The Sun. — London, England, 1824-02-25 00:00:00

COLOMBIAN DEBTS. THE PUBLIC are hereby informed, that the following is the LAW finally passed by the COLOM BIAN GOVERNMENT, formally published in the OFFI CIAL GAZETTE, and now in force, to which the Commis sioners must conform, in the approaching Investigation of the Debts of the Republic : LAW. The Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Colombia in Congress assembled, having examined the Message of the Executive Power and the documents thereunto annexed, and in which the conduct pursued by the late Mi nister of Colombia, as regards his financial operations in Eu rope, is submitted to a resolution of the Legislative Body, and taking also into consideration— ' Ist. That even if the Ex-Minister Zea had been legally au. thorized for finance operations, and with competent power to solicit loans in the name of the Republic of Colombia, he only could have negotiated and contracted for diem ; but in no way definitely concluded them, and much less receivcd and dis posed of the amount thereof, without having obtained the pre vious consent and approbation of the Congress, or its express authority to receive and dispose of the same, without which the lenders could not advance the said amount, without spontane ously subjecting themselves to the contingency of an approba tion or disapprobation which subsequently might be expressed by the Legislative Body, exclusively authorized by the funda mental laws of the Republic to contract debts 'Ai the credit of the nation, and dispose of the treasure thereof; 2dly. That the Ex-Minister Zea, not only contracted in Eu rope a loan of two millions sterling in the name of the Republic, but he has also received, distributed, and consumed the greatest part of the same on his own authority, in making compromises of anterior demands not competently settled, and of subsequent ones which he himself has created by operations enormous ly burdensome to the State, either by increasing the capi tals, gratuitously doubling the intererest, and by acknowledg ing debts, some without the necessary vouchers, others purely gratuitous, and with exorbitant additions to many ; and, in fine, by receiving as money the obligations and bonds which the said Zea himself had given, by virtue of an agreement en tered into in London, on the Ist of August, 1820, to the cre ditors of the Republic, without their respective accounts hav ing been legally audited and passed ; together with other ob ligations lie also put into circulation in the same arbitrary man ner, without having in due time solicited, waited for, or ever obtained the approbation indispensably necessary for similar operations. idly. That the two countrier of New Grenada and Venezuela being united into one body of a nation, under the denomination of Republic of Colombia, on the 12th July, 1821, by a solemn act of their legitimate representatives, assembled for the pur pose of sanctioning this new political association anti its funda mental institutions; by the said act, the powers of all the pre -rious Functionaries and Public Agents ceased, and in conse -quence thereof also terminated the powers conferred under date of the 24th December, 1819, in the city of Angostura, on the Lt- Ylinister Zea, not only so as to disable him from continu :by virtue thereof, the diplomatic operations to which his iTlatructions were confined, but also chiefly from entering into T i ancial negotiations to whieh he afterwards sought to extend the said powers, at the time he was already informed of the s ubstantial change above-mentioned, as is proved by the allu sions he makes to the new laws, in the bonds he issued on the • 13th March, 1822. 4 thly. In short, that at the same time it is the duty of the congress to guard against the waste or malyersation of the pro. Perty of the nation, whose rights are deposited in their hands ; it is equally so religiously to comply with the just obligations in which their responsibility, honour, and reputation, are im. Plicated ; and wishing to consult and abide by these considera. li cins, and not defraud private individuals out of their just rights ; THEY HEREBY DO DECREE, " Art. 1. The compromises made with creditors, Loans con. 