The Sun. — London, England, 1825-01-05 00:00:00

ST. BRIDE'S CITURCII, FLEET-STREET 'Yesterday a very numerous and respectable Meeting took place at the Old London Tavern, to consi d e r the possibility of laving open the Steeple of St. Bride's to the pub- Tie view from Fleet-street, where a considerable portion of ground is at present cleared, owing to the late extensive fire. On the Loan Al AYoit being called to the Chair, his Lord ship observed, that he was sorry that his place was not occu pied by some Gentleman, distinguished for his encouragement of the Fine Arts; he certainly should have mentioned as much to the Gentlemen who had proposed the office to him, but that he falt, as the - Chi e f Magistrate of the City, it might appear mo his part as throwing cold water on the plan, had he declined ccocurring with their wishes. The object for which they had met was to consider how far it was practicable to delight the public eye by opening to view a spire which might be consi dozed as one of the most beautiful in the whole kingdom, and which might now, owing to circumstances, be formed into a .'accost striking coup irceil. This improvement was not only Wight by the inhabitants of the immediate district, but every lover of the Fine Arts would feel desirous in promoting the uncoil/ • g of such a vista, that would reflect great credit on the whole of the metropolis, for, with the exception of Bow church, it scarcely had a single spire to boast of that was not entirely excluded from the public view. It was a national feel ' ing that led to this improvement, for foreigners not unfre ,Tsently visited us to see our beauties of art ; and it could not lint excite surprise in them to find one of the most beautiful . gems of the city so totally excluded. He understood that the esnence of the projected improvement was estimated at about 701101., which sum might, at first sight, appear considerable, butt it should he considered that an opportunity like the pre. scat was not again likely to occur. Mr. Winson, M.P., said, that he had been called upon to take a part in the present proceedings, but he had hoped, that ae it was so likely to be an ornament to the City, the elder - Member, Sir William Curtis, would have been induced to -.cense forward on this occasion, but as he understood the Hon. Baronet was at Ramsgate, he was happy to do whatever lay in his power. He looked upon the taste of the country as pro gressively improving, and had hailed with much satisfaction the removal of a new building in the neighbourhood of West minster Abbey, because it was considered as unworthy of the beautiful style of architecture that surrounded it ; and the ma • chine known by the name of the Board of Works, was now nearly put aside, to make room for at least a more valuable institution—the Committee of Taste. During the war the na tion had been at an immense expence, and whatever had been done in the way of architectural improvement, had been done with an ill-will, for people felt that at that time they could ill afford it, but now, in the time of peace, he thought that the rich could not do better than give a portion of their -- wealth to so material an object. It had been well observed by his Lordship, that foreigners expected much from us, and having excelled them in other things, it was hut reasonable to expect that we should rival them in our buildings. We ; had done much in our hospitals and other charitable build ings, then why not in other edifices ? It was an ill wind .that blew nobody good, and tiiough nobody could lament more than he did the calamitous fire that had taken place, yet he could not but rejoice that an opportunity was thereby affbrded to expose so bright a gem to the public view ; it was a duty they owed to the great Architect who had given them so beautiful an object to gaze upon, and a duty they owed to pos terity, to skew the estimation in which they held the works of __genius. lie was happy in moving— " That one of the-strongest proofs of the high degree of ad vancement in a taste , for the:fine-arts, which the people of Eng _ land have attaind, is to be found in that desire for the improve ment and embellishment of the Metropolis, which so honour ably distinguishes the present age." Mr. Wiennems, in seconding this Resolution, had always . observed that in every instance in which he had been concerned, - he had always found that any attempt at improvement had been met with that desire which was the best proof of co-operation. The Resolution was then put and carried unanimously. After the Right Hon. Chairman had read the whole of the resolutions • over at the suggestion of Mr. S. Dixon, Mr. WILLI...ors, M.P. as an Engieliman, was ambitious that his country should rival in works of taste, its neighbours, as it did in every other respect. Ile was convinced that his countrymen would not allow this opporunity to escape with out evincing their good taste by carrying the plan into execu tion. During the early years of his life the country had been engaged in a war almost unequalled in its expence and devasta tion, and then little could be expected, but now, in the times of peace; he was glad to see the Gaily steps that were made to wards improvement, and he considered the present only as a forerunner to many more such examples. The