ns were passed
unanimously in the upper house; and the commons, from a message sent
them from the lords, fully concurred with their lordships. This example
of the lords and commons was followed very generally by the upper
classes throughout the kingdom; and thus effectual relief was afforded
by the simple means of self-denial.

Another measure taken into consideration this session tended to morality
of conduct. Of late the crime of adultery had become very prevalent; and
it was thought by political moralists that intermarriage, permitted to
the offending parties after a divorce, was one fertile source of crime.
A bill was proposed by Lord Auckland to prevent such intermarriage; but
it was rejected by a considerable majority, it being doubted whether
it would prove effectual to the diminishing of the crime to which it
referred.

Among other parliamentary topics discussed this session was that of the
affairs of the East Indies. Mr. Dundas having investigated the state of
its finances, detailed them to the commons; and on the whole, from
his statements, the company's affairs appeared to be in a flourishing
condition. An act was passed, instituting a high court of judicature for
that of the recorder of Madras.

UNION WITH IRELAND COMPLETED.

The most important act of this session was the completion of the union
between Great Britain and Ireland. At first the resolutions which had
passed the British parliament excited much opposition in the Irish
parliament and throughout the country. When the Irish commons debated
on an address proposed by ministers, in answer to the speech from the
throne in January, 1799, it was carried only by one vote; but on the
15th of January, 1800, a motion made in the same house to declare
their disapprobation of the union, was negatived by one hundred and
thirty-eight against ninety-six. Subsequently the measure of the union
was agreed to by a large majority in the Irish parliament, both in
the lords and the commons. On the 27th of March, indeed, the two Irish
houses agreed in a joint address, informing his majesty that they
considered the resolutions of the British parliament as wisely
calculated to form the basis of an incorporation of Great Britain and
Ireland into one kingdom; that they adopted them as their guide; and
that they now laid before his majesty certain resolutions which they had
agreed to, and which, if they should be approved by the two houses of
parliament of Great Bri