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town, and to make a pub-
lic road from Georgetown
to the district line over the
Little Falls bridge, . . 150,000

$150,000 were also granted to the city of Washington, to enable it to pay the debt contracted for the Washington canal, and the city gave to the government in exchange certain lands. $5000 were also appropriated for enclosing the public walks.

The following appropriations were also made by separate acts for internal improvements in the territories, i. e.

For a road in Arkansas, from the Mississippi to the St. Francis river,

&c.,

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transportation and distribu

tion of annuities,

20,160

claims, and incidental ex

penses under treaties, .

482,544

to enable president to extinguish Indian titles, .

13,871

Incidental expenses of Indian in

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ties,

211,040

100,000

repairing present road,

To repress hostilities of western
Indians,
Expenses of removing Indians,. 654,271

The remaining appropriations of a public nature, made at this session, were for internal improvement, and for public buildings, and other objects in the District of Columbia.

By the act making appropriations for the public buildings, which was taken up the 26th of February, were appropriated, For completing the penitentiary, $15,436 improvements at the capitol, 32,350 improvements at the President's house, for furniture at do.,

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22,083 20,000

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a post road through the Creek nation, from the Line Creek, Ala., to Columbus, Georgia,

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improving the navigation of

$100,000

.20,000

2,000

5,000

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the Escambia river, do. of the Ochlochney, do. of the Choctawhachie, improving Chicago harbour,

a survey of White and St. Francis rivers,

,500

appropriations for internal imThe bill making the general provements, or the harbour bill, as it is sometimes called, was taken up the 1st March, at too late a period to permit a protracted debate.

When in committee, various amendments were offered, and were carried, i. e. two important important amendments

For surveys, under act of 1824, For repairing the Cumberland road, in Virginia,

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The next day, when the bill was before the house, Mr. Denney moved to appropriate

$10,000, for a survey of the Alleghany river, between Pittsburg, and Ŏlean, for the purpose of improving its navigation, but it was negatived.

Mr. Stewart moved an amendment, appropriating $4,000, for repairs made on the Cum berland road, by Valentine Geesy, but it was negatived.

Mr. Duncan moved an appropriation of $20,000, to construct a harbour at Chicago, which was also negatived.

$30,000, were then added, on motion of Mr. Vinton, to the appropriation for continuing the Cumberland road, west of Zanesville, and the bill was passed without further opposition.

By this bill the following appropriations were made,

For carrying on the Delaware

break water,.

removing a sand bar at the mouth of the Black river, Ohio.

pier head at Cunningham

creek, Ohio,.

completing the removal of obstructions at the mouth of Ashtabula creek, Ohio,

$270,000

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2,400

land road in the state of

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completing the improvements of the harbour of Presque Isle, Penn.,

6,000

completing the pier at the

mouth of Buffalo har

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continuing the Cumberland road in Illinois, repairs of the Cumber

land road in Virginia, 34,440

payment of a balance due

for marking out a road

to the confines of NewMexico, defraying the expenses incidental to making examinations and surveys under the act, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, payment of balance due Joseph C. Brown, for running the western boundary of the state of Missouri, .

1,504 54

25,000

140

The bill making appropria

5,000 tions for light houses, and beacons, was not taken up until the

2nd of March. It was then 4,000 amended in committee of the

whole, and reported to the house. Mr. Polk then attempted to defeat it, by a motion to lay it on the table. This motion was negatived, ayes 43, nays 71, and the bill passed the house, but,

Mr. Grundy objecting in the senate to its being read a second time on the same day, as contrary to rule, it was lost in the senate.

CHAPTER VIII.

ENGLAND.

Dissolution of Parliament.-Elections.-Meeting of Reformed Parliament.-Re-election of Speaker.-Debate on Address.— Condition of Ireland.-Bill for repressing Disturbances.— Proclamation of Lord Lieutenant.--Suppression of Irish Volunteers.-Do. of National Trades Union.-Reform of Irish Church.-Abolition of Slavery in Colonies.-East India Company-Renewal of Charter.-China Trade Free.-Bank of England.-Renewal of Charter.-Factory Children Bill.Parochial Saving Banks Bill.-Reduction of Taxes.-Tumult in Cold Bath Fields.

THE third of December, 1832, was the commencement of a new era in the history of Great Britain. On that day the last parliament, under the system of close burroughs, was dissolved, and writs were issued, returnable on the 29th of the succeeding month, for a new parliament, in which the commons of England should be more directly represented. A warm contest ensued between the respective parties, for the supremacy in the new house. The tory party, although defeated, was still strong, and determined not to retire from the field where they had so long held the ascendancy.

There were many strongholds in their possession, from which they had resolved not to be driven without a desperate struggle. On the other hand, the whigs deemed the reformation in the house of commons merely as the beginning of reform. The East India company, the corporate privileges in all parts of the empire, the Episcopal church, and the public expenditure, were prominent objects demanding the attention of a reforming administration.

Besides these parties which had so long represented the English nation, there was a new party. which called for a more

radical reform. Although this party supported the ministers in their reforming measures, they could not be depended upon as staunch supporters. Their radical views were inconsistent with the cautious policy of Lord Grey's administration, and it was not improbable that the end of the session would find them arrayed in hostility against those with whom they had co-operated.

The Irish members who advocated the repeal of the Union, were upon the same terms of dubious friendship, and the ministerial party did not really possess the overwhelming majo. rity over their opponents, that the returns indicated.

The elections terminated in the return of upwards of 400 in favour of the administration, 150 tories, and nearly 100 of radicals, Irish repealers, and independents.

No event of public importance took place before the meeting of parliament, on the 29th of January.

After parliament had been opened in due form, by the lord chancellor, and others acting as commissioners,

the commons retired to elect a speaker. Mr. Hume immediately urged the propriety of electing a whig member to that office, and moved that Edward John Littleton should be placed in the chair. This motion was seconded by Mr. O'Connell; but lord Morpeth rose, and after highly eulogizing the ability and experience of Charles Manners Sutton, pro

posed that he should be re-elected. This was seconded by Sir Francis Burdett, and Mr. Littleton also urged that Mr. Hume should not press a division.

This, however, was called for ; when Mr. Sutton was elected, 241 to 31.

The house, after some discussion as to the retiring pension of the speaker, (which had been voted to Mr Sutton,) then adjourned, and on the 5th of February, the king's speech was delivered.*

In the discussion on the address, but little was said in the house of lords, and that chiefly in relation to the policy pursued towards Holland and Portugal, which was pointedly condemned by lord Aberdeen, and the duke of Wellington.

as

In the house of commons, the discussion was more animated, and Mr. O'Connell vehemently denounced the policy recommended towards Ireland, bloody and brutal. He was replied to by Mr. Stanley, in a most masterly manner, and the house rejected Mr. O'Connell's motion to go into committee on the address, ayes 40, nays 428.

The address was finally agreed to.

The state of Ireland, which had been growing more gloomy daily, now imperiously demanded the attention of government.

The fury of the peasantry was so fearfully increased by the tithe agitation, that the clergy of the English church were compelled to flee from their homes by threats of assassination.

* This will be found page 364 Appendix.

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