The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1825-05-04 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE. Last night, after the performance of Vanbrugh's Lovers' Quarrels, was produced, for the first time at this theatre, a new petite comedy, in two acts, entitled Tribulation ; or, r a wekome Visitor". The plot of the piece, which is sufficiently intricate. and constitutes its principal merit, may be collected from the following detail :—Mr. Darr:nem' (Dorton), a Bristol merchant, having retired from trade, and, like moat retired nadirs, finding time hang somewhat heavy on his hands, comes up to London with the double view. poor parser les temps, and to get himself made a Knight or a Commissioner, as the Fates and his wife should determine. Now though the latter thought Lady Doe. fiercis an exceedingly genteel appellation, yet as it had pleased the formes that Mr. Dorrieroose's Christian name should happen to be Jeremiah, and that savoured too much of the ludicrous w harrreviise well with the knightly style and dignity, it is deter mined that in lieu of Sir Jerry and Lady Dorrington, it shall be and Mrs. Commissioner D. This important point being ,ranged, land matters put in train for its completion, the Commis stoner is posse feels strongly disposed " to makes night of it," and Jaskol by Forrester (Mr. Raymond) to the house of Mrs. Dash more (Mrs. (Hoven, a fashionable demirep, celebrated for high Davison), and good suppers. In the mean time Mrs. Dorrington (Mrs. Davison), taking advantage of her husband's absence from home, introduced at the same house, without being aware of its character. There she becomes a witness of Dors-in:hoes flir tations with a certain ;Panic Ogle, to whom he loses his heart and ten pounds, and she herself is in .turn addressed by Sir George FadJ!e (Vining), who is exerting himself to the utmost to make the husband a Conimissioner ; and—we leave it to the reader to fill up the hiatus. The husband very goodnaturedly volunteers his advice to the Ilaronet on the eon. Juet of the amour, unconscious that his own wife is concerned, who is finally relieved from the addresses of the gallant Sir Georg:, and extricated from her present difficulties, by the intervention of her ousin Forrester, who carries her off' in safety. The next'mdming, shat the author facetiously denominates the tribulation of theist . - fair, commences with the successive and unwelcome visits of Sir George and Afrs. Dashmort, and the humour of the piece consists in the cross purposes and embarrassments which ensue from the n tout' endeavours of :ID. at d Mrs. Dorringion to conceal from the othee the part which each has been arting on the preceding evening. After a good deal of pleasant confusion and mutual mis takes, Mr. Harriers:ton is made a Commissioner, and the piece terminates with a satisfactory explanation ; the author first send ing Sir George Fading to the country in his tilbury, and Mrs. Dashnsore about her business with a sentiment. Is thus telling the story of this little piece, we have put for ward the best claims it possessed on the success which attended its 'ep esentatian. The reader will see that the intricacies of the plot aged sufficient scope for what are now considered the chief and indispensable ingredients in modern comedy, namely, intrigue anti eouivocal situations. These are good things in their way, and se feel no disposition to quarrel with them, nntwithstandirg our thine! nation to receive them as satisfactory substitutes for the bn honey of dialogue and truth of character exhibited in our good old comedy. We repeat that due advantage has been taken of the eqiiiooque in the present piece. but as for the dialogue, it it as dry as "a remainder biscuit," after the circumnavigation of the globe. One spec:rom of the jokes, " original and adapted." as th • musicians say, will prove this. People of a certain sractar, whose reputations have been touched, and who, to use tl e wordier our author, •` are too bail for good society, aid too {{sod tor bad society," are compared, ered;h: youtcri ! to " 31a- I ones coffin, suspended between the floor and the ceiling." It, as we strongly suspect, this little comedy is a translation firm the French, that will at once account for the absence of any characteristic traits in the personage: of the drama; and *Uplifting the adapter to have adhered closely to his vriginal, the same t ie um. ranee may explain the peculiar poverty of the dialogue. However, es it was too short to be tedious, well provided with the quilifica. tions to which we have already alluded, and admirably acted throughout. it was most favourably received by the audience, and is likely enough to grow into a stock piece on those boards. Dowten was, as usual, at borne in theretired merchant. but it is painful to we this otherwise excellent and natural actor giving way to grime e, as he occasionally does. We entreat him to discontinue the prac tice. He can affirrd to do without the laughter of the galletii a. Mr. Vining, as Sir George Foddk, put us (as usual) very much in it . n 1 of Jones. and the 1.. d.es were adequately represented by Hest a nee Gloves and Davison. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. The Marebioress of Lansdown had a grand musical party, on 'Monday evening, at Lansdown House, Berkeley-squart. which was attended by neatly three hurdred of the haul ton. The con cert commenced at eleven o'clock, in the Grand Statue Gallery. Among the company prevent were— Prince Reuss de Omuta. Ths Dukes of %I ellangton and Devonshire. Count and Countess Lieven, and Count and Countess Saint Antonio. . . The Marquis and Marchioness of Downshire, and the Marquis of Hertford. _ _ _ lio4s—Darnley, !Hints), Clare, Tankerville, Grey, Clonmel, Harrowby, Roseberry, and Cowper. Coontesse•--Jersey, M into, Euston, Harrowby, Darnley, Rose. bury, and Cowper. • dories.—King, Belgrave, William Rusaell, Stanley, Clifton, J. Huseell. Normanby, Folkstone, Aylesfurd, Duticannon, Cherie. snout, wydyr. Ladies—Milton, C,ockraine, Belgrave, Wm. Russell, Grey, Ryders, Fortescue, Bligh , 0. Cavendish. C. Cavendish, Nichol. S. O'Brien, Normanby, Ravensworth, Folkstone, A. Llhot, C. Lindsay, Elizabeth Smith, Aylesford, Charlemont, Givytlvr. Meins.—llopc, Nichol, Frampton, Abercromby, .tiletheun, Penman, E. Davenport, F. Lewis, J. Macdonald. Mesdames—Agar Ellis, Hope, Nichol, Abercromby, Methuen, Rottman, F. Lewis, Baring. Mines—King, Stanley, Nichol, Frampton, Litlille, Baring, Vtmon. Cavendish. _ . _ The Archbishop of York, and the Bishop of Man, &c. Emily.MarchionesofLondonderry, entertained a distinguished puny at dinner yesterday, at her house in St. James's-square. Bsroness Willoughby de Ersby gave a grand dinner on Monday to Lord and Lady 0 wydyr, Sir B. and Lady Tarleton, Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, Mr. Heathcote, Mr. Macdonald, &c. at her house, 11'hitehalL Dowager Lady Ellenbomugh entertained a large party of fashionable' on Monday evening, at her bowie in Park-lane. Lady Mary Petre had a grand dinner party yesterday, at her house in Grosvenor-square. Lady Trine entertained a large circle of fashionable, yesterday evening. at her house in Saville.strert. