The Sun. — London, England, 1829-10-06 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNAL Some of our contemporaries dispute as to the manner in which Government received the im portant news winch we communicated in our journal of yesterday. We pass over this as nugatory. There is no doubt of the fact that intelligence was received of the signature of preliminaries between Russia and Turkey on the 14th ult. It is asserted, with respect to the terms conceded by Russia, that they are not so moderate as was to have been expected. Upon this point we may observe that much depends upon the position of the party who passes judg ment. We dare say Russia thinks them rea sonable and moderate enough. This, however, is not sufficient. It is not to be expected, indeed, that she has offered, or will be content with, such terms now as would have satisfied her before she was dragged forward to victory by the obstinacy of the Turks. If, however, she means to cultivate the good opinion and esteem of the other Powers of Europe,—if even she understands her own real interest, she will not seek to crush her late enemy into the dust.— Times. On Monday last the Standard wished to make it appear that the Duke of Newcastle was only attempting at Newark what had been pre viously done on their estates by the Marquis of Stafford and the Marquis of Lansdowne. " We have no reason," said our Evening con temporary, " to suppose that there is any thing po litical in the business. It may be no more than an improvement like what the Stafford family has ac complished in the Highlands, or the Marquis of Lansdowne has attempted on his Irish estates, save that it is not so extensive in devastation, nor so cruel is its effect; for, to eject a man from a house only is a Ilghter matter than to eject him from a house and farm, farming being his sole means of subsistence ; and yet, as we remember, the tender hearted Times never expended one drop of com passion upcn the sufferings of the victims of the Scotch and Irish desolations." We noticed on Saturday last the two cases adduced, and as Mr. Loch has published a very instructive volume on the subject of the im provements executed by the Marquis of Stafford both on his Scotch and English estates, we showed, that so (hr from injuring the people on his estates, he had been a benefactor to them.— We added, " With respect to the removals of the Marquis of Lansdowne we are less qualified to speak. We have no doubt, however, that the object was also to introduce a better mode of cultivation, though the same care might not have been bestowed on the ejected tenantry which was bestowed by the Marquis of Stafford." We know that the Marquis of Stafford had been the subject of much vituperation, on account of the changes which he had made on his estate ; and being acquainted with the extent of his efforts in behalf of the pcople on his estates, we know also that never was vituperation less justifiable. 'We took it for granted that in the case of the Marquis of Lansdowne there had also been removals, not supposing that our contemporary would hazard an assertion without any knowledge of the matter ; and our observations nearly went to this, that we could not, from our own knowledge, say whether the same regard had been shown to the deluded tenantry of the Marquis of Stafford. We learn, however, on the authority of those on whom we can place the most complete reliance, that the Marquis of Lansdowne never made any such change as is here alleged. His Lordship, we learn, never divided his land in Ireland with a view to election purposes, and has never had occasion to alter the system of cultivation on the estate, or to increase or diminish the number of his tenants. Whether the system be bad or good, that system remains unchanged. He has never, therefore, been called upon to make any provision for an ejected tenantry, as they are living tranquiland contented on their small farms, whatever these farms may be in a general point of view, with reference to the prosperity of the country. So mach for the extensive devastation of the Marquis of Lansdowne, and the suffering victims of his Irish desolations. We trust our contemporary will see the propriety of making the amende honourable to the Noble Marquis for the injustice he has done him, in which we have unwittingly been participators. The au thority on which we speak enables us to say that there is not the slightest fbundation for the ac cusation of our contemporary. It is one thing to drag a man like the Duke of Newcastle, who seems to set power at defiance, before the tribu nal of the public, and another to bring the pri vate affairs of a man before . the public without any cause whatever.—Moriung Ch 1011 Our readers will find in another column a report. of a most respectable Meeting of Coun try Gentlemen and Farmers, held yesterday at the York Hotel, Bridge-street, Blackfriars, at which resolutions were adopted, calling for the repeal of the Malt and Beer Duties. One of the speakers, Mr. Healy, observed drily, that " our Government was t 6 best of possible Go vernments, but it was nece'esary to watch it closely with reference to its expenditure. An honest farmer, a neighbour of his, was accus tomed to say that the Clergyman of his parish was a very good Clergyman, and that he gave very good sermons; but that the Ecrmons were plaguy dear, for that one week with e.nother they cost 19/. a piece. So he said of the Govern ment. It was a very good Government, but it was a plaguy dear one; and it was the duty of every real friend to his country to watch over the public expenditure, and to procure the Abo lition or restriction of such obnoxious and op, pressive taxes as those on malt and beer, if possible." The Country Gentlemen of England have grossly neglected