The Sun. — London, England, 1824-03-30 00:00:00

..Of many of the specimens they had originally parted with. ' Ile complained of the appointment of Trustees who did not or could not give their attendance. The. Lord Chancellor, it was said, had declared that he had never been at the Museum since Ire was appointed a Trustee, but once when he was corn pe'eled. He contended that scientific men should be appointed to such situations, and that if the British Museum were to receive collections of birds and beasts, at least they ought to preserve them from destruction. There seemed to him to be a deficiency in the department of Natural History, which ought to he remedied. They had, he believed, in one instance, la belled a cat as a tiger, and a lion as a hear, which could not but derogate from the character of the Professors of the Esta blishment. Sir C. LONG observed that had the Hon. Member for Shrewsbury given himself the trouble to inquire alittle further, be-would have found that many of the statements of the anony -3.10us writer in the Edinburgh Revi,:vg were totally without foundarion, and that the remainder were so exaggerated as to lead to false conclusions. The Hon. Member had said that very few of the collection left by Sir Hans Sloane remained.— He said that the insects were valuable, and ought to have lasted fif!y years. But Sir Hans Sloane died in 1780, and his collection was now upwards of a century old; and, when the Hon. Member said that there were 5,000 insects left by Sir Hans Sloane, he ought to know that there were in the British Museum 70,000 articles of that order of Na•ured History, .amongst which were included every one that was in Sir Hans - Sloane's Collection. These were in the Museum, and if not ex *sect to public view, it was because mei) , of them were arti elete that perished in' the light. Some of this Collection had certainly perished, but that was to be attributed to the mode then in use of preserving them. The Hon. Member said there were 1800 specimens of inammalia : but in fact there were • 1800 articles only, some of which were teeth, and bones of dif. ferent ?arts, but very few entire figures. The observations with respect to Sir Joseph Banks' collection, he would ,answer in one sentence, viz. that no step was ever taken with regard to shat - collection, but under the direction of Sir Joseph Banks himself. In consequence of what the anonYmous Reviewer had stated, an inquiry had been instituted, from which it re sulted upon the report of the intelligent Secretary, Mr. Henry Ellis, that 371. les. had been expended in purchasing back from Mr. Bullock what had once been in the hands of the Museum; but this purchase had been made at the express reconimendal tion of Dr. Leach. Mr. Bullock also had stated that he never purchased any cases pitched over, as represented by the Re viewer. The Hon. Member had been severe on the officers of the - Museum. A few books might perhaps be placed in their apart ments, but surely he would not wish to send such an article as a canieleopard, a bear, or a rhinoceros, into their rooms.—(A I augh.)—They were moat • valuable men, arid did their duty fairly, punctually, and satisfactorily to the Trustees. As to the misnomers of which he spoke, they had arisen from a person cleaning the cases having changed labels.—A very bad joke of that sort had been played off upon the Lust of that patriotic and scientific individual Sir Joseph -Banks upon which the label cf an a nimal was stuck. He miviit - as well say that the one threw discredit on the Trustees as triat the other was discreditable to the Officers of the Museum ; - when he stated that one of t'• OfficerS had an unsuccessful rival, it might probably be guessed from what quarter the --article in question proceeded. There were four Quarterly - Meetings of the Trustees, at which every man reported what he - had done, and what suggestions he had to make since the lest meeting. Upon these Sub-Committees were appointed, besides which there were Monthly Committees, and also six Committees of the Trustees themselves, who reported upon what they were required to examine. The only answer to all complaints was, that there was not accommodation in the present building. If there were, there could he no doubt that our relations With every part of the world would enable Us to make a better display than any other nation could. And when the Hon. Member said they ought to have applied to that House, he was sure that had they come down to the House three years ago anti called for a large sum of money for a large building to put the Zoological collection in, the Hon. Member for Aberdeen would have put on one of the most terrific econo mical aspects that he had ever exhibited, and he was not sure that all the Country Gentlemen he then saw around him would not have supported. him. He hoped the statement he had made would shew how little foundation there was in the st-te ment put forth by the publication alluded to on the subject of the British Museum. Captain M BERLEY knew that many presents had been made to the Museum of Paris, because there was no chance of -their being seen if given to the British Museum. Mr. IL GURNEY complained of the • illiberal treatment Mr. Salt and Mr. Belzoni had experienced from the British - Museum in the sale they had made to them of certain valuable • objects of antiquity. They had been considerable losers by their endeavours to serve the public. Mr.. BANKES said, in answer to an lion. Member, that • there was no truth in the report that a sum of money had been '-IAI to the British Museum. Mr. BANKES thought that Mr. Salt, the Consul-Ge neral of Egypt, had not been well treated. He had expended --at least 4,500/. in the articles transmitted through his exertions to this country. He had no doubt he must find himself much embarrassed on account of the insufficient payment he got. Mr. HUME complained of the constitution of the body of Trustees. Amongst them were twenty-one entirely official men, who certainly could not be expected to give much attendance. He thought that as a means of conferring distinction on science, scientific men ought to be appointed. Mr. CROKER said, he did not rise to add any thing to any 'of the objections which had been made; but to suggest one entirely new.' Every one must know in the case of a public 'library how valuable was the catalogue. lie believed the catalogue of the British Museum Ras well done ; but be complained of its enormous price. To make it accessible to the poor scholar, for whose use more than for those who were opulent in the world, such an institution was designed, he - 'thought that some grant should be made, with a view to selling that catalogue at a cheaper rate.