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and suite are expected to strive in town on the let ofJune. from Hanover. The Duke and Duchess of Bedford left town cn .Monday for Woburn Abbey, furs few days. Arrivals at the St. James's lintel, Jermyn-street :—The Rev. T. P. Bowes, from his seat in Yorkshire; H. G. Knight, Esq. from ditto. Arrivals at Miller's Hotel, Jernyn-strett :—Sir Thos. Turton Ban. from a tour ; and Curtis, Esq. 31. P. and Mrs. Curtis, from their seat in Sussex. The Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Tollemache arrived yesterday at Yen tas's Hotel, St. James's-place, from their seat in Herts. De lartures :—Captain and Mrs. Oswald, for Paris ; and Wm. Beale, Esq. for ditto. Arrivals at Jordan's Hotel, St. James's-street :—Col. and Mrs. Ctiohnondley, from their seat in Yorkshire ; Mr. Trevanion, front 4 W. Wyndham, Esq. N.P. and Mrs. Wyndham, from their seat, Salisbury. Mr. and M rs . %Calker left the St. George's Hotel, Albemarle /Inel, yesterday, for Bath. Mrs. Gurney Berkeley and family arrived yesterday at the Pul teney Hotel, Albemarle-street. from the North. Arrivals at Nerot's lintel, Clifford-street:—The lion. Mr Coventry and Ladies ; and Mrs. Chaplin and family, from India. itlpartures :—The Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Frankland, and Capt. G.' in: Aland and Ladies; Mrs. Busby and Miss Busby, and Mrs. Yiuktt. Yesterday his Majesty had a dinner party, at bra Palace in Pall-mall. Among the distinguished guests were, Prince Esterhazy, the Russian Ambassador, and his Countess, the Marquis of Anglesca, Earl and Countess Bathurst, the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Welling- Earl and Countess Cowper, and several of the officers of the Royal Household and their ladies. Sunday the Duke of York left town for Newmarket. Saturday the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester had a numerous dinner party. Among the company were, the French Ambassador, the Duke of Wellington, the Chan ''enor of the Exchequer, the Earl and Countess Ba dmen, &c. The Duchess of Gloucester visited the King yesterday. Yesterday the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Idouces lee, the Princess Victoria, and the I'rincess Feodore, visited the Princess Augusta. Mr. Hunter, sen., and Mr. Ilunt!rjun., King's mcmen- Fees, have left town, to accompany the Duke of Northum berland on his embassy to the King of France. , ,Sit Henry Well es l e y, our Amba s sador at the Court of t%enna, set out on the 17th ult. for Milan. Mr. Stratford Canning left St. Petersburgh on the 7th The English Ambassador to the Court of Madrid, the Hon. F. Lamb, it is said, will proceed to France on Sa turday next. The merchant vessel, with his servants, horse, luggage, &c. is in the Downs, waiting the change of wind to proceed to the Peninsula. MARRIAGLS IN Juan Townshend, son of Lord Jolm Townahend, is soon to be married to Miss Sey 'rur, daughter of Lord George Seymour. Sir Osmond Gibbs is to marry Miss Moore, the niece of Lady Clon raeL Mr. Stanley, M.P., the eldest son of Lord Stanley, and recently returned from the United States, is to be rnmiid to Mis s Wilb ra h am . A rumour h as been for some „ e circulating that Lord Chesterfield is to marry Lady 4 ' l :r " ara h ft—ifue nine roper. FRENCH PAPERS. [From the Moirifeur of Sunday.] PARIS, APRIL 30. Letters from Catalonia inform us, that the French troops evacu ated Cardona and llostalrich on the 9th of April, and that the ' troops of his Catholic Majesty took possession of them the same day. The effect produced by the departure of the French troops on the inhabitants of these two towns differed in a -remark:llde manner. At Cordon.. the clergy, the civil authorities, and nll the inhabi tants, manifested real regret at the departure of a garrison which had been distinguished by its excellent conduct, its firmness, and good discipline, which had not a little contributed to maintain trait quillity in the town. At llostalrich, where the French troops were equally distinguished by their good conduct and the conciliatory spirit of their officers, their departure was witnessed with marks of satisfaction, but it was not of long duration, for the Spanish autho rities, not having taken any measures for the support of the troops, the consequence was, that the very tame day the Spanish Com missary levied on the town a contribution in money, to supply the wants of the troops, which at length caused real regret to be felt at the departure of the French troops. [From the Etoile, dated Monday.l MADRID, Arl2ll. 21. The King and Royal Family still inhabit the Palace at Aranjuez. Prince Maximilian of Saxony, and Princess Amelia, his daughter, set out yesterday to return to Gromany, by the way of Valencia and Barcelona. and through France. His Majesty has addressed to the First Secretary of State a Royal Decree. relative to the preservation and rigorous observance of the fundamental and other laws of the Spanish Monarchy. " 1 hare learned with the moat lively grief, that for some time alarming reports have been insidiously spread, that it is intended to oblige (nth counsel me to make reforms and innovations in the regime and government of my kingdoms, by altering its ancient and respectable fundamental laws, and limiting my Royal autho rity. It is a duty, and at the same time a satisfaction to me, to contradict a fiction, as malicious' as ft Is criminal. I declare. In consequence, not only that I am resolved to preserve entire, and in all their plenitude, the legitimate rights of my sovereignty, with. out giving up now, or at any other time, the slightest particle of them, tend without permitting the establishment of Chambers, or of other institutiOns of whatever denomination, which may be contrary to our lees and teufges; but that, on the contrary, I have the niost solemn and the most positive assurance that all my august allies, who have giien int 50 many proofs of their sincere affection, and their efficacious en-operation in the welfare of my kingdonts,will con tinue to suppint on Alrocaurions the legitimate and sovereign autho rity of my Crown. without advlslng or proposing to me, di rect ly or indirectly, any innovation in 11. e form of my Government. •• - 1 also declare that I have taken the firm and