1821.] Political Affairs in July. ^ g| 
of effect. On the 1st instant, the Metro¬ 
polis was suddenly overspread with tre¬ 
mendous darkness, accompanied with the 
heaviest rain, during- an hour, we ever wit¬ 
nessed. Lightning and thunder also oc¬ 
curred during the tempest. After this the 
wind returned to the N. and NE., and in¬ 
termitting rains of chilling cold, continued 
during two days. The ensuing week a 
degree of cold, unusual and alarming, even 
in this unusually low temperature ofc,the 
season. After this, the wind shifting to 
the W. and NW. the cold was moderated, 
but still remained uncomfortably chilly 
It is worthy of remark, that to the north¬ 
ward and eastward of the metropolis at 
distances from 200 to 300 miles, the tem¬ 
perature of the days has been unusually 
high, although that of the nights has been 
even more severe than our own. 
POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN JULY. 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
HE fall in the money-value of all 
property and commodities, and 
the simultaneous attempt to collect the 
foil interest of the public debt with a 
reduced circulation, being an impossi¬ 
bility, the utmost distress pervades 
every branch of industry particularly 
agriculture; and it has become almost 
as impracticable to pay the interest of 
mortgages from reduced rentals, as 
to meet any old money engagements 
at its reduced value by present pay¬ 
ments at its increased value. 
The returns of the taxes for the 
quarter ending the 5th of July, were 
£12,872,380, being £407,893 less than 
the corresponding quarter of last year. 
In truth the sinking fund is absorbed, 
the revenue is still diminishing, and no 
prospect exists now, as heretofore, that 
the debt can be reduced; on the con¬ 
trary, the necessity for annual loans 
to pay the interest, adds every year to 
its amount, while the public means are 
diminished by a reduced circulation. 
By the finance report before us, we 
observe that the total net revenue 
of the United Kingdom for 1820, 
was £57,304,651. and the loans 
£17,292,545. to meet an expenditure 
of £70,850,741. of which £30,0/7,175. is 
for interest of unredeemed war debts, 
which now amount to £801,563,311. 
The exports of the same year were 
£48,951,468. being five millions less 
than 1819, and five millions more than 
1820, and the imports £32,442,443. 
The unfunded debt is £37,042,434. 
The following was his Majesty’s 
speech, delivered by commission, at the 
close of Parliament. 
u My Lords and Gentlemen ,—We have 
it in command from his Majesty to inform 
you, that the state of public business hav¬ 
ing enabled him to dispense with your at¬ 
tendance in parliament, he has determined 
to put an end to this session. His Majesty, 
however, cannot close it without expres¬ 
sing his satisfaction at the zeal 'and assi- 
Montiily Mag. No. 357 . 
duity with which you have prosecuted 
the laborious and important enquiries in 
which you have been engaged. He has 
observed, with particular pleasure, the 
facility with which the restoration of metal¬ 
lic currency has been effected, by the au¬ 
thority given to the Bank of England to 
commence its payments in cash at an earlier 
period than had been determined by the 
last parliament. His Majesty has com¬ 
manded us to acquaint you, that he con¬ 
tinues to receive from foreign powers the 
strongest assurances of their friendly dis¬ 
position towards this country. 
“ Gentlemen of the House of Commons , 
—We are commanded by his Majesty to 
return you his thanks for the provision you 
have made for the public service. Although 
the public expenditure has already under¬ 
gone considerable reduction within the 
present year, his Majesty trusts he shall 
be enabled, by the continuance of peace 
and internal tranquillity, to make such 
further reductions as may satisfy the just 
expectations expressed by parliament. His 
Majesty has commanded us to assure you 
of the gratification which he has derived 
from the provision which you have made 
for his Royal Highness the Duke of Cla¬ 
rence. 
“ My Lords , and Gentlemen, —It is with 
the greatest satisfaction that his Majesty 
has observed the quiet and good order 
which continue to prevail in those parts of 
the country which were not long since in 
a state of agitation. His Majesty deeply 
laments the distress to which the agricul¬ 
tural interests, in many parts ot the king¬ 
dom,^ are still subject.—It will be his Ma¬ 
jesty’s most anxious desire, by a strict at¬ 
tention to public economy, to do all that 
depends upon him for the relief of the 
country from its present difficulties; but 
you cannot fail to be sensible that the suc¬ 
cess of all efforts for this purpose will 
mainly depend upon the continuance of 
domestic tranquillity; and his Majesty con¬ 
fidently relies on your utmost exertions in 
your several counties, in enforcing obedi¬ 
ence to the laws, and in promoting harmony 
and concord amongst all descriptions of his 
Majesty’s subjects.’’ 
L The 
