The Sun. — London, England, 1823-10-24 00:00:00

TUE LONDON JOURNALS. DAILY Extracts from the Morning Papers, October 24. [THE TIMES.] It was reported some days ago, on the autho rity of a private letter from Gibraltar, that Ar pieties had escaped from Cadiz, and had arrived in 'the English territory. We cannot positively state that such is the fact, but it is highly pro bable. Lord Nugent, before he left Cadiz, had given passports to Arguelles, Galiano, Calatrava, nod Quadra, and had provided two brigs, by either of which the four Constitutionalists might escape. As it was not difficult to elude the French fleet, which appears to have been wretchedly manned and appointed, it is reason able to suppose that Arguelles and his friends have arrived safely at Gibraltar. It should be meUtioned to the honour of Arguelles, that he was fully prepared to endure the consequences of his conduct ; that he was ready and even anxious to terminate his natural with his political exist ence ; and that he not only abhorred the iden of flight in the moment of danger, but wished to give his country all that remained to him to give•—the example of an heroic death on the scaffold in the cause of liberty. His friends as sured him that they would not have insulted him with any proposal of flight, if his stay could serve the Constitutional cause, or if even his death could operate as an useful example ; but that he ought to consider that his efforts must be utterly useless when once Cadiz had fallen, and that he could not choose the mode of his death, which, to be an example, should be public ; but that he would be probably slaughtered is the general and indiscriminate carnage of a town taken by storm. He yielded to this reasoning, but was anxious that the Cortes before they dissolved should do a t least one act worthy of the high tone which they had so long held. Ile proposed that they should make a solemn protest, declaring that they submitted to irresistible force, that they made no treaty for the surrender of the constitution, but that it was trampled under foot by hostile soldiery— that Spain, and with it the Cortes, ware subdued by French bayonets—that r being con quered, they were of necessity dissolved, but that they gave up no tittle of the great principles of liberty, nor abated one jot of their hatred of absolute monarchy. This noble protest, which, if voted by the Cortes, would havo redeemed their last days from disgrace, seems never to have been carried, for what reason we have Hot present means of relating ; but we think we can vouch that A rguelles was not the man to flinch from the execution of this last honourable duty. It is painful to turn from the contempla tion of a respectable character like this to that wretched creature Valdez, to whom the defence of Cadiz had been intrusted. The most effectual, indeed the only effectual means of defending Cadiz were the gunboats in the, bay. It will Scarcely be believed that he had not taken single step to procure a servi ceable marine by exercising the suitors, und'etrcitstoming .them to naval tactics. This was'the morn inexcusable, us be well knew that the Spanish soldiers, notwith. b landing their gallantry in land-battles, lost all confidence as soon as they found themselves on another element, 111)(1 therefore required constant practice to make them etlident. Thus the boats, which, if properly manned and served, might have saved Cadiz, became utterly useless, and mere mementos of the imbecility or treachery of the Commander-in. Chief. [MORNING eon.] Dutch Papers to the 23d instant brought us last night the Speech of the King of Holland on Opening the extraordinary Sessions of the States General at the Hague nn Monday last. It is that of a Monarch who pays more attention to the welfare of his people than to the proceed ings rand revolutions. of other states which do not affect the interests of his own. With the ex ception therefore of a general assura►►ce that his relations with all the Powers Of Europe were con stantly distinguished by testis►onies of reciprocal 4triendship and good-will, we did not find the name 'or the conduct of any other Government once men ' tioned. But we find what must be more gratifying to his subjects, that continued exertions are made for the accomplishment of the Constitutional in stitutions of the► country, and the promotion of the general happiness; that education advances rapidly both in the high schools and in the lower ones amongst the plople : that the arts are in a flourishing state, the condition of the farmers and consumers such as not to require the interference of the Legislature ; and that the negociations opened with foreign Powers to obtain a regular exportation of national produce have reached a point which holds out hopes of favourable results. These statements and the whole nature of the Speech itself appear to us to display