immoveable reso lution to cause the laws to be kept and respected, without tolerat ing abuses of any kind, without permitting violence and intrigue to take the place of justice, and without consenting that, under the pretext or appearance of attachment tr. my Royal person and to my authority, those who shall Pet k by these means to cover their dis obedience and insubordination, shall escape just punishment. S.rict observance of the laws, the prompt execution of my decrees and ordinances, and respect for the authorities, are the solid founda tions of order and prosperity—those which every Spaniard who is truly a Royalist, and devoted to the Sovereign, om.ht to make the rule of his conduct and those which, notwithstanding the arts and attempts of malevolence, will secure the peace of my king lams and the happiness army beloved subjects, which are the objects dearest to my heart." His Majesty concludes by recommending to all the depositaries of his authority to cause the laws to be strictly observed, without respect to persons or circumstances. This Decree, signed by the King's own hand, is dated Aranjuez, 19th April, rail addressed to Don Francisco de Zea Bemoida. The Liberals nay now that Al. Zea Bermudez, seeing the storm that threatened him, has caused the preceding Decree to be ad dressed to hint, which should have been addressed to M. Calo marde, as Minister of Justice. This Decree may have been occa sioned by the numerous addresses to the King on the diantiasal of M. Ugarte, in favour of whom public opinion declares move loudly than ever. The Gazelle contains a decree relative to the purification of the Council of State. A Junta is formed for this purpose, the Pr.s.ident of which is Gomez Calderon, formerly member of the Junta at Gyarzun, and the Secretary M. Quadra, formerly mend er of the Council of State. A letter from Bayonne of 24th April says, "M. L'garte is still here, and there is no indication of Ins speedy departure." [Front the Coustitutionnef of Sunday.] MILAN, APRIL 13. (EXTRACTED TROY A PRIVATRRa.) Official news has just been rcceivnl that the Emperor will arrive on the rth in this capital of the kingdom of Lombardy and Venice. Notice nas also been received that the Grand Duke of Tuscany left Florence on the 17th. We expect him every moment. The report in circulation some time ago, that the Emperor of Russia, and the King of Prussia, will come in the sequel to seems to be more credited. Count de Ilubna said yesterday evening in a numerous company, " The Italians may congratulate themselves on the approaching aerie d of the Empe-or, which has been so often announced, and always deferred, for several years. I think 1 may affirm, that they will be agreeably surprised at what lie intends to do in their favour. Elio 31ajesty knows the wishes and the real wants of the Italians; he is convinced that the time is come to put an end to the 31arasnia, which keeps them in a state of inaction and dejection, as injurious to the general interest, as In opposition to the genius of the inhabit ants, and the immense resources of a country to which nature has been so lavish of her gifts." 'I he avowal is an curious as the observation is just. I shall not undertake to set the (Edipus on this occasion. We shall not have long to wait for the solution of the enigma, but if it were only a bait, as when it was thought to seduce, by the pompous announce ment of the creation of a new kingdom of Lombardy and Venice, without accompanying it with any real effect of advantage to the country, and conformable to the spirit of the Of e, then the Emperor would be soon convinced that the Italians are no Inger the dupes of illusions, and that the time of false promises is past. We shall see. DEATII OF BARON DENON [FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.] I lament to announ,:e to you the sudden death of the celebrated Baron llsixoN, so well known to all the literati of Europe. This enlightened traveller and munificent patron of the arts, attended on Tuesday last, at the sale of the valuable collection of paintings by the old masters, the property of Mons. Perrier. The concourse of amateurs which this sale hail drawn together was immense, and rendered the room in which they were assembled so op pressively hod, that the Baron, unable any longer to endure it, retired for relief into the fresh air. The day was chilly, and the sudden change of temperature produced an almost instantaneous effect upon him ; he was seized with a trembling, and getting into his carriage, proceeded im mediately home : medical assistance was procured with out delay, but the symptoms of approaching dissolu tion came on so rapidly as to convince the faculty that their aid was vain; he languished till the next day, when he expired. He was buried this morning (Saturday) at the cemetery of Pere la Chaise, attended by upwards of a hundred persons of the most distinguished literary emi nence, as well as others of the highest military rank. His two nephews followed as chief mourners. An immense crowd of the poorer orders followed in the train, and their tears and benedictions bore testimony to the sincerity with which his loss was deplored. The body was removed at twelve o'clock from his house on the Quoi to the Church of St. Thomas Aquin, which was hung with black on the occasion, and high mass performed with the utmost solemnity. There were twelve mourning coaches, and a considerable number of private carriages, at the obsequies of this distinguished individual. A detach ment of the garrison rendered the deceased military ho nou-s. The Baron was in his eightieth year. His inva luable collection of rarities in works of art—the choice but very numerous assemblage of unique articles of Egyptian antiquity—the drawings, paintings, and curiosities, of the most interesting description, which enriched his cabinets, are well known to every Englishman of taste and sci ence who has visited Paris, to whom his house was always open. He possessed a vast fund of knowledge, which he was ever ready to communicate; his sentiments on all sub jects were liberal and elevated. In a word, lie was an ac complished Nobleman of the old French school. As he died unmarried, his property, which is very considerable, devolves to his two nephews, one of whom resided with him ; the other is a Colonel in the French service. On Saturday last, the Yeomanry Officers of England dined at Willis's Rqonnt. Lord Grantham, Lord Lieu tenant of the County of Bedford, and Colonel of the York shire Hussars; presided; and Colonel Horner, of the North Somerset Yeomanry, was the Vice-president of the evening. The dinner consisted of every delicacy of the season. A highly respectable meeting of the Catholic Solicitors assembled on Friday, for the purpose of framing Resolu tions of thanks to the English Bar, for their conduct re garding the Catholic Question. The meeting was most numerously attended, and all the Resolutions were passed unanimously.