A Hundred Years Ago

Tan " SPECTATOR," FEBRUARY 19TH, 1831. THE BUDGET.

The question of the Budget still forms the principal feature of the week's debates in Parliament. Ministers on Monday gave up the transfer-tax, and signified at the same time the necessity of retaining the tobacco and glass duties. The duty on cotton has been so vigorously attacked, that it must be modified or abandoned. The proposed timber-duties, and still more generally, the steam-boat duty, have occasioned a good deal of dissatisfaction. The only resolutions yet carried are those taking off the coal and candle duties, and that which imposes a new duty on exported coal, respecting which a bill has been introduced and road a first time.

ITALY.

The North of Italy, which, we believe, has never ceased for a moment to regret the loss of its connexion with France and the introduction of the Austrians, begins to exhibit symptoms of political life, and of a resolution to recover its liberty. Risings have taken place in the little state of Modena : the sovereign of which is a very champion of legitimacy, and stands alone in refusing to acknowledge Louis Philip, because he is the choice of his subjects. The Duke is said to have been killed, but this report wants confirmation.

THE POPE.

The choice of the Conclave has fallen on Mauro Capellari, and he will ascend the Papal throne under the title of Gregory the Sixteenth. Capellari is an Italian, as all the Popes elected for many years past very properly have been : he is said to be a man of amiable manners, and an elegant scholar, skilled particularly in Oriental literature.

Sums Bomvme.

The brightest of the " occidental stars " has set—Simon Bolivar is gone to that resting-place " where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." Bolivar is said to have died on December 17th. He had been for some time indisposed : and his indisposition is supposed, not unnaturally, to have been aggravated by the conduct of the men whose freedom and independence be had so heroically vindicated.

HOLLAND.

Letters from Dover state that the Dutch Government continues to make preparations for an attempt on Belgium, secretly prompted, it is supposed, by Prussia.

THE PERFECTION OF REASON.

A poor man, who resides at Shoreham, applied to the Magistrates of Brighton the other day, to assist him in a case of legal oppression in the County Court. The case affords a fine picture of the condition of the poor in our free country. The applicant, it appears, owed a blacksmith 15s.: he paid Os. 4d. on account, and was summoned for 10s. 8d., being 2s. more than he owed. On attending to explain the mistake, he was desired to sign the just bill : which was a paper to pay 8s. 8d., and costs 7s. 8d. He paid 16s. at Is. per week, and then thought he had paid all off. Ten days after, he was attached for £4 Os. 6d. : and as he could not pay the money, his goods were seized and sold for 18s. About eight weeks afterwards, he was in Brighton, with a horse and cart belonging to his brother : when Hughes, an officer, said he had a demand upon him for £5, and seized the horse and cart, which he sold for £3 10s. On Monday last, Hughes said he had an attachment against him, on account of the same business, for £1 7s. 6d.

WORKHOUSE MERCIES.

A person named Hughes, master of Hackney Workhouse, was on Monday charged before the Magistrates of Worship Street with flogging a little boy with a whip made of bull's hide. Tho crime of the boy was his having, on Saturday night, washed his own face instead of having it washed by an old woman who officiates as face-washer-general to the establishment. He was flogged naked. The boy's back was very much cut. The master excused himself by stating that he was in a passion.

PRICES OF PROVISIONS.

Coals, best .. per ton Inferior Flour .. per sack Jamaica Coffee per cwt. 31/9 to 34/9 24/6 to 29/6 63]- to 65/- 25/- to 40/-