The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1825-04-12 00:00:00

r SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF FOREIGNERS. Yesterday the anniveesary festival of this admirable charitable Institution took place at the City of London Tatra—:he Duke of WELLINGTON in the chair. His Grace was supported on the right by his Excellency Count ?Goose's.. his Excellency Baron Maslow, and on the left by his Excellency Baron Steimeld. The company, which consisted of 200 and upwards, sat down to an ex cellent dinner at half. put six o'clock. As the Duke of Wellington entered the room he was received with very warm attenstions.of applause, the hand playing " Sec the conquering hero comes." Ills Grace locked in good health, and seized quite recovered fora his late indisposition. The Duke of Weeet xcoote, on the removal of the cloth, wished to state to the company the reason that it derived on him that day to have the honour of oocupyiog the chair. It was ex. petted that the Duke of York would have presided at the festival.. but his Royal Highness ass detsitied by public business, s od i n his absence a request was made to him that he would undertake the office. It gave him much satisfaction to accede to such a reqoest. (A p?lauee. the King." Three times three. " The Royal Family." " Their Majesties the Emperor of Austria and the Emperor of Russia, the hurrah protectors of this Society." " The King of Prussia." l" TM King of the Netherlands." The Duke of Woroostotroo said that he hail already apologised .to the absence of the Duke of York. lie would war propose as is tow, " The Dake of York and the Army." i_osg—." How merrily we live," Ac. `• The Duke of Clarence and the Navy."—" Rule, Britannia." The Duke of WELLINGTON next ruse to propose the health of the King of Sweden, than whom this country had not a sincerer friend or better ally. It was true his Majesty had net visited this country, and had not therefrire an opportunity of being the bene factor of this Society ; but he thought it was due to that illustrious individual to pay him this homage and token of respect in the pre stone of his 31inister. Baron Sr r.rawor.D, the Ambassador of Sweden, rose end bowed to the company, in token of thanks on the part of his Royal Al aster. .• The Patronesses of this Society." " The Patrons of the Society." Count 31t7NSTER felt it was unnecessary to precede the toast he was about to submit *kb any expatia iratac en the merits of the noble here (applause), whose neaps • -mog i kl receive wish enthusiasm. Loud applaa.e.) They menrsollallorotul in having in the chair 041 this interesting occa..ion the illustrious NC endued who had so largely contributed to the glory of England— teheev)—" The Duke of Wellington." . . The Duke of 11 . ELLINOTON (after the lend cheering with •hich the announcement of his health had been received subsides') r s and said, " I am thankful for the highly flattering manner an which my health has been received. In accepting the situation of perpetual President. I did to with a feclirg of latisfection that in that situation an opportunity might be afforded me of being useful. (((fear, hear.) The mary excellent Charities of this metropolis re flect more honour upon it even than its greatness and its wealth. (Applause.) Other Societies hare been formed for particular ob jects of chanty; this charitable institution is highly distinguished a m o ngst those charities, and may perhaps be regar d ed as the com pletion of them. I: is therefore that I feel peculiar pride in having been selected as the perpetual President of at. I hope, by our sub scriptions this night, we shall trove how sensible we are of the benefit anti advantages this Institution renders to the objects of it, and of the honour that it does the country. (Cheers.) The Report was then read by the Treasurer. It gave a detailed account of the successful progress of the Society during the het year, and concluded with the following summary of the services it had rendered to the objects of the Clarity in the course of lest year : " It would be endless for the Board to enter into details of the casual relief afforded during the year, at their weekly sittings, when the numerous applications of Foreigners of every nation have been carefully icvestigated. It is evident that numberless mem of want must occur in this large metropolis, especially amongst Foreigners, generally deprives( at parochial relief, and exposed to the mood. tudes ot human elides, without having any claim upon the assist ance allowed to British subjects. It will suffice to say that, timing the last year, applications tor relief have been granted in 1039 stances, and, though the Dirators have °teen had occasion to la ment the inadequacy of their resourcis to meet the wants of the dis tressed individuals or families applying to them, it is not in the power of human language to describe the sorrows which their timely help has alleviated, the tears winch it has dried up, and the wise- ties which it has relieved and prevented. " Though the Board do Dot wean to enter into a detailed account of the various kinds of relief they have been able to afford, such as misting industrious people, ready to be compelled by want to part with the very instruments of their industry; such as furnishing clothes to indigent sailors, and thereby enabling them to get situa tions on board of ship., or such as preventing despair and starva tion in cases of entire helplessness, they would mention one sort of assistance they have frequently routed, which they look back to with the greatest satisfaction. They have been enabled to assist eighty-three poor Foreigners in returr.irg to IMO' native homer— thus affording them means todeave England oleo they could no longer a 'tippet themselves by their exertions, but would have be come a burthen to society ; instead of which they Lave been re stored to their country and friends, where they may reasonably ex pect assistance. Alan y families have dins been timely rescued from unavoidable and extreme misery, and they will ever look upon the Society as a most blessed instrument of comfort in time of raced. After these general statements, which might easily,if time per mated. be corroborated by a number of facts, the Dirntors have touting to add but to express their fervent hone that this Institu con, worthy of this enlightened and benevolent nation, will con-' tinue to meet with increasing support. That, connecting as it does the poor and the rich, the Englishman and the Foreigner, by the most endearing ties, those of benevolence on one side, a7d of grati tude on the other, it will remain long a monument of British and Foreign liberality; that it may be transmitted from its present civorters to their children, in many generations, and stand as a resource ever ready, for the poor and the destitute of every other clime, who may sink under misfortune in this favoured land of phi. lanthropy ; so that. as long as there shall be destitute strangers in this country, this Institution may be ever worthy of its widely comprehensive name, The Society of Friends of Foreigner In Dia. tress." • .I , liUuit the donations of last evenmg were, the Duke of Wel lington (tifth