grasp. Atlength the huntsmen finding all attempts to frighten him from his retreat fruitless, blew the rocks over the hole, and came within about sixteen feet of the bear. These continued operations made him fierce and terrible. After the hole blown through the rock was sufficiently large to admit the body of a man, John Ward, jun. crept into it, placed lighted candles fixed upon the end of a pole towards the bear, and with a musket shot at him, but without effect. He descended the second time, and shot him in the fore legs; the bear at each fire advanced towards the mouth of the hole, but Ward was not to be intimidated; he descended again, and shot the ferocious beast in one eye. Ward was now drawn out the bear fiercely following him; he instantly seized a rifle from the hands of another huntsman, and discharged its contents into the head of the animal, which proved fatal. He measured 6 feet from the nose to the end of the tail, and weighed 313 lb. Extracts from the Report of the Director-General of Customs, in Holland: delivered to the Second Chamber, 29th Jan. "Although the regulations respecting goods in transit, as fixed by Art. 162, have been found sufficient, experience, however, has proved that the law was too lenient with regard to some articles of trade; above all, in respect to those of which manufactories and trades are established in this kingdom. Those interested therein have not emitted to make representations against them, and it is for those reasons that his Majesty has

judged fit that the transit duties on refined sugar, cottons, threads, and calicoes, woollens, and other manufactures, should be increased.

"With regard to the list or scale of duties affixed to the law of 3rd Oct. 1816, it has given rise to many objections, observations, and representations, all of which have experienced due attention and consideration.

"Your High Mightinesses will, I trust, allow me to enter into some particulars with regard to some of the principal articles, and to state, shortly, the reasons which have given birth to the alterations alluded to.

Tin-plates. The import duty was fixed at 30 stivers per 100: this regulation has created many objections, particularly since this article is manufactured to a considerable extent, and excellent quality, in some of our provinces. The inquiries made on that subject have confirmed that fact, and the interest of these manufacturers has not made us hesitate to increase the import duty on this article, and to place the manufactured and lackered tin-plate work also on an equality with such increase.

"The article of thread is one which, at all times, makes a junction of the agricultural, with the manufacturing interests necessary, in order that the cultivation of flax may not be neglected to the great injury of the manufacturers. These circumstances and alleged interests have made it necessary to diminish the export duty on raw-thread and twist, and to increase the import duty on coloured sewing-thread, as our dyers are also interested therein.

"The

"The article of hides and skins, as appears in the tariff, are charged particularly on the exportation, so as to favour our tanneries, and the interests of the latter have caused his Majesty to make some alterations.

"Lace, made of thread, has been charged in the tariff with the scale duty only, on account of our own manufacture being considered of such superior quality, that nothing was apprehended from foreign competition. Experience, however, has taught us, that the industry of our neighbours has produced just doubts upon that subject, particularly with regard to lace manufactured with machinery. To remove these difficulties, his Majesty has not hesitated to fix an import duty on lace, and to lay such regulations before your High Mightinesses, so that this branch of national industry may be supported and encouraged, &c."

FEBRUARY.

The Paris papers of the 6th inst. bring at length the decision of the Chamber of Deputies on the law for recruiting the army; which, after an animated and interesting debate, passed in the affirmative on Thursday last, by a majority of 55 voices; 147 voting for the law, and 92 against it. The articles discussed on the 4th and 5th were chiefly the 27th, 28th, and 29th, which related exclusively to promotion.

The question was afterwards agitated in the Chamber of Peers upon the ground that no one could be a member of the latter chamber who had not completed his fortieth year. This happened

in three persons, who, however, had finished the time prescribed before the opening of the session. The chamber on being applied to, made the same decision as the deputies.

