The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1825-02-11 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS. dui his object was that the inquiry should be bread and comprehensive. In the House of Corr.mons, Mr. Gov t.BUIN obtained leave to introduce the Bill for amending the existing laws relative to illegal Asscciitions in Ireland. This measure, the Right Honourable Gentleman stated, would extend to all societies assuming to act. for redress of grievances. all Committees of permanent duration, and all Associations formed in levy or collect money. It will aka include dB- Lated and corresponding Societies which refuse admission to any persons on account of their religious faith, or which are bound by any midis not sanctioned by the laws of the country. Scientific, literary, and charitable Associations will be left untouched in their operation, and the ordinary mode of proceeding will be by indictment, though, in cases of vexatious prosecution, the right of interference will be reserved for the Al TORNEY•GINEZAL. The Acts pro pail to be amended are the Irish Convention Act of 1793, and the Act of 190 against Secret Societies. ‘tr. Alll/CIOYBY, Sir HENRY PAIiNILL, Mr. Jour; Vr - itttaus, and Mr. Dews •N, strongly opposed the in troduction of the Bill, which was supported by Mr. Lulu Fosrexand Mr. Secretary Pest.. Mr. JoeN Slill H spoke 'ear) , in the debate, but not decisively, with respect to the }:noosed measure. He reserved himself until lie saw its prof isions. Oa the conclusion of Mr. DENXAN'ti speech, whirl was peculiarly vehement, the call for adjournment was general from all parts of the House, and accordingly at a quarter past two the remainder of the debate was deferred till this evening. The Time* of yesterday gives a leading article on the I !abject of Joint Stock Companies, from which it is difficult to withhold our admiration : " With respect to the suggestion of the Members of Par- Lament interested in any of the new projects or Joint Stock C mnpanies should abstain from voting or acting when the propriety of those speculations was before the Legislature, we have now to add, that it has not been unusual, on the starting of a new project, for the self-elected Directors to transmit an offer of a certain number of shares to Members of Parliament, hoping that the scheme would meet with :,:ae support of the said Members in the House. This pro ceeding appears to us to be of the nature of a bribe ; and we trust that, wherever a proposition so revolting to gen t•.emanly feeling has been made, the fact will be declared." Really, an insinuation of this sort against the integrity of the Commons house of Parliament, emanating from Printing-house-square, is a curiosity. Those concerned drawing up this delectable paragraph, must themselves b.• very much in the confidence of the projectors of these various schemes, to be able to instruct their readers in the inistery of their proceedings. It would not be difficult to s , ..ebtr, that, as far as Members cf Parliament are affected by this public slander, the imputation it contains is as un deserved as it is contemptible. But we could not with qua' readiness undertake to exonerate all newspaper pro p, ietors, were they to be accused of having received from these self-elected Directors " an offer of a certain number of shame." Indeed, we know the report to be very ge neratly current, as well as of the fact, that these courteous °Tees were as courteously accepted. It very often hap pens, that the most corrupt are the most forward to im peach the purity of others, in order to put their own beyond suspicion. It would be carrying our confidence the extreme of pastoral simplicity, were we seriously to add, that—" We trust, that wherever a proposition so revolting to gentlemanly feeling has been made, the j..i will be declared." The Mining speculations were certainly many of them of a kind which it behoved every Journal that took the interests of the public at all under its guardianship, or that ever passed its opinion on the passing occurrences of the day, to have earnestly re marked upon, and to have made the prevalent infatuation the subject of its comment and its caution. The Times did neither: but it makes up for its silence, while this folly of speculation was at its height, by aspersing the character and defaming the integrity of Members of Parliament, new that the insane fervour is dying away. The writer pre fers his charge as presumptuously as if he had proved it: ibis proceeding appears to us to be in the nature of a libe." The Times, undoubtedly, on such a subject, is an authority from which there lies no appeal. No Journal better une.erstands the nature of a brihe, or is better qeslifled to moralize on the enormity of its illicit influent e. Our readers will notice with great satisfaction, thai tho Common Council of the City of London yesterday, voted a grant of 5001. in aid of the subscription for the reitel of tire Spanish and Italian refugees. The motion was carried unanimously in a very full assemblage of the the Members of the Civic Parliament. This proceeding retied; honour on the Corporation. The English markets were somewhat duller yesterday than they had previously been in the course of the week. Consols for the Account were 9313, and the bargains for Inspey were done at the same prices. This circumstance is u;nally considered as indicative of heavy sale,. Indeed the aocount transactions were rather flat at the close of Wed nesday's market. The Foreign Securities fur the most part maintained their prices. Brazilian Scrip was firm at 4. • Spanish continued at 22i. The new Mexican Scrip was Si premium, and looked well. Colombian Bonds were in a trailingdegree depressed ; Greek Bonds were done at 5q 9. The cause assigned for their decline was, that speculators were anxious to part with the old, to be ready for the new Scrip which will be out in a few days, and is already in considerable repute. The applications for the new Greek loan amounted to Ib millions sterling. 