The Statesman. — London, England, 1818-12-17 00:00:00

ritt(llP IP . 114 Y; Swan. ?ace, Roses Majeltyy d Piyrnotrib. Pay's brig rough f or tterdair.t, for D e . Mica. dy picktot. ie Br tin s , p Mersey, le bake of —sOled ths SortpO ri , row W t. etid Otis • rt of Wk s •ra 'n Vrow yet Ei t r)e, r, for Ma. liotterdem ; r, both tot port e , , from Lis and has 10 batchPs !ono of rya eather coo part of the / with the when, as nrorment : W. ; Flinch e City. An ad an order Airrling, on nmpelled to rehange, ia 'sing ender price here &change, iti. of aocs. EGENT re eptay, end ling piffles. I the **Cep- is dintensed f musicians. • more con. M i me comp six o'clock a 0 Pavilion, in behalf of 1r execution returned , to ilkmen who is Imperial 'd at Dover dsy arrived route for t, he made in the city our ye )me John. the srati : which had e object of ce of some ct its insti. ten was af. try Paper.) ,'‘ baggage, es of plate, mime, ar m Antwerp, care of his frOnt ,inerica, 'II, enlisted they prio esechanks, respectable MOOD, M M. for he whole of )Itl Bolo?. I are to 00111 - m his 10 mint ishis n the vault itokintaisder, ZABETIH, yip w.ts rat the pa- , Wel-le% Piper, and never even indisidi al,. iis Petition 13rowo, the iymous three men. , n to them, Cappor, of day, haw. on in print, Yeller, and so far a fa .ted- t 9 sign ' .~ . . ? V .7, .1 • PROJECTS FOR DRTRCTING POILGED NOTES. ‘. $ TO THE PDITOR OF THE STATESMAN. Sri,—The issue of the recent trials for Bank 'Forgery, et the Old Bailey, has diffu've'd a very ge neral satisfaction amongst all classes of the commu nity. This is nothing more than estural on seeing - the decline of a system, which it has cost so great a sacrifice of human life to support, and which has been attended with so much less and inconvenience to almost every one. But when we reflect on the situation in which at the sane time it places us for the present, I ...afraid we shall perceive bet little ca use for rejoicing. We are fairly left a prey to the forger, who will doubtless perceive his advantage, and, according to • the pressed), "make bay awhile. the sun shines."— To afford protection to the, Public in this dilemma, so ingenious Gentleman proposes to have an Inspec tor appointed for every street, assuming, of course, 'that they will all find plenty of employnient. Now ,oasis idea strikes me as one of en excellent kind, and J beg leave to trouble you with my reflections up o n 'it. Ile does nut say who are the persons he would haw' appointed to this office, and It is in this parti cular t hat I presonseltele beofeminent service to him. 1 by no means wish to hit accounted one of the num . ber, and so incur' the charge of self•interestedness '‘ when I propose to this situation those worthy tenembers of society, the publicans. My reasons t iler fixing oil this respectable class are many, *lnd I should suppose convincing. In the first -place, they are to be found in every street, and • are, in tonere; es civil, obliging, good•humoored (people as one can desire to meet with. Then when a person carries his Notes to be inspected, lie need not fear to be kept hanging on his feet, among half a, dozen grumbling and impatient people, fidgeting to get elf again. Nu ; there is a parlour, an inviting ',Me, a paper, pleasant company, and what you please. Those, again, who disdain to keep the Bank • papprln their possession, may there, if they please, get rill of it altogether; or, if they rather chute, may come off with some of their favourite specie in ex change. Ido not expect any opposition from Go vernment to the scheme, because the publicans have • always been great promoters of the Revenue, and . should not wonder but the CitANGELLott of theKscuE . %um will pronounce this the only plan " without any facet defect." Wren en honest fellow COMPS home of ti Satuti)lt night, and finds his old woman disposed to qoestir hins,,whai bas kept him so late, It must satisfy her St once, unless she is very vurea. amiable, to tell bee that he just stepped to the In- Species'., and there were so many there that he could slot get home sooner,. This scheme too, will save ' porters, footmen, apprentices, kr. n good deal of trouble ; for as they make it a point at all events to call in at the publican's, they will thus be enabled to make one errand serve fur two. I do no pretend to • say, that this scheme it calculated for a very . ferigthiseet esistence... Perhaps the nitrite of business , sigiulti not make this desirable . 