the enemy. The Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blucher naturally abstained from acting on the offensive, until the rest of the allies should come up. And, in the mean time, it was necessary that their troops should be to a considerable degree dispersed, not merely for the sake of subsistence, but that they might more effectually cover Belgium. The army that was first in a situation to assume the offensive could therefore concentrate its whole force, and direct it upon any given point; but if the army which stood on the defensive had concentrated itself, before the point of hostile attack was indicated, other parts of Belgium would have been exposed to the incursions of the enemy. Bonaparte saw his advantage, and availed himself of it.

The Prussian army was cantoned on the Sambre, between Thain and Lobez; that of the duke of Wellington in advance of Brussels. Having collected a force of about 130,000 men, the flower of the French army, Bonaparte attacked the Prussian posts on the 15th, and drove them back with some loss. On the evening of that day, this intelligence was conveyed to the English commander, who immediately put his army in motion. The next day the French renewed the attack on the Prussian lines, and also on that part of the British force which had come up; and although the allies maintained their position, and completely repulsed all the efforts of the enemy to force it, yet the loss they sustained was so heavy, particularly on the part of the Prussians, of whom no less than 16,000 men are stated to have been either killed or wounded in the different charges made upon them, that it was judged proper to retire on their re-inforcements, which were advancing. They effected their purpose without being molested by the enemy; and took a position, the English army in front of Waterloo, and the Prussians at Wavre. One corps of the French army having been left to watch Blucher, whose line had been greatly enfeebled by the battle of the 16th, Bonaparte directed the remainder of his force against the duke of Wellington. The battle commenced at ten in the morning; and during uine hours a succession of the most furious attacks were made on the British troops, every one of which was repelled with the most undaunted heroism. The French fought with extraordinary intrepidity;

The

but they were met with a resolution and firmness on the part of the British, which foiled their most desperate efforts. The whole line stood immoveable as a rock.-Towards the close of the day, Bonaparte himself, at the head of the Imperial guard, supported by cavalry and artillery, made a tremendous charge on the British guards. The duke of Wellington took the command of this fine body of men; and having formed them into a hollow square, placed himself in the centre, and the enemy was speedily repulsed. His grace now perceiving that the retreat of the enemy, from the last attack, was attended with confusion, and learning that a fresh corps of Prussians, under General Bulow, which had just come iuto line, having been retarded by the state of the roads, had begun to operate on the right flank of the French, he resolved to assume the offensive. All the attacks of Bonaparte had been repelled. The order was now reversed ; and he was assailed in his turn. The whole British line advanced. attack succeeded in every point: the enemy was forced from his position, and fled in the utmost confusion; leav ing behind him 150 pieces of cannon, with their ammunition, which fell into our hands. Our troops continued the pursuit till long after dark, and discontinued it only on account of their fatigue; having already been engaged for twelve hours.-On first hearing of the attack on the duke of Wellington's position, Blucher appears to have made every effort to aid him which the state of his army would admit. He was suffering severely from a contusion, but he rose from bed, and himself headed a corps to join the British troops; but it was near the termination of the engagement before he was enabled to come up. He mingled, however, in the pursuit; and when our troops were obliged to halt, his being fresh, he determined on following the enemy throughout the night. In the morning he found himself master of sixty pieces of cannon, attached to the imperial guard, besides several carriages, baggage, &c. belonging to Bonaparte, and a great part of the baggage of his army.

On the 2d, Marshal Blucher is stat. ed to have advanced as far as Avesnes, within the French territory; and the duke of Wellington to have had his head-quarters near Cambray. And as he has declared his purpose to be

not to discontinue his operations, and as reinforcements are rapidly arriving, we may soon expect to hear of his farther progress.

