The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-08-04 00:00:00

1- ------- ___ ARIVNA IRON AND COAL COMPAN i Veseerday, the Hal-y ear ly tleneral Meeting of the P ro p rietors of this Company took place at the tondo+) T inavtheern. Chair. JAMES BROODEW, Esq. M.P. This was just as extraordsnaty a scene as any of the former Meet. tap resented. Str p eit of the Directs, who had been turned out of the direction, and their Mends, were ranged along the benches, and a nimosity begin to show itself at the very commencement of the proceeding*. The Report, after a reference to some of the former transactions, stated that the Committee hail, since it obtained t ent complete unction of the Proprietor., pursued the inredigation rusted to its charge with great zeal and application, and that Joseph Clarke, H e nry Clarke, John Duiiman, Timothy Francis Power, and A. A. tuners, having been, by the unanimous votes of the Proprietors Present, removed from their office es Directots, it became requisite to fill up these vacancies, as well as those *that had occurred from other causes (The names of canitulates were then read). The Re port stated that the works in question had been reduced to a com paratively trifling amoom, and will n ot exceed trig. a week for tor tuture, until the funds requisite ter better regulated operations be raised, and applied under ii Board of Director*. As to the finan cial affairs, there being no auditors at present. no statement certified in the proper form could be laid before the Meeting. The tunds of I the Company consisted, however, it appeared. ot a sum of about 11,041. Three per t enr. Conant*. together with the last dividend tnereon. Applications had been made to thenriginal trustees to transfer the stock to the gentlemen now:moving as Directors, but the transfer having been refused, leg ace had been served upon the Broth of England, its order to t he possibility of a tuts * application of it, per.ding the :Irmo ents makitig to procure the transfer. to trustees appointed tinder the new Direction. Mr. JOSEPH CLARKE asked whether the Report had been signed by three Dittman in office. This was answered in the negative, and a long and tumusistedltuous turd of assertions a nd contradictions took pe. lt was upon the put to the ex•Diteetors, that the Report was not worth a farthing. as the names of three Directors were not attached. Mr. Breeden. in order to settle the matter, took a pen and signed the Repot; and Mr. !Revolt and Captain Cater, oho had b a n appointed temporary Directors by the Committee, in the em ergency followed his example. Sr. CostearoaD, the Z‘otictter for the majority of the slime. heid.n. stated that, in the opinion of Mr. Brodriek, the banister, thecircumrances justified the measures resorted to. A discussion took place upon the propriety of having the opinion nod. but it was dropped upon the declaratiol of 31r. Comerford than had been delivered in confidence, and that he had net in his peonsion any document upon the subject. Mr. lase Max, when Mr. Brogden put the question, whether the R:port should be received, rest to protest, witch he Mil in the leedest tone, against proceeding to the election of Directors upon a kteron got up under such circumstances. lie said, the contrsat between the resent state of the Company, and its condition under the former 'Armour, was most lamentable. When the ex-Direc tors werellest arranged, they offered to take all the shares at par; and they were now not worth 10e. a share. (Applause and laughter.) Mr.Coideneoen said the shares had suffered a depreciation wrist the former Direction of the most injurious nature. It must be manifest to ese , y one that the bad effects could only be obviated by renewing in a course of quite a different kind. Mr. Al`Lean • and Mr William Congieve hail consented to trat:sfer the stock, bat Mr. Joseph Clarke had refus.d. It was to be hoped that such re load would not be pets - vend in. Mr. J. C ttttt said hi. property in the Company, which was. obit It e was is etaDirrt. tonortirth upwards of 5,000/., was reduced so the 1,1:U! of 201. by the conduct of the • gentlemen who now took it opth Maisano to act as El' 'rectors. Hire erases scene of coatuaien and noise, several persons ad. thermal the Chapman, who was plumply accused of partiality ; but by which grieve cool I not steer lain, easy more than we could per. ceive to whom lte had acted partially. Mr. C AAAAA said he hod received a better from 31r. Comerford. requestieg that he would transit:l the stock into the hands of Mr. Beat, Mr. Bromic!). and Me. Morgan. He certainly had refused so or do, and foe very good rea sons he thou g ht. in the first place, if be transferred the 10,110IM , and the three gentlemen `..lad thought roper to minim!) , it, thsy.would not be mponsible to the share. I.ohlors Me the tau. In the and telt dispooed to protect his own property as well if th eirs. be did not choose to accept Mr. Itrogden as a trustee. (A laugh.) Mr. DEWMAY —This is no meeting at all. Every thing done lore is null and void. IPe had better adjourn at once. 31r. ROSERT HITCHES. moved that the Report be received. The Directors could not do impossibilities. The details had not been audited, because there were no auditors. Every thing that coma be done under the circumstances, had been done for the pro perry. ana if any harm tied been done, it was done to the requtai. Ito .ins. as the expense was, theirs alone. Mr. It !Leta* Cams it said that of this he was sure, that the property of the Shareholders, so far from being depreciated by the edicts of the Committee, would net now be worth ten farthing*, if the former Directors had been permitted to remain in power—(Ap. p awe.) The fall in those shares we the consequence of misnia. nutement and abuse, which it was the business of. the present traction , to osevotal and there could be no greater proof of tors. mtnagement than the late expulsion. ht this opinion there was not an hineat man in the country who did not agree. (tens from a distant part uf the room, -Itis a lie—a d--el MLA . . CLARK said that no language could speak more strongly than the acts of the Directors, sad the deteruiination of the nhare holder* to expel them. Mr. POWEK tan old Di-ttetor)—" You he!" Mr. W. CLARK assured the Proprietors, without taking notice of the most rte eetable line of argument, that lie we* sure no man ki be more zealous or active than those whom they were called to elect. Jere some conversation took place in different parts of the rn m. The lie was repeatedly given, and parties strutted up to e tee o:her, as if they meditated come very ternble breaches of the peee.c.l Mr. BR OW:MN—This is really horrible, Gentlemen. tt , :isretioleters—lt is your business, Mr. Chairman, to put a stop to I:. Why don't you do so? Mr. BROEDEN—The language is so different from that which I base Ever been in the habit of hearing—and I have been connected sett several Joint-stock Companies—that I do not know how tJ act. shareholder—l am the nephew of Mr. Power, and I went to Mr. Comerford and Mr. Poker, and said that I would not all w any one to calumniate my uncle , or Mr. Surteee. They asau d me that they had nothing to allege against either; and am I now to listen to those calumnies ? This gave rise to further confusion, and it was asserted that AIL Brogdei had described all the Gentlemen in the former Direction es the ino.t realoue men he had ever met in his life. Mr. linocestw—Certainly I did, until I discovered what they mete. Mr. JOlre HINDE said that he had been grossly caluinniated in a speech made by 31r.Bent, in hie absence. It was with respect to a corver.tation with Mt. Fluttery, out of whose pocket the sum of 13 OWN. that had been divided had come, instead of out of the pockets of the Shareholders. Mr. FLATTERY—It never came out of my pocket, fur it never go: in. (Laughter.) Scene opposition wan then made to Mr. Hinde's preeeediug with what he called his vindieati ~,, , as it had no reterence to the proceedings. lie, very properly, persevered, and was hestd out, rotwitinttnnding Sir. Brogden's argument, that the statement made by Mr. Bent did not go to criminate Mr. Hinge, but was merely LE historical fact. Mr. Ilix net dieted that die Report in the.,Tinter newspaper of Mr. Bent's speech, made that gentleman say that Mr. Flattery told him that Mr. hind, said he knew that the 15.000/. was divided be tween the Directors, and that he (NT. Made) afterwanls admitted that feet to Mr. Bent. Now this was not the fact ; he had said nolting of the kind to either. (Here Mr. Hindle gave a eery un interesting version of what was spoke in praise of the ex-Dire:tors, and in participation of the efforts of .Me. Joseph and Mr. Henry larke to put money in their pockets, in consideration of the trouble to which they were put, and the obloquy to which they might be exposed.) Mr. FLATTERY—The Clarke, get the money ; they know it. I sak you diet they not make 341,000/. by the sale of shares ? If I had &Pato to put moot, in my pockets, could I not have sold my shares ? A SHAIttIIOLDER—We hut better join Roger Flattery, Esq. to the new Director•. (A laugh.) Mr. FLATTERY—DO you bold your tongue, Isaac. You are always tang such tl—ti lies no along and aczottut fur the 40,0001. you got out of the lloinbitsh A Stlaarllol.lll.lt—YOU lie. Another—You lie, you rascal. 31r. FLATTERY—You know, Isaac, you are an mild liar. Mr. Powzu—Why, Mr. Flattery, you act with great assurance. It isnot long since you were a beggar. Mr. FLATTERY—You are the cut of an cold brggar—look at tr. Mr. HINDE-1 must say that Mr. Bent told remost impudent fidaehood, in saying that I made the acknowledgment to him about ti e Ia , INMN. division. I never did. Ile ramie to me, and spoke to me:about the Arline?, but I never replied. I always said to Mr. Rent that be was to receive 3 bonus, and if the clerks have not made a ♦food thing of it, I am very sorry Pir it. Mr. FLAT TERT—Oh, this is pretty humbugging! This is a nice way to be plundered. An adjournment was moved and withdrawn. After a great deal of angry discussion, in the midst of which Mr. Bregtlen mid, he really believed that be should be obliged to tail in the assistance of the police, The Report was at length received, and the following gentlemen were elected. Directors-11r. Brogrlen, Mr. Bent, Mr. Morgan, Captain f ater, Mr. Moson, Mr. R. Ilichens, Mr. Frampton, Mr. lux, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Hills, and Mr. Henley. Auditurit—Mr. Gooch and Mr. Prichett. Mr. Josh's' CLARKE entered his protest against the proceed ings, I "illwital t and was borne out in his opinion by Mr. Wilke, wbo attended on tile part of ti ex-Directors. Brncd.n must hove felt ri sly humiliated. Msny of the hitarebohiers treated him with the must rude scorn. tlis request was upon every occasion disregarded, and he had the charge of Participation repeatedly thrown in his teeth. The metropolis was visited last night with a tremendous slonn of thunder and lightning, accompanied by torrents of rain, I.ITA , CORNIVAIL AND DEVONSIIIRE MINING N v. TO THE EDITOR OF Tll E BRITISH PRESS. SIR.—I should have immediattly noticed the report which appeared in your paper of the proceedings which were states! to have occurred at a meeting of parties c a lling themaelve• Scripliohlers in the above Company, but that many of m 3 friends advised me such • step was uncalled tor, as I hat. already commenced legal proceedings, for the express purls's , of punishitig one of the individual,' who had, at u previous meet. ing, fabricated the same allegations and propagated the same fad e ' bonds. I had, however. that my silence is be some of my friends mis construed, and it is erroneously supposed that I thereby acquiesce in the libels and slander which have been so often and so wickedly uttered by Mr. Clark, and which are gross falsehoods and delibe. rate and mai:Onus inventions. To remove any impression of this kind. I beg to state that I have commenced one, and shall also immediately begin other actions to bring to punishment the individuals, who have either concocted for circulated the libels of which I et.mplain, and I have adopted civil actions instead of indictments (which I might have done) In order to afford the defendants •every opportunity of justifying their conduct, by pleading in the form which the law admits, and which they could not do if I proceeded by indictment. Nor is it my in tently.' to seek for vindictive damages, nor to lay them high ; but only to obtain such verdicts as may effectually teach the offenders not to tritle with private character, nor wantonly, wickedly, and groood!essly to attack the reputation of others. .11i14% another reason, also, w 13.3 I yielded to the w;shea of my ItO did not deem it necessary that I should answer the t the meeting of alleged Scripholders, which was, that pen ' ial proceedings, I hold it to be most unconstitutional as we , ijust. either for defendant or plaintiff' to endeavour to mta excite opinion in favour of his case, since to a portion of such pub!: e at appeal, when the case is tried by a Jury. Some indield have apprised me that Mr. Clark is will insane, w u. and that to imian ty his present conduct must be attributed. Whe ther this be so or not, I will no, determine, though it is lamentably true that Mr. Clark was come time back in the state of mind alluded, to. I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, Jotis n'teies, Jun. 36, New Broad.atreet, 24 Aug. 1826. TOWER REGATTA. Yeeterday, the river below bridge, presented a scene of unusual animation, in consequence of a boat-race ter a prize wherry, and other prizes, given inc the encouragement of the young watermen in the neighbourhood of the Tower. Those who were the donors on the present occasion were resolved to have plenty of amusement for their money, having ordained no less than five Items for the de eittion of the victory. The prizes were announced for distribution as follows : First man, new wherry and sculls, value 211. 