Politics, &c.

The Editor of one of the best Sunday Newspapers has obtained the following secret information as to the measures intended to be brought forward in Parliament next Session.

1. A Bill to tranquillize Ireland by doubling the grievances of which she complains.

2. A Bill to restore the ancient veneration for monarchy.

3. A Bill to make the Holy Alliance respected.

4. A Bill to make the Duke of W

5. A Bill to enable the Marquis of L

that can be read.

PREAMBLE.

a sensible man.

to make a speech

Whereas the most noble the Marquis of L has been hitherto entirely dependant on Newspaper Reporters for the reputation of being able to speak connectedly, and to the purpose, for any length of time; and great danger and disgrace has been thereby incurred, &c.

6. A Bill to divest those persons who live on the public purse of all apprehension about Reform, and to expunge the word from the English vocabulary.

7. A Bill to enable the Landlords to collect their rents while the interest of the debt continues to be paid in full and in gold.

Or, in place of this, if thrown out

S. A Bill to enable the Landlords to live, pay taxes, and be contented, without any rents.

The liberality of "THE GREAT ENLIGHTENER OF THE PEOPLE," William Cobbett.—This fretful porcupine, after having offered to be broiled on a gridiron if ever we returned to Cash Payments, is so completely cut up and mortified at the failure of his prophecy, that his intellects are despaired of. Though the people have not seized him to put his offer into execution, his sufferings have been much longer than they would, had he been burnt in Smithfield, according to his own plan, for he has, ever since the resumption of Cash Payments, been broiling on the gridiron, not of SHAME, for the Brute

never had any, but of DISAPPOINTMENT and VEXATION. Some are of opinion that he is sinking into his dotage, from the following specimen in his Number of 22d December-"I am always pleased when I see a man ruined who has taken in the Old Times newspaper for any length of time; and thank God I do see many such. They are base wretches, and ruin is what they deserve."

THE EFFECTS OF FANATICISM.-The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Hereford Permanent Library, took place on the 18th of December, when that invaluable work, "Burdon's Materials for Thinking," and the "Apocryphal New Testament," published by Mr. Hone, were, by a large majority, condemned to the flames, and immediately burnt to ashes.

The celebrated works of Hume and Gibbon, and the famous critical and historical dictionary of Bayle, were also ordered to be destroyed by these Goths and Vandals, but the resolution has not yet been carried into effect, in consequence of the honorary secretary (a gentleman of acknowledged talent and liberality) signifying his intention of instantly resigning his office. This notification, and the spirited remarks of a few individuals who felt indignant at such bigoted intolerance, saved them for the present. Several of the members have openly expressed their wishes to have the shelves purged from every book in which the act of parliament religion, or any of the thousand sorts of Christianity were called in question, and hailed the proceedings of the day as a triumphant beginning of a glorious work!!!

The conduct of these spiteful and malicious fools gives us heartfelt satisfaction, because the circumstance of their prohibiting those excellent works will kindle a flame of enquiry in the bosoms of thousands who have not yet had the pleasure of perusing them. Are not these jackanapes aware that their proceeding will cause an extraordinary demand for such works; and that Mr. Wilson of the Royal Exchange, the publisher of "Burdon," as well as Mr. Hone, will be more benefited by this, their foolery, than by twenty pounds spent in advertising those works. It is hardly necessary to remark, that the clergy were very active in promoting these measures.

Pugilism.

The grand contest between Hickman, the Gas-light man, and Neat, the Bristol Champion, took place on Tuesday, the 11th of December, on Hungerford Downs, near the town of Newbury, in Berkshire, sixty-six miles from London. This battle was important (we mean among the patrons of the fistic art) in two points of view. First, because the Cockney and Bristol Schools were fairly pitted against each other; and, secondly, because the issue was to place the winner in the enviable situation of "Champion of England," the veteran Cribb having, we understand, prudently declared his intention to retire upon that pension of well-earned fame to which his former prowess so well entitled him. Neat has long been viewed as a well-qualified candidate for the "top of the tree;" and, from his muscular powers, superior weight, and scientific studies, created much confidence among his friends. It is true, that his first essays were not so successful as his "chaunters" had anticipated, but still it was considered, that when his natural talents reached that point of perfection of which it was known they were capable, that he would prove a non-such among the heavy weights; and the Bristollan felt a' conviction of his ultimate success. It will be recollected that the last affair in which Neat's name was brought upon the tapis was his engagement to fight Spring,` on which occasion, in consequence of his having broken his arm while training, the stakes were forfeited to Spring. As soon as Neat had recovered the effects of his unlucky accident, it was intimated that he was open to any fresh invitation, and that his friends were ready to post the coal" at a moment's warning. The season at length arrived for confirming the judgment of his backers. Hickman, the Gas-light man, had so completely dazzled the London ring by the effulgent blaze of genius which he emitted on every occasion where his abilities were called into action, and having so quickly cast into shade all the minor stars who presumed to oppose his meteoric flights, that he was pronounced the sun of the metropolitan constellation. Heated by such unexpected elevation, and perhaps a little too vain of his unchequered career, he determined to soar into the highest regions of pugilistic fame. Like Phæton, however, his imagination out-stripped his powers, and he was doomed to fall; dragging

