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POLITICAL RETROSPECT.

THE BUDGET.-The statements of the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the financial affairs of the country, have always been admired for their perspicuity and candour. The Budget of this year was expected with more than ordinary anxiety; not that it was feared that it would shew the resources of the country to be impaired, but the system which the present ministers have adopted; the principles upon which they have acted, have been attacked by their opponents with considerable asperity. Emboldened by the calamities we have experienced, men have ventured to impeach the wisdom of the novelties which have been introduced into our commercial system; and Mr. Robinson, in particular, has been taunted with having deduced as a consequence, and a proof of the measures of Government, the prosperity of the country. Hence it was expected, that his statement would be more animated than usual,-for he was upon his defence; that he would more fully develope the principles he had adopted, and not only shew that the present distress could not be ascribed to their operation, but give convincing proofs of their soundness. We have not been disappointed. He refers to the sneers of the "practical men" against the labours of the theorists, as they are termed. Now, who is a theorist? a man who thinks ;-who from certain data forms a plan or system. If such data be incorrect, the result legitimately deduced from them must also be incorrect; or the data may be true, and the result incorrectly deduced, and therefore false. And who is a practical man? be, who from experience knows the result of certain data or principles, without perhaps having examined the different steps by which that result was brought about. What then is the difference between theory and practice? Simply this -that the former cannot exist without the latter; but the latter may without the former. We mean, that a person, who by reasoning determines correctly what will be the effect of a given measure in certain circumstances-for example, the substitution of a metallic

for a paper currency-must have a competent practical knowledge of the subject, otherwise he could not arrive at a correct result by reason, he might guess aright. But a practical man, who depises anything like theory or thinking, must determine what will be effect of a given measure in certain circumstances, solely by his experience. If, then, within the circle of his experience, he remembers precisely similar circumstances in which precisely the same measure was applied, he can easily say what will be the result, and may despise those who arrive at their conclusion by a more laborious process. But if it be true that in the affairs of a nation the same circumstances seldom recur, the judgment of a mere practical man loses much of its weight; for remembering circumstances in many respects similar, and disdaining to consider,-for that would be to theorise,-what difference in the result may arise from the points in which they do not agree, he positively concludes, that what has been will be; while the theorist carefully considers the existing circumstances, and by a train of reasoning, which of course includes a consideration of the results in similar circumstances, arrives at his conclusion, which may indeed be false. The practical man, then, forms his opinion chiefly from memory,—the theorist from comparing and reasoning upon the facts before him. Although, then, the latter may sometimes be wrong in his deductions, surely the practical man has not much right to triumph over an adversary, he has not vanquished. It will perhaps be thought, that we have dealt unfairly with the practical man,' and that no one pretends to decide upon the expediency of a measure by his experience alone. Such we believe to be the fact; but we have taken this view of the subject to shew the absurdity of those orations which seem to suppose that theory and practice are incompatible. Now we think it is sufficiently clear, that a practical man can do nothing without reason,—without theory; and that a theorist can do nothing without a knowledge of prac

tice. If a man frames a system with out any knowledge of the circumstances to which that system is to be applied, he may reason very plausibly; but unless the actual circumstances of the case, and those which he has supposed coincide, the superstructure he has reared will only be adapted for the land of Utopia. Let not, then, the practical man reject a measure because it proceeds from a theorist, but let him examine well the data upon which it is founded, while the latter should not despise the experience of the former, but prove the deductions he may draw from it. Let his Majesty's government, neither distracted by the clamours of the one nor deceived by the sophistries of the other, proceed steadily onwards in its course,asking counsel of both times; of the ancient time that which is best, of the latter time that which is fittest." Hence it is that Mr. Robinson justly regrets the unnecessary contest which has taken place between the theorists, as they are called, and the practical men; "because, to use his own words, I think it the bounden duty of the legislature to endeavour at all times to avail themselves of the sound reasoning and theory of the one, and to apply to that theory and reasoning, the practical experience of the other." It would indeed be unwise in the present day, when every class of the community is rapidly advancing in knowledge, were the minister of the crown to join with those who deride a recurrence to first principles, and would banish science from the Legislature. The knowledge of the people is increasing, and strange it would be if the Legislature were to be behind their countrymen in availing themselves of the increasing lights of human intellgence, and to be the last in the race of intellectual improvement. It is rather their duty to go before,—to direct the judgments of their fellow subjects, and to urge them on in the path of knowledge. "I know, sir, that there are some gentlemen who deprecate this increasing thirst of information among all orders of men, and who think that this spread of knowledge is, in fact, a misfortune to the country. I know not, I confess, how that mind can be constituted, which contem