7. Two most horrid murders, committed on Mr. Bird and his housekeeper, who resided in a house belonging to Mr. Bird, near the Mitre, Greenwich, were yesterday discovered. Mr. Bird was far advanced in years, being near 70, and has resided many years in the town of Greenwich, where he carried on the business of a tallow chandler, in which he acquired sufficient property to enable him to retire from business, and live upon his income, arising from houses and money in the funds. His wife died about two years ago, and since that time no person has resided with him but his housekeeper. He was a most constant attendant at Greenwich church, and was always in his place as soon as the service began, accompanied by his housekeeper. Yesterday morning Feb. 8, it was noticed by the beadle of the parish, and others, that they were not in their seats in the church, as usual. At the conclusion of the service the beadle noticed the circumstance to some neighbours, and they having remarked that the shutters of Mr. Bird's house had not been opened at the usual time, nor were at that time (noon), the beadle and others went to Mr. Bird's house, knocked at the door and called, but received no answer; they, therefore, had no doubt that some. thing dreadful had happened, and determined on forcing an entrance by the garden, at the back of the

house.

house. On their entrance into the passage, a most shocking spectacle presented itself. The body of the housekeeper was lying on its face in a shocking state, her scull driven in and fractured in a most inhuman manner: the horrid act had been perpetrated by a blunt instrument. On proceeding from this scene of horror, another equally horrible presented itself. In a parlour adjoining the passage, the body of Mr. Bird was lying on its back, with his arms stretched, and his head more fractured than that of his housekeeper: his forehead was driven in about an inch deep, and the wound as large as a crown-piece; these wounds had also been inflicted with a large blunt instrument, supposed to be a bludgeon, employed by a powerful man, who apparently must have been left-handed.

A candle was found in the passage close to the housekeeper, and it is supposed the murders were committed late on Saturday, or at least before ten o'clock, as that was the hour Mr. Bird constantly went to bed. The housekeeper always had the chain of the street-door up when she answered a knock, and there being no doubt but that the murderer entered by that door, it is supposed that she must have been induced to open it, under some false pretence, or because she knew the person, who, as soon as he gained admittance into the passage, knocked her down and inhumanly murdered her. It is supposed that Mr. Bird was reading, and that on his hearing the attack upon his housekeeper in the passage, he left his fire-side

to proceed to her assistance, as his body was found between the fire-place and the door of the room, with his spectacles near one hand, and a candle close to the other.

The horrid discovery created a very considerable degree of agitation and alarm in the town of Greenwich during the whole of yesterday. Mr. Bicknell, the solicitor, sent off an express to the public office, Bow-street; and Adkins and Lavender, the officers, arriving with all possible speed, proceeded to examine the premises, and to endeavour to discover suspicious characters, but without finding any trace of the murderer. There is no doubt but the object of the attack was plunder. The keys of the drawers and boxes had been procured, and it is supposed they were taken from the pockets of the deceased, as they were stained with blood.

It has not been ascertained of what property the premises have been robbed. In a drawer which had not been opened were found Bank-notes to the amount of 311. which were ascertained to be the amount of a dividend he received at the Bank on the 20th of Janlast. The murderer also left four silver salts, several table and other spoons, and a soup ladle. It is supposed the murderer did not take wearing apparel away.

PROCLAMATION OF THE NEW KING OF SWEDEN.

9. Stockholm.His Majesty King Charles XIII died on the 5th of February, at 14 minutes past 10 in the evening, after a painful illness and Christian edifying preparation.

The

The following Royal proclamation was published, in consequence of which his Majesty King Charles John was proclaimed King on the 6th instant, by the herald of the kingdom, in the usual form: "We, Charles John, by the Grace of God, King of Sweden and Norway, &c. to all our faithful subjects living and dwelling in Sweden, greeting.