time) 50 guineas; Count Munster 101.; Count lilaltahan 10 guineas ; Count Lieven 211.; Mr. H. Seymour 101.; /kr. The sum total received was 7121. "success to the Society." " The Corporation of London and the City Members." Mr. T. WILSON, M.P., returned thank* on the part of the f'orporation and the City Members. If the health of the City Members was proposed in consideration of his presence, he could only say. that he had merely followed the example set him by the Royal Duke who was their Patron, and the illustrious Pield. Maribel who did them the honour of presiding at their festival (Applause). He would only add, that his first advancement in life was owing to foregners in prosperity; and the least that he could do was not to forget foreigners in adversity. (Loud cheers). " The Treasurer.' " The Foreign Clergymen and other Friends." " The Secretary." " Tbetitevards." Mr. /I aftunx returned thanks on behalf of the Stewards. He congratulated the Society on the harmony that prevailed that day. A gloom was cast over the prospect 01 that evening by ths an nouncem.ent, in the early part of it, that his Royal Highness the Duke of York was absent. Hot , ever, that gloom was removed by the consideration of the presence of the Duke of Wellington-3 name that was equally known in that country and all over the globe, and that would descend with honour to the latest posterity. (Ap plause. ) Several other complimentary toasts were given in the course of the evening; and his Grace the Duke of Wel:ington retired at ten o'clock. AA which the company (consisting of the inha bitants of many nations, principally Germans and Swedes) se. peuted. The festival was conducted throughout with the etmest hilarity, good.hurnour, and propriety. HUMMING. The custom of conveying approbation or a?plause by' prevalent in the seventeenth century, is well ih;r4rated by the following curious anecdote from John son's Lives of the Poets, IEO9, vol. ii. p. 41 :— .' Bishop Burnet is not very favourable to the memory of Bishop Sprat ; but he and Burnet were old rivals. On some public occasion, they both preached before the House of CUIDIPOTIS. There prevailetl in those days an indecent cus:uni : when the preacher touched any favourite topic in a manner that delighted his audience, their approbation was expressed by a lane hum, continued in proportion to their zeal or pleasure. When Burnet preached, part of congregaion /is.-inrnit! so loudly and sa long, that he sat :loan to enjoy it, and rubbed his faze with his hand ker_hief. When Sprat preached, he likewise was honoured wirli the same animating hum; but he stretched out his l:ands to the congregation, and cried, Peau, peace! i pay you, peat?.'—This I w.as toll in my youth by my tatha, an old man, who had Leen no careless observer of ti.e passages of those timps.—Burnees sermon, says Salmon, wan remarkable for sedition, and Sprat's fur loyalty. Bur net had the thanks of the House; Sprat bad no thanks, has a good living from the King, which, he said, was of as rw.cli value as tha: thanks of the Commons." This enFtom wa,, continued in the Universities in 11;58, au !, perh..ps, liter, as appears from the testimony of the Hey. S.ttouel Peyge, LL.D., who, in a curious posthumous %ohm:- ut newt vator.s on various outhors and subjects, in ti " flpmnyenuii,/,' p. 467, says, That way of giving a; pause I.y humming, new practised in our Universities. (for which re:!son, in a tripos speech, they wete once called Hum et lfissimi Aaiditures,) is a method net unknown to barbarous nst.ons. (See Churcl , ol's Travcls, vol. i p 651. .)" 1 ~. .. INSTALLATION OF H. BROUGHAM, F. Al LORD RECTOR or THE UNIVERSITY OF (MAIM OR. GLASGOW, APRIL 6. The Very Reverend Principal 31•Farlan having stated that, in agreement with the statute% of the University, the election of Mr. Brougham had been made known to that Gentleman anti that he had accepted of the of fi ce of Lord Rector, then proceeded to admi. niinese the oath of office; after which Mr. Brougham thus addressed his very numerous audience:— " It now becomes me to return my sincere and respectful thanks for my election to an office which has been tilled by PO many great men, whose merits might make any comparison formidable even to a more worthy successor. AVhilst I desire you to accept of these thanks, excuse the edemas and the form which I now adopt, which I think better than any unpremeditated discourse, bemuse my re mark* will more certainly appear to be the fruit of mature delibe ration, and that I may nut be supposed to discharge an important office in a perfunctory manner. 1 feel very sensibly, if I urge you to be intent on the pursuit of learning, which flourishes under the kindly shelter of these roofs, that I may weary my youthful audi ence ; and, if I give my advice, I may seem to trespass on the pro vince of those very able and learned persons under whose care you have the happiness to be placed. But I would neveri hetes. expose myself to the charge for the sake of joining my voice with theirs in retesting you to believe how incomparably the present season is the most precious of your whole lives. This is not the les+ true, because it is often inculcated on you that the period of youth is by far the best Ind for the improvement of the mind. In the retire ment of a college you have an opportunity of laying the foun. dation of whatever is pubic or excellent. Now every thing has the attractive power of novelty—attention is sharpened by curi osity, and the memory is susiceptible of deep impressions, to a degree.unknown in future life. For the distracting cares of the world cross not the threshold of these calm retreats; its distant cries and bustle are but faintly heard; the struggles of parties are viewed afar oft; and the prospect is rendered more soft by the scenes of beauty which are below. Yet a little while. and you will be plunged into then. bitter water.; then you will look Lack on the react ful regfins you have quitted for ever. But it will be to your own fault if you look back with a feeling of re pentance or theme. Every hour squandered here in unprofitable daisy will then rise up against you, and be the cause of bitter regret. I wish that I couid beseech you so to store your minds with the exquisite learning of former ages, that you may possess within yourselves the sources of rational and refined erjoyment, 1111101 will enable yen to set at nought the plenettres of geese, and to imbue yourselves with the sound philesnphy of later days, forming you to virtuous habits that you may walk unhurt through the trials with which you- meet, and may look down on error- , not with supercilious contempt, as did the sage of old time—but with the desire of enlightening the ignorant, by so much the mots ens thsared as they want your instruction. Assuming the improvement of his own mind to be the end of every man's existence, who is re moved above the daily care of providing for his own sustenance, and a duty, es tar as immediate wants leave him ti re: - unemployed, your attention is directed to the means by which such a work may be per fo rmed; but in the limited time o h' this diseount these can occupy only a small portion of our consideration. There are two