plates the progress of human knowledge as matter of regret or fear. I own that my impression is directly the reverse of that by which those gentlemen are actuated. It is evident, in my view of the matter, that the wider this diffusion of knowledge, the better people are informed; and the more they understand. the more likely they are to see and comprehend what is for their good, and the means by which that good is to be attained; the more likely they are to abstain from such means as would be prejudicial in their operation, and calculated rather for the prevention than the attainment of that good."

Mr. Robinson then took a review of the revenue for 1823-4-&-5; and to shew that the country had not been deceived by any fallacious and flattering statements of his, as some had alleged, he restated his estimates for those years, and the actual amount of the sums realised. The total amount of his expectations for the revenue of these three years was 155,440,000l., and the actual receipts into the Exchequer, 156,838,000l., notwithstanding eight million of taxes had been abolished or reduced within that time. Thus figures proved that he had not drawn too sanguine a picture. He next referred to the financial measures since 1816, and shewed that the country had been relieved of taxes to the amount of 24 millions, according to the present state of the currency. He then shewed, that in the same period the funded debt had been reduced 18 millions, and the unfunded debt 4 millions. While these reductions have been made consistently with good faith towards the public creditor, all has been done by the Government and legislature, which the honour, the security, and the advantage of the country required. The benefits of public worship have been extended;-the roads, the bridges, and the harbours of the kingdom have been improved and added to;-and something has been spared towards the promotion of the arts and sciences. Since the year 1818, above half a million has been saved in the expense of collecting the taxes. "With these facts," said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, his Majesty's Government may set at

nought the accusations of those who have charged us with adhering to an extravagant and expensive system for the purpose of retaining the trumpery patronage that might be connected with it." Mr. Robinson then stated the expenditure of the ensuing year at 56,328,4217., and the anticipated revenue at 57,043,000l.; after shewing the grounds upon which he made his calculations, he felt himself warranted in relying on the prosperity of the future. "I am not afraid or

ashamed of using the word 'prosperity; for when I see the country combining within itself all the elements of national strength and greatness; when I see the Legislature and the Government striving in a generous emulation to develope the national resources, to correct defects, remove obstructions, and give life and scope to existing power; when I see that in our foreign policy, we combine, with a due regard to our own interests, a regard to the interest and independence of other nations, and a wish, by fair and honourable dealing, to assist in promoting the welfare of the whole world; when, year after year, I see the wisdom and vigilance applied to the reconstruction of our laws, in order to render them more intelligible to those by whom they are dispensed, and more satisfactory to those for whose benefit and security they are dispensed; when I see that the principle on which His Majesty's Government endeavours to regulate the finances of the country, is a combination of what is due to the welfare of the whole state to its safety, honour, and dignity, with a just circumspection of all unnecessary ex

pence, of all injurious patronage, and as rapid a reduction of taxation as circumstances will allow; when I find this system of His Majesty's Government enforced and sanctioned by the deliberate decisions of Parliament; and, above all, when I observe the glorious light of knowledge and reason gradually dispelling the mist of ignorance in the great mass of the people, and enabling them, by the opening and enlarging of their minds, to discriminate and pronounce on the expediency of the line of conduct pursued by those who are charged with the administration of public business;I maintain that I do not utter an exaggerated or unfounded opinion, when I say, that the affairs of this kingdom are in a prosperous condition. True, we may yet have many difficulties to encounter! True, we may yet have to undergo the violence of an unexhausted tempest! True, we may yet have

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but if we only assume a noble resolution-if we only determine

"To take up arms against a siege of troubles,

And, by opposing, end them;"

if, in short, we pursue the path of our duty with steadiness and fidelity, I will venture my existence, that we shall find the dangers and difficulties that may beset us, diminish as we proceed; and that we shall be enabled to advance with systematic regularity, to that great end of all good government-the well being and happiness of the people.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE LATE ARCHDEACON BOWYER.

