My Lords, and Gentlemen,

The long series of misfortune which has afflicted the Continent of Europe could not fail to affect in some degree many important interests of this country. But under every successive d fficulty His Majesty has had the satisfaction of witnessing an increasing energy and firmness on the part of his people, whose uniform and determined resistance has been no less advantageous than honourable to themselves, and has exhibited the most striking example to the surrounding nations.

The unconquerable valour and discipline of His Majesty's fleets and armies continue to be displayed with undiminished lustre; the great sources of our prosperity and strength are unimpared; nor has the British nation been at any time more united in sentiment and action, or more determined to maintain inviolate the independance of the empire, and the dignity of the national cha

racter.

With these advantages, and with an humble reliance on the protection of the divine providence, His Majesty is prepared to meet the exigencies of this great crisis, assured of receiving the fullest support from the wisdom of your deliberations, and from the tried affection, loyalty, and public spirit of his brave people.

DOMESTIC EVENTS.

CARLETON HOUSE.-While kingdoms are subverted on the Continent, and monarchs driven into exile, the Prince of Wales seems determined to enjoy all the comforts and luxuries of sleep. The following is said to be a correct account of his bed-chamber:---This apartment is entirely hung with drab colour broad cloth, which admits of being drawn aside at every aperture, such as the doors, windows, looking glasses, &c. The whole produces al'together the most novel and singularly pleasing coup d'œil imaginable. The bonne graces are of a cinnamon colour, adorned with a pelmet of black velvet, which, suspended from a richly gilt cornice, composed of the oak leaf and apple branch, harmonize, and add greatly to the grandeur of the general ef fect. At the two opposite extremities of the room are two projecting domes; with curtains of the same materials as the bonne graces: the first forming a kind of anti-room to the bed chamber, in which is suspended a magnificent vase, containing the night light, and in the other is affixed the bed. The latter is certainly the most elegant and appropriate piece of furniture, perhaps ever attempted in this country. The form of this superb article is wholly after the Grecian costume. It is of black and gold, elevated upon a platform, the ascent to which is by a flight of three steps. The latter are covered with a light blue velvet carpeting. The curtains which are attached to the bed, are suspended from a golden eagle, placed in the centre; they are of a light sky-blue silk, dotted over with silver stars. A large mirror ten feet in height, which forms the back ground of the bed, reflects the 3 H-VOL. XXIII.

whole interior of the room, and produces the finest perspective that judgment and taste could devise. The whole of the room is covered with a rich mazarine, or garter-blue velvet carpet, ornamented with gold rozettes. The latter adds considerably to the richness of the chef d'œuvre. This beautiful apartment is lighted up by four superb Grecian candelabras placed in the four corners of the room. There are dressing-rooms, and anti-rooms, the latter for the pages in waiting. In the centre of these has been erected a magnificent bath, the walls of which are composed of verd antique, and the bath itself is paved with the most beautiful white marble. In the eight niches, or recessee, in the bath, are to be placed the beautiful and in valuable statues which were sent over from Italy by the Duke of Sussex some years since.

THE BRITISH NAVY.-The whole of the ships in his majesty's service which are in commission at present, amount to 773. Of these, 133 are of the line, 18 are 50's or 40's---164 frigates, and 198 sloops. In the North Sea and Downs there are 154 vessels---About Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar, 34 ; Mediterranean, 34; West Indies, 45; East Indies, 39.

MURDER AND SUICIDE.--On the night of the 28th of August, the following atrocious circumstance took place at Basseterre, St. Kitts. Mr. Francis Constable, a man naturally of a gloomy habit, but whose probity and placid manners for several years past had gained him the respect and esteem of the inhabitants of the Island, quitted his store, and went home in as apparent composure as he had ever been. He desired the woman with whom he cohabited, and by whom he had three coloured children, to put them, and his only son by his late wife, to bed. When the stillness of the night made him believe his woman and children were fast asleep, he crept into the chamber, and began the work of death, by an attempt to strangle the unsuspecting mother, giving her at the same instant a violent blow on the temple with a boot-jack, to render her incapable of resistance. Fortunately the blow had not the desired effect, but alarmed her so much, that she struggled from the grasp he had on her throat, and leaped through the window to call in the neighbours. Having previously prepared cords, he put one round the neck of each sleeping infant, and, it must be presumed, that, finding he could not effectually strangle them, he must have held them up suspended in one hand, while with the other he gave them repeated stabs about the body, with a pistol having a spring bayonet. The youngest, (a little girl not three months old) having one slight mark of the weapon on its left pap, no doubt the tightness of the cord had soon finished his purpose with her. His son, fourteen years old, and the two other girls had seven of eight stabs, many of which were mortal. When the door was forced open by the neighbours, he was found pierced with wounds, and weltering in his blood on the floor. Assistance was procured for the wretched man, but happily assistance was in vain; he lived in convulsive agony till past eight the next morning, when he expired. He left a letter, from which it appears that he was induced to commit the horrid deed from the bad state of his affairs.

It is with regret we hear, that although we have such men in Great Bri

L

tain as Flaxman, Nollekens, Rossi, &e. the University of Cambridge has commissioned a sculptor in a foreign country to make a design for a monument to be erected to the late illustrious statesman, William Pitt.

On Monday morning Dec. 1. about eight o'clock, a bear belonging to Mr. Bradbury, Clown at the Circus, got loose from his den, in the yard adjoining the theatre, and immediately seized a fine boy, son of a Mr. Wilson, whom he tore in a most shocking manner. The boy was barely extricated alive. He was immediately taken to the hospital; but we understand he is since dead. The animal, which had been generally considered as altogether harmless, had become ferocious from hunger, which impelled him to tear up the stake to which he was fastened, and to rush forth in search of food. His first object was an ostler, who was cleaning a horse in the adjoining yard, but he fortunately escaped through a window, when the boy already mentioned was seized by the ravenous animal, who was prevented by his muzzle from tearing him instantly to pieces. The cries of the boy soon brought assistance, but he was not extricated from the horrid situation till the throat of the animal was cut, and then the mischief had been done, which has been succeeded by such a fatal termination.

Of the savage atrocities committed at Lubeck, the following particulars are stated in a letter received by the last conveyance: After the French troops had entered the city, and glutted their savage ferocity with the blood of those who opposed them in arms, they entered the houses of the citizens in several parts, pursued the defenceless inhabitants, and bayoneted them to discover their property; plundered them and drove them to the tops of the houses, and then forced them back to the cellars, the staircases and rooms s'reaming with human blood, and covered with the mangled carcases of those who fell victims to the savage ferocity of those devils in human shape. The writer describes the gallant conduct of the Prussian soldiers under Blucher and the Prince of Brunswick, as beyond all comparison; they disputed every inch of ground, and Blucher never offered to surrender, until he found himself and his brave followers surrounded by six times their number.

At one of the late drill days of the Uxbridge volunteers, on Uxbridge Common, the captain, as usual, returned them thanks for their attention and good conduct. As they were about to quit the field, the sergeant major addressed them as follows---" Gentlemen, you will please to remember that you are to muster here the first Monday in each month, except it should happen to fall on a Sunday.

DIED.

At his seat at Arbury, Sir Roger Newdigate, Bart. aged 88,---At Cheftenham, the Rev. Sir Richard Cope, Bart.---At his seat at Pyrland, Sir Wm. Yea, Bart.---Lieut. General Innes.