subjects on which I would make a few observations connected with the study of the rhetorical art, by which useful truths are promul gated with effect. and also with the purposes to which the practice of this art should be subsetvient. It is a common error among young pmons to turn from the painful study of Recited send attic composition, and to satisfy themselves with works, by the fami liarity of their 'nether tongue rendered pleasanter and more easy. They plausibly contend, that as powerful diction is after all the object to be attained, the study of the best English models affords the shortest road ; and, admitting the ancients to be the great fountains of eloquence in composition, they would rather profit by the Labocre of English translators, and, taking the most sect!. rate of these as a ster.dard, would give themselves no care about the immortal originals. This argument, the thin co vering of indolence, would speedily sink the fine arts into barren. ness and insignificance. Why should a sculptor or painter journey to Athens or Rome? Might he not profit by the labours of those at borne ? Be assured that the English chisel falls not more short of the wonders of the Acropolis, than the productions of modern pens fall short of the chaste and rigorous eloquence that resistlessly fulmined over Greece. Be folly assured that the greatest works of rand eloquence have been done by those who cultivated most i i gntly the examples of Athenian excellence. Among poets there is hardly an exception to this rule. unless Shakspeare, on ex ception to all rules, be taken ; and Dante, familiarly acquainted with the best works of his own country. But among the orators, I know not ef RR exception. Cicero so honoured the Greek masters of eloquence, that he not only repaired to Athens to finish his edu cation there, but continued the practice for many years of declaim. ing in Greek. And though he fell into a more corrupt manner and style then introduced by Asian fashions, yet he ever extols the emble perfection of Ids first masters ; and, even at a late period of his life, he employed himself in translations from the Greek orators. From the immortal speech of Demosthenes op the crown, he sometimes copies even to the very letter. Anti in the Roman orator may be found the psasege in which ,Eschines describes the torments re served for the guilty-in a future state—(the Orations against Lucius Pisa). I have dwelt on the practice of Cicero, because it enables us to answer the question whether the study of Roman authors is not enough to re6ce our style? He either fell short in copying them, or, misled by admiration of enthellishment,or adopting the false models of the Asian school, weakened his style of eloquence. We should not, by instating the same but less perfect original, copy his faults • for thus, to a commanding and noble beauty, we should prefer the image of some garish damsel, reflected from a mirror, which, if it diverts not the features, weakens the brilliancy of her natural tints. But there are other reasons which justify the same observations, grounded on the beauty and power of the Greek lan guage. The compositions of Cicero, exquisite as they are for diction and style,are, cevertheless, so extremely oratorical, that nothing can be less adapted to the genius of modern eloquence. Nearly all the orations of Marcos Tullius are of this nature. Hardly two pas sages can be found which would hear to be repeated to a modern audience. Passages on the merit: of the case, and in defence of the charge, or in mitigation of punishment, might be used, or whether we read his political or forensic orations, the style of rea. toning and ointment is wholly unfitted for the more severe and less trifling eloquence of modern times. But it is altogether different with the Grecian orators; for, by softening the invectives so as better to suit the chivalry of modern hostility, there is hardly any political or forensic oration of the Greeks that might not be de. livered before a modern assembly. Their panegyrics are far less inflated than those of the French preachers and academicians. There is this difference between the Greek and Roman orators—the former never speaks for the sake of speaking ; but the latter seems ever and anon to lose sight of the subject-matter, and to adorn and ernbelish. He tickles the ear without reaching the heart. For in all the orations of Cicero and Livy, where shall be found that quick succession of short questions, by which Demosthenes groups, as it were, the whole subject in a few sentences? But though the more businesslike manner of modem debate approach much nearer the Greek elaquence, it must be admitted that it falls short in the closeness of the argument; for the Boman orator has his speech parcelled out into divisions. Now, says he, lam designing to rouse your N11%1003; and now I will amuse your fancy ; and now I mean .to convince your understanding. But in all the divisions, the Greek makes the figures an integral part of the reasoning. In the most pathetic part of one of his orations, Demosthenes, after intro ducing a most eloquent paseege, instantly, not abruptly, returns into the midst of the main argument, with the whole of ha powers, showing that the merits of public servants, not their success, should be the standard by which they ought to be judged. There runs through the whole speech the most admirable ease ; and with the same ease does Virgil, in the Georgics, make a transition, where, in the midst of the description of a fight, the magician strikes his wand in the field of battle, anti helmets are cast abroad, where sud de- ly a lone husbandman is represented to us as turning up the earth, and driving his plough, among helmets rusted over and the bones of mighty men : " Scilicet et tempos veneit cum father illis Agricola, inenrvo terrain molitus matzo, Eines inveniet scabra rubigine pita Aut gravibus tennis galeas pulsubit inane*, Grandiaque eflinis niirabitur ossa sepulchris." (Geor. I. 493-7.) Bat if a further reason is required, we may find it in the greater diversity and importance of the subjects on which they speak. Besides a number of orations merely forensic, we have all the sub jects of state politics. Compare Demosthenes with Cicero in this respect. and thecontrasi yell be striking. For this purpose, see the orations against Camille, and the Phillippics. Of Demos. dames, we have not only many arguments on matters strictly pri. rate, and many on interesting topics ; but many invaluable consi. tierations of state paint, as in the oration against .Eschines on the crown, and the Phillippirs. In these he discusses every ques. tion of foreign politics. These speeches were delivered on subjects the nio.t important arid affecting to the whole commonwealth. These topics were of universal application. The Latin orator must keep a middle course of argument, but the Athenian- can hardly hold too lofty a tone, or carry his views too extensively over the field of human freedom. After chastening the taste, it is ne ceniary to acquire correct habits of writing in cur own language, lint by original composition, and next by frequent translation. The best English writers are those which flourished from the