PREFACE- V 



f- In domestic history the present year will be dis- 

 :tingiiished as that which by reuniting all. the powers 

 of the crown in the. person of the Prince Recent, 

 •has made an actual commencement of a. new reign, 

 and afforded a sufficient criterion of the spirit in 

 which it is likely to be conducted. It has also put 

 to the test the strength of the different political 

 parties; and by weighing them all in the balance, 

 has demonstratively proved the existence of a pre- 

 •ponderating mass of power which reduces them to 

 'comparative insignificance. After all the com- 

 plaints of the want of "a strong and effective 

 'administration," that ministry has been continued 

 V^rhich gave rise to these complaints; and no want 

 of strength or efficacy has appeared in carrying 

 through the measures determined upon by the ctq. 

 vernment. Difficulties, it is true, have Occurred 

 respectmg certain political points, but they have 

 been such as it required rather wisdom than power 

 to adjust. The intestine disorders which have per- 

 vaded a considerable tract of the manufacturing 

 districts, and which assumed a character of daring 

 and ferocity unprecedented among the lower classes 

 m this country, have been happily quelled by a firm 

 but lenient exertion of authority ; and the record 

 ot them may serve to exemplify the dangers at- 

 tending a population forced by prosperous trade 

 greatly beyond its natural level, whenever the 



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