The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-02-04 00:00:00

the alum of individuals induces to lock up in their coffers, amt the quantity of gold which a general panic w ithdraws from circulation is very great. The Directors have, there fore, a manifest interest in assisting to carry into effect any system which promises to guard them against those evils t o illicit they are exposed, the removal of which would more than compensate any lom ot the privilege they are a iled upon to surrender. in the debate on 'Thursday evening the system of free t ra de was but slightly glanced•at, mar was the present state of the manufacturing community adverted to beyond the sympathy expressed for its embarrassments. The abstaining from all unnecessary agitation of thew topics was certainly the prudent course ; it will be enough to discuss them when the time calls for their discussion; if Tura the prin ciples which they involve shall be traced to their ultimate results, the debate will be interesting beyond any one that ever passed within the walls of Parliament. But the ma nufacturers will expect some better reasoning than was proffered to them in the gramitous assumptions and vague generalities of Mr. 'tem ., : 11.% st. They will not be con tent with the did,' retailed from the Edinburgh Reriew. They will look for cogent and conclusive arguments, and will seek to count each link in the chain. The country has a deep stake on the result,. Its commercial Capitalists have every thing at risk; they cannot afford to range with the theorist into the pleasing uncertainties of the future ; they must argue front what Aas bees, to what will be, and must be made to see their way clearly along the new road t o .4 the irealth of Nations," before they willingly forsake the old paths through which their forefathers found the way to it. The Corn Laws—as we predicted—will not be brought into discussion during the Session. It is a topic of great compass, and is too comprehensive—in more senses than one—to be ventilated at the eve of a general election• Ministers possess the confluence of the country, and they have well earned it, by the enlightened and manly course of policy which has characterised their measures. Had Parliament been dissolved last year, Members would undoubtedly have canvassed their constituents under better auspices. But it is not given-to man to look into futurity. As to the question of the Silt Trade, we consider the postponement of the new law as a measute which the hourly increasing calamities arising from it Will render im perative. All legislation in affairs of commerce is, at the very best, of doubtful policy. It is in vain that we appeal to theoretic reasoning. The practical result is the detini tivs test. That result is before us, sod it holds forth—as far as it has gone—an awful warning of the consequences which await the commerce of this country should we per sist in opposing experiment to experience, and introducing a revolution into the system of trade on the faith of a science, the teachers of which are not even agrend as toitselements. In the House of Commons last night -Mr.- Baocinew took the first opportunity that offered itself - to vindicate his character from the libellous attacks that have been made upon it in relation to his connexion with the Arigut Min ing Company. Those who know the Honourable Gentle man required from him no disclaimer of his corrupt parti cipatiou in the measure, which has exposed the other Dirt ctors to so much jurt animadversion. In reply to a question from Mr. Jou x ms, it was announced by Mr. Secretary PI:EL that the Report of the Chancery Commission will be laid before Parliament in a very short period. The Cu Ascr 1.1.0 R, of the Exc Euu II has fixed Friday, the 24th inst., for the consideration of the important ques tions concerning the banking system and the currency of the country. CITY, FRIDAY EVENING. Less business was done in the British Funds this morn ing than could have been anticipated, when the Paths -I:limitary proceedings of last night, and the meeting of Bank Proprietors this morning, are taken into consideration. However, some very heavy sales took place towards the middle of the day, but not to the extent that might have been expected. Consols for the account touched Sol, after wards declined to 79ii, and finally closed at 793 1. Ex chequer Bills were at par to Is. die. The meeting at the Bank this morning, for the • urpose of discussing the rt. commendation of the Executive relative to the formation of branch banks in the country, has had an effect upon Bank Stock, as indeed the anticipation of the measure previously had ; but to-day it was very feverish, and its price greatly depressed. Bargains were done in it at 212. The Foreign Market was in a state of great inactivity, and quotations were lower. Colombian Bonds were ss/i ; Mexican 6 per Cents. 66i ; Greek Bonds 153 161 ; and Spanish dfito 111/. I'eruvian Bonds still continue at a very low price, 10 11, which is difficult to account for, tin der the favourable circumstances attendant upon them. There is every probability of the dividends bring regularly prid, and the Government there being now firmly esta blished, there can he little doubt of their ability to pay off ultimately the capital they may borrow, and we should . imagi te that there can be but one opinion as to the dispo sition of this Government, in common with those of the other new States, to fulfil their engagements. Their ar rargements regarding their finances have given ample proof of their wishes in fins respect. The Colonial Market remains in a state of severe depres sion. Sugar could only be sold at a lower quotation, and Rum was not in demand. There was no Coffee sale ap pointed this morning. The Corn Market was steady in price, and the supply abundant. We have received Brazilian papers to the 7th December They contain a brief account of the grand entertainment given by the British merchants at Rio Janeiro to Sir Chas. Stuart, on the 21st Nortmber. There were present, on the occasion, a great number of ladies of the first rank, all the Council of State, and the diplomatic body. When Sir Chad, a Stuart entered the room, accompanied by Isis Se- Jeretary, Lord Marcus 11W, he was welcomed by the band playing—" God cave the King."—On the 2d of December, ber Majesty the Empress was safely delivered of a Prince. —These papers contain no news respecting the military operations in the Banda Oriental.