—Duhlin Paper. There is a veteran soldier, still living in Paris, who was born in the reign of Louis XIV.; his 112111 C is Pierre Ileret. He is 118 years of age, is in the full possession of his fa culties, and in good health; his long venerable heard gives him the appearance of one of the patriarchs of the olden times ; he has served in numerous engagements, and is decorated with orders given him on various occasions. THE BRITISH PRESS. PROCEEDINGS 01 THE LEV/NT COMPANY. At a General Court of the Levant Company, held at the South Sea House, on Thursday, 4th Ptbrupy, 1825, Jacob Bosanquet, Esq. Deputy Governor, is the Chair 'a letter was read from the Right Honourable L o rd Grenville, governor of the Company, I Well Dropmore, Feb. 1, 1825, transmitting a letter addressed to the Governor and Company, which Ins lordship had received from Mr. Canning. his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, communicating the intentions of his Majesty's Government, with regard to the transfer of the Company's autho rity in Ttirke,, Mimi scggesting the expediency of giving up its remaining privileges. His Lowfthip, not dotfliting that these proposals are made with a view to thv advancement of the King's service, and especially to the prommion of the cbmmercial interests of the country, recom mended them to the favourable cortaitleratlon of the Company, assuring the Court of his ready concurrence in any resolutions cal culated to meat these objects. • • Mr. Secretary CAnnina's letter was then read, aturbeferred to a Special General Court nn Friday next, the 11 th inst. The Deputy Governor was requeSted to confer with the Governor, in the mean time, on thfs,initti important subject. At a Special General Court on Friday, the 11th of February, 1825. the Hight Honourable Loed Grenville, Governor, in the ('hair, the following letter vita read from the Right Honourable George Canning, his Majesty'r. Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs : Flre,ign Office, Je11.:7, 1825. My Lord and Gentlemen,—His Mapsty:s Government having for a considerable time past had in preparation a Bill, to be sub mitted to Parliament, for the better regulation of the Consular Establishments of the country, I have the honour to apprise you that such a Bill will certainly be introduced in the course of the approaching Session ; and that, upon full considyution, it has been thought advisable to include in the regblanons of that Bill, the Consuls and subordinate Officers of time Levant Company. 'Flit object of the latter part of this arrangement is to trans?er the Company's authority, iii those respects, to the Crown. In announcing to you this intention, I must, in justice no less to yourselves than to his Majesty's Government, assure you that it results solely from considerations of public expediency. and in no degree from any feeling of disrespect towards the Levant Company, or from any disposition to impute blame to their put administration. In order to obviate any misunderstanding, I think It right to explain to you, that the whole of the officers now holding commis sions abroad under the Company will be taken into his 3lsjesty's service, and their claims considered, as if they had been in that service from the beginning. The Company being thus relieved front the charge of maintain ing their establishment, the duties and consulages levied under the authority of their charter upon the trade to the Levant will of course be repealed. Having thus communicated to you the intentions of the Govern. ment. I might content myself with expressing my hope that you will readily acquiesce in a measure, which has no other object than the advancement of the public interests, without prejudice to those of individuals, were it not that, feeling as I do, in com mon with every other member of his Majestys Government, an earnest desire m act in perfect harmony with the Company on this occasion, I cannot refrain from suggesting to you, for your consideration, whether it may not be expedient to give up the re maining privileges of your charters, which being no longer con netted with the pro:ecti.m of public interests, may be deemed, by Parliament and the public, to be useless and injurious restrictions upon made.. I have the honour to be, my Lord and Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servant, • (Signed) GEORGE CANNING. To the Governor and Company of Merchants of England trading into the Levant Seas. The Governor (Lord GRENVILLE) then addressed the Court to the following effect : Uentlemen—Before we proceed to the business of this day, permit me to take this opportunity of thanking you for the renewed mark of your confidence which I have recently experienced in my re election to this Chair. During the long penod of twenty-five years, in which I have been thus honourably connected with you, no occasion has ever been neglected by me, in which I thought any exertions of mine could, with pmpiety, be made available to your interest and I o tour ; and it will afford me a high gratification, if, in the course of the busineis now before us, I can hope to con tribute in the smallest degree to the promotion of the same import ant objects. No motive of less force than this desire would, I can truly say, have induced me, wholly retired as I now am front all political business, once more to present myself before a public assembly, even for the purpose of addressing to you these few sentences. In submitting to this numerous and highly respectable meeting the questions on which you are called to deliberate, it is my duty to state to you, however imperfectly, the opinions which I have formed upon the subject, and the grounds on which they rest. Some difficulty I must unavoidably feel in off: ring this explana tion to persons so much more conversant than I am with every part of this business. But it is a great satisfaction to me to reflect that your better knowledge and experience will readily enable you to rectify any error into which I might inadvertently fall. The first object of the plait communicated to us in 31r. Can ning's letter is, to relieve the British trade with the Levant front that peculiar burthen to «hich almost alone, among all the merchants of Great Britain, you have hitherto been subjected— the hurthen of maintaining, at your own cost, the Consuls and other Officers abroad necessary to the protection of your commerce. The charge of those establishments, and the corresponding duties of their appointment and control, are now, we are told, to be transferred to that quarter to which, on