the charac. .teristics of a wise and truly paternal Government. [hie ttiviNo cuttoNict.E.] We received last night Dutch Papers, con taining the Speech of the King of the Nethef. lands on opening the Extraordinary Sessions of the Statei-General at the Hague On the Wth instant. in this Speech we have a striking in stance of the good sense of the Dutch. Agricul. tursl distress in Holland and Belgium, from the extraordinary outlay of capital on the soil, in Holland more particularly, during the war, when the Dutch commerce was completely at it stand, was very great on the conclusion of peace, and our readers will recollect that that distress was at such a height last year, that a Committee was appointed to inquire whether it would not be expedient to lay restrictions Mk the importation of foreign pro. duce. The result of the inquiry, however, has been a conviction that the prosperity of the rtout►try would be best promoted by the freedom of trade. " The low price of provisions," says Iris Belgian Majesty, " favours all the undertak. kV of national industry." England owes much to the Dutch who preceded: her in arts and Civil• isation, and we suspect, though there may be a less plentiful crop of orators at the Hague than at Loudon : our Legislators may yet learn something from the less aspiring Statesmen of Holland. The Speech forms altogether a strong contrast to the inflated nonsense with which our Ministers gene rally cram the Royal Speeches. It dwells on objects really interesting to a people, to the pro gress of their industry, the improvement of col leges and schools, the progross made in that most important of all undertakings, a code of laws, the exercise of hospitality towards foreigners, &c. We observe that a plan for establishing associa tions for lending money on agricultural produce, with a view to' prevent the necessity of selling at ruinous prices in years of excessive abundance, is in agitation. These associations, however, will be conducted, like other banking establishments, with a view to profit. [IMMIX PREM . ! That the punishment of the tread-mill should have been inflicted on untried prisoners, is so obvious an outrage on all the common principles of justice, that but for the presentment of Mr. Martyn Stapylton at the Sessions at ,Northaller ton, addressed to the Magistrates of the North Riding of Yorkshire, we should have felt dis posed to doubt that any such instance had oc curred. We are still willing to persuade our selves that it must have been confined to this district, because the infliction of this punishment before trial is so totally unwarranted by the stat. 4 Geo. IV. and is so wholly unsupported by any construction, however strained, that can be put upon it, that we think no body of Magistrates in any part of the kingdom would venture upon a proceeding, of the legality of which they must be aware, and by which they must incur so public and so serious a responsibility. Persons in office are apt enough to violate the maxims of the Con stitution, but they seldom do so without some adequate motive ; and we can see nothing here which should lead to it. When any political example is to be made, then indeed some ram will be caught in the thicket, and there will be no dearth of assistants at the sacrifice ; but in the ordinary detail of magisterial duty, so flagrant a breach of law, and so punishable an abuse of power, us this would be, we believe to be rare. — It is on this ground that we feel inclined to de fend Mr. Peel against the imputation in the Morning Chronicle of yesterday, of avow lug himself " 4 partial to whipping," with refer ence to its infliction on any innocent or untried individual. We have certainly no very rooted attachment to Mr. Peel, but we should readily acquit him of any deliberate fondness for oppres sion of any kind. If colloquial pleasantry and natural goodness of heart were all that was re quired to form a great statesman, the Ilome Se cretary might take rank among his colleagues. But the political wisdom, the persevering inte grity, the manly, firm, honest independence, which go to the formation of that character—is quite another thing. In the mean time, let us give our thanks to Mr. Stapylton : such conduct in any of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace is an admirable example to them all ; and such an example, in that quarter, was never more wanted ; it is a quarter to which the public at tentio►t is at present very steadily directed. [mourn:se manat.e.] We see by some of the provincial Papers that the Weevers and other work people in various parts of the country are striking, as it is called, for an increase of wages. We hope that this contest between them and their employers will terminate without violence. We see with much pleasure that the old system of masters applying to the Magistrates to put down combination is comparatively