their duty hitherto, for they have cheered on tho Government in all the mad schemes which have entailed such heavy burthens on us. But better late than never. We hail this attempt at a change of system, and hope that the meeting of Blackfriars will be speedily followed by meetings throughout all parts of the country. If the gentry have only the virtue to make a stand, the Administration must yield. They have nothing to do witl details. All that they have to con sider is the abolition of taxes. The Government, when without the means, will devise in what branches economy can be most safely introduced. Every man who is at all acquainted with the domestic history of this country, knows that the tax on malt, and the hundred absurd regulations connected with it, have made it impossible for the labouring classes to have beer at home, and that they have been driven forcibly to the public-house. The change has been most unfortunate. The poor man, as is re marked by the Rev. Mr. Townsliend, when he had beer at home, drank no more than was necessary, and his family enjoyed his pre sence of an evening ; but when once in the pub lic-house, he was not always able to leave it when he ought to have done so. Demoralize tion treads closely on the heels of the tax. It happens, singularly enough, in thi s country, t h at ]most t h at ip other countries is considered the essential expenditure of Government is pro vided for by the people themselves. The taxes in England are therefore far more superfluous than in any other country. Our insular situa tion renders our defence far more easy than the defence of other countries. How then happens it that we are so much more taxed than other countries? The following extract from a Sun day contemporary (the Exanziner) will serve partly to answer this question : " Common distrust perpetuates common impro bity. A man might reform himself, if he were as sured that his right and left neighbour were self reforming also; bit his argument is, Why should I renounce advantages which others will take of me ? Why should I refuse the bribe, and suffer the persecution of power, while the corrupt flourish, profit by my surrender, and scoff at my scruples ? The same cause which makes men, brave indivi dually, fly in mol,s, makes even the well-disposed rogues of custom in the world. Hazards and sacri fices must be mutual, or rare indeed is the virtue to render them. "An anecdote may illustrate the position. The monkeys in Exeter 'Change used to be confined in a line of narrow cages, each of which had a pan in the centre of its front for the tenant's food. Chanc ing to be present one evening at supper-time, we observed that when all the monkeys were suppiied with their messes, scarcely any one of them ate out of his own pan. Each thrust his arms through the bars, and robbed his right or left hand neighbour. Half hat was so seized was spilt and lost in the conveyance, and while one monkey was so unpro fitably engaged in plundering, his own pan was ex posed to similar depredation. The mingled knavery and absurdity was shockingly human. had a monkey reviewer, however,admonished the tribe of the aggre gate of loss to the animal stomach, and besought them to commence the reform of honesty each on himself, what monkey would have bad sufficient re liance on his neighbour's virtue to commence the practice of forbearance ? Placing the cages more apart seemed the more rational scheme of reform." The gentry of England, like the monkeys, were tickled with the idea of cheating their neigh bours. All of them Jobbers, they have quartered sons, brothers, nephews, cousins, on the public, in one shape or other. And now they begin to have a suspicion that they have been all the time cheating themselves. Another illustration may be found in I-Icgarth's " March to Finchley," where a fellow who is laughing outrageously at a trick on another, is himself the object of a piece of cheatery. Better, however, as we said, late than never. Let the gentry make a stand against taxes, and leave the Government to find out economy. A man can only spend what he has. It is the same with Governments.—ibid. If the New Police system is to give public satisfaction, it must work in somewhat a different way from what it does at present. Every night we receive a number of reports of cases from police-officers which place the new guardians of the peace and morals of society in no very favourable point of view. We did not spare the old system of the nightly watch ; we described it, as the public too generally experienced it—a mockery of the protection of life and property. We demanded its improvement, or the substitu tion of something better in its place. A plan of sweeping reformation by Government itself was at length announced—great promise and parade accompanied the introduction of the new system. The public were carefully informed that none but able-bodied men were to be employed, and that the scrutiny into the character of candidates was so severe it was next to impossible for any but persons of unexceptionable conduct and morals to find admission into this chosen band of reformed and purified police. It often hap pens that a new actor, or a dramatic piece of some merit, is injured by the circulation of in judicious " puffs preliminary," which lead the public to form much higher anticipations of the ' " forthcoming novelty " than the experiment justifies. Something of this sort has happened with regard to the new police. The Ministerial Press had been preparing the public to expect such wonderful improvements, that even a par tial failure would naturally excite a deeper feel ing or dissatisfaction. That the plan is a failure, as far as it has yet developed itself, is the general opinion. It is now sufficiently obvious that a great proportion of improper characters had been admitted into the " regenerated " police, who ought to have made, on their first appearance before the public, a good moral im pression. Many have been brought up to police offices for drunkenness, and sonic for worse of fences. Then, as to bodily powers, certainly no small number of them are below par;—but this comes, we suppose, of the smallness of their wages. If able-bodied men, with character, get as much for their labour in London any other way as they are allowed under the police system they will not cuter the latter, because the duties are more severe than in almost any other sort of employment. Parsimony in such matters is a waste, and not a saving, of the public money.