the country that the gallant officer has suffered gross injustice, and that there is something rotten in the state of the Horse Guards, there can remain little doubt. We have but to contrast the manly pertinacity of Colonel Bradley, well supported by Mr. Hume, with the blustering of Lord Palmerston, and the glosses (I regret to write it) of Mr. Peel. On the one hand we have an officer daring inquiry, and pledging his honour to the truth of his charges-on the other, a junta of official persons concealing evidence and shrinking from investigation. If the accusation be false, nothing can be more easy than to repel it. Will General Fuller make oath that he signed Colonel Arthur's commission or letter of service in Jamaica and on the day it bears date? Will he produce the general order-book, and show that such commission was, according to established military usage, published to the Army, that all might know at their peril to whom they owe obedience? Will any person produce any one of the many regimental orderly-books into which such order was copied? Will any person produce any one of the company orderly-books (there must have been some forty or fifty) into which such general order must have been re-copied? Will any one of the four thousand officers, non-commissioned officers, or soldiers then quartered in Jamaica or its dependencies, swear that he heard that order read on parade according to the invariable rule of the service?— If not, what must be the conclusion?

Lord Palmerston, indeed, tells us that he has seen the commission, and lays a copy (where is the original) on the table of the House-of the existence of that commission there is no question; the point is when and where was it signed? If the execution of an instrument is disputed, the legal course is to call the subscribing witness to attest its execution-will H. B. Hall swear he saw General Fuller sign that commission in Jamaica on the 8th of July, 1814?

Sir Henry Torrens has sworn, indeed, that he has seen and examined four general orders on the subject-one would serve the purpose quite as well, if he would prove its publication.

Mr. Peel (again we regret that one standing so high in public estimation for just and manly principles should be mixed up in this matter)-Mr. Peel says "the commission itself (?) was produced, and it then further appeared (how ?) that it was signed by General Fuller in 1814." If Mr. Peel will pledge himself to his personal investigation and satisfaction on these points, we have done; but while he avows that it is "to the positive assertion of a gentleman holding the responsible office of Secretary at War" that he gives implicit confidence, we may yet be permitted to doubt-the country has long been accustomed to draw the distinction between official and personal veracity (since Mr. Plunkett's declaration on the non-residence of the Irish Clergy, the privilege of office has been so greatly enlarged, that men of ordinary powers of credulity are obliged to doubt, even where they wish to believe.) But even Lord Palmerston states nothing of his own knowledge, he does not pretend to have asked and satisfied himself on any one of the questions on which the case actually turns.

The next champion of concealment is Sir Henry Hardinge, who blinks the real question throughout. No one ever doubted that a halfpay officer could hold a staff (that is, a limited) commission-the doubt is whether he can step out of the limits of his staff appointment and take a general command? Sir Henry instances the fort major of the MARCH, 1827.

2 E

Tower, who is a half-pay officer, and says, that a captain (the Times has it colonel) marching in with a battalion could not command there; perhaps not. There are a governor and a lieutenant governor specially commissioned for that purpose; but I much doubt whether the fort major has any such special commission and if he has any such special commission, it is an exception from the general rule. A fort major, a town major, or a brigade major, stand on the same footing. Does Sir Henry Hardinge pretend to say that if the general and field officers of a brigade were killed off, the brigade major would take the command from a captain one day his senior? Sir Henry knows the contrary. But does the fort major of the Tower interfere in the military command of the troops there? I believe not-I believe he would not take the command of a morning parade even from a corporal-he has distinct duties to perform; to those his commission, no doubt, limits him, and he cannot extend his authority.

Relying on the question, whether the commission was, or was not, signed on the day it bears date, I do not think it necessary to answer all the arguments of Colonel Arthur's friends. One word, however, on General Fuller's power to grant a commission, over-riding the King's. If he had the power, Sir Henry Hardinge's reasoning must go to this extent, that if by any chance of war, a general officer (junior we will say to General Fuller) had landed with troops in the bay of Honduras, not having a special commission to command there, such general and his army would have been subject to the authority of Colonel Arthur, by virtue of General Fuller's commissions. One word, also, as to the case of Major Massey: is it not evident that the authorities at Jamaica sought to give Colonel Arthur the command of the troops at Honduras, by removing his seniors? they, therefore, sent Major Massey leave of absence. Major Massey, it is true, remained there a short time-not, as is pretended, in the situation of an inferior officer, but as an officer on leave of absence, arranging his private affairs previous to quitting the colony. This is evident from his answer to Colonel Arthur, when requested to sit on a court martial— "If there is any danger, I will take the command; (that is, I will throw up my leave of absence,) and direct you, Colonel Arthur, to sit on the court martial." Was Major Massey placed under arrest for this answer, for this most insubordinate answer, if Colonel Arthur really had a commission entitling him to command? No: why not? The plain fact is, that the authorities in Jamaica were not prepared for disbanding the York chasseurs, and thought they had done every thing by removing the seniors of their favourite; the possibility of his being placed on half-pay did not occur to them.