abandoned. We hope that the work people will properly appreciate this new dawn of light on the part of their employers, and that they will not have recourse to rude measures against such as do not chose to become parties to their combinations. For our part, we think it as fair for 1,000 work people to say to one master, we will have so much wages, or wo Hill not do your work, as it is for that master to any to the 1,000 people, if you do not work at such a price, you may all depart, and I will get those who will. Our opinion of combination is, that, as an evil, it is greater on the part of him who employs 1,000 men, than on the side of the ',Mown employed ; and if it be fair for the master to turn off his people at a short notice, it is also fair for them to turn him off at the same short notice. If we were a Magistrate, and both cases came before us at the same time, we would favour the men in preference to favouring the master. This staunchness on the part of work people shows, that " manufacturing prosperiry," however, as it is called, is reviviug; but it was not to be expected that British goods should long remain at the very low prices thdy have been for these last two or three years.— Their extreme low prices caused them to force themselves for sale and consumption into all parts of the world, and. therefore an increased demand was the necessary consequence, which may account for the comparative scarcity, of which the weavers are taking the advantage they are justly entitled to, of getting up their wages ; precisely on the same principle as, when there is a redundancy, th© masters make no scruple to pull down the weekly earnings of the men. But Mr. Huskisson, last Session of Par liament, mentioned that early in the next Session he would bring the subject before the House us to the propriety of either altering very material. ly the present absurd Combination Laws, or of doing them away altogether. We hope that he will propose the total repeal. At the same time, we wish that every Act of Parliament made to regulate prices between masters and their work people will also be done away with. It is high time that the Legislature should retrace its steps, and remove by degrees all the shackles they have been so busily employed, fur so many centuries, its fastening on manufactures and corn.. merce. All that a Legislature has to do is to keep the peace with a strong arm, but to let masters aml men, manufactures, shipping, and commerce, alone, to take care of them selves. It has been an unfortunate thing for this country, that for so many centuries so many lawyers have borne the principal sway in the Houses of Parliament ; for those gentlemen, in general, think that every evil is to be remedied by a Bill : but there never was a greater mistake. It is also an error on the part of the people to look up to lawyers in most things with so much veneration. [NNW MIS] To those who feel an interest in the character of the English Press, it must indeed be mortify ing' to see how degraded a certain portion of it has become in the eyes of all Europe. Most cut ting is the remark of the Austrian Observer of the 19th instants- 44 The mass of uutruths cir culated by the <English Opposition Papers, es pecially respecting the affairs of the Continent, partly from ignorance, and partly from evil inten tion and factious spirit, is so prodigious, that to keep a list of them would fill a bulky volume in a few months."—One instance is adduced, because, says the foreign Journalist, "it is strangely and strikingly contrasted with the real facts. The Morning Chronicle stated that the King of Sardinia had made bitter complaints to England, because the Austrian troops did not manifest the smallest disposition to leave Pied mont, and especially the fortress of Alexandria. The facts were, that a time was fixed at Verona, with the entire approbation of the King of Sardinia, for the departure of the Imperial troops from Piedmont—that the term of this agreement were punctually observed—that on the 30th of Sept. the Austrian troops left the fortress of Alexandria—and that at this moment there is not an Austrian soldier remaining on the Pied montese territory !!!"—To this curious instance of accurate information we beg to add one out of at least twenty thousand that have fallen under our own observation. On the With of April last The Morning Chronicle said, in so many words, " Never was a nation of twelve millions of souls more unanimous in the defence of their Constitution, their fire-sides, and their families, than the Spaniards are at present ; and daily are they furnishing the strongest proofs of their ardour and patriotism !I !" Comment on this monstrous assertion is altogether superfluous.