— It is better to give more liberal terms to have the public work done well, than, for the sake of a miserable economy, to have it ill done, or not done at ail. But then, we may be asked, have we not been the advocates of economy, and have we not rather called out for retrenchment on the part of the Administration, than additional en penditure ? Undoubtedly ; our economy, how ever, does not mean a niggardly penury with re gard to the humbler agents of • Government, to enable rich and great men to enjoy bloated sine cures, or squander the public revenues in luxu• rious extravagance. The present Government had held out great promises of retrenchment and economy ; but, though they have pared down the salaries of poor clerks, c4rtailed the allow ance:; of half-pay officers, and limited policemen to wages tb4t, cannot give them a decent sub sistence, we hear cf no great sinecure, on its falling vacant, being abolished, and its revenue appii.d to relieve the burdens of the people. Yet the abolition of one or two of those rich e,;:cres cences of state wool afford means to enable the to be better paid, and the public better protected. The state of the streets every night is quite enough to convince any impartial per :on that the new police is not a very efficient body. Thieves and abandoned women plunder and insult passengers—offend decency and mo rals, in all our great thoroughfares, without much fear of molestation ; yet those who are so deli cate of meddling with the notorious offenders who disgrace our streets and public places are the persons most likely, on less excusable occa sions, to display energies beyond the law. They make up for their remis-,..ness in one care by arbi trary insolence in another. Thus the honest citizen may suffer from the violence which the bold violater of the laws has reason to disregard. Lindoubtedly there arr.._ many members of the new police who do their duty with firmness and sound discretion—and we give an instance of conduct creditable to come of the body in another part of our columns to-day, wishing, as we d o , that the public should have an opportunity of forming a right opinion, by being put in posses. sign of facts on both sides of the question,— There are other cases, which, if the facts are cor rectly stated, call for the dismissal of, the men. At a Police Office, a person who is by trade a broker w a s b roug ht up by a police-man, and charged with being drunk and assaulting him • in the execution of his duty. The officer, how ever, did not wish to press the assault, which made the Magistrate express a suspicion of his motive. The defendant stated that the • charge was altogether false, and said that he w as in his shop on Saturday evening, in the act of chastising a boy, who had been left to watch • his property, and who neglected it, when the police-man came into the shop and struck him a violent blow on th e h ea d w ith hi s s taff, which cut it open, and he then dragged him through the streets to a watch-house, where bail was offered and refused, and he was obliged to lie on the ground bleeding f rom th e head,' and it was not until twelve o'clock on Sunday lie was liberated on bail, although he was a housekeeper, living within a few yards of the office. Now this state ment may be true or it may not—it came to us in the shape of a police report, and we do not vouch for its correctness—but it demands in quiry. If such oppression and violence have been practised they ought to be stigmatised by the superiors of the New Police as they deserve, lest the example might be contagious, and give colour to the charge of military despotism—but if the statement be a false one, the investigation of the truth will exonerate the police from the odium of a charge likely to make a very bad im- ' pression.—Morning Herald. In another part of our Paper will be found an account of a meeting which was held yesterday, on the subject of the malt and beer duties ; and glad we are that it has been taken up in the stre nuous :;tanner in which it is now likely to be prosecuted. There are few taxes more oppres sive in every respect than those which are im posed on malt and its products ; and none which bear with greater severity on the comforts, not of the labouring classes only, but of nearly three-fourths of the whole population of the country. The amount of the tax is enormous— the mode of its collection obnoxious and expen sive, and its direct tendency that of benefitting the rich at the expellee of the poor. A diminu tion of the tax to one-half of its present amount would do no injury to the revenue, while it could not fail to operate a most beneficial increase in the consumption of malt liquors, both with re spect to the labourer, the agriculturist, and the land-owner. More barley would be consumed in malt, and a better price would be given for it to the farmer, and a better rent again by the latter to the land-owner. There exists, in fact, every reason for greatly diminishing th e am o unt of the present taxes on malt and beer, and none that has yet been discovered for continuing them at their present rate.