The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-01-05 00:00:00

SOU7'll .4.llEltle.t. (From the l'hiladdidli.o Gazdtc of Dee. 7.1 PERU. Its the arrival at New of the brig Merope, Cap 'l ii kiddy, which left (*bortllos on the 48th of August, folleiring inrormation has been rec,ived 4 j..tler3l 111 , ttil had sill posscs•ion of the cAstier of ('sll3o. Sir 31ar.ay Maxwell and Coroaits Brown, of the British frigates Ihighton and Tartar, w-it from I Mifflin% to Callao at the solid. t rion, it was said, of the l'erovian Boyerninent, to offer to the spirish Governor a wife escor: an lipoid of, and passage to Europe the Tartar M00t... rir:th all hi. suite, and a guarantee that the carrison should Wallow-a the slate term{ as teem stipulated in the t spitulation Boors, Camerae. at Ayacucho. General Wald, however, refused aay mediation, a n d intimated ta the British Cotronar det• that it was his intention to hold out as long as he had a shot to fire. There was every appearance of plenty in the Castle, even to fresh stock and vegetables. A eon stanttire wits kept up be: ween Ute ( saw le and the entrenchments of the Prriots. The frigate I ini.rd States, Commodore Bull, was lying in Clio. !Akio, oticersand crew all will. The I .olphin, Captain Percival, bsd bean despatched to the Itilt.lrave Islands to look after the mu tineers of the ship Globe. The Pc.teoc% was daily expected at Cho. rillos Room wit.dwaid. Captain Jones aid I,;cutenrint Ramsi, L a d arrived a t Li ma f rom the United States by way of Nancoa, the former to take corn. mend of the Peacock. in plocc of CAptAill Keynom and Lieute nent Ramsay to jom her as First Ikutcnant. Tne markets at lima were dull for all kinds of .loterican produce exceprilig flour, which had within thre.: weeks tit.:n seven or eight dollars a barrel. There was no y, however. of the article, and the prices were got up altogether feint the management of speculators. 'rot Metope brings despittlics from Commodore lien to (dorm- 11? E l'.ll' 1: RS. (Frain the EtGile tla:ct: Titesday, Sr. PET 1:1ISBUSIGH, Dtc. U. In lb* General Assembly, for the II parti»ents of St. Peters burgh, of the Directing Senate. Prince Dmitrai I wahowitsth Lo b*9l'W llostoasivji. Minister of mid General of Inlantry, has communicated the mournful new., that it has been the will of .11iniglity that his Majesty the Emperor Alexander should ter. -.:.nate his mintol eveer ott the I.t of December, at Taganrog, anti' a painful malady. The Directing Senate having taken in wenetal Assembly tile oath of fidelity to the legitimate heir of the throne, his Imperial 31niesiy our Sovereign the Emperor Constan wie has ordered-1. To make known everywhere this event, by printed Ukases. 2. To send to till the antlioritirt, military and civil, the farm of the oath which they are to take, as lattlitul sub ,..2.:cts of his Imperial 31niesty, and to regaire of them, by t'kases, that iamied.ately .titer the communications which they will receive, titer cause the oath to be administered to all the faithful mule sub- Jeciv of his 31 ije.ty, whatever their rank and estate, with the eseeption of the peasant. of the Crown, and of the Seignorial Domains, a. also the Serfs, anti to send to the Senate the roan of tins taki•ig of the mall, with the signatures of the indivi duals appended hy whom it has been taken. But. in order that ithe Direciing -Senate nu iis part may duly make the arrangemehts which depend 11ie there SIII.II be made to it the coninitmica lions necessary for this that a sufficient number of copies of the ftwin of the oath may be sent with an accompanying an nourrement, and similar copies, to the deparments of Sloscow, sod to the General Assembly of the Directing Senate of that city. :t. The Ukases will be sent for this purpose. with the forms, by canrizrit express I mut the Senate. 4. l'here shad be made to his Majesty the Eiurcror a report on this resolution of the Directing TiSenile. as has tr, ficttaiteii . . . . . .... _ Though the Empress 3laria in toot nbsolutely ill. nevertheless the deep alit eti.oi tato which she has been plunged caused her a total foss of sleep in th.: night of the 11:11, and she found herself all the I , lMwing day. iir r .Wijesty has, however, taken the :".,..ranitnt, sleek this improved her health and spirits. A few hours otter tie ticotit of her husband, this Princess wrote to the Empress Mother a letter breadiing the deepest N./TT,111%. This letter 1:::s been published. Ws find in it the fol- I ,st:lg passage:- - (lir Angel has rendered to-day his divine soul to his Creator. n:e there remaths nuthiog on earth. Before I rejoin him, I it-le but one duty to fulfil, which is to conduct him to the tomb of he, ancestors.'' - - - Atter receiiing the news from Taganrog of the ith, the Empress bore, with much fortitude, the severe of fiction which ii,essioneil by si I iss so lameicable fur her, and se mournful : !iie elipire, and her Al ajoyi y seemed tolerably veil. She has ari:tea lintelf to the Emitters !facia. Pants. JAW. 2. We announced yetder,lav t:tt the latest news from St. Peters came down to Me 1;:th tilt. ; that the (hand Duke slichael id arrived in that capital ; that no change had been made in the ontstom at: affairs. tool that the Emperor Coustantine had been toclaimed at Moscow as well as at Sr. Peteraburgh. It' we m.ry believe what was reported in the saloon of St. Peters liv.rgh, the renunciation of ihe Emperor Constantine in favour of I.ts brother the Israinl Duke Nicholas was not conditional, as some journals h tee announced. How could it be beliesed that Princes, who gave such an example of self-denial, would consent to the dis revotberment of the empire? What becomes, then, if there is any foundation for these reports. of all the reasonings of the iliploni-tists of the journals on the rt.establishotent of t:te kingdom of Poland, and of the coma of that event to Europe ? We have news resperting the health of die Empress Elizabeth i• far front being satistactory. I'h; latest I'lokt:rice Irma Lisbon announces the )(mg to have titurntd on the of December, from Malta, to that capital, in u v. ry satisractory state of health ; and that the people, hastening t t Ms presence, had mantreseed the greatest delight at seeing their Monarch again. K ay.! on the same day an audience, which lasted erten till clews at eight. The ( - sit oral G.,-tk states, on the authority of letters, for the a-thentizity of which it flees not pledge itself. that at Taganrog ttn re we., a want of all the medicines nece.sary for the treatment of the malady which attacked the Emperor Alexander, and that, be s..h.s. he had returned to that place much discontented with the seat,• of the Colonies of the Crimea, and that his illness was in me IteaAllirt! a disease ,d the mind. We can contradict the latter part of this intelligence. The Em peror Alexander Inol, on the contrary. been much gratified with every tiling that had occurmd in the Loom of his journey. lFrom the Justrool des Debts of Monday.l VIENNA. DEC. M. The fell,wing are dot