Hon. Gentle man concluded by moving, " That the view recently opened of the tower and spire of St. Bride's Church, by the demolition of several houses in Fleet street, which had obscured it from public sight for upwards of a century, having clearly shown that this building may be made highly conducive to the beauty and ornament of the metropo '_ lis, and particularly when the adjoining buildings are made to enter into architectural combination with it, as shown in the plan, it appears to this Meeting very desirable that the view thus obtained should be preserved." On this motion being seconded by Mr. Cutler, Mr. S. Dtxoet observed that, though he was glad to see the crowded state of our streets, inasmuch as they indicated the abundance of the commerce that was going on in the metropolis, yet he was not the less anxious that every encouragement should be given to such plans as the present, and he was hurt at the doubt that seeemed to be expressed relative to the sum required; for lie arusted, that if the money required were to a much greater ex . tent, it would be forthcoming on such an occasion—( Applause.) —lt-was a public question, and as such lie thought it the duty of the Corporation, and of every corporate body to contribute .their quota, so that the undertaking might be done well and done liberally ; and that a sufficient sum would be subscribed to leave a residue for keeping the building in repair. —(Hear, hear I )—The motion was then put and carried in the affirmative, Mr. Ilnenns said, his opinion coincided with that of the last Speaker, in thinking that every Corporate body would conic forward on the occasion : he had spoke on the subject to the Eest India Directors, and intended to introduce it there again ; _ if; as was proposed, he had the honour of being their treasurer, he would take care that the money should be laid out both economically and liberally. He moved—" That this structure, which for proportion, symmetry, and grandeur of effect, is not surpassed, if equalled, by any spire in .this country, also poe.. e sesses this strong claim upon the public attention, that it was designed by one of the most eminent architects England ever . produced, Sir. Christopher Wren." On this Resolutien being seconded, Mr. GALLOWAY said, that it was the pride of England, that io questions like the present, all party feeling was discarded ; and that every person was anxious to co-operate in so desirable a measure—all personal feelings yielding to the sense of public utility, and the only rivalry being who should be of most ser viee. There was no doubt that the Spire of St. Bride's was most beautiful in proportion, and elegant in construction, and the time had now arrived when the rich gems of England should be exposed to the public eye ; and though the present attempt emightbe circumscribed, yet, if it were followed throughout the country, it would lead to great results. Whatever sum might - besubscribed, lie was sure it would be well applied ; and though • .he had considerable interest in two of the houses that had been _burnt down, he was very willing to make some sacrifices to wilds the accomplishment of so desirable an object. (applause.) Me would not conclude without observing, that with respect to . Mr. John Tapwell, who, he understood, was appointed the architect, he was every thing that could be done would be done ; and that if Sir Christopher Wren were to rise from his grave, he would not have occasion to find fiiult with the avenue that was to lead to his beautiful design. Mr. hlwastioT had likewise great interest in the property on she spot, but he was also very eager that the project now in . agitation should be carried into efl'ect ; and in order to advance au object of such public utility, he would most willingly sub mit to any reasonable arbitration with respect to his property, and, add his mite to the subscriptions for that purpose. The motion was then carried unanimously. AL% SLADE observed, that the present purpose harmonized so much with his feelings that he should have been disappoint ed if he had not had an opportunity afforded him of saying a few words on the subject. It appeared that the public had long been in possession of a rich mine of taste, though it was now, for the first time, about to be explored. He now, therefore, tzusted'that the public would follow the example of the epitaph af Sir Christopher Wren, in St. Paul's, which was, " Monumentum, si quieris, cireumspice ;" Jr you look for his monument, gaze around; and in like man ' nee he hoped shortly all the works of that great man would be made the lasting menmria's of his genius. He concluded by • neavi ng — ,, That the carrying into effect the plan now proposed will, in ,one instance, at least, rescue the national taste from the reflection so often cast on it by foreigners, that while the me tropolis,of the British empire contains; public edifices which would not have been unworthy the proudest era of the arts, they are so completely concealed by the surrounding buildings, that _a view of them can scarcely be obtained." Mr. SMITH seconded this Resolution, which was carried mein. con. Sir P. LAURIE observed, it appeared that an accident had brought the most beautiful Bride of Fleet-street forth from her nunnery, and the only question