—Morning Advertiser. RUSSIA. Although we have given some details of the statistics of this mighty empire on former occasions, we owe it to our readers not to withhold further elucidations of so engrossing a subject, at a period when it must be peculiarly desirable to them to pos sess data of a correct and authentic character. And such, we can assure them, is the nature of the in formation which we now proceed to lay before them. The empire of Russia takes precedence of every other nation in Europe, as regards its extent and population. The cumbers of the motley race by which it is tenanted amounted at the close of 1828, to 62,592,000 souls, of whom the following is a classification by distinct nations :- 1. SlavorOans 54,000,000 of 7 grades. 2. Finlanders 3,000,000 11 3. Tartars 2,500,000 10 4. Caucasians b. Germans 6. Mongolians 320,000 3 7. Esquiniaux 90,000 7 8. Samojeds 70,000 14 9. 3lansurs 65.000 10. Indians 11. Kamtsebadales 12,000 3 12. Unknown origin 1,000,000 11 62,592,000, of 83 various grades or races of human beings. In respect of the religious creeds professed by this party-coloured multitude, it falls under the subse grumt heads, according to an estimate made two years ago : Greeks 46,300,000 Lamaitcs 210,000 Catholics 6,000,000 Reformed Church 81,000 ! Mabonietans 3,300,000 Armenians. Lutherans ... 2,600,000 Herrnhutters lO,OOO Shamanese... 700,000 Mennonites 6,000 Jews 600,000 Filipcnese ........ 3,000 The population of Russi a in Europe,indepen dently of her Polish possessions (which in 1827 con tained 3,850,658 souls), amounted in that year to 44,603,600, which is double that of Great Britain. Relatively to the other states of Europe, it is ex tremely thin of inhabitants, and stands inferior even to Norway and Sweden in density of population. In financial respects, the following present general results for the year 1827 : R. X. Revenue (Poland inc1u5ive)....135,338,333-17,291,600 Expenditure National Debt 300,000,000-37,500,000 The military force consists—in infantry, of 23,800 guards and 294,600 of the line; in cavalry, of 63,520 ; of 24,000 irregulars ; 360 pieces attached to the horse, and 732 pieces attached to the foot ar tillery, forming a total of 47,058. This is the amount of the regular establishment ; but, in time of war, like the present, it is greatly augmented by levies under the Imp er i a l u k ase . The Polish army consists of 50,000. The Russian navy, at the beginning of 1828, com prised 50 ships of the line, 35 frigates, and above 100 other large vessels, besides floating-batteries, gun-boats, gallies, &c.,—tae whole manned by somewhat more than 50,000 sailors. This establish ment has of late been musiderably increased. The whole empire does not present above 1,840 cities and towns, 1,210 strong places, and 227,100 villages and hamlets. Among the first mentioned are Petersbnrgh, 325,000; Moscow, 260,000; Warsaw, 126,443 ; Kiew, 10,000 ; Sandomir, 50,000 ; Odessa, 40,000 ; Riga, 47,000 ; Tula, 36,000 ; Kaluga, 25,000; Kasan, 50,000 ; A,tra• chan, 36,000; and Irhutzit, 30,000.—Literdry Gazette. We have this day the most painful duty of recording one of the most destructive fires which has oc curred in this neighbourhood fur some years past. This morning (Friday), between twelve and one o'clock, the inhabitants of Stevenage were aroused ;by the watchman giving the alarm of fire, which, it appeared, had broken out in an out-house iu the yard of the White Hart public hous2, situated in the centre of the town. Mr. HUM), the landlord, and his wife and child, had been some time in bed, leaving all safe when they retired to rest. Mr. Rupp had scarcely time to get possession of his money and papers, before the fire communicated to his dwelling-house, which in a few seconds was raging in uncontroullable flames. Himself and family, as well as the neighbours on each side, to whose dwellings the fire had also communi cated, escapul from their homes almost in a state of nu dity, and were hospitably received by the inhabitants on the opposite side of the street. The destructive element almost immediately communicated to the adjoining pre mises, and nine houses, together with the out-buildings, presented one grand mass of fire. The Stevenage engine was soon on the spot; but, owing to thedifficulty of pro curing wat.ar, a pond at theßlertfOrd entrance of the town affording the only means of supply, it was of little service in arresting the conflagration, which was awfully impos ing. The whole of the houses, nine or ten in number, with a great portion of their furniture, &C. were totally consumed, as well as four valuable horses, carts, pigs, poultry, &c. It is impossible, in the conf us i on i n w hi c h every thing is at this time , to conjecture the amount of property consumed, but we fear it will not fall short of 4,000/. or 5,000/. Some portion of the property is in sured in the Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, and some in the ether Fire Offices.