—lt is not for the idle gratification of pointing out errors in a ' cotemporary work that we notice these gross mis representations. Our wish is to impress on our countrymen the idea, that constant and systematic untruth, whether it be the result of ignorance or malevolence, is disgraceful to the English Press; and that foreign nations laughs us to scorn for the credulity with which we swallow re peated deceptions, day after day, from the same sources. What, for instance, could be more profligate than the successive contradic tions of The Times in its accounts of, the Nea politan Campaign I And yet it's besotted readers gave implicit credit to falsehoods just as gross, in its accounts of the Spanish War. They seemed to entertain neither displeasure nor distrust on account of having been deceived be fore. They evinced a repugnance to truth ; and hugged the Misleading Journal because it had mis-led them, and was sure to mislead them again. If this habit of courting and encouraging false news be carried much further, the Public Opinion of Englifnd must become a by-word and term of contempt all over Europe. The expression of the Austrian Observer is literally correct : a mere list of the untruths in the English Opposition Journals would fill a. bulky volume in a few months. And yet every one of those untruths was believed in its turn. People were just as ready to believe that Cadiz would never be taken, as they had been to be. Here that the French were repulsed from Corunna, Ballasteros and itiego were to cut off the retreat of the Duke d'ingonlewte, as Palarea and Cam. pillo were to raise all Galicia in the rear of Gen. 13ourck : and Sir Robert Wilson's wondrous powers in war and diplomacy were to be dis played in the Gnditaniau Island just as success fully as they bad been employed against General Morillo ! EDINBURGH AND ITS ENVIRONS. Notwithstanding the great increase of build ings in this city and its environs, during the last quarter of a century, they are still going on with astonishing rapidity, and churches and public edifices are rearing in quick succession ; a brief enumeration of the improvements may prove interesting to our countrymen at a distance, in particular to natives of Edinburgh. The most central is the intended magnificent edifice on the north end of the Earthen Mound, the erection of which has been protracted by the laborious process of driving nearly 2000 piles, on which the foundation has been finished, and the polished masonry is now going on. The noble column to the memory of that eminent Statesman, Lord Viscount Mel villa, in St. Andrew's Square, is a fine object. The colossal statue of his Lordship is yet wanting on the summit. 'rho new Episcopal Chapel of St. John, at the west end of Prince's. street, and that of St. Paul, in York.place, are ornaments of the richest kind. Waterloo-place, where the Post and Stamp Offices and Waterloo Hotel, one of the first establishments of the kind in Britain, are situated, though a short street, is on a magnificent scale; those only who witnessed the progress of the improvement, here can duly appreciate the stupendous tore of the undertaking, and the obstacles that had to be sur mounted. The approach by this road is sublime. The Jail and Governor's House a conspicuous objects : the same may be observed of the Bridwell, where the Governor's House has been improved by an additional storey. The new Observatory, to the eastward .f the old one, viewed from a distance, has a striking effect. During a period of distress under which the working class was suffering, the Calton Hill was greatly im• proved by employing some hundreds of persons in the forma. tion of new walks. This unrivalled eminence has also been ornamented with shrubbery. Muth was said against the taste of erecting the North Bridge buildings, but while it must be confessed they cut off the view of the Castle and Prince's -street, they certainly are a fine row of houses. A great addition is making to the Register House, at the back, which extends the whole length of that fine On the north side of the.town, in the Canonmills Distillery Park, a group of contiguous public buildings are in rapid pro gress, viz• a new Chapel of Ease for St. Cuthbat% p trish, the Deaf and Dumb Institution, and the Edinburgh Academy ; the first mentioned edifice is roofed, and the steeple finished, which terminates in an open dome and crosslet ; the second is roofing, and t h e Ad a d emy , w hich will be very extensive, is above the foundation, and the polished Masonry busily pro. ceeding with.