The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-01-09 00:00:00

h7CIIT a> LADY CURTIS'S GRAND PALL AND SUPPER. Sir liViLLiAt and Lady CURTIS opened their uipitable mantion, in Kent, on Wednesday even „, to a numerous party of their friends, with a Lust elegant Ball and Supper. Every arrange teat was made that could conduce to the pleasure ,f the visitors, and display the taste of her Lally hip. The Ball was opene d b y Miss Curtin oud dajor Surrow, who were followed by wore than in c ouple, in two sets. The rooms were superbly 'OWL and the dresses of the Ladies were most rilftant. At one o'clock, supper was announced. shies were laid in the worthy Baronet's grand Ming-room, for one hundred persons. The festive board was covered with' every deli cy of the season—the finest pastry, rarest fruits, choicest - wines, and the sparkling Cliamitawne eat briskly round to the health of the hospitable Ist and hostess, and many loyal and patriotic eats. During supper the chatining baud of the e,,bigh regiment played several most favourite nd loyal airs. It was past two o'clock when the terry d ;nes was resumed, and continued with rest opt. it, utitil six o'clock—silica the delighted isitors reluctantly ittl this enchanting scene of fee: .vity, charmed with the beauty of the ladies, the t fitondottr of •the entertainment, and the good our and turd haapitalitx of their hosts. The eominany consisted, among others, of— The Ofikera of the od Regiment King's German • Light Dragoons ; the Denbigb, and West York Militia; Lord Gleotworib ; Hue. Colonel, Mn. and Miss Barton; Gearral Carkton and family; Mrs. Townley, two Misers Townley; Mr. sod Mrs. Frederick Plgou and family ; Major Sutton MT. and Mrs. Gibson ; two Mimi - Gibson ; Mrs. and Miss ; Mr. Wane, Mrs. Wane, sad Mr. Warm, jun. he. Ice. T.) the EDITOR of the BRITISH PRESS. MISS DUNCAN AND MR. MiUDIE. a paragraph which Rome days ago appeared in a Monolog Witt, anti @':a day or-pnblished in another, I per ciive I am accused of having pablhhed prate/ letters from Miss Duncan, and this paragraph is followed by in insertion of Miss Duncan's last letter to me, • till the following eons- trent NOW, as this letter contains an obvious reference to a letter which the Manager km so! tassiztt peap,r to pubti,k, it is left to the liberality and good sense of the public to deride —who's to blame In deference and respect to the public., I think it neausary to state, in answer to the ah..we, that I could out publish the Irtter alluded t.a, from the nature of the correspoodeme, be rm, from neceiwity, conducted in such haste, that I bad it not in my power, Or did I think It necessary, to keep copies of any of my letters. It; therefore, Miss D. would wish to throw the Mar ea me, it is incumbent oia her, is jpsfifira•twi of herself, to pakilisb that litter, to which she sat copliaticall4 aliteii , s, sad I hose zio doubt but it will Own appear clearly rkws to Itiante!" Is the .an time I beg leave to say, that I in the coarse of a few days, publish a fair and candid statement of the whole of my Wanmit: ions with Mies D re lative to an etigagrtuent, is which it will appear, that she, in threw different instances, departed from bee or iginsi proposals, sod each time seemingly for the purpose of °Mans* more ozookited tosma. I eireut cowhide tho, without deeloriag, Slatl sever thowiht d weitin any PRIV ATI'. LETIMILII to hiss D. bat Mir machos tlo. *ebbe nature of the awe re that I Mma 'Weal to•ecount i mmediately to the sedliess ihr a disserriMarAt, u loch took place in rouse wpm ether sodden wiesuadiam of weird, and in direct con -10111160111 he the hills of tbs day, in which I had gtAgtAl My - 4amltererittiE=oll. J. MI:DIE• • 'sot MIL COOKE. - . b ..