10s. ; second man, cash 41.: third man, cash 31.: tourth man, cash 21.; fifth man, cash 11. 10s.; sixth man, cash 1/. The following persons contested for the prizes in the order an nexed First Elem. Second Heat John James . Blue. William fitigp - Red. John Cartwright Yellow, Joseph Bean . Green. Jo.e! It Paul . Purple. William Finnis . Pink. The third heat was to be contested by the second and third men from each division. The fourth heat by the two first men of the first and second heats, and the first and second men of the third hes.. The fifth heat to be rowed for by the two first men of the fourth heat. The distance to be from off the Tower-stairs, twice round the Eel-chain and St. Catherine's lower tier, up to the prize boat, moored off the Tower. The first heat was won after a sharp contest by John James. and the second by Wm. Griggs. The third heat was won by William Floods and Joseph Paul, both of whom rowed for the fourth heat wi.h James and Griggs. which was decided in favour of James and Finnis, who consequently were destined to contend for the princi. p a l prize. About half.paet seven the signal was given for the last heat, and expectation was alive as to the result, although the general opinion hsd already given the prize to Blue, who was less fatigued than Pink, having rowed one heat less, and of course having enjoyed a longer interval of rest. Nor was this opinion disappointed, for although Pink worked hard for the victory, and pressed his com petitor very closely. lie coon not . pass him, and the prize was finally adjudged to John James; Finn is however, being enabled to con sole - himself with the 41. to which as second man he is entitled. The dav was very fine, and the river was crowded with boats, cutters, &c., all enjoying the amusement, which we are happy to say was uninterrupted by any of those accidents which someumes occur upon these occasions. PUBLIC DINNER GIVEN BY THE EMANCIPATED CONVICTS AND OTHERS. OF NEW SOUTH WALES. TO HIS EX CELLENCY SIR T. RRIsBANE, S.C.B. ewe - IPrent die Seivireele Gmeete.l Pursuant to public advertisements published in the papers, the Free Inhabitants of the Colony assembled at Nash's Inn, Para. matte, for the purpose of welcoming their retiring Governor-in- Chiet, at the festive board of Australia. The efliwts that had been resorted to, in almost ten demand, ways, to overthrow this dinner, would surprise any one who might be uninformed of the existing circumstances of the Colony. The perfidy that has been unmasked to the Colonists, within the last very few weeks only. tenth to in crease the splendour of that triumph, which will mark the annals of Australian history while she continues the Queen of the Southern World ; and when, after a successful termination of those conflicts that have more or less agitated every circle, we contemplate the achievements that have been wrought in so small a compass of time, gratitude and astonishment are at their acme, because we know that a stone has not been left timurned, nor a Pr"iett vneone ceived, that did not threaten destruction to every individual con nected in the moat renio e degree with the late happy change in favour of that portion of the globe, which has received a stimulus so powerful, that no attempts at counteraction will be able to annihi late. The Colonists are indebted to a personage that has not long been amongst us, but who seems, nevert hetes', to entertain all that li heathy of sentiment thy which Governor Macquarie, Lieutenant. Governor O'Connell, Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane, and Lieute nant-Governor Erskine, have rendered themselves pre-eminently distinguishable—we mean his Honour Lieutenant-Governor Stewart. About half-past six o'clock his Excellency, accompanied by his staff, reached the Inn. We were much struck with the splendid manner of the Governor's entrance into the yard fronting the Inn. We have conversed with many, and all agree in asserting they never witnessed a more dignified and elegant deportment than was exhibited by his Excellency, when, with the Lieutenant-Go vemor on his left, and the Staff and other guests in his rear, walk ing two and two in measured step, he received the salute from the band, "See the conquering Hero comes !" which was played in the first menial style. The Stewards received his Excellency at the door, and, after paying their respects, ushered their Illustrious Guest into an anti-room. In a few minutes dinner was announced, and the Stewards proceeded to escort the Governor upstairs. The' moment his Excellency made his appearance iu the dining room, the band struck up " God save the King ;" and the gentlemen, who were previously seated, now rose simultaneously, and continued standing until the Governor took his chair at the right hand of the President (D'Arcy Wentworth, Esq.) His Excellency was accompanied by the guests; and among the number (independent of the Stahl) tie distinguiehad the Lieut.- Governor, Judge Stephen, the Colonial Treasurer, Colonel Dams reeque, the Sheriff, Captain Kingcombe. R.N. of the lame. the Clerk of the Council, the Commiseary of Accounts, the Naval lifficer, the Superintendent of Police for Sydney, the Supetinten dent of Police for Parrainatta, and the Military Commandant of Parramatta. Every eye beamed on the King's Representative with u ifeigned pleasure, and his Excellency seemed eqnally gratified with the undialembled testimonies of respect and affection which lit up every countenance. The Governor wore a moat supetb dress of blue and gold, and was adorned with his various honours. The Lieutenant-Governor was in the full uniform of his regiment, and comenaeded universal attention for his mild and dignified deport ment towards the company, whom he had thus honoured with his presence. We shall now proceed to give something of the detail* of this interesting event, which has no doubt panic-struck many parties, who predicted that the dinner would not succeed—that the Governor would not go—and that the whole would end in a farce ! These were prophets with a vengeance—lying prophets ! The speciiies, particul irly those of his Excellency. will be hailed with universal delight ; we must, however, leave them to speak for them selves. Af er the cloth was removed, the PRESIDENT proposed as a toast— '' The King,"—" God save the King." " The Duke of York and the Army. '—Duke of York's March. " The Duke of Clarence and the Navy."