The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-03-04 00:00:00

J. with 11191, Slr P !fon. O. n•rth W rnicrs OF 'BRITISH STOCKS YESTERDAY. India Stork abut mew Acct. 22$ 23% ;St 764 76 Ditto Bold. a 3 Ma I; ;Si ;11t 76 I South Sea Old Aonultire Phut Ex. Ride lia , ol. Ipm per I pro par Ditto Steil. 2 pm par I pin par Ditto Small 2pm par I po par Lottery TleSets 21/. 11.. 4 Red. •kil ,••it. :14 PRIrEs i)F YuREIGN MTOCKs VERTERDAY. ! Met Watt Bondi 1 7t I O.IG/ I twt co t e: a Ditto Acct. 59/ 9 Olt al 60/ / 4 1,1 Peruvian non& 32 Unstlan 13.4}0. 71$1 3 4 •16: lb j Spatll.ll Itontlt 9/ I / t !i Ditto Are. 9 Intto 010, 9/ 10 AMAMI . Init.• ac •iFht Antwe:p Iliva! - w i th .. 111I'AsE OP EXt /I t:stl4: YEsTERDAY. C.F. 12 12 . Lerhool i7f 12 Si I Gen0m........ .............. 2 G. 12 13 1 Veni.:e j Napl . i 7 9 ! Paterno _ Nui•. X xi lit :1+ 74. I I& brm f!S ;: 7 KAM. per us 114 1,4 likenvs Ayres tr 0I I or.blln, 21 day•' vight I Cork lel, Air Ana! It rims •cram*, PIO OIL 111 341 R. I. d. Portugal Gol4. In eotn 0 0 0 : 0 1 Foreign Gold. In bars 4 17 e; New I , toohloons S 6 New Maus U 4 Ibi 31 Silve►, In bars, standard 0 5 0/ PRICES UP SltikliFS YESTERDAY. r:vpiritu Bra:11 N:3O ez.l:to IMte..Ntw Wak.ll Ir a and Cue vov fIA:LWAVS, 11.rmla7hare and Liter,: ISCEL LAN ■OIB. Share. itulk and Patent Salt 17:44 Ifar.:Nvtory ft - e.aold 7-tte rttihilorroo. KING'S I'll EAT RE. Tv; SATUR I )A V, Much 4, w1:1 be presented liceirlat's Opera Sala, 10 Two Arta. eptltled TEBALIIO ET ISULINA. The pr!tict , o4 Charsetere by lifuttemoteelle Dosint, Modems Signore Yellin,, CoriutO., Porto, and Deellte, Between the Act. the Divertleeenient of LP HAL CIIAMPRTRE. Aft•r the Opera, LE TE3IPLE DE LA CONCORDE. i. rehearsal, for the deb& of Signor Peliegrtnl, of the A Core c?es ItaAso opera at Paris sin •(11:ii.1 . 1‘.t the Ith of April. a GRAND BIASQVERADT. 0,...ers u be bad :flitted --Applications, &c. as torthd. DRI'ILY-LANE THEATRE. nibA V. March .1, will be performed the Ramsetle Drama of Kt ['STUN. Tas psincioal Ch?racters by 1e.0.r.;. IVatlacit, Menai, J. Rusarel. and ; Miser Stephens, 1. PrAdh. and Patsy. After wb'catiymnas. , e F.Nr-rrkes by II Diavulo Antonio, apx 't r .nviude with the Opera of DER I , II.LISCHL - 11. Mr. T. Coo' re: l - ]rpar, Mr. Horn; Bernhard. Mr. Bedford; r.;sl:, Mr. Pltrwiliisus ; Zatuist, Mr. U. Linda, Miss Gnu:Lion 'Mir Eve .s.a.3lias nervy. (In Monday, Rob Roy s and the Pantomime, Pm% MAJORITY • (Cloy , l er Y Canning, Rt. }lefties, .1. C. Plunkett, 111. tin. tr ;Who'd, a.O. l:e,rrte Hawkins, Sir C. W. C. ?Yokes 11. Cockiniin, Sir G. Hodson, J. A. Palmer, Rt. 0. Monin.. is• lloskloton, Right Pearce, John w. Denison, J. M. Hon. W. Robinson, Host. M. Dairymp..,, A. Hoye, Sir W. - Robertson, A. Hair. J. llotrool, G. P. Thom, C. ot, J. Putrain , , J. ilardinge, Sir H, Roy, Sit W. 1. F. itt. lone., Sir 11. Soul t, Ld. E. ti. Pit W. Irrise, John Somerset, I.d. 0. W. S. Dawson, Geo. Kerkwith, r , T . mi ni m 3. 11 . s Sir R. Prilin.l,..n.l, It. Knox. Hon. T. Smythe, W. M. lit. 110. llaww n. M. King, Henry Strout, H. J. Fliis, Lorolne, Lori Trant, W. 11. tn. I:. I.y,;rn, lin. Col. Upton, lion. A. 1;n! tr, C. Eill•, C. Pare Sir C. l're, AI. Fa.t, Sit I.n.hinxien, S.R. Vic tim, Sir 11. J. S. Farquhar, J. Alittimay, P. St. Wetherell, sirC. S. Forgot or, Slr R. J. u Wynn, C. W. Graham. Ma. quis Montoomery, Gen. Wynn, Sir W.W. Gower. I.L. Monteith, H. Wortley, John N. (Omit, itt. tin. C. Allier, P.. 1. Wrdehottse, E. (ilaT; , . Sir A. N.-rth, J. 11. Welle.ley, Rd. .1. R. Poonaut. ti.TT.H. Warren, C. tire,,:e. Sir C. Phililmoro, J 0... TIELLINt. Ho:ime+. Wm. Peet, Rt. Hn. R. Goulboorn, Right W. Ileygate, Wm. Powlett, Iln. W. Hon. H. Hoidassotth, T. Pere'', Mot. 11. Horton, R. W. P.IIII.LD Orr. ~\~w ~~.L Mal M ri)le . .trretive 0. M. IU COVENT-GA RD EN THEATRE.. in 4, SATURDAY. Mardi 4. will be performud the Opus of AItrAXERXRS,__ . . Art.a est" lia+laae Veotrit i .. Phillips; Arbor, Mr. Brahma. .31antlar.e, Miss Patuu. After which the Farce of A ROLAND FOIL AN OLIVER Mark (~.are. ;I;.Ya;cot ; Alfred Hlgheyer, Mr. Jonas; Flab" Mr. Rayner. Dfaela Darliturton, Iladarne Vesta,. To conclude with the Comedy of CHARLES TUlt: SECOND. .v:,rV.:o S ti Roche it • . Me. lone; raiovial Copp, Mr. Fawcett. Mary, Miss fleime. Oc Jlotiday, Itnb Roy ; and Giovanni in London. ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE. R,: rumic are to mit revteettitily Intwmed that they will hod NB. Jlkl . lllfli'S AT HOME On SATIItisAY NEXT. March 11, -Fr AN ENTIRELY NEW ENTERTAINMENT, parllra:ar 4 of 14 h;eh will be speedily announced. the strand Entrance I; open dally, from Tun till Pons, and Meade Bones may be ImmedLtely secured. The , 'et Pt .%T)ELI'HI THEATRE. ...g, S.\l I "ItDAY, March 4 will be performed the Nautical Barletta of 111 I". PILOT. The pr:a.i;al C' ,, racters by Me.eirs. 'ferry, Tates, T. P. Cooke, and .1 and Mita B,✓den. atter atich the Barletta of SUCCi:N"4. .fl . F.- J. Ittor . • . el ipol Chstacten by Mew.rs. Elll.4t.yates, J. Reeve, and T. P. Cooke; fund Mr.. Fitzwili To which 8111 be 'furled, 1 - 01*NO WIDOW. To efuortnde with the liorleutque of THE QUADRUPEDS. Fritheif.en, Mr. Meredith ; Abrahanalden, Mr. J. Rem. rat ii 14111611 Pius commestrt ISOtsial S (porter beton.: tec7l4k. LONDON, SATURDAY, kiAacu 4. 