it went, or to what extent. That the Great Towns would be endowed with the elective franchise, and that something would be done with some of the decayed corporations, and something attempted to lessen the cost of elections, was, no doubt, very confidently expected; but only because all possible plans of reform included those heads-they were common to all schemes that could be devised. But even if the Ministers had announced that their plan went to those points, they would have conveyed no information which was not conveyed by the use of the word reform; and as it is certain that there was no more known of it before the First of March, so it is plain that all that the country knew of the scheme was, that they knew nothing. This concealment was manifestly necessary, to give the project a fair chance of success, both with the friends and with the enemies of reform. But the unexampled secrecy in which the measure was wrapt up, to the very moment when Lord John Russell rose to detail the provisions of the Bills, has been dwelt upon in this place less with a view to the mere curiosity and singularity of the fact, than because it proves the entire cordiality with which all the parties to the plan co-operated in furthering its progress. Among all those to whom the whole details were, of necessity, intrusted, there was not found one who had betrayed, by a word, a look, or a gesture, the slightest indication not only of their nature, but of opinion and feeling upon the subject. Had any one of known opinions shown the least symptom of his satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the measure, a slight degree of reflection would have led to a pretty accurate notion at least of the extent to which it went. Now it is certain that no one had the least knowledge even whether the plan was a large and sweeping, or a moderate, or an imperfect kind of reform. If the prevailing opinion was, that it would be found much less complete than it proved to be, this was assuredly owing to no positive information which any one possessed, but solely to the fears felt by all good reformers, that the obstacles to the fulfilment of their wishes were likely to prove insuperable in all events, and among all Ministries.

At length the important period of disclosure arrived; and as it would be in vain to deny that while all were in suspense, a more deep and general interest was excited than has ever been felt by the people on any former occasion, so it would be equally absurd to doubt, that the communication of the plan produced a more universal and a more heartfelt satisfaction, than ever yet attended the promulgation of any measure. Men forgot their ancient jealousies-forgot their habitual differences of opinion, and laid aside their past and present animosities, so that they

might join in doing justice to the grandeur and comprehensiveness-the consistency and simplicity of the masterly scheme which was submitted to their consideration. Whatever might be their opinions upon the general question, all agreed that the Ministers had redeemed their pledges, and produced a measure of real and effectual Parliamentary Reform. Even the enemies of all change admitted, that from the worst of accusations this plan was wholly exempt; no man could charge it with incurring the risk of innovation, without securing the benefits of effective improvement; no man could say that the present state of things was put in peril, without obtaining the advantages of representation.

The first remarkable effect produced by the promulgation of the measure, was the complete reconcilement and union of all classes of reformers. Their mutual differences had long been the theme of ridicule, and the source of triumph to the common enemy. They were said to be agreed upon nothing-to have no views and designs in common; and it was inferred that, as reformers dissented fully more from each other than any of them did from the adversaries of all reform, there was no use whatever in allowing the general question to be carried; inasmuch as you could not tell what might follow, or indeed what had been done when the question was carried. Add to this, the discredit brought on the cause by the injudiciousness and extravagance of certain doctrines rashly taken up by very enlightened and zealous reformers, as well as by men of a very different description, which, it was said, were inseparable from the subject, and must be adopted by all who would give any thing like general satisfaction. Of such topics, there has been an end ever since the memorable First of March. The new plan has effected an entire cessation of all differences-a complete and cordial union among all reformers. It proceeded manifestly from a desire to give a real and substantial reform, and not a mere shadow, which might serve to redeem nominally the pledges of the Ministry; it was so plainly the result of an honest determination to meet the question, and not to evade it, that all real friends of reform embraced it in the honest sincerity with which it was offered to them; and those few who had made reform a cloak for other designs, were fain to join the universal current, and conceal any jarring feelings they might entertain.

The next consequence was, the uniting and knitting to'gether of the hearts of all classes of the people ;'-that consummation which, we believe, both Houses of Parliament daily pray for, as the most choice blessing which Divine Providence can shower down upon the labours of the lawgiver. What a

prodigious change, indeed, has all at once been wrought in the feelings of the whole community! No man can believe that it is the same nation he now surveys. What more distracted with faction-more sullenly mistrustful of their rulers-more discontented with all about them-more sensitively jealous even of whatever was done for them-more hopeless in their prospects of the future-more prepared for the worst emergencies, than the people of England, and still more of Ireland, a few short weeks ago? If ever country seemed on the verge of troublous times, it was that country which the anti-reform faction now describes as perfectly happy, peaceful, and contented, under the well-working system of abuse they cleave to, and commiserates as likely to be plunged into anarchy and revolution by the measure that has healed all our pains, and made the nation once more united and loyal. It is lamentable to reflect upon the universal alienation of the body of the people from the government, in the largest acceptation of the word, which had been daily increasing of late years, and had, moreover, made a sensible stride at each refusal of redress, and each new infliction of injury perpetrated by our rulers. How long is it since any Ministry durst leave to a common jury the trial of a Government prosecution? How long since any Minister durst show himself on the hustings at a popular election? How long since even the more select bodies of the people-those nearer the aristocracy-have ever thought of showing favour to a man in place? How long since an official character, whatever he might expose himself to from sense of duty, and fear of being thought a coward, was at all ready to frequent any kind of meeting more secular than a Bible Society, more controversial than a Charity Dinner, more popular and promiscuous than a Pitt Club? The very names of Patriot and Minister were become natural enemies; place and popularity were, as of course, used as antithetical alliterations; to enjoy the King's favour, and incur the hatred of the country, were synonymous expressions. Not the members of the government merely, but all connected in any way with any office, or even any of the institutions of the country in Church or in State, were exposed to the same suspicions, and had habitually to encounter the same odium. It extended to rank and to wealth, as well as to place; and an ample share of it was at all times reserved for both Houses of Parliament, liberally as it was dealt out to the servants of the Crown. To incur the censures of the people's representatives, was the shortest and surest way to the people's affections. How many generations have come up and passed since either House has ventured to assert its undeniable privileges, and since the country has