—Private letters say that intimation was given on the 7th December, to all the Foreign Consuls resident in Rio Janeiro,. that Buenos .Ayres was strictly blockaded, and that vessels of all nations would be captured if they attempted entering that port. A ship, under the republican flag of Buenos Ayres, was seized at Rio on the same day by the Brazilian Govern ment. _ _ _ The following act of piracy is related in the Diariu Mercantil of Rio de Janeiro of the 28th November : "Arrived yesterday the Di,iniaa, from Cabendoo; the Captain reports that on the tat inst. about eight a.m. let. 1, bO S. to the east. slrd hove in sight a corsair of Cuba, armed brig, with 14 eighteen. r.,:nders, and OD men, esminanctcd by a Spaniard, under the Fre-tt+ ; they find a gun, and upon coming. up, three more, loaded with ball, and at the same time threatened to run us down. l!e then sent a rumba of armed men on board, and ultimately tnnk away the whole of the cargo, consisting of 245 slaves, a qua,. 1 4 Of ivory and goods, together with all the papers, and five of the mew, having severely wounded the Captain, mate, and • sur ron .” Such is the extraordinary demand for all sorts of war flints, foe the List India Company, at the flint-manufac tory at Brandon, Suffolk, the only one of any note in this kingdom, that the men for some months past have been earning considerably more than double the wages they had done for years past.—Cumbridge Chronicle. Poor OrricE.—As a proof of the growing prosperity of Acotlaud, we may state that the revenue of the Post. Office for the year ended the :,tit inst. has exceeded that of any previous year by a considerable sum. The revenue of any alone amounts, we understand, to nearly 43400 L for the last year, and the gross revenue of scot— itr,d to considerably above 200,eout.—Ediam/gli COUrilltl. i r THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS. The Gazette de letiuntnne has published the following sketch of the present Emperor of Russia :—" The Grand Duke Nicholas Paulowitsch, the present Emperor, is tall in stature and well formed, he has a martial appearance and a penetrating look, which sometimes intimidates those who have the honour of approaching him." Ile is accustomed to study, and has a peculiar predilection for mathematical and military sciences. The art of fortification is familiar to him, and he is intimately acquainted with every thing repecting Russia. "Ibis Prince is also extremely regular in his affairs, and he perfectly understands the nature of responsibility (comp- Willie). The palace of Anitschkoff, which he inhabited previously to his accession to the throne, was a model of elegance, order, and good management. lie is very fond of music, and particularly of military music: lie has even some skill in that art. By means of en able musician called Stein, he has formed for the corps of miners and pioneers under his command the finest band of French horns which can be met with in Europe. " The French theatre owes much to the Emperor Nicholas and his wife, the Empress Alexandrina. lie has supported it against the intrigues of some prejudiced Russians, and has often made the French actors perform in the entertain ments which he gave in the palace of Anitschkoff. " This prince enjoys excellent health. Ile takes much ex ercise in inaineuvring the troops ; lie has often been seen to make the rounds of the guards by night and in very cold weather, to ascertain with his own eyes that all was in order. " The Grand Duke Alexander Nicolacwitch, the son of the present Emperor, is a child about seven years old, very handsome and of great promise. For a year back he has had a chevalier to accompany him in his walks and take care of him while at play. This is Major Moerder, for merly a captain in the corps of noble cadets. The young Prince often goes abroad in the uniform of a Colonel of Hussars, and salutes with the most engaging politeness such persons as meet him and pay him the homage which is due to his birth. lie speaks Russian, French, English, and German." FAILURES OF YORT►SHIRE BANKS. We regret to say that the bank of S. G. Sikes and Co., of Huddersfield, yesterday (Wednesday) suspended pay ment. Early in the morning Mr. Sikes had the following notice made public : Huddersfield, Feb. 1, 182 c. S. G. Eikes„ in consequen:e of the unexampled distress of the present period, has the painful task to announce that, for a short time, lie is placed under the necessity of suspending his payments; but, if favoured with the indulgence of the public, he feels confi dent that, ultimately, he shall honourably discharge all the claims on his establishment. The distress consequent upon this event, in the town and neighbourhood of Huddersfield, is described by our correspondent as most severe, and the apprehensions from the same cause arc, of course, alarming. In addition to the above painful announcements we are sorry to state that Messrs. Lord, Robinson, and Co., of Albion-street. in this town, yesterday (IVednewlay) stopt payment. They were extensive woollen-cloth manufac turers, and at their mill in Wade-lane employed a great number of hands.—Leeds Intelligencer. FASIIIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. The slarquis of Hertford entertrined a distinguished party at dinner yesterday, at his house in Piccadilly. The Earl of Carnarvon has arrivedrin Lower Grosvenor-street, from Brighton. The Earl of Abergavenny has arrived at Lis house in Iltrkelcy square, from his seat, Ldritlge Castle, Sussex. Lord Lynedoch left Warren's Hotel, Regent-street, yesterday, for his scat, Cosgrove Priory, Suffolk. Lady Mary Petre has arrived at her house in Grosvenor-aquae. Sir Charles Cockerell, Bart. and tamily arrived yesterday at their house in Piccadilly, from their seat, Sozincot Morton, Gloucester ►hire. . . . ....... Admiral Sir George Rowley, Bart. has arrived at his house in Rohon.row, from a tour. Colonel W. A. Johnson, M.P. arrived in town yesterday from his seat in Lincolnshire. George Byng. Esq. M.P. and Captain George Byng left town yesterday, for Wrothain Park. Hudson Gurney, E•q. 31. P. and family have arrived at their house in St. James's-square, front their seat, Keswick Hall, near Norwich. W. Egerton, Esq. M.P. and family have arrived at their house In St. James's-square, from their seat, Tatton Park, Cheshire. Arrival yesterday at Miller's Hotel, Jermyn-street :—Lord Her. soy, from Brighton. Departure :—Admiral and 3irs. Hervey. for Deal. Arrivals at Fenton's New Hotel, St. James's.street :—General Sir Robert Dolton, Bart., front Oxfordshire; T. R. Kemp, Esq., from Brighton. Departure :—lter. William Tower. Arrival at Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square :—R. If. Vatic, Esq. from Stanmore. Departurest—Sir Robert and Lady Harland, for their seat in Suffolk; Viscountess Keith, for Kent. Arrivals at Bares hotel, Dover-street :—Earl O'Neil, from Ire land; Lord Stafford, from Norwich • J. T. :Nlott, Esq. and family, from Norfolk ; 11. Grattan. Esq. M. P. from Brighton. Departures: Sandford, Esq. ; Mr. and Mrs. liewsou and family, for Euex. Arrivals at Kirkham's Hotel, Lower Brook.street :—Mr. and lfrs.Cummings ; Captain llalford, from Berko; William Unwin, Esq., from Lord firentley's seat in Kent; xllr. Grimes ar•r son, from a tour. Departures:—Captain Grey, ou a tour; J. Fordyce, Esq., fur Scotland. His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Prince Ester hazy, and Lord Jersey are now on a shooting visit at the hospitable seat of Lord Foley. The LORD CHANCELLOR.