GENERAL HISTORY. 



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having produced from the faculty 

 a declaration of the expediency of 

 a course of sea-bathing, lier Royal 

 Highness in autumn went to Wey- 

 mouth for that purpose, whence 

 she returned at the latter end of 

 the year. Since that time she has 

 continued in her residence near 

 Windsor, and nothing farther has 

 occurred particularly to excite the 

 puhlic solicitude on her account. 



The introduction into parlia- 

 ment, in the early part of the 

 session, of bills for the purpose of 

 m.iking a great alteration in the 

 corn laws, and es|)ecially of fixing 

 a much higher scale for the liberty 

 of free importation, excited a very 

 extensive alarm among the ma- 

 nufacturing part of the commu- 

 nity, and was the cause of a great 

 number of meetings for petition- 

 ing against such changes. Their 

 eflect was to defeat the proposed 

 measure, ministers not choosing to 

 hazard the consequences of such a 

 general impression. As the har- 

 vest frustrated the expectations 

 that had been formed of a plentiful 

 crop, it is probable that any check 

 given to the large importations of 

 grain, which have since taken 

 place, would have raised that ne- 

 cessary of life to an inordinate 

 price. In the mean time, the 

 farmers, pressed upon by high 

 rents and wages, and burdensome 

 taxes, have not been able to indem- 



nify themselves by the existing low 

 prices of their commodities, and 

 ill many instances have been re- 

 duced to considerable difficulty; 

 so that it seems the general opi- 

 nion that some modifications must 

 be made in their favour. 



The restoration of peace on the 

 continent has proved less advanta- 

 geous to the ccmmercial interests 

 of the country than might have 

 been expected ; and there is rea- 

 son to apprehend a powerful ri- 

 valry to our manufactures in the 

 improved skill, and much lighter 

 expense of workmanship, by which 

 those of our neighbours are fa- 

 voured. The German fairs are 

 said to have afforded evidence of 

 this successful competition. Mean- 

 while the opening of the long- 

 closed interior of Europe has pro- 

 duced a vast exportation of Eng- 

 lish tourists, who, whatever re- 

 turns they may bring of anuise- 

 nient or instruction, will certainly 

 not improve the balance of trade. 

 Nor are the emigrants few, whom 

 the comparative cheapness of liv- 

 ino- has drawn to the continent 

 rather as sojourners than visitants. 

 On the whole, the close of the 

 year has not gratified the coun- 

 try with those anticipations of in- 

 creased prosperity, which a state 

 of general peace might have been 

 hoped to justify. 