1.96. I,nra PA T.:11 F RSTO:4 brought the Army Estimates last nigh: before the House of Commons, which gave Mr. 11I':t the opportunity of adverting to the general question of economy in the various branches of the public service. The MA I. Member moved, as an amendment to the various resolutions proposed by the Secretary at iVar, that the ustabiishn:ents of the country should, as nearly as possi ble, be minced to the standard of 1702, which was in unison with the recommendation et the Finance Commit tee of 1817. Mr. L's amendment was negatived, after a lengthened discussion, by a majority of 99. The French Papers of the Ist of March are principally taken up with the tlet)ates in the Chamber of Deputies. The prcsecution which has been commenced against S Lasuutir, for his article in the Journal du Commerce, anti the discussions which have arisen in consequence, Lave given a degree of importance to the subject which it weld never have obtained of itself, and have exalted into a grl at constitutional question, that which, without these circumstances, would have suffered the usual fate of news piper paragraphs, and been speedily forgotten. According i to the J.urnal eel De lids, the Chamber has in fact put on the order of the thy for the Ist of March the question, whether the majority which has ruled the Chamber for three years has deserved well of its King and country, and its decision in such a case would be of little weight. M. Bonne AU made five propositions Vor regulating the proceedings of the Chamber in this affair. The moat important of these is the last, which fixes tire-eighths of the Chamber as the majority, whose concurrence is re quired for the condemnation of the accused ; and the argu ment on which this regulation was founded was, that the manner of proceeding necessarily precluded those forms hy which justice is secured before the ordinary tribunals. SIMONNOT observed that the case required deep con sideration, as they were here j udges in their own cause with a power of amercing the Maxima to the eaten, of 300 francs, and a month's imprisonment; but be argued that the general principle of a majority was not in any cue to be departed from, and M. CHIFMT took a similar view of the question. M. de la Bounnon- N•ve said the law of the 17th March, 11'322, relative to attacks on the rights and the dignity of the Chamber had been completely misunderstrxxl. De himself first pro posed that law in 1819, in consequence of the attacks on the Chamber by the ministerial journals ill 1815 ; but in the present case, the very essence of Representative Go vernment was attacked ; for without an opposition a Re presetitstive Government would be only regulated tyranny ; it would be the Convention with a single bead. Compare the attack in question, he continued, with those of the ministerial journals, and it would be seen how much more vehement, how much more injurious, were the latter. He challenged the present Mininterialists to show their discourses in ISIS by the side of those which they were now accustomed to pronounce. The Royalists who have since that periall taken their place on the opposition benches, might ask what reason their accusers could have to question their conduct and intentions, since the voncliela of their present opinions were the sentiments professed in 7815 by those very accusers themselves. M. de Plloosir asserted that it was the nish of the minority to vilify the Chamber, in order to degrade the Throne. M. lloeanr e replied to these objections. M. Deno x opposed the regulation, and observed that the Chamber of Peers had rejekted a similar motion. The proposition of M. Hoe nos au Was then re jected by a considerable majority. M. Pa an Esse s afterwards brought up the resort of the Commission relative to the Projet de Loi for the distribu tion of the indemnity to the colonists of St. Domingo. [From the Eloile dated Thursday. March 2.1 Letters from Berlin of the 111th Feb. say that the Catholic Bishop of Dresden has made a formal complaint against a Prptestast mi nister, on account of a sermon preached by the latter. This awmon, or which live edititms have been printed, is the more soeght after because eotittiderable sensation has been exilic{ by the abjuration of the Duke and Duchess of inhalt.Ccethea, who have embraced the Roman Catholic religion. . . We learn from C,oblentz that the Provincial E states of the Rhine are now atetembled. They had their first sitting on the 20th. Coon untie Hartung de Mayer is President. [From the Couriitistionncil Pawls, Ern. N. A teport was spread yesterday in si;me circles at Paris, that the city Ils Madrid had been the theatre of great disorders, and that the Duke del Intintado had been dismissed from the Ministry. If this news, which is not improbable, should be confirmed, the tri umph of the congregation in Spain is not doubtful, and we most expect new disorders. %iliac an example is Spain to constitutional France ! FRENCH FuNna.—PA ma. MARCH t —Five per Cehts.ollf. 6Sc. Three per Cents. r4l. ;o•. Rente de Naples 71f. 20c. Spanish ditto HIT. Royal Spqr.ish Loan diff. Exchange on London : _One alonth 23f. 53e. Three months 25f. 25e.—Coors du then:bps. CITY, Fninair Errwixa. The excitement of yesterday was succeeded this morning by comparative tranquillity. The rumours of CONSTail rt NI'S assassination, and the departure of Count LizvaP, the Russian Ambassador, from London, had their effect yesterday, and new versions of the old stories to-dty failed in their intent. Console oßeited at 751 6, but they almost immediately advanced to 761, at which quota tion the principal business was transacted. A retrogres. sion to subsequently took place ; but that price was not long reported, and at the conclusion of the market they were done at 761 1, having previously, for, a very short time, touched 76i. Exchequer Bills fluctuated between Sts. premium, par Is. premium par. India Bonds were Ss. Ss. discount. Very limitgd business has beeii done in .be Foreign Market, and the 'quotations have varied but little. Colom bian Bonds were 461 4 ; Mexican Six per Cents. 