1831.] [ 191 ] 



NOTES OF THE MONTH ON AFFAIRS IN GENERAL. 



In the present period of panic, from the cholera, and all other kinds 

 of things, we deem it a duty to diminish all the various features of public 

 alarm. A paragraph in one of the Scotch journals is terrifj'ing all the 

 northern masons, friendly brothers, militia colonels, parliamentary can- 

 didates, &c. to an indefinite extent. 



Display of Flags. — A curious clause in the new bill " for Amending the 

 Laws concerning Turnpike Roads in Scotland," printed by order of the House 

 of Commons, 27th June, 1831, (page 40), among other nuisances, prohibits, 

 under a penalty, the display of flags within 100 feet from the centre of any 

 turnpike road. 



We are happy to say the whole is a misconception, the act being hos- 

 tile only to superseding the ancient mire and sand, which form the sub- 

 stantiality of a turnpike road. It merely asserts that no flags shall be 

 used in their stead; that no road shall hejlagged. 



Another terrible, and so far, we think, very reprehensible paragraph, 

 made its way into the papers last week. 



The fleet under the command of Sir E. C'odrington sailed on Thursday, fully 

 equipped in every way with their war complement. The fleet consisted of the 

 following : — Caledonian and Prince Regent, flag-ships ; Asia, Talavera, Done- 

 gal, Revenge, Wellesley, Alfred, Barham, Cura^oa, and Pearl. Commodore 

 Lord Yarborougli in the Falcon ship yacht, and 25 of the Royal Yacht Club 

 vessels, and nearly 200 other sail, accompanied the fleet. Some of the ships 

 were so hard pressed for men that midshipmen were on shore recruiting. 



From this, war was conjectured to be the direct result, and many 

 worthy journalists and others were kept awake, discovering the object 

 of those preparations. Some decided that the ofTence given by the Queen 

 of Madagascar to Dr. Lyall was to be instantly revenged, and her ma- 

 jesty to undergo a bombardment, or be flogged with the same individual 

 bunch of nettles which perpetrated her barbarian vengeance on the un- 

 fortunate doctor. Others had settled that the expedition was for the 

 purpose of sailing up the Brussels canal, and throwing shells into the 

 city to make Prince Leopold's arrival popular. The fact is, that it is 

 only a trial expedition after all, and as Sir Edward is celebrated for his 

 conduct of trials, there is every reason to hope that it will end as it 

 began. But a not less serious alarm was excited by the idea that some 

 of the yacht club might be sea-sick, or might even be blown out of sight 

 of land. The insidious suggestions certainly of individuals, hostile to the 

 personal safety of the members of this distinguished body of well-bred 

 sailors, have been lately turned to advise somewhat more adventurous 

 displays of seamanship, than from Cowes to Ryde, and from Ryde to 

 Cowes. But against this we protest in the name of the national glory. 

 Basil Hall is one of those conspirators against the muslin neckcloths and 

 spotless trowsers of these heroic tars ; he recommends a voyage to the 

 Azores, or at least down Channel, as if any thing else could be produced 

 by such rashness, but coughs, colds, and the loss of cigars. 



Another s<mrce of terror is the creation of peers, which we are told in 

 all the ))apers is to take place in a few days to an unlimited extent. Let 

 us appease the alarm so unduly raised. The rcjiort has arisen from the 

 king's visit to London Bridge, and the only peers in (piestion are the 

 piers thereof. Whether giving them a name can be called creation is 