Ms of the last days of the Etitperur Alex. atnter. We have received them in various private letters front St. Frtershurgh, of the highest authority t— itn the loth November the Emperor quitted the poet of Sebmto vll.l.llol he kid minutely visited. as well as every thing connected wilt. the Peet in the Black Sea. On his way to Baclitchisersi he foot d hinisch •heditly affected with a pain in his bead, which he rttributed to limit;; caught cold. On his return he, nevertheless, made a party on horseback to travel along the shore of the sea of Artif. On his arrival at Taganrog he wrote to the Empress Mother If at he was indisposed, but that he had nothing to fear from his 111 'elm, and wvuld take care of biome:if. However, the tresipelits which the Emperor had formerly in his kg was closed, and the fever all at once assumed a dangerous cha mt.. The Emperor then exclaimed, •• I shall share the fate of sty sister, who died of an erysipelas driven in." But the Doctors perceived that this symptom was bat subordinate, and that the incase of the Emperor was is gastric bilious fever. of the same cha .ow as that which often ravages those countries, and which in Jr; canard the loss of the greater portion of the Russion army un cr lield•3lanshal Monnich The Emperor lost his reason on the Iron. but the sinapismes, cite., and other drastic oilcans used, produced a marked improve .tent on the 21;th and 29th. This change was unfortunately of ort duration. The Empress Elizabeth did not quit fur a moment the pillow of er sogust hetbarld. Three V.UfiCtl. (filJ :lagers) were sent from Taganreg the mo ment the Emperor was dead ; one to St. Peterwburgh, one to War w, to die Grand Duke Constantine, and the third to Carl.ruhe, to the mother of the Empress Elizabeth. FnAwicronr. DEc. 29. The news of the abdication of the Emperor Constantine the Fifa, in conformity with a secret convention which was communicated to she Court of Mutants 011 the marriage of the Grand Duke Nicholas, i. generally reporctl. The Vienna Cuzrtte of the TM December state', that subsequent to the official news from St. Petersburgh, there appeared a procla mation front his Majesty the Emperor Constantine the First, as E•npemr of Russia. As this news is dated the 9th. it is physically i - npussible that the proclamation can have emanated from the Em. pe?ur himself, but the Grand Duke Nicholas may have been able to publish one In the name of that Monarch. Tiff Ex-KING or Swrnest.--The following curious statement appears in Guliarnanis Messenger:—" Extract of a private letter of the 35th inst. from Mayence :—The public attention is at this moment powerfully excited by the disappearance of Colonel Gustafeen (Ex -King of Swe den), whom it was customary to see almost daily within our walls. Ilk hotel is situated at Cassel, a parish com prehended within the fortifications of Mayence. His at tendants assert that he went to his son, who resides at Carlsruhe with his mother, and that from thence they both (parted for Russia. %Veil informed persons say that Ous uus was very intimate with Trine... Constantine, and kept p a regular correspondence with him." Oa Tuesday night Lieutenant Laing, of his Majesty's oth regiment, arrived at the Foreign Office, Downing t•eet, bearing despatches for Mr. Secretary Canning, t In Mr. Ward, at Mexico, to the 14th of October,. nese despatches were forwarded to the British Consulate t Now York, on the 7th ult. by his Majesty's sloop of Pyladcs, Captain Hill, which left Vera Cruz on the '4l of October, at which time the Castle of San Juan de • Hos still held out. 11. Lchuby, one of the agents of Gregor M'Gregor (who at this moment in prison at La Force), was arrested a t ' ir days ago at Btussels.—Gteignara'r Messever. PROVINCIAL LC/NYS. BOSTON BANK. . On Monday, pursuant to public untie, 'a meeting of the creditors of Messrs. ingelow and son Was held at the Peacock Inn in this place. The meeting was attended by about WO respectable gentlemen of the town and neigh bourhood'. Mr. Isaac Reckitt was called to the Chair. Mr. J. Hallway stated to the meeting that Messrs. Ingelow and Son were perfectly agreeable to any plan which the the creditors might devise her their own benefit ; and that every farthing of property at their disposal wo uld be given up for the benefit of the creditors. The statement which had been prepared by Mr. Thomas Green, merchant, and Mr. Caister, was submitted to the meeting. From that document it appeared that the bank lodgments amounted to 32,4251., and the notes of the finn in circulation to 39,42.51., making a total of 71,850/. To cover this debt, various items to the amount of 64,686/. were stated 83 ow ing to the firm, leaving a deficiency of 6,1641., which sum being regularly deducted from the gross amount left a di vidend of 18s. 341. in the poun i. The meeting were una nimously of opinion that a deed of assignment would be preferable to working a commission of bankrupt, and re solutions embodying that opinion were adopted without op position. A Committee was then appointed to delegate certain gentlemen to act as trustees, but after some consultation it was found inexpedient to adopt this method unless all the holders of notes could be induced to make application under the proposed deed of assignment. A declaration was therefore drawn up and signed by several gentlemen present, who are creditors to the amount of upwards of 16,0001., guaranteeing the payment of ten shillings in the pound, within three months, to the holders of notes and those with whom other arrangements could not be made, provided no commission of bankrupt was worked, and stipulating that the sum thus paid to the holders of notes should be only considered as a payment in part. This declaration appeared to give very general satisfaction, and the warmest approbation of the generous conduct of the gentlemen composing the late firm, appeared to be the general feeling of the meeting. We learn that the Committee appointed at the meeting met last night in order to ascertain whether it will be practicable to carry the object of the meeting into effect, and that the further consideration of that question is adjourned to this evening. WISBECII BANK. We learn with pleasure, but certainly with no degree of surprise, that Messrs. Gurneya, Birkbeck, and Peck over's bank, of Wisboch, have, during the late panic, continued their payments amidst the universal confidence of the town and neighbourhood. The inhabitants of Wisbcch, in the beginning of last week, were desirous of expressing their unabated confidence in this Banking house, but the firm were so conscious of their perfect ability to meet every demand (a feeling which we are quite certain pervades the public at large) that they politely declined troubling their friends to issue any public declara tion of that nature. PETERBOROUGH BANK. _ _ Ilessrs.Simpson and White, of Peterborough, we under stand, intend paying of their five pound notes nine days sooner than was resolved at the late meeting.