601 1 ; Russian Bonds 73,1 4; Greek ditto 18 1 18 ; and Spanish ditto 91. It is stated that the Bank of England, in affording relief to the merchants and manufActurers in the country, will either take property or personal security. If the latter is preferred, three persons of credit will he required to become security for the smount borrowed, and put their names, with the merchants requiring the aid, to bills at three mouths, to be renewed if necessary. In this the Bank follows the precedent of 1793, when personal secu rity, as well as the deposit of goods, was taken by the Commissioners. Yesterday the Duke of York transacted military business at his house in South Awlley-street. On Wednesday the Princess Augusta arrived in town from her seat at Frogmore. Her Royal Highness re mained about two hours at her residence in the Stable Yard. On her return to Frogman her Royal Highness called at the King's Palace, Kensington, on a visit to her Royal Sister the Princess Sophia. Yesterday Viscount Melville transacted business at the Foreigu Offiee. _ Orr Thursday morning a Russian courier arrived at the Russian Ambassador's house, in Lover -street, Piccadilly, with despatches from St. Petersburgh. In a short time' after his Excellency went to the Foreign Office, in Down-' , ing.street, where he had a long conference with Mr. Se cretary Canning. Yesterday, a little before one o'clock, his Excellency left hls house in his own travelling carriage and four, to proceed to St. Petersburgh. His Excellency wet not to proceed by Paris but by Ber!in ; he was not accom panied by his Countess or any of his suite. It was expected that one of the King's messengers would be sent of last night with despatches tor St. Petersburgh. Yesterday the Bishop of Chester and a numerous party of the Clergy and Common Council of the Wards of All gate, Bassishaw, Bill ing,sga te, Bishopagate, and Candlewick, dined with the Lord Mayor. 1 1 General Lord Combermere, G.C.8., was sworn in a Member of the Supreme Council, at Bengal, and assumed the Command in Chief of the Indian Army on the 12th of October. MACCLE,FIELD, Titettansv MonwiNn.—(Extract of a letter.)—" I have great pleasure in informing you that tranquillity is entirely restored. A few hundreds of noisy boys were in the streets last night, but they dispersed quietly. This morning a division of the 6th Dragoons, which marched in here on Tuesday morning, returned to the head -quarters at Manchester. I have just heard that the operatives purpose having a field-meeting on the ques tion of the Corn Laws." We understand that it is in the contemplation of his Majesty's Government to send immediate assistance to the distressed workmen of Macclesfield. This measure is, of course, altogether unconnected with the loan to merchants from the Bank of England. The advices from Batavia that were received yesterday are to the 23d October, and only confirm the intelligence that we had previously given respecting the success of the Dutch troops over the natives, and the return of subordi nation in the island. The Brazil mail that arrived yesterday brought Rio de Janeiro papers to the Bth of January. Intelligence had reached that capital of the Treaty with Portugal having been ratified by the King, at Lisbon, en the 1 tth of Nov. On the 2.1 of January the Emperor and Empress of Brasil, accompanied by their two daughters, went to the Church to present the Imperial Prince, and to implore Divine Providence to take him under itr protection. The ceremony was performed with great pomp, and made a strong im pression on the numerous spectators who witnessed it. These papers do not contain any news whatever respecting the military operations in the Banda Oriental. _ NORTIIjNBERLAND COUNTY ELECTION:EIGTITUI DAY.-At the clove of the poll on Wednesday afternoon the numbers were as follow :—Mr. Liddell, 1102; Mr. Bell, 1094 ; Msjcrrity in favour of Liddel, 9. Devizes ELECTlON.—Yesterday, at 12 o'clock, Mr. Watson Taylor was elected, without opposition, Member for this B:irough, in the room of Mr. Bucknall Estcourt. Devi;:ei Gazette, March 2. Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the East Indic House, when Sir Robert Townshend Farquhar, Bart. took the usual oaths and his seat as a Director, in the room of William 'Taylor Money, Esq., who had disqualified. Yesterday the despatches for Madras and China, by the ship Castle Huntly, Captain Drummond, Were closed at the East India House, and delivered to the purser of that ship. It is generally considered that the day's work of a horse on a rail-roail will he about seveA times and a half its work on a turnpike-road. THE BRITISH PRESS. Paid. 190 10 par 1 pm R ;fpm 100 SO 1: 121 WI 100 6 24'1k 100 10 41(1'4 per v11:24 Pin 50 $ i y m 10 6 g pet 10t) 1 { di* 104 15 41d14 COVENT-GARDEN THEATRICAL FUND. The Eleventh Anniversary of this Institution waa celebrated yesterday, by a public dinner at the Freemasonsfavern, which was honoured by the attendance of about 400 Noblemen and Gentlemen. At the hour appointed for dining. Mr. Fawcett came forward and announced, that in accordance with the advice of Sir H. Bel ford, his medical attendant, his Royal Highness the Duke of York WAX reluvantly compelled to decline presiding. Mr. Fawcett at the same time intimated that his Royal Highness had announced his intention of attending at the next Inniversary, if his health per mitted. In the absence of his Royal Highness the Earl of Blesin. ton tilled the chair. After the cloth Wl\ removed, and Non NoUr given by the extensive corps of musical gentlemen who enlivened the Meeting by their vocal powers, the Chairman proposed the cus tomary toasts, which were drank with the usual honours. Hail ! Star of Brunswick." The Noble CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast," The Covent-garden Theatrical Fund," took occasion to express his regret at the absents of the Royal President, who had often before proposed that toast with the warmth and sincerity of heart which MRS so peculiarly his own. The object of the institution was to afford comfort to the declining years of Indigent and infirm actors and actresses, and he felt himself bound to say, that under present circumstances the slightest aid would be acceptable. These were not times in which the institution could expect to be upheld by the same extensive patronage with which it was honoured in seasons of less distress. But still the drama was a source of amusement; and although he sincerely hoped that those who now amused the public would never feel it necessary to apply to rsis fund, yet it was too true that many who had amused the public were now suffering under the pressure of want, and were looking to this fund for as sistance. In conclusion the Noble Lord gave " The Covent garden Fund, and success to it," which was received with very general applause. Hiee—" Awake. /Cotten