Star. — London, England, 1826-05-13 00:00:00

tire, they MP! a Wild/ tin an gaols ,hippest for America, mint to the duty with which they would be charged on their arrival, they then Imposed a duty Upon the importation of all American viaduct equal to that charged upon goods imported into Am er i ca la British ships; lastly, they adopted the principle of fall retalia tion. But all these measures,when examined in detail, and pursued to their consequences, were found to produce greater mischief to ourselves than to the Americana, and they were finally abandoned. The raw produce of America was necessary to our manufactures, and after a long struggle the present system of equality of duty was' forced upon us. The operation of our navigation law, however, up to the period of the recent alteration gave, the commerce of Ante rice a decidegl advantage over the commerce of this country. That law prevented American ships from importing European produce into Englaad. The Americans retaliated upon us, and prevented our ships from importing Koropean goods into America. The effect of these reciprocal interdictions was altogether in favour of America. If an American ship loaded at Liverpool, she could take in an assorted cargo for her own country; she might be loaded principally with the produce of this country, and the rest of her cargo might consist of wine or brandy.— Put a British ship loading for America was deprived of this ad vantage. Iler cargo must be exclusively British produce; if she went to America with a single pipe of wine on board, she would be liable to confiscation. It was thus that by adhering to the Naviga tion Act we had done an injury to navigation. Then soon after the settlement with America, the war broke out with revolutionary France. This war was of so peculiar a character that, from its commencement in the year 1793 to its conclusion, it was in vain to talk of system. The whole world was in confusion, and the settled policy of nations in abeyance. During th.: war, America being the only sate neutral power, made great advances in commerce and navigation. England also, being enabled by means of her naval power to protect her commerce, extended her commercial marine, notwithstanding every disadvantage. All other Powers were left without a marine ; so that nom the year 1793 to 1815, there was nothing on the sea but the marine of America and England. But after 1815 other Powers began to show themselves upon the ocean, and checked in some degree the progress both of this country and America. But other circumstances also had intervened of a nature calculated to diminish the commercial marine of this country. 'chose who were old enough to recollect the debates upon the Slave Trade, as was unfortunately the case with bim, must remember that the advocates of that trade insisted strongly upon the employ. ment it afforded to our shipping. The same argument was in fact applied to this traffic as might with propriety be applied to the fishery on the coast of Newfoundland, viz. tbat it was of import ance to the support of out Navigation. Fortunately for the cause of humanity and of national honour, these arguments did not pre vail. But there was su much of truth in the arguments, that in comparing the state of our navigation at distant periods, the abo. lition of the Slave Trade was a circumstance which ought not to be forgotten. Another circumstance similar in some respect to -that he had mentioned to diminish our commercial marine, was our treaty with the Algerines. This treaty had effected an entire change in the commerce of the Mediterranean. Our interference to pet down the piracies of the Barbary States was slot like the abolition of the Slave Trade, a duty of such a high moral obligation as to have no alternative. It was, however, highly honourable to our national character that we had interfered, and the more so, as the effect of our successful inteference must have been foreseen to be preju dicial to our own more distinct and immediate interests. We formerly possessed the monopoly of navigation in the Medi terranean, as our flag was the only one respected by the pira tical States. Now all the little maritime States on the shorts of the Mediterranean can navigate as safely as ourselves. He had been told, by a late respected Member of that House, Mr. Marriott, who had the best means of information, that the coasting trade of the Mediterranean gave employment to eight or ten thou sand British seamen ; but at the close of the war there were several other circumstances which created a temporary pressure upon our commercial marine. During the latter period of the war, Guerin :non had employed a great many merchant vessels as tranaports.