"As we, in consequence of the proposal of our late beloved father, our august King and Sovereign Charles XIII, to the Estates of the Kingdom of Sweden, were unanimously chosen, on the 21st Aug. 1810, his successor on the Swedish throne, and at the same time, invited by the unani mous voice of the King and the people, accepted this honourable call, though attended with great responsibility; we felt a particular impulse thereto, in the events, wholly foreign to us, which decided your choice, and which, without our having any share in them, solely directed your free and independent resolutions. We were thereby taken from that repose which had been our sole aim; and immediately on our arrival here, your deceased King received us with the dearest proofs of confidence and friendship, by adopting us as his Son, and impressing on your work a more holy zeal; which could but increase our obligations and our devotedness to our new country during the years that have elapsed since that event so interesting to our heart. We have exerted ourself to fulfil towards that never to be forgotten and ever beloved Prince, all the duties of a faithful subject and

an affectionate son; and have daily received in his paternal, never changing tenderness, the noblest recompense of our endeavours. This happiness we are no longer to enjoy. Death has deprived us of him who in this world was attached to us with the most faithful love. From our filial bosom, from the arms of an inconsolable consort, from the circle of sorrowing relations, from a people of whom he has been twice the deliverer, he departed with the calmness of a sage, with the peace of a good conscience, attended with the consolations of religion, and the tears of gratitude, to receive his eternal reward in a better world. We have received his last blessing upon you, which he pronounced on verge of life with the same energy as in his most vigorous days; and in his dying hand we took the sacred oath, to inherit, together with his Crown, his tender cares for the country, his ardent wishes for your welfare.

"As we now, in consequence of this afflicting event, ascend the united thrones of Sweden and Norway, to govern both kingdoms according to the fundamental laws of each, which were approved by the Estates of the Swedish Diet on the 6th of Aug. and by the Storthing of the kingdom of Norway on the 31st of July, 1815, we have given the royal declaration, fixed by the King and the States of the kingdom, in the decision of the Diet of the 2nd of May, 1810.

"Since we first trod on Swedish ground it has been our highest care to defend your liberty, your privileges, and the independence

independence of the kingdom. Providence crowned our endeavours with success. In the present melancholy hour it was therefore our first duty, as well as our first thought, to implore its powerful support in our future actions. From your unanimity and patriotism we expect the most powerful assistance. In faithful union with your king, who is bound to you by the laws, you will continue to be free and independent; in this manner you will most worthily honour the memory of the Prince whom we lament, and may his blessed spirit for ever protect a happy people who can say upon his grave, with pure heartfelt gratitude, Through him we possessed the laws which we ourselves made, the free soil which covers the bones of our fathers, and the brightened prospect of our future lot, which his virtues and his self-denial have prepared for us.' We remain well affected to you all and each, with our Royal favour, and recommend you to God the Almighty.

6

"CHARLES JOHN.

"G. VON WETTERSTEDT. "Palace at Stockholm,

Feb. 5, 1818."

The postponement of the Queen's Drawing-room is occasioned by the state of her Majesty's health, which has been very indifferent during the last three weeks or a month, although she takes her accustomed exercise.-Morning paper, Feb. 10.

This is the first intelligence we have received respecting the disease which has proved so fatal to her majesty.

10. The Mary, Captain Ca VOL. LX.

theroe, arrived in the river from Leghorn, on Thursday, and is now in the London Dock. During her voyage she touched at Alexandria, where the Captain took in about 60 pilgrims, to convey them to Tunis. At the time of embarking, no symptom of disease appeared amongst them, but on the passage one of them was taken ill and died. No suspicion was then entertained by the crew, that the unfortunate man had died of the plague; but shortly after, a boy belonging to the ship was seized with the complaint, and also died. It then communicated to the Captain, his son, and two of the sailors, who soon fell a sacrifice to the disorder. Four more of the pilgrims shortly after died. The sufferings and fatigue of the remaining part of the crew, from the few hands left to work the vessel, was great in the extreme. The only officer left was Mr. Welch, the mate, and two or three sailors; these worked the ship until she had nearly reached Tunis, when the sailors caught the infection and perished. The mate was now the only Europear. on board, but was so fortunate as to get the vessel safe into port. The passengers were immediately landed, and the ship and cargo taken under the care of the British resident at Tunis. Mr. Welch was afterwards attacked by the disorder, and lay for nine days insensible; he was put on board an hospital ship, where he continued for several weeks before he had recovered strength to resume his duties. During this time the vessel, put under quarantine, was completely fumigated, and every C precautiona