DOMESTIC.-The funds have maintained their high prices during the past month, and consols remain unusually elevated; but that this is an unnatural price, even at the present moment, when monied men can find no employment for their capital, and therefore vest it in stock as their only resource, must be evident even to the most superficial observer; that such a circumstance has helped to raise them, is indubitable; but that the full effect is the result of a manœuvre is beyond all doubt. The expected change of the 4 per cents. to 3 per cent. may be either the cause or the consequence of the present state of the funds; we only look to the consequence, which is promised to be one of benefit to the nation. We consider the measure unjust, and like every other unjust measure, it will produce injury to the parties who partake of it, and probably to many besides. The holders of the stock proposed to be reduced have already received their portion; for whilst the other funds have risen enormously, theirs has been kept nearly at par; they have therefore been deprived of their just and equitable due in the corresponding advance, from whatever cause that may have sprung. A larger quantity of 3 per cent. stock must be created to meet the reduction, the interest of which will be of less amount than that of the stock reduced; but it ought to be remembered, that this increase, if redeemed at par, the only just way of making the estimate, would cost a much larger sum to effect its redemption.

The effects of the new police establishment appear to be beneficial to the peace and safety of the metropolis, but not so much so as to countervail the increase of crime from the increase of dram-drinking, which is now extended to an alarming degree. The policy of our forefathers was to supply the labouring classes with a wholesome malt beverage, at as moderate a price as times and circumstances would permit ; and to restrain the practice of swallowing ardent spirits, by taxing them highly. Some acts of later administrators have reversed this, and the consequence is, an enormous increase in the consumption of spirits-a mul

tiplication of crime, which has been certified by the magistrates from the bench, and a corresponding corruption of the manners and habits of the lower orders. The augmented number of suicides, and sudden deaths, traceable to this changed system of policy, is truly awful.

It is a gratification, that however evil-disposed persons may unite together for a time to work mischief, a period will arrive, in which an overruling Providence causes the hidden things of darkness to be disclosed. This time is now fast approaching, to that body, formerly designated as the Roman Catholic Association; and who, though they renounced the name in affected compliance with the mandate of the legislature, still continued banded together, devising further means of ruin to their country. These persons have disagreed amongst themselves, concerning a large sum of money, the produce of the Catholic Rent, and which the treasurer, in opposition to the request of the committee, refuses either to give up or account for: hence disunion has arisen, and, in their hasty discord, they have accused each other of misdemeanours on various occasions, with many other circumstances, all tending to expose the real characters and intentions of the parties at the head of the Association; which may be a warning for the future, to easy incredulous persons, how they suffer themselves to be imposed upon, and made tools of, by artful men, who hide, under a ready flow of high-sounding words, designs fraught with unutterable woe to our once flourishing and happy country; for it is in vain to attempt disguising that she is fast losing her claim to that condition. At the commencement of the year just closed, how different was her situation to what it is on the present New Year'sday. Then our manufacturers were employed, our commerce was comparatively active, the agricultural portion of the community had gathered in a plentiful increase, and every prospect wore a smiling appearance. The legislature met, and intimidated by the idle, though loud and boastful threats, of this handful of demagogues,

consented, in an evil hour, to sacrifice their duty to their Creator to their fear of His creatures. What is the consequence? we have dishonoured God, and he has hid his face from us. Hence our commerce is ruined, our manufactories are closed, our farmers have expended much money and labour on crops, which have proved scarcely worth gathering in; and, with the prospect of a hard winter before us, we have an enormous population without employment of any kind, who must, for months at least, struggle through a miserable existence, on the scanty pittance which may be afforded to them by overburdened parishes. The liberals of the age may, and no doubt will, smile contemptuously at the idea of the Deity's wrath being excited, by what he will term just and necessary policy, or that these calamities are the effects of his anger; they will consider them as arising from other sources, looking only to secondary causes, and forgetful that God is the first great cause and mover of every event on earth. But it behoves the Christian Remembrancer to mark the events of God's providence, according to the rules of his will, not by the misrule of liberalism; and they bid us, when we obey his commands, to watch for his protection and blessing as the reward of our obedience; when we despise and neglect them, to look for wrath and punishment. Let not Christians forget to pray that repentance may be given to the nation, who, through their rulers, have offended Him, if by any means the heavy judgments suspended over us may be softened into a fatherly chastisement; that the correction may not be after our unrighteousness, but according to His great mercy.

PORTUGAL. In this kingdom every thing has now been for some time perfectly tranquil. It is rumoured that Prince Polignac intends to acknowledge Don Miguel's government, and that his example will be speedily followed by the British Court.

EASTERN EUROPE.-The illness of the Emperor of Russia, at one period assuming an alarming appearance, has been almost the only event, connected with foreign affairs, which can, during the past month, have excited the

slightest degree of interest in the public mind. The death of his Imperial Majesty might have proved fatal to the stability of his empire, and have materially affected the now general tranquillity of Europe. The empire of Russia is composed of such heterogeneous and unconnected materials, united only by the superintending force of a single mind, who, in his turn, depends for his supremacy on the will of a powerful aristocracy, daily increasing in numbers, and becoming better acquainted with their strength, that a civil war would, at any time, lead to its dismemberment, its strength, manifestly, being vastly disproportioned to its bulk; of what value can Lapland or the Tartarian wastes be as provinces; and how very slight is the tenure by which Finland and Poland are attached to Russia Proper! Should the monarchy fall into feeble hands, or the succession be disputed,-both which events would probably follow the demise of the reigning Emperor, Russia would be divided into two or three states, possibly a greater number,— each perfectly distinguishable from the other by the total difference in their language, manners, and customs; and who, after they had once come to a settlement, would arrive at civilization by a much more rapid progress than they can ever do whilst they remain the remote dependencies of a court, itself but just emerged from barbarism.

The treaty of peace between Russia and Turkey has been officially signed by both parties. An offer has been made by the Porte to Russia, of a considerable portion of territory, for which the latter should remit in part, or entirely, the military contribution which the Sultan's impoverished treasury would never be able to pay.

The proposed territorial cession would, in Asia, comprise the greater part of Turkish Armenia, westward of Erzerouni; in Europe, Moldavia and Wallachia are offered,-being, in fact, already lost to the Porte: but these, it has been suggested by the neighbouring Courts, should be erected into a separate state, interposing between Russia, Turkey, and Austria, in the same way as Bavaria and Piedmont lie between the latter power and France.