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with him the hopes, and no small portion of the gilded incense of his worshippers. It is but just to observe, nevertheless, that in proportion as his attempt was daring, his precipitation was noble, and that although he can no longer be considered as a star of the first magnitude, he may still shine with an enviable brilliancy in an humbler sphere. In plain terms, he is not a match for the heavy weights, although invincible among men of his own standard. Neat, to whom he was so indiscreetly opposed, vindicated the superiority of fourteen over twelve stone. According to the old adage, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating;" and it was not till our cockney friends had partaken of a hearty meal of this proof, that they were convinced of their error. Up to the very eve of the "mill" Gas was backed in London at 6 to 4; of which odds, it is but fair to state, there were abundance of takers, In Bristol and its neighbourhood the feeling was the other way, and Neat was decidedly the favourite.

As early as Saturday last, the roads leading to Newbury were thronged with amateurs, anxious to secure good quarters previous to the eventful day, and every house of entertainment within 20 miles of the scene of action was thronged with welcome guests. On the Monday night not a bed was to be procured for love or money; and a vast proportion of the assembled multitude were happy in having an opportunity of obtaining even shelter for their heads, while many of the humble order of visitants bivouacked under the surrounding hayricks. The stakes to be contended for were two hundred guineas aside, but the sums depending on the result were supposed to be not less than 50,000%.

CRIM. CON.-On Friday last, a case came on at Marlboroughstreet, as a charge from St. Ann's Watch-house, of which the following is an outline. The parties are a gentleman holding a situation in the Excise, and the wife of a respectable tradesman, The husband having a suspicion of his wife's infidelity, waited within view of an accommodating hotel, in the neighbourhood of Soho Square, when he saw his wife and her chere ami come out. He commenced an attack upon the man, administering to him a severe personal chastisement, and then sent them both to the watchhouse. The Magistrate had no power of affording redress to the husband, and the case was dismissed. The wife, who has three children, walked from the office with her gallant. It did not appear in evidence that this was a case of seduction, but merely that the

husband suspected his wife of indulging in extra gratifications, and had traced her to one of her banqueting-houses. The gentleman she had picked up for this purpose could not be to blame, and we think, that instead of the husband being suffered to give a charge, the gallant ought to have put the husband in the watch-house, for so unwarrantable an assault. It would be a very hard case if every man who listens to the invitations of an interesting female, and has the charity to render himself agreeable to her, should run the risk of having his head broken by some jealous-pated monopolizer, with whom it was evident she could no longer carry on an harmonious commerce.

List of Odd Fellows' Lodges.

MEETINGS ON MONDAY EVENINGS.

1. Saint James's Lodge, Duke of Argyle, Great Windmill-st. 2. Knights of Jerusalem, Hero of Waterloo, Waterloo-road, Surry TUESDAY EVENINGS.

3. Philanthropic Lodge, Red Lion, Cross-lane, Long-acre. 4. Don Cossac Lodge, Spread Eagle, Kingsland-road.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS.

5. The Kent Lodge, King's Arms, Duke-st. Grosvenor-square. 6. Belvidere Lodge, at the Bell, Vine-st. Narrow-wall, Lambeth. 7. Burdett Lodge, Beckford's Head, Old-street, St. Luke's. 8. St. Luke's Lodge, Magpie and Stump, China-walk, Chelsea.

THURSDAY EVENINGS.

9. The Prince's Lodge, the Feathers, Grosvenor-place, Pimlico. 10. Grand Lodge of England, Bull's Head, Jewin Crescent, Cripplegate.

FRIDAY EVENINGS.

11. St. Vincent's Lodge, Sadler's Arms, Swallow-st. St. James's.

SATURDAY EVENINGS.

12. Warwickshire Lodge, the Cock, Market-st. St. James's.

Printed by J. Sudbury, Castle-Street, Leicester-Square.