The National Register. — London, England, 1820-08-06 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE REGENTS CANAL. Tuesday being the day appointed for the formal open. Ing of the new branch of the Regent's Canal. the ma naging committee, with the chairman, Mr. Morgan, the head engineer, Mr. Nash, the head surveyor, together with the principal proprietors, and a number of other persons of rank and respectability connected with the undertaking, assembled near Maiden-lane about eleven o'clock, and took water at that part of the canal which is contiguous. The committee etnbarked on board one of the city state barges, which had been borrowed for the occasion, and they were accompanied by several other barges, having on board bands of music, and decorated wilt flags and streamers in profusion. The day being favourable, the crowds assembled to witness theceremony were immense, particularly at the grand basin in the City-road. The procession went under the great tunnel through Islington, where the hands of music played se veral national airs, and the effect produced by the rever beration of the sound was grand beyond description.— The party then proceeded to the grand basin in the City road, where a salute was fired, and they were hailed with the loudest acclamations. from the numerous crowds stationed on the shore. After having gone round the basin, the party proceeded down the Canal to Lime house, and 111 their course met with the same reception from the well-dressed persons who lined the sides of the canal the whole distance. At Limehonse the party stopped, and partook of a magnificent dinner. Soon after the opening procession had gone through the locks there was a great competition ainotigu several of the Paddington barges for the honour of being the first to land produce on the wharf at the grand basin. A des perate struggle ensued between two of them, but after a well-contested race, the honour was won by a barge, the stance of which we believe was " The William," from which was landed the first produce, and a cask of ale, which was immediately drank up on the spot by the navigators, with loud huzgas to the prosperity of the un dertaking. Numerous barges loaded with respectable passengers, principally consisting of well•dressed fe males, followed, accompanied by music, &c. The boatmen, in their Sunday clothes, were particularly nu merous, and formed a most picturesque assemblage in their blue and white frocks, and their hats decorated with ribbands. In short, the spot, from the noise, bustle, and jullity, had every appearance of a fair until a late hour. This canal, which has been nearly seven years incom plete, unites all the principal canals in the kingdom with the river Thames. From its commencement to the ter mination of Limehouse, it extends nearly nine miles, and within that space are comprised 12 locks and 37 bridges. The construction of the former is on so excel lent a principle, that only three minutes and a half are occupied in passing each of them. The work was pro jected by J. Nash. Esq. the Royal architect, under whose superintendence it had been completed. The tunnel under Islington-hill is about three-quarters of a simile in length, and passes benath the bed of the New River. At seven o'clock nearly a hundred gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner, the Earl of - Macclesfield in the chair. Alter the removal of the cloth, and when the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been drank, the Noble Chairman proposed " Success to the Regent's Canal," tullich was drank with great cordiality. Mr. Monroe, a member of the committee, observed, "That as the Regent's Canal was an undertaking, the nature and objects of which were not perhaps generally known, he might be allowed to avail himself of the op portunity which this toast afforded him to say a few words on the subject. This was one of thosegreat works which, though originating in the enterprising spirit of private individuals, were calculated to produce the greatest benefit to the public. Many years had elapsed since the commencement of the work, and now they had at last the satisfaction to see it completed, though its com pletion had been accomplished at a great expense, and after sxtraordinary exertions. In truth, the difficulties which had been surmounted were known only to those who had been engaged in superintending the work: and the expense had.greatly exceeded the amount anticipated by those who had formed the original estimates. The sum expended on this canal was upwards of half a mil lion sterling ; but the proprietors had the gratifying as surance that it would be attended with great advantage to the metropolis, at the sante time that it would add materially to the beauty of the country, and connect the whole inland navigation of England. When they saw this great undertaking successfully completed, they were naturally induced to look to the superintending hand under which it had been accomplished ; and in the person of their Noble Chairman they had . the good fortune to see that union of high rank and intelligence, which could not fail to command respect, and to ensure success to the cause in which they are all so deeply interested. (Great applause.) lie concluded by pro posing the health of their Nobl e Chairman, the Earl of Macclesfield," which was drank with three times three. The Noble Chairman returned thanks. Whatever exertions he had made In promote the object of the proprietors, had resulted from the conviction