'The Dublin Papers of hl..nday say nothing as to the feeling produced in Ireland by the expressed determination of Ministers to put down the Catholic Association. We understand that Lord Liverpool, Mr. Canning, Mr. Huskisson, and several of the Cabinet Ministers, will be present at the anniversary dinner of the Ship-owners' Society, on Saturday next, at the City of London Tavern. The Hon. Robert S. Dundas is appointed one of the Commissioners of the Navy Board, in the roam of the Ate lion. E. Bouverie. We understand that Mr. O'Connell, and a deputation from the Catholic Association of Dublin, are expected to arrive in town in a few days. The Learned Gentleman will certainly preside on Tuesday next, at the dinner of the East London Cathole Charity Schools. We are sorry to learn. that the funds of that excellent charity, the Middlesex Hospital, are in a state to call fur the assistance of those wha possess the means and incline too, to secure to the lower classes of society its invaluable In the year 1824, the number of persons admitted to 11".!7I the British Museum, amounted to 115,1340. Mr. Rayner has been playing a round of his favourite characters at Newcastle and Sunderland, at which places he has drawn greater houses than have seen known flute for years. The Mernte-s of the Atheneum are, it is said, about to erect a splendid mansion on part of the present ate of the King's Well*. The Onental Club is laid to be in treaty with the Mar tinis of Anglesya for the purchase of Uxbridge House, in •Saville-row. Earl Fitswilliam and the lion. F. Ponsonby have sub- A etjhod to the Catholic Rent. Vie damages and taxed csnts in " Foote v. Rayne" were roxTesday'everting; and the mon e y lent by Mr. to Mr. Foote was repaid at the nose time. .....a COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held for the despatch of a great deal of important business. The Court was extremely full. WEST-END OF THE TOWN FISH-MARKET. Mr. Dixoe referred to a preject spoken of very much, amongst others of the day, for the formation of a Fish-market at the West end of the town, and for the application to Parliament to irstitute a Joint-stock Company, its the view of flourishing, at that fashion able put of the town, in fish. It had been referred to a Committee of the City bands to examine and report whether the sire of the present Billingsgate Market might be so increased u to accommo date the extended tragic. lye washed to know front the worthy Chairman of that DOITIMitIO what had been done on that subject, for if it should be found that the Six. of Billingsgate Market might be enlarged, the necessity of the Joint Stock Company and new Fish Market would be done away with. Mr. OLDHAM of the Committee) stated, that he should call them together as speedily as possible to examine and report on the subject, which certainly was one of no light impor tance. He could state, he his own private opinion, having inepected the spot with the Surveyor, that the present Market could be en larged moat advantageously. Mr. Alderman Wellies:en said, the Committee ought to lose no time in making their Report, for the sooner the public received information respecting those great delusions, new Joint Stock Com panies, the better. When the people saw 3 1 embers of Parliament and M agistrates engaged in th, se gambling speculations, for they were no better, a most mischievous spirit of gambling must be dis seminated amongst the pepulation. He knew of one instarce among others, where a clerk, with a salary of only 2001. per an num, realized 25,000/. on a speculation. In fact, they were gene. rally startel by persons who had no money of their own to risk, and who speculated on the premium they might obtain on the first shares, without intending to embark one farthing in the under taking by which they excited the public cupidity. lie had no ob jection to Joint Stock Companies fur great purposes, which could not be effected by private competition; but those were not of that nature. They were of a description inimical to regular and salu tary trade. and the Court could not do greater service to the public than by causing immediate inquiry with respect to every one with ',birth they hail in any way to do. ( Hear, hear.) TIIE REFUGEES. 111 r. OLDHAM brought forward h> motion for subscribing in aid of the contribution for the relief of the Spanish and Italian Re fugees. It would be toinecessary fee him to discuss the events or me measures which had driven a multitude of unfortunate fo reigners to our shores, in a state of misery and destitution. Ile would only read the Resolution which was entered into at a meeting of Noblemen and Gentlemen, held at the City of London Tavern, who declared that, abstaining from any opinion on the merits of the cause in which the Refugees had embarked and fallen, they were entitled to relief, on the grounds of Christian charity. There were COO or 700 men of the first rank, and he might say decidedly of the first talent, in Spain and Italy, who had beer, driven to our shores, and had wandered about the streets of the metropolis, as exiles, in a state of great misery. Men of rank of all parties had subscribed to their relief, without any reference to their political views, and numbers had subscribed who were diametrically op posed to then:. Amongst others, he observed the names of several of his Majesty's Ministers, who had thus set a most laudable example of purely benevolent feeling : Ile asked whether it would cot be worthy of the Corporation to join in the same mar ifestation of liberal feeling ? (Hear, hear.) Several of those who had re ceived relief were provided for in various ways. The lint object had been to provide immediate sustenance—the next, to obtain for those objects of compassion permanent situations as teachers of the modern languages, said of the accomplishments they possessed. Yet still their numbers were so considerable that there was scarcely any hope of providing for them all permanently in this country, and additional subscriptions to a very great amount would be requisite, in order to dispose of them in any manner. Fifty had alreaty departed, and it was in contemplation to send sixty more immediately to North America, where they would have a more ex tensive field for the exercise of their talents. Ile should not move for ti e grant of any specific sum of money, hut leave it to the liberality of the Court to decide upon the amount. Ile was aware of the very low state of the funds, but he was sure they would never he one shilling poorer fur their grants to the unfortu nate. (Hear, hear.) Ile had thought of asking for 3001. (Lewd cries oft' 5001.") As then there seemed to be a disposition to grant NU, he would move that that aunt be subscribed, in aid of the tinlo eunate Spanish and Italian Refugees. Mr. Favtfee seconded the motion. Mr. DIXON cordially consented to it. The only question they had to answer was—" Here are a number of strangers in distress, what shall we do for them ?" (Hear, hear.) But while the Com mittee which had the management of this subscription behaved liberally towards these Oentlemen, •reho had been brought up In affluence, and were reduced to misery, they should guard theme selves from extending their allowance too far ; and lest, by ex citing the cupidity of unworthy objects abroad, they should throne; the, country with idle vagabonds, who would go any where for the purpose of partici} ming in the subscription. Alterman IVAITH si•); described at wine length What he had