—New Clarence and the avy. The Pntsinesyr then rose, and addressed the Assembly : " Gentlemen,—l now rise to propose to you a toast, immediately connected with the principle of the Meeting—l mean the retirement of the illustrious personage whom we have met here to compliment, and who has this day honoured us with his presence. Gentlemen, were Ito enter into a detail of what the Colony owes to that indi vidual, I should run a chance of being *ought to he obliged to be cane a panegyrist in his presence, and also of paining his feelings. The benefits which this Colony Nut received front his administra tion are incalculable; but, happily, the powerful expressions of public approbation and esteem which are manifested to. wards him, render any dilation from me on the subject an act of supererogation , and would only detract, if such were possible, from the public effusions of gratitude and respect he has received ; in fact, it would be presumptuous in me to add my opinion to the public and conscientious sanction of a united Colony, or to suppose that their simultaneous expression of approbation could receive validity from anything I should offer. It therefore only remains for me to propose that toast, which I do most unwillingly, front the circumstance that ghee rise to it, and the conviction that we are met here unwillingly to deplore a general loss—a loss w' ich we shall all feel most sensibly, in the retirement of this Excellency from the Government of t his C olon y . Gentlemen, I propose to you " The health of his Excellency Sir Thomas Brisbane, and may he soon be seated In the hall of his fathers !" Drank with three times three and tremendous applause. " acre's a health to them that's far awa." His EXCELLENCY then rose, and spoke nearly as follows: " Gentlemen,—For the highly flattering manner in which your at - etrobation of toy public conduct has been expressed. I return you my most sincere and hearty tl:i.nks. Gentlemen, from recent seats which bsve occurred In the colony, you are so fully po • •.ssed of arty monuments with 'Tort to it y wishes for its priespetity, is to render any repetition at this filliiiiniit wholly unnecessary. Ily opinion has already been c‘pressed, that any of the free insti tutions of Great Britain should not tiny longer be withheld from .he country, 3 . 4 I ant decidedly of opinion that it has arrived at a state fit for their reception (hear, hear ;) and I hope 1 need not say, that your best Interests have always commanded my best ex lotions, in giving effect to which I considered myself only as acting Mitisterially. Gentlemen, my services abroad hare enabled me vi contrast the situation of other countries with that of (heat Britain, and I sm fully convinced, that to those free inszitutiorai she owed all her superiority during the late coali tions homed against her. *1 hose institutions, coupled with her moral superiority, enabled her to acquire that mastery over her !natty encodes by which she has raised an empire In the Eastern, and lately in the Western World. No other country has done so touch as Great Britain, because no other country enjoyed such tree institutions. Gentlemen, I hare been a pleated witness of the ptosperous state of this colony for the last tour years; mil I shall conceive it my ditty to make such representations to his Majesty's Ministers, as I have little doubt will induce them to grant the lull benefit of the privileges of Englishmen to this important branch of the British dominions. (Neer, hear, and applause.) Gentlemen, my reputation has been assailed—misrepresentations have been cost upon it—but you have cleared it (hear;) and " I shall now retire from this colony under different circumstances from what I other wise should have done." You have nut only given me a free clear ance, but you have furnished me with a deal bill of health, such as no ship IRIS ever quitted the Colony with before, and under simi lar cirrunistances. (Hear, hear, and shouts of applause) Gentle men, it is impossible for me to do justice to toy feelings on the sub ject. and t shall now propose a toast, coupled watt a sentiment which shall only cease to animate my breast when I no longer exist. Gentlemen, I shall propose as a toast—" Happiness sod Prosperity to New South %Vales." Drank with four times four, and continued applause. Air, " Hail, Australia!" " The Memory of Governor Phillip, the Founder of the Colony." " Gentlemen (said the Prtr.vtfle.t.r) I next rise to propose a toast, which I would give simply and without any mooniest, were it not from recent occurrences, and some tliversit in opinion, which perhaps render a few observatioas necessary. With respect to the advantages which are derivable from the institution to which I ant about t 3 allude, there can be but one opinion in a Colony, com posed as this is, of Englishem, and inheriting as they do, their predilections in favour of the Constitutional institutions of the mother country. But, Gentisnicn, I find there is a produc tion in circulation, in which the introduction of those grand poli tical blessings, those birthrights of every British subject in this Colony, is sought to be deptecated, and the Colony represented to be unfit for freedom, as the last effort of an expiring faction. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, I have myself always held the parties, who are the movers in this transaction, in the most sovereign con tempt, as they have opposed the free principles of the age which they should have considered invulnerable. (Cries of " Hear.") Gentlemen, the numbers, the weight, and the ability of that party are well known, together with their absolute nothingness in comparison with the community; and that underhand piece of paper, to which I allude, only shows their own opinion of their positive insignificancy ; for, if that paper contained the genuine principles of the Colony, Friday fortnight afforded fair opportunity of giving them tnll effect. But they were too good political chymists ' • they well knew they would Dot bear the test, and wisely refrained from making the trial. No, Gentlemen, their numbers and their prin ciples are well known. God forbid that, in any society, we should wish that any individuals should drop ; but it is a calcula tion that must unavoidably present itself to the mind, " that these parties cannot last long ; the