that they do so in the multitude of miscellaneous recruits who will be found to have lately mounted their facings and insignia. The name by which they are distinguished, from being one of reproach, has become respected; and we now generally associate with it something like moral daring and political courage. Ten or twelve years ago, if a Radical were spoken of in genteel society, a feeling of horror, combined with pity and commiseration, immediately seized upon the minds of the company; while fancy shadowed forth, as a fair specimen of the body, some squalid Paisley weaver, whom sharp misery had worn to the bones-his desperate hand armed with a sithe or pike, and haply entrenched behind a "dry stane dyke" awaiting the attack of Mr. -'s dragoons. Look upon that picture, and then upon this-where, in the foreground, you will see Mr. Attwood addressing a multitude of respectable well-dressed tradesmen, who occupy a measureless perspective before him. Such is the change which a few years have produced. They are now a mighty and a resolute body, destined for great good-or evil."-Caledonian Mercury.

For good, we have no doubt. The grand principle of the Radical or Independent Reformers is, "The greatest happiness of the greatest number." How can such a principle, steadily kept in view, lead to any thing but good?

Let us consider who the champions of Radical Reform are. Whose political writings have most completely developed the true principle of social order? Those of the father of Radicalism, the illustrious Bentham. What great writer of the present day is most distinguished for high moral and political principle? The Editor of the Examiner, a gifted apostle of Radicalism. Who, among the patriots of the day, has laboured with most zeal and success, in the arena of Parliament, for the true interests of his country? Joseph Hume,-another apostle of Radicalism. Who will say that these men and their disciples work for evil? The Quarterly Review, with a felicity of idea worthy of Castlereagh, who talked of men turning their backs upon themselves, declares that it is necessary to protect the people from themselves. But the Quarterly may rest satisfied that the Radical Reformers, that is the people, will not act contrary to their own interests. There have been many instances of the people not understanding their real interests, or being wholly neglectful of them; but there are no instances of their rulers acting better for them than they would do for themselves. The population of a few towns or districts may, for a short time, lend too willing an ear to local teachers of a false doctrine; but small harm can result from such a cause. In the first place, the people of those places will not receive a merely specious but deceptive doctrine from any but men whom they believe to be honest in their intentions towards all ranks, as well as zealous for the people's interest. To say that any large class of the people would listen to any thing which they perceive to be unjust, is a gross calumny. 2dly, Besides its being necessary, that the false doctrine, to delude any, should come from a man believed to be honest, and should have the appearance, to the minds of the people, of being just; if it is to endure for any length of time even in its own district, it must be able to stand the attack of the press, the pulpit, and all the intelligence of the place, the discussions of public assemblies, meetings of the different parishes, of the several crafts; and also, that continual discussion in private circles, which every doctrine of importance is sure to receive before being generally received by the population of a town or district. Lastly, the false doctrine has to encounter the attack of all the intelligence of the other towns or districts, and must overcome it all, ere the error can be so extensively received as to be productive of danger. This last security can scarcely be supposed to fail, in a country where brutal ignorance does not prevail. Of the safety of the great body of our working population from false doctrines, we feel perfectly assured, even at present; and when the taxes on knowledge shall be removed, it will be impossible for false doctrines, either to spread abroad to other districts, or to maintain their existence in those places where they have arisen. In our present state of comparative darkness, what harm has Mr. Attwood's currency doctrines done? Only a part of the population of Birmingham has been for a time led to believe in them, as coming from so worthy a man; while everywhere else these doctrines have been exposed, and fallen harmless. Instead of support from other Unions, the Birmingham Union has, in this instance, met with nothing but ridicule. Cobbett's Equitable Adjustment has had a little better reception, because it is a much better way of doing the same thing. But there is not one town in Scotland, and we doubt if there are three in England, where the Equitable Adjustment would be carried by the votes of the working classes. Through out the whole country the scheme would be scouted as it deserves, were there any thought of its being carried into effect. Cobbett's attacks on sinecures, pensions, &c. were most effective during his late progress through Scotland, while his argu

ments against paper money, or rather his abuse of it, made not the slightest impression.