—Drummond Place is nearly completed. Bel. levue Crescent at Broughton has been occupied as far as the houses are finished, and the foundation of the new church there, the back walls of which are 18 or 20 feet below the surface, is nearly ready for the superstructure. This situation is very delightful, and commands a fine prospect. Claremont Crescent, a little to the northward on the same road, also in progress, will be no ways Inferior. At the east end of Brough ton Place anew chapel, of the United Secession body, has been erected, with a noble portico of the Doric order. Leopold Place, at the western termination of the new London Road, is a fine pile of building, the corner of which, and of that opposite, are worth the attention of strangers, and the admirers of archi. tecture, but some of the former class may be inclined to ques tion the taste of a different order being adopted In the last erec tion, which is the lonic, while the other is the Doric. How ever, they form a noble addition to the incomparable street scenery at the head of Leith Walk. We must not omit notic ing Windsor-street in the immediate vicinity, running parallel with the Walk, which will be one of' the handsomest streets in Edinburgh. The Royal Terrace, on the north side of the Cal ton-hill, proceeds but slowly. In the north-west quarter, the Royal Circus is nearly finish ed and inhabited. A. vacant piece of ground on the west side is railing in for additional shrubbery, and we presume the same will take place on the east side, unless it is still in contempla tion to erect a church or other public edifice upon it. The plan of the intended elegant octagon in Lord Moray's grounds is beginning to develope itself, and at the west end of Queen. street, on the north side, several noble houses are nearly finish ed as to the masonry : A very neat row of houses has been erected at the beginning of the Queeneferry-road (byndoch Place), which commands a most beautiful prospect, including the romantic scenery of the Water of Leith, in the fore-ground; We have more than once had occasion to advert to the new gardens between Queen-street and Ileriot-row, while in pro. gress ; they may now be said to be completed, and are in the highest degree creditable to the public spirit of the proprietors. They occupy the space between Dundas-street and Lord We myss's property, and (with the exception of his Lordship's wall) are surrounded by a handsome iron railing. The grounds have been laid out with great taste, and, when the shrubberies arrive at maturity, this part of the town will be very delightful. It would add much, however, to the elegant appearance of the west end of the town if the Earl of Wemyss could be prevailed upon to allow an iron railing and parapet to enclose his garden and grass park on the north, instead of the high wall which fronts Heriot.row, if he is not at present inclined to dispose of them. We understand that the former proprietor of these grounds very readily gave permission to the inhabitants of Queen-street to erect a parapet and railing, at their own expence, opposite their houses', in place of a stone wall which fronted them. We are certain the proprietors in Heriot-row, could they obtain the sanction of the Noble Earl, would cheerfully do the same thing. We may also here remark, that were the wall on the east of the gardens, between Queen. street and Abercromby-place, taken down, and a railing sub stituted, it would be a great improvement. Another great ores ment is the nursery and fine walk westward of the Earthen Mound. On entezing by the great west road, the first conspicuous buildings that strike the traveller are those of Costs-Crescent, which, although only a few yards from the road, areso akreened from observation by a fine row of trees as to enjoy the pleasure of a country retirement. A number of other streets are build ing on the Coats property. In the neighbourhood of the Canal Basin, on the Lothian road, several handsome extensive piles of building have been erected in a short time, which have been as quickly occupied. At Laurieston a number of elegant houses have been lately built; end a new street is in progress, leading towards the new alerchants' 3ladien Hospital, to the west of Watson's Hospital. One of the finest situations in the neighbourhood is the elevated ground, known as the head of the links (Burntsfield), but now called Viewforth, and on which a row of handsome and commodious villas have been erected. In the old town the chief improvements have taken place in the centre of the city, where those unseemly obstructions, the Luckenbooths, the Jail, &c. have been removed ; and on the occasion of his Majesty's visit, the old Weigh-house was taken down. A noble front and piazza were added some time since to the Parliament House, the inside of which has been beauti fied and rendered more commodious ; the adjoining building, occupied by the libraries of the Advocates and Writers to the Signet, is well worthy of attention. Immediately contiguous is the County Hall, a very noble building. Side pavements h a v e recently been added to the narrow streets and lanes, and great pains are used in keeping them as clean as possible. On the south side of the town and vicinity of Salisbury Creigiea number of new streets have risen within these few years, and Newington presents innumerable pleasant