now was, whether she should again be restored to her veil, and concealed - from the eyes of her admirers ? Seeing a Member of Parlia ment among them, he hoped that the Ministers would bespoken • to on the subject; and that, if it were necessary, Government would be 'numd willing to make them a grant for carrying it wto effee;-. weaned as if there had formerly been a conspt. lacy to toter up the Ntantiful buildings of the metropolis ; he remembered when Westminster Abbey itself was surrounded by a number of low and miserable hovels, which now, luckily, were removed, but which, in those times, had, by their proxi mity, disgraced that superb edifice. He likewise thought it a bad taste to make their hospitals and their bedlams so tine. while the churches were frequently not fit to be seen. Those that were diseased_ he certainly. .wished to be restored to health, but, at the same time, he thought they might be kept out of sight. On looking at our Bedlam, it was no wonder that fo reigners thought us a nation prone to madness. He moved— " That relying upon the encouragement usually given by the public to works of national ornament and utility, a subscription be now opened, to which the public be respectfully invited to contribute. ' Mr. BUTTERWORTH, in seconding this Resolution, fully approved of all that had been done. He had a very high re spect for the church, and considering the steeple as a consider able ornament to that building, he had likewise a respect for that. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. POYNDER had hoped that the Chamberlain of London, who was sitting at his right hand, would have proposed the Re solution that he now held in his hand. It was au old observa tion, " That a penny saved was a penny got," and so likewise it might be said in the present case, that a steeple saved was a steeple got, and he hailed the proposed plan the rather, because it had been said that human nature, when left to itself, brought nothing but evil out of good, and he hoped that the present case would be a practical illustration of the contrary, by bringing the beauty of St. Bride's Spire out of the ravages of the late fire. In Sheridan's time, when it had been proposed to build upon the Parks of the Metropolis, that orator had observed that it would be highly improper, for they were the lungs of this vast town, and in the same manner he thought that the opening this space in the midst of a crowded street, would be adding a fresh pair of lungs to the city ; and although there was nothing political in the plan, yet as the New Times Office was just opposite, he hoped the gentlemen of that office would derive benefit from the fresh air they would imbibe in consequence.— He moved—" That the following Gentlemen be a Committee, with power to add to their number, and to apply the subscrip tions in carrying into effect the plan now produced, or such other plans as they may think advisable: 7 — The Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor Andrew Spottiswoode, Esq. Mr. Ald. Waithman William Brooks, Esq. Thos. Wilson, Esq. M.P. Mr. Churchwarden M`Dowall W. Williams, Esq. M.P. John Poynder, Esq. Mr. Ald. Wood, M.P. M. Cutler, Esq. Mr. Ald. Thompson, M.P. .1. Burbidge, Esq. Mr. Chamberlain Clark H. Marriott, Esq. Rev. Thomas Clare Obbard, Esq. John Blades, Esq. And that John Blades, Esq. be requested to act as Treasurer." Mr. CLARK, the Chamberlain, assured the Meeting that there was nothing like backwardness to the plan on his part. At the time that he was Chief Magistrate, he had proposed to the Common Council the having a new plan of the City made . out, together with a pl a n pointi ng o u t suc h i m p r o vem ents as might be practicable in the course of time, many of which might very well be adopted, when it was considered of what perish able materials the houses were built, and that in the course, perhaps, of half a century, nearly all of them would have to be rebuilt. He then seconded the Resolution for the formation of the Committee, which was carried unanimously, and Mr.. At. wood Smith was appointed Honorary Secretary to the Corn. mittee. On the thanks of the Meeting being unanimously voted to the Lord Mayor, for his conduct in the Chair, his Lordship re turned thanks, and the Meeting separated. list of subscrip tions was read, which amounted to a considerable sum, and a book for further receipts was opened. EDINBURGH THEATRE. Last night Der Fre'schute was produced to a most fashion able audience; and, in good truth, " The Srrenth Bullet" was fired with great effect. We heartily desire that the spirited proprietors of our dramatic establishment may ultimately reap the full benefit of their arduous and praiseworthy paese verance.—j Here follows an account of the plot, with which our readers are by this time pretty well acquainted.l—Making due allowance for the almost insurmountable difficulties that this popular opera presents, we were surprised by the excellent manner with which a great part of the music was given.