that the canal would answer the expectation. of the public, and of those who were more immediately concerned in the undertaking. The work was now completed, and he had no doubt that all the anticipations which he and others had formed respecting its utility would soon be realized. (Applause.) On the health of the gentlemen of the Committee being drank, Mr. Monroe returned thanks. A number of other appropriate toasts were drank in the course of the evening, and the festivity of the com pany was continued till a late hour. The Marquis of Donegal, will, it is said, have the vacant Blue Ribbon of the Earl of Roden. THE NATIONAL REGISTER ARRIFAL OF RElt MAJESTY AT BRANDENBURG HOUSE. -air On Thursday morning the neighbourhood of Port man-street presented an appearance of the greatest bustle; as early as ten o'clock persons began to ar rive from all quarters, and take their station opposite the house where her Majesty resided. At about two o'clock the street was perfectly impassable, from the immense concourse of pedestrians and a number of carriages and other vehicles, which had taken up their stations in the street for the purpose of wit nessing her Majesty's departure. A little after two o'clock her Majesty made her appearance at one of the upper windows of the house, and was received with immense cheers; her Majesty came out also in the course of the day on the balcony, and was re ceived as usual by the people with loud cheers. At four o'clock a chariot and four fine horses, with outriders dressed in splendid new liveries of scarlet, arrived at her residence. In a few minutes her Mqlesty mounted the chariot, and was followed by Lady Ann Hamilton, Doctor Luxhington, and Alderman Wood—the chariot immediately drove off at a smart pace amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the people. At about half past four the procession made its appearance at Hammersmith, and drove on. When at the first Turnpike, at Hammersmith, the parish officers met the procession, who were decorated with white favours, and escorted the procession into Hammersmith. When it arrived there, the church bells struck up a merry peal, and the guns com mence firing amidst the immense cheers of a vast multitude of people who were flocking towards the new residence of her Majesty, who arrived there a few minutes before five o'clock. The Gentlemen who preceded the coach drew up in a line on each side the gateway, and waved their hats as the coach passed. The gates were instantly closed, and the immense multitude gradually dispersed. Were we to notice the different preparations which were made for rejoicings near and in Hammersmith, it would fill a column, the streets leading into the village were decorated and hung with beautiful flowers twisted with ribbons, and placed like festoons. The houses were all filled with ladies, which con siderably enlivened the beauty of the scene, they all wore white ribbons, and waved their handker chiefs as her Majesty passed. The children of the Hammersmith Schools were all drawn uptin a line on the churchyard wall, who were dressed in their Sunday clothes, and who seemed highly pleased at the amusing scene before them; the road was lined with genteelly dressed persons of both sexes, and several carriages, filled with personages of distinction, who waved their handkerchiefs, and displayed every demonstration of respect to her Majesty. Her Majesty looked remarkably well, and was splendidly dressed in a state coloured robe, and a hat and plume of feathers of the same colour. Her Ma jesty bowed most gracefully to the people. We are not aware of a single accident occurring. The inhabitants of the Mother Parish of Fulham, unwilling to be behind their Hamlet in testifying their duty, loyalty, and attachment to their Queen, not only welcomed her arrival on Thursday with a merry peal, but hoisted their flag, to celebrate the honour of her becoming a resident among them. There has been a long correspondence between the Queen and his Majesty's Ministers on the subject of accommodating her with a town residence. Ministers, it is said, express great willingness to meet her Majesty's wishes in any manner that ap peared practicable. A Ministerial paper says, "to those proposed by his Majesty's Ministers, excep tions have been taken by the Queen, while those demanded by her Majesty do not appear to be within the control of the Ministers. In this state the matter at present rests ; and if her Majesty is unable to obtain s what she conceives to be a suita ble dwelling by the 17th of August, it is her inten tion to proceed to town every day from Branden burgh House, Hammersmith." A new carriage is building for her Majesty, which will be in readiness by the 17th of August. She will be drawn every day to the House of Lords by six horses, richly caparisoned, and will be attended by a suitable number of servants in royal liveries. The Queen's equipage within the last few days is much improved. Her servants are dressed in royal liveries, and her Majesty is drawn by fine blood horses. Important hformalicm to Sherills' Officers.