—The improvement in' his Lordship's health still continues ; he passed a good night, and was still less afflicted with pain. The answers given at his Lordship's house yesterday were, that he was get ting better. At the Court of Chancery, the answer given by the door-keeper was, that if his Lordship's health con tinued to improve as much as it had done for the last two days, he would probably resume his sittings in the course of the ensuing week. The Lout Chancellor has appointed J. S. Hervey, F.sq. to be Accountant-General, instead of John Catnpbell, Esq., deceased. At an early hour yesterday morning one of the Secrets ries of Sir Charles Stuart, our Ambassador at Rio de Janeiro, arrived at the Foreign-otiice in Downing-street, with despatches for Mr. Secretary Canning. Yesterday morning Mr. Jackson, one of the Lord Lieu tenant of Ireland's messengers, arrived in London from Dublin, with despatches from the Lord Lieutenant. On looking over the Racing Calendar for last year we observe that his Grace the Duke of Grafton won nearly 13,000!. during the season, by his horses running for prizes. It is said to he the intention of the Royal Yacht Club, of which Lord Yarborough is President, to make a voyage to the Spanish coast during the ensuing season. , Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart., we are sorry to learn, is dangerously ill at his house in Piccadilly. We are requested to correct an error in our report of Mr. Urquhart's speech at a meeting of the Seamen's Hospital Society. We represented that gentleman to say that If they (the Society) could get Parliament to con sent to the appropriation of the monthly sixpences of the seamen to their relief, that alone would be sufficient." Whereas we are informed that Mr. 151quhart stated, "That if the sixpences now paid to Greenwich were obtained, they would afford no adequate relief ; that seamen slid not want the aid of charity so much as system in the application of their funds; and that seamen, in the earlier past of life, should contribute more, while they were able to pay, towards raising means to support them in the latter part of life." Our report also stated that Mr. Urquhart said, that " Ile thought that merchants should pay more than they at present do towards the support of distressed seamen.' We are assured this was an error, as merchants do not contribute, except gratuitously, to any fund for seamen. A Journal has been suppressed at Stockholm, for havii:g copied from an English paper, " the absurd story relative to the death of the Emperor Alexander." The following is an extract of a letter reseived from Gibraltar yesterday, under date of the Nth January : "Three mails from England arc wanting, the heavy rains having prevented the posts from coining forward. The long continuance of heavy rains, we imagine, will tender the prospect of a more abundant harvest next year very uncertain. Ii is found that much of the grain on the higher grounds is washed away, while that on the lower grounds must be rotted. The expected tariff' has not appeared. It was printed, but will, it is said, undergo further modifications, and many are of opinion that it will net be forthcoming at all." THE BRITISH PRESS. ANECDOTES OF MR. BURKE. ' The following reminiscences of the late Right Hon. Edmund Burke and his son are extracted from the appen dix Ito a very well-written pamphlet, published by /11r. Therry of Gray s-inn, in the shape of a letter to the Right Hon. George Canning, on the present state of the Catho lic Question. There are also :some original letters from Mr. Burke to his son, while acting as agent to the Roman Catholics of Ireland in 1792. In that capacity he visiteti that country, and during his residence in Ireland he lived in habits of the closest intimacy with Mr. Therry's father. The letters were left by Mr. R. Burke with Mr. Therry's family on his departure from Ireland. They possess con siderable interest as memorials of the great man from whose pen they proceeded, and are in many respects singularly applicable to the position of the Catholics at the present period. Mr. 'I berry has done a public service by giving them at this moment to the oorhl : The few anecdotes here thrown together are conversational glean ings which I hue collected from members of Mr. Burke's family, and from persons who knew him intimately. With the exception alone, verbena, they are unimportant, and can only be acceptable to those who take an interest in every thing connected with the his tory of the great man to whom they relate. Of the early part of' dlr. Burke's life` very little is known ; whatever is interesting and well-authenticated is contained in the dlemoir of his life and cha racter, by Mr. Prior, a work admirable for the useful information it conveys, and the spirit of fair inquiry and impartial diecuesinh that pervades it. To the anecdotes which he records of the featire evenings at the Grecian Coffeehouse, of Mr. Burke, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Goldsmith, and "other men of mind," I ta ke the liberty of adding one which Mr. Burke himself was wont to tell. Its circum stances are trivial indeed, yet they confirm the charge of excusable v,.nity muds by his contemporaries on Dr. Goldsmith. Asthetirecian Cotlee.house was a place of frequent resort with the above-nameei eminent persons at a time when none of them possessed very ample means, they entered into an agreement that the (bumf daily given the waiter for his attendance by each of them, should not exceed sixpence. Dr. Goldsmith was the only member of the party to break through this equitable plan of remuneration. It pleased his vanity to present the coffee-house functionary with a shilling. Hit friends remonstrated with him upon the unreasonableness of not conforming to the rule of the party, more particularly as it only encouraged the waiter to indulge in extravagant expectations from others. To these remonstrances the Doctor would reply, "It is very easy for you, gentlemen, to ttik thus. Sixpence may be a very suitable sum fur you to give, though it may not be for me. When you come here, you are treated as strangers, but I am looked upon as a patron of the house; and I never come in, or go out, but I am saluted by some kind and cordial expression, such as, * God bless you. Dr. Goldsmith.' rhis pleases me, and imposes upon me the obligation of acting somewhat differently." Although the admirers of dlr. Burke arc divided as to their preference of his eloquence as a speaker, or his masterly comp scions as a writer, it is my humble opinion that his chief and su perlative merit lies neither in hie oratorical nor literary talents. 