taking advantage of the opportunity. Nothing, at least, but a more liberal system of policy with respect to the colonies can long secure their connection with Spain. Mean time the English Government is thrown into some perplexity with regard to its conduct towards those opposite parties. The relations in which it stands to Old Spain will not decently permit a recognition of those who have broken the ties which bound them to it, and have in consequence been branded as traitors by the regency at Cadiz : on the other hand, the Creoles have always been the advocates of that free trade which it is so much the commercial interest of England to encourage; and if these new American states are likely in the event to establish themselves, it is highly important to se cure the first place in their gratitude and affection. But this dif ficulty, like so many others in the present distracted state of the world, time alone can solve. The sanginary contests between Turks and Russians are not likely much to interest those who are chiefly attracted by events that may influence the future destinies of mankind in their most important points. We have heard different and opposite reports. of actions between these semi-barbarous powers upon their confines; and we may believe that while the more regular discipline and superior military skill of the Russians assure them the most. permanent advantages, the fanatical fury of the Turks is occasionally irresistible. It is highly improbable, however, that the weak and corrupt court of Petersburgh is destined to be the final. subverter of the Ottoman empire, sinking as it may be underits mass of defects and abuses. The present war between them, as it seems to have no determinate object, is not likely to be of long duration. The other parts of Europe have presented few incidents worthy. of regard exclusive of those which have already been referred to The opposite shores of Naples and Sicily have been the scene of petty enterprises and demonstrations of hostilities, affording ra ther the image than the reality of warfare. One ill-conducted invasion of the Sicilian coast has indeed been effected, attended with the loss of most of the Neapolitan troops which were thrown over. It proved, however, the possibility of such landings in intervals when the English protecting squadron is driven by stress. of weather from its station; but there seems no present danger of the repetition of such hazardous attempts. The annexation of the country of the Valais to France, upon the pretext that it had not performed all its engagements, joined to the real reason of its convenient situation, is an additional though inconsiderable proof of the undisguised despotism of the Master of Europe. It is a much more important fact, that he has nearly completed the project in which he has long been so earnestly earnestly engaged, of excluding British goods from the Europeau Continent. Almost every custom-house is under the direction of French revenue officers supported by French soldiers; and a late edict of unprecedented rigour condemns to the flames all articles of British manufacture, wherever found, in consequence of which many bonfires of valuable articles have already been lighted, to the ruin of the poor proprietors. This severity has probably for the time answered its end of intimidating foreign merchants from practising concealed methods of introducing British commodities; and to the stagnation of trade thereby produced, together with unprofitable speculations to South America, may be attributed that unusual number of bankruptcies which has of late filled the pages of every Gazette. The cotton manufacture appears to have been particularly affected by these causes of reduced demand, for a great proportion of the failures have occurred in its principal seats. A depreciation of the last loan to Government was one of first symptoms of pecuniary difficulties, the effects of which were displayed in some tragical events that made an extraordinary impression on the public; and it cannot be doubted, that on the approaching necessity for other loans to support a war of unprecedented expense, these difficulties will occasion a heavy addition to the national burdens. In Ireland, the spirit of discontent, which unfortunately has never been suffered to want aliment to keep it in vigour, has taken the turn of a violent antipathy to the principles of the late Union between the two kingdoms. The manner in which this measure was carried, and the alledged non-performance of promises which accompanied it, have afforded topics for vehement censure; and a numerous Meeting, held at Dublin, has unanimously agreed in a strong petition for its repeal. That such a step will be thought of on this side of the water is not to be expected; and probably the whole will end in only adding an article to the catalogue of national grievances. This subject seems for the present to have. occupied the place of the question concerning Catholic Emancipation, which disagreements among the Catholics themselves had begun to render less embarrassing to Government. It seems proper to notice, as another remarkable feature of the times, that perhaps in no period of equal domestic tranquillity have there been so many Prosecutions for Libels carried on by the Attorney-General, or with so acrimonious a spirit. Whether this denotes an uncommon license assumed by political writers, or an unusual degree of jealousy and irritability in our governors, we shall leave to our readers to determine for themselves. In the mean time, we shall beg leave to remind those who may be called upon to exercise the sacred office