IN our Clerical Intelligence of last month, we noticed the death of this venerable old man. We have since had the satisfaction of reading the sermon, preached in the cathedral at Durham, on the Sunday after his funeral, by the Rev. W. N. Darnell, B.D. Prebendary of Durham. Some

interesting particulars of the Archdeacon are subjoined to the sermon, which ought to be extensively known; and we think our readers will thank us for copying the following accounts into this department of our publication.

"We have to lament," observes a writer

in the Durham County Advertiser, "in common, we believe, with many of the inhabitants of this city, the close of a life of peculiar usefulness and piety. We allude to the decease of the venerable Archdeacon of Northumberland, Mr. Bouyer, at his house in College, on Monday last. Before this most respectable dignitary of our church came into this diocese, he was well known in Lincolnshire (where he held the livings of Willoughby and Theddlethorpe) by the establishment and direction of a Society and Schools of Industry in a widely-extended district, at a time when employment for the poor was much wanted, and when there existed little disposition to adopt new projects for their benefit. His labours in this department drew the attention of her late Majesty Queen Charlotte, and he was in consequence promoted to a Prebend at Salisbury. The Bishop of that see, our present venerable Diocesan, soon discovered the valuable qualities of Mr. Bouyer, and advanced him to a stall in the Cathedral of Durham in the year 1792. Since that period, Mr. Bouyer has successively held the vicarages of Eglingham and Northallerton, resigning the former upon his appointment to the latter. It may be truly said of this excellent man, that whereever he has been, he has left behind him traces of an enlightened benevolence. He was, in an eminent degree, the patron of the new system of education which originated with Dr. Bell. In promoting this, or any other object of charity or utility, he spared no trouble nor expense; he went straight forward, without ever calculating upon unfair opposition to his plans, and overcame such opposition as he chanced to meet with, by a plain, temperate, and manly developement of his sentiments, and by unremitting assiduity, till his point was gained. The United Blue Coat and Sunday Schools of this place are deeply indebted to him for the order he introduced into them, for a long and careful superintendence of their concerns, and also for the liberal manner in which he assisted in extricating the charity from pecuniary difficulties. After saying thus much, it would be superfluous to add that his views were always disinterested; but it may be observed, that it was impossible to hold intercourse with him, without being struck with the candour and openness of his disposition. One felt at once that he was a kind, trustworthy, active friend, and an honourable and judicious monitor. Mr. Bouyer was a sound member of the established church, holding all her doctrines in truth and purity. His religion was a living principle within him: not studiously VOL. VIII. NO. IV.

on

put forth, but it had formed his character, and shone out in an amenity of manner, delightful when it is found in old age, and clearly indicating that he had peace in his heart. This principle enabled him to bear the heavy infirmities of a protracted life (for he had reached his 84th year) not merely with resignation, but with cheerfulness, and to look forward to a happy futurity with Christian hope, and Christian grounds. One of the last acts of Mr. Bouyer's life was the establishment of a Circulating Parochial Library, composed of numerous tracts, from the catalogue of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, throughout his Archdeaconry. The expense of this undertaking fell ultimately in a great measure upon himself, and he took incredible pains in arranging the distribution and rotation of the sets of books selected for this good purpose. Mr. B. also held the offices of Official to the Dean and Chapter, and of Trustee for Lord Crewe's charities."

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"Although it is," adds another account, many years since Mr. Bouyer relinquished the rectory of Willoughby (near Alford,) yet so strong was the impression of his kindness and many virtues upon the recollection of his former parishioners, that they no sooner heard the mournful tidings of his death than they ordered a dumb peal to be rung during the greater part of the day. He was the founder and great supporter of the Society of Industry (now extinct) in the parts of Lindsey. From this Society originated the Stuff Balls, which are still kept up with much spirit in the city of Lincoln."