'f he great ascendancy which he gained over the councils of the nation was attributable to that species of acquirement which we denominate " general knowledge , and in which no man of his time Could compete with hint. The abstract sciences, mathema tics, astronomy; the interests of commerce in all its varieties; the polite arts, history, poetry, rhetotic—in short, every branch and department of useful knowledge, seems to have been embraced by his comprehensive mind. Universality of knowledge might, with out exaggeration, be predicated of that " - lamented sage ! whose prescient scan Pierced through foul Anarchy's gigantic plan, Prompt to incredulous hearers to disclose The guilt of France and Europe's world of woes--. Thou on whose name each distant age shall gaze The mighty sea-mark of these troubled days, 0 ! large of soul, of genius unconfined, Born to delight, instruct, improve mankind." A curious and striking instance of the variety of acquirements possessed by this extraordinary man, occurred on the occasion of a friendly party sojourning at his hospitable house at Beaconsfield. It was told me by my father, who, at that time, had the good for tune to be one of the visitors, One morning, the party walked out after breakfast, and, in the adjoining village, they happened to enter into conversation with a farrier, or, in the more flattering par lance of the present day, a veterinary surgeon. Mr. Burke entered earnestly into the subject of the Profresor's duties and rotation, and after half an hour's conversation, convinced him that he knew infinitely less of the nature of his calling than the stranger with whom he had fallen into accidental discourse. After Mr. Burke's departure, some gentlemen of the party continued in conversation with the farrier, who observed, in a tone of mortified pride, " I judge that is a knowing one from town." Such was the diversified nature of the mind of this wonderful man, that after having, on the previous night, in the senate-house of his country, `. in its prophetic fury admonished nations," it could unbend and adapt itself in the morning to a discussion with an humble mechanic. and convince him that he surpassed him in a theoretic and practical ac quaintance with the business of his trade and occupation. On another occasion, an inquiry having been introduced as to the mode in which the London market was supplied with meat, Mr. Burke took up the subject—entered into a detail of the manner in which the supply was made--in which the oxen were driven up to town — the stages of rest at which they stopped during the night—the causes of variation of price at different seasons of the year—the na ture of the credit subsisting between the salesmaster. the farmer, anti the butcher ; and a full account of the whole process of busi ness at Smithfield, which usually engrosses the attention of ordinary men for their lives. . He delighted in conversation with young persons, whom it was his favourite occupation to instruct anti amuse, and so successful was he in rivetting their attention and affections, that many boys who were in the habit of spending their vacations with him, now grown to the estate of manhood, have assured me, they look back to the period of these occasional sojourns with him, as the happiest and most interesting of their lifetime, and that they derived more pleasure from the amusing stories which Mr. Burke told in his rural walks than from anything they have since read. This anxiety to please and delight those by whom he was surrounded was an amiable trait of character, in which no motive but one of true kind. heartedness and the purest benevolence could have a share. The memorable cltercation between Mr. Fox and Mr. Burke, which, after a close and intimate attachment of twenty-two years and upwards, terminated for ever their public and private friend. ship. My father resided with Mr. Burke in London at this period; he accompanied him to the !louse of Commons, on the evening of this debate, the fah of May, and it was agreed that lie should wait for him in the part of the House allotted to visitors, until the close of the discussion. The question before the House was the second reading of the Canada Bill. For several days previously Mr. Burke had been actively engaged in taking extracts, and making those " notes of preparation" which usually precede the surpassing displays of eloquence that from time to time illumine the dull dis. courses of St. :Stephen's. Canada had at this time been recently ceded to England ; and the propriety of engrafting as touch of the English constitution upon the French form of government which prevailed there, as was suitable to the condition of that inte resting colony, was the immediate topic of discussion, and one on which it required a statesmanlike and nice discrimination to decide. [Mr. Therry then introduces the narrative of Mr. Prior as to what occurred in the House of Communs on that memorable evening.] al hen the debate concluded, my father accompanied Mr. Burke home . In the carriage Mr. Burke observed stern and in. flexible silence; and after their arrival, he only replied to questions in harsh and abrupt monosyllables. Gradually a strong fit of pas sion came over hint ; he threw up the windows of the apartment; flung open his coat and waistcoat, and in a paroxysm of passion. paced up and down the racial, until nearly four o'clock in the morning. So vehement was the excitement under which he la boured, that my father deemed it but consistent with his duty not to leave hi:u until he became so composed, that he was disposed to retire to rest. From !that hour to the hour of his death, lie never held " communion, friendship, or intercourse," with either Fox or Sheridan. Towards Fox, however, he had subsequently dropped rattily expressions of friendly, and even affectionate regard, in pri vate, although his pride would not allow him to make a public avowal of them. Of Sheridan. I have been assured, lie seldom spoke, and never evinced the slightest wish to resume an acquaint. 