Lyre." The next toast was, "The health of the Noble Chairman, Lord Blesinton," which was received with the uttnost cordiality. His Lordship, in returning thanks, observed t' , at he had frequent opportunities of meeting the friends of the society, and was happy to say, that unfavourable as were the auspices under which they had met, he had never seen a party more warmly interested in the objects of the ins don. For his csytt part he felt the greatest anxiety foe its w sod alsoilld :items feel the most sincere pleasure in advancing Its proaperith by any means in his power, Mr. Sinclair here introduced the sweet song of the Moun tain Maid," which was received with the warmest approbation, and followed by a general cry of encore, Which, it is almost unneces sary to add, was immediately attended to. " The Vice-Presidents" was then drunk. Mr. Honwousg rose to return thanks. He regretted that this duty had devolved on so humble a person as Wt .- itself. He also sin cerely lamented the absence of that illustrious person who was to have presided. The patronage of his Royal Highness had been most beneficial to this institution, and his attention generally to the progress of the sets and sciences, was greatly to his honour. Under the auspices of his Royal Highness, the srts anti sciences may he said to lie at the footsteps of a throne, which was lilted by a beloved and constitutional monarch, crowned by the genius of Liberty. (Applause.) Foe himself, and is an individual, lie should always endeavour, as far as in him lay, to promote the desirable cud of the institution. (Cheers.) The next toast proposed was " The health of the Treasurer, Mr. Fawcett," which was introduced by the Chairman with some ap propriate observatlens. FAKCITT, returned thanks in the following worth: "My Lords will Gentlemen,—lt is freauently the trick of those who adders!, a large assembly, to bespeak attention by a pro. mise of brevity—l much fear I have too often indulged in this hacknied preludio, and as often wearied my hearers by my garrulity. I know it is my duty to address you, but I will now endeavdur to remember it is no less so, not to fatigue you." 111 r. Fawcett here entered into a history of the institution, in which we think it unnecessary to follow him. la alluding to the Royal President, Mr. Fawcett said —`• The presence of our in tended illustrious Chairman would have fettered my tongue; bus in his lamented absence I may be permitted to indulge my feelings by saying, He became our good Samaritan. he poured ml into our wounds, he set uson our legs, and, stimulated by his generous ex ample, your friendly hands have helped to salmon us. To a loyal subject, and a lover of the Drama, it is truly gratifying to reflect on how much the stage is Indebted to Royal protection and munifi cence ; indeed without it the Drama would long ere this have, been trampled in the dust, and the remembrance of it only kept alive by the imperishable juges of our immortal Bard. " With the misfortunes of King Charles I. the stage was mitr- It'ed as well as die monarch ; puritanism and fanaticism strangled fine arts, and the Drama soon withered under the hands of re gicides. who had overturned the government of this country. Per. haps this chasm in the operations of the Stage furnishes the bright est page of the actors' history, for many of them then bled in the Royal cause, and, at the Restoration, some of them returned to their I profession with laurels gained in the field. and their names appeared in the playbills of the day with the rank they had acquired in the army of their King. With monarchy the stage again flourished ; and though, on breaking from affected sanctity, in which the nation had long been kept, it was at first blind to the impropriety of per mitting licentiousness to creep into the Drama. 'Vet we must not for get that to the King we are indebted for having any Drama at all; that to suceettling - Kings we are indebted for that wholesome re striction which now guards the morality of the Stage; and, above all, to that great and good King, George 111. are we beholden for that law which rescues actors from the degrading trammels in which titer had long been held, and now places them in a rank of society which, I trust, their conduct will deserve. " It is, and ever has been, the cant of hypocrisy to decry the Stage end its members fur their immorality t it Is not for me to detain you now by a laboured defence of my brethren ; nor, had I the leisure, would I attempt to palliate, much less to justify, litany Im proprieties with which they have been charged. but I hope I may Claim for them an indulgent consideratico. Gentlemen, it is the misfortune of public men, that all their sins are made public; while the obscure sin safely under the cover of the very obscurity. I would remind those whose private rank in society shield them from the scrutinizing eye of malevolence, how the actor's every ac tion. private as well as public, is laid hire to the severest animad veraions, I would call to the recollcction of those, who, with too greedy an ear, swallow ull that is whispered against them, how ter rible is the actor's punishment, when he is convicted by these self. appointed judges :—driven by clamour from the scene of his offend ing, he often wanders front theatre to theatre, from country . to country, only to receive a repetition of punishment for faults which perhaps have been extenuated, or failings which have lung since been softened by expiation.