all general principles of policy, they naturally belong--to the public Government of the empire. Thus far the proposal seems, on our part, to admit of no culty. There can never have been a moment in the whole period of the Company's existence, in which you would nut gladly have accepted this arrangement. At the time when the Company's Chinas were first granted,o it was not unusual to incorporate commercial bodies for such purposes. But to these days it must b: thought a measure of much harshness, not to call it injustice, to have thrown upon this Company the burthen of maintainirg these public establishments. All law and all public authorit y rest on one fundamental maxim—that the duties of obedience an d pro tection are reciprocal. It is fur the sole purpose of mutual aid that men unite together in civil society; and what interests in the whole circle of human occupations can be better entitled to the benefit of that principle than the honourable ente-prise of the British merchant ? The founders of this trade were engaged in a just and laudable adventure, of great probable, we may now say of great actual, advantage to the whole community. In the prosecu tion of that object, how undeniable was their claim to an adequate and full protection, upheld by the joint exertions of the State, and defrayed by its joint contributions. Yet what was the language herd to them by their Government? You may explore, if you desire it, for your country, new paths of profitable enterprise —you may open fresh channels for her industry, carry her flag into ports where it is yet unknown, and enrich Ler markets with the corn. modifies of the remotest regions ; but you must expect from her no protection—neither in the doubtful hazard of the adventure, nor even in its most beneficial career of ultimate success. If public Ministers, if Consuls, if Interpreters, if any other establishments, shall at any time be wanted to promote the extension of your com merce, or to provide for its security, you must maintain them at your own cost : you must even receive it as a grant and favour from your Sovereign, that he permits you to levy for such pur. taxes on your own commerce, and to apply them at your own your :csetion ! Happily for us, it is not so that in these times the Government and Legislature °four country deal with its merchants. This stain upon our commercial legislation is now to be removed; this pecu liar and injurious burthen is mi longer to press upon your exer tions; and the arrangement to be made for this purpose is cer tainly nut a sacrifice asked from you by the Nimes Ministers, but a benefit conferred—a benefit, however, to which, on every principle of public policy, and by every rule of public right, you ar e pl a i n l y and unequivocally entitled. The surrender of your Charters In consequence of this wise and just measure, is the second part of the proposal made to you by Government. On this it is fur you to determine. My own im pressions, if you will permit me to state them to you, arc strongly in its favour. The essential objects of (hose grants have either been provided for In the lapse of time by the full establishment of your corn.nerce, or will be sufficiently answered by the arrange. ment of which I have already spoken. Little more would then remain to you, except the monopoly which excludes from the British commerce with the Levant all persons not admitted to the freedom of this Company. No useful purpose, either to your. selves or to the public, would, I think, be answered by the contii nanee of this invidious restraint. In your former position it was both necessary and just ; those who bore the burthen of protect ing this commerce could alone claim to share its benefits. But it will become wholly useless when you shall be relieved from the ditties and expenses in contemplation of which it was originally created. And if the removal of such a restraint on any branch of trade is a measure, on general grounds of policy, not only uoubjectionable but desirable, there are, in the circumstances of the present mo ment, two considerations which appear to me peculiarly and forcibly to recommend it to your adoption. The first of these arises from the rapidly increased. and I trust still more rapidly increasing, commercial prosperity of our coun . try ; an augmentation in which your own trade has already par ticipated largely, arid in the further progress of which we have every reason to hope it will bear its full proportion. t From this suspicious circumstance the whole fabric of the British Em pire, and every one of the numerous and extensive interests which it includes, are daily acquiring new strength and stability. To all the members therefore of such a community, and most espe cially to those who are by their own exertions so greatly instru mental in its advance. it peculiarly belongs to concur with zeal in whatever can conduce to objects of such inestimable value: it will be no less your pride than your interest to take your full share in the removal pf every obstacle which in the slightest de. • The Company's Charter was granted by James the First, and confirmed by Charles the Second. An appendix is added, which shows the increasing importance of the trade of the United Kingdom with Turkey and Egypt. In 1022, the value declared at the Custom-house. of goods exported. was _ - 4:972.447 8 1 In 1823 1,274.23 16 9 • In . . • 1,397 : 5W 4 ll . • gree embarrasses oPfitipedes the working of this great engine of national prosperity. • The other consideration totrblch I adverted is of yet wider scope, and still more extensive importance. States and empires partake of the instability of all human affairs. We know not what revolt'. tione our own tree and happy country may in the lapsed ages be I destined to experience. But whatever be her future fortunes. one boast she still may make, one wreath s he h as ta w ever secured to herself of imperishable glory. In the history of the human mind, and through every successive advance which man has yet to make in valuable and useful knowledge, never will it be foigotten that here the first aceds were sown of that experimental and practical philoac. phy to which all subsequent improvements in science must trace back their origin. Never will it cease to be recorded, that litre also the first lessons were given, the first great example mini felted to the world, of social institutions founded on their true basis of religious and civil liberty. Nor is it a small addition ta these benefits thus conferred upon mankind, nor will it lightly enhance the gratitude and admire. tion of posterity, that here also—in this favoured nursery of science ' and of liberty, and as the natural consequence of the joint eultiva. lion and influence of both