The Radical Reformers are not a party, in the usual sense of the word; they are no set of men of the same opinions, united for the common purpose of ousting the party in power from their places, and obtaining power and place themselves, as well as currency for their particular opinions. They are too numerous, being in fact the people, to form a party; and their views and doctrines are in many respects dissimilar. In only one important point they agree, that the good of the people, the just, and the true, is to be sought, and every thing inconsistent with these objects rejected. They support a Reforming Government, by supporting Reform; and do not profess to support Reform only by supporting a Reforming Government. Every man sincerely attached to the principle of Reform, for its own sake, and not for the sake of a party or set of men, is a Radical Reformer. From Reformers of such a description, much good is to be expected; from such men no evil is to be dreaded.

The Times has given the independent Reformers a new title. After describing them, with all its usual force of language and carelessness of truth, as the friends of anarchy and spoliation, it has bestowed on them the emphatic title of "Destructives." The object of the independent Reformers is, with much fury, declared to be the destruction of the institutions of the country, the demolition of the Constitution. Of late years, we have heard much of the destruction of the Constitution. We should be sorry to believe the Constitution so very ricketty as it is represented by many of those who pretend to be its best friends. These gentry remind us of an impostor steward, in one of Mrs Centlivre's plays, who gave a false account of a feeble old gentleman's sudden death; adding, "that he was very subject to it." The Constitution is always dying, it would appear. According to Tory notions, it was destroyed by Catholic Emancipation; by the repeal of Test and Corporation Acts; and, a third time by the Reform Bill. It is plain, from each of these Acts having been described by the Tories as destructive of the Constitution, that "the Constitution" must, with them, have meant, Protestant and Prelatic ascendency, and the Rotten Burghs. When the Times uses the Tory cry of "the destruction of the Constitution," we wish it would tell us plainly what it means. The Radical Reformers do not threaten to destroy the House of Commons, nor Royalty, nor even the House of Lords. It cannot, therefore, be what is vulgarly understood by The Constitution that the Times means by that term. The Radical Reformers insist for the destruction of Monopolies. Can the Constitution, with the Times, mean Monopolies ? The Radicals call for the destruction of Pensions and Sinecures. Are Pensions and Sinecures the Constitution? They ask the Ballot and Short Parliaments. Are the Septennial Act and compulsory voting (or, as it is falsely termed, the influence of property,) the Constitution? The Independent Reformers ask for equality, not toleration, of religious rights. Is the supremacy of one church out of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Catholic, to say nothing of the many other forms of Christian worship, and the compulsory payment by one man for another man's spiritual teacher, the Constitution? The same honest Reformers demand the abolition of the Taxes on Knowledge. Is the ignorance of the people the Constitution? Which of these things is the Constitution which the Times says, the Radicals wish to destroy? Is it any, or all of them?

THE MINISTRY AND THE TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE.-It has been proved by the issue of the Elections, that the Whig Ministry has the support of a vast majority of the middle classes of England and Scotland, if not of Ireland. Few Tories have got into Parliament; and still fewer avowed Radical Reformers; although not a few of those members, who call themselves Whigs, and profess to support the present Ministry, are in reality Independent or Radical Reformers, and will only support those acts of the Ministry, which they shall think right. But even making allowance for these, the Ministry will have a decided majority of the House of Commons to support any question they may chuse to make a Ministerial one. It will be impossible for them to plead the want of power to carry any good measure, which they are known seriously to wish carried. The country has, therefore, a right to expect that they will proceed with vigour in those Reforms for which alone a Reform in the Representation was desired. There is one measure, which, if they will give quickly, we shall, for our own parts, allow the Ministry credit for a sincere desire to give, in due time, every other Reform, which the true interest of the people shall dictate; we allude to the Abolition of the TAXES on KNOWLEDGE. Let the light of political knowledge shine freely upon all classes, and no abuse, no fallacy, can long exist. Knowledge is to the health of the popular mind, what free air is to the health of the body. Those who wish the people to possess the means of political instruction, must intend to govern them by the conviction of their understandings, and not by force or improper influences; and that Ministry which excludes knowledge from the poor, must as certainly mean to govern for their own interest, and not that of the naiton. By this infallable test we shall try the patriotism of Ministers.