'oluded, and all other financial operations carried into effect in Europe by the Ex-Minister, Francisco Antonio Zea, are hereby disapproved. " Art. 2. Nevertheless, all the amounts which the creditors can legally prove to have been furnished for the Republic, in money and effects, together with their respective interest, are acknowledged. " Art. 3. For their settlement the Executive power is hereby fully authorised, so as to be able to do the same in the manner they may think most expedient. " Art.. 4. The executive power is hereby in like manner authorized to approve and ratify, themselves, or through the medium of such person or persons to whom for this purpose they may delegate their powers, the result of the said settle ment, so th at th ey may call in the ' obligations, bonds, or bills, put in circulation by the deceased Francisco Antonio Zea, and issue such as they may deem necessary as far as the amount aettled and approved of, which said bonds are to be signed by The President of the Republic, or the person exercising the Executive Power, or by the person by him duly authorized, so as to receive these new obligation s or bonds as numerical amounts in any other loan that may be decreed; and, finally, in order that they may name arbitrators, or friendly and conci liating referees, in the case or cases of any disputes arising with The creditors, whether in the territory of Colombia, or in any other country of Europe. - " Art. b. The aforesaid Executive Power shall be authorized to agree as to the term for the paying off of the amount which may be thus settled, as to the mortgages by which the demands are to be secured, and as to the manner in which the interest is to be paid, until the consolidation of the national debt has been completed, in which the Congress are engaged. `' Art. 6. Fin a lly, th e E xecut i ve Power is hereby autlio ved to remo ve a ll diffi cu l t i es w hi c h may occur i n t h e execu lion of the present decree. " Done in Bogota apital of the Republic, this Ist day of "uIY, 1623, an d 13th of Independence. (Signed) " JERONIMO TORRES, Vice-President of the Senate. " DOMINGO CAECEDO, President of the House of Representatives. " ANTONIO JOSE CARO, Secretaryof the Senate. " JOSE JOAQUIN SUARES, Deputy and Secretary. " Palace of Government in Bogota, this 7th day of July, 1323. Let the sam e be executed. (Si g ned) 4: F RANCISCO DE P. SANTANDER. Jc.'SE MARIA DEL CASTELLO, Secre tary of State for the Finance Department. ..... For LITERARY No ICE, see our Fourth Page. THE SUN. SOLEM QUIS DICERE FALSUM AUD 2 EAT • LONDON, tV.EDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1824. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. 'We have received by Express the Etoile of Yesterday and the Courier Franpis, from which the following are extracts : [From the Etoile of yesterday] Tile Journal du _Midi, received to-day at Paris, has published, under the date 12th February, fro nl Madrid, a Decree of Amnesty, which is not heli eved to be authentic. "ere arrived yesterday at the Bank of France alz. Cart loads of money in gold and silver, to the ; " "ut Rf 25 m illi ons . Thi s treasure comes 1 ° Toul ouse, an d was deposited at the Bank for the Baron Rothschild. ~f t" tes, on th e 25th F e b ruary , 99f. 50 c . f or ' 44° °eY ; Time, 99f. 75c. M[Pro m the Memorial! Bo7delais of thelsth ult.] . Paez de la Cadena, who we announced re time ago was appo i nted Spanish Minister at 14 °n, is expected daily at Bordeaux, on his v aY to hi s post. We understand that the Duke sp° Ca r l os will proceed shortly to London, on a , -cr et mission, and a ft erwar d s return to hi s Em 'Jassy at Paris. hol l' he Cr own P r i nce of Sweden will leave 11Stock towards the end of March, for Norway, to _ preside at the Storthing in his character o Viceroy. [From the Courier Francais.] PETERSBUReII, FEB. 2.—The Emperor has fal len suddenly ill, and is confined to his chamber.— The state of his Majesty is not however danger ous. The Grand Duke Michael is also indis posed, and his marriage with the Princess Char lotte of Wirtemberg is still deferred. The whole body of merchants of Odessa, as well as the Magistrates of that city, have just ad dressed a memorial to Government, in which they complain of the vexations the commerce of Russia is continually experiencing from the Turks. We are assured that this memorial has made a most serious impression on the feelings of the Emperor, and the Members of his Council. Some very par ticular instructions have, in consequence, been sent by Count Nesselrode to the Consul-General, M. de Minziaky, who is supposed by this time to have arrived at Constantinople. They direct him to require, as a previous con dition and a sine qua 710 N of any treaty with the Porte, the redressing of the wrongs complained of by his Majesty's subjects at Odessa, and other maritime places on the coast of the Black Sea. Crrr, , Twelve o'Clock.—Consols opened at 918 for the Account, and tali for April. In the earlier part of the morning there was little doing, but within this half hour an eminent Broker pur chased 120,000 Consols, which has not had much effect on the Market, and Consols remain steady at the above prices. The Express from Paris brings the Rentes 100 f. 25c. after 'Change on Monday. Spanish not known. FORNION MARKET.