witnessed of the eetreme distress and misery of those unfortunate individuals whilst lie held that situation which was now so ably filled by their p r e sent Chief Magistrate. A Committee then sat, week after week, to distribute a scanty subscription, and they were enabled to give no more than 7s. or 131. per week, for the sub sistence of each person. He could not but congratulate the Court on the feeling which had been manifested in their favour ; and he doubted not they would feel sympathy for men who had struggled for liberty in their own country, and that they would not forger that it was to the struggles of such men in this country we owed what of liberty we now enjoyed. Mr. GALLOWAY also supported the motion. Ile believed that many of the Refugees would have braved every thing in their own country, had they foreseen what extremities they were destined to be reduced to in this. The Loan Aleecoa said, he hoped the example which the Corporation would doubtless set other Corporations would be fol lowed throughout the kingdom as the wants of the unfortunate men were very great, and consiSerable difficulty was experienced in providing for any of them in a satisfactory manner. Mr. OLDHAM, in answer to Mr. Dixon's observations, said, that the t e arnieme_ for managing the subscription had not been able to allow ineffeffen Ifs. pet week to each man. This was rot, he added, a sum likely to excite cupidity abroad. (lieu, hear.) The motion for the grant of 5001. was then carried unanimously. ST. BRIDE'S CHURCH. Mr. Ibex brought up the Report of the Improvement Com mittee respecting the proposed subscription in aid of that made for opening the view of St. Bride's Church, in Flee-street. The Committee recommended that a sum of 51101. should be given to wards the improvement. Mr. Hick moved that the Report should be agreed to. Mr. SAVAGE seconded the motion. Alr. JON ES said, he did not think, when his general conduct in that Court was considered, that lie should be thought an enemy to improvement. He, however, felt it his duty to oppose this motion, which he did in a speech of considerable length, that was inaudible below the bar. We understood hint to contend that there were other points of improvement, such as the widening of Lombard-street, for instance, to which the Corporation might wore properly he called to contribute. Alr. SOUTHGATE supported die original motion in a long speech, in which lie contended that the Corporation should take the lead in the spirit of improvement whiels had arisen in the City, nod that they could not direct it towards a better object. Alr. FAVEL L way dispoeed to support a grant of 2501. Mr. SLADE thought the Corporation could rot give less than 300%. foe the purpose of displaying so noble an edifice. Mr. Dexox said, that when he looked upon the very contracted opening which was to be made, and alien he examined the lower' part of the steeple itself, lie could not say that the execution of the plan on which the subscribers proceeded could be called an im provernent. He thought that no ore weld look at the lower pert of the steeple without being convinced that Sir Christopher, Wren never contemplated that it would be thrown open in the man ner prop . osed. Mr. R. TAYLOR said it was not ebsolutely necessary that the precise plan exhibited to the Court should be adhered to. lie ' warmly supported the motion. Air. PT IV? nEss was of opinion that the Court should leave it to the individuals of refined minds, who had commenced this work, to show the strength of their zeal by achieving it; and that the Col puration should apply their funds to improvements else where. After considerable discussion, a division took place ; when there appeared— For the Grant, 50—Against it. 75 —Majority, 25. Mr. PEW TRESS then gave notice, that lie should move for a grant to a smaller amount, for opening the view to St. Bride', Church, on a future day. The Court then proceeded to elect by ballot a Principal Clerk or the Court of Requests; which being taken and cast up, the mini bees were— For Mr. Jupp, 115 Mr. Kent, 93. Whereupon the Loan blevon declared Mr. Jupp elected during pleasure. About six o'clock yantertlay morning, a fire broke out at the house of Mr. Grange, the sign of the Barley Moir, two doors from the corner of Marygold-court, nearly opposite Beautbrt-buildings, Strai', which, from the situation of the premises, threatened ge neral devastation. The tire was first discovered by a person named Roe, who slept on the second floor. and who felt a sense of suffixa tion from the intensity of the smoke; he instantly jumped out of bed, and alarmed Mr. and Mrs. Grange, who slept on the first floor, with an infant, about eleven months old. From the confusion that prevailed, Mr. and Mrs. Grange made their escape down stairs in a state of nudity, and took refuge in Ike house of Dr. Gifi ford. opposite. It immediate]' was discovered, that, in the hurry, the infant was left sleeping in bed; upon which both the father and mother, in a state of frenzy, ran back. and dashed through the flames up stairs, to sate the child. Mr. Grange succeeded in getting to the room, and escaping with the little innocent alive ; but as Mrs. filange was proceeding up stairs, they gave way, and she fell to the bottom, but fortunately sustained no iikiury. By this time the flames burst through the first floor windows, with alanning fury, and, although the two engines belonging to the British Insurance Company were immediately on tkn spot, and put in active requisition, yet it was fourtl impossible to check the de vowing element, and in leas thin half an hour this whole house was reduced to a heap of ruins. Thr greatest fears were at one time entertained ter the safety of the house of Mr. Knight, the cheese- Int/tiger, at the corner of the Court, but, by the praiseworthy ex ertions of the firemen, the building was preserved. but the roof is materially damaged, as also is that of the house of 31r. Rogers, LAW .1111TPI.I.IGENCF. COURT OF CIIANCITETTuoRsnAv, Fs,. 