—Jlerts Maury, O tt , 3. MALT DUTY. A Meeting was yesterday held at the York Hotel. Bridge-street, Blackfrilrs, to consider of the expe diency of " Petitioning Ministers for the total re peal, or at least a material reduction, of the Duty on Malt." The Meeting was very respectably, but not nu merously attended. Mr. Curteis, son of the Mem bar for Sussex, took the Chair, on the proposition of Mr. Ellis, which was unanimously agreed to by the company assembled. Mr. Ews then rose to move the Resolutions which had been prepared for the purpose of being laid before the Meeting. The great object, he ob served, was to enable the labourer to supply himself at a cheap rate with the wholesome beverage of beer—which, owing to the heavy duty on Malt, the • pour could not at present procure. The consequence of the Malt Tax was, that although the population • of the country had been doubled in the course of a century, there was scarcely as much beer consumed now as was consumed a century ago. He was con vinced that the abolition of the Malt Tax would be attended with the greatest benefit, not orgy to the agricultural interests, but also to the manufacturing and commercial interests ; and that, above all, it would be attended with the greatest advantage to the poor and the labouringclasses of thecommunity. Ile then gave a strong picture of the injury done to the health, and even morals of the labourer, from the impossibility of his enjoying the wholesome beverage to which the English labourer had been in past times accustomed, and which, considering how remarkably well the soil and climate of England were adapted to the production of barley, might be considered the natural beverage of the country. lle was also convinced that this very ob noxious tax might be abolished without much injury to the revenue, and without the necessity of having recourse to a property tax, which in time of peace he thought highly objectionable. If a Deputation were to wait on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to propose and urge the repeal of this tax, he perhaps would admit that the tax was objectionable, but would contend that it was necessary that those who insisted on its repeal should show either that there was a surplus revenue, or that a substitute might be found. He did not mean, at that time, to enter at length into the discussion of that subject; but he believed that he was prepared with a good answer to the objection. To be sure, the beer was taxed as well as the malt ; and some might, perhaps, sup pose that it would be of more advantage to the poorer classes to have the beer duty repealed than to have the malt duty abolished. But it bad always been a point with him not to petition the Govern ment fur what he himself thought was unreasonable, and he was convinced that Ministers could not af ford to abolish the duties both on malt and beer ; but of the two he thought it was better to apply for the abolition of the duty on malt, because that would afford relief to all classes of the community. Mr. Ellis concluded by moving the first Resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Bentley. The object of that, and of the other Resolutions, was to show that in the opinion of the Meeting the abolition of the malt duty was expedient, mid specially called for by the actual situation of the labouring classes of the community. Mr. FOSTER expressed his concurrence in the object of the Meeting; and stated that he was old enough to remember when the labourer brewed his own beer, and lie was convinced that he would still do so, were it not for this very obnoxious tax, — Its abolition would be attended \VIII] the most bene ficial consequences to the labouring classes of the community, whether agricultural, manufacturing, or commercial. Mr. QUIRTER observed that the labouring classes were in the most serious distress at this moment, and that it was the duty of the Government to re lieve them if possible. The distress had arisen to a pitch that could hardly be endured; and the best modes of relief would be to abolish the tax on malt, or the tax on beer, or to abolish both. The worthy Gentleman then stated his objections to the system of free trade, as it was called. It was said to be founded on the principle of reciprocity; but there was no reciprocity at all in the matter, considering that this nation was loaded with a debt of 800 millions sterling. Under such a state of things the system was absurd, and made us be regarded by other na tions as simpletons in legislation. As for a substi tute for the Malt Tax, they were not bound to find out one. It was for the Government to find out a substitute, or reduce its expenccs. The Honourable Gentleman then proceeded to make some remarks on the last Corn Bill, but was called to order, the matter being considered as irrelevant to the purposes of the Meeting. Mr. FIFE also argued strongly in favour of the abolition of the tax, and the importance of the re peal to the health and comforts of the labouring classes. Had it not been for this tax the landlords and farmers would apply much of their barley to the production of a most invigorating and healthy beverage for their labourers, which, as matters stood, they now throw to their hogs. It was the want of this healthy and old English beverage which exhausted the labourer, and rendered him reckless, which often drove him to poaching, and then to robbery. The taxes on malt and beer led to the demoralization of the country, and ought to be got rid of as soon as possible; and instead of confining themselves to one of them, he conceived that it would be better to attack them both toge ther. These duties, were, with respect to the la bouring classes, acts of oppression, and of such an oppression as the Despot of Constantinople would not have ventured upon. It could only have been caused in such a country as this, where there was a partial freedom. Certainly, if the nation had been fully and properly represented in Parliament,no such oppressive enactments would have been tolerated. Mr. HEALY stated that he supplied his labourers, of whom he had a great many, with beer of the same quality as he used at his own table—(Hear, hear ;)—but he would be able to supply them in much more abundance if these obnoxious taxes were repealed, and he was certain that the effect would be that the labourers would do much more work with comfort to themselves. If horses were sent to the plough from the straw-yard, it would be in vain to expect that they would do as much work as if they had been fed on oats and beans : and so it would be vain to expect the same quantity of work from the labourer, in his present comparatively famished state, as might fairly be expected from him if he were well supplied with this invigorating and healthy beverage. Our Government was the best possible Government, but it was necessary to watch it closely with reference to its expenditure. An honest farmer, a neighbour of his, was accus tomed to say that the Clergyman of his parish was a very good Clergyman, and that he gave very good sermons; but that the sermons were plaguy dear, for that one week with another they cost 191. a piece. So he said of the Government. It was a very good Governm en t, b ut i t was a p l aguy d ear one ; and it was the duty of every real friend to his country to watch over the public expenditure, and to procure the abolition or reduction of such obnoxious and oppressive taxes as those on malt and beer, if possible. Mr. FontinAm argued, that it was of more im portance to the poor to have the tax on beer re pealed than to procure the abolition of that on malt ; and he moved as an amendment, " that the word beer be substituted for that of malt." He after wards withdrew that amendment, and proposed that the words " and beer" should be added to the word malt, so as to state it to be the opinion of the meet ing that both taxes should be repealed. Mr.,Ews objected to both the amendments, and requested the meeting to confine themselves to the specific point which they had been called upon to consider, which was merely the expediency of peti tioning for the abolition of the duty on malt. It had always been his principle to wish only for what was reasonable. It would be highly desirable, no doubt, to have the duty on beer abolished as well as that on malt; but he dni not believe that the Government could afford to dispense with both, and therefore he thought it best to confine the resolution to the re peal of that duty Nv ich he thought on the whole to be most obnoxious. After some further discussion, however, the amend ment was agreed to by a majority of the meeting. The Rev. Dr. LAMB then suggested another amendment, the effect of which was to petition for the total abolition of the duties on malt and beer; or for a material reduction of those duties. There was no doubt but that if the total abolition could not be procured, a material reduction would be at tended with the most beneficial consequences.— This amendment was also adopted, and the several resolutions were agreed to. Pursuant to one of the Resolutions, a Committee was appointed to carry into effect the objects of the Meeting, and the names of the Chairman, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Healy, Mr. Foster, &c. were mentioned, with power to add to their number. The Rev. Dr. LIMB the❑ moved the thanks of the Meeting to the Chairman, and stated that it was highly satisfactory to see persons of property coming forward to promote objects of such great public ►mportance as the present; and when they did come forward, it was proper that their services should be acknowledged. The motion was unanimously agreed to. The CHAIRMAN, after returning thanks, observed, that if the Meeting could accomplish its object, it would be attended with immense benefit to the poorer classes of the community. He hoped that the sentiments uttered at this Meeting would find their way to the ears, not only of his Majesty's Mi nisters, but to those of the highest Personage in the community. The following are the Resolutions adopted by the Meeting:— " 1. That the present distressed state of the la bouring poor imperiously calls for the serious consi deration of all those who have the power to afford them relief. " 2. That a supply of wholesome beer is essen tially necessary to the health and strength of the poor generally, but more particularly so to the hard working labourer, to whom it may justly be called liquid food. " 3. That the excessive tax on Malt and Beer in a very great degree prevents labourers, as well in husbandry as in trades and manufactories, from ob taining this nutriment, so necessary for the support of their health and strength, and compels them to drink water, which, without supporting their ability for labour, has, in many instances, been followed by consequences destructive of health. " 4. That owing to the greatly increased and ex cessively high duty on Malt, the annual average in dividual consumption of that article, which was for ten years, ending in 1723, forty-one gallons and three quarts, has been so much decreased, that for the last ten years, ending in 1828, it has not ex• ceeded sixteen gallons and three pints; and for the last year, only fourteen gallons and two quarts, or about two-fifths of the consumption of 1723. " .5. That if the annual individual consumption of the present population was equal to what it was in 1723, it would exceed 8,000,000 quarts,_ being more than double its present amount. " 6. That the above-mentioned considerations induce this Meeting to recommend either a total re peal or a material reduction of all duties on malt and beer. " 7. That a Committee be appointed to promote the object of these Resolutions, who shall be em powered to adopt such measures as shall appear to them expedient, with power to add to their numbers." AMERICAN PAPERS. (From thQ New York Gazette, Sept. 17.) Ca?lain Bossiere, of the brig Seraphim, arrived at Baltimore from Chagres, whence he sailed on the 16th ult., informs the editors, that on the 11th of August, a Government vessel arrived from Guaya quil at Panama, the Captain of which came down bearing despatches from Bolivar. Nothing official had transpired; but the verbal report of the officers and others on board was, that Bolivar had just en tered Guayaquil when they sailed, the