—' Preat every man according to his deserts, and who titan escape whipping ?' I would only say of actors and actresties, consider their number, scrutinise their conduct, compare them with the same number in any other protestion or calling, and the comparison will not, I believe, be unfavoefrahle to them. I therefore have to beseech you will " Ile to their faults a little blind. Re to their virtues very kind." " As to the stags itself being considered a vehicle for immo rality (governed as it now is) I utterly deny the jointer; of such an inference. The vigtlant eye of the present highly talented il censer suffers not a word to escape which has the least approach towards impropriety. The exalted character of the Noble Duke who so ably fills the office of Lord Chamberlain is a guarantee against the possibility of any immoral or improper subject being presented to the public. lam therefore borne out In asserting, that however undeniable such charges might at some remote pe. rind have been, at present they are totally groundless, and without foundation. And now, gentlemen, I have the gratification to tell you (not what will surprise you) what I know you will hail with much pleasure i—from that hand, ' which Is open as day to melt. ing charity,'—front ,that hand, which is never closed to the dia. tresstal—frorn that hand, which is equally stretched out to all his subjects, whether they be suffering weavers or unfortunate actors— from that gracious hand we have this day received one hundred guineas. I am sure you will join me in saying, God bless the Ring. " Gentlemen, it now only remains for me to say,that since I had the honour of meeting you here, eight-and-twenty.families (sonte of them your old favourite actors), have been made happy by your benevolence; and if on this day you should enable as to make the same hearts glad the coming year, we shall most joyfully be come the agents of your bounty.' Mr. Fawcett having sat down. Mr. Mathews was called upon for a song, end gave the following in a manner peculiarly his own, and which called forth repeated bursts of applause:— _ . I rise, *lr. Chairman, my hand on Iry glass, To move that our annual Bill pass, So firmly we draw unanimity's cords, We shan't throw it out tho' it sprung from the Lords. Dame Poverty's called by some out-of-date guys " A nurse to the virtues, —I dare say she is ; But as to the virtues that crown our Guam. per:. They're apt to prove sick when they're putout to nurse. Old Shaksmearc has said, in his soul-moving page, That poor players strut and fret but an hour on the stage. If you'll bid one, the weakest, not go to the wall, Our strut will be welt, and our fret will be small. We've a motto—my Latin L fear's gone to grass-- In English it means, that the stage is a glass, To make it a mirror it wants. good lack ! A little quicksilver to rub on its back. Shall dingy Othc//o, his milk-score in woe, survey and exclaim (Cash I owe) Casa) ?? No. never shall Britons a hero down trample. That set ma tied men such a glorious example. Shall Lake, who now eats such *upper in Devour from a cauldron cheap soup with the Witches ? Orhelia can't dine upon daisies and rue, " And poor Tom's a-cold" is no joke, if it's true. Recollect, tho' from merit I'd not he detracting. That as yet we have discovered no railway for acting ; Recollect that no steam can aid our manufacture, And no gas can swell a man into an actor. To one dear Royal Duke, the best friend of the players, For whose testoratlon we offer ou: prayers, If e'er from his virtues there could be detractors, I'm sure he's adored by the whole race of actors. I'll not arty longer part toper and glass. I move, Mr. Chairman. our money Bill pass, And when you report progress, that chair to retain, I hope you'll ask leave, Sir, to sit there again.. At this period of the evening a collection was made, and Earl ;nest gTo• took occasion to announce that, notwithstanding the pressure of the times, which excited very grow appreheations in thr minds of all who were friendly to the charity, the subscriptions of the evening had exceeded 10001. and he thought the company would join him In Saying, that considering the circumstances this was the most triumphant collection the Institution ever had. The CM% I lIMAN proposed the next t0.40/— .• The Proprietors of Covent Darden Theatre. Captain Forbes returned thanks. Song. My sin lireride"—Drostliturst. The health of the Duke of Itednort was next drunk, and was followed by a comic song by Mr Mathews, descriptive of the hit. mount of an Irish election. It was frequently interrupted by bursts of 'inhume. _ _ The ma,/ then gave the health of the Committee. Mr. Mathews was called upon to return thanks. He said he felt great reluctance to come forward. unaccustomel as he was to public speaking. (A laugh.) Gentlemen may laugh. hut he should he much more at home if the subject was theatricolfigft, instead of the theatrical fund; but in the absence of the Royal Patron, and from such a cause, he felt is was no joke. However, lie would say on the part of the Committee, which was chielto composed of persons connected with the Mama, that whilst they filled their glasses to the brim with wine, their hearts were as full; and whilst they emptied the one the other 'mid remain tilled with the deepest and most grateful sense of the kindness dis played towards their indigent brethren. With feelings stronger than he had the power to express, he begged leave to drink to the health of the company. Song. Mr. Sinclair, " Duke (Lamm." The CHAIR 31.V.4 next proposed " Sneers' to the well-regulated Drama." H e said that many of the elder dramatists, and amongst others our immortal hard, had introduced songs in the Drama ; he did not mean, therefore, to exclude vocalists from his toast—but his system of" exclusion extended to horses and elephants. One of the latter animals had been lately shot in London- and an action was brought against another in France. Now, howevtor well con ducted, or however popular, such animals muy be, he certainly meant to exclude them from his toast, which was " Success to the regular Drama. _ _ • Comic Song, Mr. Smith, " We're all washing." Thelnext toast was, `• The Drury-lane Fund, and prosperity to it." Mr. I,vxrty returned thinks. The health of Its. Gnats was then given, and was followed by a comic song front 3lr. Mathews, A toast to ale crowd of fashionable females who filled the gaily ries of the halt followed, and this numerous pary separated at an advanced !tout, after an evening spent in the enjoyment of unintcr .rupted harmony and hilarity. BRIT'S', IRON COMPANY. On Thursday a most numerous and respectable