••••• •••— :.A,GOW JASVAILY 4. I have read in THE Ghong a short paragraph, hiltiag that a report had gone forth, that Cooke, the actor, had put an end to his existence in Apple by gaol. lam hap;ty to have it in my power to relieve his admirers from the regret such a belief may have raised. Cooke was taken out of prison by one of the Managers of this Theatre, Mr. Rock, who liquidated his debt for the advantage of his service.., and he has already performed twice in our Theatre—Richard was the character he commenced with—Glenn/von was his second per formance. Oar old favourite, Young, performed Norval. We never experienced from that play so high a treat before. Cooke is announced for the character of Skylark this night. On Wednesday, Young and he again perform together in Othello and lingo. We have here neither a numerous nor an excellent company of comedian.. The above named Gentlemen, we know, will be no more than transient visitors, therefore don't consider them as part of the regular establishment; however, whilst they remain, (and with their " words of (ere lend spirit to the meanest of the camp'.") we shall be highly delighted ; and we cannot but be ipleased with Rork for liberating Cooke, and to your winter Managers for not securing such an actor as Mr. Young. Amostmous. WINCHESTER, Our 'Amateurs have been gratified with the most interesting musical performance that ever took place in this city. Mr. Randle., Miss Randle-, undshir. Parry, the former a very fine performer *taw harp, and the latter executing, in a very in isaiuhs manner, duets and trios on two and three flageoletsat once; hut the great attracting star is Miss Randle*, only eight years of age, (and we find, on inquiry, that her great musical powers dawned at so early a period as sixteen menet* old); her execution, taste, and csorertion, on the piano forte, is truly astonishing, and ste sings in a very pretty manner. On the whole, this little band of choice performers must be heard to form any idea of its merit. They are making a tour, and intend to pay the metropolis a visit, where we wish them that success they dearly.. It is reported that a brig and a sloop were cap tured by a French privateer. between St. Alban's Head and Portland, on the 6th instant. On Thursday, several Merchants and Brokers waited on the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, la reluest that he would prevail on the Admiralty to direct oar cruisers, afle•r having examined Neu trals, not to write the word reignited upon their pa pers, as. according to the French Decrees. that act was saffieient evidence for their condemnation on their arrival at any poi under the matron! of France. The Ca taext.i.os of the ENLIVEN , ' El, we nrelerstand, observed, that no such directiow could be given by the Admiralty. as Gatcclunca. lad determined not to relax any of the tummies eilopted iu retaltafion of BON ArLSTS'S DECLAIM CIACIIAirBEELJrvs orrrcE,cVTLDHALL. Yesterday, about foui o'clock, Sir John Stuart. and Sir Home Popham, arrived at Guildhall, for The purpose of reetiving the swords voted by the city of Loudon, for their respective services, the former on the Plains of Maida, and the latter at the attack upou BliatmsAynes.—They were received at the Chamberlain's Office, by the Chamberlain. and the following Aldermen, &c. Alderman Shaw, as Lama Tow's, Sir John Lamer, AL* dermas Flower, Alderman Rowcruft, Alderman Prinsep, Alderman Hunter, Alderman Bin,dril, Alderman Birch, and Meoars. James and Samuel Dixon, the Moyer and Seconder of the Thanks of the Lord Mayor and Corporation. The CHAMBERLAIN !addressed Sir John Stuart as follows : .` Sim lollm STOultT, " I give you joy; sad in obedience to a unanimous Resole, tion of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of Lundell, In Commou Council assembled, do give you thanks fur yew very gallant and heroic conduct et Maids thereby wowing to t h e world, that the boasted prowess of the French crow cannot stand, when fairly tried, before the tutrepid bravery end steady discipline of British soldiers. " And as a farther testimony of the high esteem which the Court entertains of your very meritorious services, I present to you this Sword. "Sir, in the present situation of public affairs, it is highly gratifying to a Brdon to perceive, that the superiority of British courage and discipline, under the guidance of able and experienced Commanders, has been gloriously displayed in almost every region of the habitable globe. Egypt wit nessed it under the immortal Abeicrenalimess-India has re cently