— All these were now to be disposed of, and to enter into competition with the ships previously engaged In commerce. The number of transports discharged was 1,226; their tonnage amounted to 270,382, and they had been manned by 16,000 seamen—a number equal to all that were employed in the military navy of this country, and equal to one quarter of the whole of our commercial navy at the breaking out of the war in 1792. The Government had also to sell out of the King's service a considerable number of vessels.— ' It was generally kiiowu that the large ships of war were only sod with the express condition that they should be broken up. 'l' be ships he spoke of were vessels of from 150 to 400 tons—of these they sold as many as 330, amounting to 94,000 tons. So that if these Duarhers were added together, it would appear that they had sent into competition with the existing commmercial marine, 1556 *trips, carrying 564,000 tons, being considerably more than one fourth of all the commercial marine at the commencement of the war. If in addition to these circumstances it were recollected that new a ship Is drepatched as soon as laden, and that formerly she was not permitted to sail without convoy, and as the: Admiralty could not make a convoy sail every day to every separate destina tion, the merchant ships were subject to considerable detensions, and if the necessity, when sailing in Lots, of accommodating their progress to that of shwest vessel in the convoy was also taken 1110 consideration, it would perhaps not be too much to compute t'..at two-thirds of any number of ships would do as much now as the whole number could then have accomplished. The cessation of the foreign corn trade was a!so a circumstance not to be fur gooda. Corn was a bulky article. There had recently been tittle of this trade, and what there was naturally fell to the share of foreign ships. Our demand for foreign corn, under the present system, must be desultory, and always hurried. So that instead of sending out a British ship to return with a cargo of corn, the merchant would always send an order for the corn he waited to he shipped as speedily as possible in a foreign vessel.— liadtig stated these circumstances, he felt called upon to enter into detailed statemeats, in order to show the country what was its real situation. He would first, however, call the attention of the House to the situation of our commercial marine in the year 1792, the year which saw the commencement of that war in which we were called upon to make such unparalleled efforts at sta— in the year 1792 the number of our Ships was . 16,079 -- The amount of tonnage . . 1,540,145 On the 25th of December, last year our Ships were . 24,174 ------- The amount of tonnage 2,542,000 'that was, we have now a commercial marine two-fifths greater than we had in the year 1792. He now thought it tight to state what was the number of our ships and amount of tonnage at the dose of the last war . . Ships 24,860 ; Tonnage, 2,680,000. There had, therefore, it appeared, been a diminution since that period of 62,000 tons. But the amount then in existence had been greatly in excess of the wants of the country, in consequence of the circumstances he had detailed. He now thought it necessary to advert to the number of ships built in this country at various periods. He had looked back to the year 1789, but in consequence or the unfortunate fire at the Custom-house, he had not been able to procure such full or satisfactory information as he desired. He would, however, compare the number built Last year with the siumber built in the year 1414—the last year of the war: 1 814.—Nu, of ships built 4118 Last year.—Ships . 1,312 Taos • 95,900 I Tons . 171.900 1 hoc it was shown that the new tonnage of last year nearly doubled that of the year 1814, and be could wily say that it greatly ex , ceded that of any former year. The only other criterion to which he could refer was that of the number of ships cleared out and cu b red inwards since the period of the relaxation of the navigation laws. He held in his hand an account since 1814.1 he statement which had beds made by those who professed to feel some alarm fur the prosperity of our shipping interest, was that British shipping had decreased by comparison with Ica eign shipping. lie would mate a comparison of ships entered inwards, and the accounts of ships ':cared out would be fallacious, from the citcumstaate of those luting in ballast Out being recorded. la the year 1824.—British Skips entered into all the Ports ul Great Britain . . . 19,164 Tonnage . . . . . 2,364,000 In the year 1824. —Foreign Ships entered into all the Ports of Great Britain . . . 5,280 Tonnage . . . 