John Gage, esq. Director, communicated an account of a recent disinterment of the remains of Thomas Duke of Exeter (ob. 1426). In 1772 the body was found in the abbey church of Bury, wrapped in lead, and in an extraordinary state of preservation. Its state was described by Dr. Collignon in the 62d volume of the Philosophical Transactions; and the hands are now preserved at the College of Surgeons. In a late excavation near the north-east pier of the abbey tower, the remains were again disturbed; it appeared that the feet, as well as the hands, had been removed from the body. Mr. Wordesley exhibited some coinmoulds, with a crucible and coins, found in Yorkshire. A further portion was read of Mr. Ottley's paper on ancient MSS. May 15. W. R. Hamilton, esq. V. P. The evening was wholly occupied with a further reading of Mr. Ottley's paper. Adjourned over the Whitsun week. LETTER OF JOAN OF ARC. An original letter of Joan of Arc has recently been discovered in the Archives of the department du Nord. It is addressed to the Duke of Burgundy, and couched in laconic terms. "Jehanne la Pucelle requires you, in the name of Heaven and her sovereign Lord the King of France, that you conclude a good and lasting peace-mutually forgive each other, like good Christians but, if you must make war, go and fight the Saracens. I supplicate humbly as well as require, that you fight no more in the holy territory of France, but that you withdraw your troops. If you do not, you may depend that you will not gain any battle against the King Jeshus, King of Heaven and of all the world, and my lawful sovereign." The letter is dated from Reims, and bears a seal. It is in very antiquated French, and there are so many abbreviations in it, that it is difficult in some places to discover the exact meaning. AN ANCIENT BOAT It has been lately discovered in deepening a sewer ditch at North Stoke, a village near the Arun in Sussex. It is formed out of a single oak tree, like the Indian canoes, and is believed to be what was called by the ancient Britons, a CWCH. is in good preservation, measures thirtyfour feet six inches in length, four feet six inches wide in the centre, and is two feet high; it has three divisions which appear to have served the double purpose of seats, and supports to the sides. The oak is become as black as ebony. A well-preserved Coin of Tiberius in first brass, reverse ROM. ET. AUG. brought Another, with a countermark Germanicus, in large brass, ill preserved, but the only one known in this country Britannicus in second brass, struck at Alabanda in Caria (in but ordinary preservation), an extremely rare coin...... 15 15 0 A denarius of Drusus, with the 4 13 0 head of Tiberius on the reverse 9 00 A brass medallion of Vitellius, reverse, Mars holding a trophy (the same type as that described in Mr. Akerman's catalogue, vol. 1, p. 178, No. 5) 22 15 0 This is a very extravagant price, considering that it only differs from the large brass of this Emperor in the size of the metal on which it is struck. It was bought by the late Mr. Douce. Some of the collectors would not allow it to be a medallion; but as Coins of the size of the large brass, but struck from the dye of the second size, are ranged with those of the first size, this must certainly be allowed a place among the medallions. It is the only medallion of Vitellius at present known. ...... Plotina, the wife of Hadrian, in large brass, fine, and of great rarity Pescennius Niger, a denarius, reverse, the Modius with ears of corn; legend, FELICITAS TEMPORUM, well preserved Sept. Severus, an aureus, in fine preservation, and of much better fabric than the majority of his gold coins, brought (after much competition). Commodus, an aureus, in fine preservation, reverse, Jupiter seated. ex Sabinia Tranquillina, a denarius, Concord seated, an tremely rare coin Geta in large brass, "ADVENTUS AUGUSTI," probably unique.. ANCIENT ARMOUR. 11 10 0 8 26 11 50 8 50 14 0:0 5156 esq. of Wokefield Park in Berkshire; on which certainly belonged to the Emperor Ferdinand the First, 107. 10s. The Shields, &c. presented many exquisite specimens of the Italian chasers. A helmet, with a chimera as the crest, magnificently embossed in the 16th century, 447. 2s.; another made in 1542, 291. 8s.; a shield, presenting figures of Prudentia, Mars, Invidia, and apparently Fame and Fortitude, 136. 10s.; another, with the labours of Hercules, 36l. 15s. An ancient Greek or Etruscan helmet of bronze, of the classical shape usually seen the head of Minerva, 21. 2s. A Venetian salade of the 15th century, made in imitation of the same Greek shape, 21. 5s. A basinet, with a moveable vizor of the peculiar form in fashion only during the last 20 years of the 14th century, and being the earliest war helmet of the chivalric times known to exist, except a similar one which was purchased at the same time for the collection at Goodrich Court, was sold for 221. 1s.; a tilting helmet of the close of the 15th century, with all its buckles, &c. for the crest and ornaments complete, 61. 6s. Forty-eight hargobussiers' suits, of the period of the Protectorate, were sold in seven lots for 171. 