10. STOCK-JOBBING—IMPORTANT CASE. EYIIF. r. LVERETT AND OTHEIDI. Ilia LOYDSIIIPPiIed to draw the attention of Counsel to two bundles of papers which had been handed to him in this case ; the one was, copies of letters ; and the other, exceptions to the answer. Included in these there necessarily were many papers which the attention of the Court had not been called to by the Her, and therefore his Lordship had abstained from reading them. If there were many of them material, to which the parties wished the Court's attention to be drawn, it would be necessary to mark them, and for Counsel on both sides previously to see them. Mr. Moor bad no conception of any papers but the bill and answer having been handed to the Court. Mr. Eyre begged to say, it was immediately under his Lord: ship's direction that he had handed in these papers. His LonIISIIIr said, he was perfectly aware of that. nor did he Sean in the least to reflect on Mr. Eyre Mr having done to ; he only wished the material parts to be marked. shown to the Counsel on both sides, and then handed back to the Court. His Lordship then proceeded to the following effect :—`• Now, with respect to alMost all the points in the case, it will be necessary for you, Mr. Wyatt, to mark such parts in the answer (not the schedules) as you rely on. I have read the whole of the bill as well as the whole of the answer, very carefully. There are many of the points I may now mention, with a view to have both the attention of the bar, as well as my own, called to them, between this and to-morrow, and so dispose of them ; by which time I hope the ma terial part of the answer will b,. marked. I have re-considered the doctrine which I stated the other day, about surety and principal, and I have found no reason to alter the opinion I then delivered. With respect to the debt of 10,000/. I should be glad to have the parts of the answer (if there be any such parts) particularly pointed out, that raise the q.iestion, as to the effect of taking from Mr. Mainwaring the security for that 10.0001. as connected or uncon nected with the debt of the 2.'200/. With respect to the question whether the bond s delivered as an rerrow, either to Mainwaring or the clerk of the a ompany, I am of opinion that that question is concluded at law, and -therefore concluded in equity, unless you can point out to me passages in this answer that are contradictory to the verdict on that point. With respect to one very important question, I mean, whether this company was what is called &bubble, my opinion upon that is, that that mutter having been put upon the record as a plea, in the first place, I ehottld be very well autho rized to say, that it being made matter of plea, and the parties having gone to the country upon it, the bond Itself (even if i could trust myself with the question), cannot be considered as evidence, on the face of it, of bringing it within the statute of George the First : the consequence of that is, that if it is not within the statute of George the First, it must have been the intention of the parties who went to the country upon it, to establish that it was within the intent and meaning of that act, by giving evidence, which I sup pose they did ; if they did not, let it be eementbered. if parties give up the cause at law. that that is not my fault; I cannot help it. But I rimy that further: if this Company were,—and I give no opinion at present upon the eptestion one way or the other. therefore I only pttt the proposition hypothetically, and say, if it were,—a bubble within the statute of George the b rat, it would be what the law would consider of a criminal nature. I think it would be what a Court of Equity would deal with very tenderly till it had been tried at law ; but after it has been at law, ON it has been in this instance, and after the verdict has been, that it is not within the statute of George the First (for that is the effect of the verdict). I think this Court would be taking a power upon itself very strong indeed, to attempt to try that question over again, regard being had to the verdict obtained. But Igo still further, for having had some conversation since I was last here, upon this point, with sortiehody who perhaps knows a great deal more about such things than I do. and therefore knows how far a court of law will or will not interfere between parties who are acting illegally, I cannot help thinking, provided the transfer of those shares was an illegal transaction, I say, provided it was (without saying whether it was or was not), I cannot Nip enter taining a very strong opinion, that it does not belong to me, sitting , in equity, to help any party whatever who lends any assistance to such a transaction. Now when I say, " who lends any assistance to each a transaction," as I see a very respectable gentleman, now sitting under me, I mean Mr. Eyre, don't let it be understood that I mean in any degree whatever to retiect on that most respect. able gentleman for the part he has taken, and the manner he is in volved in this case ; I ant quite sure he gave his assistance most honestly to alainwaring, and I now only say, hypothetically, if the transfer was illegal, a party in such an illegal transaction cannot come here to be relieved ; at least, so I think at present. I observe (and I don't know whether it is proper that I should observe that or not), that the world has been informed, it was stated by me when we were last on this subject, that -till companies are incorporated by charter or Act of Parliament, they cannot sell shares for profit. Now, I don't think it requires much experience on the part of a lawyer to understand, that where there is an illegal body exist ing, the acts of that body are not legal. But if I understand what has been the judgment of the Court of King's Bench in this case., I may be right or I may be wrong in this observation, but I do not like that the indivithial opinion of a person, 01 11 point so important, should be sent forth as an encourage ment or a warning, without taking care that at least that individual opinion should nut operate to an event be) and that to which it was intended to operate ; and therefore I say, I understand the judgment of the Court of King's Bench to be, that companies. whether they mean to apply, or whether they do apply for a char ter or Act of Parliament, if they are acting within the i dent and meaning of the Sixth of George the First, that those are comps. nles whose acts will not be held to be legal, and I think I have been misunderstood, because if my recollection is correct of what I eaici in a case in which I ought to be exceedingly careful of what I do say, I did not state what I have been represented to have stated. I observe that a notion has gone abroad that I was mean ing to introduce an ex post facto law ; now what I said was, that a Company intending to have a Charter, or an Act of Parliament, may exist without a Charter er an Act of Parliament ; but if they mean for their own benefit to have a Charter, or an Act of Parlia ment, it Is not introducing any Cr post facto law, but it is, that if you mean to apply to the Crown for a Charter or an Act of Parlia ment, you shall not act in the mean time for profit. Now whether that proposition will be Adopted elsewhere, I don't know ; I am perfectly aware that in theory and in reasoning, objections may be raised toil, but whether there may be reasons to overrule those objections, it is however for Parliament collectively to determine; and if