1 rather think that tile sooner ghe Commissioners appointed to search fors remedy ;Nang Forgery, can bring their labouss to a termits•- • lion the better. Before heard of this scheme, which I Ostler myself I have so greatly improved, I had intended to propose one entirely my own. I laid it down as A matter of fact, thot the Bank-notes at present in .circulation are just' like so many Lottery Tickets, • and Chit the holdeis of the one could not, any more . than tftosi,of thd other, tell, without assistance, whetherthey would turn out blanks or prizes.— .. Now, I learned from several of my friends, just re s' :formed from their Meets, 'that there are on the Con , ,Ititient a great mail people who have the gift of dis ? .covering 101 numbers, and to whom you have ••oly to tell the number of your ticket to know whe ther you will Nitre gOod or ill luck. Ac Bank-notes I have numbers as well as Lottery Tickets, it occurred to , me that lime people might, in tdi, probehility, be able to tell, by looking at the number, whether a. Note was a forgery or not. Accordingly , I inte nd. . to pinpose, tiringing over all - those people, and having them posted in convenient places about the r etfupolis and, co untry , so that a person, before taking a Note might be able to run and have it in spected in this manner. On talking over the subject to several grave friende,bowever, l found they had a great many objections to it. But what chiefly in duced me tor reliequish this idea, was the doubt whe ther the different Goverameo6 would agree to part with so toasty tamable subjects, and whether the people would,peaceably submit to be deprived of the' Inestimable advantage of knowing beforehand their good or bad fcirtune. But the footing oat which I most wish to see this matter ultimately placed is, that every tnan shall be Air own inipedor, and this is also the opinion of a great many sensible persons. I could quote many sensible remarks' of your own to the same purpose, when speaking of the kind of evidence which ought to satisfy a Jury in a case of Forgery ; but I doubt mot you end your readers will recollect them. To speak seriously,; I do nut know of any plan which promises to do this more effectually than The In lersectimi Plan" proposed by Mr. FEnoussoet, which lam lately been so much spoken of. From a thorough knowledge of it, I can say that it affords a facility of detection—the greatest possible guards against ,imitation--identity of resemblance—and the means of sopplying the most extensive demand, --with the power left to the Bank to continue, for their own secnrily,whatever private marks and checks they may think proper. All this from a professional acquaintance with most of the arts which it embraces, I have been able to demonstrate to several people of intelligence to whom I have described it. Ido not know of one requisite which it does not possess when tried by the standard of the qualification which a Bank of Eng land note should possess, as given in Mr. WYE WILLIAMs's late excellent Work. But as it is before the Commissioners, I shall forbear making any far ther remarks upon it, and content myself with vy ing, that if they find abetter plan th . y will exceed my expectations; if they sanction one less effectual, they will incur a heavy responsibility ; and if their en-•' quirks eitti its the adoption of thislthey will not have laboured io vain. I am ) Sir , your's, &C. t.fluditu, Vec. 11, 1818. J. R. D. N. tfit -STA' ri" EAST INDIA-110USg. • A _entreat Quarterly Court of Proprietors was held yesterday et the India-hosise, at which a divi dend of Five sod a Quarter for the last half year was declared. , PENSIONS. The CHAIRMAN informed the Court, that in pur suance of the 19th s. 6th chapter of the Company's Irlye•laws, the Court had been made Special to couli• ' der of a Resol lion of the Court of Directors, to grant a Pension of 8001. a-year to W. W. Daveton, Esq., of the St. Helena Establishment. The Resolution was then read, and stated, that the Directors had thought lit to greet a pension on tarairernent of 8001. per annum to Mr. Doveton (the amid pension being one-half of his emoluments at St. flelena), on account of his services during the space of 48 years, and the high testimonies always borne to his conduct by his superiors ; subject to the appro bation of the Proprietors and the Board of Coutroul. The question being put that this Resolution be ap. proved of, Mr. Hume said he did not rise to oppose the mo tion, bat as precedents were dangerous, and as this was the first instance of any pension being granted Iu St. Helena servants--(!leer!)