The conduct of government in defending Colonel Arthur at the public expense, and then sending him out of the way before Colonel Bradley could recover his costs and damages against him, needs no comment; no honest man can doubt upon the subject. It is said that Colonel A. is supported by a sect who are not over scrupulous in the means by which they attain their holy ends. The saints of modern times have no inclination to become martyrs.

Mr. Bernal, in the course of the debate, very properly reproached the judges with their custom of blinking the questions; the ministers have followed their example, but they are probably mistakenif they suppose that they can smother this affair. Colonel Bradley appears

determined to persevere; he has already demanded a court martial on some of the accused. This will probably be refused, and in truth it is scarcely to be wished that a matter so important should be submitted to so imperfect a tribunal. A court of law will do better.

I find, by the bye, that General Fuller is not in England-he ought to come over from France as quickly as possible. It is scarcely possible to conceive that a general officer, or indeed any gentleman, can rest satisfied under the accusation which Colonel Bradley has brought forward in his letter to the Duke of Wellington; his Grace may be contented with sheltering himself under the authority of his royal predecessor: but the officers charged with conspiracy cannot avail themselves of this plea, since it necessarily must form part of the charge, that they had imposed upon the late Commander-in-Chief.

18th. The subject of emigration as a cure for superabundant population was debated in the Commons last night. Twenty millions of money would be required to expatriate one million of people. We shall take another opportunity to say more on this expedient; at present, we must confine ourselves to a declaration of our conviction that the scheme cannot be carried into effect. The country will not consent to a certain expenditure of twenty millions of money for a doubtful remedy. If ever a million of people should be shipped from Ireland, we trust, in common justice, that they will be permitted to carry with them, as a viaticum, their fair share of the church of that country.

23d. Imagination can set no bounds to our Quixotism-spiritual, political, and benevolent. There is actually in The Times of this day, a report of the meeting of a society for bettering the condition of the Jews! It is not true, it is discovered, that all Jews are rich, or that those who are poor are always supported by the rich; therefore an association is formed for the benefit of these Jews. How the Jews will chuckle at the softness of the Christians. Cobbett should look to this matter, or the next of kin to the subscribers. Any young prodigal who has been in the hands of "the poor Jews," will have some pretence for putting his wealthy uncle or aunt under restraint for spending their money, in bettering the condition of this interesting race.

Captain Keppel records this Persian criticism on the custom of duelling:

"How foolish it is for a man who wishes to kill his enemy, to expose his own life; when he can accomplish his purpose with so much greater safety by shooting at him from behind a rock."

We have heard of an American affair of honour, in which practical effect was given to this idea. The parties were to meet, armed with rifles, in a dell. One of the principals and his second arrived in good time, and took their post in the appointed hollow; the others were late, and came whipping and spurring to the height immediately over the spot, whence the tardy principal espying his antagonist, turned to his second, and said, "As it is late, I am thinking, Jedediah, that we can have them here as handy as by going any further." Oh yes!" replied the second; upon which they dismounted, and the first gentleman having unslung his rifle, and rested it leisurely on the branch of a tree, took a deliberate aim at the other gentleman two hundred yards down below in the hollow, and to his unspeakable surprise,

shot him through the head. Having performed this exploit merely to save time, and unnecessary fuss and trouble, the hero wiped out the pan of his piece, mounted his horse, and trotted home, perfectly well satisfied with the short cut he had taken in duelling.