the collective reasoning of Parliament should decide against that, why, then an individual who thought otherwise, must sup pose he was mistaken; but till that is decided by the refusal of Parliament collectively, I, as one, cannot conceive that that is an unreasonable provision; therefore, with respect to any thing that is pass, it will be for Parliament, and not foe an individual, to de. tide—whether they will declare the law, as to what it shall be in future (in which case they do not make an ex post facto law), or whether they will enact as is what is past, is for them to say ; and a very serious thing it is to make a law with respect to what is past. Whether they will make a declaratory law or not, I don't know, but I think it necessary at present, to prevent myself from doing mischief, to say, there may be many Companies acting as corpo rate bodies, without having authority to act as corporate bodies, and who, according to their own opinion, seem to have been within the intent and meaning of the 6th of George the First ; but to say that Stock-Jobbing Companies are within the 6th of George the First, may be a good or a bad exposition of the law, but it certainly is not an ex poet facto law. Mr. Eyre hoped tile Lordship would pardon hint for sayirg that it was most important for him sot to have it understood by the profession that he had put a plea on the record without in. tending to have had it argued ; the feet was, that he urged, by every means in his power. his Counsel (Mr. Sergeant Pell and Mr. Park) to argue the point, but they considered it ouneceasary. CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND. _ A justification of the proceeiings of this body was yes terday distributed to the Members of the House of Com tism", previous to the debate on the Bill for Suppressing Unlawful Associations in Ireland. The document, it will he observed, is issued by the stipendiary agent of the Catholic Association. The following statement is most respectfully submitted to your conoideratioo, on behalf of the Catholic Association of Ireland. Previous to the King's visit to Ireland, in Ameriet, 1821, cond. notion was 'established between all parties in Dublin, with a view to the reception of his Majesty in an accepiable manner. The Catholics were the most active is effecting this measure. The 12th of July haying intervened, the Orangemen, on that day, violated their undertakiug. They afterwards made new professions of conciliatory spirit, sod the Catholics accepted them. They again violated this covenant t still the Catholics did not do one single' ' act. or expires' one single feeling of hostility against them. Upon his Majesty's departure from Periled, he was graciously pleased to promulgate his parting admonition and injunction to his I Irish subjects, that they should all live in good will and harmony. The Catholics resolved to adhere most rigidly to the royal desires That aflame document tau translated into the Irish language, slid generally read from the altars by the Catholic Priests, letaillo panted by their own appeals and advi ce in support of the nail feelings therein recommended: it was also used as a reading lessen in the Catholic schools, but the Kildare-street Society refused to ' accede to a proposition made to their tommittee to introduce it into the schools subject to their controul. The Orangemen totally spurned all conciliatory engagements, and ietumed to their forteer career. The arrival of the Marquis Wellesley. as Lord Lieutenant. in December, 1821, confounded them exceedingly ; and it is umpteen t ionable, that if he adopted proper means at that moment, he could have effected a substantial settlement of all party feuds : but his Excellency's first act was to confer a title of honour on the lord Mayor, who had proposed the factious toast, for being present at which Earl Talbot was supposed to have been removed from the Irish Oovetnment. This anal similar acts of the Government, gave fresh vigour and hopes to the Orange party. They became more offensive and outrageous than they had ever been before. The walls of the city of Dublin were covered in many places with violent placards, an. noancing, in the most oteprobrieue terms , the conten ts of their newspapers and pamphlets, and ro act was left undore, that wes considered likely to offend and exasperate the Catholics. Still the Catholics remained eerfectly tranquil and inactive, in the hope that the Irish Governme nt would, at no distant day, afford protection to them and correet those violent hostilities. The anni versaries of the Orange bodges, were, in many instances, marked by sanguinary proceeding', more ferocious than usual. The judges of the land denounced their illegality, and reprobated their misehiceous operations. Nevertheless, they continued to act with out any diminution of fury, and Tate u nmolested by the Govern ment ; boasting, as they well might, that they had their friends and brethren Filing sonic of the highest offices in the State, and holding seats in the Parliament ; at the same time that they had nothing to fear from those who are entrusted with the nomination of jurois. The Bill of 1823, concerning Secret Societies, did not, by any means affect them, nor is it likely that it was intended to do so. They were re-organized under its provisions, and in several instances, either marched in military order to the magistrate, to go through the form of taking the necessary oaths, or the magi strate attended on them in their lodges to comply with those forms. The King's arms still were, and still are, confided to them ; and so late as last November it was stated in a Belfast paper. that " the Orangemen of the rifle. corps had permission to attend" the meeting of those societies in that town on the sth of that month. The violent conduct of the Orangemen, and the unwillingness or inability of the Government to controul them, coupled with a sense of the just claims of the Cathol ic body bein g wholly disre. grunted and unnoticed by the Government and the Parliament for so long a period, it was considered right that they should at length make some exertion on their own behalf, as well for the protection of their persons, as for the promotion of their just and conetieu tiunal claims. Accordingly, a general meeting was held in 'the tnonth of April, 1623, being nearly two years after the King's visit, and a year and a half after the arrival of Lord Welleetey ; during the whole of which time the Irish Catholics endured all time indignities and dangers to which they were exposed, without mak ing any opposition or public complaint ; or convening any meet ing, even for the purpose of petitioning Parliament for the repeal or n.itigation of the penal code. At the general meeting, it was