--Boston Gu:Atc. SAFFRON WALDEN BANK. Messrs. Searle an I Co., of Saffron Walden, have resumed payments, beginning with their one-pound notes. Mr. Crickitt has withdrawn his name from the bank at Col chester, which however continues its business.—Bury Gaz. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS. Ste,-01iliged as I am by your notice of my letter in you paper of the 23d ult., which I flatter myself has already produced some public benefit, and is daily likely to produce more, in proportion as the importance of this subject is considered by thosa who, being the best judges of the practice of the Insolvent Debtors' Court, can the more readily apply the remedy to abuses inseparable from the formation of this peculiar Court ; yet I cannot but un feignedly regret no abler person has been long since in duced to treat upon the powers of the Court itself and its Commissioners (hitherto so little understood) in the practice of the Attorneys, or, more correctly speaking, their agents, in the manner and to the extent which the welfare of the great mass of insolvent debtors, their connexions, and the interests of the profession, appears to the eye of the practicer so forcibly to require. For though, perhaps, in furtherance of some humble effort of my own, the Com missioners have since not only given renewed publicity to their order of the Ist of February, NV, and suspended 1:1 of their Attorneys, for not having taken out their cetti ficates, yet, from some unaccountable oversight, they have not directed their attention to the dates of certificates issued subsequent to the 16th December, considering that At torneys neglecting to take out a certificate for one year must, by the 37th Geo. 111, c. 90, be re-admitted, as well as pay up all their arrests of duty, &c. before they can again practise, and some Attorneys have presumed to act in the meantime. From the expense, delay, and difficulty of getting re-admitted at all, it is to be feared several instances are easily to be found (one in particular, of great extent, is within my own knowledge) of Attorneys practising publicly without certificates. Indeed there are not want , ing persons (acquainted with the fact) who conclude that because such Attorneys are neither suspended, nor even no ticed, that the Commissioners have considered the produc tion of any catificate,however late it may be dated,as a sanc tion for any proceedings done (before or after) during the year; and however ridiculous such a construction may • appt ar to professional men, it has hal an astonishing effect lupon the minds of prisoners and their friends, anteing whom the late suspension of Attorneys by the Commis ! sionere is a subject of daily conversation ; all which could • never have existed, and with them many of the most glaring abuses of practice, had the rttles of the Court prescribed , the necessity of every Attorney producing and entering in ! a book to be kept for that purpose, at the public office, for general inspection, as well his orieinal admission in the Soperier, his admission In this Court, together With his annual certificate, its date, &c. if to this entry could be added the christian and surname of the Attorney's clerk, employed strictly in that capacity within his master's office, it would lay an unerring foundation for a well-di gested train of regulations, by which a stop might be put to the practice of agents and others, many of whom pub licly conduct the business of prisoners at their own homes, I and in rooms within the prisons as offices, quite distinct from the Attorney. With an apology for this intrusion, I am, Sir, your very obedient servant. A PRACTITIONER. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. Mrs. Coutts will give a juvenile ball to-morrow evening, at her house in Stratton-street. Piccadilly. llis Excellency Coma Eleven, and Countess Leven and family, arrived yesterday evening in town, from Brighton. The Dowager :Ilarchioness of Salisbury left town yesterday for Lord Deere's, the Hoo, Herts. The Marchioness of IVestaneath left town yesterday for Bushy Pick, on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Clarence. Lord and L.dy O. H. Cavendish and family arrived yesterday at Burlington House, from Brighton. 0. Ileathcote, Esq., M.P., left town yesterday for Stoeken Hall, Ruiland. General Ord left Gordon's Hotel, Albemarle-street, yesterday, fur his seat in Hants. Lord and Lady Anson arrived in town yesterday, from their seat in Warwickshire. A. F. Tunis, Esq., arrived yesterday at Fenton's New Hotel, St. James's-strcet, from his seat in Hants. The Duke and Duchess of Clarence will give an elegant entertainment this day to the Duke of St. Alban'a, Lady Charlotte Beauclerk, Airs. Coitus, and a large party of distinction, at Bushy Park. The Earl of Liverpool came to town yesterday morning, from his seat at Coombe Wood. The Noble Earl trans acted business in the course of the morning with Viscount Melville and others of the Cabinet Ministers. At half-past three o'clock the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England arrived at his Lordships residence at IVhitehall, from the City, and had a consultation with his Lordship and the Chancellor of the Exchequer about half an hour, soon after which the Noble Earl left his residence on his return to Coombe Wood. Viscount Melville transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office, Downing-street. The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived at his house in Downing-street yesterday morning from Beckenham, and returned to Beckenham in the afternoon. THE BRITISH PRESS. ANG 1.0-M XICAN MINING ASSOCIATION. The HT annual general meeting of the proprietors of the Anglo. Mexican Mining Association, was held yesterday, at the City of Landon Tavern, Bishopayeate.street, pursuant to advertisement. About 250 proprietor were present. Mr, I)AvID HAIM LAY, upon liking the Chair, obeervell, that when tie had last she honour of meeting the proprietors, in Febru ary last, he had premium, a report which vrlated to tee proceedings of she Association antecedent to the end of the year 1824. Consti tuted as flit Association then was, the Directors were not called upon at that time to make any repor, but were desirous of giving every information that was consistent with the interests of the As. isociation. The Report which he now held in bieliand was, in feet, the first Annual General Report officially promulgated. For this reason it was thought necessary to enter. Into some minute details The atrangements made for the Awsociatitm in Mexico were stated, anal theptogreas made in the undertaking was amirfactorily explain. ed. It concluded wi.h some general obaervations. It wan a matter of regret that it did not contain any information of a later date than the 24th September. It was anticipated that the Report would have contained more recent intelligence, but this was prevented by adverse winds and tides, over which there was no human control. If the report was not as satisfactory as it was hoped it might be on this point, he