The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1825-03-11 00:00:00

SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF MENDICITr. Ttte Seventh Annervessey Me --- erit of the Snbicnberg and Friends to die above insdblied Seek place yesterday at the Freemasons' Mal, Brest Qedeliseelenet losehk M—eld that the Chair would be taken by his Vold Michaele die Dale of York pretieely at one o'clock, yet when that hone Mimed needier the Royal Duke um above 50 per sons way present At half-past onetime filkierideuen of the Committee enteral the me% tabu It was issesnneed that as his Royal Highness had not midi . rent igeggileeignt nue spgrabanded to have occurred. and that It tee considered advisable an proceed with the business of the day. a having buddespatched to ascertain the cause of fire aosnd detention. At this time about SOO persons had mumbled, many of whom were ladies. Among the gentlemen on the plattotin we noticed the Right Hen. Lard Calthotpe, the Right Hest. Lord Binning, the Right Han. Lord James Stuart, Oriole Cheremondley, Esq., Alderman Bridget M P., R. J. W. Holton, L'sq. M.P., W. William', Esq. M.P. &c. &c. R. J. W. HORTON, Esq. having been ralled to the Chair, he opened the business of the Meeting by begging to explain that in Royal consequenee of his Highness the Duke of York, who was the Patron of the Institution, and of hi Grace the Duke of, Neenburnberland, who was their President. not being present, the • office of filling the Chair had fallen on him, as one of the Vies Psesidents of the Society. The delay which had taken place in codiarseesiser tbe business of the day was solely occasioned by a smog belief that his Royal Highness would have attended, and be was sure that nothing but an unasoldable occurrence could have deprived the Meeting of the honour of his Royal Presence. He begged to state that a letter had been des perched to the Horse Guam. to learn the pleasure of his Royal Higbee's, to which an answer vas every moment expected. In the mean time, it wu considered proper to proceed with the bud- Pent of the blaming. He thought it quite unnecessary on the present ocean= to interrupt the proceedings by enterin g into a m . tdetails outth e cbjects and merits of the Mendieity Society, which *mild be much better made known to the Meeting by the Report which would be read to them by their Worthy Secretary, than by any observations of his own. lie begged, however, to state that letters had been received from the Marquis of leansdowo. Lord Caturchili, the Right Honourable George Canning, the Right Honourable Robert Peel, and others, expressive of their regret at not being able to attend the present Meeting, and of the con tinua:besot-their friendly disposition towards the Society. Mr. BODKIN (the Honorary Secretary) then proceeded to read the Report of the Committee, for which we regret we have no space to-day. Lord CALTHORPE said that he felt sir.cere satisfaction in submitting the Resolution which had been confided to him—that the Report they had just heard read be received, printed, and cir culated, under the direction of the Committee of Management. He was rot so fortunate as to have heard the whole of the Report mad ; but he had heard enough to convince him that a document so satisfactory, so full of interesitng facts, could not be printed and elm rotated without procuring for that Meeting a considerable degree of publicsupport. He could not hear it read without feeling that the Surety deemed that public support. However true it might be that charity conferred a blessing both on him who gave and on him who received ; yet he could not bat think that by what lie had beard stated in the Report, it never did the one or the other. Ile teslly thought that this Institution, by changing . the habits of the people, in their mode of dispensing their charity, rendered the cause of real and benevolent exertion a great good. One instance of the great advantage derived from its labours was, not only that it had elected our streets of many miserable and wretched victims to the most depraved and shocking vim, but it had done great good to all our other charities, because it is known to have pro. Cured habits of &invite', and zealous and cordial rivalry. In order to insure these habits a continuance, every support was neces sary. In the ease of relieving in the streets there was a sort of divided feeling, a doubt whether the object of one's benevolence was a deserving or an undeserving object. This Society, however, in a very great measure removed such a feeling, by insuring the certainty of one's charity being properly applied. He believed there was no money given to the poor which was received with less thankfulness than casual alms bestowed in the streets, for the per sons to whom those alms were bestowed perceived that they were dispensed more for the purpose of getting rid of their importu. nits, than out of compassion for their dulness. If the blessings whieet we dispensed were received with thankfulness, the very feeling itself imparted a new value to them ; and therefore he could not conceive a better contrivance for defeating the object of charity than by giving money in a mariner where no thankfulness would be telt at all. He could not but feel that the scrutiny which this Society had established, tended to secure for the relief which it afforded a cat ainty of its being well and justly applied, and that it was altogether a frost safe, salutary, and useful charity. If in any country in the world such • Cheat,. would be useful, it would be much more so in this country. The most curious fact mentioned in the Report to-day soofirmed this. He would ask whether letters of distress could be made such ready nieans of imposition in any other country in the world besides this? That amazing spirit of kindness which was ready to relieve all sorts of wretchedness and misery, real or fictitious, exposed those who possessed it to these impositions in • most extraordinary degree. It was in England alone that the rich soil of benevolence threw forth its fruits in such rich and luxuriant profusion : and afforded opportunity to that particular kind of im position which was carried on by begging-letters. He was sure, therefore, that the Meeting would agree with him that this Society had done great benefit to the country at large by restricting, if not setirely suprressing, that species of trade. He would only add, that a Society which tended to supply what was a vacancy In the list of Institutions, and which gave an impetus to all other Societies, re quired only to be more fully known, in order to receive the in creased support and sanction of the public. His Lordship con. eluded by moving the first Resolution. Mr. M. DYER in seconding the Resolution said, that the testi mony of the practical effects of Ibis Institution which happened-to fell under his observation enabled him to speak of its utility. It was on that account that he as • Magistrate of this metropolis could not help thinking that this Ingutution would operate in a very