-In the earlier part of the morning 50,000 Austrian Scrip was purchased, after which little was doing. Most of the Fo reign Securities are rather dull this morning. The following Letter from the Admiralty was his morning received at Lloyd's : Admiralty Office, Feb. 24, 1824. SIR-1 am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, that one of his Majesty's ships will give Convoy from Falmouth to the Trade bound to the Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, and will sail from Fal mouth as soon after the Ist of March as the Trade shall be assembled there, and wind and weather allow ; and that an other Convoy will be dispatched in about a fortnight after, and so on as the state of affairs and the wants of the Trade may seem to require. (Signed) JOHN BARROW. To the Chairman of the Committee for managing the Affairs of Lloyd's. In offering to our Readers a few observations on the Financial Expose of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, it is but an act of justice to premise that some share of the disappointment felt by the public, on this subject, should perhaps be attributed to the circumstance that public expectation had been too highly raised, in CON.. sequence of the known prosperity of the finances, and of the brilliant, but illusory, because ex- cessi ve prospects, of progressi;e activity in all the great branches of the national in dustry, and of extensive and rapid diminu tions of taxation, which had taken such strong possession of the imaginations of the great majority of all classes of the people. Even now, however, the feeling of disappointment is not so much occasioned by the aggregate amount of taxation which it, is proposed to remit having fallen in any considerable degree short of that which was anticipated, as from the proposed re- missions themselves being such as the people ge nerally do not regard as being materially benefi cial to their welfare, or as calculated either to in crease the comforts or to advance the industry of the great mass of the community. The trifling reduction of the duty on Coals, for example, is a boon to the inhabitants of London alone, who, although they have hitherto been subjected to an exclusive tax upon this necessary article, are, it must be admitted, mach better able to sustain an exclusive burthen upon Coals, than many dis tricts of the country in which the working classes, from the low price of their labour, are able to afford the charge for fuel, even at the pit's mouth. Instead of the insignificant boon of 3s. 4(1. per chaldron to the inhabitants of the Metropolis, it certainly seems to us that the ge- 'feral welfare of the country, as well as the inte rests of the revenue, would be better consulted by a general remission of the tax on coals carried coastwise,—a measure which would not only be immediately advantageous to all the maritime dis tricts, but by confining the consumption of the coals found in the manufacturing districts to the countries in which they are raised, and of course lowering their price there, would have a direct and importantly beneficial influence on the manufactures, and consequently on the general industry and prosperity of the whole Kingdom.-- The diminution of the duty on Rum, as a boon, however trifling, to the West India Interest, is less objectionable than that given to the Metropolis; and for this reason, that the West India Interest is still suffering under the distress occasioned by the depression of its produce, and therefore re quires the fostering consideration of Parliament, whilst the population of London, although not so flourishing as to despise any additional advantage that may be thrown to it, is certainly not at pre sent in such circumstances as to render necessary the remission of a tax exclusively in its favour. Upon this point we will just add, that as the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER assigns 83 his reason for diminishing the duty ott Rum,—not the distresses of the West India Interest, but the principle, that it is no more than just that the West India agriculturists should be put on the same footing as their competitors in this country, by an assimilation of the duties on British and Colonial Spirits (tha differences between them as to local taxation, &c. &c. being probably thought to be compensated by freight, port charges, &G.) — we will just add, we say, that this principle ap plies squally to the agriculturists of Canada and of all our other transmarine possessions, and that we do not see, how, consistently with the propo sition laid down by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, the admission of their corn, and other produce, into this country, subject only to such charges as their distance renders unavoid able, can continue to be refused to them ! Not that we are so silly as to imagine that such a demand will ever he acceded to, or even to think, that except under safe and just modifica tions, really calculated to place the agriculturists of the Mother Country and of the Colonies on the same footing, it ought to be acceded to, — but that this is one of the innumerable facts which prove the utter absurdity of that general principle of unrestricted freedom of trade, on which it has in an evil hour become the fashion to legislate as well as to declaim, and that it is one of those innumerable facts which demon strate that every particular question of legislation, affecting the interests, the industry, or the rights ) of any portion of the people, ought not to be, and cannot possibly be, determined on any ge neral princz:ple, but on its own particular merits, and on a wise and just estimate of the amount of advantage or disadvantage likely to ensue from its decision.