--(Hear, hear !) The Price, he believed, at present amounted to eight or nine guineas ! It would be necessary, from the a addition of the eiCing's Library, to reprint the catalogue, so th a t t hi s was the opportunity for any arrangement of the kind he suggest ed. The great want of room in the present building would, he hoped, be borne in mind in any new building for the British Museum. And he again intreated the Committee ; and through them the country, to recollect the necessity which . he had be -fore endeavoured to impress upon them of separating the works of art from the more scientific part of the collection; ,when it was considered that works of art were designed to humanize and civilize the minds of the people, it because clear that unless they were placed in the gangway of the public, nothing was done towards the grand national object in view— the improvement of national taste.—( 1 1 ear !) Mr. 13ANKEs; said it would be necessary to come to that House for a larger grant if catalogues were furnished at a cheaper rate. Another catalogue had lately been put in band of the King's Library, which, as it would be a handsome folio volume, would, he was afraid, be morb expensive than those which had preceedcd it, unless the House niatie a grant to en -able the Trustees to furnish those who desired to possess it at • a low price. When it was contended that the situation of the useurn was so far out of the way, that but few could visit it, he begged to state that for some years past the visitors had ex ceeded 99,090 in each year. With respect to the confined space, he begged to remark, that the quadrangle marked out was equal in size to Hanover-square. Sir C. LONG agreed that it would be desirable to have cata- . logues at a cheaper price. This he was sure was felt by the Trustees. It had been said that no person distinguished for proficiency in natural history had Assisted in the administration of the Museum. To this he begged to reply by mentioning the names of Sir Joseph Banks and Sir Humphry Davy: Mr. W. SMITH remarked, in the call for cheaper cata logues, that it was to be remembered, the library of the Museuni was a library of reference, and a catalogue could always ,be inspected there, from which those who went to the reading room could ascertain without expence whether or not the works they desired to consult were there. He thought it was not surprising that the difference remarked between the collection of the British Museum and that of the Museum at Paris, should exist, when the one had been formed about the year 1750, and the other as lately as 1810. Mr. CROKER thought the necessity for printing cheaper catalogues was not done away, because a catalogue could be inspected at the Museum. From want of a catalogue at home, the poor scholar sometimes walked perhaps from Lambeth to the Museum for the purpose of consulting books which were not there to be found. He had no objection to the catalogue of the King's Library being printed, as it was now printing.— That seemed to him most suitable and proper, but, generally speaking, he objected to seven, eight, or ten guineas being paid • for made ca t i a n l o t , n u e : and considering how Noon, from the alterations e library, they lost much of their value, they could not be too cheaply got up. Mr. .BENNET made a few remarks, which were not dis tinctly heard in the gallery. Mr. R. SMITH hoped the vote of that night would not pre-.1 I elude thetu from granting a further sum for the purposes which had been set forth. Sir C. LONG, as an individual, would have willingly given a larger sum than 2,0001. for Mr. Salt's . collection, but as a Trustee he would not have been justified in doing more than had been done. Any person conversant with such subjects would be satisfied that the collection in question was worth considerably more than had bean offered for them. He noticed the remarks which had been made on the Trustees. He had no thing to do with the election of them, but as a body he had never met with men better entitled to respect. It comprehended individuals of the highest rank and talent in the country. He would ask, when individuals were disposed to enrich the National Collection with their benefactions, if a body of men could be named in whose care such contributions could be more safely placed. The Trustees had always been anxious to do their duty by the public, but he was sorry to say that for this but little credit had been given them. The Resolution was agreed to. IRISIi MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. On the motion of Mr. GOMAILTIIN, a sum of 4,478/. was granted for the support of the Society for discountenancing Vice in Ireland. On the motion that 22,0001.