recommended that some assecia don should be formed to counteract the machinations of their enemies, and to promote their claims to legislative relief. And this was considered the more necessary, because all the favour and patronage of the Government continued to flow through and to their opponents, almost exclusively. Upon this recommendation, a number of Catholic gentlemen commenced the formation of the Catholic Association of Ireland, on the 23 of April, 1823. The members =Mil, at present, to about 5000, comprising die Catholic nobility, clergy, and gentry, and the mom opulent farmers, manufacturers, end shopkeepers, and a great number of liberal persons of the P rotestant and Dis senting churches, including Peers and Members of Parliament. Their names, and the rules and regulations of the body, have been published in the newspapers. Their proceedings have been directed uniformly to the correction ' of misrepresentstions, the protection and viedieation of humble individuals of their own body, as they are willing to do for persons of any other communion ; the preparation and forwarding petitions or memorials to the Government or Parliament for relief, the col lection of information upon the state of euucation, and the promo tion thereof; but never, in a solitary instance, to the aggression of others, nor in opposition to the Government. It became obviously necessary to provide some fund, and by the! institution of a form of contribution, under the designation of the Catholic Rent, in the month of February, 1824, an opportunity was afforded to persons of all ranks, to furnish a practical proof of the justice or injustice, as it might be, of the observation often made, that the great body s of the people felt no interest in the question of'! Catholic Emancipatura. 'I his opinion must now be set at rest for ever. The Catholic Rent has been hitherto devoted to the payment of fees and Miler charges incidental to the attendance of counsel, agents and witnesses, upon five or six trials or enquiries before the constituted authorities of the land. No instance can be adduced of the slightest collision with the Government, or with any of its members or officers. On the contrary, there has been, generally, • perfect concurrence with them. But it cannot be overlooked, that if some few such interpositions may have been used by the Go vernment, since the application of the Catholic Rent to those pur poses, it would be very difficult, on the other hand, to name any similar instances, as having occurred prior to the farmation of the Association ; a portion of it has also been expended in the payment of rent, and other expenses of rooms for meetings, preparing peti tions to the Legislature, &e. The only considerable SUM applied to any purpose whatsoever, was the appropriation of 500/. to the purchase of books. for the education of the children of the pea santry. The whole of the money expended by the Association out of Ireland passed through my hands, and amounts at this day to 421. .sr. 10d., of which 261. 18s. 7d. was paid for ativertieing, in London papers, the resolutior s of the last general meeting of the Irish Catholics, and the remaining 151.7 u 3d. was expended in several trifling disbursements. The amount in Bank is under 10 0 fOl. ; whereas, the contribution of a single penny from each Osmotic in Ireland, would amount to 25,0001. The Catholic Association of Ireland, in its rules anti regulations, precisely similar to the hundreds and thousands of Bible societies. and other association!' and clubs, throughout Great Leritain ; and it concurs, in its objects, almost entirely with the "Protestant Society for Protection of Religions Liberty," and the " Anti-via. very Society," both established in this metropolis, and engaged in diligent operations. There rem, in point of tact, more public ex citement connected with the trial of the late Rev. Mr. Smith, the missionary, in the last year, than hae,been produced by the Catholic Association since the commencement of its labours, about all the injuries, persecutions, and murders inflicted upon ntenibera of their communion, by Orangemen and policemen, throughout Ireland. It is not asserted, even by their most bitter enemies, that the Asso ciation has done any thing illegal, or any thing unconstitutional, or any thing secret ; or that any one violation of the public peace has been produced, directly or indirectly, by that society. It is, per haps, worthy of observation, that these persons nem are most loud in their complaints against the temper of some individuals of the Association, are themselves most intemperate in their unfounded imputstions, and seem to proceed upon the principle, that the op. preesors, and not the oppressed, should alone be admitted to cam plain. It is respectfully suggested, that reference may be usefully made to the Petition of the Catholic Association presented to the House of Commons by Sir Francis Burdett, on the 17th of last June. Fenntary, 9 1825. ENEA MAC DON N.L: LL. FASMONARLZ IN I'ELLIGENCg. Lord William Bentincit has arrived in town from a tour. Earl Stanhope has arrived in town from his seat in Kent. Lord Slniers left town yesterday for Eastnor Castle. Lord Anton left town yesterday for his sent in Derbyshire. W. R. Cartwright, Esq. M.P. has arrived at C'otilson's Hotel, Lower Brook-street, from his seat in Northampton/Mire. Sir W. and Early Jane Houston arrived yesterday at their house in York-street, St. James's, from their seat, Avisford, Sussex. The Hon. and Rev. John Boscawen arrived yesterday, at his brother's, the Earl of Falmouth's, in St. James's-square, from Canterbury. Colonel Dalrymple arrived yesterday, at Fentm's Hotel, St. James's-place, horn Sussex: 11 U. Bennett, Esq. M.P. and the Honourable Mrs. Bennett arrived yesterday at 'fhomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from the Duke of liedthrirs, 'Woburn Abbey. Major-General John Murray arrived yesterday at Read's Hotel, Lower Grosvenor - street, from a tour , also W. lhummond, Esq., from Gaturd. tiir Oeorge Armitage, Bart has arrived in town from his seat in Yorkshire. Arrivals at Blake's Hotel, Jermyn street : —W. Beaumont, Esq. from a tour ; Mr. and Mr*. Chapman ; Percival, Esq. Artivida at the Bath Hotel, Arlington-street:—Mrs. Woolcott ' and family from Bait; Colonel Walker and &Nor Amings from the Continent. Departures:—Mr. and Mrs. St. George fur Brighton ; Mr. Mrs. and Miss Carleton, for Herts. leeparturee from Miller's Hotel,Jermyn-street:—Ororge Ward, Esq.; Henry Anwitb, Esq.; and Mr..3lartsE eld, on a tout. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, TI11:1111DAY, Fan. 10. APPLICATION AGAINST AN ATTORNEY. Mr. Justice BaxLZY entered the Court at ten o'clock, to take common nor ions. Mr. BRODERICX moved for a rule to show cause why an at torney of that Court, whose name he at present refrained from mentioning, should not be struck off the rolls of the Court. The circumstances appeared on affidavit to be as follows :—Mr. Cres well, • Magistrate of Somerset. thought it necessary to summon a meeting of the Magistrates of that county, for the investigation of several charges adduced against the party already alluded to, one of which charges constituted the ground of the present application. The facts as sworn to were these :—The Rev. Mr. Mirehouse had been engaged with certain parties in litigation respecting a right of passage through a road, and over a stream of water, in the county of Somerset. Mr. Mirehouse succeeded in obtaining an order upon the subject; and on his application for the enrolment of tke order. the attorney against whom the present rule was sought, appeared for the purpose of effecting an accommodation between the parties; and out of his conduct upon this occasion arose the matter upon which he would shortly anunadvert. The attorney proposed cer tain terms on behalf cf his clients, which were finally acceded to. The terms of the agreement were, that the road in question should be widened, the stream diverted, and a bridge over it erected, either party paying a moiety of the expense. It was likewise sti pulated that the attorney should receive her guineas as a re:mineral tion for his trouble. This agreement was finally reduced to writing, -and • copy made for the use of each party interested. The attorney waited on Mr. Mirehou. e with a copy for his signature. On exa mining the paper so submitted to him, Mr. Mirehouse refused to attach his signature to it, on the ground that the terms of it had been altered eeeretly and without his approbation ; he consequently required that the original agreement should be submitted to him for the purpose of comparing . the copy with it. The attorney re pelled the accusation of having altered the Agreement, which he asserted, was correspondent to the original ; but declined proilme ing it, en the ground of not having it then in his possession. The original inetrunient was at length produced, when it appeared that it had, subsequent to the execution of it, been so interlined and altered as to ties ow an unequal and additional part of the expense of the projected alterations upon the Rev. Mr. Al irehouse. Mr. Justice BATLEY—When is this occurrence alleged to have taken place P Mr. BoonEnrox —ln 11121, my Lord, but it was pot till lest November Mr. Mirehouse was summoned before the Magistrates of the county, to give evidence touching the circumstances. There were other matters then adduced againat this attorney, the present charge among the rest. The decision of the Magistrates it would be irregular to submit to the Court. Mc Justice BATLEY—I should rather think your application comes too late. The circumstances on which it was grounded are ' said to have taken place in 1811, and you come here for • rule in 15. I shall horeTer consult the Lord Chief Justice when he enters • the Court. Mr. BRODEBICB—Your Lotdship will please to observe., that the applizatiou is at tie inktacce of a Magistrate of the county. Mr. Justice nAYII.ZT—VCS but you do rot mean to say that Mr. Mireliouse is not at the bottom it. Mr. Ilvormittcx—lt could not have been brought before the Court at an earlier period by the present party, es the investigation before the Magistrates did not take place till Novemher last. Mr. Justice BAYLEY expressed his doubts whether the rale could be granted, but would take the opinion of the ',cirri Chief Justice. On the Loin Cnier JUSTICE entering the Court, the Berets conferred. Lord Chief Justice ABBOTT—We are of opinion you nay take your rule, Mr. Broderick. This might have proved an to, dictable otfence. Rule grunted. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, WIIITMIYITER, FEB. 19. WTATT V. cox. The arguments of Mr. Sergeant Wilde against the rule for a new trial, were given in our Paper of yesterday. Mr. Sergeant Vat:ou•:4 now rose to support the rule being made absolute. and said, there would be no cause to complain of a Jury if it had been proved false, and that they had from thence inferred the malice, but the falsehood had not been proved; and he must say, that he thought his Lordship's address calculated to in. flame the minds of the Jury, and it contained language which he should have thought hie Lordship would not have used. CHIEF JUSTICE-1 certainly thought that this lady was im. pelled by a slight degree of anger, which acts very powerfully ors the mind, without our being conscious of it. and which had urged Mrs. Cox to go beyond the truth, and which I ant quite sure, if she bad coolly reflected on it, she would not have lone one iota. Mr. Sergeant VAVISHAN—Your Lordship put it to the Jury to say, whether it was done from malice, which made them forget the questios of falsity. Cutler Joss-lox—l beg your pardon, brother Vaughan, but I xrtairly said it was necessary they sheuld be satisfied of its being false. Mr. Sergeant VAVOHAW—Your Lordship certainly did , but your Lordship concluded by putting the question of spleen to them, and that it was the Jury caught up. The Learned Sergeant then proceeded with his argument, and said it would be well for those who were interested for servants, to consider what would be the effect of looking with too critical an eye on these confidential son:. munications. Their Lordships should consider, that they went about to give a rule to direct the line of conduct to be pursued by masters towards their servants for the future. What would a master do if he could not give a character with safety ? Why be would give none at all, which it could not be denied would be the greatest injury to servants. Cruz"' JUSTICE—If any person were to be so unjust ea to cone to such a conclusion, be would soon be jus.ly pubished, by having no servant to live with him at all. Mr. Sergeant Vattottaw proceeded to say, that they must en. deavour to hold the teaks of justice so as, on the one hand, to git • protection to society, and, on the other, to suppress malice. Ile would put the supposition, that Mrs. Cox had green her a charac. ter for honesty, sobriety, and steadiness, would not Mrs. Burnet, on the discovery of the truth. have had a ground of complaint ? Mr. Justice GAB eLF.E—She was removed frotn the situation of nursery.maid apparently for unsteadiness ; but it was a year and a half after that Mrs. Cox gave the character : it would therefore have been, perhaps, more proper for her to have said, 1 ` had been unsteady." The CurEw.ll:ST tow certainly thought, that a master was not justified in giving the character of general unsteadiness, on account of an affair that hail taken