matter and selections on the onehalf sheet in English, and on the other half sheet a literal translation of the same in Dutch, in order to make its pages serve for the perusal of the two great sections and languages into which the community at the Cape is divided. The circulation of this paper, judging from the number of the reading population at the Cape, can hardly be greater than that of the Singapore Chronicle,' each being necessarily restricted by the limited nature of the society by which they are supported. Nevertheless, the South African Commercial Advertiser,' like its contemporary of Singapore, is marked by a serious and unintermitted attention to the great local interests of the country in which it is published, by a bold and uncompromising advocacy of the political and commercial interests of the community through which it circulates, and its strictures are characterized by a union of talent, industry, and independence. It should be repeated, that each of these journals is the offspring and the organ of a very limited society," in which it has always been contended, by the enemies of liberty in England and India, that a free press could not possibly exist, without subverting all authority, and overturning the Government of the country. This argument was meant to show the impossibility of permitting freedom of discussion in India itself, without imminent hazard, if not certain destruction, to the established Government of that country; when it was said that, in so "limited a society" as that of the English in India, a Free Press could not exist without producing infinite evils, and without at last wresting all power from the Government, and centering it in the hands of the "ignorant and mischievous faction" by which

such freedom of discusion might be exercised.* The existence of the two free and fearless Papers that we have named, each in a society a hundred times more "limited" than that of British India, with continual benefits resulting from their bold and powerful strictures, and no one public evil yet attributable to their influence, is a sufficient answer to the imbecile or hypocrital prediction of evil in which the great apostle of darkness and slavery indulged when he forged new chains for the necks of his unresisting countrymen. But while freedom of discussion has given birth, stability, and character to the Press of the smaller Colonies of Singapore and the Cape, what effect has the suppression of this freedom had upon the Press of India? When the new laws of Mr. Adam were passed for prohibiting certain topics familiarly touched on by any of the public writers in Bengal, it was added: "The foregoing rules impose no irksome restraints on the publication and discussion of any matters of general interest relating to European or Indian affairs, provided they are conducted with the temper and decorum which the Government has a right to expect from those living under its protection; nor do they preclude individuals from offering, in a temperate and decorous manner, through the channel of the public newspapers, or other periodical works, their own views and sentiments relative to matters affecting the interests of the community."+ Let us see, then, how these laws have operated, and what are the subjects chosen by "individuals" on which to express their sentiments; what are the highest description of objects supposed to interest the Indian community; and what are the topics that engage the thoughts and pens of some of the leading public writers in this renovated society. We have mentioned that the Singapore Chronicle' and the South African Commercial Advertiser,' each so ably and usefully conducted, though supported only by a very "limited society," have neither of them completed the second year of their existence. We may add, that the India Gazette,' with which we are about to contrast them, had reached, on the 2nd of March, 1826, its 46th volume, extending to 2,539 weekly Numbers, and making it nearly half a century old. It is the paper of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal, and enjoys its especial patronage as the organ of all its official legal announcements. It is the wealthiest paper in India, whether as regards the amount of capital embarked in it, or the amount or rate of profit yielded to its proprietors. It is conducted, we believe, by a member of the East India Company's Service; and we understand that it still maintains its circulation as the largest enjoyed by any paper in India. There are many reasons, therefore why it should be one of the best papers in the country, having greater inducements to the exercise of talent, and more

* See Mr. Adam's celebrated Manifesto against the Freedom of the Indian Press.-Oriental Herald, vol. i. p. 200.

+ 'Oriental Herald,' vol. i. p. 126.

abundant means to reward its exertions than any of its contemporaries; and we do not know of one which can be urged in excuse for its failure to occupy that commanding station. That the English reader may judge for himself, as to to the character of its Correspondents and its Editor, we will lay the contributions of each before him, and let him draw his own inference.

The following is the only communication of a Correspondent, contained in the Paper of the 2nd March 1826:

CORRESPONDence.

To the Editor of the India Gazette.

SIR,-Since custom, says Lord Bacon, is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavour to get good customs. This is an adage peculiarly gratifying, and does no ways apply to any kind of imposition, but simply advises to do that which may be acquired without difficulties: and as the evil propensities have more influence on the mind than good, it naturally follows that the admirers of the former are more numerous than the latter; but how beneficial it would be, if every thing is practiced by custom that has a tendency to the improvement of the mind, and to the welfare of domestic happiness. This, I suppose, is the best method by which a man can avoid every injurious custom, notwithstanding that which places them in the eyes of the learned as despicable beings! I shall not engage your valuable column to no purpose, but would say something which enduced me to write this, provided you should not think it unworthy for insertion: I leave, however, to your disposal.

In this City of Palaces, every sort of prevailing vices is attributed to customs; and as I have, from henceforth, been a bitter enemy to that class of people who infests the society of the fair sex. I allude, Sir, to segar smoker, who, (mark, reader, according to customs) takes a long segar into the mouth, and begins to give out grammatical puffs, allow me to use a phrase, to the annoyance of the beauties. This does not only deprive them from conversation, but evidently distempers their sensitive organs, and thus a confusion takes hold of their cranium, which entirely precludes them from the precious moment of tete-a-tete. In my opinion, I consider it to be a nuisance, and I think there is hardly any benefit derived by using it, but, on the contrary, it is most injurious to the palate, and doubtless, by constant practice, prove injurious to the constitution. This, and other similar practices, were the invention of that class of people under the denomination of “ idlers.” I am, Sir, yours obediently,

Calcutta, 1st March, 1826.

C. G.

This letter was so acceptable to the Editor, that it was immediately adopted as worthy of publication. It did not, as the date will show, remain a single day unnoticed: nay more, it was not only worthy of being printed, but of forming the chief topic of the Editor's own remarks.

The following is the "leading article" of the India Gazette' of the 2d of March 1826, which we give entire, as it presents a picture which few would suppose possible, unless they saw it for themselves; for no true representation of it by abstract would be credited. It is in these words: