The Daily Papers have been filling their columns with a
long list of the names of pensioners on the Civil List and the Consoli- da'ed Fund. The first question which the perusal prompts is, who are they all ? and the next, what have =hey done to deserve all this money? We presume that there are many servants of GEORGE the Third and GEORGE the Fourth on the list ; for we find some pensions as low as five guineas per annum. One would think, that out of the immense sum allowed to defray the house- hold expenditure of the Kings of England, they might be able to provide for their favourite domestics without taxing the nation a second time for their support. The thing has a paltry appearance. The most disgraceful parts of the catalogue are those inscribed with the names of the high aristocracy of the land. For instance, the name of HAMILTON occurs sixteen or seventeen times; the Marchioness of HEADFORT is down for eighty-eight pounds and a shilling; and there is a fair sprinkling of Lords, Baronets, and gentlemen, all along the list. The name of THOMAS CAMPBELL serves to remind us that the men who will be known as doing honour to their native land in ages to come, have rarely been the partakers of Royal bounty. We believe that, in this respect. the British Civil List is the most penurious one in Europe. All sorts of worthless creatures are to be supported at the public ex- pense; but men of genius and science may look in vain for such assistance in extremity.
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