— The overture, in its performance, may safely claim the largest share of unqualified praise. Indeed, when we say it was encored—though a very elaborate production, and contain ing but small portions of melody or motive, it may be con sidered a very surprising circumstance, and certainly forms an era in the history of music in Edinburgh. Even the " Gods " themselves were awed into most unusual silence ! We were delighted by the successful appearance of Illiss Noel, the vocal heroine. Her voice is of a very rich and tine qua lity, tolerably extensive, hut what is of greater importance, her style is pure, free from vulgar ornament, or abortive attempts to give effect by an introduction of note splitting, so utterly re pugnant to good feeling and common sense. We may, there fore, congratulate our musical friends upon the accession of this most promising young lady to our Theatre. We trust her stay will not be a short one. With the exception of Miss Noel and Mr. Thorne, we cannot say very much that is laudatory for the remainder of the vocal department, if we except the. Chorus," who, whether as Villagers, Huntsmen, Fiends, or Spirits, ac quitted themselves exceedingly well, considering every circum stance. We were informed yesterday that it is to the efforts of our Professional Society of Musicians we are indebted for their proficiency, as well as the improvement of our instrumentalists, I so indisputably evinced by the performance of this evening._ No small praise we think is due to our worthy leader, Dewar, whose talents, it is now very evident, will be more highly ap_ preciatetl the more frequently he has an opportunity of spewing them. It is impossible to make mention of the several beauties of the composition, but we think the music throughout of the incantation scene was the most incomparable. It opens with a chorus of spirits, part of whom merely imitate the screeching of owls and other ominous birds of night, and though (as a musical critic justly remarks) " the effect be not strictly mu sical, it is highly dramatic," and magically effective. The " Jager chorus," we have been told, is not original, but is merely worked up, and very cleverly, by Weber. We could have wished our chorus friends to have given it us with a little more fire and animation. The words too " more trip pingly from the tongue," it draws too much at present to •be duly effective. We would respectfully recommend Mi ss Dy er not to attempt the beautiful Polonaise in the first act—a murder which, even in a female, and that a pretty one, and ono too who ought to be a favourite, will not be tolerated. Let it be given to some one else ; why not to Miss Noel ? instead of one of the heavy songs she sings at present. Any arrangement to this end will be for the better. The most charming little air in the whole opera is that of RodoZph—" Thro' the Forest, thro' the Meadow ;" and it was very sweetly sung by Mr. Thorne. The succeeding portion is very elaborate, and was also given with very considerable energy and effect by this gentleman.— We know -not if what we are about to mention be natural to Mr. T., but there is a tremulousness at times in his sustained notes that is far from pleasant, and which we fear is an ac quired habit. Mr. Brahain assumes it, we know ; and, gene rally speaking, it is one of his greatest defects. We trust Mr. Thorne has too much pride and good sense to become an imi tator of so impure a model in many particulars.—Murray, Pritchard, and Mackay, acquitted themselves in the most able manner; but we have now neithet time nor space to be more particular. We must therefore conclude this hurried notice, by strongly recommending every person fond of dramatic en tertainments to witness the representation of this splendid opera. If they go once they will go again, for it requires time and the exercise of intellect to comprehend the full meaning of its music, and an intimate acquaintance with its various parts. fully to develope its almost innumerable beauties.—(Edinburgh Evening. Cont - ant, Dec. SO.) POLICE INTELLIGENCE. EXTRAORDINARY CPIARGE OF FELONY. MarratoN-Housit.—Mr. John Britten appeared before the Loan MAYoit to answer a charge of felony made against him in the following manner, by his near relation, Mr. Daniel Britten : Mr. PULLEY, the Solicitor for the complainant, said he re gretted that the matter in question was between two Gentlemen very nearly related to each other. It arose out of a transaction of business. The complainant was a packer, and the defendant had served him in the capacity of clerk. Many transactions had passed between them, and the complainant owed the defendant -100/. for which adequate security was given. He (Mr. Pullen) had no copy of the security ; but it was, he believed, something in the shape of a lien for 1001. upon some goods belonging to the Captain of a vessel. These goods had been lying on the premises of the complainant, to whom a sum of money, about 1701. was due by the Captain, and who held the goods in conse quence of the debt. The money which the complainant had been indebted to the defendant was discharged; but whether that was the case or not, the defendant proceeded in a manner which was wholly unwarrantable. Without giving any notice he went to the complainant's warehouse, and induced the servants to assist him in taking away the whole of the Captain's goods, the Value of which was 5001. This he (Mr. Pullen) contended was a felony, inasmuch as there was no other lien upon the goods than that which the defendant had received from the complain ant,snd the former had no interest in the