An act, passed this session, for "Making more effectual provisions to guard the descendants of the late king, George the Second, from marrying without the approbation of his majesty, his heirs, and successors, first had and obtained," was strenuously opposed by the liberal party in every stage of its progress through both houses. It was generally _supposed_ to have had its origin in the marriage contracted but a few months before by the Duke of Cumberland with Mrs. Horton, relict of Colonel Horton, and daughter of Lord Irnham; and also in a private, though long-suspected, marriage of the Duke of Gloucester to the Countess-dowager of Waldegrave, which the duke at this time openly avowed. But were there not _other_ reasons which operated on the mind of the _queen_ (for the poor king was only a passive instrument in her power) to force this bill into a law? Had she not an eye to her husband's former alliance with the quakeress, and the Duke of York's marriage in Italy? The latter was even more dangerous to her peace than the former; for the duke had married a descendant of the STUARTS! Lord Chatham made many representations to the king and queen of the improper and injudicious state of the penal laws. He cited an instance of unanswerable disproportion; namely, that, on the 14th of July, two persons were publicly whipped round Covent Garden market, in accordance with the sentence passed upon them; but mark the difference of the crimes for which they were so punished: one was for stealing a bunch of radishes; the other, for debauching his own niece! In vain, however, did this friend of humanity represent the unwise, unjust, and inconsistent tenour of such laws. The king was anxious to alter them immediately; but the queen was decided in her opinion, that they ought to be left entirely to the pleasure and opinion of the _judges_, well knowing _they_ would not disobey her will upon any point of law, or equity, _so called_. Thus did the nation languish under the tyrannical usurpation of a _German_ princess, whose disposition and talents were much better calculated to give laws to the brute creation than to interfere with _English_ jurisprudence! In November of this year, it was announced that the _king_ earnestly desired parliament should take into consideration the state of the East India Company. But the king was ignorant of the subject; though it was true, the _queen_ desired it; because she received vast emoluments from the various situations _purchased_ by individuals under the denomination of cadets, &c. Of course, her majesty's will was tantamount to law.