of Jurymen,—the only true guardians of our liberties-that the boasted Freedom of the Eng Lish Press is nothing more than a trap to writers, if, by the privilege of printing without a previous license, they are seduced into discussions and censures which, though perhaps applauded, leave them unprotected victims to the cause of their country. Let it be noted, that the Prosecutor of a pretended.libel may at his pleasure select for vengeance author, publisher, vender, or printer, according as each may be personally obnoxious to him or his employers; and that if proof of the mere fact be thought sufficient to justify a verdict of guilty, the accused is exposed to the unchecked severity of persons whose political principles are not unlikely to be the same with those animadverted upon. It is needless for us to be more explicit. The latest and most important domestic occurrence has been one in which the whole public are interested, and which has therefore been the prevailing subject of conversation and enquiry with all ranks of people. This is, the calamitous suspension of the functions of the Executive Power, in consequence of a return of the mental malady with which his Majesty has at different times been unfortunately afflicted. This event was necessarily made known at the Meeting of Parliament on November 1st, but as the attack was attributed to the affecting circumstances attending the illness of his Majesty's youngest daughter (since deceased), confident hopes were entertained that it would speedily subside and the Parliament accordingly adjourned itself for a fortnight. When that term was expired, the adjournment was extended, upon the same expectations, to another fortnight; though not with out some opposition to such protraction in the Lower House. Of the real state of the Royal Sufferer mean time, no authentic information has been given to the public. Etiquette, the very es sence of which is deception, has not permitted the true name of the malady to be pronounced in Parliament, or the real symptoms to be stated in those Medical Bulletins which are daily issued with the accustomed formality. These, however, de fective as they are, have in general terms rather inculcated the idea that the disorder was aggravated than diminished. The pub lic therefore, at the expiration of the second period of parliamentary adjournment, on November 29th, were prepared to expect that some measures should be taken to supply this chasm in the Constitution, which, while it lasts, leaves the Government without power to act on any important emergency, and renders it a kind of anomaly or monster in political institutions. One day, however, previous to the meeting of Parliament, an examination of all the Physicians attending his Majesty took place before the Privy Council, who concurred in opinion that the King was in a progress of amendment, and that there was every reason to expect his entire restoration. On the ground of this opinion the Ministers Ministers ventured in both Houses to propose a further adjourn ment of a fortnight; and though the proposal was combated by strong arguments, it passed by the usual majorities on a division in each House. Such is the general state of affairs, abroad and at home, in this concluding month of the year 1810, a state which affords little consolation for the present, or hope for the future. Increased expenses; diminished resources; an enemy equally inveterate and powerful; who unites against us all Europe, except the parts oc cupied by allies who depend on us for support; a Ministry only known by their failures, who, in one event, will be continued in office in spite of the national contempt; in another, will yield their places to uncertain successors! What lover of his country, not fattening on its spoils and abuses, can contemplate the scene without distressful feelings and melancholy forebodings? Still, however, there are healthful stamina in the British character and Constitution, which forbid despair; and though England will probably never again possess the proud pre-eminence to which she was raised in the early years of this reign, she may, by a return to wise and just counsels with respect to foreign nations, and the adoption of domestic Reforms which every day shews to be more and more necessary, avert the principal evils with which she is threatened, and retain the freedom and independence which are her noblest boast. ART. XXIV.-Short Miscellaneous Pieces. ROBERT HERRICK. MR. REFLECTOR, THE following Latin lines are a translation of a beautiful little poem of Robert Herrick, entitled The Night Piece. As the ge neral character of this too-neglected poet may be gathered from some essays of Dr. Drake, from Ellis's Specimens, and from a late republication of his best Poems, I shall not here detain your readers with any criticism on his writings. I will just intimate, that Herrick, who lived in an age of borrowers from the stores of ancient literature, made no scruple to steal, as well as his brethren, some of his best thoughts from the same sources; and that the idea of the present song was suggested by the 16th Elegy of the 3d Book of Propertius, though the sweetness and tenderness to be found in it, it, qualities to which the Latin poet had not the slightest preten sions, are the exclusive property of the modern. I feel almost ashamed to present you my copper substitute for this pure gold, but such as it is, it may excite, in this age of elegant scholarship, some person more competent to give an ade. quate representation of the beauty of the original. THE TRANSLATION, AD JULIAM. Igniferos oculos tibi præstet reptile splendens, Verum |