frit certain that it woad afford very general sa tisfaction mall the proprietors. They must be convinced that the Association was proceeding upon solid, fair, and rational grounds, and that its affairs is Mexico were conducted with ability, zeal, and prudence. The Chairman then proceeded to read the Annual Report. first premising, that the mined had not commenced work. ing until February last, only seven months antecedent to the latest advices acknowledged in the Report. Our limits will only allow Iln briefly to notice the Report, which was very voluminous, and occupied above an hour in reading. It contained a recapitulation of the mines, about thirty in number, for which contracts had been entered into by the agents oldie Asian. ciation, Loge her with a statement of the proportionate annual profit of each mine ceded to the Company in consideration of pecuniary advances. The mine% in Mexico are in no degree the property of Government; they belong to individual., and no foreigner was ad. mined into partnership in these lucrative concerns until the revolu tion and protracted civil war deprives! the titbit-owner of the capital necessary fur carrying on those extenaive undertakings. and thus opened a new channel for Ihitiali industry and capital. The Report stated shot considerable progress had been made in draining the mines, and that quantities of ore had been extra:teal from that part of the mines thst was not submerged ; it also stated that the pro cesses of stamping, amalgamating, and smelting, were in ad ranced progress. We were gratified to perceive a spirit of caution in those statements. There seemed no disposition to promise early returns, or to excite extravagant hopes, which have in many instances ended in disappointment. On the other hand, the Report dwelt with confident success on the event of the undertaking. the Direc tors expresaing their assurance that those mines, during the last century. afforded e considerable profit. although worked with all the disadvantages of the Mexican method, and that they would produce a much larger profit when superintended by Englisihmen, and with the benefit of English machinery. t )nly three convoys had been despatched io the mint at 31exico up to the 211111 August. The two first produced 6,428/. 14s. 441., which has actually been received by the Directors. With regard to the improvements to be produced by the introduction of English machinery, a letter was read from the First Commissioner, with an extract from which we shall conclude our auttsmary : " It appears to me that the greatest improvement that this country is at present asisceptible of, and which will prove most es sentially beneficial to the mining interests, is the introducing habits of industry among the natives by actual example, and inducing and enforcing activity and regularity by seasonable and suitable encouragement and severity. " That this is neither visionary nor impracticable, I beg to illus trate by two examples :--At the mine of Valenciana it required the work of six men (after the wooer was sewn) during two months at the least, to build a malacate. A greater number of men were generally employed, And at the mine of Secho they are now only finishing one, on which they hive been four months constantly employed. Since the mine of Valenciana has been under the di. rection of the Anglo-Mexican Association, one active and intelligent English carpenter, and one English blacksmith, likewise a good workman mid of excellent conduct, only, have been employed there ; yet with the assistance and example of these two men, di. metes, and enforced by one of the Cornish dining Captains, these same workmen have now completed six English whims in three months. When we at first promised to build a malacate or whim in a fortnight we were ridiculed by every one ; the case now is very different indeed. " The other instance is at Mellsdo, where old customs and us ages were preferred, anti all innovations deprecated by the proprie tors. To meet the earnest wishes of the latter, I agreed that the old manner of working should be retained, provided it proved equal to the new method; nearly two months elapsed, and no machinery was ready to work, or horses broken in. The proprietars, on cool. paring the progress made in their Mine with that of Sirena and Valenciana, were so convinced that the superiority was not in their favour, that, at their own request, the ageitts were dismissed, and many innovations admitted. In a space of little more than one month, two nialacates have been got to work. The introducing and quietly establishing these and similar moral improvements (if I may so express myself ), Omagh destitute of attractive display, and affording poor subjects for description and discussion, is, I ant peratinded, beginning at the right end, and must Om the basis on which all future improvements must be founded. `• The sudden introduction of the splendid machinery of England into this or any other new country will create wonder and surprise, but will not excite emulation. The various degrees, intellectual and operative, in the progress towards this present state of perfection being utterly unknown, the hope of imitation is put beyond the reach of possibility, and the complicated difficulties attending the introducing, erecting and conducting such apparatus, in the eyes of the uninformed, unreflecting natives, destroys its value, and does really diminish its itnpurtance as an economically efficient assist ance. The abilities. acquirements, and progress of the artist should regulate the selection of his models. The injury of not attending to this simple rule is strongly illustrated in the interior of Russia, where (I speak from personal observation) the introduction of fo reign machinery, the source of immense wealth at home, proved an. nually a heavy loss to the importer, and was continued only in the government works. `• The foregoing arguments are by no means intended to militate against the utility of introducing machinery under favourably con ['latent ; on the contrary, I trust that, in the curse of a very few years, the Anglo-slexican Association will possess a very appropriate and efficient establishment of machinery in this country." During the reading of the Report the Chairman was interrupted by Ale. Franklin, who proposed that the Report should be printed for the benefit of the Proprietors. The details were so numerous, that it was qui!e impossible accurately to understand them after hearing them only once read. The Cu AIRMAN said it was thought that the Proprietors would have been glad to learn all the particulars, which induced those who drew up the Report to enter so much into detail. Mr. FRANKI .IB said his observations arose from the great size of the book which the Chairman held. A printed Report would save much trouble, and, in its absence, he thought a summary might be substituted. It WIIS finally agreed that the Report should be printed. The reading of the Report was then resumed, •nd its contents received with much apparent satisfaction After which The CHM n MAN put the question that the Report be received, w'hich was carried without ■ dissen•ient An account of the receipts and disbursements of the Association was then read by Mr. Towles, one of the Directors. It appeared that a sum of 40.3.0001. had been received, which stint was expended in the pnrchnse of quicksilver, machinery, minirtg stores, &c. and a large sum expended on the spot for working the mines. ND discussion having taken place, the thanks of the Meeting were then voted to the Chairman, and the Meeting adjourned. We arc informed that Lord Cochrane has not in a single iota violated the pledge made by him to the Greek Depu ties, and that he still holds himself prepared to fulfil all the conditions of his agreement, provided those of the De puties are also executed.