goods themselves. An attachment had also been instituted by the Captain's creditors upon the goods in the hands of the packer, and thus an act had been emitted of the most indefensible nature, and involving the most serious, consequences. But th e d e f en d a nt had not stopped here. Fia had also clandestinely taken away the book, which referred to the transactions between him and the com plainant. This -was a felonious taking too. He, (Mr. Pullen) regretted that it was so; but whatever motive the defendant might have had, the act he had committed was chargeable as a felony. It was to be lamented that this charge was forced be fore the public; which would not lidxF been the case had, the defendant consented to a proposition amide to him by the Gen tleman who had sermuch reason to complain. The Loan MaYou asked in whose custody the defendant was ? It was replied that he was Mr. Cope's prisoner. It ap peared, however, that he wax not exactly in custody : that Mr. Cope having heard the circumstances of the charge, thought lie should not exceed his duty by taking the word of the defendant to appear before his Lordship, and that the confidence was not mis? Placed. Mr. Bor./.Am) for the defendant contended, that there was not the slightest ground for a charge of felony. Instead of join ing Mr. Pullen in the wish that the subject had been disposed of elsewhere, after the imputation of a felony was once made, he rejoiced that it came on in the Justice Room before the Lord Mayor, and that the publicity which the newspapers would probably give to it would place the conduct of the defendant in wpoint of view very different from that in which it was the ob ject of the other party to hold it. This was one of the great ad vantages arising from fair statements of what occurred before Magistrates. It appeared that the Captain alluded to bad placed his goods on the premises of the packer, and was in debted to him the sum of 170/., that the complainant had a lien on the goods, and consequently a right to detain them. Now the complainant wanted the loan of 100/. and applied to the de fendant, who was ready to advance it upon security. The se.. cury was given, and was as follows : " Mr. John Britten—ln consequence of discounting my ac ceptance for 1001. at two months from this date, 12th Decem ber, 1823, I hereby place in your hands my lien on the goods of Captain --- (detained until my account of 1701. is dis charged), and I authorise you to receive 1001. of the said debt, in discharge of the same, should my demand he discharged by Captain before the bill tbr 1001. becomes due. " D. BRITTEN, jun. " Basinghall-street, Dec. 13, 1823." The Captain, Mr. HOLLAND continued, was not able to make good the payment of the 1701. and the goods remained in the hands of the complainant. The defendant remained with out his money, and upon leaving his employer, which he did a short time ago, applied to a respectable Attorney for advice as to the recovery of his hundred pounds. The Attorney told him that if he let - the property on which the lien was made out of his hands, thelien itself would be inoperative. Upon - this ad vice he went to the complainant's premises, and, with the assist ance of a porter, publicly took away the goods, for which the complainant's foreman was presented by bins with a receipt.— Here Mr. Holland read the acknowledgment, and argued, that whether his client could or co u ld no t re t a i n th e goo d s , or whe ther he had taken them mistakenly or not, was not the question. It was palpable that a charge of felony was ridiculous, instead of being maintainable upon the showing of the accuser ; but he (Mr. Holland) was sorry to see from the reports in the News , papers, that charges of this kind were got up for the purpose of forcing to a settlement, according to the wish of the accuser, from the dread of exposure. A case of the kind occurred at the Mansion House but the other day, and was-soon detected. The present charge was as destitute of foundation. Mr. PULLEN said, Mr. Rolland had admitted the outline of what he had stated. But he had to assure the Lord Mayor that the security for the 1001. had bean satisfied, as the honks would shew ; but these books were detained by the defendant. He submitted that going into the premises a nd t a ki ng awa y goo d s belonging to a third person was illegal and felonious, whether the taking was clandestinely or by force. The defendant had induced the complainant's servant to take the receipt, which shewed the intention to deceive more strongly. In fact if such conduct could be supported, a man might go in the dead of the night upon pretence of having a lien upon property and take possession of it. It could not be endured that because a person had an equitable lien upon goods he should take them away either by cajoling or by violence. The Attorney for the defendant declared that the complain ant's book said not a word about the payment of the 1001. The Loan MAYon said he knew both parties to be respect able, and was sorry that the charge had been made at all. There was, he observed, no ground fora charge of felony. What was the - defendant to have done ? He had lent his money, and received an acknowledgmjnt•tiotn — the -- "C!o: plainant that he had a lien upon the property. Whether the taking possession of that property was correct or not he (the Lord _Mayor) could not say, but certainly no charge of improper motive could be sustained ti•om the facts stated. The conduct of the defendant seemed to be a mere continuation of the lien. ~ , Mr. PtILIEN then applied,for the books. The Solicitor for the defendant refused to deliver them up, but consented that they should be copied. r. PU LLEY—Who is to take the goods which are now in the hands of Mr. Cope ? The LORD MAYOR desired Mr. Cope to return the goods to the place from which he had taken them. The Attorney for the defendant—Well take the goods ; and do you.