No accurate estimate has yet been formed of the loss on either side; but an army which, after fighting in close combat for nine hours, was overthrown, and has since lost 210 pieces of cannon, must have experienced a dreadful carnage. It is said, that on the 16th the Prussians would accept no quarter; and that on the 18th they gave none. On the 19th it had been ascertained that 7000 prisoners were already in the hands of the British. The great advantage, however, resulting from this signal victory is the disorganization of the French army. The loss of its cannon it will, probably, be impossible to repair. Even the ships of war had been previously dismantled, to enable Bonaparte to draw from the garrison towns a sufficient number of cannon to form his park of artillery. But we ought to estimate, perhaps, still more highly the moral effects of this brilliant achievement. Bonaparte had it in his power to chuse the time, place, and manner of his attack; and his forces were superior. Under these circumstances, his great genius, and the boasted valour of his troops, shrunk before the mightier genius of the duke of Wellington, and (to use an expression of his grace, in a private letter) before" the unequalled gallantry and sound bottom" of his men. The illusion which has surrounded Bonaparte is once more dissipated; and his greatest admirers must feel their confidence in his pow. ers diminished; while every latent spark of loyalty throughout France will be rouzed into inflammation by the news of his discomfiture.

But it is time we should advert to our own loss: it has been, indeed, severe. But it was not to be hoped that the peace and independence of Europe could be secured without a sacrifice; and although this be not a consideration calculated to dry the tears of the widowed mother, or the weeping family, yet it is obvious that the ordinary wear and tear of a protracted campaign, with its usual complement of battles and sieges, would probably have diminished our force in a greater proportion than it is now diminished, with out producing any of those great results which we may anticipate in the present instance. But when we farther con

sider what would have been our feelings, had the profusion of British blood which has been shed been followed by defeat instead of victory, we surely ought to mingle, with the tenderest compassion for the afflicted mourners on this occasion, the warm expressions of our gratitude, and of our exultation in His goodness, whose alone is the power, and the might, and the victory, and the majesty.

Among those who have fallen in this field of glory, are the duke of Brunswick-Oels, lieutenants-general Picton and Ponsonby, and many other officers of distinguished merit. The prince of Orange has been severely wounded. The earl of Uxbridge, who had himself headed every charge of the cavalry, was struck by almost the last ball that was fired, and has had his leg amputated above the knee. Lieutenant-general Cooke has lost an arm, besides six other general officers of distinction severely wounded. The catalogue is long and melancholy. May the Almighty sanctify to the sufferers the pain to which they have been subjected, and console those whose hearts are broken by an event which will diffuse joy over a whole quarter of the globe!

FRANCE AND ITALY.

The events which occurred at Paris, previous to the departure of Bonaparte for his army, have sunk into comparative insignificance before the victory of Waterloo. At another time, the meeting of the Champ de Mai and the opening of the Legislature would possess no inconsiderable interest. In the Champ de Mai, the Constitution was accepted by 1,288,357 votes, and rejected by 4207; but eleven departments had not sent in their registers. The proceedings of the day were conducted with much of theatrical effect, and the speeches made on the occasion were well adapted to their purpose.-The legislative sittings were opened on the 7th instant with great pomp. Nothing material has yet oc curred in either house, except that in the House of Representatives, there appears the same disposition to tumult which marked the early period of the Revolution. On the 11th Bonaparte received the address of the two houses, and early on the morning of the 12th took his departure from Paris. On the 14th he placed himself at the head of his forces, which had been previously concentrated. His bulletin of the 16th ^

announces a complete victory over the Prussian and English armies united; in consequence of which Paris is said to have been illuminated on the evening of the 18th. We shall be anxious to learn in what terms he will announce the battle of that day.