experienced it tinder the conduct of a Lake—sad since the action on the plains of Maids, the descendants of those who, led by the Calms, once made a conquest of this island, will be ready to confers, that nothing can withstand the courage and discipline of British soldiers, when under the di rection of a animmunste General." The Chamberlain then addressed Sir Home Popham, as follows : "StaHowePorwsw, . " I give you joy; and in the mime of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Canards. of the City of London, in Common Council assembled, rotors you thanks for your gallant conduct mad inaportant services in the capture of Buenos Ayres, at owe alisaiag a sew source of commerce to the manufactivics orGroit Brits* sad depriving her enemy of one of the richest and most extensive colonies in her pos session. " And by a unanimous :..solution of the said Court, I min to present to you this sword, as a testis:may of the high esteem which it eutertains of your very meritorious conduct. " Sir, when the news arrived of your athievensent in South America, it MO received by the nation with an Way of joy ; the artificer saw an Increase of desmad for the pro ductiou of his ingenuity—the merchant hags la island his coaatwareol warms, and weryohllowthosyho most ropawoody exclaimed with the Poet— Oh stretch thy reign, fair Peace, from shore to shore, 'Till conquest cease, and slavery be an mere; 1111 the freed lailhos, in their astir. grows, Reap their own halts, sad won their sable lore'. Peru, awe more, argot 4:ibises behold, And ether Kokos be heaped with gold. • " Such, Sir, w ere the detighttlal visions io which this Natio, indulged, epos the result at a plan suggested by the wisdom of that groat Illhamma, whom has we deeply feel, ad whose drath we still deplore; and carried into effect by the promos of yourself and your gußsat associates is arms "The scene, it must be confessed, is sow most Lammitably changed Yet though the Nation has looked in vain for that extension of commerce, and that diansion of British curiliza tion, in the hopes of which she had so badly indulged herself --she will ever regard the capture of Boma Ayres, both boas the ability with which it was planned, sad from the arm and intrepidity with which it was effected, is ao netball worthy of being recorded lathe brightest page of her history." "GENTLEMEN, " You have given ample proofs of your real in the enure of your country, and of your abilities to reader it the most essential services; the same noise bas still farther claims upon your exertions—the foe with whom we hare to coated has declared his dieteratioat ion to deprive us of our most valuable rights, sad to sink us below the betel of an independent lotion; but, I trust, such threats are vela. " You, Gentlemen, are sensible that what • asthma Ms ost her honour, she his little else worth pmservins. Too will tonviuce our ins aerate ramify, that however dosimoas your country may be to obtain a plant, she can serer be forced to :crept such a peace m shall either dimiuisb bcr rights, or tarnish bee glory.' Sir JOHN &Trutt and Sir Host POPHAM then severally returned thanks, in short, but appropriate answers, expressive of their high sense of obligation to the Corporation of Loudon for the honour done to them. They promised to use their swords, thus bestowed upon them, in defence of the rights of their King and Country ; and after putting on the swords, they returned to the Mansion House, and partook of an elegant dinner, pros ided for them by the Lord Mayor. Sir John Stuart and Sir Home Popham, both came girded with swords. %'hen tiley retired to the private parlour, to exchange them for those presented, they each, severally, said, while putting them on, Sir llodtE Porn alt—ist This," meaning the o:d sword, " was presented to me by the East India Company." Sir JOIIN STI.JAET— tt IS ith this I fought on the plains of Maids." The old swords were confided to the care of the Mar siml. Sir Edward Hamilton was present at the ceremony. The Copies of the Freedoms voted to these Knights, were sent to Alderman Boydeft's, to be frsined and glazed. Above tin persona were present at the dinner, including the Master and Court of Assistant* of the Kerchaat Tailors' Coinpani. We mentioned in a former paper, that bets had been made by. Lieut. 