(to the complainant) take what course you please. CREDULITY OF SHOPKEEPERS.—A fellow, who some times signs the name of C. Henry, and sometimes that of Miles, to cheques upon banking-houses in the City, and who has not a farthing at any place of the kind, has succeeded, it is appre hended, to a very great extent in defrauding shopkeepers in the City. No less than three shopkeepers presented cheques of Mr. C. Henry, within a few days at Messrs. Williams and Co.'s banking-house, in urchin-lane. Upon being told that no such person was known there, they were greatly surprised, for the blanks were quite like what were in general use. One of these mock cheques was yesterday brought to the :Mansion House. It was for 211.—The LonD MAYou expressed his surprise that after the exposure of such an amazing variety of impostures as daily took place, there were to he found people who were so credulous as to give their goods for a piece of paper, without knowing any thing of the party who presented them with it. The only thing he could do upon the subject was to state the nature of the fraud publicly, and that would have the effect of showing the villany of the one party, and the folly of the other at the same time. ALLEGED ACT or CRUELT r.—Joseph Atkins, a Ward Officer, was charged by a Mr. John Starling under the fol lowing circumstances :—Mr. Starling, who resides next door to the defendant, stated, that an elderly woman who lodged in Atkins's house requested one morning that he would permit one of his boys to get into her room by means of a ladder, in order to let her in at the hall door, as she believed Adkins was drunk according to custom. The witness consented, and at three o'clock his boy went up the ladder, but the moment the poor fellow reached the window, Atkins suddenly ap peared, and seizing him in his arms, dashed him to the ground. The boy received much inward injury from the fall. The defendant said he was master of the house, and had been attending his duty as Ward officer in the night, and thought to find the woman, who was his housekeeper, at home. He was however disappointed, and finding that somebody was at his window, he was determined that nobody should . enter his house that way. The LORD MAYOR expressed his abhorrence of such cruelty in the most indignant terms. The complainant said he believed the fellow was drunk. Atkins denied that be was drunk at the time, and spoke of his moral character. The LORD AIATort observed that the defendant had denied that, which, though a bad one, was the best excuse that could be given—drunkenness. The case is, however, said his Lordship, a trespass, and I must dismiss it, notwithstanding what I feel. AIATITLETIONE OFFICE.—GAME Laws.—Yesterday Mr. Geo. illarchant,A cockney aspirant to the pleasures of sparrow shooting, appeared on a summons charging him with having shot a hare in the fields of Mr. Essex, a farmer, of Hammer smitb.—Tbe defendant admitted the fact, and in extenuation said, that it being Christmas time he had taken a day's diver sion at sparrow shooting, and the hare happening unexpectedly to cross the path, he certainly had, following the impulse of the moment, fired at and killed it, for which act he was extremely sorry. The worthy Magistrate Mr. GitIFFITH, said, that the evidence was certainly of that conclusive kind, which, if an in formation were laid, would insure a conviction, but until an in formation was laid before him he had no ower to convict. Mr. Essex expressed his determination of making the case the sub ject of an information, and thus it rests for the present. MARLBOUOUGII-STREET.—Yesterday being the day to which the further examination of Mr. Ventura, of Shenly Hill, Hertfordshire, who is in custody upon a charge of bigamy, was adjourned, to give time for the production of sufficient proof of the marriage of Lady Colburn, who is alleged to be the first lady with whom Mr. Ventura "was married--with Sir James Colburn, and who is still living—Mr. Ventura was, about two o'clock, brought to the office, from, the House of Correction ; but Mr. A DOLPHIIs not being able to attend, the case was fur ther adjourned to Friday next. SuictnE.---An Inquest was held last evening at the house of _Miss Morgan, 37, St. James's-place, on the body of Phcebe Halliday.