Meet!ng of the Shareholders of the British Iron Company took place. :it the City of London Tavern. It was the first annual meeting, HOPERT SMALL, Esq. in the Chair. The SECRETARY read the Report. It called upon the pro. prietors only to estimate the numerous difficulties to be surmounted In establishing and putting into operation so extensive a concern as that under the management of the Directors. The first step for the establishment of an Iron Company on a great scale must be tho acquisition of an extent of ground capable of afflirding an abundant supply of materials at the cheapest rate, and situated favourably both for manufactures and for markets. The Direoors bad ap plied this principle, in their efforts to place the affairs of the Company upon the most solid foundation, and they trusted that they had done so successfully. They ball, by purchases of freehold property to a very large extent, not only secured materials for a long aeries of years. at a cost not subject to increase, but they had given a security to every shareholder against the possibility of un• Inoked.ffir claims, by the indisputable value of assets above all pro. bable engagements, so large a portion of all the rerinisite materials being in the possession of the Cotnpany as to stilnftede the neces. city of contracting debts. The property in shores might therefore be considered nearly equal to reel propery, and the responsibility i little more than nominal. The Diructora could show already that the actually productive part of ;he property in Staffordshire, which was the most important purchase, was yielding a ma profit of thirty thousand pounds per annum, while the operations in the other parts (being in fact the greater and more valuable, although at pre. sent unproductive] were advancing so rapidly, that they were can. fident of being able, at the next annual meeting, to lay before the proprietors such a statement as would show that the works in pro. geese on this part would produce considerably more profit, in pro. portion, than those now in operation. The Directors pledged them. selves that no call beyond the aggregate amount of fifty pounds per share should be made without the concurrence of a general meeting of the proprietors. The Report concluded with the strongest ex. pression of confidence in the success of the Company. Of the whole twenty thousand shares. sixteen thousand were in the hands of original proprietora, and three thousand five hundred of these were held by the Directors and Auditors, (Cheers.) Sir Charles Burrell, 111. P. rooted that the Report be received and printed, and distributed amongst the proprietors. Mr. Mot:AT vs, said that it must give the Shareholders in this extensite concern great satisfaction to perceive that the Directors were not idle, and that the works were going forward in such a manner as greed, to encourage the hopes of all interested. So far all was satisfactory, but he must declare that a promise that the instalments should trot have been so frequently called for had been violated. The Directors had given a promise that the in tervention of six months should at all events take place bCtWeal each call. Mr. SHEAR 4 (one of the Managing Directors) said the word used expressed a hope that many months would intervene. MOCATTA said he thought the last call too hasty a one. Calle were, it was well known, calculated to depress the Value of shares iii the market. and it should be the endeavour of the Directors to keep up their value. It had been stated that part of the property was now yielding 30,0001. per annum. The capital upon which they had calculated was 2,0 1 t0.0091., but as they had been given to understand that no more than 1,000,0001. would be called for, the profit arising from the concern, according to all he had heard, would not exceed 6 per cent. A Director said that the present profit, of which the report had spoken, was but a very small part of the estate, and that the other ruts, alien in full operation, would, upon the estimate of some of the most judicious and impartial persons, greatly exceed that pro portion of profit. Mr. MOCATTA said the shares were at a considerable discount. The Directors declared that the property was not a fluctuating one. He wished that that was the impression upon the public mind. He had embarked for the purpose of making an investment, for he considered when he became a shareholder. and he certainly enter tained the same opinion now, that the British Iron Company in no way resembled the plans of the day, but was one of a permanent nature. He trusted that as it was so it would be held up in the public estication, but he thought the conduct of the Directors, in not making the promised dividend, was not calculated to increase the confidence. Ile was happy to hear that the purchases were so goal; a contrary opinion had existed. In fact, the purchase of Mr. Atwood's estate had been called improvident. and. it had been asserted that Mr. Atwood had offered it for 100,0001. a considerably smaller sum titan that which had been paid for it by th! Com. pany. Mr. Mocatta concluded with expressing a wish that some shareholder would move a resolution, expressive of the desire of the Company that an immediate dividend should be made. Mr. Siataus said the Directors would be most happy to receive instructions from the Shareholders upon the various subjects corn. prehended in the Honourable Gentleman's speech, and were most anxious to give any information that might be required. (Ap. please.) With respect to the violation of a promise, of which they were accused, they certainly had expressed a hope that they would have the means of declaring a dividend in March. (He then read a document confirmatory of this expectation.) New that the Dim. toffs had it in their power to declare, a dividend, they called upon the Shareholders to believe they thought it would not be by any means prudent to make a division of the comparatively trivial pro. Hes. (fie meant trivial comparatively with the immense advantages which would by and by unfold themselves.) Amongst