villas, in a variety of Architecture, according to the taste of their pro. jectors. Another handeotne Chapel of Ease to the parish of St. Cuthbert's Is nearly finished at the south end of Nicolson street, beyond St. Patrick's-square, which will be a conspicuous object to the eye of the traveller entering from the south. The front is partly of the Doric order, and the steeple will be 110 feet high, terminating in a dome, surmounted by a cast metal lantern ball, and vane, the point above which will be of crys tal, to act as a non-conductor to lightning. The interior is semi-circalar, calculated to hold neatly 1000 persons, anti will be very neat. A new church has been erected in Nicolson. street, viz. Dr. Jamieson's, the front Gothic; and the Afetho (lists have built a very handsome chapel in the south. west angle of Nicolson's-square. Thirty-five years ago there was scarcely a dozen shops In the New Town ; now, In Prince's-street , with the excepti o n of hotels and the Alb yn Club room, they reach Hanover. street, occupied as such even to the third storey, and the next division west is fast converting to the same purpose, with fronts in the first style of itychitecture. South Ilanover-street will soon be all elms, anti the other cross streets are rapidly follow ing the example, nor has St. Andrew's Square escaped the in novation. The tame uniformity of the old New Town has long been complained of, but this fault is getting rid of by giving an additional story to a great number of houses, although certainly not adding to the beauty of the town. Theyenerable Cowgate and Westport have been adorned with several good looking substantial tenements, and even the West Bow has been found worthy of speculation in this way—would we could say the same of the Castlehill, where little or no improvement whatever has taken place, if we except the parade ground, which was some time since railed in on the north side, and is kept in good order. While the spirit of improvement has taken so wide a range, utility and comfort have not been neglected. The Union Canal was projected and finished with unprecedented ra pidity, and lairds great facility of transit in coals, stone, and general merchandise,. That article of first necessity, water, the want of which was long felt, even before the wide extension of the town, has within these few weeks been brought from the Crawley Spring, a distance of nearly nine wile d . This stupendous undertaking was also occomplished in as, astonishing short period, considering the immense labour in tunelling andlevelling, and, with the Canal, afforded the means of subsistence to many hundred, of persons. Great im provements have been made in the. markets and additional ones added. The arches of th e North Bridge, and a largo square area of ground on the west of them, were inclos e d for that purpose; the former are occupied as a fish market—the north side is appropriated to the retailers of shellfish.—the west and south sides forin the vegetable and fruit markets, and the ample space within is set apart for the wholesale dealers ; the whole under a code of regulations, which are exhibited in con spicuous situations. Those who recollect Leith many years ago will readily ad. mit that h has kept pace in improvem en t w i t h t h e metro polls. In South Leith, besides the extensive docks and warehouses, Custom Rouse, Exchange, Draw-bridges, &c. several good streets have been added, the old ones are improv log, and at the Links a number, of handsome bowies have been erected, the residences of merchants and others. Scarce ly a vestige of old North Leith or the Citadel remains; on their sites new streets have been built, which extend to the Battery, and with little interruption to Newhaven. Early in the summer of 1017, a handsome church was completed, to the east of the Battery, and being a striking object from the sea-ward, forms an excellent beacon to pilots. Newhaven, long the resort of the oyster go - urntunds of Edinburgh, has assumed importance since the erection of the pier, at which the 3teartaerry packets arrive and depart. It is rapidly en larging to the westward, w h ere T rin i ty chain-suspension pier presents itself as an object we ll wort h y of attention. It was erected for the more safe and convenient landing of passengers from the other steam-packets, and has fully an swered swered the intended p ur p ose . A number of good inns and ; taverns have been built, which will prove a great acconirno dation to strange's; and bathers ti e d comfortable quarters in numerous lodging-houses. On the higher ground many very neat cottages have been built during the last two years, occupied by the more respectable class of society. The different roads from the sea-side are excellent, and the rows of houses built upon them, with the quick succession of beauti ful vitiate are not excelled by those In the vicinity of London, while hire the romantic and extended scenery is nearly un equalled. The surrounding villages have participated in the getieral improvement. At Stockbridge we cannot but regret that the rage for building is fast destroying the delightful teener'? be. it and the neighbouring vlage of the W a te r of Leith, which had so long been a prominent natural ornament in the environs of our ancient city. On the great east road . , Porto bello has risen into enneequence, and become a fashionable bathing place, as well its the pereminent residence of a number of genteel families.