- be granted for promoting the Education of the Poor in Ireland, Mr. HUME said, if they wished to educate the poor in Ireland on an extended scale, they ought to study the religious feelings of the people. He understood that many Catholics refused to accept the boon of education under the present sys tem. He was of opinion the greater portion of the sum voted for this purpose ought to be set apart for, and placed under the management and controul of Catholics. He read a letter confirmatory of his view of the subject, which stated not more than I -a poor Catholic children received education out of 10,000. (It was asked, from the opposite side, from whom the letter came?) .Mr. HUME stated it to be from a Mr. Keating. It set forth, that those Catholics who did receive education, did so from fear rather than from choice. He was decidedly of opinion that no satisfactory progress would be made in educating the poor till that principle should be adopted which he had recommend ed to the Committee. Mr. L. FOSTER defended the principles and conduct of the Kildare-street Society, and went into considerable detail to shew the great and increasing benefits conferred by it upon Ireland ; and contended that it would be much better to refer to the 14th report of that society, than to the information of Mr. Keating. That report recommended that the children of Catholics and Protestants should be educated together, and that the religious education of both should be confined to the reading of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment. That report also stated that twelve years ago there were in Ireland no fewer than 4,600 schools.. With respect to another point, that relating to inspect tors of schools appointed by the society, he could assert that two of the six inspectors were Catholics of the first families in Ireland, one of them related to Lord Fingal, the other to Sir Edward Bellew. More than one-half catholc s o , of andt e more schoolmasters an em ployed by the society were three fourths of the children in their schools were of that persuasion. The success of the system in Munster might be proved by the returns from two counties, from which it appeared that in the year 1817 there were in those counties only three schools patron ised by the society, in 1318 there w e r e seven , i n 131 9 t h ere were 12, in 182 0 they had risen to 30, in 1821 to 38, in 1822 to 59, and in 1323 to 108. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to shew the general increase of schools throughout the country ; last year 800 new schools had been established, and were the vote then before the Committ e e agree d t o, lie felt justified in hoping that a further increase of 1050 would take place during the present year. There had been already established by the Society upwards of 4000 schools, and if they should go on in creasing in the same ratio that had for the last five years, Ire , land would be saturated with schools. If the Committee, there ' fore, should think that religious education was desirable in Ire land, there was nothing more to be done in order to attain that * desirable object but to contribute to the support of the Society. He proposed to do nothing ; he argued to nothing ; he only sub- Mitted to the Committee facts, which (if they should remain unconttadicted) must be decisive in procuring the assent of the Committee to the proposed grant. Sir J. NE\VPOWI' thought that the grant ought, at all events, to continue while the Commissioners were pursuing their inquiries, that the progress of education in Ireland might not be arrested till they had made their Report. Mr. C. HUTCH INSON agreed with what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet, and maintained that great benefit had been derived from the grants for promoting education in Ire land. He was sorry that there was any objection on the part of the Catholics of Ireland to profit from them. He hoped it would be the first care of the Commission now proceeding to Ireland, to endeavour to eradicate the prejudices which pre vailed on that subject. He was sensible of the advantages of a scriptural education, but thought that in the management of the schools in Ireland too much care could not be taken to guard against alarming the Catholics, by letting it go abroad that they might not avail themselves of the benefit of education without subscribing to a condition which was incompatible with the faith they professed. Mr. NORTH (in a maiden speech) thought he knew his countrymen, and knew that it was only necessary to state clearly what was intended, and trust to their intelligence—there was not a more intelligent people—and to their candour—they were a candid and frank nation—and above. all, to &i , d fr t o h n e i paltry policy of taking a middle course, they e i p ild u e s t i l le t dd o an where avowal theyof the were concerned.principles iweh act t c e l lt Tt tL v F sr t i l V i their delicacy too far who objected not to a bold animated and perhaps angry debate, but to a calm regulated and cold (lie hoped the word would not offend), to a calm and dispassionate discussion of that in which they were inte rested. As one of the original Members of the Association formed to promote the education of the poor in Ireland, he would explain some of the difficulties they had to encounter when they had no Parliamentary aid; when nothing of the kind was contemplated, and when they had nothing to depend upon but the excellence of their object, the purity of their motives, and the devoted ardour with which they were pre pared to labour in the cause. He would state the circumstances under which those rules were laid down, which governed the proceedings of the Kildare-street Society. The Catholic Clergy had not acted in this business as they might have clone. They had not appeared awake to the importance of the subject.— The lion. Member adverted to the want of education in Ire land previous to the establishment of the schools then under the consideration of the House. There had been schools in which licentiousness and vice were cherished. The Hornbook, in stead of a guide to literature, was an introduction to vice. The books in the schools to which he alluded were any thing but the road to moral instruction. They had led to prin ciples and habits which became the dismay of the Gentry of Ireland, and led the Government to entertain views of dangers. How did the Society deal with the evil ? They thought it best to make religion the basis of instruction, and they left the Scriptures without comment, open to the perusal of classes. They unfortunately found in Ireland two great families of Protestants and Catholics. The Lords of the country had drawn a line of demarcation between those sects, leaving them at variance and badly disposed towards each other. The Society thought it would promote the welfare of that mingled population to give them principles of liberality and virtue which might lead to mutual attach ment. They