694,000 ile s woold now look at the year 1825, when the New System was in tun operation. in year 1585.—British Ships entered . . 21,760 Tonnage . . 2,786,844 . . . 6,561 892.000 3n year 1825.—Foreign Ships entered "onstage gentlemen would see that in the year of treat commerce and ape (Jannis the increase of tonnage entered into our various ports was tons of British shipping, and that of all the rest of the world only 197,000 tons. So that the only ground of alarm and sole i.undatiost of grievance was, that whilst foreign shipping increased, Jluu,h shipping increased in a still greater proportion. tie thought lie had said enough to shew that there was no cause of despondency or alarm, lie wouisi, however, carry tine part of his investigation ut , r "et) further. lie was aware that tile principal alarm was di e' eisd to t Le :5! ors of the North of Europe, and particularly Prussia. Tilt lOC of British ships front the year 11124 to 1813 was a► 476 to 944, whilst that of the Prussian ships was only as 682 to )18 9 Su t h at the minther of British ships doubled, whilst those ou Prussia oily icereased by our-fourth. lie rested upon this because ha Soso , this Puwer to be wore the object of jealousy to the ship • ping inteeett or rngiand than any other, and to this he 'could advert l further bye-and-bye. He had also an account of the number of ships which had paid the Sound duties in going up the Baltic, be longing to every different nation in the ten years preceding the late war, and also in the ten years from the year 1816 to lies, both inclusive. He would confine himself, however, to the last five years, beginning with the year 1821 : 1821. British vessels passed the Sound . . . 4816 Same year, vessels of all nations . . . 9177 182.2. British vessels . . . . . . . 3000 Vessels of all nations . . . . . 9008 1823. British vessels . . . Vessels of all nations • . 1824 British vessels . . . . • . . 3500 Vessels of all nations . . 1825. British vessels . . . . . . • .5186 Vessels of all nations • . . 13,000 So that instead of our remaining at the former proportion of about one-third of the whole, we had last year considerably exceeded it, and that in the year when the whole number had been the greatest it was ever known. For one time after the peace a great stagnation of commerce took place, and a Committee of that House was ap pointed to investigate the commercial state of the country. His Right Hots. Friend the Master of the Mint took an active pan in the labour of that Committee, and by his seal, assiduity, and in telligence, had conferred the greatest advantages upon the country. By the recommendation of that Committee several important changes took place in the law of navigation. One .f these changes applied to the enumerated articles, at they were called—wb e formerly they could only be brought to this country in British ships, or in the ships of the country which produced them ; they may now be brought, not in any ships, but in the ships of the country where they are found. The Right Hun. Gentleman dwelt on the advantages of the per mission of foreign vessels conveying produce of their own countries to our commerce, particularly as connected with the Warehousing System. Another change effected, in obedience to the Report of the Navigation Law Committee, was that of placing the coasting trade of Ireland on the same footing with that of England. Before that change. Irish vessels had to pay the duty of foreign vessels in English harbours, a most unjust and impolitic measure ; and one for the abolition of which the Articles of Union contained a provision. Another change was those Treaties of reciprocity entered into with the Brazils and other independent American States. To these I reaties the lien. Member for Bramber felt a strong objection, en the ground that a commercial marine could only be provided 1 by restrictive laws. Now he ( Mr. H.) contended, that no shadow of apprehension could be rationally entertained on that mote, and that the Government, perfectly alive to foreign jea lousy of British maritime greatness, took especial care in placing the commercial relations of the country on a fair footing of reci procity of interests, that the commercial marine of the country should not he endangered. Another important subject related to the effect of the reduction of the duties on foreign shipping on the reve nue ; and if he wanted a proof of the impolicy of opposite conduct in Nlinisters, the destruction, in consequence of that line .f conduct, of the naval pre-eminence of the Dutch, was a striking and melan choly example. The Right Hon. Gentleman entered into a long statement of the advantages that this country received from ex changing her manufactures