great degree to the benefit of society. He front the beginning had felt every regard for the Institution ; and if he were to select a moment in which lie should say that his admiration was the greatest, he should select this praise moment, because it was notorious that beneficial effects were now more than ever develop :mg themselves, and that but for this Society and the officers that it employed, this great town would be almost overrun with sturdy beggars. If he had had any idea of being called upon to address • the Meeting, he would have prepared himself with a document to show the comparative number of committals of vagrants by the piastres now and formerly ; but he was sure that where there were twenty commitments formerly, there was not now above one. He concluded by seconding the Resolution. General THORNTON said that he received daily intelligence of tee great and beneficial effects of this Institution, and lie was very sorry that Government had taken away rewards for the apprehen sive of vagrants. By the Acts of Elizabeth and James, the first persons were subject to a penalty for not taking up beggars. Although it might appear a very hard thing at present, yet he certainly wished some measure could be thought of by the Le s. lature to prevent indiscriminate almsgiving. At the time when those laws were enacted, the poor were not so well provided for as now, and, therefore, there was not so much excuse at present for t'ost who indulged in this indiscreet and mischievous species of benevolence. One great evil that existed suss the number of juvenile offenders in the streets. He could not help attributing this ti a great neglect on the part of our National Schools, in not teach ing some useful trade to the children. There were some Schools of eindustry in the metropolis, and he thought it would be highly Jeetiefcial if all our charity schools were conducted in • similar oaf. A GENTLEMAN in the body of the Meeting observed, that it would be very desirable that the Report should be printed as soon as possible. A very great delay frequently took place in the pot ideation. The CHAIRMAN said that it would be published in the course of a month or six weeks from the present time. The resolution was then put and carried. Lord BINNING said that he was quite unprepared to address the Meeting, but he nevertheless rose with great pleasure to move the Resolution which had been confided to him, which was to do that justice to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, which his bene. nehinea demanded of them. But before he put the motion, he eintuld advert to the Report which had been read, and which.* ousted would be as widely circulated as It deserved to be. tine *art of that Report, he meant that which alluded to the begging letter departmlen, ought to be most seriously attended to. He knew many benevolent persona wbo had avoided to refer CAMS to this Sqthrty, anodic:int It to he an interference with the personal feel ings of benevolence, idea: ought to be left to their own free and enehackled exercise. But lie would suggmt to then., that no in quiries' which they could make, could be so complete and satiefec en!y as could be done by this Society. How few of us have the op portunity and knowledge to detect imposition, and to distinguish impostors and real objects of charity ? and their savants awe not better able to ascertain these things than gentlemen them e/111M I and then cannelthat doubtful heeling which had been spoken it by the Noble Lord (Calthorpe) where the mind vacillated as to shatter it should give or withheld. He would appeal to every one present, whether they had not over and over again given alms with tea: doubt upon their minds as to the desert of the object on whom they were bestowing them, and that the only motive which derided them was, that they would rather give at the chance of its being 111-bentowed than to refuse • real and deserving object of crimp's siren. Now he would submit to those benevolent individuals that Jens Seciety possessed every means of ascertaining the real Ma eneter of those persons. He himself had been in the habit of con tributing to the support ef many blind persons, and as he consider ed Olindnese to be the worst species of human ffiiction, he thought re doubt could be eutertained of the deserts of those who were thus s(fircted. Ho, therefore, never made any inquiry as to their red) Imitation, but went on, year after year, bestowing his small done thins. . It however occurred to him, that he might as well invests. pats the claims of those poor persons, and he therefore took down weir names, and sent them to this Institution; the result was, that Fe bad been most egregiously it4osed upon , tor, out of the twelve ,pr ehirteen persons that had ben aprlying to him so regularly. not al see tan or three were worthy objects of charity. He thought this fact ruff tiently important to mention to the meeting. and through the meeting to the public. He should now call their attention to 'she Re mhition. He was sure that tie should be declaring the asoninents of every ono present, when he expressed his great regret tept.the unavoidable abseoee of ha Royal Highness th e Duke of le• If the numb er o f Ch a ritsbis Institutions which existed a e dirtinction of this country, it could not but be a source petite and distinct:tom that either one or tits other of the • 11 embers of the Royal F am ily presided over tiles. There was salt ciee of that (Usurious Family more devotedly sincere in the cause of charity than his Royal Highness the Duke of York. He therefore begged to move a Resolution, expressive of the thinks of the meeting to his Royal Highness, for his patronage and sup port to tins Institution In all its operation,. The Honourable GEORGE CIIOI.IIOEDELIT seconded ' motion. Lord Janes STUART moved the thanks of the meeting to his Grate the Duke of Northumberland, anal to the Vice-Presidents. General Sit Jot's HAamtTolt seconded the motion. The Resolution wu carried unanimously. Alderman fininuas concurred most hear in the objects of this Society, and the nseneures it had adop t; but he regretted that there still were many sturdy beggars in our streets which called for the exertions of this Institution. He thought much de pended upon the judgment of individuals, in the mode of giving alms, whether this Society should effect its full purposes or not. Its giving to those who were not deserving, it stimulated the idle to adopt the same course of mendicity, and to make renewed de predations on the public. It wu lamentable to consider the great increase of boys confined in our prisons of late years, and he could not but think it was occasioned by that want of inculcating industry in our national schools, which had been complained of by the Gallant General (Thornton); and he (Alderman Bridges) could not therefore but wish that some such plan u his Gallant Friend had alluded to were adopted. He concluded by moving the thanks of the !sleeting to William Williams, Esq. the Treasurer. HENRY POWNALL, Esq. seconded