wished to act upon a plan which had succeed ed in the College of Dublin, and jsee them grow up together, forgetting religious differences, in close pursuit of knowledge and sound principles. They wished to make them feel when they grew to manhood, that they had drank together at the pure fountain without goi ng t o diverging streams. The society had another object, namely, that or winning the affections of the Protestant Gentlemen to the Catholic children. There was no part of their whole scheme which had so much success as the last he had mentioned. It was desirable their object should be extended over the whole of Ireland, but it was said to be impracticable. The Catholic Cl ergy were oppose d to it. They wee told the Bible could not be read in conformity to Catholic tenets, but that was not the fact. The Catholic population ruShed to these schools. Whatever objections had been urged, he was happy to say all were giving way to truth and liberality so apparent in these schools. That the Clergy should be opposed to the system of teaching he should ever de plore. The opposition on the part of the Catholic Clergy re minded him of a passage in the life of Lord Clarendon, who said he observed in his progress through life that of all classes of men, the Clergy took the worst measures for the benefit of human life., The Hon. Member concluded by expressing a hope that the Hon. Member for Aberdeen and the Right Hon. Baronet would feel gratitude for the good which had been done by the Society from the purest motives. Sir J. NEWPORT explained.—The sum was then voted. £27,667 was next agreed to for the Foundling Hospital, Dublin. £10,009 having been proposed in aid of schools established by voluntary contributions, Mr. HUME said, the whole of this grant was generally mis applied; it was extended in aid of Protestants only. The Hon. Member considered the grant increased since last year. Mr. J. SMITH wished to koorr whether these schools were not under the entire controul of the Protestant Clergy. Mr. GOULRURN said no distinction was made with respect to the religion of persons applying for the benefit of this fund. Mr. $l. lien and Sir .J. NEWPORT mentioned cases in which the Bishop had refused to grant leases of land for these schools, unless the controul of the same was given to the Protestant Clergymen of the parishes. Mr. GOULBUitN said an Act of Parliament required the controul of these schools to be vested in the Minister and Churchwardens, for the purpose of protecting,the schools. Mr. HU3IE regretted that the grant was not so much for the promotion of education as to promote the patronage of the Protestant Clergy. Mr. GOU.LBURN produced Papers, by which it appeared that the money subscribed by the public had been applied to building schools. Mr. C. GRANT said, the object of the Grant had been faithfully carried into effect.—The sum. was then voted. The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, the House resumed, and the Committee was ordered to sit again on Wednesday. Mr. GOULBURN moved for leave to bring in a Bill for declaring the stealing of records to be larceny. After 'a few words from Mr. HUME and Mr. BUTTER WORTH, leave was given to bring in the Bill. The other Orders 'of the Day were disposed of, and the House adjourned at a QUARTER PAST TWELVE O'CLOCK. PARIS PAPERS. CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. SITTING OF MAItCII 26. After some time had been occupied in hearing the reports of various Bureaux, respecting the qualifications of Members—. The Reporter of the Bth Bureau proposed the admission of M. Benjamin Constant.—M. Dudon demanded and obtained leave to address the Chamber.—(Lively movement of curiosity. Profound silence.) M. Dvnox.—l believe we have a right to be astonished at so succinct a report respecting the election of M. Benjamin Constant. It was not concealed in the bureau, that some seri ous questions had arisen with regard to his admission, and M. Benjamin Constant himself was informed of it. However, it appears that there is no one in this assembly, excepting himself and me, who knows that he has not the qualities requisite to be a Deputy.—(Prolonged laughter. M. Benjamin Constant did not laugh.)—lt is not for the purpose of denouncing, as has been done already, mere irregularities in the electoral proceed ings, that I rise to attack the election of M. Benjamin Con stant. It is with the law in my hand, that I declare that he has not the necessary_qualities to be admitted to the honour of a seat in this Charnber.—(Lively sensation.)—l hope that th e Assembly will do me the justice to believe that I am anr mated by no feelings of malignity in thus attacking the eli gibility of M. Benjamin Constant—(Movement of impatience on the extreme left.) —For if we are reduced to see in this Chamber any persons-who profess the same political opinions as he— M. GIRARDIN.—You have so arranged it that they might not be very nurnerous. DUDON.—Does what I say disturb you ?—(Laughter.) 11i. DE GIILAIMIN.—Nothing that you can say can discon- cert me. M. DuDom.—Do not, I beg, increase the difficulty of speak ing at this tribune by your sarcastic jokes. If, continued M. Dudon, we are reduced to see here any persons 'who profess the same political opinions as M. B. Constant, I prefer him to any other, for, in the preceding Sessions, he never indulged in those declamations which led to measures of severity 'against other Members.—(Murmurs on the left.) —Besides M. B. Constant is an adversary very easy to deal with, for he has written so much, that his own productions always supply an answer to what he may advance, and perhaps we shall find a proof of this in the present circumstance.—(Sensation.)