—The next point to which " be: leave to advert, is the proposed remis sion of (h e duty on the importation on Foreign Wool, accompanied by a proposition for permit ting the free exportation of British Wool. It is admitted by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER that th e d u ty on t h e i mportat i on o f W oo l was imposed, not for the protection of the native wool grower, but merely for the sake of the benefit to be derived from it to the Revenue. Why, then, a proposition for the remission of a duty, which was imposed for the sake of the revenue, should be accompanied, now that the revenue does not require the continuance of the impost, by a condition, the execution of which will sub ject the Woollen Manufacture of the country to the hazard,—aye to the certainty,—of suffering an irreparable and extensive injury-, is to us, we con fess, perfectly inexplicable. The very mention of the thing,---the mere revival of a project which has already been so often frustrated by the great exertions of the man ufacturers, and by the good sense of Parlia►nent, will excite the greatest alarm in Yorkshire and in the West of England. Mr. STUAR T WORTLEY, one of the Members for th e County of York, hip place, against th e p ha ro i p al pd, pr a o n t d este i d ll , ts h i demanded a previous inquiry, before Parliament proceeds to the proj ect fe cat t c o on a s i tl e e t ra t t i i , o e n calculated so deeply large body of his ionfteraescon stituents, and, through them, of the community at large, declaring that lie would rather consent o a perpetual duty on the importation of foreig wool, than consent to the exportation of woo of our own growth. (We shall resume this subject to-morrow.) EAST INDIA Houst.—A Meeting of the Pro prietors took place this morning, at the Com pany's house, in Leadenhall-street, for the pur pose of taking into consideration the laws re specting llayleybury College. No allusion to the Marquis of HASTINGS had occured when our Paper went to press. The Court were occu pied with the subject of the College. The tribute which Mr, CANNING last night paid to the professional wisdom and rectitude of the LORD CHANCELLOR was liberal and just,as well as eloquent in a high degree. It was well merited by the distinguished i►►dividual, and proved the falsehood, if not malignity, of those rumours which were in circulation a few months ago, im plying that the LORD CHANCELLOR objected to the introduction of Mr. CANNING into the Ca binet, and that differences subsisted between these eminent characters, were wholly destitute of all solid foundation. Mr. BRouGHToN, who so long and so ably discharged the duties of his station at the Foreign Office, bas retired to the enjoyment, as all who know him must sincerely desire, of Otiunz cum dignitate, but his zeal for the welfare of the country will, doubtless, induce him to employ his literary talents whenever there may he occa sion to call them into action. Wo heartily wish that. the young men who may obtain the patron age of Government, will follow the example of so meritorious a public. Officer. THE KING. WINDSOR, FEB. 24.—Yesterday, at half-past three o'clock, his MAJEsTY took a ride by himself in his carriage through the town to his Lodge in the Great Park, and returned at a quar ter before six to the Castle. We are happy to say, that his Majesty continues in excellent health and spirits. FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS. Lord and Lady Fitzroy Somerset, at their house in Pall-mall from a tour; the Marchioness and the Ladies Cornwallis, in St. James's-square, from their seat in Kent; Lord William Russell, from Woburn Abbey; Earl and Countess of Darn ley, and Family, at their house in Berkeley-square, from their seat, Cobham Hall, Kent; Sir George Nugent, Baronet, M.P., at Reddish's Hotel, in Jermyn-street, from his- scat, Taplow, Bucks; Colonel Cransbrook, at Fenton's Hotel, St. James's-street, from his seat in Suffolk ; IL W. Newman, Esq. at Greillon's Hotel, Albemarle -street, from his seat, Sandridge, Devon ; the Hon. Mrs. and Miss Elliot, at the St. Petersburgh Hotel, Dover-street, from their seat; Morpeth, Northumberland. DEPARTURES. —Prince Leopold, for Claremont; the Mar quis of Exeter, from Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, for his seat, Burleigh, Lincolnshire. COPENHAGEN, FEl3.3.