—he wished to guard, the Court against this being drawn into a warrant for similar applications in future. He therefore sug. l , gested that some addition should be made by one ci the Direttors, 'stating the special reasons of the pre. sent grant, which words of caution might guard themselves from unpleasant applicatiOns, and the Proprietors from a heavy charge on their finances. Mr. LowNnrs rose to second the observations of Mr. Home, and thought precedents were dangerous its producing the waste of their money, as well as in preventing deserving persons from having justice done them. He did not object to the grant itself. Mr. Doveton's services were long, and the character which had been given of him was high. It did not seem to be one of those which were so highly coloured as to be extravagant; it was delicately laid on; it was not japanned ; he should therefore vote for the pension, nay more, should wish him long life to enjoy it. Ile wished to mention that he had that day gone into a room in the India-house, and, as the day was dark, there was a candle on the table; but there was no snuffers to snuff it.—(r.4 tuagh.)— The worthy Proprietor then expatiated on the danger to premises, whet° there were so many papers, from candles unsnuffed, and complained, that when he asked for a snuffers, they brought him a pair of tongs. No, said he, if you filet snuffers, I will find tongs. At last, when a snuffers was brought, there was no point to it to take a thief from the candle.— ('l'he worthy Proprietor was here interrupted by the generality, who thought him wandering from Ilse question ) Mr. It. JACicsori, though he should be rather will. iug to urge than to cheek the liberality of the Corn parry toward. Mr. Dort-ton, observed, that when the ponderous weight of the List was consider lad, arid the Rood of applications which would burst ill upon then!, if a pension were granted to any or ..tigo Cavil Serra, alarmed, he wished to add some words to the 'motion, eapresging the .desire of the -Court that its liberality might not be drawrr iette-4- precedent. Hitherto it had not twirl the practice grant pensions to the Civil Servants of• the Company', either in St. Helena or India; he therefore wished to, add words to this effect—" But the Court. must at the same time express its desire, that this grant be not drawn into a precedent for submitting to their, consideration grants of pensions to their servants its ; St. Helens, or any other persons, not in the con templation of the Legislature, in giving them the power to grant pensions from the fuuds of the Com pany." Mr. Dtioat thought this. was a cobbling amend. merit, and would not unmet the end proposed. If there was any way of avoiding the danger of the prece dent, be should be happy to do so. As the question stood at present, he should have great difficulty in acceding to the grant. The Cua Di-, said, that if the Court of in-, rectors bad chosen 'to act on the superannuation clause, they might have granted a much higher pen.' lion than that which was now proposed; and withoot coming to the Court of Proprietors. Ile hoped the Resolution would be passed without a restriction, which would prevent the Directors from rewarding merit in future. There was a striking difference too between the St. ileletia and the India servants of the Company : the St. lielena servants had but small •allowarices, end were obliged to live expensively ; white it wits the character of the India service, that the Civil Functioriaries were enabled to lay by money, on which they might live in comfort in this country. Mr. GRANT (the Director) said the pension ori- I gisiated its the desire of the Directors to economise on the St. Helena Establishment. Some duties had beers attached to the Offices of Councillors, which were deemed too laborious for the two senior teem hers (Mr. Doveton and another, three deceased) to perform. The option was therefore given them to retire on pensions. Mr. Doveton, after two years, accepted the proposal, and the only difference was, that the pension had been raised from 5001. to 8001. on account of the long services and high character of this Gentlemen. Mr. R. JacKsox observed, that as ell the special circumstances mentioned, were connected with the grant, it was still more proper to add the words he had proposed, to the motion. After a few words from the Chairman and Mr. Lowndes, the amendment was negatived by a large majority, arid the original motion agreed to. IIUDLESTON AND COL %MKS. The CHAIRMAN stated, that the Court had also been made Special to consider the following Resole. tiou, submiited by Mr. Jackson and Mr. Hume:— " Resolved, that this Court having duly con- - sidered a Letter from John Iludleston, Esq. one of the Directors of this Company,dated 31st May Usti, with