it in a complimentary speech to Mr. Williams, whom he designated as a most indelatt gable and ardent friend to the Institution. A letter from the Duke of York was now handed to the Secretary, who read it. It was written by Sir Herbert Taylor, and expressed his Royal Highness's regret at not being able to attend the Meet ing by unavoidable circumstances which required his presence at the Horse Gaanls. Mr. Wizatasts returned thanks. He could only assure the Meeting that he had ever felt great satisfaction in attending the duties of this Society, because he thought it not only calculated to promote the morals, but also the general prosperity of the country. As long as money wan given in the streets to beggars, never must this Society be done away with. He, therefore, entreated that every one instead adispensing their charity in so precarious and injurious a manner, they would give their money to the Society and take tickets in exchange. Sir J. Lallonsx moved the thanks of the Meeting to Thomas Abraham', Esq., Honorary Counsel, sod to W. Tooke, Honorary Solicitor to the Institution. G. L. Co LLINGWOOD, Esq. seconded the motion. The Resolution was then carried. Captain the Honourable G. G. ‘PALDEORAVE, R.N. moved the thanks of the meeting to %V. H. Bodkin, Esq. In doing this, be begged to refer every one to their able and satisfactory Report, which reflected the highest credit on that gentleman's talents and zeal in the ;ause of this Institution. J. J. BRISCOE, Esq. said, he felt pleased to add his humble tri bute of praise to the gentleman whose name had just been men tioned, and to express the strongest admirataan for the services he had rendered to this Society. He wished every one felt the same teal towards it, for sure he was that they would be acting in the cause of real benevolence. Mr. BODKIN returned thanks, and said that so long as his ser vices were of any use they might continue to command them. Thanks were then voted to the Board of 31anagement and Au. ditors. . _ . The Hon. C. J. SHORE moved the thanks of the meeting to the Chairman. h. PEIIRTN, Esq. seconded it, which, being carried by accla mation, The CHAIRMAN expressed his sense of the honour just done him, and begged to congratulate the Meeting on the efficacy of this Society, and on the aUle Report that had been read to them. fie perfectly agreed in the observations which had been made in refer. ence to the necessity of encouraging useful industry in our na tional schools. N'ith regard to the Vagrant Act, he had no doubt that if the Legislature should be made acquainted with the fact that not one out of 20 of the constables did their duty in consequence of the enactments in it relative to the rewards, he had on doubt they would take the question into consideration. At the same time he begged to say he fully concurred in the principle of the Act. He wished the true nature of this Society to be made more extensively known than it was at present. Ile had no doubt that if its objects were better understood it would meet with general support. It had been objected that this Institution inter fered with the feeling of benevolence. It was his opinion that in the country such a feeling might perhaps be acted upon beneficially, but in the metropolis, where all kinds of characters were assem bled, he conceived it impossible for an individual to trace the ramifications through which their money passed. Such an Insti. tution as this therefore was absolutely necessary to direct that bene. volence Into its proper channel. He begged to express his convic that if this Society were well supported it was calculated to do good in a most extensive degree ; and in a moral and political, and a national point of view, it required unly to be known that its benetits might be increased fourfold. The Meeting then separated. PRESERVATION FROM SHIPWRECK. Yesterday, at one o'clock, a general meeting of the Members of the Royal National Institution for Preserving the Lives of Persons from Shipwrecks was held at the City of London Tavern ' the Right Rev. the. Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells in the chair. We regret that but few gentlemen attended, we presume in consequence of the extreme haziness of the weather. ......_ ______. The Report of the Committee was read, detailing the several points at which life-boats were stationed, and the general benefit derived from the use and application of Capt. Manby's improved apparatus. It appeared that a number of lives had been saved during the last year, and several new stations were pointed out where boats could be advantageously placed. For this purpose an additional number of boats with Captain Alanby's apparatus are in coarse of preparation. The Report detailed the various sums expended during the last year. It appeared that about 600/. re'. mauled in the banker's hands out of the receipts, which amounted to upwards of 9,600/. The amount of the prospective expenditure for boats with Capt. Manby's apparatus, was stated to be about 3,7001. The Report having been approved of, The CHAIn MAN expressed himself highly satisfied with the im proving condition of so benevolent an Institution. Mr. WiLsow entered into a high eulogium of Captain Manby's apparatus, which he considered very superior to boats. The In stitution was particularly bound to support Captain Manby's plan, not only on account of its intrinsic merit, but the inventor's noble disinterestedness. Persons supplying boats reaped benefit from their employ, but Captain Manby derived none from the use of his apparatus. Indeed it was well known that persona had made money by imitations of his plan. In conclusion, the Hon. Gentle man proposed a vote of thanks to the gallant Captain for the great benefits conferred on this country by his excellent apparatus for the preservation of the lives of our seamen from shipwreck and danger. The vote was seconded and carried, to be presented in a "Rule Britannia" of the Institution. Mr. STer NETT, en artist said, that however highly he thought of Captain Illanby's apparatus, yet he had himself invented a plan which would supply the defect of the Captain's. It was well known that the line of assistance was by a shot over the vessel in Captain Mantel's plan, and the persons in distress had to scramble ashore on one rope, which was imminently hazardous, especially with a heavy sea. Tar improvement he suggested was by the adoption of two ropes, on which a traverse could run to the shore. The people could be secured on this traversing rope, which those on board could force ashore or haul on board at pleasure, without the assistance of those on shore. The Gentleman said that he was riady to submit • model to the Committee. He exhibited the rougil dratufht of a vessel on the rocks on a lee-shore, with his ropes affixed, but did not explain how be conveyed the ropes to the shore. . . _ . rho CHAIRMAN WAS happy to see any plan that could further the means of preservation to so useful a body of men as our gallant seamen, and was sure the Committee would pay every attention to the plan. Mr. Alderman LUCAS proposed that the Committee should send ruund a cony of their Report to the soreral Companies interested in commercial pursuits, to obtain support. Mr. WrLsolt laid that had been 'already done. Thanks WEIL thei voted to the Chairman, and the meeting separatcd. STOCKHOLM, Faa. 42.