A Hundred Years Ago
THE " SPECTATOR," .MARCH 19m, 1831. NEWS OF THE WEEK.
The Ministers were last night outvoted by 236 to 190 on the question of the Timber-duties—notwithstanding an attempt to render the change more palatable to the parties interested in main- taining the enormous duties on Baltic timber, by a plan of gradual reduction. This defeat the Ministers have provoked, and in some measure deserved, by their vacillation. . . . The position laid down last night by the Shipmongers, and carried by the Boroughmongers- that for the encouragement of partial, petty interests, the people of England shall to the end of time be obliged to fetch a bad article from a country three thousand miles off [Canada], while a good one within one-sixth of the distance solicits their acceptance—is but another proof of a million, of the stern necessity of cleansing of its impurities the Commons House of England.
BELGIUM.
The Regent of Belgium seems but little disposed to conciliate the favour of the Five Powers. He has' addressed a proclamation to the Luxemburghers, in which he tells them that he will defend the integrity of the Belgian territory, come what will. " We began," says the document, " in spite of the protocols of 1815, and will finish in spite of the protocols of 1831." It is not easy to see, if this deter- mination be persisted in, how a hostile collision between the Belgians and the Dutch should be long delayed. The militia of the former have been called out.
Six WALTER SCOTT.
It is with great concern we state the sudden indisposition of Sir Walter Scott. The highly gifted Baronet has had a paralytic stroke. --Morning Post.
FIRST SHIP FOR NEW SOUTH WALES.
The Australia;' 373 tons, Captain, John Sleight, has room for Measurement Goods only, and will sail soon. for. Sydney direct. Three cabins are yet disengaged.
PRICES OF PROVISIONS.
Tobacco, Segars, in bond per lb. 7/- to 12/6
per lb. 1/9 to 3/6 per qtr. 71 /9 per qtr. .42/5 Havannah Leaf Wheat Barley
Oats per qtr. 27/1 Duty on Foreiga Corn for the present week :— Wheat per qtr. 1 /0
• Barley per qtr. 1/0 Gate per qtr. 7/9
Previous page