for the raw materiali of building (domes tic and navals furnished by the Northern States. The American Revolution was the parent of the changes in the commercial policy of England and the world, for it was to the retaliation of the United States that Europe owed the reciprocity system of free trade. The threat of retaliation by Prussia compelled us to adopt that system (which he proved to be beneficial to the country) with her, and with Denmark, Sweden, and that nursery of the enlightened system of trade, the Hanseatic Republic of Hambargh, Lubeck, and Bremen. Had Dantzic continued (as he wished she did) l a free town, the retaliative menaces of Prussia might be disre garded. By our present system of commerce we divide the na• vigation of the world. We could have nu rivals in naval warfare save America, and we strengthened the natural enemies of that Power, and weakened her friends, by our present policy. The naval forces of France and Spain, which were in 1792 more than equal to that of England, were now reduced to nothing.— France is in that respect weaker than she was then, and the Navy of Spain was extinguished. We were then afraid to send our con voy of West Indian vessels down the British Channel, but sent them round by Scotland, and were only able to relieve Gibraltar with provisions by stealth. Now wtbad the finest Navy in the world, equipped and manned, and ready at a moment's notice to vindicate the rights of the British flag. We had no grounds of fear from a want of a military navy; and as to the distress of the country, the principles of free trade would be their best and surest remedy —He would therefore move " For a Return of the Number of ships built in the British dominions between the years 1824 and 1825, both inclusive, distinguishing the number of each year, and the amount of the tonnage." Mr. BARING bore testimony to the satisfactory statement of tie Right Hon. Gentleman, with the details and principles of which he fully concurred. he documents referred to by the Elgin Hon: Gentleman, and his admirable statement, had shown that the apprehensions of the British shipping interest were grostsdlere; and that the present , stupor, not more than the prior excitemetats could be adopted as the ground for any decision on this subject. A more vigilant guardian of the rights of the British seamen could not exist than the Right lion. Gentleman, and in his guardianship t h e country might place every reliance. While he admitted this, be could not but lament that the currency system was booked into every discussion, as the cause of every decline in any of the iattrem, of the country. These interests were indissolubly united, as the question of the Corn Laws next Session would convince the coun try. It would be needless to discuss the changes in the Colonial policy of trade. The question is simply, are these Colonies worth retaining? if they are, these changes are indispensable ; if net, un inecessary: He considered the vast increase of American shipping employed in the trade of the country a just ground for the most ' serious alarm. Liverpool was more an American than a British on ; nine-tenths of the vessels of that port were American. He would ardently wish that some remedy. consistent with sound policy, might be applied to this, he would almost call, evil. Mr. ROBERTSON did not place any reliance in the Right Hun. Gentleman's statement ; as the documents frequently brought before the House produced a quite contrary effect. The leaving the labour of this country unprotected, had already given the Con tinental Manufacturers an advantage in the articles of cotton, and would in that of wool very shortly. Sir MATTHEW W. RI DLEY observed, that almost all the continental nations had increased their trade with the Port of Lon don, within the last three years, in a most extraordinary d egree, is was This while the exports had decreased in an equal proportion. sufficient to show that something wrong was to be found in the state of the commerce of the country. He hoped that at least an early period of the next Session would be thud for a rigorous inquiry into the subject, with a view of relieving the shipping interest front those duties which at present retarded their progress, and oppressed the trade of the nation. Mr. ELLICE said the government were the cause of that overtrading of which they complained. Parliament and Ministers would much deceive themselves if they supposed that with the heavy taxes under which the nation groaned, and the kigh prices charged fur all articles of con►umption, the state of trade could possibly revive from the depression under which it new laboured. Colonel GORDON said it was certain that under the