—Dublen Morning Post. A letter from Bath states that an attempt was made a few days since to assassinate the exemplary . Bishop of that dio cese in the cathedral at IVells, and that the assassin was apprehended on the spot, with two loaded pistols in his possessiun.—Evening rape r . We have much pleasure in being able to state in reply to an address which was voted to him at a late Corporate-as sembly of this borough, Mr. Sergeant Frere has retracted his intention of resigning the Becordership, and cheerfully acquiesced, though at much personal inconvenience, in the request that he should continue to discharge, as heretofore, the arduous duties of that offiee.—BuryGazette. AGREEABLE MESSAOE.—The lt'ew York Evening Post mentions, that the day before the late adjournment of the Vermont Legislature, a nectarine message was delivered to the House of Representatives as follows " Mr. Bell informed the House that he was requested by his Excellency to invite the 3lembers to call and take a glass of wine with him at Cons'll's Hotel, and that this invitation was predicated upon the circumstances of his Excellency's being about to relinquish the gubernatorial chair.—The Ilnuse concurred." CASTOR 011..—The eastor.oil plant (prima christi) is indigenous to Southern Africa, and is found in abundance in most pans of this colony. It may be useful to some persons in remote situations to know, that the safe and va luable medicine which this plant produces is readily ob tained by the following simple process :—The ripe seeds are cleared from the husks ; well stamped in a mbrtar, and then boiled in water till the oil rises to the surface. This is carefully skimmed off; but as some water will be still mixed with the oil, it is necessary to boil it over again in an iron pot, until the water be thoroughly expelled by evaporation. This method of obtaining castor-oil is prac tised with perfect success by the Moravian Missionaries at Guadenthal, who also use indiscriminately the seeds of the different varieties of the plant, found in that vicinity, with out perceiving any difference in the quality of the el— South African Advertiser. MEETING OP ChEDITORS UNDER MESSRS. HOWARD AND GIBBS'S BANKRUPTCY. Yesterday &large and respectable body of thecreditore of Messrs. !Inward and Gibbs assembled at the Court of Commissioners of Bankrupts, in Basinghall.street, to take into consideration the propriety of assenting to, authorising, and empowering the assignees or the estate and effects of the bankrupts to insti tute proceedings in equity against Lord Alvanley and his trustees, for the recovery of a large SUM of money, alleged to be due from his Lordship to the bankrupts estate, or whether any other and what steps should be taken with respect to such claim. it Gentleman - who attended Tor one of the morning papers, on entering the room was asked whether be was a creditor ; and on replying in ,the negative, an objection was raised against his being permitted to take notes; but after some discussion' it Was decided, by a short of hands, that it was desirable the proceedings of the meeting should be mode public, and that therefore those gentlemen who attended for the .press should be allowed to remain. dlr. ST FtV r having read Over the names of those creditors who had proved their debts, or made claims under the commission, said he understood theriwere seferal gentlemen present who had re. ceived letters from creditors unable to attend personally, and that it was intended to be proposed that those gentlemen should be at liberty to vote on behalf or the absent creditors. A question there. fore would arise, whether they should he permitted to vote or not. Admiral DUNDAS stated that he had received a letter from Captain —, who was at present stationed at Plymouth, in which he was desired to' request (he assigttees to allow him to vote for the Captain; and the lever authorised hint to dissent from any proposition that should be made for empowering the assignees to sommence proceedings of any kind against Lord Alvanley or his tot stees. Mr. STEVCS:3 had not been aware that the letter to Ad miral Dundas contained so precise an authority to vote as it ap plated to do. The letters which he had seen did not go to the particular question for this day's discussion. Mr. SHAW (one of the assignees) thought they need not discuss the point at all, inasmuch as he did not conceive the result of the meeting would depend upon these letters. If it should come to that point, he had no doubt that the creditors ',mild very readily meet the views of those gentlemen who were prevented from giving their personal attendoctee. Mr. STFVF. rs observed that before he proceeded to explain dm object of the assignees in convening the present meeting, he might perhaps be permitted to- notice an advertisement which harl ap peared In some of the morning papers, which, it was hardly ucces. sary for him to say, was not inserted at the instance of the assignees. Ile had thought it necessary to ascertain front what quarter it came, that the creditors might justly estimate the weight that was due to it ; and he had therefore obtained the original draught of the adver tisement. which was in the hand-writing of Mr. Gill. who was new present, and whose debt amounted to 7tif , on which he had so res• ceive a dividend of 3s. in the pound. Mr. JOHN SMITSi thought that the meeting had noshing at all to do with the advertisement. I; was with great. inconvenience he attended here, and be was most anxious the real object of the meeting should be proceeded with. Mr. GILL said, that although he had proved s debt of 7CI. only, yet he had an interest in the bankrupt, affairs in various ways, to the amount of !,0001. or 3,11001. [Mr. Gill was then proceeding to explain the reason for his inserting the advertisement. when several creditors said, `• You cannot he permitted toga on; Mr. Stevens is in possession of the meeting."