time of Elizabeth to that of Queen Anne. They used a good Saxon dialect, and were learned in the ancient classics, without over. loading the style of prose with a pedantic coining of foreign wonls. These great writers had no foreknowledge that other writers would succeed them, whole styles should be meretriciously ornamented more than half French in the diction, heavily inflated, meseure by the eye,not judged by the ear, with an endless profusion o ancient words and phrases, confusedly mixed with o.tr own Saxon. least of all did they imagine that men would prates to teach com position who were ignorant of its rules. The preachers of the Augastan age of the English Church are among the chief of these great writers. But do not imegine that I would pass over numer. ens faults. None united force with beauty. And to one charge all are exposed ; a fault unknown in ancient times. They always over did, never knowing when they heal said enough. Among the Greeks a sitietle phrase was used. often a word, and the work was done. The desired itlinteseion is made by a single stroke. Nothing superficial is admitted. The comnuanding idea is singled out ; anti as the Emperor Napoleon selected one point in the centre of the adverse army, and brintglit all his power to bear on that alone, knowing that if he sucxecled In this, all other things would follow as natur.l coesenuencre, while a failure in this left all else unimportant, so the Grecian orator dwells with all his collected energy on the most important argument . But modern writers resemble those cam. pawners who fit out twenty expeditions against places of no tin ponaece, and which, if gained, leave the strong hold as yet tin s:le:en and even unartempted. They divide their forces and make nu ef.r.lia- iirprt..sion. It seems the prirciple of such writers TILIE BRITISH MESS. never to leave any tiling unsaid that can be said. - They run down every Idea which they start. Compare with these .he mental seve rity of ancient eloquence, or of Stilton. whet apprOached near to it, or of Dance who approached still nearer ; mark his severe simpli city an the most touching parts of one of his odes. Here Mr. Brougham introduced a number of quotations.) Dante approaches* nearest, in his finest paessges, to Demosthenes. In him you rarely hod en epithet r• hardly flitter than one. and never more than two. In forming the taste by frermeht contemplation of these models, and is acquiring the habits of chute composition, all the labour will be amply recompensed.' Fur the man who has done this may then venture his face in the public assembly. He will have ac quired the power of easy @reeking, as well as of easy writing. I should lay it down as a rule that the man will speak welt who has written much with great care. Though some from newest talent may speak fluently and well, who can say that with pieparatien they would not have reached a greater height of excellence ? The excellence of the ancients is the best proot of the pelt - A.l)de here im plied, for the evidences of their previous preparation are innumer able. In Demosthenes we can trace Mite nicely he polished his compoeition, this being Cleat from three peseeges in particular, de- Ilveree at different Lime,, but in which die marks of improvement are visible. There is, no doubt. a charm in tettempore speakin g, j„ derived from the non-appearance of art, and adapting Itself to the occasion. That which is inspired by unfuseveen circumstances will hr suited to those circumstances. These ;re points of importance. It is difficult to avoid the exhauulhg method. Much of the plea sure of extempore speaking depends on the hearer'. eurpriee, and on sentiments being delivered at all, than that any thine( very ex cellent has been delivered. The art can easily 1)e attained by him e ll o ho po7ni e t l i l on f o rtc°, considers such re matures his thought, and refines his Composition, preparation is qnite consistent with the in troduction of raseages suggested at the moment. Nor will the transition from one to another be perceptible. I have known skil ful hearers deceived to this way, who have taken for extempore speaking that which previously existed in manuscript. Thus we are told by Cicero. that having to make a speech to Pompey after Cremate, he greatly excelled, being assisted by the rentem braace introduction of passages which he had before preening► for different purposes. If now, (coin contemplating the means, we turn to the noble purposes of eloquence, we find that the greatest masters of the art have concurred in this point, and pronounced one opinion on the use or this solely. Let their sentiments be engreven on our memory. it* not tile diction of the mator, nor the music of his voice, lint his devotedness to the gore' of the maws of mankied, that determines the character of his mind. It is the hest praise of the art, that It points out how sacred truth may be moat widely promulgated, the cause of persecuted innocedoe best defended, the march of wick. I rulers be most triumphantly op. posed, how defiance may be hurled at the prosecutor's liead, bow to guide men in the midst of public convulsions, and to bring about salutary changes. In such circumstanoes how important and powerful must eloquence be ! But in peaceful times, when the progress of events is slow, and the tumult can be heard no longer, then too she flourishes protectress of liberty, patroness of tin. proven ant, guardian of all the blessings that can be showered on the mass of humankind, nor ever is she seen but in teaching some grand lesson to meth To me, calmly revolving these things, such pursuits seem more noble than any which the vulgar herd of basemen lavish prodigally. To communicate useilil information— to further intellectual retinement—to hasten the coming of that bright day when the dawn of general knowledge shall chase away the lazy mists, even from the base of the great social pyramid— this is a high station to which man can be raised, and in whieln'the moat splendid talents may well press onward to bear a part. I know that I speak in a piece consecrated by the pious wisdom of ancient times to the instruction of youth ; yet from this classic ground have gone forth those, who by their genius, not by their ancestry, have been ennobled ; and whose illustrious example has made the humblest emulous to climb the arduous steers, and enter these gates that are burning with the sun. Where Black taught and IVatt learned the principles of !tierce, the grand experiment was made to administer to the highest intellectual cultivation that is compatible with the daily toils of man, and to promote a keen re lish for the most sublime truths that belong equally to all classes of the human race. To the cultivation of the most important sciences men of talents are pressing forward from every part of the empire. But I with the same course us be pursued by men of higher station and weight, and by men of highest rank. Our object should be to extend the bounds of science, by the discovery of new truths, or by new modes of application. Thus the number of scientific men will be increased, and more Watts and Franklin% will arise, and, appearing among these working classes to which Watt and Franklin once belonged, have their thoughts turned to philoso phy. The inventors of new arts will be seen more numerous, and the material difference will be that the mass of the ignorant multi tude being diminished, the body of the former will be increased.