300 NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



"The passing of the acts for Civil Registration, and for Marriages in 

 England, has afforded much satisfaction. The provisions have been framed 

 upon those large principles of religious freedom which, with a due regard to 

 the welfare of the established church in this country, I have always been 

 desirous of maintaining and promoting ; and they will also conduce to the 

 greater certainty of titles and to the stability of property. 



" It has been to me a source of the most lively gratification to observe the 

 tranquillity which has prevailed, and the diminution of crimes which has 

 lately taken place in Ireland. I trust that perseverance in a just and im- 

 partial system of government will encourage this good disposition, and 

 enable that country to develop her great national resources. 



" Gentlemen of the House of Commons I thank you for the liberality 

 with which you have voted not only the ordinary supplies of the year,but the 

 additional sums required to provide for an increase in my naval force. I am 

 also gratified to perceive that you have made provision for the full amount of 

 compensation awarded to the owners of slaves in my colonial possessions, 

 and that the obligations entered into by the legislature have thus been 

 strictly fulfilled. 



" The increased productiveness of the public revenue has enabled you to 

 meet those charges, and, at the same time, to repeal or reduce taxes, of which 

 some were injurious in their effects upon my people, and others unequal in 

 their pressure upon various parts of my dominions abroad. 



"The present condition of manufactures and commerce affords a subject 

 of congratulation, provided the activity which prevails be guided by that 

 caution and prudence which experience has proved to be necessary to stable 

 prosperity. 



" My Lords and Gentlemen The advanced period of the year, and the 

 length of time during which you have been employed in public affairs, must 

 render you desirous of returning to your respective counties. You will there 

 resume those duties which are in importance inferior only to your legislative 

 functions ; and your influence and example will greatly conduce to the main- 

 tenance of tranquillity, the encouragement of industry, and the confirmation 

 of those moral and religious habits and principles which are essential to the 

 well-being of every community." 



Some people are disposed to blame the government for the un- 

 productiveness of the present session. We rather blame the lords who 

 have rejected no less than eighteen bills sent up by the commons, 

 among which are, the Municipal Corporation Amendment, Voters' 

 Registration, Imprisonment for Debt, Irish Church, and Roman 

 Catholic Marriage, bills. The whole conduct of the lords as a body 

 calls imperatively for a reform of the house of lords. 



VALUE OF DIRT. To many of our readers who have in common 

 with us a dislike to dirt, dirt moral as well as dirt physical, it may be 

 a matter of curiosity to hear that even this detested article has a value 

 in the market. 



" The parish of St. Andrew, London, formerly paid a scavenger 4007. a 

 year for cleaning their streets; which after some time being thought too 

 much, the person engaged to do it for 300Z., then for 2007., for 100/., and 

 finally for nothing. The parish afterwards contracted with a person who 

 gave them 200Z., then 400Z., and now they actually receive 7007. a year for the 

 soil of their streets. Some years ago the vestry of Marylebone parish paid^a 

 Mr. Harper the annual sum of 500/. for that service, then 3007. was given, 

 and so on. At this moment, however, instead of paying any thing, the 

 vestry yearly receive from their scavenger 1700/. !" 



What may be the value of all the moral and political dirt of the 

 Times newspaper and some of its tory brethren ? 



