Bourbon, Bonaparte, ‘ Brazils’ and Rob Roy Macgregor

On 31 May, 1817 The Scotsman newspaper was a mere 19 editions old, but it was already beginning to find its feet, covering a broad range of local, national and world news.

At home, construction had begun on both the Union Canal and Edinburgh’s Regent Bridge, while at Westminster a debate raged on the issue of parliamentary reform. It was lead by political reformist Sir Francis Burdett, who fought, amongst other things, for universal male suffrage.

Elsewhere, the effects of the Napoleonic Wars were still being felt, with the Bonaparte family, while there was talk of revolution in ‘ the Brazils’ and riots in New Orleans over the raising of a Bourbon flag. Parliamentary Reform Sir Francis Burdett, in bringing this momentous question before the House, entered into a history of Parliament, which he contended was annually elected from William the Conqueror down to Henry VIII. After establishing this point, the Honourable Baronet next pro - ceeded to examine the manner in which the House of Commons is now elected, and stated many of the facts adverted to in the petition of the Friends of the People in 1795. After quoting various authorities to show that the House of Commons ought to be in dependent of the other branches of the Legislature, and really elected by the people, Sir Francis proceeded as follows: “A House of Commons, though composed of men estimable in every quality, will be politically corrupt, as long as they have an interest sep - arate from the public interest.” New vessel launched A few days ago a very fine steam vessel, upwards of 180 tons burden, was launched from a yard of Mr Woon, shipbuilder, Port Glasgow. She is constructed totally different from the generality of vessels of this description, being built for dragging vessels; and such is the superiority of her strength and construction, that nauti- cal men are of opinion that she might cross the Atlantic in perfect safety. Sedition The Court next proceeded to the trial of Niel Douglas, universalist preacher, residing in Stockwell Street, of the city of Glasgow, indicted and accused of sedition. In so far as on the 9th of March 1817, he did, in the course of exercising his functions of a minister, wickedly, slanderously, falsely, and seditiously, utter before crowded congregations, chiefly of the lower orders of the people, prayers, sermons or declamations, containing wicked, slanderous, false and seditious assertions and remarks, to the disdain, reproach and contempt of his Majesty, and of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent. Edinburgh Monthly Magazine Two Numbers of the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine have now been published. It promises to be a work of considerable merit and utility; and if it is well executed, will fill up what was, unquestionably, a desideratum in Scottish literature. Irish Insurrection Continuation Bill Sir S. Romilly ojected in the farther progress of the Bill, and thought that the House would not do its duty to the country if it did not make some further inquiry into the state of Ireland. The Bill contained many very strong provisions, among which, certainly not the least, was, that ‘ any man found out after sunset, and before sunrise, was liable to be taken up and transported as an idle and disorderly person, without the benefit of trial by Jury’. Regent’s Bridge The key stone of the magnificent arch of the Regent’s Bridge, over the Low Calton, was fixed in on Saturday night last, at half past nine o’clock. Union Canal We are authorised to state, that the clause in the Union Canal Bill entitling the subscribers to 5 per cent. during the execution of the works, has been struck out in the Committee of the House of Commons, - an alteration most important to those continuing subscribers to the undertaking, and who trusted to an immediate return from their subscriptions. Lucien Bonaparte The Ministers of the Allied powers have refused permission to LUCIEN BONAPARTE, and to his son, to go to America. And have declared that it will be proper to change the place of Lucien’s residence from Rome, to some other situation farther removed from the sea. Catalonia No further information has been obtained respecting the Catalonian affairs. The legal proceedings con- tinue, and his Majesty has come to no determination respecting General Lacy, notwithstanding the Petitions of Barcelona, and the principality of Catalonia. American papers Capt. Hitch, of the ship Parnasso, at New York, from New Orleans, states, that on the 20th March, a body of people assembled in a tumultuous manner, in consequence of the British vessel, Hamilton of Liverpool, having hoisted the Bourbon flag over the tri- coloured flag. The masts and lower rigging were destroyed by the populace, many of the seamen were wounded, and one was killed. Revolution in the Brazils His Majesty’s ship Tigris, of 42 guns, Capt. Henderson, arrived at Portsmouth on Saturday, from the Leeward Island station, last from St Kitt’s, in 42 days, bringing dispatches for Government from RearAdmiral Harvey, announcing a revolution in the Brazils. Rob Roy rumours Mr Walter Scott is said to be the author of the critique on Tales of my Landlord, in the Quarterly Review; and is insinuated in the concluding paragraph, that his brother is the writer of the Novels that have made so strong an impression on the public mind. This has been long suspected, and we hear that another is on the anvil, under the title of Rob Roy.