[ Mr. Gill said he did not receive the letter requesting his attendance at the meeting for four days after the advertisement had appeared in the Gazette, and a number of creditors had not then received any notice; he therefore could not tell whether it was the intention of the assignees to have a select meeting or not. It was his object to have as full a one as possible, and with that view he inserted this advertisement. Mr. SHAW (the Assignee) thought that as the advertisement contained some reflections both on the Solicitor and on the As. signets. Mr. Stevens ought to be heard in explanation. Mr. Jottit Ssit rri contended that the proper duty of the assignees was to explain to the illeeting the grounds on which they Ind decided, or purposed to decide, to commence proreedings against Lord Alvanley and his trustees. With all ether matters they had nothing to do. S'everal Credit - ors—Nothing at all. :lir. STEVENS considered that as the advertisement tfi 'vhich he alluded seemed to go into the proceedings of the present meeting, it ought to be read. Mr. SIIAW then read it its follows : " Howard and Gibble's creditors are earnestly requested to attend the meeting called for Wednesday, 4th January, at the Court of Commissioner's of Bankrupts in Balinghall-street, to oppose a pro position to be then made, for taking proceedings in Chancery against a certain nobleman anti his estates, the effect of which would be to prevent the creditors of both parties from receiving a shilling of their debts for many years to come, and to entail a ruinous ex pense, without any benefit whatever to the creditors." Mr. STEV ENS said the only object he had in alluding to this advertisement. was to show the creditors that the gentleman who had written it had a great Interest in seeing the proposition that was about to be made rejected. Snow.—After that I think it is neutralized. hir. STEVENS then proceeded to state the circumstances under which the present Meeting had been tonvenid. In the course of last summer a proposition was made to the asaigneet from Lord Al vanley and his trustees, for compromising the claim of the assignees upon them for 20,0:0!. That proposition was submitted to a meet ing of creditors, and rejected. In the cdurae of the subsequent month of September, another proposition was made. increasing the offer of compromise to 30,0001. That was also submitted to the creditors, and was likewise rejected as insufficient. The assignees then waited nearly two months, without taking any steps what ever, when it was thought, on account of the large amount of assets due, that they should proceed to do something. Burthey considered it right not to act upon their own judgment, therefore there was a meeting of all the principal creditors whose debts amounted to 1000/. convened at their own rooms, and after a very mature consideration of all the circumstances, and of the ability of Lord Alvanley and his trustees to pay, it was thought, that whilst on the one hand it would be advisable that a sacrifice should be made rather tran resod the settlement of the business, yet on the other they thought 30,000/. was too small a sum to take, anti on the whole it was unanimously agreed that a sum not less than 40.0001. should he taken. One creditor, indeed, considered that too small a sum. It was then suggested that Lord Alvanley and his trustees should he informed of the sum which it was probable the assignees would be authorised to take, in order to give the' an opportunity ; if possi ble. to come to an amiable settlement of these claims. Accord-1 ingly he (Mr. Stevens) was empowered in communicate with Mr. Poach), the Solicitor of Lord Alvanley, and his trustees. on the subject, which be did on the Ist of November last, add he had received that gentleman's answer, which was dated 10th December, 182.5. and stated that Mr. P. had submitted his (Apr. S.'s) letter to his clients, who directed him to inform Mr. Stevens that when Lord Alvsnley and his trustees proposed to pay 30,0001. ns a compromise, it was under the conviction that that sum would cover much more than what Sas due ; with this conviction still as powerfully as ever on their minds. they thought they would be doing great injustice to themselves if they made any further addition to the sum pro posed. However, to convince the assignees that they were anxious to do what was proper, Mr. Powell stated that he was desired to repeat the offer, or to agree to refer the whole necounts to arbitra tion. Should the assignees accede to the sum proposed, he begged to say that the money toad be paid soon after Christmas. In consequence of this reply the present meeting had been called. M r . Stevens then proceede d to detail the particulars of the claim made by the assignees on Lord Alvanley and his trustees. In 11312 Lord Alvanley began to grant annuities upon the remainder in tall, to which he was entitled in Certain large estates in Cheshire. The mode of charging these estates was by power of entry and distress, and by the several deeds that were from tints to time executed, the bankrupts, Messrs. Howard and Gibbs, were made trustees for that purpose. Annuities to about 6.0011/. per annum were granted in this way : In the year 1814, and the three subsequent years, other annuities were granted by Lord Alvanley, but which were not charged upon his estates, the grantees holding only judgments and other personal securities. It was necessary to attend to this distinction, because the nature of the claims depended on the fupda on account of which the advances were made by the bankrupsa. Payments, to the amount of 70001. were made on account of the annuities charged on the estates; and payments, amounting to 14,0001. were on account of the annuities not charged on the estates. li.was considered, that, inasmuch as Howard anti Gibbs paid per sons who had annuities on the estates, they had a right in equity to staid in the place of those persons as to the sums eo paid. These estates had since come iota possession, and Lord Alvanley having suffered a recovery thereby, barring the entail, the charges were accelerated, and had become charges on the fee-simple. Another part of the debt donned front bard Alvanley consisted of a large sum of money due upon the balance of an account which was closed in October 1820. the bankruptCy taking place in 1821. In round numbers 30,060!. was stated upon that account to be due to Howard and Gibbs, and he had in his possession an account signed by Lord Alvanley, stating that his Lordihip had examined the account, and that it was true. On the same day that it was signed, Lord Al vanley gave a warrant of attorney for 00,0001. the defeszance endorsed thereon stating that the same was given for the ba lance due on this account, after the bankruptcy judgment was entered up, and docketed; within twelve months, so that this judgment was also a charge upon the real estate of Lord A lvanley. However, the stnn claimed under the judgment did not amount to 30,0001. ; those gentlemen acquainted with banking transactions would understand how that happened. At the time of the bank ruptcy, Howard and Gibbs were under acceptances for Lord Al- Tinley, which were not due, and therefore were not paid. The assignees were called upon, by Lord AP/amity's agent, to supply accounts, and he (Mr. S.) was authorised to explain the exact amount due upon this judgment. Upon that explanation no ob. jection had been taken ap to this hour. On that statement there was proved to be due to Howard and Gibbs, for money actually paid out of pocket for Lord Alvanley, 22,8911. 