—l, maintain that M. Benjamin Constant does not possess the qualities to en title him to a seat in this Assembly, because to be admitted to this honour he must be a Frenchman. Now this must be the case in three ways—by birth, origin, or naturalisation. You cannot admit him without attacking one of the prerogatives of the Crown, for it is the King alone who can confer letters of plenary naturalisation. M. Benjamin Constant is not a Frenchman by birth. He was born at Lausanne in 1767. —But is he a Frenchman by origin ? On this point I can consult no other document than those furnished by himself; for, on this occasion, he has enjoyed the very innocent, but perhaps aristocratical pleasure, of producing to the bureau his genealogy—(bursts of laughter)—and this is what we leart) from this said genealogy, viz.: M. Benjamin Constant is de scended from M. Augustin Constant de Rebeque, who left. France in 1605, and established his family at Geneva. He had a son born there in 1633, named David Constant, who filled several important posts at Geneva. This David had him self two sons, one of whom entered into the service of Hol land, suet we I , ..vee eeee. wwe .£ these descendants commanding the Allies, under the walls of Paris. The other remained Geneva, and likewise there filled som e important otEce h at e was living in 1792, and died in 1800. Thus M. Constant de Rebeque finds in ail his ancestors citizens of Geneva established in that place since 1605. The proof that he has not I>y his origin the right of sitting in French assemblies is, that in 1796, M. B. Constant addressed an application to the Directory, to ob tain his recognition as a French citizen. Ilis demand was re jected. M. B. Constant then presented a petition to the Coun cil of Five Hundred, praying to be declared a French citizen, which was not granted. M. Dudon then proceeded to exa mine the reports presented to the Chamber of Deputies, when M. Benjamin Constant took his seat in the Chamber in 1817 and 1819, and contended that the Chamber had been led into error by those reports; and after adverting to th e causes w hi c h occasioned the emigration of his ancestors in the year 1605, You wished for notoriety ; l e t it are l3-" not a Frenchman, and you can notfall concluded upon your with ; vro y r o : ,1 sit in this Chamber. —(Strong sensation.) M. the Reporter : I must justify the Bth Bureau from the reproach .which has been cast upon it. (Many voices on the right, 4 lt was not intended to attack the Bureau !') The llth Reporter), after having eAmined the e o it by M. B. Constant, determi ne d t o d ß o u c r o e n a l u e n(continued submitted propose his adrnission. However, being apprised that M. Dudon had made researches touching this affair, I asked him for them M. DUDON 'When was that ? M. the Reporter : Yesterday. M. DUDON : I could not then give them to you. M. the Reporter.—ln the absence of these researches, the bureau felt itself bound to act un d er an aut h ent i c proceeding which proved that M. B. Constant presented himself before the proper authorities, to obtain the sanction of the law. We were ignorant that his ancestors had quitted France on any other Dudon. in the course of his tha ee n ch r , el a ig ffi io r u m s ed gr tga u t nts 7he ancestor of M. B. Constant quitted France because he was accused of the crime of high treason."] [Profound sensation --consternation on the left]. And this fact, continued M. Dudon, is disclosed to us by M. B. Constant himself. Claiming the honou r of being admitted among French men, he stated in his petition that he was descended from an ancestor who had been banished from France for a cause of which he could not but approve, inasmuch as he was impli cated in a project formed by the Protestants, tending to esta blish a republic in France. — ]Renewed sensation]. M. B. CONSTANT demanded to be heard.--[A great many voices, " To-morrow, to-morrow !" Others, "No ! no ! speak now."] M. B. CONSTANT — Gentlemen, the Assembly will excuse the details into which I shall be obliged to enter to .prove the inaccuracies of the assertions of the Honourable Member who spoke last. It will excuse also my , want of preparation, for I only vaguely anticipated the attack that was to be made upon me, and I scarcely thought that it would really take place. I have, besides, placed all my documents in the bureau, and I am thus disabled from bringing forward a great deal of matter with which 1 could oppose what has been addressed to you. Many voices, "-To-morrow ! to-morrow !" A great many, Members quitted their seats and left the Hall, when the Pre sident declared the discussion adjourned to the following day. SITTING OF THE 27TH MANCH. This sitting had attracted a throng of spectators ; the privi leged and public tribunes were occupied before the President had taken his seat. MM. Mechin, Casimir-Perrier, and De vaux, all three en costume, had a long and animated conver sation. MM. Fo•s - and B. CONSTANT entered during the reading of the proces verbal. The fatter carried udder his ann an enor mous mass of papers. M. Devaux accosted him, and spoke to him for some time with considerable warmth. After some preliminary business had been gone through, M. B. CONSTANT ascended the Tribune, and began by thanking the Assembly for the delay which they had granted him on the preceding day. He confessed that delay was necessary to him. Attacked in his capacity of a French citizen—attacked in his honour, for they had accused him of having deceived the Cham ber and the Reporter of 1819—attacked in the memory of his father, whom, said he, they have insulted in the grave, he could not have controlled an emotion which might have been injurious to him. Any excess from that cause, however, was no longer to be feared, and he thanked the Chamber for having given him time to investigate the facts of the discussion ; be cause from those facts must result his justification, and the proof that he possessed the rights for which he contended. M. B. CONSTANT then mentioned, in answer to the asser tion of M.. Dudon, that no foreigner could sit in the Legisla tive Chambers without letters of naturalisation—that M. Du mont, at this moment a Peer of France, had been a Swiss Of ficer, had never received letters of natur a li sa ti on , an d did not need them, because he was the descendant of French Protes tants, who were obliged to quit France in consequence of poli tical troubles. N. B. Constant then quoted Article 22 of the Law of Dec. 15, 1799, which is thus worded :—" Every per son born in a foreign country, related in whatsoever degree to exiles banished on account of their religion, are declared natu ralised Frenchmen." M. Constant then proceeded to enume rate various facts and circumstances in support of the right he claimed, and was left ,speaking when the Etoile went to press. ' INDIA. ( Extracts from the Madras Courier of Sept. 16, 1823.) LOCALITIES. The hot weather, which we had hoped Ind taken its departure for the season, has again partially returned, and for many days the atmosphere has been extremely oppres sive, the wind blowing pretty constantly from the westward.