'ante, or a regret that it had been interrupted. In mud', all that I believe he respected in Sheridan, was all that the world feel most disposed to respect, yet what the world must respect—his talents. I close these few anecdotes of Mr. Burke, which, as I have stated, I have merely gleaned from conversation, with the assurance made to me, that of the many political friends with whom he associated, none of them enjoyed so much of his confidence and esteem, in pri. vale, as Dr. Lawrence, the brother of the present respected Arch. bishop of Cashel. Front the conversations I have had with many persons who had good opportunities of forming a correct estimate of alr. R. Burke, I am tit opinion that his fattier greatly overrated his abilities. His affection for his son was truly paternal, and this impressed his mind with a partiality which naturally led him to form an exag. gt rated estimate of his talents. His character strikes me to have been that of an amiable and accomplished gentleman. No pates or expense were spared in his education ; and his knowledge of his tory, of classics, and of polite literature generally, was accurate and extensive. For politics, whether he had sufficient talents or not, he certainly had not a taste, or a disposition. His diffidence in himself and his own powers was so great as to amount to an intellectual deficiency ; and this natural timidity was in no small degree increased by his great inferiority to his fattier, of which no man was more conscious than himself', and respecting whom he was wont to say, " that as lie was the son of such a man, the world expected something from him; and that it was neces sary for hint to make redoubled exertions in order that he might not altogether disgrace the descent of which he might be well proud." Indeed it is certain that he sparest no pains to realize this praiseworthy and excellent feeling; and so sensitive was lie on this point, that it is supposed h:s very close attention to study impaired his health, and greatly accelerated his premature dissolution. On his visit to Ireland, he made no impression beyond being esteemed an agreeable and elegant companion in private intercourse. Oast very striking opportunity pretiented itself for a public display, but he did not avail himself of it. It was on the occasion of his sojourn in Cork. The high reputation • Mr. Prior, by far the best of Mr. But-ice's biographers, has not observed his accostotred accuracy in noticing the spot of Spen. ser's iospirstion. Ilia family resitlin2cewas not, as he states, the old castle or Kilmarleny,. bot that o f Kilcoletnoa : at present, pan at the property of R. S. Keating, 1,5(t. of his father's talents had preceded the arrival of the son: Mr. Burke's deltas in favour of the remilail of the commercial ie. strktloas ithich affected Ireland were hat forgotten by the mer cantile bed) t and the Boman Catholics. to a devotion to whose interests ha had lost his seat in Parliament for Bristol, had ample reason and inducement to receive Mr. R. Berke amongst them, with a grateful and an ardent welcome. Such,. indeed, have been assuted, was his reception. A public (Helier (d favourite spe cie', of entertainment in Ireland) was given to him. All parties melted in paying a tribute of respect to a man of Whose talents Ire land was not only proud, but to the exercise of whin she was in. debted for important services. A brilliant assembly this collated. The early part of the evening puma off very heavily. At length the hour of toast.givlng arrived : anti as speech-making is a pro pensity in which Irishmen love to indulge, the speech of the young wisher was awaited with anxious solicitude. His health was touted with " all the honourS"—three times three ; waving of hsndker. chiefs, and other demonstrations of warm welcome, marked its an. nouncement. Mr. It. Burlce rose, and as soon as the enthtiatasm of the meeting subsided, sinipl) said, " On the part of my father and myself, I respectfully thank you." The effect of this very laconic address cannot be easily described. Those only who arc acquainted with the enthusiastic feelings which pervade an Irish assembly on such an occasion, and under such circumstances, can appreciate it. however, may he said with repect to the failure of 11r. R. Burke to produce an impression, hn the festive occasion to which I allude, that it was owing to his extreme sensitiveness and diffidence. A man with a tithe of his talent and inhumation, bat with his " modesty of merit," might have made a very respectable speech, in a similar situation. Indeed, from the little experience 1 have had of exhibitions of this kind, I have learned to regard them as specimens of manufactured &clause hon or preconcerted artifice; of as any thing rather than a proof at teal talent and sound information. Mr. It. Burke had one remarkable quality of an Englishman, which distinguishes a native of this from one of the sister country ; namely, a great slowness and reluctance, at first, in forming acquaintances and entering Into friendships. To so great an extent did this habit of mind prevail, that my father, who was afterwards more intimate with him than, I believe, almost any other person, Was an inmate Of the house at Beaconsfield for a month before he had advanced further open his acquaintance than the ordinary terms of formal civility. That this formality existed only in outward manner, has been well attested by manner letters of his, which I have seen, and which contain as warm and affectionate sentiments as it is possible for friendship to conceive. The temper of his mind must have been truly minable, as he was an universal favourite, not only in nis family, but also in the wide-extended circle of his father's friends and acquaintances. Ilia father wished to diversify his studies us much as possible, with a view of imparting to bin a varied know ledge ands general information, of the advantages of which his own example furnishes a most Useful and astonishing illustration. It was a source of great regret to Mr. Burke and to his family, that Mr. R. Burke had not martini. That he was disposed to a single life appears from his resistance to the frequent temptations of beauty and of riches which were alternately presented to him with a view of alluring him into the matrimunial state. On one occasion, however, leas und,a the influence of the arch deity than of his father's wishes, he made what may be termed a that of obedience to the counts .seat of a wealthy gentleman, whose daughter, besides personal attractions, had the additional recom mendation of a very large fortune. The gentleman (whose name it would not, I think, be quite fair to mention) who was a great admirer of Mr. Burke's talents and principles, and was equally , solicitous as he was in the promotion of the tnarriage, apprised I his daughter of the object of Mr. R. Burke's visit. His reception. all may be supposed, was