NOTES OF THE MONTH. 355 



The speech from the throne, which has dismissed the faithful 

 guardians of our rights and breeches pockets to their midsummer 

 holidays, is about as satisfactory as a complimentary circular from 

 the "honest tradesman" to the customer who pays his bill. He is 

 thankful for the past, and solicits future favours. Happy monarch ! 

 delighted people ! Never was good easy country gentlemen more 

 satisfied with the stewards who bring him his rents,, than is our gra- 

 cious king with his loyal and dutiful servants, who have drawn upon 

 his lieges so liberally, and at as little cost as possible. Every subject 

 of legislation is touched upon, and the monarch is enchanted with all. 

 He speaks so rapturously of the wisdom by which their measures 

 have been dictated, and anticipates such prosperous and glorious 

 results, that we are induced to bow with, if possible, an increased 

 veneration for the perception of royalty, seeing that three parts of the 

 people can argue no such happy deductions from such premises. To 

 be sure, few people are happy enough to view things through the 

 medium of a civil list, which makes every thing appear coleur de rose. 

 Few have looked with greater respect upon the intentions of mi- 

 nisters than ourselves. They have had much to cope with, and if 

 they have yielded in many instances, to the great disappointment of 

 the more enlightened classes of the community, it must be remem- 

 bered the formidable and grasping interests they have had to struggle 

 with. But there are points for which there can be no excuse, not 

 even palliation, by which no rich man can calculate profit or loss, 

 no aristocratical pelf endangered. We allude more particularly to 

 flogging in our military service. We happen to be practically con- 

 versant with military details, and if we possess more correct know- 

 ledge of the efficacy of such punishment than many of the decorated 

 tyrants who would fasten an odious responsibility upon others, from 

 which they would shrink with horror themselves j we are not pre- 

 suming upon more than a very moderate share. 



We are firmly convinced that no healthful moral tone can be 

 introduced into the service until so degrading a punishment be done 

 away with. Until then, the ranks of our army will be a refuge for 

 felons for such as have no shame, and can fear no degradation. 

 Such refuse may fight in the field, but higher qualities are expected 

 from them at home. The refusal of ministers, even to make a trial 

 of another system of punishment, is as disgraceful as unwise. It is 

 lending themselves to the prejudices of a few military martinets, 

 against the united supplications of an entire community. It is be- 

 traying the very worst spirit of the old Tory times. It is traitorous to 

 their own recorded sentiments unjust to an oppressed and degraded 

 class and ungenerous to the people to whom they ow r e a power they 

 so ungratefully repay. 



" BRITONS NEVER WILL BE SLAVES." There is no slave more 

 debased on the earth than your free-born Briton, He will go stamp- 

 ing and roaring about, and screaming till he is hoarse, touching the 

 blessings of his liberty ; and if any astonished stranger should inno- 

 cently remind the deluded savage of the clank of his chain, he will 

 forthwith knock him on the head with half a dozen of its links. 