— The rains have fallen very partially throughout the Peninsula, but to the nothward, and in the Bengal provinces, the country has been deluged. A famine, it is dreaded, will be the conse quence, as all the rice crops are destroyed ; and an appeal to public commiseration is already spoken of. We trust the cala mity is not so serious as to require this aid to the inhabitants. SUPREME COURT. The fourth law term of the current year commenced on Friday, with a long and heavy list of causes, which will require protracted and laborious sittings for disposal. The interesting and difficult question arising out of a recent arrest, to which we referred in our supplement of Friday, was fully discussed; but the point remains unsettled. The case was briefly this, as disclosed by the affidavit : Captain Betham, in the year 1821, purchased a ship called the Asia, at Bombay, for which he ne gociated bills to the amount of 82,000 rupees payable in Lon don, with Messrs. Baxter and Osborn, for securing payment of which he executed a bottomry bond on the said ship. On Captain Betham's arrival in London, he found he was unable to take up the bills of exchange, became a bankrupt, and sub sequently obtained a certificate of bankruptcy. In the mean time Mr. Baxter arrived in London, and took possession of the ship, which he has since retained, and not allowed the defend ant to have any thing to do with her. It was also stated that the plaintiff Baxter was in London during the whole time the creditors of the defendant were proving their debts under the commission of bankruptcy, but did not prove any debt himself. On Captain Betham's arrival at this port, he was arrested on Monday last on a capias for 75,000 rupees, at the suit of Messrs. Baxter and Osborn. Upon these grounds Mr. Pugh moved for the discharge of Captain Betham from the custody of the Sheriff upon his filing common bail; and cited many strong cases to shew that he was entitled to have his motion granted, and that the defendants' certificate of bankruptcy ought to be a discharge from all debts. The Court, however, refused to interfere in a summary manner in a case of such importance to the commercial community, and of such novelty in this Court, and put the defendant to plead his certificate.— As the question will therefore be fully mooted on a future occa sion, we will not anticipate the decision that may be come to. The Advocate-General of Madras, Mr. Compton, is, we un derstand, about to leave us, at all events, for a season. The learned advocate has been , offered, in the most flattering man ner, by the Supreme Government, the provisional appointment of Advocate-General of Bengal, vice Mr. Fergusson, who, we are inforined, has notified his intention of resigning on the Ist proximo, preparatory to returning to his native land, by way of Egypt. Mr. Compton, we hear, proceeds with his family to Calcutta in the H. C. ship Princess Charlotte of Wales. He will return to this Presidency, to resume his present situation, immediately a successor to Mr. Spankie is appointed from home. SELECTIONS. We have only one subject of a local nature, in addition to what has been already so ably noticed by our cotemporaries, to which we are bound to call the attention of the community.— A request has been made by the Committee of the Male and Female Orphan Asyliims to our Masonic body, to lay the foundation-stone of a " Male Orphan Asylum." The petition has been acceded to, and the ceremony will take place on Thursday afternoon next at half-past 4 o'clock. The proces sion will mcve from the premises of Mr. Ashton, in Popham's Broadway, to the spot where the building is to be erected, near the Black-town chapel. A masonic ceremony is only performed in cases of private worth or public ;:harity_the present appeals to every consideration of the latter. The title of the building, and the objects of the institution, are so strong as tu.render any comment from us unnecessary. The infant institution, on whose behalf we appeal to the benevolence of the community, is one that professes to instruct youth in the path of moral and religious duty—to impress it with the necessity of exertion to procure an honest independence; these temporary gion. (=tars actaioxnesuwell be recommended by precepts of reli SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. The following list of the arrival of some ccuntry vessels con tains all the notices necessary under this head : On Saturday last arrived the brig Bayadare, Captain Mahe, from Bourbon and Pondicherry, 12th September. I'll:severs—Madame Courson de la Villettalie. On the same day arrived the ship Angelica, Captain Fondeu rniere, from Mauritius, August 13, and Port Novo, Sept. 11. Passengers—Mrs. Dennie, two children, and Mrs. Fabre. Ditto brig Suzanne, Captain Nerrie, from Pondicherry 12th September. Parsengers—Madame Nerrie and John De Fries; Esq., sen. On Sunday arriv e d th e sc h ooner L ove l y Sophia, Captain E. Daviot, from Point de Galle the 24th August, Jaffnapatam the 10th, and Negapatam the 12th September. His Majesty's ship Jupiter has of course passed the port on her voyage home. The Rains will not take her departure before the end of the week. The H. C. ship Princess Charlotte of Wales will continue her voyage on the 25th current. The departure of the Lady Campbell is uncertain. His Majesty's ship Liffey will return to Trincomallee in the course of the week, perhaps to-day. We trust, however, the Commodore will be able to protract his stay to the end of the week, that he may have an opportunity of