— It solely can never be supposed that persons eminent for science and knowledge could be jealous of its general diffusion, for the ex. tension of knowledge to the maul of the people could only augment tile number of their admirers. To those who feel alarm, as states. men and friends of social order, 1 would address a few words. Th e cultivation sof science has never really promoted turbulence or un belief; but its progress is the forerunner of liberality and en lightened toleration. Ile who dreads the light of truth cannot re sist its power. For he may be well assured that the day is at length come, which must put to flight the evil spirit of tyragny and persecution. As men will no longer suffer themselves to be led into darkness, so will they no more yield to the evil princi ple of judging their fellow-men not according to the merits of their actions, but the articles of their creed. The great truth has gone forth into all the bounds of the earth, that man shall no more render recount to man for his Waif. ever which he • himself no control. Henceforward nothing shall prevail on us to praise or to blame a man for that which he can no more change than he can the hue of his skin, or the height of his sta ture. Treating with respect those who differ from us, the only practical effect of the difference will be, to cause us to enlighten the ignorance from which it springs, by teaching them if they are wrong, by improving ourselves tf we are right, that the only kind of contest may be to produce the agreement proceeding from full eon. vietlon after the fairest discussion. Then every fear for the uni versal spread of knowledge will be removed, and truth and virtue will watch over the the peace of the country ; the sure effect will be the removal of the only danger s tliat threatens public tranquil. lily and the confirmation of the liberties of our native land. Far those tyrants who have shed the blood of mankind to extend their empire, and who instinctively hate the light, let diem tremble. Let me then indulge in the hope that, among the illustricus youths who adorn this an:tent College, famed for its useful learning, there may be found some one, 1 ask no more, willing to give a bright example to his nation, by taking the lead of his fellows, not in frivolous amusement—not in trifling studies--but in the truly noble task of enlightening the great mass of his countrymen; and of having his own name encircled with honours most worthy of our rational natnre, and pronounced with rapture by millions whom his beneficence has raised from ignorance and vice. This is the true mark of all who prize the enjoyment cf lasting happiness, or set a value on a high and unsullied renown. And if the benefactors of mankind, when they rest from their pious labours, shall be per mitted hereafter to enjoy, as a reward, the privilege of looking down on the blessings with which their toils and sufferings have clothed the scenes of their former existence, do not vainly imagine that in a state of purity and wisdom it will be the founders of mighty dy nasties, or the mean followers of tyrants, who have sacrificed to their own aggrandisement the good of countless multitudes, that will be thus gratified. Theirs will be the praise and the triumph, who can trace the effects of their beneficence in the improved con dition of their species, and exult in the reflection, that by their deeds joy beamed from the eyes of the sorrowful. The lovers of truth and virtue, trampling under foot tyranny, and driving igno rance from the world, shall reap the precious, though costly fruit of their labours, a recompense f o r long enduring all the hardships and hazards they encountered here below. (Great cheering.) TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS. BRISTOL SHIP CANAL. Vint* Amor Pada. It is no uncommon titingtosecan old monopolist using every efFort to perpetuate his monopoly, or a young schemer nursing some new project, but it is lamentable to witness those men opposing every national improvement. The very great uneasiness produced in a certain quarter by the mere agitation of any matter connected with the Ship Canal, and the illiberal means that arc used to stop the progress of this splendid, and, in every way, truly important under. taking, are, to me, as so many fresh evidences in favour of its uti lity and benefit. And I will tell Hr. Broadmead, that before the appearance of his uncalled-for notice to the subscribers, I had intended only to sign for 20 shares, but since the appearance of it I have resolved to affix my signature to the Deed for 60 shares, upon the principle that the noblest motive is the public goad. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, PHILO-VERITATIS. OXFORD CIRCUIT. GLOUCESTERSHIRE ASSIZES.-oLorcutza, Ara:L 9. CROWN SIDE. [ Before Alr. Justice LITTLEDAtt.I Anne Brirrksorth was indicted for the murder of herfemale bastard child, by drowning it in a pond; and Afary Briakwortli, her mother, was charged with aiding and assisting her in so doing. It was proved that the bud), of a child, which the younger pri soner confessed to be hers, was found in a pond about a turlong distant from her mother's house. It 'lad a piece °flatting tied round its throat, and two stones were fixed to the body to prevent its floating. But it appearing froin the evidence of the medical gentleman who was called in, that it was doubtful whether the child had ever been alive, The Jury, under the direction of the Lamed Judge, acquitted the younger prisoner of the munler, and found her guilty of con cealing the birth of the child. The elder prisoner was acquitted altogether. The Learned Judge sentenced the younger prisoner to be im. prisoned for six calendar months. This concluded the Gloucester Assizes and the Oxford Circuit, which has been one of the heaviest ever known. Sarah Anslow was committed to oar county gaol on Saturday last, on a Coroner's warrant, charged with the " manslaughter of Elizabeth Dewson." About a month ago, the two above-named individuals, who resided at Wellington, had some angry words ; blows followed. The prisoner being armed with a frying-pan, and the de ceased with a rolling-pin, several blows were exchanged. The deres.el died a :'ew day.' ago.—Sh.-rwsbary eironicle. I off*, __.