The King has granted a free pardon to the Dorchester
labourers.
The Morning Chronicle continues to supply curious and entertaining specimens of the Orange correspondence. Lord Kenyon and Fairman are still the chief scribes. The Peer seems to have had a high opinion of the power of the press; during the struggle on the Reform Bill wished very much that he Orange party would set up a paper they could depend upon. Writing to Fairman on the 24th of August 1831, he says- " Dear Sir—From what I hear of some periodical publications, and what I collect of the state of the public mind in some parts I certainly think a cif err taking periodical should be published. If such a weekly puiffication, not like any paper now existing. but of a different character altogether, could be brought out, I think much result (good !) might result in enlightening and guiding the public mind. I know not where to find proper persons to direct or conduct such a work. The object I think should be to show the pablic bow entirely inconsistent with their real interests is the conduct of those, whether in Parliament or out of it, whether talkets or writers, in whom they are inclined to place confidence."
But Lord Kenyon knew by experience that it was no joke to attempt to set up a "clever taking periodical :" on the 22d of September 1831, he thus writes to his confidant-
" I fear we have little chance of establishing and getting into good circulation any weekly or daily publication. I know by sevete experience, the difficulty and expense. having expended several thousand pounds fruitlessly, and worse titan so for such pur- pose; still if we could raise a public purse for the purpose, and have sufficient local and literary aid, and diffuse through its columns sound principles and useful information. I would subscribe a illingly ; but I am far from wishing to tempt any person to engage in such a concern from pecuniary speculation, as I would rather hurt myself than ruin another person. My son tells nte, he feels convinced the House of COMMODS would last night have thrown out the Reform Bill by a large majority had they voted by ballot. That point seems to me worth pressing on the public in one of our sound newspapers, which has circulation in the Metropolis and the country."
Fairtnan replies to his Lordship on this subject, in a long letter, dated the 29th November 1831: part of it was read by Mr. Hume in
the House of Commons-
" Should those with siliom your Lordship is in the habit of acting see the necessity, at a crisis of danger like the present, fur such an engine, the sooner it shall be set in motion the better. The daily press has long been monopolized by, and is now in the sole occupation of, the enemy. Hence the multitude, who seldom take much trouble to reflect, who possess not the faculty of judging fur themselves, are led astray by the sophistries so seduleusly put forth fur their misguidance. That filthy concern the Times, which spares neither age nor sex—public bodies nor pri‘ ate halividuals- which at a less degenerate Isla would have been burnt by the common hangman—ought to be forthwith checked in its flagitious course of unparalleled infamy. This can alone be effected by the immediate establishment of an nucompromixing journal. on Opposi- tion principles, for the intrepid exposure of its vile fabrications in all their deformity. Such a sacrilegious print is well worthy of its new friends, who are as inexorable in their resentments and political animosities as the vehicle of their rancour has ever been vindictive and diabolically mischievous in all its aims."
It seems that one of the weekly papers was disposed to aid the de- signs of the Orangemen. for Lord Kenyon tells Fairman that
" The Age newspaper seems inclined to establish a morning paper on those public principles which it has advocated before, throughout, and since the memorable year 1829. Its former looseness of principle and its scurrility I cannot approve; but I do not admit, as some do, that the private characters of public men ought lobe considered sacred against all attack. I am very anxious we should have sit thee sound morning paper as well as the Morning Post ; the steadiness of which, notwithstanding Zeta's partial obliquity, has been rely praiseworthy, and some articles have been very able." We really do not see why the faction could not be contented with the Post, especially if the conductors of that paper were willing to get rid of " Zeta's partial obliquity." From the following passage in a letter from Fairman to Lord Kenyon, it would seem that the Colonel
originated the Conservative Club-
" Hy -the formation of a Conservative Club. as was suggested by me long ago, a sufficient fund might be created with great facility, as well for the purpose in question, as indeed for others of a like patriotic kind. In this case, too, during the session of Parliament. or any grand emergency, there might be a permanent sitting of a secret committee of its members for the org wization of such proceedings and reports fur their own paper as might be calculated to promote the general good, by the defeat of rash innovation. After the large sacrifices your Lordship is well understood to have per- sonally made, it was only in rmerence to the establishment of such an institution that I presumed to press, ii ill, the earnestness I all along have, the proposal in review, from a strong conviction on my own mind of its dire necessity. If at all, it would be desirable this engine should be set at work with the commencement of the ensu- ing year (1832), ler which there is still time, if the determination be come to with promptitude." The Committee to whom the London and Brighton Railroad Bills are referred, have come to the unanimous resolution, that a communi- cation between London and Brighton, by means of a railroad, is highly
desirable. It therefore only remains for the Committee to determine which line they will recommend.
The Bank account of its average assets and liabilities, from the 15th December 1835 to the 8th March 1836 inclusive, is stated as follows—
ASSETS.
Circulation £17,739,000 Securities. £29,806,000 Deposits. 16,966,000 Bullion 7,701,000
£34,705,000
£37,507,000