13s. The whole suits, of a superior description, were nearly fifty in number; they were sold at almost every variety of price, from less than 10l. to nearly 1501. The three highest were; an engraved and gilt suit, 1177.; a complete suit of polished steel, ribbed and fluted, 1471. 12s.; a finely engraved Italian suit 1051.; the presumed date of the first was about 1525 or 1530, and of the others about 20 years later. Towards the close of the sale was put up a tricolor standard inscribed "L'EMPEREUR NAPOLEON A LA GARDE NATIONALE D L'ILE D' ELBE," and which was presented to that corps at the review on the Champ de Mars, Paris, in 1814, and afterwards taken at Waterloo; it is embroidered in silver with wreathed N's, crowns, eagles, and bees, and the pole ornamented with a brass eagle and a tricolor scarf. Mr. Brocas gave a hundred guineas for it; but it was knocked down for 407. 19s. and, it is supposed, has returned to France. A Napoleon eagle, taken at Waterloo, obtained 137. 13s. The whole produce of the sale was 17007, 10s. 6d. A large portion of the collection was purchased by dealers from Paris. There are plates in the catalogue representing several interesting specimens of armour, and the Napoleon standard. HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 21. Petitions from Hants, Exeter, and various other places were presented in favour of the claims of the Dissenters, for the better observance of the Sabbath, for the protection of the Established Church, for the abolition of Tithes, &c.-The Duke of Gloucester then presented a petition, signed by 258 resident members of the University of Cambridge, praying their Lordships not to agree to the prayer of a petition signed by 63 members of the University, which had been presented to the House on Friday, the 21st of March. His Grace strongly supported the petition. He had heard no good reason for granting the claim of the Dissenters to be admitted to take degrees. His Grace presented another petition from the same University, signed by 755 under-graduates and bachelors out of 1100.-Earl Grey denied that a compliance with the prayer of the petition presented some nights since from certain members of that University, would be productive of the consequences anticipated by the Noble Duke. The object of the_application of the petitioners was, that Dissenters should be admitted to the degree of bachelor, master, or doctor, in arts, in law, or in physic, without being subjected to the subscription of certain religious tests or articles. Instead of endangering the security of the Established Church, the effect of the prayer of this petition, if it were admitted, would be to remove prejudice, to destroy animosity, and, by so doing, to impart strength to that Establishment which it was the most anxious wish of them all to uphold and support.-The Duke of Wellington was of opinion, that, were the claims of the Dissenters to be conceded, not only the union of Church and State, but the existence of Christianity itself would be endangered. The Lord Chancellor inferred from the objections made by the two Illustrious Dukes to the granting of degrees from Oxford or Cambridge to Dissenters, that they would have no objection to enable other Universities to grant what they refused. It would be the height of injustice and absurdity to tell the Dissenters that they should neither have degrees there nor any where else. — The Bishop of Exeter contended that it was utterly impossible, consistently with the oaths by which its members were bound, to admit Dissenters to the privi 9 leges of the University of Oxford. The Noble Prelate affirmed that the subscription to the 39 Articles required from youths previous to matriculation, was simply tantamount to a declaration that the subscribers were members of the Church of England.-The Lord Chancellor, in reference to the last speaker's explanation of subscription to the Articles, said, that if subscription did not mean what it professed to mean, but any thing into which casuists might be pleased to convert it, a more clumsy invention was never struck out by human brain, lay or clerical, academic or barbarous, than to make a man who was only called upon to state his belief of one article swear that he believed in 39 other articles.- After some further discussion, the petition was ordered to lie on the table. April 22. Lord Kenyon moved the second reading of his Bill for the regulation and amendment of BEER HOUSES.— Visc. Melbourne, although much doubting the dreadful increase of crime which had been described, should vote for the second reading. He thought one of the principal objections related to houses established in lonely and remote situations.-The Lord Chancellor thought the difficulties which beset the subject were almost insurmountable.-The Bill was then read a second time, and referred to a committee. The Marquess of Lansdowne moved certain resolutions relative to the printing of PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS, and with 2 view to diminish the enormous expense incurred under that head. One of the changes recommended by the Committee, on whose report the resolutions were founded, was an interchange_of papers between the two Houses of Parliament. -The resolutions were agreed to. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 22. After a multitude of Petitions had been presented for and against the REPEAL of the LEGISLATIVE UNION between ENGLAND and IRELAND, Mr. O'Connell rose for the purpose of moving for a Select Committee to inquire and report on the means by which the dissolution of the Parliament of Ireland was effected; on the effects of that measure upon Ireland, and upon the labourers in husbandry and operatives in manufactures in England; and on the probable consequences of continuing the legislative union between both countries." The Hon. and Learned Member entered into the history of the connexion between the two countries, to show that England had acquired no right, by conquest or otherwise, to supreme power over Ireland. He also detailed the means resorted to for the accomplishment of the Act of Union, which he maintained was not a compact but a gross imposition, brought about by bribery and corruption of the basest character, and since this Union the English Government had not been enabled to govern Ireland even to their own satisfaction; for two-thirds of that time they had ruled Ireland, not by the ordinary laws, but by despotism. They had not treated her with justice; and, as the only remedy, he demanded, in the name of Ireland, the restoration of her independent Parliament.-The discussion was then adjourned. April 23. Mr. Spring Rice resumed the debate on the REPEAL of the UNION, in a speech which occupied six hours in the delivery. He gave a complete history of the changes effected by the Union, and showed that the Union between the two countries had been the source of commercial prosperity to Ireland, and had released the people of that country from the tyranny of the wealthier classes. Were the object of the motion to be gained, and a Repeal of the Union obtained, the result would be the substitution of a fierce and democratic Republic for that constitutional Monarchy under which they then lived-which he should consider one of the greatest curses that could befall the empire, because it would lead to its entire subversion. The Hon. Member concluded by moving, that a humble Address be presented to his Majesty, in which the other House of Parliament should afterwards be invited to concur, expressing the fixed and steady determination of the House of Commons to maintain inviolate the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland, as necessary to the safety of the general interests of the State, and to the security and happiness of all classes of his Majesty's subjects-the conviction of the House, that such determination was justified, not only by general grounds, but by peculiar reasons specially applying to Ireland-expressing also their conviction that the Legislative Union had been for the particular benefit of Ireland—and concluding by assuring his Majesty, that it was the fixed determination of the House to persevere in applying its best attention to the removal of all the just causes of complaint alleged by the people of Ireland, and to the promotion of all well-considered GENT. MAG. VOL. I. measures of rational liberty.-The debate was then adjourned. April 24-29. The debate on the REPEAL of the UNION was resumed by Mr. Tennant, who seconded the amendment proposed by Mr. S. Rice, and was continued, by daily adjournment, to the 29th of April. It was carried on with great spirit and animation, especially by those speakers who opposed the motion. Mr. Littleton observed, that the Irish Parliament had been notorious for its corruption -and it was in vain to look through its history for the manifestation of one sound constitutional principle.-Sir D. Sandford affirmed, that the state of Ireland previous to the Union had been wretched in the extreme, and that Ireland, in common with Scotland, would derive advantage and prosperity from being united with England.-Mr. Lambert strongly opposed the motion, observing that it would be just as reasonable to have moved for an inquiry into the causes and means of the Irish invasion. Sir R. Peel affirmed, that it would be as reasonable to ask for a revival of the Heptarchy as for a Repeal of the Union, which must not, could not be conceded. There never had been an independent Legislature in Ireland-it could not enjoy it; there must be a paralysed Monarchy in such a case, or a corrupt Parliament, or both. He then implored the House not to entertain for a moment the question of Repeal.-Mr. D. Callaghan contended that Ireland stood in need of a domestic Legislature to look after her own interests, As one of the results of the Union, that country was at present a desolate waste, and the industrious classes were in a state of great misery and wretchedness. Mr. Lefroy affirmed that repeal was called for by a portion only of the people of Ireland, the moral weight and influence of a large body being opposed to it. He was convinced that the measure called for would be the greatest violation of national faith.-Mr. R. C. Fergusson said, that to agree to a Repeal of the Union would be nothing less than signing the death-warrant of the wealth, the glory, and the prosperity of the empire.