the Documents accompanying the same, ere of opinion that Mr. fludleston is entitled to a con tinuance of that confidence which the Proprietors have so long placed in him." Mr. It. Jacissort, after apologising for having brought forward this question i n stead of his Hon. Friend near him (Mr. Hume), and after some pre fatory remarks ,to show the importance of clearing, i (row every impatation t the character of a Gentle- ) . • last, man so high in their confidence as Mr. Hedleston from sit pehlic aspersions, began to state the case to the Proprietor,. In a work lately published— the second volume of Colonel Wilkts History of the South of India—there was a story to the following effect :—Lt was stated that when Sir G. Staunton (then Air. Staunton), Mr. Hudleston, and Mr. Sad tier were Coinotissioners for negotiating a peace with Tippon Sulteun, which Wes finally concluded near Batlalc/te, these Gentlemen were subject to daily insults, and' exposed to continual danger from the c...prices of the Despot with lehom they were ne gocistibg; that three gibbets' *he erected, one against the tent of each of the Creeissioners l pretty broad hints being given 'that • they should be employed opon the Commissioners theut. select ; that while In this state 'of ecitatiOn and alarm, two of the Commissioners meditated i pre cipitate escape, of which they intended' only 'to inform the third Commissioner at the moment when they executed it, and leaving their retinue, sod the detachment of troops which had ettompanied them, in the hands of ihe mugged Sultan; •that the two Commissioners who had concerted this plan, were Mr. Iludleston end , Mr. Staunton. This story had 'been mentioned in a periodical work (rhe Quarterly I Review), by the writer ere critique on Mr. Wilks's 'hook, end strongly ulegitivisd by him, on his know ledge of Sir G. Steelton, es far as that Gentleman was concerned ;—it was stated at the same time that Mr. Iludleston would no doubt f•-e 1 it neceasary to clear his character from the imputation which had been cast upon him, of thus basely preferring his per 'tonal safety to his duty, or to retire from the Direc ' Lion of the Company, felt a share in which such con duct, if he had been guilty of it„.naust have disqualifi. ed him. On thit subject Mt. Iludleston had addressed a letter to the Company ; end records had been laid before them wl.ich enabled them to appreclete the correctness or erronenosness of the statement of Col. Wilks. Colonel Wiiks's statement watt founded, in the first place, on a letter of General M•Lpoil, who referred to a letter of Captain Scott, a Clptalo of a ship stationed on the coast, and under the orders of the Commissioners. In this letter Captain Scott stated, that on a certain day he was directed by the Cum. missioners to keep a look out towards the beach, and W be saw a Gentleman on horseback, with a white handkerchief, he woe to put a boat ns near.to the shore as possible. On this General *fowl *dried a gemark to the following effect :—." 111. adventure Of the white handkerchief, was the -Titan of 411 in tended escape of the Commissioners from Tipprio, heaving behind their baggage,. retittue, &c." It was to he recollected that General M'Leod, *bee' her Wrote this letter, was in a 'state of greate:trei. dtlio. Yet Colonel Wilks, without that dlictimi station which usually characterized him, bad given weight to hit assertion. Although, if he had reed the few subsequent lines of Clain Scott's letter, it I would hay.. been seen that the, whole story was ne gatived. It was there said, .. t when the Gentle- Vaal with the white handkere f was s een, C a p tain f Scott was to conclude that the negociatien was broken off, and was to proceed witk his ship to Bombay, 1 while the Morning Star (another v essel' o ff the coast), was to sail for Tellichery.—The - assee" General M'ldeod, Colonel Wilk, sup . I ye n leseModf of ffitnificer (Maw Skr Thereof'' • Dallas, who commended the detachtben tali escorted the Commissioners. The Commiasir the cootie of the negotiation had been obliged,' of any ntherr, interpreter, to employ a menial black ser 'stet or Lieut. Dallas. This servent informed his master that having laid down to sleep just without one of the Commissioner's tents, he overheard a plan which Mr. Staunton and Mr. Iludleston had contrived for escaping on board ship, with which their surgeon gloms was to be made acquainted. Mr. Sadlie, the other Commissioner, was only to he let into the se cret at the moment when they wore about to embark. L'eutenant Dallas hinted to the Commissioners that he knew they had a plan for escaping, but