system of protection the country had prospered—but under this of reciprocity it was equally certain that with respect to the shipping it had not proved very satisfactory. Mr. T. WILSON said, if reciprocity were given to shipping, a tax must be placed on goods, in order to equalize the advantages in both branches. lir. RU M 110 L D followed on the same side. Mr. HUMP: did not think the state of the Shipping in any respect a matter for congratulation. Neither did he place any great reliance on the efficacy of the palliatives prescribed by the Right lion. Gentleman. Mr. C. GRANT thought it would be better to defer forming an opinion on the subject until the papers were printed which the President of the Board of Trade had moved for. The object of the Right Hon. Gent. was to show that the system which he had introduced was not calculated to injure the maritime interests of the country. The speech of his Right Hon. Friend was calculated to completely put an end to those complaints which, however un founded, had been widely eirculated out of doors. The moat* , was then pin and agreed to. The ether Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Tiirmva &Clock. Both H _ ouses of Praia Ment ati . jous ned lasi night to Wednesday next, for the Whitsuntide recess. The Commons adjournment is shorter than was expected, owing to the delay in forwarding the Corn Bills; and those Hills cannot pass both Houses, even if there be no in►peditnent thrown in the way of any one of the stages, before Tutsday week. A deep A nd well-concerted plan was laid three nights back in the nrighbosighood of Prvensea, on the Sussex coast, by the sn►ugglers, to run a large cargo of contraband goods; and so .ffeetually did they do it, chat a party of about 200 smugglers Cams dos ii and took posiession of the Blockade-men, and also of the village, so that nu one was allowed to pass to give information, when a smuggling vessel hove in sight, and landed no less than SOO cubs of spirits, leaving a galley, 52 feet long, and ten tubs. This is .48 sectuui ur third trick of the kind lately practised. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. SATURDAY, MAY IS, 1926. STOCK RXCHANGR, TWRLVR (CLOCK. Consoh opened this morning at 781 1, for the Account. The first bargain done at the opening of the market was 781 for the July Account. There is little business doing, and it is not supposed there will be any great fluctuation in the course of this day. In the Foreign Market no business is doing to any extent, and the prices are merely nominal. Current Prices : Old Spanish 7t 8, Mexican 63k, Colombian new 4t Peruvian 31 32, Russian 76i, Brazilian Bonds 55 56, Greek 1.51 f, New Scrip, *prem. Exchequer Bills 9 10 prem. TWO O'CLOCK. For these three hours past Consols have remained stationary at 7I 6 for the Account, and 78i for the July Account, with little or nothing doing. The news of Peace a ith the Burmese has not had any effect on the Conant Market, as it bas been anticipated for several days past ; but India Stock has risen to 235, and Bonds 8 to 10 premium. PRICK OF STOCK AT TWO O'CLOCK. S per Cent. Red. 77% % 3 ier Cent. Cons. 78% 1 / 2 % 31 per Cent. 84% IA 4 per Cent. 94% 5 qg Lonz Ann. 18 % 13-16 • India Stock 233 India llondF. 8 10 prem. £l,OOO Excl.eq.lllk 9 10 prem. £5OO ditto 9 10 prem. 4:101 and 1:200 ditto 911 prem. . C .itc. tor Acct. 78 1 ,4 34 4 per Cent. Scrip 1 / 4 prem. 4.per Cent. 1826, 93 FORRIGN FUNDS, TWO O'CLOCK Colombian Bd., 6p C. . Mex. Bonds 1225.631 1 Do. lids 1E24, 421 * 3 If 3 Ditto Acct. 631 31 a a * Do. Ace. 421 a 1 3 2a 3a Perur. Ms. 6 p C. 311 Daniels Ms, 11125,3 p C. Russ. lids, 1829., S p C. 761 Ditto Aect. 54j I Do. Acct. 76 Greek LklslB2s.3pC. Span. sp. C. 1823, Ditto Acct. 1.5 i Ditto 510, 3 BRITISH AND FOREIGN SHARKS, TWO O'CLOCK. Anglo Mexican spm. SHAWL. ►AIR. 100 50 50 100 7i 81 100 IS 41 5 40 so sod 100 a I Paseo Peruvian United Alexican Continental Gas PEACE WITH THE BURMESE. By the arrival of the Mellish, Captain Come, from Bengal, we have a full confirmation of the report that the war against the Burmese has been terminated by an advantageous peace. The purser of the Mellish arrived in town early this morning, with dispatches from the Governor-General of India, announcing this gratifying intelligence, and proceeded with them to the India House. The terms of the treaty will be seen, by the following extract from the Madras Gazette Extraordi nary, of the 1 27th January, which was received at the North and South American Coffee•house this forenoon. An increase of territory, and indemnity for the expences incurred, are the results of this war, which has been dis tinguished by several brilliant achievements, highly honourable to the