—Two English Agents have ar rived at Gottenburgh, to purchase iron and Baltic produce, as is supposed for Colombian account, which has already caused a rise in the price of these articles. RENT.—IIy the laws of Ina, King of the West Saxons, who reigned in the end of the seventh and the beginning of the eighth century, a farm, consisting of ten hides, or plough lands, was to pay the following rent :—" Teti casks of honey, three hundred loaves of bread, twelve casks of strong ale, thirty casks of small ale, two oxen, ten wed dens, ten geese, twenty limn, ten cheeses, one cask of but ter, five salmon, twenty pounds of forage, and one hundred eels." From this low rent, the imperfection of agriculture tt that time is easily discovered, but is still rnQa...o from the low prices at which land was then sold. In the ancient history of the church of Ely, published by Dr. Gale, there are accounts of many purchases of land by Adelwold, the founder of that church, and by other benefactors, in the reign of Edgar the Peaceable, in the tenth century. By a comparison of these accounts, it appears that the ordinary price of an acre of the best land in that part of England in those titre was no more than sixteen Saxon pennies, or about four shillings of o ur mone y— a v e ry tri fl ing price i even n comparison with that of other commodities at the same time: for by comparing other accounts it appears, that four sheep were then equal in value to an acre of the best land ; and one horse of the same value with three acres. The frequent and deplorable famines which afflicted England about this time, are further instances of the wretched state of agriculture. In 1043 a quarter of ' wheat sold for sixty Saxon pennies (fifteen of our shillings), and at that time equal iu value to seven or eight pounds of our money now. THE BRITISH PRESS. COURT OF COMMOI► COUNCIL. Fey:aday a Court of Common Council was held at Guildhall, for ohe disposal of ordinary busineu. The Chamberlain laid berme the Court an Account of the Ore. sham Fund lot the last seven years, which was ordered to be printed and distributed to the several Members. HOUSE AND WINDOW TAX. Mr. FAVELL submitted a Resolution to the Court, declaratory of its opinion with regard to the reception of the petition to the House of Commons few the repeal of the House and Window Taxes._ Alr. P. Dixo,e entirely agreed with the worthy member rpon the principle of the Resolution, but thought there were some expres awns contained therein that might lead to a division, and he was most anxious t h at their vote should be unanimous he therefore suggested that a few members should retire and draw up a Resolu ' Lion calculated to meet the wishes or all.—Agreed to. Mr. FAvictr. and Air. JAmts retired for such purpose, and sub- I minted to the Court a Resolution, which, after some dtaeussion, was agreed to, and a Deputation appointed to present the same to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Deputation to wait on the Chancellor of the Exchequer are Aldermen %Vaithroan and Crowder, Sheriff' Key, and Mesas. Favell, Slade, Oldham, James, and Dixon. JOINT STOCK COMPANIES. Mr. Alderman Wm it NAN called the attention of the Court to a subject which he thought of the utmost importance, and to con sider of which he trusted his Lordship would call a special meeting on an early day--he meant the Equitable Loan Bank ; to establish which there was now a Bill before Parliament, and on which Bill lie understood there were eleven Directors sitting; and that, out of forty-tive Directors, there were no less than seventeen Members of Parliament. The worthy Alderman then took a general review of the na:ure of the intended Company, and expressed his astonish ment that such a Bill should have passed the (louse of Commons last Sessions, bit which was thrown out by the Lords in consequence of the observations of t►e Lord Chancellor, to whom the country was Indebted for his opposition to the measure. The LORD MAYOR observed. lie had originally taken shares in the Equitable Loan Bank, thinking that the scheme was for the benefit of the community. He had however given up the shares, as he did not consider it compatible with the office of Chief Magis trate shat he should be a shareholder in a Company of this descrip tion. Considering. as he did, the establishment of Trading Com panies to be a question of great interest, he could not hesitate to accede to the request of the worthy Alderman. His Lordship appointed to-morrow ( this day) for a Special Court on the subject of the Equitable Loan Bank Bill. SALARY OF MR.SERGEANT ARABIN. The Committee of City Lands delivered in a Report, on haying conferred with a Committee of Aldermen in respect of the Salary to be paid Mr. Sergeant Arabin for the judicial ditties performed by him at the Sessions at the Old Bailey, under the recent arrange ments, and for the Court to make him an allowance in addition to the auto already paid hint ; which was agreed to. THAMES QUAY. The same Committee also presented a Report on the Memorial of. Colonel Trench, relative to the proposed Thames Quay, and the Memorial of sundry Owners of Property against the same, stating that it did not appear, if the measure was effected, that it would be prejudicial to the navigation of the River, but as it would interfere with the trade thereof, they could not recommend the Court to sanction it. The Court agreed with the Report. LONDON WATER WORKS. The Remembrances laid hefiorethebotrtiWObills now in Par liament for the establishing Waterworks for the better supply of the metropolis, which was referred to the Commissioners of Sewers. COURTS AT GUILDHALL. The Committee of City bands presented a Report, recommend ing the Old Court of King's Bench at Guildhall to be &ter up for the purpose of a waiting-room for the accommodation of the Members of the Corporation. and parties attending them on pub lic business ; which the Court agreed to, and empowered the Committee to carry the measure into effect. Mr. Sou TIICIATe moved, that the Court do subscribe `2501. to wards the expense of making the opening near St. Bride's Church, —which was agreed to. The Court, on a petition from the relatives of a person who was accidentally killed in Wormwood street, 13ishopsgate, remitted the amount of deodand imposed on that occasion. A subsequent Court was appointed for a third Assistant to the Hall-keeper. EDUCATION OF NEGROEn We extract the following from the " Report of the In corporated Society for the Conversion and Religious In struction and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British' West India Islands, from July to December, 1823 :" Few sentences will be sufficient to notice all that has occurred since the publication of the •• Account of the Society" in June : and no further arrangement of the matter can be necessary, than the simple division of it into Domestic and Colonial. Upon the subject of the Society's Affairs at Home the Governors have to state, that early in the month ofJuly last they announced by an Advertisement in the public papers, the very satisfactory progress which the Society had made in the prosecution of its truly important objects, and the grounds on which it was authorised to resume its applications for the subscriptions and donations which it had here tofore suspended. They availed themselves of the opportunity of this Advertisement to express the satisfaction with which they wit. nesaed the liberal contributions already offered to the Society by rsons of the highest rank both in Church and State, as well 'eas by several of the most considerable of the Net India Proprietors. 