old stock must tell oft', and a new one spring up ;" but it is to be hoped that they will fall off prema turely, or at least before they have mWupted the morals of the next generation. The Sits stir, rose, and observed, that the present Meeting was assembled for the purpose of giving a complimentary dinner to the Governor, and that no subject ought to be introduced which was not immediately connected with the object of the 31 eeting. (Cries of" order, order !" and "do not interrupt the speaker.") But, Gentlemen, much yet remains to be done; a last effort is now on foot by that party who wish to counteract our object, and which mar prove availing if the Colonists do not take proper steps and petition the Government, as they lately addressed his Excellency, by a constitutional county meeting ; and 1 entertain no other im pression that no effort will be wanting, on the part of his Excel lency, to give full effect to the wishes of the Colonists, and thereby add new claims on our gratitude. Gentlemen, I shall conclude these observations by giving, " Trial by Jury, as established in England." Three times three, and rapturous applause. His Excellency the GoyEalletit • nee—Gentlemen, as so much has been said on so vital ase t, I think it necessary to state that such a mass of irrettistible roof of the absolute issceasity for the full establishment of this inestimable privilege has gone home by the last ship, that 1 think it impossible for his Majesty's Ministers not to concede it. (Great cheering.) Air, " Britons strike lunne." The PRESIDENT next proposed the " Liberty of the Pima." He was pure that the advantages which the colony had received from this boon would be fur ever moat deeply felt Imibe pplpte. His Excellency had emancipated a press which was immediately under his own comma. As far as it was It hie powse, he Slid kw stow the liberty of the press; it tem Os Mess 'Works igi lee bad bestowed on them, and one which the colonists would never forget. " The Liberty of the Press," three times three. Air, " Old Eng land for ever." His Excellency the Govetistost observed, that he felt a most partial gratification in being in any way instrumental in giving the freedom of the press to the Colony. It was one of the best friends he had in the Colony (hear, hear), and the best friend he should leave behind him. He would carry the same feeling to the British shore, and most heartily concur in the same sentiment throughout the world. (Great cheering.) • Mr. Howe—Sir, it would ill become me were I not to speak in behalf of the Liberty of the Press. !lad it not been for the Free dom of the Press, the illustrious personage who is present would have gone home loaded with calumny, instead of carrying away ho nours unknown to former Governors : but, Sir, he has bestowed a boon upon the country which will never escape recollection, and the oame of Brisbane must run coeval with the existence of Aus tralia. (Hear, hear.) All the blessings which the Colony now enjoys spring from that liberty • it will ultimately produce the final extinction of every enemy of Australia, and is only the prelude to that other great boon so anxiously desired—a House of Assembly. (Hear, hear.) Sir, I would not have risen, or have so long Rea passed on your indulgence, had it not been out of sheer gratitude to Sir Thomas Brisbane, for his Excellency has done mote for the Colony than it can ever be aware of in this respect. His Excellency and suite retired about ten o'clock, followed by the acclamations of the assembly, the band playing " St. Patrick's Day." The Po EMDEN'S' proposed as a toast, " Brisbane, and Freedom for ever."—Three times three, anti loud cheering. Dr. Dountas, after some prefatory observations, proposed " The Health of D'Arcy Wentworth, " Bonnie Laddie." Mr. E. S. HALL—Tn proposing the next toast of the Meeting, a House of Assembly, as being the must powerful instrument, next to Trial by Jury, for composing the dissensions of the Colony, and to advance our best interests, I may be opposed by numbers who have not considered the subject. Still I cannot (milt this opportunity of impressing the expediency of the lass of the Colony being made by Members elected by the body of the Colonists. All the great fundamental rules of our society were already tinctured by the transplanting of the juris prudence of England to the Colony, and that jurisprudence is the ornamental stone on which the most useful results might be built. If we are able to bear a Free Press in any mate's hand, how much more are we able to bear the free sober dis cussion of a House of Assembly ? This Colony can be no longest, considered a mere penal settlement , but as ono of the first Colonies attached to the British Crown. Jamaica is more populous, but infinitely less moral. Canada was first peopled by French emi grants, but from the influx of British settlers, is now blessed with two Houses of Assembly. In France they have a House of As sembly, but no free press; in this country It is tweeted that we are all able to bear a free press, bat not a House of Assembly. Herein the anomaly consists, that we are able to bear a free press, only re strained by the law of libel, which, notwithstanding, I contend is a liberal law ; but that we are not able to bear a sober and tenipe. rate discussion on those subjects which of the most vital im portance to the Colony. I shall thereftwe, Gentlemen, propose, A House of Assembly, as the most powerful engiue of aug menting our prosperity." Three times three. WAanr.x, of the Australian Company, then rose, and ex pressed himself thus :—Gentlemen, 1 rise to propose a bumper to the health of the eloquent and consistent advocate of Australian liberty. Ile has raised the standard of good feeling in the Colony, which we shall never again be deprived of; we have now sealed the bond of union. which nothing can set aside; we have joined the hand of fellowship with real worth and honour; and if Mr. Canning had been in the country for the last six weeks, he would oft this evening have been seated on the right hand of Mr. Went- Mardi. (Loud cheering.) Mr. it. C. PRITCHETT.XentIeMen, I came to this Colony from the East Indies with a small investment, prejudiced, I intuit confess, against the people, whom I looked upon as a set of rogues anti vagabonds, anti assigned servents. (Hear, hear.) But, Gen tlemen, I am proud to say, that, upon an acquaintance with the Colonists, my former prejudices were removed, and 1 have ever since continued among them, and this public acknowledgment I consider as a tribute due to the uniform integrity and honour I have ever found amongst them. (Loud applause.) The Rev. %V. IVatimit, accompanied with some forcible re marks, proposed " Civil and religious liberty all over the world." " Chief Justice Forbes." (Three times three, with loud cheer. Inge.) This toast was prefaced by some pertinent observations from Mr. W. Parker. Several songs were, in the course of the evening, sung zty Messrs. llindson, Pitman, and B. Levey. Cotlparattee Import and Export of Cotton, Rice, and Tobacco, at the port of New York,first six mouths in each year— COTTON. htiport 1824 . 