~ LA IV INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY, MONDAY, APRIL 11. EX-PIATE rroare IN THE HATTER or MARSH, BTRACIT, AND CO. 114);16111.1"TS. The Court sat at half-past ten, to hear this case. There was a great number of persons in Court interested in the discussion, amongst whom were the (ioternor, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, le. The Solicitor.Genetal, Mr. Home, Mr. Sergeant Ilosanquet, and Messrs. llictersteth and PMMone, appeared for the peti tioners ; and 3lesars. Heald, 31onta„m, and Pollock, were Counsel on the other side. • • Mr. SOLICITOR-GE:4EIAL oppm el the petition. He said, the Court had in.t to.day tor the purpese of hearing this important case, and however impeirtsot it might be. as limning a pree 4-nt, as well as in other respebte, Tel it was not his intention to go muc't into the case, because he hardly knew the course the other aide meant to take; and therefore it would be better fur him to reserve himself for replying to the objections that were to be made, aft t having heard them. If the nature of the difficulty was. 1110 the constitution of thin property having been tram.ferred by forget instruments, a debt could not arise, then he could underhand it; but as to the nature of nn7 other objection, he was quite's: a loss. even to guess at it. I'hta was the petition of a Mr. St me, and another Gentleman, .of the name of Gating:in, who prayed that they might be at liberty to prove tinder the joint coat. mission issued against Messrs. Marsh, Stracey, and Company, a debt to the amotint cf sixteen thousand poulals and a fraction. The cirettn:stances of the case were but short, and should' be stated as briefly • —At the time the transaction in question toak place, Mes.rse Marsh, Stracey, Fauntleroy, and (.rsham, who were bankers in Bernern-streel, carried on business with Sir James Sib. bald, and in May, 1919, there was standing in the joint names of S one , Fatintleroy, and Galtagan, a sum ofrather morethan 17.0001. stock. On 3lny 2A:h, 18 19, Mr. Btracey went to the Bank of England with a power or attorney. purporting to be that of the three trustees in whotic namcn :he 17,0140 L was s:anding. but which afterward. turned out to be forged, and by that power'of attorney obtained the sale of a portion of the stock to the amount of 16.000/. the cash for which was paid into the house of Martin and CO. Lnro bard-street, with whom the Berates-street house kept an account for their own convenience, and was, as it were, the Boners-street house's till. On the 28th of the same month, in the same year, Mr. Graham went to the Bank of England with a similar power of at torney, which also tutmed oe. , to have been fens,ed, and ty which the remainder of the stock was sold ont, and the money likewise paid into the banking-house of Martin and Co. These were the two simple branches of the cane, and the present petitionei had applied to prove under the commission, lilt the Commissioners re fused to admit the proof, upon the ground of it haring been laid down by the Court of Common Pleas, in the case of " Davis r. Bank or England," that where no legal transfer had been made, no debt had been constituted. In support of the petition several am. davits had been filed, which, an far as the facts were concerned, he (Mr. Solicitor-General) would also state shortly. The first affi davit was that of Mr. ‘l'hiteley, one of the clerks in the Bank of England, who proved the existence of the stock. which stood in the joint names of the trustees; the next was that of Mr. Spurling, the broker who sold :he stock. It was here remarked by Mr. HEALD, that the regular affidavits in anpport of the petition had not been filed, and The Sox'wive R-GEWERAL admitted that he had mistaken in stating the examitlailo:l6 to be affidavits. Ills LORDSHIP directed the case to proceed. Mr. SOLICITOR-GFNZRAL next alluded to Mr. Cole's part of the examination, clerk to Illessrs.lllartin and Co., who proved that the sums were paid into their house to the account of Marsh and Co.;and the next was, the examination of of the a c countant, who spoke to the manner in which the accounts were kept; but, according to his (Mr. Solicitor-General's) view of the case, it was immaterial how they were kept. The legal difficulty which it had been whispered to him (Mr. Solicitor-General) would be raised was, that stock-holders having, under the Acts of Parliament. such indelible security for their property, persons whose stock had been sold nut by false means could not but be entitled to claim from the Bank of England ; but it seemed to be quite inconsistent to say there could not be a demand against the wrong doer. His LORDSHIP understood from the petition that the power of attorney to sell this stock tvas not to the whole house of Marsh and Co., but jointly to all the house except Fauntleroy, and to each of the individuals composing that house, except Fauntleroy. Mr. SOLICITOII-GENERAL said that was SO, ant that Mr. Stracey and also 31r. Graham positively swore, that they did not know or believe at the time that the power of attorney under which they obtained the transfers were forged. Ills LOIDIIIIIT wished to know how far the Learned Solicitor ! General meant to confirm the act. Did he mean to confirm it to the extent of saying, that the Bank of England was not liable ? Mr. SOLICITOR-GENERAL wished the Court to understand this to be the lava/tie petition of the petitioners. His Lo anew ir took that to be so, but he desired to be informed whether they meant to say they had no demand but against Marsh and Co. If they meant so, thst was one way of putting it ; but if they meant to say they hed a claim against the Bank of England, yet that if they could be admitted to be creditors against the estate of Marsh and Co., they ought to be allowed to make a proof, then that would be another way of putting it. The case of Davis,. the Bank of England, to use a vulgar expression, seemid to put the petitioners beta ten two deft sticks; it gave them a title both the Bank nf England and the bankrupts' estate. Mr. SOLICITOR-GENERAL would only further detain his Lord ship by saying, that notwithstanding the Bank of England were liable to persons whose stock they had held, and which they had suffered to be feloniously taken away, yet he was utterly at a loss to know how it could be said such persons had no right to make a demand against the person who had stolen the property ; anti although, he gave credit to Messrs. Stracey and Graham for having sworn to their ignorance of the powers of attorney hay ing been forged, yet, as it was indisputable that the produce of the sales wero paid to Martin and Co. for the house of Marsh, Stracey, Graham, and Co., and actually came into their hands, they were liable to have a proof made against their estate for the amount. lIOIINE and Mr. Sergeant BOSANQI:ET next addressed the Court. The two petitioners were the co-trustees of the late Henry Fauntleroy, and certainly they would avow that which appeared on the face of the petition, that the object of this yeti. tion was, to give to the Bank of England the benefit of a proof under the Codunission. It was a material circumstance to be , recollected, that Mr. Fauntleroy was a Member of the Bank ing House, which, from time to time, received the divi dends payable upon the stock, as well as one of the trustees in whose names the stock stood ; and there could be r.o doubt that the firm of Marsh and Co., having received the produce of the transfers, without having given any conside-atioo for it, and by which the estate had been increased, must be liable to a claim in respect to that produce having been received by them. BIS LORDSHIP said, according to the case decided by the Court of Common Pleas, the fund of the Bank of England was the pri ms-y fund to which the petitioners had to look. In deciding this case it would be the di-it , of the Court to look at the application, regard being had to claims of other persons placed in the same situation in which the present petitioners stand, end yet to take care, that if the proof of this one debt were 'to be admitted, more than the proof of this one debt against the estate should be ad mitted by the decision admitting the proof. Considering what had been done by the Court of Common Pleas, it would be a rather bold step for this Court to decide in bankruptcy, that the proof of the debt should or should not be admitted without first sending it to a Court of Law. • The SOLICITOI.GENERAL said, a Court of Law would not decide how the proof could be made in bankruptcy. His LORDSHIP—But a Court of Law could decide whether those persons (Messrs. Marsh and Co.) were indebted to Cie peti tioner or cot at the time the bankruptcy happened; if they were not, then no proof could be made against the estate, and if the Common Pleas were right in their present decision, then the stock had not been transferred ; at the time of the bankruptcy the stork was there as before, and consequently how could a pivot be made ? If the trustees were at liberty to waive their claim against the Bank of England, and to come here for leave to prove against the estate of the aforesaid bankrupts, so might the purchasers of the stock be at liberty to say, no transfer ;tad been made ; and, therefore, they desired to hare leave to prove also against the estate of the bank rupts, and it would be impossible for the Court to refuse that per mission. His Lordship then desired this matter might be further heard on Wednesday, and that in the mean time the examinations should be put into form of affidavits. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Aran. 11. Sittings after Hilary Term, at Westminster, bey( the LORD Cm ir Jo;Tics, wird Commit Juan,. nary? v CUAXCELLOI. Tins was an action to recover damages for injury sustained by the plaintiff' in consequence of a nnissince. The plaintiff kept a school at Church-court, Kensington, and also let lodging.. His school realised him about two pounds a week, and he received nearly VA a year from his lodgers. The defendant was a coach master In an extensive way, and his stables being contiguous to the plaintiff's premises a great nuisance arose therefrom. The way also was continually obstructed by Ins car. tinges. In consequence of these things the scholars and lodgers of the plaintiff deserted hint, by s Inch bis income was very con siderably diminished. The defence was first, that no notice bad been given to abate the nuisance, and it was also urged that the business carried on by the defendant was precisely of the sante nature with what had been done on the premises for the last forty years; and that the plain tiff had taken his house since that period. It was also argued that neither the lodgers nor se whirs belonged to that class of late which were likely to experience an annoyance from the alleged nuisance. Verdict for the plaintin:—Damages 40s. nouns: t: v. CVIIIIS. This was an action for damages, in . consequence of an assault and false imprisonment. The plamttil kept a !souse in Blenheim. street, Bond-street. at which the defendant, who was a nrighl•antr, had felt greatly annoyed. On the night of the 47th Nos. lady, the watchman observing the Ann of the plaintiff in Ble , :heini-strect, in the company of two or three females, desired him It , " walk oel" This being considered an infringement on the privileges of a British subject, was indignantly resisted by the yotnig man, upno the ground that he ass doing .• no harm." Words ensued which called forth the young man's natural protector, the present plain. who evinced a great desire to knbw the cause of this 'Altar, mandate. The man in office. however, conceiving it.e rood ma. trot's condact to bt the rrsv:it of a " f9regone coaalasata" to pr . ~~ _ • • - .464* '.13111, ...~+: •!".: ' dace a " baubry," sw as it was explained, to " kick up a row," sprung his rattle violentl y. This naturally alarmed the defeudehfs who now caste forth, anil'on observing the plaintiff #ery forernear Ii thwireiley crowd that had assembled, he exclaimed that he had Wog watched loran opportunity " to do her," and !without further Piok•Y gave her is charge, and she was instantly esoortsd to the Watehhouse, ober, she was detained for the space of two hours, The plaintiff had bete sebsequently indicted out this charge at the klbssions for keeping a disorderly house, and she was note expiatiaL her offence in 'rothiltields !Thom. The examination of severtl the fair Cyprianwexcited much laughter. Isabella Ratcliff was particularly pressed by the 0011 NOW 0/1110IT to give a description of the house, and the use made of it by' her mistress, the plaintiff, to which she laconically replied.'— " I've nothing more, to say." By the COURT.—But you have something more to nay. You must answer that gentleman's questions. Mr. Dr.'s staw.—Now state what sort cf a house your Misuest kept. Witness. —Apparently determined—" I've nothing more to • Mr. DEXUAIt—Nay, but you must answer me : Came, come. whiff soft of a house was this ? Witness.—With .evident impatience. Lord, Sir, you gentlemen there eh knows *hat son of a house it was bitter than I can tell you. (Laughteri Several other witnesses having been examined, it was suggested by the Cover that a Juror should L. withdrawn, which was ac. cording!, done. CO - 11 - /IT OF COMMON PLEAS, Mow DAY, Arm 11. • SCALIS a'. CRESIALL. • Mr. Sergeant Vatrunax stated the case. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a carcase butcher, in Whitechapet„ against the defendant, a carrier in Easel, for losses sustained by bun in consequence of ill-treatment to his horses by the defendant. The action was not brour lit so much to recover damages as for ungrate ful conduct of the defendant. In 1823 the defendant had sulfe:ed great losses by the death of several Ironies, and applied to the plain nfr, who ofnreil to lend him a horse and pony for a sheet time, pro. Tided proper care was taken cf them. The defendant expressed his grultude for the kindness, as he was then too poor to boy any horses. In about two months after the horses had been lent the defendant returned divot in n wretched condition, so misfit so, that the plaintiff' sees put to a good deal of espronie in en/I.:avow.