-(Edinburgh Advertiser. ) MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. Yesterday the Magistrates were principally occupied in bear ing appeals, which were not of particular interest. Mr. PHILLIPS applied on behalf of Mr. Holland, late ot Covent-garden th eatre , f or a li cense to have music and dancing in a portable theatre, at Camden-town. His petition was signed by . upwards of 70 of the most respectable inhabitants of that neighbourhood. The COURT asked whether it was signed by the Minister and the Magistrates of that place, and what was the description of the theatre ? Mr. Holland said, that he had been the proprietor of the Theatre of Arts, at Spring-gardens, and was now proprietor of the Theatre of Variety in Catherine-street, Strand, where he exhibited representations of art and nature ; and, amongst other things, the rising sun, and a storm at sea. Harm& however, a greater stock of these representations than he required at Catherine.street, he wished to exhibit them in another theatre, which had been a portable one, but was now stationary on a brick foundation in Camden-town ; and as he was desirous of enlivening his exhibitions there by music and dancing, he was induced to present this petition to the magistrates for their license to do so. He believed he could obtain the minister's signature, if necessary; Mr. Williams's also he hoped he would be able to procure. Of Colonel Bird's he was pretty confident, as the Colonel had been his friend for many years. The CHAIRMAN informed him that these signatures Wire necessary, before the C ourt cou ld enterta i n hi s applicat i on; and as they had not been obtained before now, they could grant him no license for another year, this being the only day on which they were empowered to do so. Mr. Holland bowed, and intimated his intention of present. , lug his petition again next October. CREDULITY AND FRAUD. The following well-authenticated statement exhibits the most striking instance of successful fraud and easy credulity we have on record :—An American vessel of burden arrived at the port of Limerick some time since, char tered to the house of Messrs. Harvey, Fisher, and Harvey, merchants of that place. On board of this vessel was a man of colour, who served in the capacity of cook's mate. Though of most appalling ugliness, he possessed extraordinary curl. ning end quickness of invention. Tired of a seafaring life he resolved on the first opp ortun i ty to l eave the service, which he eventually found means to do, on the vessel touching at an American port, when he deserted, and commenced a new calling as preacher of the Gospel. But the Yankees not relishing his doctrines, or unwilling to have salvation dealt out at his hands, he was compelled once more to plough the " briny wave ;" and a vessel for Ireland then lying off New York. he entered in the capacity we have already de scribed. The Messrs. Harvey were members of the Society of Friends, possessed considerable wealth as merchants, and influence as citizens in the city of Limerick, where Sects. rianiern prevailed to a great extent. On his arrival, the African visited various places of worship, and f rom amongst Protestants, Roman Catholics, Quakers, Presbyt er i an ., C a l • vinists, Independents, Arminian', Walkeritcs, New Method. iota, and Primitives, he chose the latter as the people wham credulity and religious zeal left them most open to imposition. While the ihip was being unloaded, he found means artklly to ingratiate himself into the favour of the merchants to whom the cello was consigned, representing that he had been a very sinful man, but had been convinced of the error of his ways by means no less miraculous than the conversion of St. Paul when journeying to Damascus. He stated that he had been on board a large 'West India trader, end sailing. or.