dered unnecessary to appropriate any surplus of the Revenue towards the diminution of Our Liquidated Capital. I trust that the Estimates which I have ordered to be laid before you will meet with your entire satisfaction; more particularly as, from the efficient state of Our Marine, and the eventual diminution of Our Land Forces on Foreign Service and in Ireland, any farther Expenditure on these heads becomes equally unnecessary and inexpedient. The increase of the Civil Lists has arisen exclusively from the expense of the laborious and unremitted attendance on the Royal Person by the First Lord of the Treasury, and of the entertainments at my Palace at Windsor, which, on behalf of a grateful Nation, I was advised respectfully to tender to the Royal Ex-Dictator* and his accomplished Consort. My Lords and Gentlemen, I recommend to your earliest attention the Improvement, by Railroads, Canals, Harbours, and otherwise, of the Kingdom of Ireland. Happily, in that Country, the security of human life is now equal to the Peasant and the PEER.† The Agitator has been followed by the Precursor; and the prospect of the total abolition of Tithes, renders it unnecessary farther to discuss the question relative to the Appropriation of the Surplus Revenues of the Church to secular purposes. It will be more expedient to leave such matters, as well as the subordinate points respecting the stability of the Protestant Church, both in England and in Ireland,—the existence of the Presbyterian form of Church Government in Scotland,-Universal Suffrage,-Vote by Ballot,-Taxes upon Corn, and the like, to remain open questions for discussion amongst the intelligent masses of the People, in full Torchlight Meetings, orderly assembled. I am led to believe, that the stability of my Throne rests entirely upon my continuing to be surrounded by my present Advisers; and as the permanency of their position might be affected by the *Earl of Durham. Referring to the atrocious murder of the Earl of Norbury. discussion of all or any of these questions in Parliament, according to ancient Custom, it is my will and pleasure, as an independent Sovereign, that, for the present, this embarrassing practice shall be suspended. In this way, the Kingdom will enjoy the security of that happiest repose, which consists partly of ignorance, and partly of disregard of the dangers now threatening a total overthrow of our Institutions, Civil and Sacred. XXXV. SONG ON THE ACQUITTAL OF HENRY, LORD VISCOUNT MELVILLE. This amusing pasquinade was written on occasion of the dinner given in Edinburgh, by the tory party, upon the acquittal of Lord Viscount Melville from the impeachment brought against him, in 1806. The authorship is disputed, -it has been ascribed to Lord John Townsend, and to the late Lord Chief Commissioner Adam, but erroneously, as we have good reason to believe it came from the pen of a distinguished Barrister, and still more distinguished Judge, whose recent retirement from the bench has been so much regretted by the legal world. We're met here to swill boys, and gobble down victuals, Of one whose services we may prize dearly, Sae let us get drunk my Boys, hooly and fairly, Sae let us get drunk my boys, hooly and fairly. All Scotland fa' prostrate and worship Old Harry, Wha for twenty lang twelvemonths, a' measures could carry, Hooly and fairly, &c. A Statesman mair bounteous ne'er shone in a nation, Sae here's long life to him, hooly and fairly, Hooly and fairly, &c. The Hopes and Dundasses, ye've here, troth, by dizzins, Hooly and fairly, &c. There's Session-Clerks, Sheriffs, Excisemen, and Lordies, For ye're now in snug places lads, hooly and fairly, He maun hae a lang spoon that sups wi' the deil man, Hooly and fairly, &c.‡ The late Samuel Whitebread, M. P. who, it is almost unnecessary to men. tion, was an extensive brewer. † Right Hon. Charles James Fox. We believe, at the present date (1839,) as political bias against his Lordship has subsided, that all parties consider the decision of the House of Peers as a most just one. That Lord Melville was careless in money matters, is plain enough, and that he acted foolishly in reposing confidence where he ought not, is sufficiently obvious; but that he was guilty of peculation, is altogether unfounded. Had he been tainted with the vice of avarice, would he have died the poor man he did? Or would his son ever have parted with his beautiful estate of Duneira to pay the debts of his father? EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY ALEX. LAWRIE & CO. NORTH BANK STREET. |