The war in Italy terminated about the 20th of May, by a capitulation surrendering the whole of the kingdom of Naples to its former sovereign, who has since entered his capital. We rejoice to perceive that a complete amnesty has been proclaimed by his Neapolitan Majesty. Not a single exception has been made from this act of mercy. All persons are to retain their pay and rank. Madame Murat has been removed with her children to Trieste. Murat himself escaped to France, and is reported to have been present, and even to have fallen, in the battle of Waterloo. The Austrian armies which have thus been set at liberty are moving through Piedmont towards France, and will be joined by a large Piedmontese army, and by a considerable Anglo-Sicilian force. There is reason to believe, that a part may have already approached within fifty miles of Lyons; as a dispatch from Suchet makes mention of an encounter with the enemy at Montmellian. It is on this side that France is most vulnerable, and we may shortly expect to hear that a deep inroad has been made on the Usurper's power in the South. It is also to be recollected, that not a single Russian or Austrian has yet joined the allies in the North. When their immense armies, which were rapidly advancing, shall have come up, the contest, according to all human probability, must speedily be decided. -Spain has likewise declared war against France.

But even these accumulated dangers pressing on Bonaparte from without, are scarcely more formidable than the dangers which menace him within the territory of France itself.. A report of Fouché, published in the Moniteur of the 15th, announces, that all the efforts which have been made to suppress the insurrection in La Vendee have failed to effect their purpose. The Departments of Morbihan, Ille and Vilaine, Côtes du Nord, and Sarthe, are overrun

are

by the royalists. The flame of insurrection is spreading into Brittany and Normandy. Several towns have been taken. The marines and soldiers proceeding to the army have been stopped. Marseilles, Thoulouse, and Bourdeaux, have taken a violent part against Napoleon. The strongest measures called for. Even the Constitution must be suspended.-It seems impossible that Bonaparte can stand against this mighty combination of adverse circumstances, gradually contracting his resources, and surronding him on every side. The battle of the 18th will shake his power to its base.

The island of Martinique, and probably that of Guadaloupe also, has been again taken possession of by the English. Senegal and Goree were on the point of being surrendered, when a ship of war, that had been dispatched from England for the purpose, arrived in time to prevent it.

HOLLAND.

The treaty with Holland has been made public. The Cape of Good Hope, Cochin and its dependencies, Demarara, Essequibo, and Berbice, are ceded to his Majesty. All our other conquests are restored. We have agreed to cede to Holland the island of Banca; to pay her two millions sterling, to be applied in aid of an equal sum which she is to furnish, in repairing the fortresses in the Netherlands, with the view of forming a barrier against the encroachments of France; to pay, if it should be necessary, a farther sum in common with Holland to that object, not exceeding three millions sterling; and to guarantee to Holland the payment of a debt contracted by Russia amounting to 25 millions of Dutch guilders, about 2,270,000l. The district of Bernagore situated close to Calentta is also ceded by Holland; but a sum equal to the revenue derived from it is to be annually paid her. The subjects of Holland are to trade with India on the footing of the most favoured nation; may resort freely to the Cape of Good Hope; and may even trade, under certain restric tions, with the colonies they have ceded to Great Britain,

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

21 millions are required to pay off former arrears. The supply for Ireland is nearly ten millions. A loan of 36 millions has been negociated in London, at an interest of about 51. 12s. 6d. per cent. exclusive of the discount. The victory which has been gained by the duke of Wellington justifies the hope that the contest will not now be a very protracted one. We should otherwise feel serious alarm in contemplating our financial difficulties.

Both Houses have joined in their thanks to the Duke of Wellington and his brave army, and to Marshal Blucher and the troops whom he commanded, for their splendid services. A sum of 200,0001. has been voted, with a view to the erection of a palace for our great commander, which may be a lasting monument of his achievements.

His Majesty's Ministers have assured both Houses of Parliament, that they are employing their exertions to prevent the revival of the slave trade in France, in case the lawful government should be restored; and that they are sanguine in their hopes of success.

The bill for preventing the employment of British capital in the foreign slave trade has met with some difficulties in the House of Lords; but we trust it may still pass.

Mr. Wilberforce has moved for leave to bring in a bill for establishing a Register of Slaves in the West In

dies, under regulations which will com pletely prevent clandestine importations, and will serve as a basis for the improvement of the wretched condition of our colonial bondsmen. Leave has been given, but on an understanding that the bill will proceed no farther in this session than to the first reading; after which it will lie over for consideration until the next session. We shall take an early opportunity of fully discussing this important measure.