1 he month had not elapsed, before this Appeal was laid before the Standing Committee of the Nest India Planters and Merchants of the City of London, by C. R. Ellis, Esq. M.P. their Chairman; and the Society had the pleasure of receiving through that gentleman the testimony of the approbation and concurrence of that Body, as given in the following unanimous Resolutions:— " Resolved Unanimously—That this Committee are of opinion, that the extension of the means of Religious Instruction, is the lest and surest foundation for the improvement of the civil as well as the moral condition of the Negroes in the West India Colonies. " That • The Society fur the Conversion and Religious Instruc tion and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West India Islands,' are entitled to the gratitude of the Colonies, for their ex. ertions in engaging Clergymen of the Established Church, to co operate with the Clergy of the Colonies in promoting the object of their Institution. . . . . . . . . " That this Committee, desirous of evincing the sense which fiey entertain of the value and importance of those exertions. and of that object, gladly avail themselves of the opportunity now afforded of expressing their cordial approbation, and of offering a contribu tion to the funds of the Society. " That the Treasurer of the West India Planters and Merchants be authorised to pay over to the Treasurer of • the Society for the Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West India Islands,' the Sum of One Thou sand Pounds, from the General Fund of the West India Planters and Merchants of the City of London. " That the Secretary be directed to send a copy of the' Account, of the Constitution, Objects, aid Progress of that Society, and the accompanying Advertisement, lately published by them, to the several Members of the West India Body in London, and to the West India Associations In the Outports, requesting their Sub scription. • That the Chairman be requested to communicate the preced ing Resolutions to the Bishop of London." In consequence of this communication to the Associations in the Outports, those of Liverpool and Glasgow have been contri butors to the Society of 1001. each: and the Committee of the West India Planters and Merchants who were present at the pass ing of the above Resolutions having given their names as Annual Subscribers, their example has been highly favourable to the So ciety's funds. In the Advertisement which was put forth within a short period of this Meeting, the Subscriptions and Donations appeared as follows : Subscriptions . - . 0 220 0 0 • - - - . Donations - . • . 1,13:1 12 0 And though the increase has been leas rapid than the Governors had expected from so promising a beginning, yet the funds of the Society have beat gradually improving, as its cittumstances and operations have been more generally known. To secure an immediate application of the contributions, no time was lost in circulating the information, that the Society in tended to increase the number of its Clergy ; and that the Secretary had been authorised to communicate with those gentlemen who might feel a disposition to enter into its service. An invitation was also made to the West India Proprietors to aid the Society's de signs, by the support of its Ministers upon their particular proper. ties ; or otherwise to co-operate with the Society's endeavours to form as complete a system for the gradual Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of the Negro Slaves, as circumstances may permit. In answer to the former part of this Advertisement, it is gra. tifying to state that such applications have been made by Clergy. men and others of the highest respectability ; accompanied by re. ferencea which have stood the test of the most strict investigation, and by testimonials to those important qualifications, which are in dispensable is the condition of the Christian Minister as leave no doubt in the minds of the Governors, of their being able to obtain a supply of efficient Chaplains who may be safely entrusted with these important interests. The chief police-office will be shortly removed from Bow-street to Pall-mall East, near its intended termi nation, opposite &. Martin's church. The friends of a gentleman residing at Battersea, have within the last two or three days, been thrown into great alarm by his sudden disappearance. He had been for some time, owing to ill-health. in a very dejected state of mind. On Monday last, he dined with a friend at Battersea, when he appeared more depressed than usual, and left him between five and six o'clock, with the in. tendon of spending the evening with a ritually at Brompton. He was seen going along Battenieu-bride immediately afterwards, but beyond it he cannot be traced. Lpon inquiry of his friends at Brompton, it was ascertained lie had not been there. Every poani ble step has been taken In order to gain intelligence of Min, and hand-bills, containing a description of his person and dress, hare been circulated in the neighbourhood, but hitherto without success. He is described to be between forty and fift► yenta of age, stout made, five feet ten inches high, with black hair and eyes, anti pro. minent features ; and was dressed in an olive dreas-coat, white neckcloth, striped fancy waistcoat, dark trowsers, and boots. HOME CIRCUIT. ESSEX ASSlZER—CusiaaaroaD, 11Latis 10. Before Mr. AVON GRAHAME. GAILTHIER WtDD •ND OTHER,. This was an action of assault and battery, sod false imprison ment. Plea, the general issue. Mr. Atmi.ritus and Mr. CHITTY conducted the plaintiff's case; ar.l Mr. MARRYATT, Mr. Sergeant Tmarir, a d Mr. BRODERICK the defence. The plaintiff is parish clerk of Great Wakening, post-muter of the place, and had been collector of tithes for the Rev. Mr. Pritchard, the Vicar. The defendants are parishioners of Great Wakering. On the 3d of November there had been 'Parish Meeting at the Red Lion Inn, for the purpose of settling some parish accounts, and also paying arrears to the clergyman for tithes. The Vicar gave a dinner on the occasion, and the wine sou pushed about very plenti fully. The plaintiff was