very warm and hospitable. It would have been well, however, if the worthy host had not anticipated the duty which should have devolved upon his guest by a pre mature disclosure of what might be his intentions. The young lady thought it only right dutiful in her to act in conformity to her papa's intentions; and as love, like ambition, "sometimes o'erleaps itself," from an over-anxiety to please, she failed in pleasing at all. To speak plainly she made quite a set at hint. Phis formidable assault to carry his heart, as it were, by a coup tic main, was not very successful with a man of Mr. R. - Burke's retiring habits and cold temperament. If she had designed to re. pulse him, she could not have taken a more certain way to get rid of hint. The consequence was, that he hastened back to Beacons. field ; and instead of a blooming bride, brought back the intelli gence of his not having even made proposals. It would seem that tile 'dyke given by Lord Bytoo in love-affairs is not very suitable for the adopatin of ladies • " Brisk confidence best with lover copes." It may be, perhaps, better for ladies under simile circumstances, to attend to the admonition contained in the line that completes the couplet : Pique )tint and sooth by turn, soon passion crowns your hopes." The lady, with such recommendations as I have mentioned, did not long remain unmarried. Very shortly afterwards she gave her hand and fortune to a nobleman high in the peerage. Her short acquaintance with Mr. It. Burke had tile effect of confirming the distaste for marriage he had previously entertained. SALE OF GAS SHARES AT THE MART. Yesterday curiosity tempted a great many persons to attend a sale of 200 shares In the British Gas Light Company, which have been gradually dropping in value until they reached 10 discount, at which rate purchasers cannot be found, although sellers are nume. rolls. Before the sale commenced, the following opinion of Judge Bayley was handed to several of those who intended to hid Mr. Justice Bayley, in addressing the Jury, told them, that it was desirable that those who took shares in these joint-stock coin. panics should make some examination into the solvency of the concern in which they embarked. Tho members of such com panies were jointly and severally liable for ths debts of their re. :meetly° companies ; and those who furnished them with goods could recover the value of them from any individual member they thought proper to select. Nor had that individual any right to complain, since he could recover it again by contribution from hi. co.partners. Such was the law of the country ; and he considered it to be a very beneficial law." Mr. Bu aux xi. said the shares were In ten lota, consisting of twenty shares each. The British Gas Light Company was ad. vancing in prosperity, although the shares, like those of many other Companies, had fallen down to a discount. Amongst the conditions of sale was one which stated, that no person should ad. vance less than five shillings per share at each bidding.—(A person cried out, " 1 wish you may get it," and a laugh.)—The Company was extending its operations over England, Ireland, and Scotland, and was likely to do so very extensively, gas having got into very general use every where. He trusted the Company would soon declare a handsome dividend.—" What do you say, Gentlemen 1" said Mr. Burrell. "At what rate shall I put up the first twenty shares? Consider that 151. has been already paid upon each share." A Gentleman from the bottom of the table.—Pray Mr. Burrell, have you any idea how soon this handsome dividend, as you call it, will he made 1 Air. BURRE I. L.—Not the least, I must confess; I know, in fact, nothing more about the concern than that I received the hares to dispose of, and was told that they were likely to turn out profitably. Another Gentleman said, lie knew it to be a fact that the British Gas Light Company, which was met Coned as affording a supply to England, Scotland, and Ireland, but which laid such peculiar em. phasis upon the business it did in Whitechapel, had not a single customer in the High-street there. A voice—l'll give Ss. a share. A second voice—l solemnly declare, that I would not take them if offered for nothing. Who can tell whether there will not be an immediate call ? All the shares were sold at 31. per share, but whether they were purchased by the party who sold them we could not ascertain. It was observed to the purchaser, as each lot was put up. that he might get them at a cheaper rate as he advanced, but he paid no attention to the hint, DISTRESSES .I. 1" SPITALFIELDS. It Is already before the public that, on Saturday last, a meeting was held at the Mansion House, to devise means tor the relief of the distressed weavers in Spitalfields and its vicinity, and that a j public subscription was then opened, headed by the King with munificent donation of 1,000!. A considerable sum of money was then subscribed, and Mt. Thomas Hale, the respectable silk ma nufacturer, was appointed Treasurer, and a Committee, of which the Right Rev, the Bishop of Chester is Chairman, undertook the management of the funds. Notices were subsequently very gene. rally posted in the parishes of Spits'fields, Bethnal-green. St. Leunard's, Shoreditch, St. John's, Hackney, and Mile-end New town, that " weevers in distress might receive relict* o - s the produc tion of a ticket signed by their last employers." On Thursday, at two o'clock, the Committee, with the Bishop of Cliecer in the chair, commenced their labours at Spite'fields Church. At that hour every avenue to the church was crowded with applicants for relief. The front gate of the church-yard was kept closed, and the applicants being adinitted in small parties, were introduced before the Committee In the vestry-rootn, and as their respective MACS we e disposed of passed out et a side dour, an arrangement which wits calculated to prevent any degree of contusion or disorder. In the vestry the applicants were received in classes, alphabetically arranged, by the different members of the Committee, each person being required to produce a printed Went of a ticket, signed by the last employer, stating the none, ore, residenez, whether single or married, the number of children, with their ages and how employed, how long the applicant has been out of employ or if not wholly out of employ, how many looms at work. and the name of the em ployer tor the last twelve months. Upon the production of this' ticket, properly signed, Cie party received relief according to cir moisteners'. A single man out of employ receiving is. ; a man and his wife los. ; and if a family Iss. per week ; but it iituinfer- Ptood that the relief is not to extend