79,046 - 111.15 - 158.189 - 11126 . 90,281 - pEport 2124 . 37.045 - T 825 . 1191422 • 1828 . 51,698 ItICE. Tcs. r..t000 h.ft 11,273 9,975 12,460 7,007 TOBACCO. iihils. 6,065 6,193 2,Ti3 2,743 • 1:43 . 1,13C0 THE BRITISH PRESS. difficult countries lying beyond the eastern .shores bi the Bay of Bengal—without pausing to inquire how No. I.—INDIA. far that expediency or that necessity can be des Of the hopes and fears which from time to time agitate inonstrated by those upon whose determination this ,the public mind, there are few perhaps more capricious Burmese war was commenced ;—we May be very certain' lor uncertain than those which regard the welfare of our that it has already caused the destruction of a large pro. Colonies ; and , absolutely none that proceed, generally ' portion of the finest European army which ever marched speaking, on less accurate data, or more erroneous concep- in Asia. The fatal season in which our irtcipient opera. Ilona of existing facts. It is, indeed, extraordinary, that Lions were carried on, and the diseases incident to that while their Colonial Empire extends over an immense pos. s!ason in those burning climes, have swept off or rendered Lion of every quarter of the globe, and comprises, upon the inefficient a greater number of English officers and men , most moderate computation, a subject-population of one and of Bengal sepoys of high caste, than our most sans hundred millions of souls, the British public are wonder - g uinar y eng a gem ent s in the fi eld against nyder Ally or fully ignorant of, or care less to, the most interesting de. I Tippoo Saheb. These losses cannot be supplied, as to the tails connected with the geographical extent, the na- Europeans, but after the lapse of a considerable interval of tural riches, and even the commercial relations, of their time (owing to the enormous distance of the theatre of the transmarinc pofs , asions. war from the mother-country), and at oh almost inconA And yet it is the peculiar fortune of this mighty nation, ccivable expense of treasure. On the other hand, the that being already the most opulent, the most highly-6. Burmese enemy is an armed population, anti its military vilized, and, beyond all comparison, the most milprows of force, however inferior to our own in point of organization European states, her physical means anti her political and discipline, has a polype-power of reproduction, which energies are so far from having been as yet adequately dove- supplies, in a week or two, the casualties and destruction of loped, that she has in her islands, colonies, and settlements half a campaign. It may be said that this power it does in Europe and America, but most especially in Asia, un- but possess in common with all the populous nations of the touched and absolutely inexhaustible sources from whence i East; hut we must observe, that while it rivals any of those to refresh the sleepless spirit of her enterprize, and to sum:es in courage and intrepidity, it surpasses all of them supply and deepen the still-increasing title of her in persevering energy. Add to these considerations that grandeur. That, at a period like the preeentovlien over-pro- the Burmese are settled in view of that frontier which duction in several branches of our manufactures, anti over- scarcely restrains, at mOmy time, innumerable hordes of "law trading among many classes of the mercantile interest, have less cavalry, under independent Rajahs" who subsist on left such prodigious numbers of our artisans in a state either spoil ; that ours is an empire whose strength live in the of absolute or of comparative starvation, that these colonial power of opinion, rather than of our own arms; that com binations and confederacies against us Must be, in the nature, distant should never have been resorted to—that those distant markets, of which we ourselves keep the keys , as , of timings, matters of .frequent occiartence ; anti that tlrm • it were, should not have been opened to British goods success of one of these cadres and bhids toget hero thousand which meanwhile are left to decay in our warehouses at in active hostility against us ;—ard you have causes enough home—that the fertile lands, the infant trade, the timber, for alarm and anxiety existing in India. Mai they may lie best obviated, as I have already hinted, I shall hereafter the precious metals, the peltry, and the fisheries, of those Colonies should not have yet show; observing only in the meanwhile, that under the been made available to the spirit, and skill, and industry of all Englishmen whose Sc- present condition of circumstances in India, they are customed avocations or employers can no longer maintain certainly formidable ; whereas the adoption of a few great them ;—these are only so many proofs of our singular , but sim p le measures of liberal im p rovement would ra p idl y apathy in respect of the most obvious and the most bone- fextinguish them. ficial employment. of such vast resources. The apprehended danger to India, from invasion by It is not my object to point out, at this place, the mode Russia, or Turkey, or Persia, may be, I think, instantly or the particulars of such applications of our inert rowers 1 dispelled by a careful consideration of any accurate and to the immediate exigencies of these times. These most I extensive map of Asia, and still more clearly by an in.. important and interesting topics I propose to discuss very spection of tl e Indian frontier on the north-west, the fully in another paper or two, and 1 have no fears of being north, and the north-east, as laid down in Mr. Arrowsimmith's able to show, beyond all dispute, that I have neither magnificent map (1820), which is now lying before me. exaggerated the extent of our means, nor the facility with 1. As to Russia; she could not p2netrate India overland, which they may be immediately put into requisition—that in any force which could oppose the least resistance to our de- own troops on the frontier, or those of NatiVe States in I am neither too sanguine in my anticipations of the gree of relief they are calculated to afford to all and every amity with us, and through whose territories the Rusaieft the 'distressed classes of our home community ; nor too