7s. Id., and interest thereon amounting to 6,2001.25. 51. ; therefore upon this judg. ment there was 28,9311. 9a. 6d. due to the bankrupts, which, with the 7.0001. advanced on account of the annuities granted on the estates, made 3.5,9311. 9s. 6d. chargeable on Lord Alvanley's real estates, distinct from that which was due from his persona! estate. There would, however, be something to be added to this, for several of the bills which had not become due at the time of the bank ruptcy had since been mused ander the commission, to the amount S or 6,0001. ; therefore, in equity, the assignees would be indemni fied out of Lord Alvanley's estate, to the extent of the dividends to be paid upon these bills; he had consequently putdown 3,0601. by way of indemnity, making in the whole 38.9311.95. 6d. chargeable open the estates. With respect to the value of these estates, he s hould make an observation or two presently. With regard to the o ther part of the debt, there was due, either from Lord Alvanley o r other persons, the sum' of 13,0001. for arrears of annuities Feld by the bankrupts . . In some eases it might be considered tint th. annuitants were liable, and in others Lord Alvanley ; but whe: thee one or the other, he apprehended the bankrupts night tin Iser psi Subsequent to October, Ma, other sums were paid by the! . batiltrt:pts, which formed the subject of three ietfiashe and for which warrants of attorneys had keen bi.vent • : was for LOOM. Is. 2d. with 2971. for interest ; another, SAL 4.. and 24f.d. for interest; and the third, 2 Mi. Ili. with 059 f. 175-9 d: for interest, making abogetber man/. 11s. lid., width bane add•d to the 13,01101. wosiffithike 113.3/111. lbs. l Id. in additfoa to the 35,9311. 9s. St which would make the *bole lawman debt' amount to nearly 55,00111. He had thus gone through the stats. ment of accounts which hod beef; made out by Mr. Adams. dui, accountant, from time to lime, and rendered to Lord Alvaeley ; and who was they pteaent, and ready to give' any further explana- tion that might be fequired. Ile would now offer ap Miedtvotion or . two with respect to the mewl. possessed by the nelson! far retas- H . ',Hog this debt. He had meal stated that Lord Alranley had suffered a recovery of the estates which were liable spots trine age to several very heavy annuity-charges, arnoentlng altogether to 6,0001. or /,0001. a year. indepen dently athlete dullest, the bi cumbyances were very trilling. le dld not know whether they had „ • been paid, butjf not, be shout not have liny, hkshatlon In recom mending the creditors to redeem the pr i or intluthbranees, bettadrse the securities were very ample. .The Other incumbrances vim the annuities he had menttoneVut a von Important amingement had been Mode with the et holding these annuities. the . effect of which he app re h e nded was that the judgment held by' the assignees was made to atantLbefore every one of those elides. He thought this was obvious. The annuities were charged on the estates by power of entry and distress, and the trumps* were in some eases Mr. Gibbs, and, in others Mr. Howard. Sinn the bankruptct, all but three or four out of the two hundred annuitants, of Lord Alvenley had relinquished their annuities, deperidieg.oport a deed execr a ted by Lord Alt/ante, subsequent to the bankreptcy, Therefore, he apprehended the effect was, Mit the Ituliptent stood bermf all the debenture creditors, for such they were new tertan t • This preengement having been, mate withdut the idneinreries of • the assignees, and the bankrupts not hiVing joined in ft. bet the . legal estate still remaining in them, he apprehended they had al right to avail themselves of it, for the money they bad pilid to the grantees. lie understood that the property contracted to be sold by ' Lord Alvanley was sufficient to pay all his other de! ts ; if that was so. there was one-thivil of tfre property remaininit Unsold (Waddle what advantages his Lordship might take tinder. Mr. Arden's will), which would be available to the claims made by the assignees. These claims had been met by general charges of fraud. Unfairness, and error of every kind ; but it would beie been More satisfactory if, instead of being bound up in a.general statement, the particular fraud or error had been pointed out,. (Hear. hear.) it "mid elori have been a fairer way of treating the assignees. &wide . % l A or4 Alvanley had had the fullest opportunity of provitig the fraud and error of these transactions before a Jury. lie would explain. It became necessary to revive the judgment by the asslknees to show that they were the parties entitled. To that proceeding Lord Al- vanity pleaded tram( in the warrant of attoroev, and eine in the accounts °revery kit.d. To that plea the assignete - demurted. mid the' record was entered for trial,. but a few days bebire the trial was to come on, the plea was withdrawn, anal the assignees *ere allowed to sign judgmsnt. (Hear, hear.) lie apprehended that no Court of Law or Equity would . permit Lord Alvanley to , say that there was a fraud or error in the judgment after such a eireuthstanet. Mr. METCALFE—Not a Court of Equity. Mr. Stevens? Sir. STEVENS thought that the Court of Equity Would pre sume that it was impossible for Lord Alvenliy.to make out e case of fraud, after having refused.to do so; and that the Coati' would, under such circumstances. pretisme absence of fraud. In • conclusion, he must confess that the sum offered by Lord Alvan -I.y was not fi fair sum to be paid to the creditors in fall for the debt that was due, and feeling thus, he had no besitatieh In stating it to them ; and he aid not Insi.atc in stating mate, for he thought 40,000/. could be got, if the creditors !Mould be deshdua of ac cepting it. The assignees bed done their they', and all that could be required of them, and they would be perfectly satisfied with whatever determination the Creditors should come to upon the sub ject. He had omitted that, between the ofkr of 20,000!. and 30,0001. the assignees and their aceotintant had a meeting with Lord Alvanley'a trustees and Mr. Kinnaird their accountant, and the result of that meeting was the increased offer from 20,000!. to 30,000/. Mr. POWELL then came forward and said, whin he first en tend the room he did not intend to address the Meeting, because he did not know whether it *trald be necessary. Mr. SrEvaxa begged bins to state in what character he sp- • peered. Mr. Powrx.r, replied, that k was not is the solicitor of Lord Alvanley, because he had no right to do an; he *as in the hands of the Meeting, Whether he ought to address them or not. Mr. Suety was sure the creditors would be very happy to hear him. Mr. PoivE Cr. said, by the letter addressed to hits bn the Ist November, 11t25, by