patronizing our Amateur Theatricals on Friday, which we venture to pledge ourselves will be deserving of every encouragement. About midnight on Friday last, a dhoney was observed to be on fire by the resident officer on the beach, who sent off boats and catamarans, in order to prevent it from being communi cated to any other vessels, and to save the lives of the crew, all of whom were landed about 4 A. M. • the dhoney burned down to the water's edge and sunk at day break. Sailed—Sept. 4, schooner Highland Lass,_ Capt. J. Hodson,for the Northern Ports-sth, Dutch b r i g Tagus, Capt. W. E. Denison, for Corin ga -6 t h, s hi p Glenelg, Capt. H. R. Wad dell, for Calcutta—do., ship Mary Ann, Capt. J. Webster, for Calcutta-9th, H. M. schooner Tender Cochin, Capt. Edward Tincombe, for Trincomalie—lOth, brig Norfolk, Capt. Kingsell, for Porto Novo. List of Shipping il . the Roads. H. M. ship Liffey, Commodore Charles Grant, C.B. H. M. ship Alligator, Captain T. Alexander, C.B. H. M. sloop Sophie, Captain G. T. Ryves. H. C. ship Princess Charlotte of Wales, Capt. C. B. Gribble. H. C. ship Lady Campbell, Captain G. Betham. Ship Kains, Captain H. M. Cunningham. Ship Morning Star, Captain F. Mouat. Ship Marquis of astings, Captain J. H. Carter. Ship Angelica, Captain Fondainiera. Brig Bayadere, Captain Mahe. Brig Suzanne,Captain Nerrie. Schooner Lovely Sophia, Captain E. Daviot. Brig Lion, Captain T. W. Stunt. Brig Cencus, Captain Richard Towle. _ Brig Guide, Captain W. Holloway. CAPE. COURT OP ♦ICE-ADMIRALTY, JULY 25. SHIP LADY CAMPBELL, BETHAM MASTER. In this cause Mr. PONTARDENT, for the sole owner, applied to the Court for a decree th a t th e cert ifi ca t e o f reg i stry o f t h e ship might be delivered up by the present master. He stated, that the owner of a ship had power at any time to discharge the master, (even though a part-owner), without stating any other reason than disinclination to continue him in command; and referred to the case of the New Draper, 4, Robinson, p. 237, and several other cases, in support of his application. Mr. HERBERT PUGH, for the Master, stated, that however strict the law might be as to securing to an owner the right of depriving the master of his command, the owner bad power to cede such right, which he had done in the present case, by en tering into a written contract with the master, whereby it is expressly stipulated, that the master should have the sole com mand and destination of the ship for the first voyage, without any let or hindrance from the owner ; that a valuable consi deration having been given for this agreement, and the onus therein contained, on the master's part, having been performed, he was entitled to a specific performance by the owner. Some comments were then made as to affidavit, wherein the owner attempted to charge the master with negligence and incapacity. His Honour the JUDGE declared, that the cases relied on by Mr. PONTARDENT did not extend to the deprivation of the master at an intermediate port, when the voyage had been partly performed, and great responsibility had been incurred. That in such a case he should requi re some s p ec i a l reason t o be proved for the dismissal of the m as t er . Th a t i n thi s in stance complaint was made of the negligence and extravagance of the master at L'Orient, into which port the ship put to repair. If the owner had reason to he dissatisfied with the con duct of the master, it was his duty to have entered his protest at that port. No such protest appeared ; and as to the general charge of incapacity, his Honour would not so far insult the common sense and humanity of the owner as to suppose he would trust his own life, and the lives of 50 passengers, to the care of a person incompetent to command a ship : and decreed the certificate of registry to be delivered to the master to enable him to complete his voyage; and costs to the amount of 1 00 rda. were given him. CALCUTTA, Awo. 28, 1823. The accounts from the Mefussil continue to be of a distreeS ing character. During the 15th, 16th, and 17th instant, there was a continued furious storm at Bhaugulpore. The Wind, which was easterly, was so violent as to have destroyed several trees, and as the river was very high, it was apprehended that intelligence of accidents might follow. The indigo plantation* about Bhaugulpore were under water. A person who lately left Dinapore mentions that the river was making such serious encroachments on that station, that, apparently well ground e d a pp re h ens i ons were en tertained °I the cantonments being swept away, unless immediate precau tions should he adopted to prevent such a catastrophe. A Con' mittee of Survey had been appointed to take into consideratio 4 the state of the quarters and bungalows near the river's bank- Last year similar fears were entertained as to those alluded tch but nothing was done, so far as we hare been able to learn. ( From the Bombay Gazette, Sept. 3, 1823.) EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE.—A horse Of grea t promise belonging to a gentleman in Surat died suddenly a fe w days ago. On dissection the following remarkable phenomenal' was observed :—Spleen upwards of 11 feet in circumference' and weighingat least 901bs. avoirdupois I For the information of those ignorant of the natural size of this generally considered unimportant organ, it may be ne ce s sar y t o o b serve , that, untied ordinary circumstances, it s c i rcum f erence se ld om exc eeds inches. MADRAS BIR.TIIS—On the 13th instant, the lady of Va tenant W. C. Brunton, 2d Re g im en t Li g ht Cavalry, of I B ° T 'i —At Cochin, on the 15th ult., Mrs. Alex an d er H arr ingtori, ° her fifth son. _. MADRAS DEATHS.—On Thursday, the 11th instant, FA* the infant daughter of Edward Gordon, Esq.—At Jaulnah , oa Thursday morning, the 21st of August, R osa S tan l ey , daught er of Captain Bentley, of the 2d Bat. 13th R egt . N. 1., 6 g ' nearly 16 months. NATIONAL GALLERY. ANGERSTEIN COLLECTION. (COPY).