To prevent the occurrence of such dire disasters as the previous year had witnessed, a bill was brought in the moment Parliament met, to prohibit the English banks from circulating notes under £5, after February, 1829—thus allowing them three years to recall their present issue. The loss by the panic of the previous December is estimated at £40,000,000 sterling; but matters soon began to right themselves, and the elasticity of British resources never was more signally displayed. At Midsummer a dissolution took place, the Parliament having sat for nearly seven years. The questions which principally agitated the public mind were the Corn Laws and Catholic Emancipation. The Corn Law of 1815 had dissatisfied all parties, and the populace generally entertained the greatest hostility to it. In Ireland the priests now first openly interfered in the elections to procure the return of members pledged to the Catholic cause; while in England a strong counter feeling was evoked, and in many places Whig candidates were rejected, in spite of family influence, because of their leaning towards Catholic Emancipation. The harvest being a failure, as regarded oats and rye, peas and beans, the Government issued an Order in Council to admit these kinds of food at a duty of 2s. a quarter; and Parliament was called together in November to pass an Act of Indemnity. Three per Cents. averaged 79; wheat averaged 58s. 8d. JANUARY 23—A silver salver, two waiters, and two decanter stands, weighing in the whole 320 ounces, presented to J. Simpson, Esq., LL.D., who for many years kept school in Worcester, by his former pupils. FEBRUARY—The glovemakers of Worcester made several ineffectual remonstrances against the proposed alteration of the laws touching the admission of foreign manufactured articles. They were told that gloves would certainly be admitted in the ensuing July, though with the protective duties already mentioned. These being considered insufficient, the trade was brought to an entire stand-still. By the exertions of Colonel Davies, however, the importation was limited to the port of London only, and confidence was gradually restored to the business. FEBRUARY 21—Messrs. Hartland and Co. resumed payment. JULY 1—A party of pleasure, consisting of the two sons and four daughters of Mr. Joseph Hill, farmer, of Lintridge, near Dymock, and Miss Helen Woodyatt, daughter of a Hereford confectioner, ascended Malvern Hills, and being overtaken by a thunderstorm, took refuge in an alcove, on the Worcestershire Beacon, which was roofed with iron. This attracted the electric fluid, and in one discharge of lightning the whole party were laid prostrate on the ground: three of the Misses Hill and Miss Woodyatt were killed, and the others were seriously injured.