Mr. Stevens; the debt clalined boa 53.753/. That debt might be considered in tiro ways; first, that which was a charge on Lori Alvanley's estate, and next, that which was not. The first Was for arrears of anntiities alleged to be paid by the bank rupt* for Lord Alvanley: This "Ai divided into two classes; that which was a charge on the estates, and that which was personal only, amounting together to 20.0004 At first the claim was 22,200/. but the intercourse whir+ he had had upon the subject led him ui ascertain that no inch sum had been advanced by the bankrupte, and that insterd of there being 22.200/. the utmost that could Lt claimed would be about 16,000/. A detailed account was delivered tit' sums so paid by the bankrupts; that account was examined by the different annuitants, whd came into the arrangement which had been alluded to, and they knew there were sums to the amount of 4,000/. charged which had never been paid. This therefore being deducted, would reduce the claim to 16,000/. on account of the payments of annuities by the bankrtipts. How much of that sum (supposing it to be due, but Which lie did nut intend to admit) was to be charged uptin Lord Alvanley's estate, he could not tell, but as Mr. Stevens had stated It to be 7,000:. he (Mr. P.) would suppose it to be 5,000 t. ; and whether that could. be recovered was a tv:estion of law which, without any disparage.. ment of the understandings of the gentlemen present, he would beg to say they were not competent to determine. If the whole were fraudulent, then nothing could be recovered. The next claim was I upon the warrant of attorney for 20,000/., which was given by Wit Alvanley f-r alit balances on a aeries of accounts volume:K t . ing in the ±eat 1..12. Gentlemen would be rather startles when he told Mein that that transaction consisted of a lawn of 15d,000/. in biils negotiated by Howard and Gibbs. 'bite, it may be said, but if they were negotiated for I:otd Alvanley tie would be liable for them. Lard Alvanley denied User they were negotiated for him. His. Lordship went into the van , commence ment of the transaction, and asv.rted that tho greater pan of the bills Were not on his account. If the sums tben were not legally chargeable, the security must tall to the groun d. L or d Al ran l ey , however, a . driitted that a portion of that sum was paid to his me, and in the offer that he had volute to the assignees, he had taken. the utmost limits of that portion, He (Mr. Powell) had even added to it. in doing so, he considered he was doin but justice to Howard and Gibbs, yet at the same time he had t oe conviction that he was acti•ig mast liheraffy on die part of bred A/Tinley, Mr. Powell thin, adverted to the three other warrain ts of attorney, snot observed that os they were given for bills Which never been paid the balance ear really duo to Lord Alvanley. slut' whether an or not, the sr.rn offered was more than what was actrallty paid n o ' (.1. the 150.'.1001. on account of Lord Anvanley. Howard and Gibbs were tune acceptors of ail these bills t prima facie. tt evefehes towy were debtors to Lord Alvanley. These bills a ere disc ranted and all the world knew how; it was rot 12 per cent, nor JO only, tlyt was paid upon them. A CREDIT o st— No, nor a hunt:rei, - Mr. Pow —" No, nor a huudred, you mig h t „. fa)." It was said that the bills were negotiated for Lord Alvanley. F u t what purpose ? 2'o pay the annu i t i es . but v-erg Illy paid No ; fur his Lordship was charged for them in the iceotint. The fact was, it was necessary for Howard and (Milli at that time to support their credit, and hit clients were made use of as agents rev accompliet that object. If' that were so, who nig* M bear the loan, alwa*s Caging in mind that Mr. Gibbs got Ode bats dig. counted ? That was a point which must be decided by PM! eihtt tribunal hereafter. It' in the eye of the law these reetteitiee were fraudulent the .itidgment fell to the ground.; but prerovoing them: to be legal, ha w did the creditors stand ? The judgmeist was the last upon the estate, and he denied in the moot peeithottesaas the legality of the conclusion to which Mr. Stever bad crane. He denied that these claims were at all advanced by the arrange. Intent With the annuitants. Tine deeds executed to them were not subsequent securities : they were collater a l wi'h their formu.se. curities, nil of which had been kept on foot mef*." africePy, lilt the. purpose of protecting those gentlemen. The assignees moat rti main in the rear. Besides, the morn:eget annotnete4termose ting j 20;00(1. There were judgments foe al4 the annuitants, and them were other legal obstacles that would prevent the magnet, from ever recovering one shilling by the operation of law, he mint la contradistinction from a Court of F..cluity.. It so, the} moat lite & bill against, all the incumbrances of this estate, they MOW file it agape'. 300 creditors, in order to bring before the Corr' the relative situations of all of them, whom iebts would heart- to 6e paid according to their priority. Thu annuities (ineholin* !bow" secured by judgments) amounted to about. 20.000/.. a peak emit the rental of the estate to about 11,3001. a year. It wee staled% Ow another portion of the estate had been sold.; and urns It was 114,4 so, to the amount of about lao,uota. Rut Me. Swears. was In. correct as to the value of the estate that was left unsold. Tbse part which was sold had peculiar edsantafiets cf situation, and therefore brought • higher price. Hut what had been the Nose. nuance of the rejection of Lord Alvatileys.pnepotrition to the as. signets ? Why, that none of these sales hart - bean completed, andt that the contracts would go for nothing. In order fo realise my thing now for the creditors (if they should accede to terms) Lone Alvanley go into the market at its- present dept.'s& sate, andvwith a title that had been in some degree blown upon, or re:. cover the ground which he was afraid they had irretrisvololy lost. If the proposition had been taken th ey woad hove had. the NAP/. in their pockets. A month hence they might dot be abrb m e t it. Within that month they might; they 'mkt° theme; thee**, bee tween the money now or a Chancery suit, of which it was impassible to see the termination. Of course, individually 'poking. Italtesl no right to repress his opinion upon the subject'! irld Tea Meat to decide, but he could not refrain acknowledging that be Omit* be happy to see wit amicable termination arrited'ar, inainvordsm ' would extricate so many perms from the anberossenem" "sui misery that would be 'stalled opal than if their chase bah M the estate of Lord Alvanlay a n d aW on that of dlcavard :V er aibb,‘ were to be deferred to await ti.e event of a Chancery auk tuck circumstances as were Involved in Ibis dispute. (Chests.) Mr. Bvxwitga observed, that as every one of the Inanstbta nce4 bad been assigned to Mr. Powell to attend thainheettahee, he *MIL 1 s e the n only party neseseary to bring Won the Court 411 mem* it judgmets. y 1 ~ ~ i` .y