—TREASURT MINUTE, dated March 23, 1824 The Earl of LIVERPOOL acquaints the Board, that his MS, jesty's Government having deemed it to be highly e xpedeh' that an opportunity which presented itself of purchasing tb u choice collection of pictures belonging to the late Mr. AxG% ll " STEIN for the use of the public should not he lost, he had eh* tered into a negotiation with the executors and representativ es of that gentleman, and had concluded an agreemen t f or the purchase of the whole collection, of which he delivered a ate" logue to the Board, for the sum of 57,000/. Lord Liverpool further states to the Board, that he has Ind an arrangement with the executors, and with Mr. J. J. Anger stein, for the occupation of the house in Pall-mall, where the pictures now are, during the remainder of the term for whiC it is held by Mr. Angerstein, at the rent which he pays for it- . • His Lordship further states, that he found, after a carefo' inquiry, that in order to provide for the security and due wa lleservattihoenmofwthheilsptictthey uresr,eanmedinfoirngitvhienigr presentaccess tostihtueaptiuelZ t° view following establishment will be necessary :-- A Keeper of the Gallery, at a salary of 2001: per annum- I F 7 have charge of the collection, and to attend particularly to the preservation of the pictures ; to superintend the arrangemen ts for admission ; and to be present occasionally in the g allery and Lord Liverpool is of opinion, that the person so to be ell; pointed to this office should be competent to value and (if alley' upon) to negotiate the purchase of any pictures that may in fo ture be added to the collection, &c. An Assistant Keeper or Secretary, at a salary of MI. P et annum.—To attend in the gallery on the public days during the hours of admission ; to issue the Tickets of admission ; tp superintend, under the direction of the keeper, any arrangemen t which it may be necessary to make, respectin g toe artists Wi lb may be permitted to study in the gallery ; and to act as Secs' tary at all meetings of the Trustees or oth er • M anager s of “". gallery, &c. A respectable person to attend in the two principal Toon! during the time of public view, to prevent p ers o ns t ouc hing "" injuring the pictures, may receive two guine a s p er wee k. , 4 b A person to attend the lower room, containing the pictures, two guineas per week. A porter to attend in the hall, to receive the tickets of ail" m so i n ss th i o n a reside , n d in no the e eho e h saer,g at e o a f sticks yn a do n f t o d Btc) u il m .e ap b ne r rt e ean s pe : n t r h t. A housemaid, to a tt en d the fires r a e P c : to reside in the house, at a yearly salary of 401. It will be requisite to have coals, candles, and a small qU tity of stationery. He recommends, therefore, that an estimate be prepared, tuf be laid before P ar li ament, f or a vote to defray the purchase bA" the pictures, and for th e c ha rge o f t h e above establishment, - to cover the contingencies thereof for one year. My Lords concur in opinion with Lord Liverpool as to the expediency of this purchase, and as to the establishment re' quired, under the present circumstances, for the care of them and the custody of the gallery, and desire that an estimate b e prepared and laid before Parliament accordingly. LIST OF THE PICTURES OF THE LATE J. J. 41,100‘.. STEIN, Ii:SQ., IN PALL-MALL. . The Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba • The Marriage of Rebecca . . . Ganymede • . • • . • . The Rape of the Sabines . . . . The Emperor Theodosius expelled the Church by St. Ambrose . • . • • • Vandi lefl. • . St. John in the Wilderness . . . A. Carrace' , Susannah and the Eld e rs . • Lud. Carraaci laiannd . Seaport Adonis _. , , A Bacchanalian Triumph . . . N. poussiP• Errnenia with the Shepherds . . --. Domenichin n • Philip the Fourth of Spain and his Queen Velasq? 6l " Landscape " Morning" VAnenlutas• . • • Claude' Claud e ' Evening" .. : . : The Raising of Lazarus . . Seb. del Piontbn , A Concert . . . . . • Titian- I Pope Julius the Second . . . . . Rapil e Christ on the Mount . . . . . Gorregge' Portrait of Govartius . . . . . Vandyk e ' nat. The Nativity . . . • . R er nbra _ nt. The Woman taken in Adultery . R e mbran The Embarkation of St. Ursula . . . claucle• Abraham and Isaac . • . A Land Storm • • . . . G. Poussil } ' A Landscape, with Cattle and Figures • . COT' Apollo and Silenus . . A. Carracc l • Holy Family in a Landscape . . . . Rubella' The Portrait of Rubens . ~. . . v an dy)o•• Studies of Heads • . . . .. . corregO• Studies of Heads . . Titian- Claud e ' Claude - Titian. Rubel* The Marriage A-la-mode . . . . rlogartb' Sir T. Revias - Bo g ard. An estimate of the sum which will be required to defray al Charge of purchasing, to ge th er w i t h th e e ip ences incidents. to the preservation and public exhibition of the collectivr• pictures which belonged to the late J. J. Angerstein, 60,0001. Portrait of Lord Heathfield The Village Holyday . Portrait of the Painter Whitehall, Treasury Chambers, March 26, 1824. J. C. HERIlII:`5• The Pha'nix convict ship, having Ilr, Gos' rror.r.y on board, sailed from the Nore yestardal for New South Wales. In the month of May next, according to th.c letter of a distinguished individual at Vienna, his imPerl s r Highness the Archduke Francis, second son of the Eager°, of Austria, will be married to a Princess of the Royal Bo"' of Bavaria. PARISIAN SALOONS.—The great topic o f con versation at present in the Saloons of Paris are the Memoi rs of Louis Antoine Phillip D'Orleans, Duke of Montpeosie r ' Brother of the Duke of Orleans. They are to be published bY' s Baudouin, brothers. They will contain a moving narrative ri ` the long imprisonment of that Prince. For the LAST OP THE LOTTERY, there are On l Y 6,000 Tickets for Sale, with THREE of R20,0 0 ° to gain which, the risk of a whole Ticket is only 51. 19s. and a Sixteenth 9s. only. Next Tuesday, the First-drawn Prize will have an additional 20,000 when Two MORE i e 20,000 and 15 other floating Capitals may ALL BE DRAWN, afte r which those who do not obtain them, may, on or before 15th April, have nearly ALL their Mo.. NEY RETURNED at all the Offices, sand of J. and J. SIETEWRIGHT, Contractors, 37, Cornhill, 11, Holborn, 38, Haymarket, and their Agents.