army must pass. From the North such an undertaking hasty in designating our own put supineness, as connected would be impracticable ; for how could an army be ever with the existence of these immense capabilities of im- sustained amidst the barren steppes of Independent Tar. provement, as among the most inexplicable anomalies in tary, or effect a passage through the difficult country of the history of political society. In the map of our im- the Kirghises or the passes of Daghestan ? And, even if mense colonial possessions, time most prominent and deei. this subsistence could be obtained, and any commissariat , dedly the most important object is the peninsula of Kitt- could hope to supply an army on its march, from the Iptish doostan. The whole of that rich and wonderful country, to Cashger for example, by what magic will they In with the exception of some strips of territory almost insig - verse the vast desert of Kobi, or climb the stu p endous nificant compared with the enormous area on which they ranges of the Ilimmaleh mountains? All this must be are described, acknowledges our dominion ; while not only done before they could even penetrate Thibet, a counoy the entire countryi improperly named India, but several' absolutel y invincible b y nature, and to an arm y utterl y im neighbouring manna, acquiesce in and conform to the so- pregnable. Sterile mountains in almost endless succession vereignty or paramountship exercised by The Governor- —frightful precipices, and narrow valleys through which General and the Supreme Council. The natural riches of the winds rush with a destructive fairy unknown in any India, its arts, and its peculiarly fortupate situation for other climate—rapid torrents, not to be stemmed by mili. exercising a commanding influence over the commerce of tary bridges, and the mighty sources of the Ganges and the east, have in all ages of the world attracted the at- the Burratnpooter, and their tributary rivers, would at tention and excited the cupidity of other States. To that every step oppose to the march of troops obstacles as in cupidity its owls singular but very defective institutions superable as unexpected. have bad an invariable tendency to subject it—a splendid 2 . On the north - west of our frontier, the same difficul but almost passive victim. Armies of conquerors, front the ties would apply to any incursions that might be meditated most differing and distant regions, have successively over- either by the Turks, or the Persians, or the Russians ; for run and plundered and wasted the most beautiful of all the it is obvious that the latter could only attack us from that oriental lands: Greeks and Malays, the warriors of Arabia quarter by coming through the territories of the former. and of Thfoet, the hordes of Tartar) , and the legions of But, in truth, how could either of them, while we have an r L the Assyrian .from. hi s i m p er i a l. b ower s a s.„,arasy of observation in Nepettl-,. sneceettin-nry each wide'. B a aiM a n, and the wild Scythian from his icy lakes your? After quitting the Persian dominions, they must, sold ilia snowy wilderness, all have successively rushed to in the first place, encounter—not to speak of burning de. phinder and devastate the cultivated fields and the 'setts and successive chains of mountains—the irrecon. dazzling cities of India; . and, wonderful to odd, the work ,cileable and hereditary enemies of Persia, the warlike of spoliation has been successful in every instance! The ""Affglians" of Candabar and Cabral. This indomitable pacific genius of the people, disposed to sedentary labours nation (whose population is about two millions, and of and domestic pleasures, and the abundance of the precious whom almost all the males are hardy soldiers) has ever metals Mid jewels whic hl nature provides for, or luxury iii- been the scourge of the Persians ; and though they were, troduces into, the several states of time Peninsula, have hi- for a little time, subdued anti broken by Kouli Khan, whose therto but too well rewarded the avarice of their merciless horrible cruelties, in 1737, made their own past excesses invaders. Pagan, Mohammedan, and Christian domi- sink into insignificance, they re-asserted their stormy nations, have been, one after the other, for about 3 , 000 independence immediately after his death , and have since years, settled in violence, and exercised in oppression, and repeatedly ravaged the dominions of his successors. Their extirpated in blood : yet foreign power has never been de- activity and daring have ever made them formidable neigh terred from attempting, and rarely indeed prevented from neighbours to the North of India. Pursuit is almost hope effecting., partial subjugations of The Hindoos, and occupa- less ; for, mounted on their small and ill-favoured but tions of thew territories. Yet at this moment s after all the hardy horses, they betake themselves, on their return from vicissitudes of fortune which They have experienced under battle, or from their plundering excursions, at full- speed, so many masters, they have preserved their religion, their into the recesses of their savage and mountainous country ; customs, their prejudices, and are, by far the greater part where, in ambuscades and among the passes, they have cut • of them, in all that regards their moral identity, the same off, and intercepted, and destroyed, with undiscriminating Hindoos who have witnessed the irruptions and the dy- animosity, all parties that have yet been sent out for their nasties of the Patens, the Mongols, the Teeters. But in subjugation. The land has been rendered, by the retalia. time revolution of ages, all these, as well as the more mo- tory vengeance of their own foes, amid not untrequently by dent and ephemeral governments founded by the Porto- their own policy, a mere barren waste, throughout whici guese, the Dutch, and the French, have succumbed to thegenial influence of a fine climatehas been effectually coon the genius of British power, whose standard floats on the teracted. Nor would the hopeless efforts of the Persians, or walls of Delhi and at Cape Comorin ; and whose supe- the Russians, or both, terminate even here, though not yet on riority is equally acknowledged on the Malabar and the the threshold of Hindostan ; for they must next grapple Coromandel coasts—on the banks of the Ganges and the with the fierce opposition of the Scheiks—a people sworn waters of the Indus. In this populous and productive to a man to preserve their country inviolate—strict repub country there occur not only immense portions of the richest beans—bearing a deadly hate to all foreigners, but honour soils, which lie utterly waste anti