Peruvian army having abandoned it some days previous, after destroying or carrying off every thing Ike ammuni tion or articles of war, and were then at Piura. There had been a revolution in Bolivia. General Gamarra had sent the President of Bolivia, General Lamar, on board a vessel sailing for Chile, with pri vate orders to shoot him on the passage. General Santa Cruz had been elected President to Bolivia, and had dissolved the Congress. It was the general opinion at Panama that there was much important information suppressed by the officers and others who arrived in the vessel of Panama. Captain Bossiere came in the Capes with the schooner Spartan, whose captain informed him, that previous to having left Havannah, part of the men-of-war and transports had returned from Tampico, after landing and taking possession of that place. He further stated, that the Mexican troops had imme. , diately joined the Spanish army, and the Spaniards had met no resistance in landing. In a Paper of a previous date we find the: fol lowing : " FROM VERA-CRUZ,—We have seen dates from Vera-Cruz to the 30th of August, which state that every thing remained quiet in that place, and that the port was well garrisoned and defended. A par tial embargo had been laid on all vessels in harbour, but it would soon be taken of, as the Spanish fleet had not made its appearance, nor did they know or care where it was. There was little business doing, but the prospects for the ensuing season were very promising. " Fitor HAVANNAIL—Captain Russell, of the Alfred, informs us that the British packet from Vera Cruz arrived at Havannah on the 16th ult., and re ported that the Spanish expedition was landing troops at Solamarino, near Tampico." The Russian Navy, at the beginning of 1828, comprised 50 ships of the line, 55 frigates, and above 100 other large vessels, besides floating-batterieA, gun-boats, &c., the whole manned by somewhat more than 50,000 tailors. This establishment has of late been consi derably increased. KIRKWALL GREAT MARKET.—.The an nual Lammas Market at Kirkwall in Orkney, which usually lasts for upwards of a fortnight, has this year been sadly marred by the boisterous inclemency of the weather. The native Islanders, who fleck from all the surrounding quarters to lay in their yearly stock for sale or consump tion, were unable to put out in their boats, or only reached in small numbers at the termination of the market. The southern dealers (principally from Edinburgh and Glas gow) were detained from the same cause, and, though the Magistrates issued au order postponing the market for a week, the non-arriral of the Islanders frustrated the hopes of the few merchants who had effected an entry into the hyperborean capital. The untowardness of the weather was the more regretted, as confident hopes were enter tained from the arrangements and preparations that had been previously adopted, that the market this session weuld be much superior to those of firmer years. Some sales were effected in horses and cattle, but at unusually low prices. The Stromness market, which is held the week after that of Kirkwall, was also unsuccessful. A long continuation of bad weather told equally against buyer and seller, and prevented both from reaching the scene of their intended operations. The natives of Kirk wall, however, had their stated balls during the period of the fair, and were also entertained with some excellent concerts by Messrs. BoYLE, HusiTmt, and Mont, whose exertions were loudly applauded, and we:l supported by the inhabitants. As might be expected from the unfavour able weather, the crops in Orkney are this year very back ward. The fields have a bleak awl miserable appearance, much as the soil has in these northern regions been of late cultivated and improved. Various new buildings are in progress in Kirkwall, and the pier is undergoing extensive rep fir and A modern a d vantage o f anot h er tatureis improvement. also well worthy of being mentioned. A regular packet has been established between Thurso and the two principal towns in Orkney, Kirkwall, and Stromness, which plies once or twice a-week. Formerly a person could not cro%s the Pentland Frith without freightirg a boat or small vessel, which generally cost from three to five pounds, whereas by the excellent arrangement to which we allude, a comfortabl e passage may be effected for less than tea ehillings !-..lnverness Courier. FORTUNE-TELLING IN FRANCE• The vulgar in France are as credulous as the vulgar in England, and fortune-telling appear s lucrative an occupation on their side of the Ch an ' nel as on ours. The Gazette des Tribufla us contains an account of th e t r i c k s w hi c h one ° i the French fortune-tellers w as pl a yi ng in t he neighbourhood of Versailles, until she drew le r ' herself the animadversion of the police. A woman of the name of Belisson is imbtl ej with the maxim-- " Les sots, depuis Adam, scat en majorite." r Acting upon this principle, she has made a O f through the villages in the neighbourhood a i Versailles, for the purpose of discovering and duping those who are the m o st s i c k, th e inc ) i s credulous, and the most in lov e . Th e fal l o of Chernelle, living in the village of Montero was the first on which she essayed her art. She learnt that the wife of Ch erne ll e was ve ry 'I „ " and that her husband and her mother were lr dined to make any sacrifice to restore her I Q health. She went to her house and requested t° speak with her. " I can cure you," said sh e ' " a spell has been cast upon you. I w ill dirt cover who it is that has cast it upon you — I must first know the cause." She then P,r ° , 4 ' ceeded as our wise women in England were to proceed formerly in similar cases ; and hali* obtained a bottle, carried it away, but