11. of the Ist Royal Lanca shire Militia, with some officers of that regiment, that he would walk 30 aides a day for tweaty suc cessive days. 'The original 'bet was for 50 guineas, but was afterwods increased to 100, and since to about' 3/04*-sidee i nn umerable bye heti.— Friday last Was 7100 on for the commencement of this arduous enterprise and the road to be from the Hotel, in the v..-4of r i eieter, to the2-inile stone on the road to Topsham, being adistance of two miles andhalf,then walking to arvisfrone the Ist ik 2d mile stoaesfor a sartsun number of tiines, and after wards returning twice to the Hotel, from whence he set out, so as )6 make up Abe complete distance of 30 miles within the gives' period. The weather has certainly been much against him—rain, more or less every day, and the road is in many pl aces ver y heavy ; besides which, between the one and two mile stones there is a steep hill to descend, and another to ascend—wed between the one-mile stone and the Hotel the read'is rather more uneven. At the conclusion of the second day he appeased dis tressed (perhaps from being 'mused to such severe exercise), and bets were much against him; but on the third morning he sedierstet cent, fresh, and ines cellent spirits. He returned Wednes day evenings about six, having completed his 30 miles each day for six days; consequently, every thing appears , more in his favour than at first , although he has still much to perform. Since the coinmenceineut of this pedestrian exploit, the Topsham road has been the grand resort of all the loungers, to see how he gets on in his laborious undertaking. His dress is a short white jacket, red waistcoat, sloped cotton pantaloons, a Welsh wig, and no hat, n iless when it rains; tumid his neck he wears a knit worsted cravat; forming altogether a curious figure for a public spectacle. At present, he great confidence in his powers , and an arelekieueest flow of spirits, which may probably enable him to overcome the difficulties he has to ens-minter. DUBLIN, JAN. 4. Thursday afternoon, the stock of chimneys of an house adjoining Mr. Stewart's residence in Upper IVlerrion-street, was blown down, the weight of which forced through the several floor; of Mr. Stewart'a habitation, bursting the wall of one of the lower back apartments, from whence a domestic but a moment before had fortunately retired.—A large dinner party were havited, who, though near the appointed hour, providentially had oot arrived at the time of the acciden:, and we are happy to hear that no individual of the family received any pertiodal injury. What is most extraordinary, although Mr. Stewart's family cowists of twenty one persons, yet at the moment of the accident, not one was in the back moms, all of which acre de stroyed, from the garret to the cellar. A flag of truce will be immediately sent to Flush- Mg, with the nephew of Sir C. PoLe and antnatt Gentleman. The former was a prisoner in Hol land, but obtained permission to come to England on his parole fur two years ; that term being ex pired, an exchange was oriered for hint,but refused by the Dutch Government ; he is therefore about to resigu himself prisoner of war. Two men were taken up at Henley, on Tuesday afternoon, for uttering Ipswich atalSuflolk one a:id five pound bank notes, drawn by RaLPH Houma, SAUNDEJS, and Co. on WINKELLY, BROTHERS. nad Co. 6, St. Michael's-alley, Coruhill, London. The Committee of 3lerehants tradiug with Ame rica was specially convened on Thu rsday, at the Lon don Tat ern, to take into consideration the propriety of presenting a Memorial to Government, recoin mendin,l a revisal of the late Order of Council. — Some debate took place on the qwwtion; and we are happy to Mid, that the good saw of the Meeting rejected the indiscreet proposition by a majority of elev. n to six. Thursday evening, a melancholy accident hap rentVto the servant :if Mr. JOSEPH of gate-market »The young woman was pre paring a composition of