these inestimable blessings--here were first developed to statesmen and legislators the rights and the ad. vantages of unrestricted trade. Whatever portion of human hap. pines shall hereafter restift,•and large, I trust, will that portion be, from the fixed establishment and universal diffusion of these great principles, from the undisturbed freedom of peaceful occupation, from the uncontrolled Atiscretion in the application of each man's industr and capital, and from the op en an d un f ettere d i ntercourse of all t he tribes sand families of mankind, to Great Britain must all such blessings be referred: here first was it demonstrated that these are fundamental maxims of policy mid justice ; alike con ducive to private happiness, productive of national prosperity, and consonant to all rightful exercise of public legislation. Nor is this all.. To the glory of the discovery, to the merit of its first promulgation and establishment, we have now added the still higher praise of it; general reception, its iliat and enlightened ap plication. During a long and laborious public:service, it has been my happiness repeatedly to concur both in tlie preparation and in the adoption of detached but corniderable experiments, in which these principles were practically and successfully exempl fiat: But I teteern myself fortunate indeed to hare lived to see the tittle when our Sovereign sod his Parliameps• have now, first among all the legislatures of the'world, sanctioned them by a definitive and solemn recognition. They are no longer unprofitable and barren speculations--the visions of theorists dreaming in their closets of public happiness and public justice never to be realised ; they arc toe rules by which the British Legislature has pledged itself from this time forth to administer all the unmeasurable interests committed to its charge; they are the foundations on which is henceforward to be rested the whole commercial prosperity of the greatest commercial empire which the sun has ever yet en lightened. I need not recapitulate to those who now hear me, what has re cently been accomplished in this course, by measures well consi dered, and therefore gradual, but the pledges, I trust, of a systems. tic and undeviating perseverance in the same wise and benevolent design. When compared with so much more which still remains to be performed, these indeed are but of small extent and limited operation. To judge rightly of their value, we must estimate them by the prejudices which were to be surmounted, and by the advan tages of which they have already been productive. In those advan tages you have yourselves partaken largely, and they have ext e nd e d themselves to almost every other class of British merchants. And if, in the long and honourable career which is still open to the ad versaries of commercial restriction. monopoly, and preference, the same spirit shall animate, the same resolution uphold the Lej,risla ture, if full and uncompromising effect he finally given to a system thus confirmed by experience, thus sanctioned by public ap plause, not this age, nor this country alone, will have reason to bless our exertions. There is no period so remote, there is to nation so barbarous, in which we may not confidently anticipate that these successful researches of British philosophy, this auspicious example of British policy, will become, under the favour of Providence, a pure and ample source of continually-increasirg hu man happiness. The deep interest with which I view this prospect, and the glow. ing hopes which it excites, have led me much farther than I had intended. I will not detain you longer, by explaining what you all feel, the close connexion of these topics with the questions now before you. In such an assembly of British merchants as I now address, deliberating in the centre of this great metropolis of the commerce of the world, can I be deceived in the belief, that an eager and earnest desire will be expressed in your language, and manifested by your conduct, to follow up to the utmost this benefi cial and happy system of public policy ; carrying into full execu tion, in so far at least as depends on you, the gracious recommenda tion from the Throne, the wise determination of Parliament, for the removal of every restraint by which the native freedom of trade is still unnecessarily, and therefore unjustly, fettered ! The principal measures of this description, adopted before his pment Afajesty's reign, were the commercial treaty with France in 1786, that with the United States of America in 1791, the comma. vial arrangements of the Union with Ireland in 1881, the opening of the corn trade between threat Britain and Ireland in le* and the partial opening of the East India trade in 1813. The restoration of our currency after the peace, a measure of almost infinite importance and value, was only the removal of a re cent and pmfessedly temporary, but deeply calamitous publlt mis chief. Our corn laws, an evil of hardly less magnitude, still un. happily subsist. GOLD AND SILVER. An Account has been presented to the House of Com mons of the quantity of gold and silver expos - led in the last ten years. The total export has becn— GOLD. SILVER. ounces. dTts. ounces. duds. In 1814 . 2118.121 17 - 2,699.933 18 1815 - . 316.950 . 6 491,888 1 1816 . - 11.703 2 - . 6 814.883 18 1817 . 176.423 2 - - 8 329.770 16 1818 -137.97 t 4 - - 17.777.366 11 11119 - . 98,293 2 - - 7.356,086 0 1820 . . 39,.570 19 - - 5,550,467 6 1821 . . 13.1129 0 . 4.674.157 17 1822 . . 284,277 16 - - 14.6511,251 14 1823 . . 296.475 15 - 11,724 019 6 1824 - - 1,131.407 13 - - 8.705 977 14 The value of the gold and silver exported in the last year, at the standard prices of those metals, may be taken in round numbers at 6,500,000/. sterling. Of this large export. the greater part has been to France, vie.:---Of gold, 907,048 ounces; of silver, 4,083,678 ounces. Hollatid stands next to France in the quantity of gold it has rccejvpd, 108,864 ounces having been sent thither in 1824; Brazil next in the quantity of silver, 2,314,607 ounces hav ing been sent thither. It thus appears, that of the gold ex ported in the last year, nine-elevenths were sent to France, and one eleventh to Holland. Of the silver, nearly one half was sent to France—and the total value sent -to that country was about four millions and a half sterling. These accounts do not exhibit the imports (which are not to be ascertained at the Custom-house), but it is quite impos sible that any considerable import of specie could have been going ou at the time of so large an exportation. A few days since the Earl of Portmore, whilst on his way from Geneva, was visited with a paralytic stroke ; the after-consequences of this misfortune are not yet known, but at the time this information was forwarded to England his Lordship was considered in extreme danger. Mr. Watson Taylor has sold the remainder of his house to Lord Beresford 'for 10,000 guineas. This sum, added to the former sales, makes up 35,0001., for the property which cost Mr. Taylor, in prime cost and repairs, at least 65,0001. . _ On Lord Blantyre's grounds at Erskine a brood of thrutbes were, nearly three weeks since, completely fledged, and flying from tree to tree. We understand that Government steam-packets are to be established forthwith between Liverpool and Dublin, for the conveyance •of letters from Birmingham, Man chester, and all parts of the Northern manufacturing dis tricts, to Ireland. Twenty-four hours will be gained in the teansmivsion of letters by this arrangement. After a drought of almost unpreeceentedly long continu ance, we have had this week a number of abundant and refreshing showers, the effl•cts of which upon the gardens and fields are cheering and beautiful.