—Deceased was a cook, in the service of Miss Alorgan, and had been frequently admonished by her mistress when found in a very drunken state ; she had at length received notice to leave the house. On Saturday she appeared unusually cheerful, and wits quite sober ; but on the following; morning she was found hanging in the back kitchen. Evidence was given to prove that the deceased, when in liquor, laboured under temporary delirium, and Use Jury returned a verdict of " Insanity." INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. Yesterday Hugh Mills Bunbury, Esq. late of Cambridge University, was opposed by Messrs. Poi.r.ocx and HEATH, for a great number of creditors, principally tradespeople. The insolvent, who is a fashionable-looking young man, not yet 24 years of al e, stated in the course of his Ocamina , tion by Mr. Pollock, that he went to Cambridge about the '26th , April last, accompanied-. by Mr.. Platt, who is a liachelor of Corpus Christi College, Aliis tutor ih he took his wife down there also, with a young lady named Harris; on his arrival he eng age d lodgings at two guineas a week, in the suburbs of the town ; he had previously lived for eighteen months at Walworth, and was in the habit of at tending Mr. Harley's office, in New Bridge-street, Blackfriars, for the purpose of qualifying himself by legal study to enter Lincoln's.inn ; he remained at Cambridge only until the Ist of September, when he ag a in r e t urne d t o W a l wor th, an d through the medium of an advertisement in the newspapers, obtained a situation on trial at the British Annuity office. Ile was arrested on two actions, and gave bail. The persecution of his creditors prevented him from retaining his situation or returning to the University, and taking his degree of bachelor of Arts; he had engaged himself in the conveyancing depart ment of the British Annuity-office, with the, intention of ap plying his salary to the payment of the derrisnds made against him ; he is not the son or the nephew of Sir Charles Bunbury, " nor had he ever said he was ; his father was never Commissary. General of the lonian Islands, nor did he say he was ; but he had been Commissary-General of the Leward Islands; he is 23 years of age, and has been married 18 months ; shertly.be fore he went to Cambridge, his income was reduced to 1201. a-year ; but his father's agent gave him a sum of 1201. when he was going to college ; in 1812 he received 6001. from his father ; in 11113, 8001. ; he hail no specific allowance ; up to 182211 e might have spent 40,0001 ; but in the middle of 1823 his income was cut down to 10/. per month. He was proceed ing, but The CHIEF ComaiissrowEit recommended him to answer _the questions put to him, _and not boast of the enormo us sums o f money he had Squandered The Insolvent continued.—He had Miss Harris on a visit with him, because his wife was in delicate health. He had met her at the house of Mr. Pilme, a sculptor. Whilst be was at . Cambridge, two poor men were drowned, and he raised 3/. by subscription for their widows, all of which he paid over, ex cept 155., part of his own don a tion, t o gent l emen name d Martin an d Campbell, Members of the University. At one time there was a Concert at Cambridge. Madame Catalan], Miss Stephens, and other eminent performers were there.— He gave • a breakfast and dinner on that occasion. Signor -Placci, Signor Spagnioletti, Mr. Sapio, Mr. Vaughan, and others attended his entertainments. The dinner was provided by Mrs. Dickinson, the cook of St. Catherine's Hall. M r . Rutledge supplied he cheese and dessert, consisting of-pine apples, melons, &c. Mr. Newton supplied part of the wines, and Mr. Naughton the remainder. The entertainment was given not at his college-roornsOmt at his lodgings. lie did not know the amount of the bills. He expected an increased allowance from his father when he went to Cambridge. He did not bor row any money while there, except 31. front Mr. Bramah, when he was coming up to town. He entered a debt of 261. in his schedule, as due from Mr. Corrie; it was the caution-money he was obliged to lodge with him on entering the College. He was not aware it had been forfeited. He was obliged to dispose of part of the clothes he had had of Mr. Creek, and also two rings and a watch, to bring his wife up to town. His books, and a few articles of plate, were seized for three weeks rent at Walworth. He contracted a debt with Mr. Ridgely ibr china and glass : he returned the glass. He also contracted a debt with Mr. Thrower for silk dresses, &c. He gave some of them to his wife, and made Miss Harris a present of some : the re mainder he pledged. He had not accounted for the duplicates in his schedule, because he had given them up to his brother in.law, to whom he was indebted. Th e 1201. lie had received from his father's agent had been expended in travelling, and in paying his College expences. He never had a horse of his own, but he had hired a horse and gig; and he occasionally drove a second horse tandem. He was never charged for the extra horse. Ile had never been a member of either of the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh. When he went to Cambridge, he owed 701. to tailors, &c.; during his stay there he increase d his debts to upwards of 500/. The following affidavits were then put in and read : A. Campbell, Esq., of Jesus Colleg e, Cambridge, swore, that the insolvent entered a Fellow mmoner of St. Cathe rine's-hall, and stated himself to have been an officer in the 16th Lancers, but had sold out about two years ago for the pur pose of entering the church ; that he was allowed 9001. a year by his father, who was brother to Sir Charles Bunbury ; that his mother was a rich heiress; that when he reached 25 years of age he would become entitled to considerable property, and that it was his intention to keep a couple of hunters, besides horses for driving. In consequence of these representations, the deponent and other members of the University introduced him to several of their friends. William Ford, A. 8., stated, amongst other things, that the insolvent represented that he had taken the degree of A.B. at Edinburgh. 