was assured by Mr. Staunton that there was no intention of doing . so without informing him of it. Mr. J. then went over proofs, which satisfactorily exculpated Mr. Iludleston from any charge. In the first place, there was the sequel to Captain Scott's letter, whichdisproied the intention of the 'Commissioners to escape, since en sight of the signal, the ships, the vete ehips In which it was allegedi that they intended I *ape, wire to sail away. In the Axe place, theist were the expla• nations of Col. Wilke and Sir T. Nibs. Colonel Wilks stated, that it would Ondoubtetfry Rare been more advantageous 'for thtiteCommissiossers to treat i in freedom on shipboard, then under the a ppearanco: of constraint on shore ; and that their desire to to. move was justifiable, and 'might account for his cols.. ' duct. Gen. Dallas also hid sent an ex p lanation to' the Editor of the Asiatic Register, in which he said, " I then thought, and I still think, that the re moval of the Commissioners would have been per., fectly justifiable if they thought that the public ser vice would have been for warded by their embarkation, and I should have covered it by the loss of my last man, if it had been necessary. But I felt their distrust Of me to he unworthy, and the plan to be absurd, be. cause impracticable." Now the question seemed to be, whether it was most probable that a black servant should tell an ingeniously contrived tale, yet false, or that two Gentlemen selected for negotiators on account of their talents, should contrive a plan for escape, which might be pronounced on the face of it absurd and impracticable. But Mr. Hudlestori was not con tent with this (paned acquittal, he had been able to prove that the Commissioners had never contemplated the escape or removal, with which they were charged. He had shown from his journal that there has ` no reason for those apprehensions, from which atone the idea of removal could have proceeded;—that instead of employing threats and insults, the condor of Tippoo at that time was personally polite; that at the 'time when the escape was said to have been meditated, `he (Mr. H.) was employed In drawing up the T r eaty of Peace, which was afterwards actually signed ; and that he had all the time a clause in his pocket, which he knew, when produced, would pet an cud to the negociation—Tippoo immediattykonsenting to sign Ale Treaty. As to the story of •the gibbets, it was en example of what fantetical stories might obtain Credence from grave ifuthoritiee. If the Commis aioners had suffereP such an insult lb be put upon them, its the ereciiian of gibdets beforetheli tents, they would have deserved all Ott copal* welch had been east upon them. #l,,be origliithlts Attu *as this : shortly before the time tio•en Commt,ifsiser• arrive" in Tippon's camp, that Prince had quelled a danger • out writtlitly in hin camp, and had pet tti detith ebtod of his officers. The gibbets were left itanding.on kigh ground, perhaps to strike . ti;iior into the dis 'hilected in his army. What the Commissioners ar-; 'rhea', their o* it Quarter-Master dole the ~lace for their encampment—not near these gibbets, .arid during their statalfti l Siiiiiets 4eikerect,4l, either 'tear their tents or iarpti other part of Tiposo i ti camp. This aboard' sticy : or gibbets, it appears, was re lated, witbadditions, by Captain Scott to the Boat berGOiternment, by the Ruaihay Govetsiment it was tent to / Bengal, and the Bengal Goieviatent stn Aiately'wrote an angry letter oil the Stiftject to. Oti Madras Presidency. - This letter received from Lbrd Macartney the refutation and the rebuke which ILO well deserved. Mr: R. Jatkson concluded, by reed ing this dispatch of fiord klacar(ney, which, with Vie rest of the evidence which he had adduced, catitid ' leave no doubt of the inhocence of Mr. Hudiestaika the intention charged 'on In l et. In the course of his speech he bore testimony tat the general meritit'ur Colette' Wilk, as au historlin. He then noted thii Resolotion. Mr. flume seconded the ResOletion, and cengra .telated the Court on the mintier I» which jestice hid been done to Mr: Hutile4ron. This was the only manner in which 'that Gentleman's character child have been cleared to his own satisfaction, end that of the • Oempany. Ile complained of the illitoittat matinee in what% his remarks had been received when bat had before mentioned the .ohject, which eras ne less unwise than unjust ; • for nothing conk! he• more absurd lima' to s•lntose, that auipiciops tallith attached tan ptitalte malt enttltl be 311 r otherwise aleettbyed th4n by falllintl e; ell e n worr Hp com plained of the girner4l s)tttettt wnich retitited the Directortvtif ettentpti:ll, to oiflo.