—Edinburt-h Piper. A wool-market is about to be established at Stettin. We feel much pleasure in giving insertion to the follow ?fig letters : To Captain A. Chrystie, commanding the Hon. East India Cont. pany's Ship Thomas Coitus, Chatham-place, Camberwell-grove. Mau Sin—We hare been charged with the very acceptable office of procuring a piece of plate, to be presented to you in the names of the passengers on board your ship on your last voyage to Bombay, as a mark of the esteem and friendship inspired by the exceeding liberality and unceasing kindness extended to them. In now handing to you this token of their regard, we take leave to express our best wishes for your health and success. We have the honour to he. dear Sir, Your mad obedient servants. BAZETT, FARQUHAR, CRAWroItD, and CO. Broad-street. 30th April, 1823. To Messrs. Hazen, Farquhar, Crawford, and Co. GENTLEMEN—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your very friendly letter, forwarding a piece of plate from the gen tlemen who were passengers with me in the H. C. ship Thomas Coutta to Bombay. It is truly gratifying to my feelings their haying mentioned me to you in such flattering terms. Accept my best thanks for the handsome manner in which you have executed this commission, as well as for your kind wishes for my prosperity. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen. Your most obedient servant. Chatham-place, Grove, Camberwell, ALlcx. Cttarsric• 30th April, 1821. ST. K.47'HARINE DOCKS. We lately gav_ some extracts from a pamphlet pub lisped by Mr. Simon Cock, under the title of " The Case of the London Dock Company." A reply to that pato. phlet has sit ce hcen published, entitled, " Observations upon the Case of the London Dock Company," with the motto :—Audi altering& parkin. The author thus states his purpose ? It wilt he the object of this little publication to show, by a brief statement of facts, eccompanied by a few observatfor.s and refer -1 ence to official documents__ First: —That the renewed complaint of the London Deck is with. 'Out, foundation. • • And Second —That the allegations by which they seek to luatify the opposition offered by them to an extension of the wet dock system in the port of London cannot be sustained, and are inca pable of proof. A Rill for constructing wet docks, Ate. at St. Katharine's, In the port of London, was submitted to Parliament last year, sold lifter being tinder the consideration of a Committee of the Rouse of . Commons nearly a month, was withdrawn in conseiuence of the late peritadaf the then Session, and of the specks of oppersit;in offered by the London Dock Company atilt other interested par ties ; an opposition, the character of which was strongly animad verted upon by a Committee of the House, in a special report, dated Ist June, 1824. The standing orders of' both Houses of Parliament having in every respect been complied with, and 'one year's notice given of the proposed measure, beingafx months beyond the period required, the promoters of the St. Katharine Docks renewed their application this Session with increased confidence of success, I'hey prayed for no exclusive privileges or immunittes' , and in the legitimate employment of mercantile capital far Inc seem plishment of an object of peat public utility, snitch; no other ad vantage than those which o litteelt to a spirit of honoursblq rivalry through the means of competmon. • The subscribers ate nearly all merchants, and odors immedl a.e'y connected with the trade of the poet of London, and no shares have been aimed to.be sold or tranaferred. The measure, although a private undertaking partakes of a public character ; i; is 'unnamed by the commercial, manufactur ing, and shipping interest, generally ; whose sentiments have been strongly expressed in nume r o us memor i a l s presente d to t h e Lords of the Treasury, and further testified to the Douse of Commons In various petitions. 1. From merchants, hankers, and traders of the metropolis, signed by upwards of l7(19 leading mercantile establishment's, some of whom are consid'.rable proprietors of the London and other Docks in the pen of London. 2. From ship-owners and others connected with the „navigation of the riv:r Than es, signed by u p war d s o f 1600, Eeht plaining also of the regulation adopted by some of the ,Deal Companies, under which the erews are turned out of the vetzels, and coin ye lied to lodge ashore, by which evil habits arc contracted, and the character of the British seamen demoralised. 3. From the wine and spirit trade. 4. From the merchants, &c. engaged in the seed trade. 5. 'From between three and four hundred of the inhabitants of Sr. Katharine's and St, Botoph Aldgate; and upwards of two ' rbittls of the owners and occupiers (whi c h, in the whole, consist df 1256 persons) are in favour of the measure. 