His character is thus beautifully touched by Mr. Darnell:-"I now come to a subject, for which, I believe, you are all prepared, the recent death of a venerable member of our body, of whose excellent qualities you have been enabled to form an estimate from an experience of more than thirty years. I trust that in selecting the passage of scripture (John i. 47.) on which I have been just commenting, no one will suppose that I intended to draw an exact and studied parallel between our deceased brother and him of whom our Lord, from his own knowledge, spoke in terms of unqualified approbation. Yet, I confess, that I was led to the selection alluded to, by reflecting, that simplicity of heart, singleness of object, was the predominant feature in the character of him whom we lament.

"To benefit his fellow-creatures was his constant wish. That was the element in which he lived. Other employments and amusements weighed but as straws in the balance against that more important occuK K

afford food and And thus it was

pation, which seemed to sustenance to his mind. from first to last. No one can point out the time when his labours in this department had not begun; and we all know that they were continued, till mind and body failing together, he resigned his spirit in peace.

"There are some great advantages arising out of a strong feeling of the obli gation of religious duties: it necessarily makes a man active. Idleness is not compatible with such convictions. To be sincere, implies that we are ready to go all proper lengths. Secondly, it prevents a man from wasting his resources by adopt ing various and visionary schemes of improvement. There is always one leading idea which regulates his movements. He draws his maxims from the book of eternal life, and he is limited by the spirit of his instructions. He may adapt himself to new circumstances as they occur, but still the end is the same; and the means through which he seeks to attain it, do not widely differ from each other. Thirdly, it teaches a man to act decidedly, just as he receives the truth, without reservation, 'into a faithful heart.' There is, moreover, a courage and resolution about honesty, which guile cannot counterfeit. A person, so distinguished, appears openly as the advocate of what he firmly believes to be a good cause. He is not ashamed of Christ, nor of the Church in which his pure doctrines are embalmed.

"The time will not allow me to show how fully these several points were illustrated in the life and conduct of the deceased; yet even these slight notices will call many traits to your recollection, which do not need to be enlarged upon before living witnesses. We will, however, briefly consider him in one material point of view, as a Minister of the Gospel.

"That he should perform his sacred functions with zeal and assiduity, was to be expected from him, and it need not be said that the expectation was amply fulfilled; but I cannot refrain from noticing here, the solemn and impressive manner in which he conveyed the word of God to the hearts of his hearers. The chief object of his life seems to have been to encourage industry, and to spread religious knowledge wherever he found an opportunity. What he did in distant places, cannot now be entered into. Suffice it to say, that it was undertaken almost against hope, that it was done well, and laboriously, and for the time effectually. With what he performed in this diocese, we are better acquainted. He seized upon the best means that lay before him. He adopted with

enthusiasm the newly invented system of education, and applied it to good purposes wherever he was able. Nor was he merely a liberal benefactor, and a free applauder of the work; he was also a practical educator of the poor, and reared upon experimental schools an institution which, by God's blessing, will long continue to diffuse the benefits of religious instruction to those who most stand in need of it. With the same pious intentions; he successfully laboured in his district to establish Branch Committees of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; and spared neither trouble nor expense, till he had established and put in motion a Parochial Circulating Library in every parish of Northumberland.

"Of his addresses to the numerous body of Clergy placed under his superintendence, it is not for me to speak; but I believe they will not soon be forgotten, and that they were received in a manner worthy of the spirit in which they were dictated, at once pious, affectionate, and vigilant. He was not indeed a person who taught others before he had learned himself, and it is not too much to say, that the charge of the Apostle to Titus, was wrought out and pictured in his life. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned-that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil to say of thee.' And doubtless, he had his reward here, the best reward, the testimony of a good conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, he had had his conversation in the world; and,' as we may well add, 'more especially to usward.'

"On his good qualities as a friend, or generally as a member of the community, I must, for the reason before given, be silent. His energies were employed in the line of his profession, and some of those qualities may be gathered from what has been already said; others can only be known to those who enjoyed the advantage of his society, and will live in their recollection. This, indeed, is as long an existence as is allotted to the brilliant qualities of the most popular and admired persons. To one virtue only I feel inclined to attach an honorary distinction, I mean to his humility. It was not that humility, which with a martyr's spirit humiliates itself, descending from its station in order to excite surprise, and attract attention-vanity ill covered with a flimsy cloak-but it was that genuine humility, which, while there were found in him talents and merits

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