required to attend after dinner to explain some of his accounts as to the tithe collection. He was accused of not having brought money to account which he had received, and also of extorting more money than was fairly due for tithes. Offen sive toasts were given. Some of the part y re jwoposed •` D—n to the parson," and the plaintiff was requi to drink it, which he refused to do. They then pmposod •• 10—n to the clerk." The plaintiff, addressing one of the defendants, named Phillips, said, •• 11l tell you something if you won't be angry ; you owe me eight-pence for the postage of a letter, and have done so for these some months." Mr. Phillips said he bad never been asked for the money, and it was an insult to mention such a thing in company. This reproach produced some irritation towards the plaintiff, and it was immediately proposed to turn him out of the room. This motion sou carried ; and the plaintiff, who bad sat down to partake of the conviviality, was forthwith carried by the defendants in his chair, and pushed out of the room. This was the cause of action. The case was left for the Jury, who found their verdict for the plaintiff Damages—One Farthing. CROWN SIDE. Wen. Calls was convicted of stealing, at Brentwood, a horse, the property of a Mr. Thorn, and sentence of Death was re corded. Thomas ToMuni war indicted fur feloniously killing and slaying William Davis, at Uray's Thurrock, on the 17th of No vember. Mr. BRODERICK and Mr. Dow xmo conducted the prosecu. lion, and Mr. ADOtrit tts the defence. An immense number of wiroesse‘ gave the prisoner an excellent character for inoffensiveness and humanity. The LORD CHIEF' BARON summed up for a conviction in point of law, if the Jury believed that the prisoner had struck the fatal blow. _ _ The Jury deliberated a considerable length of time, and found the prisoner Not Guilty. Daniel Taylor was indicted for a burglary and robbery in the dwelling. house of George Ralph, at Great Burstead. on the 28th July last. The property alleged to have been been stolen amounted to nearly 1004 Mr. noontime and MT. Dow! IMO conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was undefended by Counsel. The prosecutor is an auctioneer, shopkeeper, and banker, at Billericay. In the night of the 27th July last his warehouse was broken open, and robbed' of linen-drapery and other goods to a considerable amount. The principal witness against the prisoner was a man named Charles Clarke, who had formerly been in the prosecutor's service, and having robbed him, he had been pro secuted and sentenced to seven years' transportation. After serving about four years on board the hulks, the rest of his punishment was remitted, and he was again admitted into the prosecutor's ser vice. In July last the prisoner and another man, named Lindsell, proposed to him to rob his master's shop. This he declined doing, from fear he should be suspected, but he gave no information to his master of the intended robbery. Another witness, who was a re. turned transport, proved that a few days after the robbery the pri soner confessed that he and Lindsell had done the job. Both these witnesses were mainly confirmed in collateral particulars. At the last Assizes for this County, Liodsell was tried and acquitted as a porlieeps criminis in the robbery, but the evidence was much weaker in that than the present case. The Jury, under the Learned Judge's directions, found the pri soner Guilty. and sentence of death was recorded. William Rovers was indicted for robbing John Ilan of 31. 10s. on the King's highway, at Wanstead, on the 18th January. The prisoner said nothing in his defence, and the Jury found him . Guilty. Sentence of death was recorded. OXFORD CIRCUIT. WORCESTERSHIRE ASSIZES.—WoRcrsTr a, SI aecu 9. Before Mr. Boron GARIOW. CROWN SIDE.—MANSLAUGIIT R for manslaughter, in killing Richard Beard. The prisoner was a very respectable-looking countryman. IS'illiam Jordan—l worked in the same field with the prisoner and the deceased. The wife of the deceased was gleaning in the same field. As soon as the harvest-work was done for the day, about half-past six o'clock, the deceased said, that if the prisoner could not do his work better than he did he might as well sit down and do nothing. To this the prisoner replied, that he had drank too much, and could not work so well as if he was sober. Some further abuse ensued : all the men had been drinking too mud . Mr. Boughton, our master, came into the field, and the deceased told him of the bad work done ; and when accused by the prisoner of telling of him, the deceased gave the prisoner the lie, and a fight of several rounds ensued, in which the deceased once struck the prisoner when down. Beard's wife came up., and said, with an oath, " If you come near my husband I will kill you !" They then left off fighting, hecau'e the other men told the prisoner to leave off; and he put his clothes on again, and said he would shake hands with the deceased, and went up to him for that purpose; when Mrs. Beard said again, with an oath, that she would kill the prisoner if he came near her husband. In try judgment the prisoner was really going to shake hands and make an end of it, but, on hearing Mrs. Beard say that, the prisoner pushed her aside with his left hand, and struck the deceased on the temple with his right. The deceased fell ; I picked him up. and he never spoke afterwards. Llizabeth Beard, the widow of the deceased, proved his death. Mr. William Hebb, a surgeon-1 saw the deceased after death. The cause of his death was extravasation of blood on the brain. It was, in my judgment, caused by external violence, as the injuries on the brain corresponded with external bruises. The prisoner left his case to the mercy of the Court. The prisoner received a good character. Mr. Baron GARR° w summed up the evidence.—Verdict—Not Guilty. James flodgkis, William Bowater. and John Gilts:. were in dicted f'er manslaughter, in killing George Grove, I, furiously driving a cart. . . . . . . . . Mr. e. CUILIVOOD stated that he was instructed to defend the pri soner Hodgkis only. fr. GODSOW stated that he was retained by Gittus. For the prosecution, John Blower said—l am a chaise-driver, belonging to the Cross Inn, at Bromesgrove. On the 22d of Sep tember I was driving a gentleman's carriage from Bromesgrove to Stourbridge. I saw the deceased walking along the road, at about two o'clock on that day. After passing him I met the prisoners Hodgkis and Bowater. Each of them was driving a cart. I met them a quarter of a mile from where I . met Grove. Their carts were loaded with coals, and they were gang in a direction to over take the deceased ; they were driving their carts at the rate of six miles an hour, and nearly abreast. I stepped the carriage I was driving to let them pass. They had two horses in each cart. Hodgkin's cart broke my splinter bar. Cross-examined by . 