place a year before. Ile was not in the habit of taking technical objections ; but there was one in one of the counts, if he (Mr. Sergeant Vaughan) bad thought proper to have taken it. Mr. Sergeant 'i'exow.sw said, he should have been ashamed to have taken any, for he defended .Mrs. Coz upon much better grounds. The Cuter JusTicx said, he should be sorry to give any opi nion if it was to go to a new trial, as he should certainly leave it to the Jury in the same manner he had done before. Me. Justice Bt• sitouclis wished to know where they were to find the term " general unsteadiness." The CHIEF JUSTICE then asked Mr. Sergeant Vaughan whe. thcr he hart any objection to have the count alteree. The words in the fourth count were, " she is very unsteady." The other counts were disposed of, because it had not been proved that it meant us. steadiness with regard to the male sex. According to the evidence of Mrs. Burnet, the count metitioned could not be sustained. He should have no objection for the case to go down to the new trial upon the payment of costs, and the plaintiff to have the liberty of amending the count, and to enter the words " generally unsteady." Mr. Sergeant VacollAX said, lie did not intend to make techtf. cal objections ; but if his Lordship had said there was no evidence to go to the Jury— The CHIEF JUSTICR—Then I should, as Lord Alderney has said, have been a must rash Judge. Mr. Sergeant Vatiosrax—But still, my Lord— The CHIEF JurricE —Brother Vaughan, the better part of vs. lour is discretion ; you had better not force me to state my opined . After a few more desultory remarks, Mr. Sergeant Vaughan sig. nitied his acquiescence in his Lordship's suggestion. Hule made absolute for a new trial, on 'he payment of costs, with liberty to the plaintiff to amend the fourth count. BOROUGH OF STAFFORD. THE ICING s. SIR GEORGE CHETWYND, BART.—TILE /RIM T. JOHN HAWTHORN. Mr. CAMPBELL moved this day, on the affidavit of Mr. Flint. on the part of the prosecution, for Rules to show cause, why the trial of these cams should not be removed from the county of Staf ford to the county of Salop, or some other adjoining county, on the ground that a fair and impartial trial could Oct be had in the county of Stafford, the affidavit stating, that the general Attorneys of the defendant Chetwynd are the present acting Under Sheriff's of that county, and consequently summon the Jury. Rules granted. LIVERPOOL, WEDNENDAY EVENING. Wind W. to W.S.W.—Bigti water 14 minutes past 3. Arrived the Ann, from Belfast; Milo , from Leith ;• Oglethorpe, from Savannah ; Washington, from Charles ton ; Allerton, from Jamaica; Shamrock, from Belfast ; Thorn, from Demerara ; Argo o from Plymouth ; Hope. from Glasgow ; City of Dublin, from Dublin ;. Bluaey. from Ditto; St. George, from Drogheda ; Gips!, from Strangford ; Gnat, from Londonderry ; Catherine amit Jane, from Newry ; Caldwell, from Ditto. Two brigs and one snow off at half-past four. I . c SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. CIATOM.HOUSE, Fri. 9. SNIPS ENTERED INWARDS.—Naierlands Rron Prins, Jas. ma, from \Vorcum; Hero, Collar, from Dunkirk; Mary Russell. IVhillis, from Charente ; Chase, Shotton, from do.; June, Sil vers, from Lisbon; Samuel, Maidstone, from C-arthagers and Gibraltar; Dart. Stranack, from Ostend ; Congress, Goddard, from Virginia; Opinion. Kruger, from Dantzic; Nautilus, Trite, from Hamburgh ; Britannia, Weasels, from St. Michael's; The. mas and Hannah, Bence. from Lisbon ; Ruby, Ilaswell, from Ascension and St. !Michael's ; Louisa, Barnard, from Terceira ; Lord Nelson, Willson, front ht. Michael's; Bayer, Meant, from St. Domingo; Hazard. Stilly, from Dunkirk; Skylark, Keith, from Zante; Lady Hamilton, Harvey, from Leg horn; Flying Fish, Smith. from Ostend ; Graham .Moore, Dixon, from Pa. lerrno and Gergetui ; Maria, Morris, from Waterford; Hope, Harris, from ditto; Active, Hutchings, from Dublin; Courier, Owens, from Belfast; Richard and Ann, Way. front Dublin. ENTERED OUTWARDS.—Cyrus, BesWiCk, for Buenos Arras; Calthorp, Newton, for Elsineur and Copenhagen ; John Fisher, for Jamaica ; Maidstone, Eathill, for Rotterdam; Friends, Tod, for Jamie*. CLEARED OUTWARDS FINALLY AT GRAVESEND.—IngIis, Seale. for India and China; Scaleby Castle, Newall, for India and China; Courier, Thomas, for Tampico; Maria, Moffatt, for Teneriffc; Commerce, Frost, for Rot enlem ; London Packet, Ward, for Boston; Eclipse, Clark. for Valparaiso ; Lynx, Ilyem„ for La Gm.yra ; Vriendschap, Bakker, for Rotterdam. CLEARING OETWARDA.—NimbIe, Wrightson, for Malaga. Valencia, and Ilarcelona ; Perthshire, Sangster, for St. Michaels; Demerara Packet, Venable% for Demerara; George, Betts, fbr Sierra Leone ; Lord Gambier, Bishop, for Jersey ; Express, Wells, for Gibraltar; and Bore. Alexander, for Almeira. FROM LLOYD'S LIST. FA•r- at our FEw.B.—Arrived the Puke of Marlborough packet from Lisbon ; and the Bellona, Hutchins. from London for St- Michael's. The Lady Louisa packet, for Buenos Ayres, was spoken with In lat. IR. 25. long. 33., out 47 days, by the Blonde frigate, arrived at Rio. POTITSMOLIT tt, Fgw. 9 —No arrivals or sailings. DEAL, Fr n. 9.—Arrived from the River and remain—the Ma ria, Rutter, for the Isle of France ; Fortune. Vaughan. for Cache ; Mansfield. Martin, for Oporto; and Telegraph, Grandtn, for Havre. The lion. Company's ship Kellie Castle, sailed this morn ing, with several of the outward-bound. MARGATE, FEB. 9.—Part of • sail among the wreckage brought here the 7th instant, is marked " Wilkinsons, sail-makers, New castle." GRACES/ND, FED. 9.—Arrived the Nelson, Fisher, from the South Seas; Enterprise, Witham. from Bordeaux ;John and Wil liam, Dench, from Oporto; Aurora, l'ark, from St. Domingo; Underwood, Remington, from Demerara; John Barry. Roche, from Bombay; Arethusa, Strong, from the Cape of Good Hort. Sailed the Kent, Cobb, for China; C romandel, Baps. for Ils deka; Oilman, bllrti, for Calcutta; Earl Clancarty, Heath, for Rotterdam. _ _ _ lay CRPOOL. Fes. B.—Arriveal the Barrow. Dawson, from Tri nidad ; the Thomas Fowler, Candor, from Savannah t the Po moss, —, from St. John's, New Brunawkk ; Cossack, WU... ter, from St. Andrew's, New Brunswick ; Charente, Campbell, from Charente; Marearets, from Smyrna; and Columbus, Richardson, from Charlston, sailed the 7th January, in compan♦ with the Washington, from this port; the Jasper and the Isaac Hicks were to sail on the Bth, for Liverpool. The t'aledonia, Bi shop, for Demerara, got on shore yesterday, on the North Bank, but was got of hat night with biz feet water in 'her bold, std brought into Prince's Dock Basin. Printed at THE BRITISH PRESs office, by J. K . Gwa a tox , 181, Squid, sad published by R. Cast xoN, NMI Ow. " SU to 1 the I bet B. CP t 41 ON W