ad 
1905,.] 
The feelings of the mind fhould be 
watched and examined more-than the 
functions of the body. Medicine, in 
duch initances, is of important advan- 
tage; but amufement, or more fertous 
occupation, is of radical and effzntial con- 
fequence. 
In feveral inflances, which the writer 
of this article has recently had an oppor- 
tunity of obferving, opium has noi pro- 
duced the intended and delired flate of 
fleep and compofure, but, on the contrary, 
has given rife to rettlefsnefs, and fymp- 
toms of morbid irritability and delirium. 
On which account he had recourfe to by- 
fcyamus as a fubftitute; which, while it 
acts as an opiate, is not followed, in its 
operation, by thofe inconvenient and 
noxious confequences which ate apt to 
arife from the adminiftration of lauda- 
num, or ot the drug in its folid form. 
There is an extreme difficulty, more 
particularly in nervous difcafes, in ad- 
julting the dofe, and feletting the parti- 
cular formula of pharmaceutical prefcrip- 
State of Public Affairs in April, 1803. S87 
tion, as its efficacy depends fo much on 
the uncertain fufceptibility of the patient, 
which, in fome inftances, is extended to 
the higheft, and, in others, reduced to 
the loweit degree of irritability, and capar 
city Of excitation. ‘* On comparing the 
fituation of an hyfterical female (fays 4 
modern author of ingenuity and elo- 
quence) liable to dittrefling agitations 
from the moft trifling caules, as the drop- 
ping of a hair-pin on the floor, to that of 
the engineer who ftands ufimoved amid 
thethunder of a battery—orf the feaman 
who maintains his footing upon the deck 
or ropes of his veffel, reeling under the 
fhock of the elements—or of the Indian 
who exhibits the figns, and probably feels 
the throb of intenfe delight, while the 
flames are preying upon his flefh—how 
altonifhing do we find the range 19 human, 
fu(ceptibility to the effect of the powers 
by which we are furrounced !”’ 
J. Reip, 
Grenville fireet, Brunfwick.fquare, 
April25, 1805. 
STATE or PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 
In April, 1805. 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
HE principal event of domeftic intereft 
so within the prefent month, has been 
the vote of cenfure pafled by the Houfe of 
Commons on the Right Honourable Hen- 
ry Dundas, lately created Lord Vifcount 
Melville. 
The Tentu Rerort of the Commif. 
fioners of Naval Enquiry, appointed to ex- 
‘amine inte irregularities, frauds, or abufes 
practifed by perfons employed in the naval 
departments of the Government, had fo 
far implicated Lord Meiville, that it de- 
came incumbent on the Houle of Com- 
mons, to adopt ftrong meaiures. Accord- 
ingly on Monday, the 8th of April, Mr. 
Whitbread delivered a {pecch, which may 
be ranked among the bett {pecimens of 
patliameniary eloquence, and concluded 
with moving the following Refolutions :—~ 
1. * That it appears to the Committee, 
that on the 18th of June, 1792, the Houfe 
of Commons, in’ a Committee of the whole 
Houfe, came among others, to the following 
refolutions :— 
“That it is the opinion of the Committee, 
that fome regulations ought to be adopted, 
-—— 
for the purpofe of leflening and keeping 
down the balances of public money which 
appear to have been ufually in the hands of 
the Trealurer of the Navy, and it would be 
beneficial to the Public if the firft and other 
Clerks in the different branches belonging to 
the faid office were paid by fixed and perma- 
nent falaries, in lieu of all fees, gratuities, 
and other perquifites whatfoever. 
« That it is the opinion of this Committee, 
that from henceforward the Paymafter Gene- 
ral of His Majefty’s Land Forces, and the 
Treafurer of the Navy, for the time being, 
fhall not apply any fum or fums of money 
imprefted to them, or either of them, to any 
purpofe of advantage or intereft to themes 
felves, either directly or indirectly. 
‘¢ That it appears to this Committee, that 
the Commiflioners appointed to examine, take 
and ftate the public accounts of the kingdom, 
have fo far as appears from the reports which 
they have hitherto made, difcharged the duty 
intrufted to them, with great diligence, accu- 
racy, and ability; and if Parliament {hall 
¢arry into execution thofe plans of reform 
and regulation which are fuggefted by the 
matter contained in the Reports of the faid 
Commitlioners, it cannot but be’ attended 
with the. moft beneficial confequences to the 
Qe aD 2 wae 5 
future 
Based aot 
= ae 