* night in the Gulf of Florida, the ship was struck by a thunw der-bolt, which took away the masts and rigging, killed seven of the crew, and laid him prostrate on the deck in a state of total insensibility, from which ht was with ,difficulty recover. ed. Alarmed by this awful visitation of Providence, he betook himself to constant prayer; and was one day prompted by sow/ secret impulse, for which he could not by any means account to take up a Bible belonging to another of the crew, which,; to his great surprise, he read with facility, though never be. fore having learned a letter of the alphabet; but a greater won der still remained to be disclosed—when he took up any other book, he found it sealed, not a word could he understand ! By means of this extraordinary story, the highly favoured African was speedily introduced to the then Mayor of Limerick, Andrew Watson, Esq., who was ardently attached to the Methodist worship, and who procured a place for the learned. Pundit to expound the hidden mysteries of religion. The novel ty of a Black preacher soon attracted many persons, and the wonderful story of hi s i nsp i rat i on a b ated nothing of their curio. sity or respect. Ina short time the sooty cook's mate was to be : 1 . found at the tables of the mostrespectable merchants and shop keepers," feasting sumptuously every day,"and " clad, (if ace in purple, at least in best superfine black) and fine linen."... Suitable provision was made for a regular weekly supply of money, and elegant apartments were also provided for this sooty oracle, who h a d now grown i nto the graces not only of the Methodists, but of the Quakers, who are in gens ral considered to be a shrewd and discerning people. Un fortunately, the extravagance of his good luck made him forgetful of his profession, and in an evil hour he wooed and won the affections of the housemaid where he lodged, and was soon after admi t t e d to h er f a i r embrases, which in due thus produced a highly-coloured proof that she had not always lain. alone. A disclosure of the circumstance followed • and those who had b e f ore b een t h e pr i ncipal advocates, now became the most inveterate enemies of this canting swindler. Legal pro ceedings having been commenced, he thought prudent to make a hasty exit one morning, and loft his deluded flock to bewail their own simplicity, and to wonder at his cleverness in cc trapping them. The intended formation of sewers will render the old joke perfectly obsolete, of 46 All, sweet Edinbro' I melt thee now !" Yesterday morning two old houses, is the oc. cupation of persons named Woo!per and Snaith, in James-street, Oxford-street, fell down with s► tremendous crash, and the intnates had barely time to escape from the ruins. Mr. Woolner had only reached his front door, when the premises fell in, and he received injury by some of the bricks falling upon him. BIRTHS. On the rid inst., the lady of 'William Sahull, Esq., of North-crescent, Bedford-square, of a daughter. In Cecil-street, the widow of the late Robert Houghton, Etiq.,, of Conduit-street, of a daughter. On Thursday, the 23d inst., at Maids Vale, Paddington, the wife of the Rev. James Stratten, of a son. MARRIED. On Saturday, the 11 t h i nst ., at St. Maurice's church. Mr. Neal., writing and drawing-tnaster, to Miss Fox, school-mis tress in the Cathedral Church-yard. On Monday, the 20th inst., at St. Mary's, Newington, Kr. 0. G. Williams, of the firm of Ankers and Williams, sur geons Etc. Great St. Th omas A postle, to Sarah, eldest daughter of William Hughes, Esq., of Walworth. Yesterday, at St. Mary's church, Newington, Mr. James Mathew, Ixworth, Sul%lir, to Miss Marshall, Walworth. On Thursday, the 23d inst., at Mary[aborts church, William. Richard (osway, Esq., to Elizabeth Ilarvie, youngest daughter of Simon Hallid ay , E sq . , of Lower Berkeley-street, Portman — square. On Wednesday, th e 22d i nst., at Iletnal-liesapated. Ihrt‘ Robert Playf a i r , E sq . , nephew of the late Professor Mayfair. Mil to Miss E. Whi te , youngest daughter of the late J. t'''. Esq., of Devon s hire-place. DIED. On Tuesday, the 21st inst., at the house of his brotber-in law, Nelson-terrace' Stoke Newin g to n , age d £ 2, Mr. Jairdeg# late of the firm of Harden, Sons, and Jaques, Upper Thema street. On Saturday, the kith inst., at their reeidente, 314. JAW.* Ilorslydown, S ara h M ar i a, wife of Mr. James Burgess, iu 4itth year. On Sunday, Oct. lit at Brixton, Mn. FiHingham, Mot* daughter of the late Thomas Burne, Esq. of IVA!worth. On Tuesday, t h e 21st inst., William Moore, Esq., Natt ier ' of Church -street, Westminster, in the 44th year of his age. On Tuesday, the 14th inst., at West Wratting, Elisabeth Richardson, a ge d 38, t h e wife of a labourer and mother of five c a o l r o d n g e d , co d n ie, ti l n o u f ed dro a li n s d y. p_ai s n i f h ti ce l dise ase children. This poor woman , whose remarkable patience uxu47 she had been tapped ~ti times, the quantity of fluid removed et each operation being generally six gallons. On Wednesday last, at Chesterton, Mr. John Cooper, for• merly of the Bowling G reen; and Mn.s Suivenoon, wife of Mr. Bennet Stevenson, farmer, of that place. a m se o ° n u teo lt f nAoptritul,Pr.r Printed and Published for the PROPIIIRCOIS, att J u SU" OrrICE, 112, aitrand, b 7 J. H. GARSTAIRS. j