nitude, will be assisted by a commercial intercourse. Suppose two houses in business, one of which is of the first respectability, with an immense capital, and extensive dealings in every part of the globe; the other in a comparatively low situation, with but little property, limited credit, and confined connections, and a proposal is made by the former, to take the latter into partnership on equal terms; such an offer never having been refused, we may easily sup→ pose is eagerly accepted in this case, each party will lose his distinct firm, and the two houses become one. It is unnecessary to ask here, on which side the advantage lies, though both may be benefited.

"The clamours raised against the Union by interested men in Ireland, may for a time mislead the judgment of many people; the delusion however cannot be of long continuance; and a pro position, the most liberal on the part of Great Britain, and on the acceptance of which the salvation of Ireland depends, must be re ceived with sentiments of satisfaction, and gratitude, in the end, when reason shall take the place of passion; when policy shall prevail over prejudice; and wisdom shall govern, where enthu siasm misleads."

This speech, containing a body of plain and manly argument, came home "to the business and bosoms of the people" in both countries. It was circulated with much diligence in Ireland, and is said to have' contributed, in a very considerable degree, to reconcile the measure on both sides of the Channel.

In the course of the following year, during the detail of this great national measure, Sir Robert Peel again solicited the attention of the house, and insisted Strongly that the advantages which would accrue to Ireland, ought to render it an object peculiarly acceptable to the sister kingdom; that a poor cannot but be benefited by union with an affluent neighbour in free intercourse nd equal rights; that the indulgences

gences already allowed had, without impeding the prosperity of this country, contributed to the salvation of Ireland; that although the objections on this side of the Channel, in a commercial view, arose chiefly from the woollen trade, yet there was another branch of manufacture (the cotton) which, engaging as large a capital, and employing as great a number of hands, rivalled in importance this ancient staple of the country; and that, although the regulations respecting the cotton-trade had not been framed according to his wishes, and would materially affect his interests, yet as he would never bring his individual in competition with the general good, he would give his cordial support to the grand measure.

The magnitude of the national debt, requiring very heavy contributions to be levied on the people, imposes so arduous a task on the minister of finance, that without extensive knowledge of the resources of his country, he would be very ill qualified to discharge with effect this painful but necessary part of his duty. Sir Robert Peel, from the nature of his engagements, as well as from the spirit of enquiry with which he is endowed, has long been in the habit of turning his thoughts to the investigation of the finances of his country, particularly where they are connected with the subject of commerce. He insists that the revenue, so far from being benefited, is proportionally injured, whenever money is taken out of the hands of industry, whilst it is in an active and productive state. That the capital of an individual in trade may, on an average, produce to him 10l. per

cent.

cent. per annum, and that the nation is at the same time deriving an advantage from the same capital equal to 50l. per cent.; that is, a property accrues to the nation yearly by the employment of a given sum in trade equal to one half of that sum; and that therefore to draw, and spend money from such a source, must either be done with the improvidence of a prodigal, or argue extreme inability in the financier.

A character of so much importance in the scale of society, who by industry and talents had raised himself to high consideration, and who, in amassing a princely fortune, had contributed so much, by the extension of a new branch of commerce, to the national prosperity, could not long elude the paternal cye of the Sovereign. Accordingly, on the 8th of Nov. 1801, we find his majesty conferring on him the title of baronet, as the meed of merit, sua præmia laudi; and as a mark of his majesty's approbation of the steady consistency, and unimpeached integrity, which had distinguished every part of his conduct both in public and private life. Distinguished merit is the characteristic of a "noble of Nature's own creating" virtus est optima nobilitas. Sir Robert Peel is an eminent and exemplary instance of the quisque suæ faber fortunæ, and of the excellency of the constitution, under which men of talents and industry may advance themselves in life, and by consistency of conduct, and uniform endeavours to promote the best interests of the country, obtain distinguished honours, from the patriotic exercise of a virtuous Sovereign's prerogative.

If the origin of ambition be the desire, and the object of it the enjoyment of that pre-eminence, which gives dominion over the affections of mankind, it becomes a strong incitement to virtuous action. To

be hailed by distant ages as benefactors," to noble minds is honourable meed." To have lived for those who are to live, when we bend beneath the snow of years, or are gathered to our fathers: to awaken in the breast of remote posterity that glow of grateful affection, which hovers around the tomb of departed worth, and thus to transcend the narrow bourne of present existence, and have a name in future times, is the enviable privilege of genius, and the laudable object of honourable ambition.

The next public act of Sir Robert Peel developes more fully, perhaps, than any other the true complexion of his character, the pure benevolence which animates his bosom; we allude to the bill which he' brought into parliament, in 1802, to "Ameliorate the Condition of Apprentices in the Cotton and Woollen Trade." Although human labour has been so much abridged by ingenious machinery, in the former of these branches of our commerce, yet the unprecedented increase which it has experienced within the last fourteen years, arising from these improvements, has given increased employment to many thousands of poor persons, mostly children taken from workhouses in the capital, and other parts of the country.

These children were a burden to their respective parishes; and in order to be relieved from the expence of subsisting and supporting the needy part of them

and

Sir

and their families, the overseers of the poor often forgot the tender offices of humanity, in their eagerness to exonerate themselves from the maintenance of these unfortunate infants. Accordingly they were frequently sent to factories, where no accommodation was provided for them, no attention paid to their morals, and where they often contracted infectious disorders, the consequence of excessive labour, of unwholesome food, and of the want of cleanliness. Robert Peel had long lamented the existence of these evils, and it is one of the highest satisfactions of his life that he has been instrumental in lessening the sum of human misery. It has ever been his opinion, that children ought carly to be habituated to industry, and, under proper regulations, might be taken from parts of the kingdom where no employment offers, to situations more favourable to commerce. Although in this country, where every social virtue is cherished, many instances have occurred of masters treating these parish-apprentices with parental care; yet it cannot be denied, that in their deserted condition, deprived of the tender solicitude of a mother, and bereaved of the protecting arm of a father, the motives of interest in the employer often blunted the best feelings of humanity, and made the patronage of these orphans and fatherless well worthy the benevolence of that character, whose pride it has ever been to befriend suffering humanity, and especially to place these helpless innocents within the peculiar protection of the law.

Sir Robert Peel had been long preparing the

way. for