6. From the merchants, ship-owners, &c. of the following ports:— Newcastle, Sunderland. Leith, Dull, Grimsby, Kirkahly, Lyme-Regis, Yannoutli,'lpswich, Harwich, Colchester, Sheer ness, Rochester, Dover, ltareregatet Sandwich, itlargate, Rye, Portsmouth, Newhaven, Cowea, Poole, Weymouth, Jersey, Dartmouth, Plymouth, Falmouth, Penzance, Swansea, Pad stow, Bristol, Cork, Dublin, Boston, Barnstaple. All parties indeed connected with the coasting trade with the port of 'London feel deeply interested in the success of a measure calculatA to afford considerable relief from the existing impedi ments to the navigation of the river Thames, and by establishing competion, to produce a permanent reduction in the charges of the port. The benefit the public will derive by the reduction of charges through the construction of' the proposed clocks is manifest ; since ;he mere agitation of the measure has already produced a consider able diminution in the rates upon certain goods in the port of London I'. thus proving, that under the influence of monopoly they were exorbitant. It was difficult for the promoters of the meastre to conjecture any public or parliamentary ground on which it c o uld b e opposed, b ut i they felt satisfied that f any renewal of the efforts at resistance offered during the last Session should take place, it would present the following singular CONTRAST, IN eavoun OF THE 311 - AGAINST THE mrsauna. suRE. Local interests. The Public. Advocates for exclusive pri •ileges, and compulsory regu lations. The commercial, manufac.' turing, and shipping interests. The importers of raw mate rials, to the uses of British in dustry. The consumers of foreign commodities in the metropolis and its vicinity, and many of the nut ports. Friends of free trade, compe- • The promoters of monopol:,, titian, reasonable charges, and and such as benefit by exorb,- improved management. tans rates. After giving an account of the progress of the St. Ka tharine Dock Bill through th e House of Commons, and justified the Commire: 'goblin the complaint of the Lon* don Dock Company that they were denied a fair bearing, the pamphlet proceed s:— slaving thus disposed of the complaint of the London Dock Company, previoua to proceeding to a consideration of the second and last branch of inquiry, it is necessary to notice the conelernna don which has been pronounced on their behalf upon the several eel:echo' Acts passed in the 3d and 4th years of the , eign of his I recent Majesty Acts, which were hailed by the mercantile corn. munity as the first solemn pledges of an improved system of corn. mereial legislation, practically illustrating the sound principles which influenced Parliament in adopting a liberal policy of trade, which has so materially contributed to raise our commerce, menu. factures, Ace. to a state of unexampled prosperity. The reasona openly avowed in the `• Case of the London Dock Company" for sithholding approbation from those public men. sures, quite consistent with the motives which have throughout ruled the struggle of monopoly against competition, are so very questionable, that it is difficult to suppose they have received the sanction of the proprietors of that establishment. Those reasons embrace two most disinterested propositions : First—That as those Acts of Parliament have extended to the out.porto all the advantages of the warehousing system, they have a tendency to diminish the trade of the Port of London, and hence, to injure the interests of the proprietors of the London Ducks. Certain of the shareholders the several docks in the port of London. Some of wharfingers an 3 warehout:.keepers. Second—That na principles of reciprocity in trade have been established by those measures, the shipping of other countries will more freely participate in the navigation of both. That hence the number of foreign ships in the port of London will be increased ; and as such vessel, do not frequent wet docks in the same propor tion with British ships, the effect must be prejudicial to the Lon. don I)ock Company. These propositions furnish the following conclusion :—That the London Dock Company must in all mum be viewed as pa , amount, and that every consideration, even of national advantage, must yield whenever it shall be found to interfere with their private interests. In thirteen distinct puts of the publication, the attention of the public is drawn " to the injury the interests of the London Dock Company will sustain," " the disastrous results," " the ruinous consequences," &e. &e. which will be entailed upon that establish ment; their interests, indeed, are tonjuitts perdris. whereas those of the public appear to have been expunged from the London Dock vocabulary. Reference has been had to the archives of the Shipowners' Society to which, it is presumed, the London Dock Company have from circumstances obtained a privileged AMASS, in search of opinions favourable to the principles propounded. The copy of a memorial from that Society to the Lords of the Council for Trade, dated March, 1823, has been incorporated with the proofs which were proposed to be offered against the preamble of the St. Katharine Dock Bill, in which our present commercial policy is freely con. demned ; upon the ground, that in proportion as our trade and navigation may thereby be increased, foreigners will participate in the advantages; or, in other words, that no trade is to be encouraged which shall not secure the exclusive employment of British ships. The opinions of such an influential body might peradventure bare acquired additional weight, if some 01 the gloomy predictions to be found In tie protocol of their proceedings had been verified. The benefit our trade and navigation has derived under the loft ; ence of the liberal policy which has been adopted must render those opinions of little value as authority, from the erroneous views which that Society entertained of the injurious effects which they predicted those enlightened measures would produce ; opinions., however. not generally prevalent with the shipowners of the United Kingdom. The following observations occur on the mode and extent of charging in the London Decks, and on the recent reduc tion of these rates, from the dread of competition. The reduction tardily made by the London Dock Company after the Nun of St. Katharine had knocked at their gates, cannot be permanently secured to the public without competition, as under a local Act. the 51st Oeorgc possess a power of exacting at any time rates from certain good s, fur the bonding of which no other legal places exist within nea rly four miles of London Bridge, of full Se per cent above those to which, under an apprehension of competition, they have been lately reel owed. cap. 49 (which is perpetual), they se iw o r s4b i ly an fe i l a t. crea but aa w wili bar a io m ns pl i a n ia tte Port Th e of re Lon pmen tlott . antidote of competition is to "ow d .o exist ? sem it : . iever have the pub ic e h powerfulh s t alatreadne dtstaat ot lace, tan css cations and remonstrances of merchants and others have in many s an b a ec ‘. . ex tr i e ° th u em' re e gu ot l ' a c t instances been disregarded, and in others tardily attended to, whilst haveß u for r ou raa s c a l y aa i y r e e s : . the manopoly possessed by the London Dock Company, under the an of incorporation, rendered them indifferent to improved manage. went. No choice being left to the proprietors of certain goods as to the places for deposit, their interests were unavoidably consigned to arbitrary control ; and it is clear that the advantages of open competition can never be enjoyed by the public. as between tbe ~.