MUNIFICENCE OF GEORGE IV.
This year the king gave an instance of royal munificence, calculated to benefit not only the present age, but to extend its advantages to remote generations. By a letter addressed to Lord Liverpool he signified his intention of presenting the valuable library collected by his father to the British nation. This letter, with certain resolutions of the trustees of the British Museum on the subject, was by his majesty’s command laid before the house of commons. The letter and resolutions were referred to a committee, and on the 16th of April this committee made a report which noticed the great value and extent of the library, and expressed an opinion that if his majesty’s magnificent donation were placed under the care of the trustees of the British Museum, the greatest benefit would accrue to the public. The report recommended that a building should be raised for its reception, and that successive grants should be made to effect the purposes above specified. In consequence of this report the house voted a sum of.£40,000 to commence the work, and the foundation of the structure was forthwith laid. The building was completed in 1827, and the following summer this valuable library was transferred to the Museum. It is a splendid monument of the good taste and patriotic spirit of George IV., and will to the latest ages redound to his honour.
IRISH TITHE COMMUTATION BILL, ETC.—PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.
During this session an act was passed for the commutation of tithes in Ireland. A motion was made in the upper house by Lord Lansdowne for the second reading of the dissenters’ marriage bill, which might enable them to perform the ceremony of marriage in their own chapels. This was warmly supported by Lords Ellenborough, Calthorpe, and Liverpool; but if, was thrown out by a majority of twenty-seven against twenty-one. The session was closed by commission on the 19th of July.
STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
During this year the prosperity of the country appeared to advance, and the confidence of the people in the government to be established. This feeling was chiefly attributable to the altered tone of the administration, and the tenor of their measures. From their measures commerce and manufactures revived, and, by a natural consequence, agriculture was improved. Unfortunately this revival of prosperity gave a dangerous activity to enterprise, and generated a spirit of headlong speculation, which produced disastrous consequences in a subsequent year. It was during this year, indeed, that the memorable era of joint-stock schemes commenced, which ended in the ruin of many families. They that will be rich often fall into a snare.