100] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Domestic Events. — Course of the Year. — Double suspension of the Habeas 

 Corpus. — Celebration of the Queeii's and Prince Regent's Birth-Days. — 

 Trials. — Special Commission held at Derby. 



DOMESTIC EVENTS, &C. 



THIS year commenced with 

 the distress spread through 

 the greatest part of Europe, in 

 consequence of the late and un- 

 productive harvest of the last 

 autumn. Although the British 

 islands partook in a smaller de- 

 gree of the prevalent evil than 

 most other countries, from which 

 their free admission to all foreign 

 ports afforded them important re- 

 lief, yet hardships fell heavy upon 

 certain districts too remote from 

 such tardy aid ; and Ireland, espe- 

 cially, suffered severely from the 

 want of the most essential articles 

 of human sustenance. We are 

 informed that the distiess was so 

 great in particular parts, that the 

 poor people could find no other 

 resource than that of anticipating 

 their crop of potatoes by an un- 

 ripe product. As the year ad- 

 vanced, however, better prospects 

 began to open ; and it was the 

 general opinion thai corn and 

 other products seldom offered a 

 more promising harvest to the 

 cultivator. Whether this promise 

 has not been exaggerated may be 

 a matter of doubt ; at least it ap- 

 pears certain that the year has 

 concluded with an advance in the 

 price of wheat and aarley which 

 could hardly have been expected 

 at the time of their first decline. 

 A distinguishing character of 



the present year has been the 

 double suspension of the Habeas 

 Corpus Act ; which, after being 

 one of the first parliamentary 

 measures at the beginning of the 

 session, was resumed near the 

 close of it, and voted to be conti- 

 nued till the commencement of 

 another session, in consequence 

 of a renewed alarm. We refer to 

 our view of the debates in Parlia- 

 ment for the particulars of this 

 remarkable contest ; of the issue 

 of which we shall only observe, 

 that whilst the ministerial mem- 

 bers expressed great regret at 

 being oVjliged to have recouise to a 

 temporary violation of the consti- 

 tution for the purpose of prevent- 

 ing the most urgent dangers^ 

 their opponents held that no dan- 

 ger was equal to the habit of en- 

 trusting ministers, at their own 

 convenience or pleasure, with an 

 expedient fatal to liberty. 



CELEBRATION OF THE ftUEEN'S 

 BIRTH-DAY. 



Some months ago the Prince 

 Regent, with a view to relieve the 

 distresses of the manufacturing 

 classes, by affording them employ- 

 ment, gave directions in the Ga- 

 zette for the public celebration of 

 the Queen's birth-day, and of his 

 own ; and, in order to make the 

 relief more effectual, notice was 

 given, that it was expected, that 

 on both occasions all those who 



should 



