The National Register. — London, England, 1816-01-28 00:00:00

903 REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE. A Meeting of the Governors and Stewards of the Society of 7'.c Rijitgefid• the Destitute took place at the City o(London Tavern, on Thursday. EDWARD FORSTER, Esq. in the Chair. Theßev IL Crosby, A. M. the Secretary, opened the husi ness of the day by reading the minutes of the last Meeting, and also their report, which were received and agreed to on the present occasion. The Chairman then read the report for the last half year, which developed, in the most striking and interesting manner, the numerous benefits that daily arise from the establishment of this most excellent institution. From this it appeared, that the house at Hackney is fitted up for Gu females, who arc en; ployed ii; the different ways to which their services arc most applicable. During the last half year, amongst other persons admitted to this Asylum were three women who were pardoned by the Prince Regent, eight sent from the different prisons in the metropolis, two convicts whose sentences were commuted, two on the recommendation of the Magistrates, six under neatly similar circum4ances, one taken from an hospital in a forlorn and &stitute state, besides five who were clothed and tent to their fi lends. Among those sent from the Institution completely reformed, and with the means of future livelihood, were ten in respectable services, and eight with their parents and friends ; all of whom Lad carefully preserved the moral character which this Society enabled them to regain. That part of the report which related to the male branch of the Institution was equally satisfactory. During, the last year t‘Aentysix men had been admitted. Like the female inmates, they were chiefly selected from the criminal rolls of the diffetent Courts of Justice, and had, through the means _afforded by "The Refuge for the Destitute," attained moral reformation and future subsistence. The men and boys were profitably emiloved for the Institution in breaking and dressing flax, in carventer's work, shoemaking. &c. 'The Rev. Mr. Crosby read the affecting particulars of some of the cases of those who had been relieved by the Society. Among the men was the case of an individual who had been rescued from a state of ruin and despair by the Institution, whose timely aid enabled him not only to surmount difficul ties, but to repay the loan which be had received, and full of gratitude to enrol himself among their annual subscribers. The Disbursements of the Society for the last year aluottuLed to £9914 9 5 Their Receipts were 1t1568 5 11 In the expectation of ael. from Government, and an increase Of voluntary solcriptions, the Institution has every prospect of continuing to dispense its numerous benefits in the com munity. —oar On Thursday a Court of Common Council was held at G uild• %all; to take into consideration the propriety of addressing the Prince Regent, congratulating him on the peace concluded between France and this country. The Add,e,s was moved by Mr. Alderman lievgate, after some very excellent observations on the great perils which we bad to sumount, and the firmness and constancy with which e met and overcame all the obstacles that stood between us and that desirable object. Mr. Sheriff Bell seconded the Ad- dress. Mr. Davies, Mr. Waithman, and several other members op posed it ; on the grou nd, that we had nothing to congratulate for ; that the country was in a state of great distress, and , pot at all likely to derive much advantage from the peace. Af ter a long debate, the motion for the address was carried by a *mat majority, without a d ivision. It a pp ears, however, that Air hen it was prepare.d, thei e was not a full Court. Mr. W AITH aI AN would not take advantage of the accident, but another Member did, and the busiuess is to do over again. There is now living in the parish of Forncett St. Mary, in Norfolk, ti Mrs. Knights, lbb sears of age. She retains the use of all her fatuities, and sometimes will walk a mile or two to take a cup of tea with some old neighbour, mid tell the tale of ages past, and 411e..,c vibe the dap. of other years. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. :S ; IR R. WILSON, MR. BRUCE, AND MR: HUTCHINSON. Tune Goitlemen, all persons of some rank and con sideration, and to whom we must give ordinary credit for possessing the honourable feelings of their profession, are. confined in FRANCE, under a charge of assisting in the Rescue of LA VALI:TEE. We last week collected, by way of anticipation, all the probable or possible causes of their conduct. We are ourselves at present inclined to consider it, on the part of Sir K. WI esoN, the impulse of private feeling and friendship, and that the other gentlemen have been misled by him : but it is publicly stated, that Mr. 'Luxes declared he had a right to interfere, in virtue of the Convention of PARIS Whether this has been vio. lated or not our readers may judge. The note to Lord CHARLE4 STUART, by the advocates of NEY, places the case in a very clear point of view, and the only question wills be whether, in contracting with the Doke of Wet. eirenTosr and BLUCHER for an amnesty, the French generals were not short sighted, not to say over. reached, by omitting to stipulate for their guarantee against the returning government; who by them only could be re stored. The common principle is, that every grant shall be construed most forcibly against the grantor. Now the words do not. stipulate for Louis XVIII. and if WELLING.• To sr and BLUCHER had this mental reservation, they nave outwitted NEY and Davousv in the quibbles of diplomacy, as well as beaten them in war. If the Duke of WLei.iwo 'row took possession in his own right, or right of his sove reign, for an instant ; he was bound, while in pos s ession, to protect NEY. That is quite clear, according to the letter of the Convention. lie did take possession. He afterwards almost instantly handed over PAltls, without stipulations to Louis XVIII. Ought he to have done this? Can Louis XVIII. hold Paris except according to the terms on which WELLINGTON told it? Is not every subsequent possessor, bound by the mortgage, or contract of the first taker, of his last ancestor, or of the previous possessor. This is the only ground on which the case can now stand, and if so, should Louis XVIII. even be right' in disregarding the Convention, it will not be so easy to show that the ENGLISH have not been guilty of any omis sion. If the Duke of WELLINGTON acted as ally of, and for, Louis XVIII. then is not Louis XVIi I. bound by his contract ? Or shall the people of PARIS super by the omission of his name ? Louis XVIII. will say that he came in by a prior right, and is retested in his Former power. But if WELLINGTON considered this to be the case, was he not then stipulating as agent for Louis XVIII ? Could the re-entry have been made except through the process of the Duke of WELLINGTON, and was not the compromises with him binding on Louis XVIII. We think we have thus reduced the question to its fair 'merits. It is a case of plain Law, and the opinion of NET or WELLINGTON is alike immaterial. Whether the officers in the British Service can justly interfere, except by ss memorial to the crown of England we confess we doubt much. Subordination is at an end if this is allowed. And whatever we may think of the chivalrous honour of the BRUCE (meaning the great King of Scotland ROBERT BRUCE), a name quite as glorious as that of any of the , BOURBONS, and not to be eclipsed even by a IlEsity IV ) of whom we hear so much, even to the nausea, that makes us loath again, we are obliged to confess that the sole honour in a modern soldier is to go where his monarch) JAN. Q.