The motions made in both Houses of Parliament, for going into a Committee on the Catholic claims have been negatived. Many of their former friends withdrew their aid on this occasion, in consequence of the violence and unreasonableness which had been manifested by the Catholic Board.-The pope has returned to Rome.

The bill granting to ships built in the British dominions in India, the privileges of British registry, we are happy to say, has passed into a law.

Several very salutary enactments have been framed, with a view to the protection of parish apprentices, and to the better treatment of children employed in our manufactories. A committee of the House of Commons is also occupied on the important subject of mendicity, and we trust they may be able to apply some effectual remedy to this evil.

the Rev. WILLIAM JESSE, M. A. perpetual Curate and Lecturer of West Bromwich, Rector of Dowles and of Ribbesford, in the county of Worcester, and Chaplain to the Earl of Glasgow. His remains were deposited in a vault in the parish church of West Bromwich.

Without intending any reflexion on those who, after a considerable portion of life spent in open sin, have turned to a life of holiness, it will be acknowledged as an uncommon and most honourable distinction in this venerable clergyman, that, like Obadiah, he had feared the Lord from his youth.

In the different places in which Mr. Jesse exercised his ministry, numbers who have now entered into their rest do, and ever will, bless him, as the most effectual among human means of their present felicity. And there are likewise numbers, yet in the laud of their pilgrimage, who owe him their best gratitude for having brought and furthered them in the road to that felicity.

It was not the happiness of the writer of this imperfect sketch to become acquainted with this excellent man, till after he came to reside at West Bromwich. But an acquaintance and a friendship of twenty years, by which, on other considerations than disparity of age, he felt himself much honoured, have left a deep and cheering impression on his mind, not only of the peculiar integrity and warmth of affection in his deceased friend, but of what are the appropriate and essential requisites of a true minister of Christ-his zeal for the Divine glory, his fervent love to God, the spirit of holy gratitude with which he seemed ever to be Elled, the exalted thoughts which he entertained of the Redeemer, and the obligations towards him, with which his heart seemed to burn, and finally, the ardent affection which he bore towards the flock over which he presided.

In paying this tribute to departed worth a tribute in which the writer is persuaded all who knew, that worth will heartily concur he will feel it an additional gratification, if any misconceptions shall be rectified, or any real and human errors be reduced to their due insignificance, on being compared with so much excellence. Certainly there are some important doctrines which Mr. Jesse did not find in every text in which some of his brethren find them. But so far is this circumstance from proving either his disbelief or denial of those doctrines, that he might challenge the most orthodox of the members

or ministers of the Established Church to exceed him, in a sense both of the truth and importance of the doctrines-of the Trinity of divine persons in the unity of the Godhead-of human corruption, both original and actual-of the absolute impotence of man without Divine grace-of the absolute necessity and supreme value of the Redeemer to atone for sin, and of the Holy Spirit to inspire holiness. Of these facts, the main tenor of his preaching is a sufficient proof. And his writings evince the same dominion of fundamental truth in his mind. It is expected, that a volume of select sermons will shortly appear, which, besides their intrinsic merit in a practical view, will leave no room for doubt on this important subject. The integrity and earnestness of his doctrine concerning sin, is the more remarkable from the circumstance which has been mentioned of his early piety and freedom from open sin-a circumstance which is sometimes found to betray men into a pharisaic spirit.

Although Mr. Jesse was peculiarly earnest in exalting the doctrine of grace, and excluding from the discovery of that scheme, or the attainment of its object, any effort of human learning; yet to human learning in its due province he paid great respect, and was wont to observe, that declamations against it came with justice and disinterestedness only from those who know what it is.

Considering the age, at which it pleased the Almighty Disposer to call this exemplary servant to his reward, it is not to be wondered at, that for some time previous to the event, his mind was peculiarly occupied with the change which could not be very distant. This was the fact; and for a considerable period before his death, his mind became increasingly abstracted from the world and worldly things, incapable of being interested in any occupation which had no