MONTHLY REGISTER.

POLITICAL HISTORY.

of the Douro, they have completely cut off his communications by sea. Several vessels which went from this country with provisions and reinforcements have in consequence been forced to return. A vessel which sailed from the Clyde for Oporto with about 450 recruits, was wrecked off the coast of Galway, and all on board perished.

French and Dutch armies. Prussia still maintains a powerful force on the Dutch and Belgian frontier, but does not seem prepared to take active measures against France. The state of the finances of Russia, and the failure of the attempt to raise a loan in London, as well as the season of the year, prevent her assisting the Dutch; though little doubt is entertained, that the proceedings of the British and French governments on the Dutch question, are most galling to her government.

TURKEY and EGYPT.-It appears by news from Constantinople of the 10th November, that Ibrahim Pacha, after giving his army nearly two months' rest, has resumed offensive operations. He commenced by taking possession of the defiles of Cilicia, and, having dispersed a corps of Turks assembled to oppose him at Ereckli, entered Koniah on the 1st

BELGIUM and HOLLAND.-General Chassé, the Dutch commandant of the Citadel of Antwerp, having refused to surrender the Citadel when summoned, in name of Britain and France, on the 30th November, commenced the same day firing on the French in the trenches, which they had begun on the night of the 29th November. The French did not return the fire seriously until the 4th ultimo. They continue to push on the siege with much vigour; and it is now certain that the Dutch will defend themselves to the last extremity. The November.-Koniah (the ancient Iconifire on both sides is tremendous. The city has hitherto been spared the horrors of bombardment, but how long it may escape is a matter of uncertainty. The Dutch army, though in great force in the immediate neighbourhood, has made no attempt to raise the siege, and no hostilities have yet taken place between the

um) is half way between the frontiers of Syria and Constantinople. This news is" said to have hastened the departure of the Grand Vizier for the army. The Turkish fleet entered the Hellespont on the 5th ult. The Egyptian fleet had returned to the harbour of Suda. The ravages of the plague at Constantinople were on the decline.

STATE OF COMMERCE, MANUFACTURES, AND AGRICULTURE.

DECEMBER, 1832.

IT is pleasing to observe that the true principles of commerce continue to gain ground, notwithstanding all the efforts of the supporters of the system of protections. The progress of just and liberal sentiments in France is most cheering. The merchants and manufacturers of Lyons have earnestly expressed their conviction, that the protecting system, injurious as it needs must be to all, is yet far more so to the party which inflicts it, than to those against whom it is in intention directed. Their petition to the Chambers, praying for a relaxation of duties on foreign, and especially British articles of manufacture, breathes a spirit as wise as it is benevolent.

THE COTTON MANUFACTURERS are well employed, and the large demand which they now have for the home market is clearing off the heavy stock of goods they had accumulated. They also find their payments come in punctually; which speaks well for the situation of the drapers. The foreign trade is improving.

The wages are, however, low at Glasgow. A weaver may work industriously from fourteen to sixteen hours each day, and yet earn no more than five shillings aweek.

THE FLANNEL TRADE in the West Fine pieces meet of England is brisk. with a ready sale, and low-priced goods are also in demand. A slight advance has taken place in dyed goods.

IN WOOLLEN CLOTHS there is a deSome orders for clension of the demand. army cloth have been received, but the prices offered are so extremely low that it is difficult to find clothiers to undertake the working of them. There is some demand for merinos and the finer qualities of stuff goods; but with regard to lowpriced articles, the market is extremely flat.

THE WORSTED STUFF TRADE Continues in a very good state; all the mills are fully employed, and the markets are regularly brisk.

SILK TRADE. The silk-weaving in