~mI? y ; sno t partitulitrly reniatked. that the were closed against hint when he -made ettquitie4 on tobjects re specting which it was thebvight'ol esety Proprietor to be informed. Ile w glad that Mr. liedle.ind had Hot' chosen to fulldw theitlemple-of th? Court of DitectorQ, .hot had chosen a avert. manly *Ott course of proceeding, the tr.sult of which bad beecrsut gretifying 111 him.' The CtiAtitlitmir sufd, that Papers had been refused to Mr. Hume, oh recount of the multiplicity of (1k enquiries: Within n Aber weeks he had demanded Papers on three subjects-41hr Appointn.eot Of its Apothecary General—the State of the Joditial Esta.; blishments its India, and the State of the Court., stalls 'respect to Attests of Cauars—and the Nlonthlyite ports of the College. These demands were thought itiquitiitorial, and information had been refused bites eacept on the first subject. M. Helm was preceeding to state the tessoils el those ettgeirier, *hen be was interrupted by a all to order. Mr. TWINING and Mr. Ilsemets spoke itt suppdrt of the motion. Colonel MacivrAT said, that he had been re- leased from the dungeons of Tippoo in rotisequencta of the Treats , of Bangalore. He had shortly affkil• dined at the table of Sir T. Dallas, where the attempt token of, but no mire ite.ton. lie was aotho into, in a second edition withdraw the state- please ort *two, sad utr I) After a few words from Mr. Dlllll4 and annthiet Preprietor, the motion was carried nem. con. and tint Court adjourned. We ontlerstenti that Mies O'NEILL is 'bogged td perform at Colchear.r. Itik week, in her three f.. tour it e clia rec. ors, f?eloid-ra.Julid,s nd Mrs. Haller. The King Reficielly wears in a morning a blue A'sbegle-chuotbre, hell round the body by a Ilis MAjesty looks well, and walks with a firm, and sometimes quick, step up and down tile five apart. menus allotted to him. The weather during the last two or three days has been so seterey as to make us recollect that we are far advanced in the wintry month of December. A steong proof, however, of its previous mildness was yesterday exhibited on %Vestniiiister-bridge, where a countryman was swirling with a considerable quan tity of hawthorn in full bloom, and was offering slipt of it at 6.1. a piece to the various passengers. DUEL.—Saturday se'nolght, two Eolith Officers. ieue of the military, and the other of.ihe naval ser vice, bad a meeting in the wood ornoulogne, near Paris.' The military Officer was Wounded, bet not dangerously. This duel" was the consequence of, a sciMe which took place the evening before, in goiug from the Opera, about a fiacre. We learn that the Lord Nelson, and several other • ships, left Petersborgh on the '22rl ult. and after cot. ling their way through the ice :merit , four miles, the greeter part of them got to sea. The ford Nelsott has reachu'd England. The Paris, the Richard and Ann, and the Harmony of Hull , it wa s ex p ected . would he obliged to winter in Russia. The R.Rv. Mr. Sikes, of Newark, lately gathered e peer in his garden, of the baking sort, which weigh. ed the astonishing weight of twenty.sls ponces and a quarter : in circumference, fourteen inches and a half; and its length, one foot seven inches and• a quarter, without the stalk, which was strictly threat tricher. DRmADFUL Pletell o'clock on Tue;dir. rapt a must alarming conflagration happened on the premixes of Messrs. Clone and Murphy, turpentine manufacturers. —Marsh-gate-lane, Stratford, by the bursting of one of the iron pens, containing a largo quantity of hot varnish, which in a fe•v minutes cisai munionted to some hundreds of barrels of pitch end •ar that lay in the yard ready for delivery. Thn whole of the building was entirely consumed, and alga the dye-house of Messrs. Callum; in fact, it threatened destruction to the neighbourhood. The immense iron receiters were melted by the excessive heat. The grovel walk toond the new enclosure in Sta sere, and also those which serpentine James's-vqu , • through tbr ground plan, to the basin of water in the centre, are to be shaded on each side by rows of La. burnurn and Cassadia trees, planted atternarely.e— The grass-plot, on which slaty. to he placed, ate to be divided, and the hill4o:ftsfred Witlribretbi -4 and , wers of alatort every description. , ertion 9i : of the pontenissinnere nag tip, d on tht ilitiote:roi east on Mr. tludi 'n I.aeof f • 1 Utuet'.cottenel Wil bleh in Alirlitypiiiii4; wool io a erg in me iVitek'hiti istoiltot? 'tip for went 1 correct the nerretive.—(lleas • • ILA v ''~~~,. . '