- ing to restore them to it proper state. He was tH. odd oat of packet for surgical care and keep, and lost upwards of 111. by.the sale or the horse, in consequence of his deteriorated condition. Hr. Sergeant PELL for the defendant, contended, that the evia dente did rnt support the allegation in the declaration as to the period the horses were lent. In fact they were both in no good condition at the time, as would be proved by wimesses in the service of the defendant. The horses had been lent in 1823, and though the plaintiff' professed to have sustained to much damage by their deteriorated condition, yet he forebore to bring the anion 1825. Justice GASVLEE fell it to the Jury to decide between the cos rradictory evidence of the parties. The Jury returned a verdict for the pfsintiff—Damages ISL OLD BAILEY SESSIONS, Aram 11. OLD. COURT. Before Mr:Sep-ant Allan's and a Middlesex Jury. Thee are upwards of 200 prisoners remaining fbr trial, Inn the offence. charged are mostly of a minor description. Joseph Maarll (who was convicted with Denman on Saturday evenirg) was put to the bar, to plead to the. charge of et.saulung Thomas Cozens on &Fe King's highway, putting him in fcat, and taking from his person as. his monies.. The pri.oner pleaded Not Guilty. . Mr. BRODERICK was instructed to say, that in consequence of the prisoner having been convicted of another offence, which sub.. jetted him to be trat:sported for life, be should not edit any evi dence In this ease. The prisoner tru therefore acquitted. JUDGMENT ON JOSEPII .. I . I9 . IJpDS AND FREDERICK DEN3IAN. Mr. Sergeant A R ADM, in delivering the judgment of the Court * said, in order that society may he rid of such pests as both of you are, the sentence of the Court is, that each of yeu be transported beyond the seas for the term of your natural lives. The prisoners both wept as the sentence was pronouncing. JUDGMENT ON lIENRY JOHN ASHLEY. The prisoner, a men lad, was convicted on Friday of stealing a hat in open day. It appeared that the prisoner was excited to com mit the robbery, in order to qualify him for an entrance to the Refuge Mt the Destitute. Tit r e prisoner WWI ordered to be Wenn/any *hipped in the gaol, and then discharged. Edward Crawley. aged 17, Janus Cqr,sd 21. and Edward Davis Duna, .aged 17, were indicted for Meak lag into the house of Alexander Brice, Esq. in Euston-square, and stealing thertin a cruet frame, and other article:: of plate, his property. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty. .loha William, wk.; indicted fur telonioesly entering the honer of Thomas Watkins, and stealing various articles of *caring ap.. parel. Verdict—Guilty of stealing under the value of 10s. IPilliune Becby wee tried fur stealing a bi. Rank note, the pro. pally of Elizabeth Fuller. The Jury returaed a verdict of Guilty. Mary A.ra Palmer was indicted for stealing a watch, a guinea, and Ills., the property of William Scott. The prisoner, in defence, said the watch Wes given lir: in money. The primer WAS Aegnified. NEV COURt. Bertre the Rrt ORDER. I.ldbetlee, convicted last Sessions, and in whose ewe tho point w.is reserved for the opinion of the Twelve Judges, whether the prosecution was or was not legal, was brought up tills morning. when - The RZCOIDER nit', that notwithstanding the crime was brought home satisfactorily in the opinitm of the Jury to the pri soner, yet a point, as above stated, was reserved. The Judges. the Recorder said, had since, upon consideration, determined that the prosecution was a legal one. The sentence of the Court upon the prisoner therefore we., that he be imprisoned in 'Senate for the of frm rnonts, to commence from the day of his conviction. The prisoner •as the landlord of the Dolphin public home Ott Ludgate-hill, and the offence of which he was last Sessions con victed, was that of receiving money from a person who had been robbed, as an inducement for the discovery of the property stolen. John Loral• and William Slaughter stood indicted for stealing, on the 21st February, two sues, value 30s. the property of the Eetl of Harcourt. The prisoners were both found Gsf.!tv. They were sentenced to seven years' transportatiol. Timms: Biggs, aged 80, was indicted for stealing 46 yards of flannel, the property of It:chard Aklerson, a shopkeeper in CUM ford-street, Bryanstone.square. Thomas 'Teesdale, the shopman to the prosecutor, proved that the roll of flannel was tied to the frame of the door In the manner usual with traders in the hletropolis, and that upon an alarm be. ing given he ran out, and secured the prisoner in Bfontague.place, with the roll of flannel under his arm. The prisoner, as a defence, pleaded distress, nnd the great temp. 'Con of an snide placed in such an exposed situn:ion, bring, as lie asserted, full six feet from the door. The prisoner was found Guilty. The COURT sentenced him to be erhiOped, and eobrined for eight months in the House of Correction. Vpon Teesdale applying for the expenses in this ea*, The REconne a desired him to inform the' proseeutor, Alder son, that if anything was again stolen from his shop the Coo,: would rot allow c.epenses to either prosecutor or witnesses, if it we. • proved that the articles were placed in a situation so touch expose:: to depredation and so tempting to distress. Ile (the Recorder) sae this as a warning to the prosecutor, and for the information of those who adopted a similar practice. E.'eargye (',mn was charged with stealing the sum of '2s. in ti • shop of Edward Woodward, a butcher, in Prince's-street', minster, on the 21st of February. The ease was fully proved, and the Jury fcund the prisoner Ghilty ; but the Learned Judge, in consideration of the trivial 113 - lure of the offence, and her having been confined since Fetrual , . last, ordered that she should be discharged after one week's impr:• sonment. nomas f.ipacorn&c was indicted for stealing some apple.treoi, on the morning of the ath of i t . last, fiom the garden of hi.. William Belton Poynter. North-end, Fulham. William B. Poynter, the prosecutor, stated, that he is • Marlin( and resides at North-end, Fulham. On the night nf the 3d..: Munch the nein he employed as gardener left a quantity of Rapti trees laid in the groural, but not planted, and, upon his going him seif to the garden about six o'clock the next morning, he (atm.! that upwards of twenty had been stolen. The prisoner at the b . is Ids tenant, living shout a quarter of a mile from his house, eu.3 suspeetiqg him to be the thief, he went immediatel to search. found, tied up in a bundle, covered with a m a t, a l b the end of • nrisoner's house, and in his garden, the apple -trees which had Morning been swim. Bert, the prosecutor's temporary gardener, proved a.' the trees were not properly treated, but that they were worth fir_:.. 9d. to a shilling !.piece. John King, a jobbing gardener, saw the prisoner about ei g ! o'cieek on the morning of the ro bbery, going from his own hause with a bundle of trees on his shoulder. Spoke to him, and 11-1 reigUelard by him not to mention that he had seen him omit:. • anuhi:•g, !Ur. Poynter re•examined—Saw the trees about six. bet left ti. ' there, because he was obliged to go for some one to identify . The coostaide who apprehended the prisoner said, he found t •• in Biainroerstnitk at ten o'clock in the morriry. and that he ,•.• dared the trees to be big ~wa property. lie certainty found prisoner's garden many trees used as stocks to grnit tied trees up • On his cross-essmina,on his witneNs a isdini•ted gilt there r be apple trees laid by the heels in the iirt.o7er's Evelen, in the SA.: • state as those in the pro , : color's. Mr. Poynter adinit.ed he Mai seen some trees oh the prints which were nut his property. The prisoner in Ms defence said, that although he had paid Mr. Poynter 11101. in rent, yet be had lately sea: is a broker to sell 1:4 thi• gs, because he a It 3i. in arrenne , M rti r e . i n 'o E y c n o te tt r n d z e n nie. ,: t , h ,r e ,ti tru u th p tt ags uOs:sittatt..enteapiasaot. r: t '- "~• c .. ~~~ - ►' • •: 1 i