without giving us a glimpse of the coarse or corrupt material within, which it serves to smooth and gloss over to the eye of a distant observer. Captain Beechey has rendered an essential service to the cause of truth, by details exposing several of the more prominent mistakes which have been committed in regard to the Loochooans.

First, it was said that this people were possessed of no arms, either offensive or defensive; an assertion which excited considerable surprise at the time when it was originally made, and which Napoleon, on its being repeated to him, instantly declared his unqualified disbelief of. Captain Beechey, however, saw no arms in the possession of the natives. But the mandarins and others stated that there were both cannon and muskets in the island; An-yah affirmed that twenty-six cannon were distributed among the junks belonging to Loochoo; the fishermen, and indeed all classes at Napa, showed themselves familiar with the use of cannon, when they came on board the Blossom, and particularly noticed the improvement of the flintlock upon the matchlock on the panels of the joshouse, or temple, are painted figures seated upon broadswords, and bows and arrows; and, what is still more conclusive than all, the harbour of Napa is defended by three square stone forts, one on each side of the entrance, and the other on a small island, so situated as to rake a vessel entering the port, and these forts, besides being loopholed, are provided with platforms and parapets. Further, Captain Beechey presented a mandarin with a pair of pistols, which he thankfully accepted; and the arms were taken charge of by his attendants, without exciting any unusual degree of curiosity. Upon questioning Captain Hall's friend the linguist as to where the Loochooans procured gunpowder, Captain Beechey immediately received for answer, From Fochien.' Besides, both China and Japan have repeatedly fitted out expeditions against Loochoo, and civil wars have occasionally prevailed in the island; occurrences, we presume, which will scarcely be considered compatible with an ignorance of war and of the use of arms.

Secondly, we were also told that the Loochooans had no money, and were wholly unacquainted with the use of it. This, as the newspapers say, would have been important, if true. But, unfortunately for the accuracy of those who promulgated this statement, Captain Beechey not only saw money in circulation on the island, but has some of it now in his possession! The coin is similar to the cash of China. From the authorities which our author has quoted, it also appears that money has long been known to, if not in use among, the Loochooans; probably since the middle of the fifteenth century.

Thirdly, so effectually had these smooth hypocrites imposed on the good-nature of Captain Hall, that we were led, on his authority, to believe that the heaviest penalty attached to the commission of a crime in Loochoo was a gentle tap with a fan. We were also informed that the conduct of the superior orders in Loochoo towards their inferiors, was characterised by a mildness and forbearance worthy of the primitive ages. Captain Beechey's surprise may therefore be conceived, when the first mandarin who came on board the Blossom proceeded, on some slight provocation, to bamboo the canaille that had accompanied him, with an energy and vigour which astonished both the commander and the crew, and proved that the buttoned functionary was no mean proficient in the use of the Chinese instrument of government. The cowardly, however, are always cruel. Upon further enquiry, it turned out that the punishments inflicted in Loochoo are nearly the same as those practised in China, which has always been famous for the sanguinary character of its penal code. For great crimes, the punishment awarded is death, by strangulation on a cross, and sometimes under protracted torments; while, for less aggravated offences, the body is loaded with iron chains,-or the neck is locked into a heavy wooden frame, or the person is enclosed in a case, leaving out the head of the culprit, which is shaven, and exposed to the scorching rays of the sun,-or, finally, the hands and feet are bound, and quicklime thrown into the eyes. It appears, also, that confession is sometimes extorted by dividing the joints of the fingers alternately, and clipping the muscles of the legs and arms with scissors; and several individuals at Potsoong assured Captain Beechey that they had seen an unfortunate wretch expire under this horrid species of torture. One is almost tempted to believe that the devil or an inquisitor had invented these atrocities; there being scarcely any other supposition on which we can account for a refinement in cruelty such as that which is at length found to prevail among the people of Loochoo, and which, unquestionably, would reflect no discredit either on the place of punishment below, or on the best imitation of it that has ever been got up above. Such are the gentle doves who cooed so softly in the ear of Captain Hall, persuading him that the golden age was, after all, no poetical chimera, and filling his imagination with some of the most absurd fantasies ever palmed on good-natured credulity.

Captain Beechey quitted the Elysium of the Yellow Sea on the 25th May, and making the best of his way to the northward, arrived in Awatska Bay, in Kamtschatka, on the 2d of July, whence, on the 18th, he sailed for Behring's Strait, and reached