MONTHLY RETROSPECT of PUBLIC AFFAIRS; OR, The Christian's Survey of the Political World. A year has elapsed since the nation was in affliction for the loss of a deeply-regretted princess, and with her, the first of her womb and the hopes of the family. At the time, when the returning year brought the recollection of the past more strongly to our memory, death again struck his triumphant dart, and levelled with the dust one of the greatest men that this nation bas produced. The loss was sensibly felt in every quarter; for though he was not in that high station, with which the generality are apt to connect so much consequence, yet his talents, his worth, and the honourable distinction with which he had been so lately invested, gave every one an interest in his character. In an honourable pro. fession he had attained, by his own merit, that pre-eminence which merit only can confer and as he had shewn himself to be the friend of the people and of the reform of abuses, the independent manner by which he was brought into parliament for the second city in the kingdom, led us to expect, that his voice would be more attended All things to in the senate of the nation. had conspired to render him the object of universal admiration and expectation, when he was taken from us in a most abrupt manner, and by a calamity, which points out to us the weakness of the highest intelJect, and that in a moment the powers of the finest mind may be deranged. To fill up the place of such a man is not easy; and a more arduous task is imposed on the survivors, that they may perfect the plan which he had chalked out to them. The name of Sir Samuel Romilly will long be remembered by all, who knew him in his professional pursuits, or enjoyed with him the intercourse of private life; and by the public at large it will be held in honour, as long as true patriotism shall be in esti. mation in this country. Another loss in higher life was expected from the warnings given by disease, and, at the age of the Queen, a long continuance among us was less to be expected. Her departure was attended with the usual marks of mourning attached to so high a personage, of whom it will become us to speak but little; but the decorum which she kept up in her court, and the discountenance which she held out to immoral characters, at a time when it was not so easy to stem the torrent of fashionable vice, will, whenever her name is mentioned, be remembered highly to her advantage.Time also will discover many traits of beneficence and benevolence, which would do honour to private characters, and, from their being performed without publicity and ostentation, entitle her the more to our respect. It may be matter of regret to observe, that imperfections are seized on with avidity; but who is free from them? It is for the advantage of the public, that moral worth, in high stations, should meet with its fair reward. character of the great has considerable influence, and in no small degree may it perhaps be attributed to the royal personage whose loss is now deplored, that in the higher ranks of life more attention is paid in England to public decorum than in any other country in Europe. The But The grand proceedings of Aix-la. The Chapelle are not yet developed. sovereigns have had their meeting, and discussed, without doubt, many points of great importance to their subjects. we cannot think of their resolutions, whatever they may be, without recollecting that, in the same place, a solemn congress was held of the representatives of Europe, who laid the basis for perpetual amity between their sovereigns, which was overthrown in half a dozen years after. The present great men of the earth have, however, settled one point, namely, that France may be restored to her former state among the nations, that she requires no longer an armed force to secure the obedience of the subject to the sovereign, whom they have imposed upon her. In consequence, they have marched away their troops to their respective homes, and the warriors of England are landed in their country. Certain arrangements have also been inade for the payment of sums, by France, to the respective countries, which have co-operated in placing her in her present state. Their farther regulations will, in due time, appear, and perhaps, will not be exactly the same, as if they had been drawn up by the representatives of their subjects. It does not as yet appear, that they have interfered in the dispute between Bavaria and Baden. Most probably they have settled the controversy, and assigned to each that territory, which may be presumed to be consistent with the dignity they obtained from Buonaparte, and what is a proper reward to them for quitting his service. Spain also seems not to have acquired any aid by this meeting, and, left to fight its own battles, will soon sink into the state due to its ill deserts; to that degradation, which is the proper reward of superstition and persecution. France has finished its elections to supply the vacancies in its parliament, and from the tenour of them, it is evident, that the spirit of liberty is not lost in that country. The Marquis de la Fayette, who began his career of life in the cause of the independence of America, took a prominent part in the early stages of the Revolution, was confined a long time in the dungeons of Austria, and afterwards made one of the assembly in the hundred days' reign of Buonaparte, has been returned a representative to the parliament. This choice, which is by no means a singular one, indicates that the party of the Ultraroyalists is very much on its decline, and that it is now found expedient to govern by the principle of the Charter. In this case the French will have gained all that the best wishers of the Revolution desired in the beginning of it; and, if there is prudence in the government, that country may still enjoy the benefits of a good constitution. For, though their representation is not on the same principles as ours, yet it is not without very great advantages; and, if it can secure the liberty of the press, they may become, in no great length of time, the envy of their neighbours. Germany is on the eve of seeing some important changes in its condition. That country is full of information, and the people seem inclined no longer to submit to their feudal dependence. From the nature of their governments, there is a great circulation of writings; for the dif ferent states do not combine together to keep the press in chains. All are looking to Prussia for the promised constitution, and by little and little, the people every where are rising in consideration. One great and important change is taking place, and that is, in the situation of the Jews, who used to be kept under