31 r. CUISWOOD—This was on a broad turn pike road ; three carriages might go abreast. I often meet carriages going at the rate of six miles an hour. It is not much of racing to go at six miles an hour. The deceased was deaf, and therefore if he was hallooed to to get out of the way he might not hear it. Examined by the Learned JUDGE—A cart going at six miles an hour is likely to do mischief, because there is not the same com mand over the homes as with a carriage. John Riddle—l know the place called the Hundred-house Hill. I knew the deceased, and saw him go down that hill just before he was killed. Ile was walking.. I SAW the prisoners driving their carts loaded with coal. The prisoners' carts went over the deceased. The carts were going at a pace between a walk and a trot. I called out to Ale. Grove, the horses being then within two feet of him. He turned sound to look towards me—but if leetwail of that he had turned the other side, and seen his danger, he would not have been hurt. The deceased was knocked down by the shafts of Bowater's cart, and the wheel went over him, and Gittus was also knocked down in trying to stop the horses. The carts were heavily laden, and from the load it was not possible to stop the horses. When I picked up the deceased he was quite dead. The Learned JUDGE directed the Jury to acquit Ohms, and called on the other prisoners for their defence. Bowater said that he was very sorry for what had happened. liodgkis said that they could not stop their horses. The Learned Junow, after observing that at the time of the death of the deceased the carts were not going at the rapid rate spoken of by the chaise driver, but at a much more moderate pace, left it to the Jury to say whether the death arose from mere acci dent, or (rem the misconduct of the prisoners. Verdict—Not Gaiky BIGAMY. COprlifid, a very ill-favoured old man with one eye, was Labeled for feloniously marrying Maria Depper, his former wife, Lucy Burrow, being still alive. Mr. Jour: Evaate stated the case. Thomas Smith-1 produce an examined copy of the marriage register of the parish of Llaines; it is of the prisoner and his first wife, in 1783. I also produce an extract from the register of Bromesgrore parish, of his i.rarriage with his second wife. Elizabeth Smith—l was at the prisoner's marriage with Lucy Burrow. I am sure the prisoner is the man ; she is now living. The prisoner left her twenty years ago, and she has seen nothing of him since. I myself had not seen the prisoner for three and twenty years till the day on which he was committed. Sarah Giles—l was present at the second marriage, on the 11 tit of March, 1814. The second wife was a servant in a farm house. Maria Depper, the second wife—l was married to the prisoner eleven years ago ; he hu lived with me ever since, and provided, as well as he could, for our family. The prisoner said, in his defence, that the first wife had run away with another man, and that he being employed at the con struction of the Illartello Towers on the south coast, had heard nothing of his first wife till 1813, when she told him that if he did not get away, and never let her see him again, she would crack his skull with a poker. The first wife now stood up, who seemed a bit of a virago, in the witness box, and hoped his Lordship would hear her. She mid the prisoner was a vile fellow, and that as she did not want kiln, and if the second wife had any fancy for him, she might have hies and welcome. The Learned Junce summed up the evidence, and remarked to the Jury that this did not appear to be one of those aggravated cases of which they unfortunately saw too many. Verdict—Geifty. The first wife now stood up again, and complained that the pri mmer would never make tea for her. The Learned Junoe-1 am surprised, seeing what a sweet da , position you possess, that any man could think of leaving your so ; mety so long as he had en opportunity of enjoying it. (A lime.) The Learned JtIDOZ then said, that he thought he should beet consult the interests of society by making the amount of the punish , ment in this case depend on the prisoner's future conduct : the pet loner must therefore enter into recognisance to appear again when rolled upon, which the prisoner did, and was discharged. The present Assizes at Worcester are the heaviest ever remem bered. POLICE. GUILDHALL. THE. LOST NOTEI.—FIELD-LAXE PIACTICEMIA grand display of legal disquisition was anticipated yesterday, in the case of Mrs. Datum, of Field-hne, charged with unlawfully detaining two 20!. Bank of England Notes, which had been picked up in tie street, and taken to her by the two girls who found them, to he disposed of; not only Mr. HUISPIIIEYS, her solicitor, but ►l-. ALLEY, the barrister, attended on her behalf. The prisoner was again remanded until Saturday. The man who lost the 140!., and is, it seems, an ostler, who had been selling out a little money he had in the Bank, was to attendance. He missed his property shortly after having been romping with a girl of the town in a public•house near Hosier lane, but he could. not identify the persons of the females who had been concerned in the alleged finding, or subsequently negociatvig the two notes, the subject of this inquiry. BOW-STREET. Yesterday Mary Doyle, a simple-looking country girl. was brought before Sir R. Rinxii, charged wish stealing plate and jewel►ery to a considerable amount, the property of Mr. CoHinson, of Chenies-street. Bedford-square, with whom she lived as servant. She was fully committed fur trial. Gecrge sad Wm. flannel!, brothers, underwent an examination which lasted the greater part of the day, charged on suspicion of stealing about 500Ibs. weight of stained glass, value 1701. and upwards, the property of Mrs. Mary Muss, widow of the late Enamel Pair.trr to the King. A considerable quantity of the stolen glass was found on the premises of one Cook, &glass worker in Chapel-court, Long Acre, and in the house of a glass dealer, named Levy, in !lemmings row, St. Martin's-lane. These men were admitted witnesses for the Crown, and the prisoners were fully committed for trial. The prosecutrix in this case (a very interesting woman of about 30) has been extremely unfortunate. Her husband, whose talents had procured for Lim the especial patronage of the King, at Lis death, in June last, left his affairs so much embarrassed, and his widow with such slender means, that complete ruin must have followed but for the noble generosity of his Majesty, who afforded her such substantial assistance as, with the aid of some triends, would have enabled her to extricate the concern from its difficul ties, and to go on prosperously. Unfortunately, however, she placed three 5001. Exchequer Bills in the banking-house of Marsh and Co. in Berners-street, and the whole was of course swallowed up iu the bankruptcy of that establishment. UNION-HALL. - ...... ROBBERY BY A SEILVANT.—A girl, named Mary lintchiso. wro. wu charged before the Magistrates at Union-hall with haring robbed her mtstress of a great clunotity of clothes. The prisoner wu fully committed for We?. FATAL AFFAIR AT ETON: The friends of Mr. Leith 177;1 7.