The Times has given an account of the king's manner of life at Brighton, which, if written by an eye-witness at all, must have been written by a footman, and one whose performance does no credit to the Sunday school at which he acquired his skill in letters. This court historian informs us, that the drama is frequently discussed in the royal society, and that his Majesty, or some of his Majesty's friends, re so condescending as to mention the name of one Sheridan in terms of praise. If Sheridan in another world is conscious of so high an honour, surely it must enhance the bliss of paradise. I extract a morsel from this treat

"The drama forms one of the chief themes of conversation, and Sheridan's name is frequently mentioned in terms of praise, as holding a high station amongst the great dramatic writers. It is asserted that the royal critic makes admirable comments upon the literary excellence of the old comic writers, and most ludicrously contrasts their labours with those of the authors of the present day. At nine o'clock precisely, the king retires for a short time to his dressing room, and on his return, several card-tables are in readiness, and his majesty most familiarly invites his guests to the tables. To those whom he wishes to sit at his own table he says, ' Come, a game at whist; marchioness, do you sit there my lord, you there-Barnard, there-come now, begin. At a distance soft music is heard while the game proceeds." The logic which follows is excellent

The king is an excellent whist player-indeed, so great an adept, that while he deals out the cards he often beats time to the band, and gives instructions for the performance of his most favourite pieces of music."

We never heard a more convincing proof of skill in whist-His Majesty is so great an adept, that while he deals the cards he beats time! Wonderful! But this is not all; for by the same method of reasoning, we may say, that the king is so great an adept in music, that while he beats time he deals the cards. Of this we are confident, that his Majesty beats his adversaries. A king must always win at whist. All his finesses must succeed, and his queens can never fail to make. We marvel whether mortal courtier ever had the hardihood to lead through his Honour. Montaigne acutely remarks, that the only art in which princes are well instructed, is riding, and that is because the horse with which they have to deal, shows them no favour. Applying the converse to whist, we should argue that kings could never be whist-players.

25th. In one of the John Bull's dismal howls on the ascendancy of liberal opinions, this curious misprint occurs, which makes the writer speak the truth malgré lui.—“We are not bigots, nor have we any objection to rational reform, where the free march of our existing political institutions is NOT impeded by obsolete customs or obvious corruptions.”—John Bull, Feb. 25.

We observe that Mr. Hone, in his ingenious Every DayBook, gives a most alarming lecture under the text, that "There is no cure for the bite of a mad dog," though he admits that there is a remedy; notwithstanding which, however, he comes to the conclusion, that all dogs found in towns should be destroyed. We strongly recommend to the perusal of Mr. Hone, and all other persons who delight in such panics, the perusal of the Paper, No. 68, in that admirable, but little appreciated work, The Citizen of the World, which contains more mind, and a vein of sounder philosophy, than any of our periodical Essays, not excepting the Spectator. It is curious to observe, how much Goldsmith was before his more valued contemporaries in philosophy; he had glimpses of many truths that have since burst to light; and discovered in his speculations, indications of views which would not have been comprehended by the people of his time.

-"Vivian Grey.-We understand that his Majesty has expressed considerable curiosity to peruse the continuation of this extraordinary performance.-John Bull."

A Brighton correspondent adds, with reference to this statement— which is not in the least like a puff-that his Majesty is an excellent critic; and, indeed, so great an adept in literature, that while he cuts open the pages of a new work, he often hums a tune !!! The account of this complex proceeding, and the proper inference, will appear at full length in the Times.

26th. This is, indeed, a literary age. In the list of the sale of the Duke of York's furniture, we read of " a very handsome secretaire, which corresponds with the bedstead."

DR. LINGARD AND THE EDINBURGH REVIEW.*

ALL the world knows that the Edinburgh Review has shown a decided hostility to Dr. Lingard, the author of our best History of England. He has been attacked by it in two elaborate articles; in the first, the enmity was covered, and somewhat concealed, by an apparent candour, and many sugared phrases; the second article was bitter, and almost violent, in its censure. The reviewer was not content with charging the historian with carelessness, indolence and error, but with absolute falsehood and wilful misrepresentation. It must have been obvious to every one that the writer, who is so universally said to be Dr. Allen, Lord Holland's literary restaurateur, that it is almost affectation not to name him, was actuated by something akin to personal pique. In the first paper, the merits of a long and laborious work were tried by the narrative of an old story of Saxon times; and in the second, the test taken was a note at the end of the sixth volume, on a topic of French history, the massacre of St. Bartholomew. These two portions were examined with great vigilance and rigour, pronounced rotten, and the whole work consequently condemned as a mass of corruption. It was hinted that the jesuit was concealed under every sentence, and the tocsin of alarm was sounded, that all good Protestants

A Vindication of certain Passages in the Fourth and Fifth Volumes of the History of England, by J, Lingard, D. D. 1826, 8vo. pp. 112. Mawman.