—Sir H. Vivian observed, that the interests of both countries were so completely dovetailed together, that it was impossible to separate them without destroying both. -Dr. Baldwin affirmed, that the eagerness which the Irish people now displayed for a Repeal of the Legislative Union, was owing to the experience which they had had of the misgovernment of the Imperial Parliament. Mr. Pryme maintained that it was impossible that the Union between the two countries could be continued, if either had the power through its Parlia4 M ment of interfering with the policy of the other. Mr. Jephson said, that although the bulk of the people of Ireland was undoubtedly favourable to Repeal, yet the wealth and intelligence of the country were opposed to such a measure.-Mr. Shaw thought, that, were the Union repealed, the connexion of the countries would be a rope of sand, which the first demagogue who found it an obstacle to his views might at his pleasure scatter to the winds.-Mr. James said, that he was convinced, not only of the necessity of continuing the Union, but also of the necessity of cementing it more closely than ever, by the opening speech of the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin; he had utterly and signally failed in show ing that prosperity would return to Ireland if the Union were repealed, and he had not even made out a prima facie case that such a measure would be either just, politic, or expedient.-After Mr. O'Connell had replied, the House came to a division, when there appeared, for Mr. S. Rice's amendment, 523; against it, 38; majority against the Repeal of the Union, 485. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 28. The Duke of Newcastle called the attention of the House to the novel and disgraceful nuisance of processions at funerals of deceased members of Trades' Unions, and inquired whether any steps had been taken to put an end to them?Viscount Melbourne regretted the exis. tence of such meetings. Government were ready to put down any riotous or disorderly assemblages; but it was hoped that such proceedings would die away of themselves.-The Marquis of Londonderry said that the present was a very alarming crisis, and one which called for the serious attention of Government. He understood that within these few days, 15,000 men had been enrolled in the unions. The Earl of Eldon said that the assembling of such vast numbers of people, and their parading in menacing force, had a manifest tendency towards a breach of the public peace, and ought, consequently, be prevented.-The Lord Chancellor entirely agreed in the sentiment, that vast and unnecessary numbers of men assembling themselves together was illegal; they tended to produce great public mischief. With regard to the Dorchester Unionists, there could not be a shadow of a doubt of the justness of their conviction. They were tried for taking unlawful oaths -an offence until within these few years past unknown in this country-a system which he believed, bad as it was in itself, bad as it was in its first object, had a decided tendency to lead to offences of a deeper and more deadly die. His Lordship having affirmed that these Trades' Unions had been in existence five or six years before the political unions were thought of, and were in 1830 far more dangerous than at present-observed in answer to appeals which had been made to him out of the House on behalf of the industrious portion of the community, that it was because he was the sincere friend of the working classes of the country, that he was an enemy to Trades' Unions; and he would add, that of all the worst things and of all the most pernicious devices that could be imagined for the injury of the interests of the working classes, as well as the interests of the country at large, nothing was half so bad as the existence of those Trades' Unions. April 30. An Address to his Majesty, relative to the destructive consequences to be apprehended from a Repeal of the Union, voted by the Commons on the preceding evening, having been communicated to their Lordships in a conference with the Commons, Earl Grey proposed that their Lordships should at once ex press their concurrence in the same, ob serving, that the question of the Union with Ireland involved considerations affecting not merely the prosperity and power, but the peace, the integrity, and the safety of the empire. The dissevering of the link which bound the two countries would be to expose both kingdoms, thus weakened, to the attacks of foreign enemies-to introduce internally a state of things which must lead to the ruin and misery of both countries-but more particularly to that part of the United Kingdom which it was sought to delude by specious declarations on this question. The Lord Chancellor seconded the motion. His Lordship observed, that their Lordships were now called upon to manifest their concurrence with their fellow-subjects of the other House of Parliament, in resisting proceedings which tended immediately and directly, as he in his conscience believed, to endanger the existence, not of the Monarch, not of the Peers, not of the Commons-no, but to place in jeopardy the existence of the united empire itself. The Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of Londonderry, and the Marquis of Westmeath expressed their concurrence in the Address, which was agreed to, to be presented to his Majesty the following day. In the HOUSE of COMMONS, the same day, after a great number of petitions had been presented for and against Sir Andrew Agnew's Bill for the better observance of |