—On the trial of the cause of " Kirby r. Spooner, Esq." at the last Cambridge Assizes, Mr. Justice Holroyd not only recognized the power of the Sheriff to sell after the return of the writ, but expressly held that Sheriffs' Officers were entitled to remain on the pre mises of defendants in execution a reasonable time after the return of' the writ, where the property could not be previously removed. On a former trial between the parties, a different doctrine was maintained, but which was afterwards over-ruled by the Court of King's Bench. PArAL AFFRAY AT GREENOCK. The unfortunate town of Greenock hssagain be , :n the scene of bloodshed. On Saturday, the wth ul'. a party, consisting of six men of the 13th reginter.i, had been drinking in the house of a person narited Quern, lit Shennan's Close, where two of them had their quarters. Sometime before midnight they wznst to the head of the close in Snew.street, and having there met some sailors, they cried to them " blue jackets." The sailors resented ; a scuffle followed, and one of the soldiers ran back to his lodgings for his bayonet, and was about to rejoin his associates in the street when he was prevented from going out by the innkeeper in the close, front whom the party had got some of their whisky The rest of the soldiers were then driven back to the quarters and hav ing called on their comrade to open the door, they were admitted, and along with them a person besmeared with. blood, with whom they had been fighting, and who fell upon the floor, and was for some time insensible. A pretty numerous crowd collected, and threatened to force the door. The soldiers rats up stairs,' and having loaded the muskets of the two who lodged in the house, fired from the window over the heads of the crowd, and induced them to disperse. Hy this time it was Sabbath morning. By and by a watchman on the quay, having heard the firing occasionally repeated, proceeded to the place, and having, in answer to a question from the soldiers, told what he was, desired them to give over firing. This answer was no sooner heard, than one of the soldiers took up his piece, and by a shot, through the left breast, killed the watchman on the spot. Im mediately after another watchman, who came up to see after his companion, was shot between the fag . , t.iid he died in an hour and a half after in an adjoining house. The women in the neighbourhood, having gathered round, prevailed with the soldiers not to fire till they removed the bodies. A sailor lad was also shot, and died in the Infirmary at noon on Sabbath. When the town guard came up, the soldiers disregarded the ser. jeant's order to desist from firing, and it was not till the arrival, about one o'clock, of another party, accompanied by an officer and a magistrate, that order was restored. 'I he six soldiers, together with one in common clothes, were then delivered over to the civil power, and lodged in gaol.—The names of the sufferers are Robert Simpson, a widower, and Henry Pearson, who has left a wife and four children, and Archibald Morrison,a young COURT or CLAIMS. —It was expec ted that the Commissioners would have met o n Monday, In the painted chamber, according . to adjournment, and a number of claimants were in attendance with their proofs in support of their claims to do service on the day of his Majesty's coronation. Sir H. Russell, one of the Commissioners, entered the painted cham ber at twelve o'clock, and waited until half.past one o'clock, without being joined by any of the other eommiasioners. William Butt, Esq. the Deputy Serjeant at Arms, informed him that he had just found in the Gazette of Saturday last, the following notice, viz.—" Court of Claims.—Notice is hereby given that the meeting of this Court, which was appointed for Monday, the 31st day of July instant, stands adjourned until further notice." Mr. Butt then read the notice aloud, and the court was cleared. On Monday, at two o'clock, the Deputation from the borough of Ilchester waited upon the Queen with an Address, to which her Majesty returned a gra cious answer. After the Deputation withdrew, her Majesty went to North -street, Finsbury-square, to view the School, called the Royal Institution, for 1,000 boys and 300 girls, of which the Duke and Duchess of Kent were patrons. Her Majesty ex pressed the most lively satisfaction at the order and regularity which pervaded the establishment, and the interesting appearance of the children, fur whom she left a liberal donation. Lord Byron, a strong Oppositionist in every sense of the word, and an energetic opponent of all the prosecutors of the Queen, is on his way home, fir the exclusive purpose of attending his place in Par liament to support his sentiments. His Lordship, it may be known, has long been resident in Italy. He is intimately acquainted with the manners and morals of the Italians; and he had many opportu nities of meeting the Queen, and of observing her demeanor. He will be a most important acquisition to the Queen's party. The buildings and land in Camp Lane, near Leeds, at present occupied by the 6th regiment of Foot, have, it seems, been purchased by Govern ment, for permanent infantry barracks. The in tended erections near Sheepacarbar, :bout half a mile distant, for which Parliament have voted 98.0001. of the public money, arc to form cavalry barracks. Two of her Majesty's witnesses have arrived front Milan, one of whom performed the journey in the short period of six days. We are assured, upon the most undoubted authority, that her Majesty expe riences great difficulty in bringing to this country the witnesses necessary for her defence. The Go vernor of Milan states, that he cannot give passports to any witnesses except those who may have be longed to her Majesty's household, without pre viously sending to Vienna fur authority. Thus the defence of the Queen of England is made to &pent& upon the will and pleasure of the Emperor of *5l