bees' wax, sweet oil, &c. for cleansing the furniture, and, is order to prevent any accident happening. Mrs. FISEIHR superin tended it with the servant; it boiled over, and Mrs. Fount immediately took it off the fire; but, as it was all in a blaze, the was unable to hold the pipkiu in her hands, consequently let it fall on the hearth, close to where the servant stood; the consequence was, the clothes of the young woman caught fire, and burnt upwards with great rapidity. She run out of the house into the market, where she was met by Mr. Ootoos and Mr. Maus, who used every exertion to tear her clothes off; but she had suffered too much from the fire to render any as si,ta.ice from these _gentlemen of much service.-- Mr. HUMUS', Mr. FIELD, and several other medi cal men, were called in. The life of the poor suf ferer is despaired of, her btomach being so much burnt. - The inhabitants of Sturminster Newton Castle, in Dorsetshire, having, for the last two or three years, held in that town, on every al ternate Monday, an illegal cattle chew, Lord Rastas, Lord of the Manor of Stunninster Newton Castle, with a view to his procuring a grant from His Ma stiffs', for a leg] market on '.Monday in every week, lately obtained a writ of ad 'nod daemon from the Court of Chancery, to inquire, by a Jury of the County, whether or no it would be to the prejudice of His MAJZSTY, or any other, or to the . hurt of the neighbouring markets or fairs, if His MAJESTY should grant such market to Lord Ruins ? and if it would, the SHERIFF was di rected to return, under bis seal, and the seals of the Jury, to what damage or prejudice. and of whom, and how, and in what manner?—The in quiry took place at Stunniiister Newton Castle, on Monday, the 4th instant, before the UNDER SHE LLY!, of the County, and a roost respectable JIM, when the grant of a Market was opposed by Mr. DAUM Ciblf. the Knrc's Counsel, and Mr. CA., sego, as Counsel both for the Earl of UZIRTDGE, Lord of the Manor of Stalbridge, and owner of the market there, and for many inhabitants in tha 1 . town and neig bourbon.' of Staibeidge ; and was ammo:tad by ST.rj cant BesT, as Counsel for Loed Rim IVESTWNSrjR SESSIONS, JAN. 9. learn W. MAINwAAINe Eiq. Aid a Desch of orvt- . MAGioleildria• -• I 4 ' ^ 4.4tWir liiCKPOCOVS. Thiaaracanappeal of Biltosotes, Wood ford, and Bill White, (alias .(.'stakeybraw), from a • conviction given against them on thictanber the • lath, as noted thieves and pit kpockets, by .Sir f. • Panson s and Nan sq ts„ E. as Sitting Magit tratts at Bow-street Vistice-office. Mn KNAPP, coansel for the Prisoners, said, his first Objection against the mush:bon was, that Lie Magistrates who had convicted them bedlam, Bach evidence as would antlionew a conviction. Second Objection—That the word at is sulsoi ;lard for the word of in the conviction. The Act of Parliament uses the worths "convicted before the • Magistrates of the Thames Police Office ;" instead • of which the crime is set forth in the conviction, 1.14 before the Magistrates at the Thames Police Of fice. The Learned Counsel observed, that. by the • alteratiqn of the word, it might lie before any Ma gistrates, and not actually belbre the pro?er rstrates of the Thames Police Office. Third Objeation—That the Act of Parfianiept, 47 Geo. ILL ou which the conviction took plilbe, referred to the Act of 7 Geo. 11. which Act states, that, the Prisoneis abaft be held in oestody mita' they are discharged by due course of law ; in the conviction there were no such words. In the care of the King v. Rhodes, who was COI IV icted as a vogue a n d a va,caliond, Lord Kenyon was of opinion, that a conviction must take piece before a commtinent, and ordered Rhodes to lie discharge, because the words be kept in custody until dis chargid by due course of law," were not stated in the commitment. The fdarth ob;ection was—That tho reasons foe coovictlon were not fully stated in the conviction. Mr. POOLNY, far the prosecution, said, the ob jections were tneriely to matters of form, and the -• Act of Parliament said, that want of formality should not set aside a conviction. Mr. Justice .llatirwsnish