British arms: PROM THS MADRAS iI'AZETTE EXTRAORDINARY. Tos.u•r. lOWA IT 17. The ship Thalia Captain J. laidden, from Rangoon, 9tb inst. has just come kit° tile Roads. Passengers, Captains Thornton and laxton, Lieutenants Bird, Carr, and Ellesley, and Dr. Campbell. e brings the pleasing intelligence of Peace being concluded with the Burmese: we understand she has dispatches on board for Government, conveying this gratifying, news. Part of the Burmese Empire is to be ceded to the British Government, including Pegue ; Rangoon to be a free port, under the English Government; one crore of rupees to be paid by the Burmese to our Government. We are to have a resident at Ava, and the Burmese one at Calcutta. This forenoon we received German Papers to the 7th inst. They give a lamentable account of the state of Commerce on the Continent. At the last Leipzic fair the number of visitors, was only about a fourth of what it usually was. The passports and cards of residence, which generally amounted to 30,000, were this year only about 8000. Above 550 magazines remained closed, because those who formerly occupied them were absent, and the rent was in many places reduced to a tenth of what it used to be. All manufactured goods, except, perhaps, woollen cloths and silks, experienced a reduction of price twice as great as at the fair of Frankfort. There were, however, only seven bankruptcies. • We have received ihere7 --- Ich Papers of Wednesday and Thursday. The Mode contains letters from Constantiotopk, dated the 11th ult. stating that Mr. Sraavreius C*asnia had interfered in behalf of the Greeks, and that all the European Ministers in that capital had sent notice to their respective Courts of the arrival of the Russian Ultimatum, and of their having used every effort to give it effect. The reply of the Turkish Government had not been wade known at that period, but was expected with great impatiens*. Accounts from Corfu of the 22d ult. repeat the statement of the defeat of the Egyptians on the 6th, and of the provisioning of Mts. solonghi for several months by Miaow, with the capture of thirty European vessels freighted at Alexandria with supplies for the Bar barians landed in the Morea. On the 11th, MIAULI4 with 59 vessels of war and 20 fi re-ships, is said to have attacked the Turco- Egyptian fleet, consisting of 120 ships. The contest was bravely maintained, and lasted three days. The Turks had two frigates burnt, and seven vessels sunk, after which the remainder, greatly disabled, took refuge at Patras. The Greeks lost two of their sown ships, and some others were obliged to go to the i.lAnd of Calamoa to repair. They remained, however, masters of the Gulf, which was the great point which they had in view, after having succeed ed in raising the sea blockade of Missolonghi. We have received a letter from Manchester, written yesterday morning, which states all is tranquil in that town and neighbourhood, but business is still slack. The Arm of Messrs. Joust PooLve and Co. have, however, resumed business in their extensive spinning mills, in which upwards of six hundred persons are employed. At Glasgow, Arbroath, and Dundee, trade is still very dull ; though considerable orders have lately been received for various kinds of cotton twist, for the East Indian market, where, it teems, it can be got wove into cloth by the poor flincloos, much cheaper than it can be done in this country. Lest night, in the House of Commons, Mr. flummox ►rought forward his mosion foe a Return of British ships' built frog 1114 to 1825, Inclusive, in a long, luminous, and eloquent speech, in which he gave the most distinct and irrefragAble proof that the shipping interests of Great Britain base in no respect suf fered from the alterations iw the Naviption Laws, which have ►een the ground of much idle and ignorant censure. Lord CHARLKII SOMKRiET,• who came passenger in the Adas, from the Caps of Good Elope, has arrived in town. Y-verday, the dispatches for Ishdras and Bmgal, by the ship Prince Regent, Capt. HENRY Homes, wore dosed at the !Alt India Huusr, and delivered to the Purser of that ship. Last ei,ring, despatches were ►ent off tram the Commander in. Chiefs Office, In the Horse Guards, ,to Colonel' Ranges, gte Commastder of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guiirds, at Manchester. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Lieut. CUARLIOI PARIM, Of his Majesty's WO Varrowr, has exchanged •with Lieut. CAVL►tnL",• of the Auaosui. which , ship expects to sail to-morrow from Plymouth, for the West Indies. I•he CALLIO►►., tender to the ROYAL. Gwen., is ordered from Jersey to Deptford, and her crew are to be lent to the Royal Sove. vereign yacht, to convey his Royal Highness the Duke of Cuiaxiont to the Continent. Lieut. LIVZILI, Warden of Woolwich Dock-yard, is appointed to Greenwich Hospital; Lieut. Vase's to be Warden at Vroolwich. Lord Camara Sominsirr arrived off Weymouth yesterday, in the Atlas, Hort, from China and the Cape of Good Hope. Also, the Mellish, Coca, from Calcutta ; and the Cambrian, Ccsasson, frlm Bombay. The Coldstream, Albion, Guilford, Thalia, and Chit& Hareld, arrived at Madras previous to the 17th January. DIAL, MAT 12.—Wind N. E.— Passed through frona the ' • River, the Edgar, Caarrintr., for Jamaica ; Eden, As:Tumor. for Antigua; British Monarch, Nation, and ',storm, Lowry, fur De merara; and the Globe, JOHNSON, for Rio de Janeiro. Remains, his Majesty's ship RAMIIA.M. PORTEMOUTU, May 12.—Wind E.N.E.—Arrived the hope Love, from St. Michael's ; and Elizabeth and Mary, Carsio, from' London fur Grenada, and sailed again. Passed by for London, the Maria, —, from St. Michael's, Sailed the Competitor, —, for Quebec. SCOTTISH HOSPITAL. Yesterday the Spring Festival of the Scottish Corporation was celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern, when his Royal Highness the Duke of CLARINCI and Sr. Arroiteve's took the Chair, and was supported by Lord Salmon Lord Glenorchy, Sir Archibald Chri st i e , Sir Courts Trotter, &c. & c. The Scottish Hospital is applicable to the poor mechanic, the artizan, and labourer, natives of Scotland, with their wives, wi dows, and children resident in this metropolis' and its immediate neighbourhood; who, not having acquired any parochial settlement in this country, would, in age and poverty, in daises% and "dis• tress, or whets in want of employment, he exposed to the utmost wretchedness or beggary, but for the fostering care of this tatsti. tution. The number of those objects dependant on public hnunty is dutch greater than is generally imagined; during the last twelve monthi, that is from the Ist of May, 1895 to the Ist ult. no less than 2825 poor persons have been relieved by this Charity, be , ides paying the passage to Scotland of 262 persons. Besides rise casual appncatits to the Hospital for relief and passages, a suns of 7001. is set apart for the support of 70 aged and infirm persons exceeding 70 years of • age, to whom a pension of 10/. per annum is allowed. At the dinner yesterday, after the cloth had been removed, and Non Nobis, Domini, sung by the vocalists present, The Duke of Carty:cm rose to propose the health of " His Majesty." It was a wise maxim, he said, in the law and customs of this country, that the King could do no wrong ; but it did not by any means follow that he could do no good. Since he had last had the honour of :medal/ with his fellow subjects on this occasion, difficulties, embarrassments, and distress had occur red in the country ; and it was well known to every one (though it might not become him to say it) that wherever that die. tress had extended, there also the beneficence and charitable dis position of his Majesty had penetrated—(Cheers).—Nor was he less attentive to those numerous institutions whose anniversaries called upon him for annual aid : for he had the honour of being the bearer of a message from his Majesty, that 100 guineas had been lodged with Lord Viscount Melville for the benefit of the Scottish ilospicaL The health of his Majesty was then drank, with tour times four, with immense cheering. Song—" God Save the King." 'Fbeßoyal CHAIILMAN, in proposing the next toast, said, that with out any disparagement to his Majesty's subjects of England and Ireland, he might say that the exploits of the Scots in the wars which had but a few years ago been carried on for the independence of the country, hadalways shone with peculiar lustre. His Royal Highness then proposed, " The Duke of York and the Army." , which was drank with great enthusiasm, with three times three. Song—" How merrily we live." Lord Sag:rot% in a neat speech, proposed " the Duke of Clarence and the Navy," which was drank with great applause. His Royal Highness returned thanks. He was as much attached to the Navy as any subject is his Majesty'. dominions. It was the bulwark of the empire ; the strong hold to which every one looked for safety in a time ssf danger—( Immense cheering.) The health of the President of the Society was next given, ind thanks returned by his Royal Highness, whe commented with great eloquence on the industrious and persevering habits of the Scots ; their attachment to their country, and to one another in whatever part of the world they might happen to meet ; and cm the necessity of their uniting their efforts to promote that matt • benevolent Institution, the anniversary of which they