to persons receiviug parish re lief. The Committee continued sitting frees two until seven o'clock an Thursday evening, when it was announceihhat yester day they would continence at an earlier hour; accordingly, about twelve o't l lick yesterday the Committee resumed. The Chair was taken by the Bishop of Chester, who WAS succeeded at two by the Rev. West Wheldttle, the Rector, and afterwards that gentleman was relieved by the Rev. T. Gregory. In the course of Thursday not less than two thousand peetious were relieved by the Committee, and yesterday the number 'afpeared considerably increased. We left the Committee at live o'clock still fully occupied. We regret to lean that the distress of the silk trade has caused t h e stnepage of two houses at Alacelesfiehl, that of Megan. llatkes and Pearson, for a comiderable amodut, and that of Messrs. Forster and Clay. BANK Or ENGLAND. A General Court of Proprietote riot held yesterday at the 0 England, pursuant to notice, fitt die eonsiderthion of affairs. The Court was extremely crowded. At twelve the %Yellin?, Deputy Governor; dod Directem entered the ro..— The Goieareog informed the CoOrt that the sublect upon which they were that day assembled was one of the eflepest Imo penance, and he entreated their most animus amender whfle elk correspondence which had taken place beteteen his Majetty . Ministers and the Court of Directors was read to Them, in order that they *night be enabled folly to comprehend the Metter which was to come under their consideration. To avoid any thins Bite misconc ption, he proposed to read the correspondence In thE order In which it lid occurred. The drat paper read by the Governor was a letter iddressed tit himself and the Directors of the Bank, by the First LA of the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, dated the 13th of January, leen, and was to the following purport_ It first alluded to the recent etnbarrassmentt of the cofintrf, and then observed, that as the panic hid subsided, and as the commercial coneerni of the country had reverted to their cute ternary order, it was incumbent Upon the Government to adopt such measures a might bate the effect of preveirting the recur rence of evils so deplorable. Those evils, it Was argued, haft been die result of a rash spirit of speculation, combined with an unrestrained istue of country bank paper. The remedy was to b'e found in a recurrence to a Metallic circulation, and in a limitation of the period allowed by Att of Parlldthent for the circulation of (country bank) one and two pound notes. It was proposed that that period should not exceed two or three years from the present time. Such measures could not fail to check the spirit F of speculation which was complained of, because, If dithreisses were likely to timer, their pressure would be sooner experienced, which, of course, would produce an earlier application of a remedf. That this measure, however, would not, of itself, be sufficient, was proved by the fact, that in 1793, when there were no one or two pound notes in circulation, 9 convulsion mffeli mere ex tensive had taken place than that which hsd reclntly agitated the country. Needy one hundred banks had given way, and Gisfern. ment were forced to issue a large Hamlin'. Of rechequer Bills ta prevent still more disastrous consequences. During that period there was in Scotland a currency carried on through the Medium cf the banks. They had a country circulation of It. and 2f. notes, but it essentially differed frown the circulation in the comuly parts of England, because it rested upon a solid fdiindition. 'flit charter of the Bank of England might have been fully adequate to the exigencies of the country at the time it wet first granted ; loft since that T eri' 1 the increase of commerce was so great. that the existence of the charter in its full pin Hide must prove detri mental to the country. The great number of country banks thdt had been established wwa a sufficient proof of this ttositior: The existence of these banks, however, was not a circumstance to ble regretted, but it was indeed to be deplored that they existed upon an infirm foundation. There were two modes in which It was pad. posed to improve the circulation of the country. One was the este: bliehreent of branches of the Bank of England throughout the country; the other, that the Bank of England should give up its exclusive privileges beyond a certain distance from the metropolis. The Bank, it was presumed, could not establish sufficient branches Its answer the demandsof the country, and were therefore called upon to give up that portion of their privileges which li-nited the number of partners in any banking establishment. In adopting this latter alternative they had a safe guide in the example of Scotland, which example proved that respectable banks might be established through. out this country upon principles similar to those which had there been for years in operation. In England there were eight or nine hundred banks, a great numbet of which were not ebnducted upoh that principle ich could alone insure the safety of the public. In Scotland there were only thirty, and these had stood firm through periods of the greatest distress. This proved that the effect of the exclusive privileges of the Bank was to encourage every system of banking except that which was solid. It was for the proprietors to reflect on the dangers attending the late derangement in the banking systim throughout the country, and to consider whether, for their own security at d profit, it 9/.14 not desirable that some alteration should take place. They might perhaps propose, as they had done before, as the price of their concession to the proposition cif his 31a jesty's 311 listens, that an extension should be granted to them of their exclusive privileges for a term of ten years beyond the expiration of their present charter, with respect to the metro polis. This would he catch to be regretted, because it could not be complied wi . h. The Bank, it wet prefumed, could not sutler by the proposed arrangement, for, while it gained an addi tional degree of safety, it could not be injured by any interference with the citculation of their notes, it being notorious that the Bank of Englet d notes had no circulation beyond the limits of the me tropolis, accept in Lancashire alone. It therefore became a question whether, on the pound of security and profit to themselves, they would not consent to the improveinent of the circulation of the country. With regard to the extension of the charter, Parliament titter would consent to it. Exclusive privileges were out of fresh' but the Bank would, even at the expiration of their Charter, I remain a c nporate body