— epared the following document to be submitted by bim to the Court, if the trial had taken place at Aylesbury " Dltr LORD—I sin anxious to state a few words, which must not be considered as an attempt to justify the part I took in the late unhappy event, but arising . solely front the very great de sire I feel to remove some impressions which have been circulated to my disadnunage in the published reports of this most lamentable transaction, which I feel I do not merit, and which are cal culated to increase very materially the dirtress of my present situa tion. I never can enjoy happiness again till thitse impressions are removed; and I hope, therefore, that your Lordship will allow me to make a short statement of a fact which has been so cruelly misrepresented. That I did administer brandy to the unfortunate deceased is true ; but the exaggeration of the quantity in the public prints has been a source of much disquietude to my mind, and I feel myself called on to make the following statement, in justice to my family and myself:—The quantity of brandy brought into the field did not originally exceed two small wine glasses, of which the lamented school-fellow sipped at intervals, hut in all not more than one small wine glue; in proof of this I must mention, that I wet ted my haodkerchief to rub the face and hands, and none was given by me without the knowledge and approval of his other friends. 1 beg leave, also, to observe, that in former fights at Eton, I have seen (and which can be proved by witnesses row present) spirits given to the parties ; this will prove that the giving it in this instance was not a novel practice. I have, my Lord, further to remark, that I was not the only speond to the unfortunate and much-lamented de ceased ; that, in point of fact, I only gave him a knee the two first rounds, and that, for the last ten minutes of this unhappy tight, I was employed entirely in keeping the ring. I acknowledge I was very much interested that my brave little companion should obtain thevictory, and it is probable that this anxiety may hare led to the expression used at the Coroner's Inquest—that I was the avowed second. Having expressed my anxiety that my brave little corn passion should obtain the victory, 1 cannot omit this opportunity of bearing testimony to the generous conduct of the adverse party in this tight. I shall conclude my observations on this point with declaring most solemnly, that I was never second to any boy at Eton, except once, for a couple of rounds, and those the two last, when 1 gave in fur him seeing he had no chance ; and 1 app ea l with confidence to the who le school, when I say, that under the pe collar circumstances in which I was applied to to attend as second, by and with another whom for obvious reasons 1 do not name, could not refuse being so in this case ; I beg leave to add, that during four years 1 have been at Eton, I have never fought with one of my school-fellows, though on one occasion, when I thought a little boy had been ill used by a man, I naturally took his part and fought the man. As if misrepresentation had not already been sufficiently used, it has been stated (though, indeed, justice has since been done me on this head), that I was party to a conflict be ' tween two boys of a marked disparity of age ; this was not the case; and I only advert to it now, lest there should be some here who had seen the imputation and not its refutation. In conclusion, I have only to say, that I by no means intend to assert that no blame attaches to me ; I admit there does, and most deeply do I lament that a shadow of blame should do so. But, toy Lord, let me not bear the whole blame ; and to whomsoever it may attach, let it be attributed to the real cost--inexperience." THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS. SlR,—Seeing in a morning paper of yesterday a Letter recom mending the establishment of a Literary Society with a Lecture_ room, in the parish of alary-la-bonne, I beg leave to observe, that it appears to me unnecessary, there being within a moderate dis t:ince, in a mansion of large dimensions, at No. 21, Albemarle. street, the Royal Institution of Great Britain, highly deserving support, with the following, amongst other, advantages, viz. —Fist, A news-room, with the morning and evening papers., and period ical publications, open from nine o'clock in the morning to eleven at night. Secondly, A reading-room, with a number of valuable books. Thirdly, A magnificent and well-arranged library, of which a catalogue has been published, containing a great many thousand volumes, many of them scarce, with almost every book o f reference. Fourthly, A laboratory on a large scale, in which many of the most important modern discoveries in chemistry and mineralogy have been made. Fifthly, A room containing many specimens of minerals and medals, properly classed. Sixthly, An elegant theatre, where lectures are delivered by professors of emi nence, which arc well attended both by ladies and gentlemen. When I add that all these and other advantages may he obtained by any respectable lady or gentleman for a very moderate subscription, think I have sufficiently made out that every thing which can be reasonably required is already within the reach of the parish of Mary.la-bonne. 9th March, 1821 A melancholy occurrence cook_ place on Wedne s d a y morning, in llercules-buildings, Lonllsib. Mr. Connely (formerly an officer in the army), aged between Off and 70, immediately after taking his breakfast with the family, put a period to his existence by blowing out his brains with a pistol. He married on New Year's Day last a young lady about IC years of age. MARRIED. On the Rth inst., Henry, Only son of Sir Henry W. Ma r ti n , Bart.. to Catherine, daughter of Nriee-Admiral Sir Byam Manic, K.C.8., Comptroller ot his Majesty's Navy. On the lst inst., in Mary4a-bonne Church, Keating Trenor, Esq., to Miss Anna O'Reilly, of Portman-street. DIED. On Sunday, the 6th inst., at his seat, Barlbro Hall, Derbyshire, Cornelius Heathcote Rodeo, Esq. On the 6th inst., at Calcot Park, Barks, aged 90, Henry Sper. ling, Esq.. of Dynes Hall, in the County of f.ssex. On the 7th inst., in Upper Charlotte-street, Fitsroy-square, John Young, Esq., bleszotinto Engraver to his Majesty, Keeper of the British Institution, and Honorary Secretary of the Artists' General Benevolent Institution. On Sunday, in Great Pulteney-street, Samuel Jackson, Esq. On the 18th December, at Wynberg, Cape Town (th ree wee k s after the birth of a daughler, who survives her), Henrietta Prances, aged 19, wife of Edward Peploe Smith, Esq., of t h e C ll hril Service, and daughter of Charles Bayley, Esq., of Ben On the 7th inst., at Paddington- g r ee n, age d 33, Fal Wes, the wife of Mr. Rice Ives. ..........ar----- Ai HIGH WATER THIS DAY AT LONDON BMOC. Morning 17 min. atter 6. l Afternoon 27 min. after 7, MINIMpur Printed at THE BRITISH PRESS Office, by J.W. Castur Oar, 181, Strand, and published by R. C*xwcx, same place. l '; 2 • o ' t I C d .P a at G of I de) ber tie' mu 3k aN the 6th I=