The National Register. — London, England, 1809-01-01 00:00:00

JAN. 1. Friday a Court of Directors was held at the East India House, when the undermentioned Commanders took leave previous to departinc , for their respective destinations, viz. Capt. A. F. W. Swi nton, Carnatic, Madeira, Madras, and Bengal. Capt. J. Tweedale, Perseverance ; Capt. W . Campbell, Nottingham ; and J. Birch, Britannia, Madras, and China. The Court adjourned at six o'clock till Wed- nesday next. Tuesday the Lord Mayor after examining the returns of the Mealweighers, ordered the price of Bread to remain as last week. SINGULARITY IN MGR LIFX.—The .mistress of an ample domain and family mansion, in the neighbourhood of :Blackheath, is considered a most eccentric character. Her benevolence is unbounded, and she possesses an amiable disposition ; but she imbibes the most whimsical ideas. A few days since, she imagined that the Prince of Darkness had taken his abode in the backs of certain ancient fatuity chairs, and, in order to serve Satan with an action 01 ejectment, she sent for a carpenter, and compelled him in her presence, to reduce the chairs to stools. The backs of course were condemned to that element where the Satanic enemy is supposed to reside. This Lady, on a former oc casion, received, as a present, a most beautiful animal of the horned species, brought from Peru. She was extreme ly partial to it, and the little favourite was placed on the awn before the house, where its tricks and appearance de ighted the family. The fond mistress having one day eft a rose which she had plucked in the garden, on the - steps of the hall, the favourite not only breathed the fra grance of the flower, but ate the damask buds. Before he _had finished his repast the Lady noticed the act, and she immediately turned away from her favourite, and would never see it again. She 'entertained an idea that the animal had violated her hospitality, by destroying her favourite flower. Many other instances of refined singularity have • distinguished this Lady among her neighbours. Mr. Horne Tooke is so much recovered as to be declared by his physicians able to weather the winter in point of physical strength, provided his mind can be kept riding quietly at anchor, and not suffered to adventure any more on the political ocean I A new plan has been recently suggested for enlarging Smithfield Market, or rather for rendering the present space adequate to the transaction of the increased business of the market. It is proposed to remove the sheep market to an upper story, to he constructed of cast iron, over the present space, with inclined planes, for the ascent of the sheep, and that the whole of the' space beneath should be used as a market for horned cattle. A shrewish wife pressing her husband to partake of some mock turtle soup, he peevishly replied : " No, my Dear 1 thank yon ; 1 have had a surfeit of mock turtle since 1 married." An ingenious correspondent, who has taken some pains to form a probable estimate of the produce of the different crossings in the metropolis and its vicinity, conceives the gross amount to be no !ess than 60001. for one year. CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF COVENT•GARDEN THEATRE. The following Ceremony was observed yesterday on the occasion of laying the Foundation Stone of the New Theatre Royal in Covent Garden The Grand L.)dge was opened at twelve o'clock by the S. W. or .1. W. or Seni:)r G. 0. present. At half past 12, proceeded to the place assigned and waited be arrival of the G M. The arrival of the O. M. announced by the air of " God save the King." The G. M. followed by the Grand OfficerA, proceeded from the covered place assi toed to receive them, to the place prepared for the ceremony, through an arch raised for the purpose. The upper part of the stone being raised, the G. T. deposited in it the Coins arri Medals. The cement bein prepared; the G.. M. olosted tbe saute with 11 his tr• - mel, ;tad the stow was let down whilst a marital air was played. The G. M. then tried the work by the plumb, the leiel and the square, which were severally presented to him by the J. W the S. W. and the deputy G. M. and having found it correct. he layed the stone by giving three knocks with his mallet. The corn, wine, and oil, were then presented to the M. he scattered, and poured them on the stone, and immediately after wards delivered to the Architect the plan ofthe building, desir ing him to complete the structure according to that plan; wish ing success and prosperity to the work, and the general object of it. A feu de joye was then tired, and the G.ll. retired. The Brothers returned to the Hall in Procession, and the Grand Lodge was.closed. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. BOARD OF INQUIRY. The Report and Opinion of the Board of Inquiry hav ing been sent this day to the parties concerned, we have obtained the substance from the friends of one of those parties, the report contains an abstract of the evidence, and is of great length, but the opinion is stated to be as follows : " On a consideration of all the circumstances, as set forth 44 set forth in this Report, we most humbly submit our " opinion, that .no further military proceeding is neces " sail on the subject : Because, howsoever some of us 46 may differ in our sentiments respecting the fitness of the " Convention,in the relative situation of the two armies, it is 66 our unanimous declaration, that unquestionable zeal and firmness appear throughout to have been exhibited by " Lieut.-Generals Sir Hew Dalrymple, Sir Harry Burrard, and Sir Arthur Wellesley, as well as that the order and " gallantry of the rest of the officers and soldiers, on every occasion during this Expedition, have done honour to " the troops, and reflected lustre on your Majesty's arms." It seems, that upon this opinion being delivered to the Commander in Chief, his Royal Highness found it was not so explicit, upon the Armistice and Convention, as the words of his Majesty's Warrant appeared to enjoin ; and the Court was therefore ordered to re-assemble, and sub join their opinion—" Whether, under the relative situa tion of Ike two Armies on the '22d August, an Armistice was adviseable ; and if so, whether the terms were such as ought to be agreed upon ?—And, in like manner, their opi nion—" Whether, under the relative situation of the two armies subsequent to the Armistice, and after the whole of the British force had been landed, a Convcation was advise able ; and if so, whether the terms were such as ought to be agreed upon?" Upon these two questions being separately put to each Member of the Court, it appears, that -141'tt• General Sir David Dnoclas, ,t wasi General Lord Heathfield, • General Craig, Were for the Armistice., Lieut.-General Earl Pembroke, Lieut.-Gen. Sir G. Nugent, Lieut.-General Nichols, Earl Moira, against the Armistice. And, upon the second question, it appears, that— General Sir David Dundas, General Lord Heathfield, Were for the Conventiem General Craig, Lieut.-General Sir G. Nugent, . , Earl Moira, Earl Pembroke, Agairst the Contention. Lieutenant-General Nichols, It also appears that each of the latter Officers has given his reasons for dissenting from the majority.