and the bankers of the State ; and, as 1 rg as they conducted themselves well, they would no doubt continue to be the cmtre of circulation and commerce. So long as country banks continued upon their present footing, difficulties of greater or less extent must accrue ut on the exchanges turning against this el untry. The consequence to the Bank must be a diminution of tli&r profits in the accumulated treasures which it would always be found necessary to keep in their coffers. In conclusion, it expressed a hope that tie proprietors would feel no difficulty In agreeing to the proposal of his Majesty's Government, when assured that such an arrangement would prove highly advantageous to the country, and that his Majesty's Ministers were anxious to obtain their dept. awn prior to the opening of Parliament. The GOvERNOS sad that upon this communication a very pretracted debate bad taken place before die Directors. the result of which was, that a reply, dated January 20, to the following effect, was retained to the letter:— " That the Governor and Directors of the Bank of England (however they might differ from the First hold of the Treasury and the Chanceller of the Exchequer) refrained from offering any opinion of their own upon the subject proposed for their coneideta. Lion; but still thought that it was not inconsistent to state upon their part that they were far from considering public confidence as restored, or that the late panic had given way to the full re-esta blishment of public credit ; that it was possible that the country circulation might be remedied by fresh exertions, and all reasonable sacrifices on the part of the Bank, end that they could not recent. mend to the proprietors any concession of those privileges which had been sanctioned and confirmed by so many Acts of the Legislature." Three days subsequently the Bank received a second coMmuni. cation, in which the First Lord of the Treasury regretted that they could not reply to his letter, in which he had so fully stated the ob ject of his Blijeety'l Ministers that he had nothing further to add upon the subject. The simple question was, whether they would relirquish certain privileges, by which relinquishment they could suffer no loss, and for which, therefore, they could have no claim for compensation. If there were any conditions which the pro. prietors might conceive necessary as accompaniments to the pro posed cone salon, it would be for the Bank to state them. To this the Bank returned the following reply : " That the Governor and Ditectots, finding that the Treasury Committee were determined to persevere in the proposition, and that Parliament would not be likely to agree to any extension of their charter, proposed as the basis of their concession, that die Bank of England should be placed upon the same footing as the Bank of Deland, by die Act of 6 Geo. IV, cap. 42, with this die tinctioe that fie miles instead of 30 should be the distance to which the exc lusive privileges of the Bank of England were to extend from the metropolis, waving, however, the five years extent of charter granted by that Act to the Bank of Ireland." In reply to this, a leter was soon after received, dated from Fite House, to the following effect : " The First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, concur in the conditions proposed by the Governor and Directors of the Bank, that clauses similar to those of the Act of last Session should be inserted in the Act for the partial repeal of the charter of the Bank. In the paper dated the 13th of Jan. reasons had been stated to show that the formation of branch esta blishments of the Bank would not be of itself sufficient to effect the desired object ; but still the adoption of such a measure could not I fail to be highly advantageous to the Bank, as well as to the public." This was the last document which had been received, but as the correspondence had not closed until Tuesday, it was not in the power of the Directors to call a General Court of Proprietors at any earlier period. The object of his Majesty's Ministers was to elect the withdrawal of country small notes from circulation, and to sub stitute a metallic currency in their room ; and alto to limit the pri. vileges of the Bank to the metropolls, and to a circuit of country 115 miles beyond it. The effect of this would be tl.at, beyond that circuit, banks might be established with more than six proprietors, which was in direct opposition to the charter of the Bank ; and, in consideration of such a concession on the part of the Bane, Parlla. ment would not consent to any extension of their charter as regarded the district in which it was still exclusively to exist. The Court of Directors had. however, given the subject the most anxious eonsi. iteration ; it had undergone a very extended discussion, and the result was that they had come to a resolution to the following effect o ihnk *pedal clott " That the Court of Directors were of opinion that it was ad. visable to accede to the proposition contained in the correspondence which had been read, with the approbation of the Court of Pro prit tors." lle wished to state, that in a correspondence which had taken place in April 1322, Mr. Vansittart had made the same proposition o the Directors; first limiting the Charter of the Bank to tine miles round the metropolis, which was afterwards altered to siati tivz. Upon that occasion his Majesty's Ministers offered a renewal of the charter of the Bank for a period of ten years beyond that of its expiration. -as a compensation foe the required concession ; hut it was subserptcntiy stated by Mr. Vansittart that he co u ld ne t bring such a proposition before Parliament Mr. ASTELL said that he felt the greatest satisfaction at per. ceiving so numerous an attendance of Proprietors. The queeti , st for their consideration was one of deep importance; being no less than a p-oposal to them to surrender a portion of that charter which had been granted to them, not for their tienetit, hut to promote the welfare of the country. He had heard The Rank eulogized in the House of Commons for its liberality upon all occasion', and, indeed one gentleman had remarked, that if all those eulogies were merited, it was rather a strange way to reward the pmprietore by calling upon them to abandon their privileges. Still it *se a question whether the Bank or the country were in the ante re. lathe position as formerly. There were many subjects in the correspondence which he did not think it necessary to discuss.;.. the immediate question for consideration was, whether the time had ems arrived when the Proprietors ought to yield to the heed of power. In his opinion the Court oaght to yield, for the pub.