—Saturtlay last, the 28th ult., being the 58th Anniversary of the King's birth-day, the same was ce= lebrated in this city in the most loyal and affectionate manner. There was the usual entertainment at the Military Academy, 172 individuals, and 205 children, partook of an excellent dinner. The King' s h ea l t h w as drank amid the thunder of the cannon. Amongst the memorabilia of the day, his Excel lency the British Ambassador shone very conspicuously. His large Hotel was brilliantly illuminated, and attracted crowds of admirers throughout the evening. The Royal initials of Den mark were splendidly displayed, under a large radiant star, sur mounted by the Crown, in all the colours of the rainbow, by means of variegated lamps. There was a grand assemblage at Court to felicitate his Majesty. The Stockholm Gazette of the 30th ult. says--The day be fore yesterday the citizens of this capital gave a most splendid fete, at which upwards of 1,100 persons were present, including all the great Emvloyes at Court. the Military and Civil Offi cers, the Corps Diplomatique, &c. Her Majesty the Queen condescended to open the Ball with Mr. Arfredson, merchant; his Royal Highness the Crown Princedanced with Miss Schwan ; and, her Royal Highness the Crown Princess honoured with her hand in the dance Mr. Moll, Merchant. Instead of the form and Reideur, generally so much complained of in the courtly circle, here, where the happy amalgamation of the respectable citizens with the most illustrious personages of the realm took place, every thing wore the hue of satisfaction, joy, and good humour, anti the day will doubtless long be remembered with unmixed delight by all who were guests on the interesting oc- 1 casion. - , ..-,•41A, • °rit !, 6 ,, i , t , ,) - .ef ..,.*vi.- :' • • - 4 ' l , • ...- .i. E . •‘,...t . 3,- . - -... , , t • 4 ...,. ,''',-'• ~ g. I ...4,,,. . r. .. ...?..k_O '. -.: il- C ' s ' ~ ...,. . tit HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON. A General Court of this Corporation WRR held pursuant to the Act of Parliament, at the Freemasons' Tavern, on Saturday the 21xt instant, and was more numerously at tended than might have been expected at so early a period of the season. On the arrival of the President, Lard SALTOII 24", supported by Captain the Hon. W. Gordon, the Right Rev. Bishop Mac donell, David 31‘Dowe11 Grant of Arndilly, Charles Forbes the younger, of New, William Mackenzie of Gairloch, Geo. Kin. loch, James Gordon Duff, Simon M`Gillivarv, Grant Allan, Divie Robertson, John Macdonald, Alexander Macdonald, Es.q. and other Members of the Society. The Minutes of the Meeting of the Directors on the 7th instant, were read and confirmed. The following Officers were unanimously elected for the en. suing year, commencing on the 21st of March : PRESTDENT.—His Royal Highness the Duke of York and Albany. VICE:-ParsiDE'STS.---.The Right Hon. Lord Strathaven, Major-General Benjamin Forbes, Major-General Charles Tur ner, Colonel James Hamilton, and Simon M'Gillivray, Esq. 'TREASURERS.—Simon M'Oillivray, Esq. Divie Robertson, Esq. and Henry Longlands, Esq. AUDITOR3.—Grant Allan, Esq. James Beveridge Duncan, of Damsicie, Esq. and James Gordon Duff, Esq. COMMITTEE or Dr rtsecTous.—Robert Innes, Esq. David Chas. Guthrie, Esq.. John Macdonald, Esq. Nath. Atcheson, Esq. Buchanan M'Millian, Esq. James Lindsay, Esq. Charles Forbes, jun. Esq. of New, Hugh Fraser Sandeman, Esq. and William Mackenzie, of Gairloch, Esq. CHAPLAINS.—The Rev. William Mackenzie, and the Rev. Roderick Macleod, D.D. SEcnETAstrEs.--john Wedderburn, Esq., and Alexander Macdonald; Esq. The martial strains of the " Frasers' Gathering" then sum_ moved the Society to the dining-roots, where every delicacy of the season was served up, together with the more horaely dishes, peculiar to the Land o'Cakes. The health of the King, " Chief of the Highland Society," was proposed by the President, and most cordially received by the Company, as was that of his Royal Highness the " Duke of Albany," who had condescended to accept the office of Pre sident for the ensuing year. " The Royal Family," the" Highland Society of Scotland," and many other national toasts were given by Lord SALTom sr, to whom the Society expressed their sense of the obligations his Lordship had conferred, in constantly attending the Gene ral Meetings, and most zealously advancing the interests of the Corporation. It; the course of the evening the following Gentlemen, Mem bers of the Branch Highland Society of Bombay, were unani mously elected Members of the Parent Society The Hon. Mount Stewart Elphinstone ; Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir Charles Colville, G.C. B. ; Alexander Bell, Esq. ; Guy Lenox Prendergast, Esq. ; 'William Erskine, Esq. ; John Wedderburn, Esq., Auditor-General; James Forbes, Esq. ; Sutherland Meek, .M A li. ; George