observed, that aka only objection that seemed to have any ' was the substitution of the word at fix of; linetkis- he thought of little consequence ; however, he would not give his judgment on it until **day of the adjournment of the Sessions. In dicakesa time, given gar po&ed, yew% that' He hi cen•ed todv. He never t often saw him in company with one Himly, a noted thief. Joseph Pearks, an officer of Bow-street, was next called. His evidence was objected to by Mr, lis•PP, as he was not before the lagistrates. It wis contended by Mr. PooLET, that he had a right to shew their guilt in its clearest view ; as the ap.. peal was, that there was not sufficient evidence far a conviction. The CHAIRMAN was of opinion, that so new evi dence could then be bmught forward. Was. Homan, one of the patroles of Bow-street, knew the prisoners a length of time; always con sidered them to be reputed thieves. Salines and Woodward had often been in custody ; White was once in custody ; was taken at the Marquis of Lansdown's Masquerade, and was discharged by producing evidence that he kept Livery Stables.. • Here the evidence closed. Seven officers were in Court, wank% to be examined as to thew know ledge and optimums of the Piwiners, but they were not brought forward, as no new evidence could be allowed. Mr. KNAPP said', he could not conceive what right the Magistrates had to convict the prisoners • the act of standiu against a print-shop, watche d during the whole time, and not a single instance of an attempt to commit • felony, would not make them vagrants ; if it would, there was but little .ecurity for His Majesty's subjects; for there was h-srdly u man that had not committed the mine crime. He called no evidence, on WOW of the Prisoners. Mr. Justice MALIMWAitt No Omen that the , Prisoners ought to have produced cr to their characters and way of hying ;• had net. done it; and, he buppoisd' from the best cause is the world, which was, that they had not any. He was fully of opinion that the evidence was suificient io convict them ; and he highly approved of the cot victioo. The Magistrates oa the Bench hilly cis - cided with him. Ile reserved the judgment on the objection until the day of adiourALevt The Ediewad and Mary, HODGSON, from Myth, has been taken, retaken, and is arrived at Yar mouth. The Margaret, of Glasgow, loot her fantasist and bowsorit, at Cork, in a gale on the .3 ist ult. The Mary, STOllt. from 'Yarmouth fur Loudon, is ashore near Orforchtess. • The Maria, Mutowistru. from Quebec for London, and the -. PEI.TEr, from Quebec for ()Porto, were spoken with on the 31st Noveasb.•r, bearieg away for Acton, being Itta4. A h e r from Barbaines was yesterday which states, that the expedition under the orde.s of Admiral Cootie N k and General Bows's', stilts, from Barbados." the beginning of November against the Danish islands.- We may therefore very shortly expect to be informed of the result of this enterprise• the success of which was not doubted at Bar. hadoes. me anyourouteus time, they might go into the evidence • att given before the Magistrates, cud as itaitieliNV. gave the conviction. ~ Situate' Thornton, an officer of poed, that he knew &tunes and W years, and Vt hite three years ; looked oa that time to be notorious thieves mat pidipsiksliVt - • He had Woodford once before in cuotellt -tom ceived a letter from a gentleman in Holbsetrditli" there was a gang of pickpockets who infelliddleptt, neighbourhood ; on which inbrmation 4 . the Swan public-house, in Breams-b it • was a notorious flash-house, and he appogiiiis Woodford there ; on the 7th of NowerbbvCikiiiiic the three prisoners following a gentlemee in the.. Strand, and had not a doubt but they went trying' to pick his pocket* ; AA the .1 doubt of Pa".•weisp. ll o.4- saw them again together in Piccadilly ; did neitater.• them doing any thingparticularly ; a hen be *gimp" them, they were standing at a picture-shop ;Agri was at the opposite side of the we ; Soamee-dade pied hint, and they went immediately eill4 ail which he followed them, and took them into cur. todv. He never saw White at the theili-liouse.,btt the I'p~ -Lrs ;TA - c