the Share. holders he did not think it would be of the slightest bench to give money, away with cne hand, and take it away in greater quantities with the other. As to the frequency of calls, they had only been made for the benefit of the Company ; and, as the Re. port had stated, none mote should he Made until rim an in. terval of six months, except upon sonic uolooked.for meter. gency. It might be asked why a definite time had not been appointed by the Directors for the payment of the dividend. Ilia answer was that they could not, and. if they were pronounced guilty of promise-breaking, the Shareholders would, he thought, admit that they had not committed a very heinous offence, when they took into consideration the difficulties they had to contend with; as for the discussion alluded to, this description of property was not the only one liable to that condition. The state of the Parliamentary funds were a proof of that tact, and the proprietors felt so strongly the probabilities of great success, that many of them had not sold a single share. (Cheers.) Ile visited that the judg ment of those best qualified to decide might be referred to. but he would not refer the Shareholders to iron -masters, all of whom had an interest in traducing the concern. It was indeed notorious that there were many parties who did not wish to see the Company established, and who had asserted at its commencement that in twelve months it would not be in existence. 01' the many gross niis. representations which had gone abroad he should notice one or two. It had been stated that the property purchased from Mr. Atwood had been ofiVred previously for 100.00D1. The Di rectors had received My. Atwood's most positive &tiara. tian that he had never offered it for sale before the Company entered into treaty with him t the property had been, in fact, found more valuable than it was at the dine supposed to be, tin a most valu able mine ofcoal hail been fotmd since it had become the property of the British Iron Company. Mr: Shears then entered into proofs Of the provident conduct of the Directors all through the negotia. don for the purchase of the several estates. The Company had, he said, beendistinguialied for the integrity of those who superintended it. It had no contemptible motive, such as influenced other Com. ponies. No attempt had been made for the encouragement of tire seenditions jobbing which had been so justly reprobated, and no promise of advantage had been made which was not likely to be fulfilled. (Cheers.) A reasonable time was all that was wanted for bringing the everations tato effect. It was now but little more than twelve months since the Company had been founded, and had a reasonable time elapsed? (Ciro' of "NJ, no.") It reqUired I time to render any capital productive, much more a maitufacturWe capital, and the great fortunes made by the iron-masters proved that the employment of tile capital of the Company was not a visionary thing, and those fortunes were net made in the first year of the speculathms ; 3,7fttl shares were in the hands of the officers more immediately employed by the Company, and 16,060 of the shares of the Company now remain in the hands of the orieinsl pro prietors. Mr. Sheets then quoted the opinions of 31r. Phillip and Mr. John Taylor upon the subject of the value of the property or the Company, for the purpose of allowing that the Directors had used due diligence in the purchase. It had beta stated that the coal upon the estate was unfit foe nicking iron ; that sin tens whoW necessary fur tine pig of iron. Now the fact Willi no mote than sinew tons were necessary fie the purpose, anti that was as sonars quan. thy as was used in any part of the rThgdoin, and less than wr used in moat parts. Ile hoped that whether the Directors bad acted right or wrong, their motive * wonkt not be questioned (Cheers.) , Dlr. Bowastro said that from al/ he liad beard he had moon to believe thahe speculationwould prove • profitable one, and that most speedily i but the Company was called the British Iron', and Trading Company. (No, no.) It bad been said they were to go into foreign markets. Mr. SHEA its said that was not at ail the case. Mr. II OCAT TA then rose, and said he felt himatif boond to take . the sense of the Meeting as to the propriety of dtelaring a dividend. He then moved a resolution to that effect, as an amendment to the original motion. The amendment was not seconded, ahhoesh Mr. Mocatta said he wee induced to make it in consequence of observations made be hind him. It of course fell .o the ground. Mr. SITTAHS said that if they were to make dividends now.' they must make a call the sooner. He did not know bat that the Directors might think it necessary to declare r dividend in sir( months. 'favron said he believed it was the intention of the Di rectors to moire a dividend as soon as possible. ide then described' the property of the Company as of the moat promising kind. Air. CIIARI.ES Ilatt:r said he had attended tar the meetings; that had taken place, and had observed that instead of oinking concealment 21 other Companies had done, tfie British Iran ; Company had shown an anxiety to have aH its proceedings 'leafleted. A PROPRIETOR—WiII any Director show me the balance. sheet upon going to the office? 31r. SIIEARS—Moat certainly; everything connected with the Company shall be shown. (Cheers.) After resolutions of thanks to the Chairman, Actlitors, dm. had been passed, the meeting broke up. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS. Stn,-1 am surprised at your correspondent, " A Lover' of Fair Play," asserting that Master Courtenay attends to' his dutir.4 in the Court of Chancery ; when your cone:: spondent (if be is acquainted with the offices of the Court) most be wail aware that that ei-devaNt Master has not at= tended since his appointment to a situation in the House' of Lords. f - ndoubtetliy your correspondent is correct saying that tif;:i - g is a great press of matter in Mr. C.'s of- , fice, but it has, for the last ta•o months, remained in slaw who, and it is mush to he regretted that no person has beets rppoint;A to the situation, as it tends to increase the delay, expense, and inconvenience which the suitors are put to. have thougFt it right to make this statement, that the public may no: be deceived by the unfounded statement of an alleged " Lover of Fair Play." I am, Sir, your obedient servant, R.. CHANCERY PRACTITIONER. March 1, Ina. ... • NIVERSITY IN7'ELLIGENCE. C.AMrance, NIARCH 3:—The Bev. John Bligh, of St. Johr's College, w on Wednesday lest admitted Master of Arts. John Greenwood, Esq. M.A. of iesui College, is elected a Fellow of.tha% society. Mr. Ilobtrt Willis, 13.A..ana Mr. Henry Clinton. B.A. of Csius College, were on Wednesday last electtd Fellows of that society. The select preacher to *hem the Sirntlay afternoon turns at St. Mary's church are assigned, fur the present month, is the Rev. Mr. Grylls, of Trinity college. THE CHI-11CH:' POFlNtittb.—The Rev. Benjamin Barker hit been prescntei to the rectory of Shipdhani, Norfolk, retain by the,destb of the Rev. Dr. Edndge. The, Rev. George Chisholm, M. 4, of AVoreester cola lege, Oxford, curate and lecturer of Hammersmith, hat been instituted, by the Lord Bishoof Bristol, to the rectory of Ashmore, in the county of Dorset, vacant by the death of his Lae father, the Rev. George klishohn, D.D. STATE OP MADE. No improvement is yet peTeeptible in the state of traCe in Leeds. The markets during the past week have conti. nued dull, many persons wishing to sell. but very few put. chasers appearing ; the former anxious to provide for their engagements, the latter cautious in expending their re• sources at a time when unexpected demands are daily made upon them. At the Fame time a few persons of large unassailable property are laying up considerable stocks at the reduced `►rites now pervading, and will doubtless realize a good profit by the speculation at no distant peric.d. Some cloth dressers, too, are not only at full work, but have orders which it would require addi tional hands to execute, if the extent of their establisments permitted such a step tit be taken. A favourable re-action, indeed, is looked on as certain in a short time. The worst, perhaps, which can be said of our situation is, that busi ness has a tendency to stagnate. No applications for relief from Government have been made by Leeds, but, unques tionably, advances on deposits of goods would be accept able, as a means of saving, the losses attendant upon forced sales during this depression. BRAD). oltD.—tlie markets in this+ town haie for the last fortnight been exceedingly dull ; those present rather oc cupying themselves in conversation on the badness of the times than in ordinary business transactions. Similar hopes, hotiaver, are entertained as at Leeds, that things will speedily take a turn for the better. The number of men unemployed and suffering is, of course, great, partly owing to the late comb nation, and partly to the recent ge• nerardistress. TrAttraxe-This town has experienced its share lately of the general calamity, and the markets enhibit nearly the same appearances as those of the other towns. No failures of consequence, however, have occurred in Halifax, nor has it suffered any evils extraneous to the present depres sion. It is consequently situated at present more like Leeds than any other of the neighbouring towns, arid will probably escape in comparative safety. HUDDERSFIELD, MARCH I.—The trade here complain more and' snore of the badness of the times, and unless there is.a change soon it will be impossible to calculate upon the consequences. Confidence and forbearance are now wanting more than ever. The number of looms standir. is great. The poor bear their distresses without murmur, and Wisely putting the best construction upon the times, that surely they have reached their height, hope that relief will come. K EIGIILIY.—The worsted trade •in Keighley is still on the decline; several hundreds of combers and weavers are• out of employ. Some of the factories run only three or four days a week, and others are totally stopped. Most of the mechanics arc employed only one• half of their time ; and, indeed, every trade seriously feels the depression.— Leeds I ntelligexcer. On Thursday a Quarterly General Court of the Equita• ble Assurance Society was held, when the minutes of the former Colin were read, and the following statement give't of the Company's capital :-1,338,000/. in the 3 per cents.; 4,467,060/. in the 31 per cents. reduced ; 1,157,000/. in mortgages; and nearly 400,0001. in caller securities in the fonds. We learn with great pleasure, that some leading gentle- Men of Surrey are about to establish a County Friendly Society, similar to the one which has for some time existed in Hants, anti which, from the beneficial effects already produced by it, is patronised by the nobility, clergy, and gentry of that respectable county. The objects of the In stitution appear to be to enable small farmers and trades men, mechanies, and labourers, to insure the payment of periodical allowances, or certain sums at particular times, in the nature of assurances for life or terms of years, by means of the weekly contributions of the members and the donations of the wealthy, neither of which advantages can be obtained by those excellent Institutions the Savings Banks, beyond what the addition of interest gives. It is said a requisition to the present High Sheriff; Henry Drummond, Esq. is in progress to call a coun ty meeting, for the purpose of c o ns id er i ng t h e plans for forming the Institution. wnse has been spared, Con certs, tor the production of which no rit I and Instrumental and which, as a mixture of the best n V cr over • all others, are. Music, glee them a decided pre..ern u ive moldy well attended. ROYAL ACADEMY OF :`,llll/C CONCEI7B. — TI I c s e Con we are happy to hear. hkel/ to be whichArcsontt of t b s ., Upwards of hve hundred names.. amon g evincing an irrefragable proof *I the MU g g ood Alusie in this country. of the first Fanlike% the K ingdom, are sreesalirdyentertulesatroiesc