Ogilvy, E sq . ; J. R . S teuart, Esq. ; Crawford M`Leod, Esq. ; William Jardine, Esq. ; J. A. Maxwell, Esq. ; Captain Thomas Riddoch ; Captain George Saon ; Captain James Stevenson ; John Milne, Esq., M.D. ; Captain Archibald Robertson ; Colonel D. Leig'::ton ; John Campbell, Esq. ; Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Hunter Blair; John Stewart, Esq. ; David Seton, Esq.; Henry Meri. ton, Esq.; Lieutenant George Grant ; Thomas Scoular Esq. ; George Forbes, Esq. ; Henry Michie, Esq.; William Gordon, Esq. ; Robert Keith Arbuthnot, Esq. ; George Smytton, Esq. The company did not separate till a late hour. Yesterday the Duke of Yoax, as COMNIANDizr,- IN-CulEF,held a Levee at his Office in the Horse Guards, which was attended by General Cock burn, Major-General Sir Robert Callaghan, Major-Gen. Clay, Major-General Pigot, Lieut.- General Hay, Lord Hill, Lord Wallscourt, and about 30 other Officers. Viscount MELYILLE has been confined for several days with a severe cold. Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, Prince LEO POLD left town for Claremont. The Duchess (4 Gr.oucesTEß and the Princess SOPHIA, visited the Duke of YORK yesterday. Yesterday morning Viscount GRANTILLI and family, attended by his Private Secretary, Mr. JONES, and Mr. ABERCROMBIL, left town for the Hague. HABERDASHER'S ALm's Housr.—This once beautiful pile of buildings which were situated at the end of Piffleld-street, Hoxton, are now levelled 'with the dust, in order to give way to modern improvements, after having stood about 230 years, and from the sound state of the ma terials were likely to have endured as many more. Is this demolition the result of necessity, or has it fallen a sacrifice to interested innovation ? The chief consolation is that a re-erection will ne cessarily give employment to industry and the con sumption of vast and various materials that may at least be beneficial to many individuals who will be engaged on the occasion. THE THEATRE. DituaY-LANE..--We cannot but feel for Ma. nagers who are obliged to sacrifice to the vitiated taste of the Public, in bringing forward pieces which might properly be introduced at Minor Theatres, but which can hardly be deemed worthy of the Patent Boards. Last night a piece, entitled Rumfustian inamorato, or The Court of Quodlibet, was brought forward at this Theatre, the very name of which may be thought to justify our objection to such compositions. The truth is, that the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, in his Rehearsal, and of HENRY FIELDING, in his Tom Thumb, sufficiently held up to ridicule the Bombavt of Tragedy, and SHERMAN closed the subject in his admirable Critic. The Performers last night discharged their duties with spirit and. humour, and afforded much amusement to the unrefined part of the audience, but the piece-, itself could not but make " the judicious grieve." COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held at Guildhall. The Court was specially called, for the purpose of consider. ing the subject of antapplication which had been made to Par liament for power to erect docks between the Tower and the London Docks. A memorial was presented from the Yeomen of the Water side, stating, that in con sequence .o f t h e obstructions they had met with, they could not execute the order of the last Court, in respect of placing salesmen at the standings to which they had been appointed, and that actions had been brought against the Yeomen for trespasses in such their endeavours. The Court instructed the Yeomen to enforce their former order, and requested the Lord Mayor to afford such assistance to the officers as might appear necessary ; and the City Soli. citor was directed to defend the actions brought against the officers. A petition was presented from several inhabitants of Upper Thames-street, praying the Court to consider the expediency of widening the said street, so as to afford conveni ence to t h e pub lic, as, in th e event of the new Docks being made, much mis chief would arise to the petitioners, and great inconvenience to the public.—lt was referred to the Improvement Committee: Petitions were then presented from Mrs. Butcher, Mr. Butcher, and Mr. Matthew Bell, in relation to the standing!: in Billingsgate Market; which being read, were referred to the City Lands Committee, to examine and report thereon. The Remembrancer then laid before the Court a copy of the Petition which had been presented to the House of Commons, for an Act to construct additional Docks, occupying the space between the Tower of London and the London Docks, with warehouses and othe r wor k s ; w hi c h was referred to the 'Navi gation Committee. Upon a Repo r t f rom t h e C omm i ttee for General Purposes, the Court voted the sum of 3001. in aid of the funds of the Guardian Society. The Committee appointed in respect of Tithes in London presented a report, for