by very degrading conditions. These are gradually giving way to better principles, and the Jews themselves, by superior attention to literature and science, are rising more and more in public estimation. The Spanish colonies in America continue to be an object of great attention. The state of Buenos Ayres is beginning to claim its place among the legitimate governments. The Caraccas have not yet advanced so far towards their destined end. They find, however, employment for the adventurous spirits of this country, many of whom are expatriating themselves to fight under the banners of independence. The next important intelligence that is likely to be received, is from the western coast of America; and when Lima is taken, that part of the country may be considered as freed from the Spanish yoke. The parliament of England is summoned to meet in the month of January. The death of the Queen made this necessary, and of course some new arrangements will take place, with respect to the care of our unhappy sovereign. Probably it will lead to somewhat more of economy, which may be consulted without injury to the royal personage, who is the object of these attentions. Whether any changes will take place in the ministry, are matters of mere surmise, but they are generally talked of. Westminster, which has met with such a loss by the death of its beloved represen tative, has had a meeting to supply the vacancy. A candidate has appeared in the person of Mr. Hobhouse, son of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, and it is not yet known whether any other will start on the popular side. The ministerial candidate at the last election has declared himself, and the contest is likely to be severe. Much depends on the union of the popular party, as they experienced at the last election; but it is often more difficult to unite parties, between whom there is little difference of opinion, than those who, one would think, would be the most violently opposed to each other. In the new parliament, great questions are to be agitated. That of economy is not among the least important; that of reform in parliament will also be again discussed. What strength the cause of reform may have acquired by the change of members, time will shew; but apparently it can scarcely be so great as to shake the interest of the borough-holders. 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Several packets sent from the Country, by private hand, have, we understand, been lost. Various Articles of Review, Obituary and Intelligence, which have been some time ready for the press, are unavoidably postponed. Our Correspondents will bear in mind, that Articles belonging to the Present Volume must, as far as is practicable, be brought into the next Number, which, on account of the Indexes, will be printed earlier in the month than usual. ERRATA. In the last Number, p. 649, the Poem, entitled Hearen, should have been quoted as from Moore's "Sacred Songs." There are two errors in the copy from which we printed, viz. Second Stanza, fourth line, for "from," read for. Monthly Repository. No. CLVI.] DECEMBER, 1818. [Vol. XIII. MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. Mr. Brougham's Description of the Establishment for promoting Learning and Industry at Hofwyl, in Switzerland. [The following interesting relation was given by Henry Brougham, Esq. as Chairman of the Committee of the House of Commons, on the Education of the Lower Orders, and is published with the Report which we inserted pp. 652-654. ED.] I CONSIDER that I shall render an acceptable service, and assist the inquiries of this Committee, by giving an account of a very important institution, connected intimately with the instruction and improvement of the poor, at Hofwyl, near Berne, in Switzerland, under the management of the owner of that estate, Mr. Fellenberg, a patrician of that canton. Happening to be in Switzerland in the autumn of 1816, I went to Berne, for the purpose of visiting Mr. Fellenberg's institution, which is situated in a pleasant country, about four miles from the town. I was received by him with great courtesy; he shewed me himself every part of his establishment, and appeared anxious to have the whole details of its management investigated. My intention was to return, and pass a few weeks there for the purpose of acquiring further information respecting the system, and more especially the extraordinary economy which prevails, and which enables Mr. Fellenberg to effect so much with such slender means. This can only be learnt by a daily examination of minute particulars: to facilitate which, Mr. Fellenberg was kind enough to offer me the use of a chateau, in the neighbourhood of his own residence; but the state of the weather for many weeks, and of my own health, made it desirable that I should proceed to Italy, without accomplishing my purpose. I cannot, however, avoid strongly recommending a residence at Hofwyl, to any one VOL. XIII. 5 A who may interest himself in these important inquiries; and I can venture to engage for Mr. Fellenberg, that he will give such a one, if properly recommended, the same facilities which he so readily offered to me. Several tracts have been written upon the subject; the best of which L' Empereur Alexandre, sur l' Etais entitled, " Rapport fait à S. M. I. blissement de Hofwyl." It purports to be the work of the Count of Capo D'Istria, but was in fact written entirely by Mr. C. Pictet, of Geneva, who has paid great attention to the plans of Mr. Fellenberg, and examined the carefully in different stages of their progress. The work of Mr. Rengger deserves also to be consulted; and Mr. Fellenberg himself has published some tracts in German. All these publications are to be had at the bookseller Paschoud's, in Geneva and Paris. The groundwork of the establishment is a farm of moderate extent, from 210 to 220 posen, answering nearly to our English acres, which Mr. Fellenberg cultivates himself with great assiduity and success. Upon this he has ingrafted the other branches of his institution, which consists of a seminary for the education and moral and religious improvement of the poor; an academy for the richer classes of society; an agricultural institution for a limited number of pupils; and a manufactory of agricultural implements. The academy consists of fifty or sixty pupils, who are taught every branch of useful learning, from Latin and Greek (which last they are peculiarly well-grounded in, from the plan adopted of beginning with it), to the higher branches of the mathematics and of physical science. These pupils are chiefly of patrician families. When I was there, I found seven or eight German princes among them, besides several sous of German nobles; and |