not eillP t % ; for the purposes of examinati on . B e f ore she We nt she demanded of the sick woman fi ve five-fOl, ; pieces, nine sous for the purpose of marking a oh' days' devotion, nine francs to get nine days' deo,' tion performed, an ell of calico, a small pot of ho'Y water, and some salt. Having got all this, a l ' went away and did not return for some days/ The condition of the sick woman did not prove in the mean time. The fortune-tellerr consequence, demanded of her dupe fresh obje ct : of value, and obtained a new chemi s e, 3 11 e. counterpane, a silver watch, and a silv er thilph le ' ie She went away again, and on her thi r d visit s ' o f declared that her charm was on th e p o int a working, but that she wanted a hund re d frs ll ' t in four hours, because in five hours sh e cou ld° l for six hundred francs prevent th e s i c k wal e from dying. At this demand th e e y es of I sick woman's mother began to ope n , an d she t o fused to borrow the sum dem a nd e d, f or s he no more than a single five-franc piece in her Fer e session. The fortune-teller then a pp roa ched dying woman, and by the idea of her approach ing death prevailed upon her to get up and borrow 100 francs of her neighbours. Thell ii ‘ happy woman got out of bed in consequen ce t ; and staggering to her neighbours, obtained 1 , francs, by begging 10 francs from one acq uai'' J ' ante, 15 from another, and so on, as if she h 3 been begging for her life. She g a v e th e moge,r.i so obtained to the woman Bellison, as also h e i last five-franc piece. She then returned to from which she has not yet risen. The of Chernelle never set eyes again upon th e ' plunderer, till they saw her in the custody of the police. A pretty girl, of the name of Celestine J a il ; come, was also the dupe o f h er art ifi ces . said with great naivete that a young GerrO: whom she adored, had returned to his of e country, from which it was not lik e ly that would soon come back to France. " prisoner," said she, " promised to restore hill' t `, my eyes, but declared that she m us t h a v e morel to , do it. I had no money, but I gave her first s shawl, and then a ring, with which she was °l l touch the holy sacrament, in order that it rnig'!, hereafter serve me as a wedding ring." young damsel saw nothing more of her 510,! . e and ring. Her mother was also anxious for the return of this young man, a nd h a d con jured th e fortune-teller to bring him back quickly, beta he he had forgotten to pay her a sum which owed her. A handsome soldier, a serjeant in the 6r , sl regiment of Swiss Guards, l os t a goo d rosi n sum of money. He b e li eve d it t o h a ve V ic stolen from him, and he wi s h e d t o di sc over 0 1 : 0 thief. Belisson, this clever c o ns o l e r of s t ile afflicted, obtains an interview with him. offers to discover to him the thief. She ° s 'i i ' e wants five pieces of silver, and in three daY5 in promises that she will make the thief appe 2r the glass of the room where they are s itting; The serjeant has no money, but he goes te i friend to borrow some. " You are a f°"" says his friend, " the woman is laughing at ye c Li e 9 The serjeant persists in his request, and five pi e tbe of silver of different values are placed ii' t he hands of the enchantress, who returns °n o t day appointed. But the serjeant has gone to with his battalion, and has given full powe i rs to another serjeant along with his form e r friell' ili e witness the appearance of the thi e f, w hose ° t he and address they are requ e st e d t o t a k e . I t ' ve d presence of these new f a ces, th e p r i son er ow o f that her charm would not work. The plec es d silver must be of the largest dimensions must all be equal. She must therefore il v i s g five five-franc pieces. The friend of our S' ho t serjeant would not agree to this sacrifice , ve y his brother serjeant demands it, and the 1 0 0 1 is placed in her hands. Nothing . more is h e of the fortune-teller. re' For these three frauds the prisoner was I vo hended—and this was her defen ce —" u se ' 'r d thei compulsion to the individuals who place I 101 money or their goods in my hands• bring g d b tl a i c a k t i s n i a ic s c s e e s s s c ; ot a i i l l c d i c l ur k e ne s w ick th p a e t r n so la o s s s , es a :i t i I they But no good, at least do no harm." pot " ," said the President, " you have e caused masses to be said." " That is trr eri t i replied the woman, " I was going to say t 'r • when I was apprehended. The fault of t , be e , l '' not being said rests with the officers of justice, —(Laur;hter.) t (01 The ' Court sentenced her to imprisome n five years. BIRTHS. On the Sd inst. the lady of the Rev. D. H. 3104' of a daughter. o f e ldi On ti.e 3,1 inst. at Fi e hb ourne , Chi c h es ter, th E. S. Gooch, Esq. of a daughter. J oft • lir° On the Ist inst. at D ea l, th e l a dy o f Sir of a son. 1 1" On the 2d inst. at Lower Clapt‘n, the lady of P . bury, Esq. of a s o n . id 0 f t he On the 30th ult. at Gl a d w i ns , E ssex , the Iv/ R. Rev. T. C. Glyn, of a daughter. il° l/ ' At 13areilly, East Indies, the lady of the Forbes, of a son. MARRIED. 1 1 . 1 On the 3d inst. C a pt a in H. N. S m ith, 0. t • a I Engineers, to Sarah Margaret, eldest daughter of pin, Esq. of liocklitle Grange, Bedfordshire. tr oggs re n i On the bth inst. W. B urc h e ll , E sq . o f Red 14° Soq• - to Sophia Agnes, eldest daughter of G. Kilgo's 6 Wosurn-place. DIED. f gr. A' On the 3d inst. Wi n if re d, th e b e l o v e d wi f e ° Rymer, of N,s,au.stleet, Sho. vliogi Oa the 4th inst. Matilda, o fifth daughter of g r. OM Hammersmith. ~.............."1 .°1 ,1 _.....-- 7 ------- ----- .14,, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED By MURDO Y° l) . - Tax OFFICE, 112, STRArr, Lomas.