affording the assistance of the Recorder, Common-Sergeant, Town-Clerk, and Solicitor, to an inhabitant of the parish of St. Olave, Hart-street, in a suit instituted against him by the Rector, for the recovery of tithes, at the rate of 2s. 9d. i n t h e poun d upon the back rental of his pry. mists ; which was read, agreed to, and referred back to the Committee, to give directions accordingly. COMBINATION LAWS, &c. CICULA , SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL R MAGISTRRATES PS THE MANU FACTURING COUNTIES OF ENGLAND. House of Commons, Wednesday, 18th Feb. 1824. SIR—I have the honour to inclose you a Copy of the Reso lution of the House of Commons for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the Laws respecting Emigration of Artizans, and the exportation of Machinery and Combina tion of Workmen, and to request you will make the same known to all within your jurisdiction, and inform them that the Committee has begun its inquiry, and are ready to receive such evidence as the parties interested may consider as important to be submitted to the Committee. If you will in form me what witnesses wish to attend, and the particular branch of their inquiry they are to support or oppose, I will en deavour to give you such notice for their attendance as shall occupy as little of their time as possible. I have the honour to be your very humble servant (Signed) JOSEPH II Wit. RESOLUTION ALLUDED TO IN THE ABOVE CIRCULAR. " Jovis 12 die Februarii, 1824. " ORDNEED—That a Sele c t Committee be appointed to in quire into the state of the Law in the United Kingltom, and its consequences, respecting Artizans leaving the Kingdotn and residing abroad ; also into the state of the Law, and Its Cerise quences, respecting the exportation of Tools and 3lachinery, and into the state of the Law and its effects, so far as relates to the Combination of Workmen and others to raise Wages, or to regulate their Wages and Hours of Working, and to report their opinion and observations thereupon to the House." MERCANTILE SHIPPING. DEAL, FEB. 24.—Wind E --Came down from the River and sailed the Orpheus, for the Isle of France; Hero, Ritchie, for Bahia; and Viscount Exmouth, for Palermo. PortrsmouTß, FEB. 24.—Wind E.—Put in by contrary winds the Ranger, May, from the South Seas ; and Elizabeth, Wickham, from Berbice. PLYMOUTH, FEB. 23.—Wind E.—Arrived the Euphemia, Lane, from St. Michaels. PALmou'rn, FEB. Wind S.S.E.—Arrived he Duke of Kent packet, from Lisbon : sailed the 15th inst t . Sailed the Montague packet for the Leeward Islands. Off Penance the. Swift, Walker, from Taragona. REMOVAL OF THE GUARDS.—This being the half -yearly day for the chariging qnarters of the respective Regiments of Brigade Guards that are quartered in London, all was bustle in South.. warn, Westminster, the Tower, and Portman square. As early as six o'clock waggons of every description were in requisition, conveying the goods, &c. belonging to the respective battalions to their new-appointed stations, where, in the course of the forenoon, they assembled as follow : —Those of the Ist Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, from the King's Mews, to relieve the 2d Battalion at Portman -street Barracks, who are ordered to Knightsbridge, arid the 3d Bat• talion of the same Regiment, from the Tower to Bird-cage•walk Barracks, instead of the 2d Bat talion of the Coldstream Guards, ordered to the former place, and the Ist Battalion of the 3d Regiment from Knightsbridge to the King's Mews, for the ensuing six months : they are a fine body of men ; and looked remarkably healthy. ROBBERY OF KTGW GARDENS.— Yesterday Robert Sweet, an elderly man of extremely respectable ap pearance was put to the bar at th e Old B a il ey, charged with having feloniously received five earthen pots and five plants, the property of our Sovereign Lord the /king, he well know ing the same to have been stolen by one 41lichael Hogan, servant of his Majesty. The particulars have already appeared in our Police Report.—The Jury retired, and after an absence of nearly two hours , returned a verdi c t o f Not Guilt.y. Suicxnr.-1: Coroner's Inquest was taken yes terday, at the Wbite Horse and Thlf Moon, London Wall, on the body of John Bywarth, aged 38 years, who, in a fit of melancholy, cut his throat with a razor. Verdict—" Insanity." CORN EXCHANGE, FED. The arrivals of Corn this week are only moderate,--Wbeat 2,052---Barley I,Boo—Oats 2,400 qrs. ; of Fiour the quantii is large, being 6,400 sacks. The Wheat trade remains much in the same state as reported on Monday, there being not mucu at market, and but little demand at present. Barley stUs heavily at the prices last quoted. Beans and Pease are without alteration : There has not been much demand for Oats this morning, but the supply being short, Monday's prices aro supported. /' nia - Sher' amp' rte 4 able• irrer ittee ve ral of