useless, but time ruins of ably observing their engagements—and, for some time noble and extensive cities, with commodious buildings, past, on friendly terms with time British, alter having once palaces, and forts, all decaying from year to year, f^r want 'seriously threatened our " Indian" existence (when our of some little superintendence. These solitudes are coin- power there was in its infancy) with their formidable paratively untenanted, and Art and Nature have vainly cavalry, a body of more than 60,000 strong; their terri wooed us, as the lords of the region, to COLONIZE them, tory, which formerly included the whole of the Poles as the best, and perhaps the only permanent, security for still extends from Cachemere to. Taus, comprising the our Asiatic power, and as the most promising and honour. whole of Moultan and part of Sind. But suppose them able retreats for such of our fellow-countrymen as are pos- by treaty, or force, or miracle, to have conquered nature rased of more spirit and enterprise than capital. The ruined and man, even to the left hank of the Indus ; or say that, by cities would provide ample and substantial accommodation another route, they had successfully traversed the tremeu for those of our manufacturers, who may feel disposed to try dous ridges of time Indian Caucasus; or let it be imagined their fortunes in another quarter of the world; and their In- that Russia, having assembled her troops for such an ex. dian neighbours would then at once supply them with the petition on the shores of the Caspian, had embarked then:. raw material for their looms anti the market for their labours. for example, at Astracan, and had even effected their trans- Add to this, that the new settlers would be exempted from port up the Oxus, which discharges itself into the Caesium the disadvantage of having even to raise their own dwell- on the opposite coast ;—is is to be seriously feared that they ings--that hard necessity to which they would be subject could break through the kingdom of Cabul, a country to in almost any other of tiie British possessions beyond the which even Norway itself, perhaps. must yield, on a corn seas,—and it must be evident that India, in all the respects parison of the clangers and the difficulties of their roads, of public advantage, and private profit anffuonveniency, which are carried up time sides of the most terrific crags, and offers the highest, the most easily earned, and the most ins- rocks, and mountains, and of their communications, which mediate premium to British colonization. t are connected by gorges in the hills, that are most graph:. Before I touch on this subject more in detail, and endea- cally described by Mr. Elphinstone as capable of being de vour to establish the other propcsitions that I have advanced fended by a handful of men against disciplined squadrons ? in respect of the untried resources of our Colonies, and Between the Gurrah anti the Chunab, again, two noble especially of India, it may be very necessary to quiet, it' rivers of Cabal, and time most wester) yof the Mahratta possible, the alarms of those who fancy that, in theevent of States, flanking the country beyond Delhi, there inter a firm peace between Russia anti Turkey, India is in dan- vene vast deserts and arid plains ; time latter, at one season of ger of successful invasion by one or both of those Powers. the year, parched by the fiery climate that prevails in Re Others again predict the same perils as arising to her from latitude of V 7 tepees north, and at another, liable to such the designs of Persia ; and not a - few of our: contemporaries sudden inundations from the torrents that fall from the are at least equally uneasy about the ambitious views of time mountains, as sweep off even loaded camels anti their Pacha of Egypt. I confess that my anxieties are excited drivers. The same thing may be said of the more nor only by the aspect of affairs under our own admini- theriy route (though that could not even be attem p te d by station in India, anti of some defects in our existing politi- troops) between Peshawur, the capital of Cabul, and tl' cal relations, that seem to weaken the already slender bond Cachemere country. Is is full of mountains, and ravines, of union between her anti the mother-country. Let us and rivers, and military tribes, whose very existence, as examine these more defined and more ill-omened " signs of independent states, has been established by the perfection the times," in time first place. It will not, be (Hifi- to which they have carried the system of harassing armies cult to prove that the others, if not absolutely visionary, on their march. at least portend much less or much sore distant mischief. 3. With respect to the sinister designs of' the Podia of The unfortunate renewal of hostilities between the British Egypt upon British India, they cannot be spoken of with forces under time command of Sir Archibald Campbell, and out a snide, although they have been more than gravels the armies of the " golden-footed" monarch of Ava, is suspected by some of our contemporaries, whose patriot's one of the most inauspicious circumstances that has occur- apprehensions are in a very excessive patio as compare I red in time vicinity of our Indian frontier for many years with their geographical cat political knowledge. It is quite past. Though there can be but little doubt of the success- evident that if this illustrious follower in the footsteps of ful termination of this new campaign, rind, ultimately, of Sesouris means to make an overland invasion of it, he he li e u rsnes wa r itself, it is impossible to shut our eyes must cross the North of Arabia; he must get from Ca:r:) to tb magnitudee of the sactiftce by which those results over Arabia Petrtea anti the Great Deserts, to Bassdlamh, ant t m ust be obtained. from the top of the Persian Gulph to the Indus; a march Wi t hout at all enrering , on the p resent occasion, into of between 3,090 anti 1,000 miles, on the moat moderato the question of the original expediency or necessity of the . calculation ! Ridiculous as all this is, time notion of las c ontest in which sec are engaged in the very fertile but reaching the Malabar coast, or of lauding on the shores a. THOUGHTS ON OUR COLONIES. . NOOk„l i fx.. 444 4itionw OS nto me ide nen we ;on. they .ions was hay. iota rasa DO of in ntbe _urn tor • plan . It COM. de rouid ham even- Table upon loubt rite of utl to fter new and itary ic news ning, top' Kent, y the , snit vitae ei4lay ;ering North mains yf the affairs Ith of culars the ropri- in the A the r 10 e meet to ria and II bri m. en. Greek oard a ea; he id VI TO such a . _ wl-.om raisins neTally I begs