were now . - . " The Health of the Duchess of Clarence "—" Pro;perity to the , Scottish Corporation"—" The Duke of hiontrose'—.. Th e vi es Presidents of the Corporation"—" The Land of Cakes,"—" The Lord Provost of Edinburgh"—" The Land we live in7—*"Tlie Treasurer of the Corporation"—" The Standing Committee of Relief"—" The Thistle, the Rose, sad the Shamrock"—" The Stewards of the day, and the Stewards Elect"—were successively toasted, and received with due applause by the Meeting. Lord &howl, Lord Glenorchy, Sir Archibald Christie, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and several other Gentlemen present. addressed the Meeting, and strongly urged the necessity of support ing the Scottish Hospital by liberal donations, is order to enable it to continue that course of benevolence and utefulneu it had hitbeno maintained. His Rovst. Minoltas, after a very hanisome eulogium on Mr. Auld, for his constant and zealous ezertioni to promote the interests of the Institution, and his laborious attention to its concerns, pro. posed the health of the worthy Secretary, with three times three, which was most cordially received. Mr. AULD said, with much feeling—Your Royal Highness, my Lords, and Gentlemen, the high honour which you have thus done me is so unexpected that I am at a loss how to express my ac knowledgments. • In exercising my bumbie endeavours for the in terest of this Charity, I only do my duty ; and if my services meet your distinguished sanction and approbation, and that of those m the immediate management of the Hospital—and if they contribute in any degree to the benefit and advantage or thuae for whom we are all labouring, the poor, aged, and infirm objects of your bounty, then are my exertions amply repaid. In the course of the evening, the Treasurer read various reports of the progress of the Institution. Its income during the last year by subscriptions had only been 1,3 MI. while the expenditure, in various ways, had amounted to double that sum. The permanent funds of the Society (one of the most ancient established its 'this country) consisted of 23,0921. in the 3 per cents. and 5,000 L South Sea Stock. • At eleven o'clock his Royal Highness left the Chair, and tbe alerting soon afterwards separated. In justice to Mr. Cuff we must, say the wine was excellent. Mr. Secretary Caw Nitro was prevented from attend.. ing the King in Council, on Wednesday, by the decease of a fe. male relation at Brighton, which also prevented the Right lion. Gentleman front attending the Douse of Commons on Thuteday evening. Mr. Secretary CANNING has transmitted to Perxit Sonars, Esq. the Chief Magistrate of Liverpool, the sum of SOL in aid of the subscription !or the relief of the distressed marstactur. , log districts. . Film—Wednesday morning, about half.past one o'clock, a fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Charles Beer, tallow chandler, in Rose-lane, Canterbury. Six engines, belonging to the Economic, Kent, and Norwich Offices, arrived, with a number of fire buckets, and instantly got to work with great effect. In about two hours the fire had so tar expended itself as to be kept under, and prevented from spreading to the surrounding premises. We regret to state Mr. G. S. Robinson, Secretary to the E.cononde Fire Offic, fell from a building in the Rose Yard, broke his left aim just above tbe wrist, and is ot herwise seriously hurt. Wednesday evening, between five and six o'clock, some disturbances took place in Dublin, principally occasioned by the lower order of country carriers, butchers boys, and a number of ruffians of notorious character, who took advantage of the present distressed state of that city to gratify their pro pensities to plunder. The tumult commenced in bleath•street, where two baskets of bread were seized and carried 4,IE—A number of persons then proceeded through Thomas-street, and having arrived at Wormwood-gate, entered the house of a baker named 111 4 DoNsett., and were about to carry off the bread, when they were prevented by a party of the police who had artiveck— Alderman DARLZY at the head of a strong detachment of the horse police shortly after arrived, and dispersed the crowd ; the streets were perfectly quiet before eight "clock. It was at first rumoured that the we. secs in the L betty ha I assembled, and attacked the provision establishments; and the akarts was such that nearly «II the shops, to the utmost extremity of tile town, were closed up before seven o'clock. At the Weavers' Hall on the Coombe, Dublin, on Tuesday evening, the crowd of persons who attended to receive tickets which entitled them to receive provisions to the amount of Did. for each family, was immense. -11 1 :r