11Ir. Creek. tailor, &c. swore that he had been induced by the insolvent's representations respecting his family, fortune, &c. to give him credit for 401. worth of clothes. On one oc casion the insolvent said to him,—" I wear the gown usually worn by noblemen, and I shall require to have such a gown made." Mrs. Dickinson, cook of St. Catherine's Hall, stated that she was induced by similar representations to give him credit for cooking and pastry to the amount of 291. Mr. Corrie, of Cambridge, swore that the insolvent's name was struck out of the College board, and nothing was due to him. Mr. Rutledge stated, that he had given the insolvent credit for 18/. worth of cheese and fruit. When the above affidavits were read, the insolvent was examined in explanation at great length by Mr. CooxE, and stated that he went to Cambridge at the instance of Mr. Platt, and of Mr. Ross, the barrister, of Lincoln's-inn, who is his relation. He did not know the difference when he entered between a fellow-commoner and a pensioner.— His father's name is the same as his own. When in town, he resides at No. 4, Burlington -street ; he is a West Indian planter, having estates in Demerara. He is now travellin ,, abroad. He had received a promise that his income should be doubled. When he contracted the debts complained of, he gave a reference to his uncle, Thomas Bunbury—to another uncle in Berkshire—to Mr. Holmes, of the Treasury—to Dr. Wright, and to Mr. Ross. _ _ Tile CHIEF COMMISSIONER here directed Mr. Bramah's affidavit to be read. It stated that the insolvent represented that he had been an officer in the 16th Lancers—that he was to receive 30,0001. on the death of his mother—that he was the nephew of Sir C. Bunbury—that he was promised a valuable living by lord Grey, but that the Bishop of Salisbury had re fused him ordination until he should have attended a course of divinity lectures, &c. Insolvent's examination renewed..—He endeavoured to effect an arrangement with his creditors, to whom he offered to pay ss. in the pound, and 21. a month out of his 101. ; and still more if he obtained a salary ; but they refused to accept it, and he was obliged to surrender in discharge of his bail. Mr. POLLOCK addressed the Court on behalf of the oppos ing creditors. Mr. Coox E, on the other side, complained of the introduc tion of the affidavits of persons who were not creditors, for the purpose of blackening this young man's character, and pro tracting his imprisonment. He had obtained no credit by whatever vain representations he might have made to his fellow-students in their rooms ; but his doors were beset by rapacious tradespeople, anxious to force their goods upon him, because he had the appearance of a gentleman; and he was now forced by these very individuals to endure this day's ordeal for the paltry sum of a couple of hundred pounds. If he had been guilty of errors, they were the errors of a youth reared in ex travagance. He was now but 23 years of age; and he trusted that some indulgence would be extended towards him by the Court. The COURT observed, that the schedule must be amended, by the insertion of the duplicates, &c ; and when the necessa 'ry alterations were made, and the notices all served, they would state what the period would- be for which they would remand this insolvent. It certainly would not be an inconsiderable ont. They had often had occasion to remark upon the facility with which tradesmen gave credit to young men who were sent to the seats •Jf learning, who were therefore not entitled to much protection from this Court. The present case, however, was of a very different description; for here the insolvent was not a raw inexperienced boy, but one who had led a long career of extravagance, and even boasted of having squandered 40,0001. It was to be hoped that this day's exposure would operate with a beneficial effect upon his mind ; if not, nothing that he could say could add to it. _When the alterations, &c. were completed, the insolvent would be brought up to receive the judgment of the Court. Sri - rm.:ls appointed in Middlesex and London, before the Right Hon. Sir 'N. D. BEST, Knight, Lord Chief Justice of his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas, at Westminster, in and after Hilary Term, 1825 : • tic T.EIIIII. MIDDLESVC. LONDON. Tuesday January 25 Wednesday - January 26 Thursday - February 3 Friday . - - February 4 Tuesday --,-- 8 Wennesday AFTER TERN. Monday - Februaryl4l Tuesday - February 15 N.B. The Court will sit at one o'clock on January '25 and 26, and February 3 and 4, and at ten o'clock precisely on each of the other days. WEST INDIA DOCKS. STOCK ACCOUNT for the Week ending Saturday, ti of January, 1825. Delivered. trig*, 1r Home Con sumption, f lllids West India- trrs Bls Sugar -1 Brazil = Chests inavanah Boxes East India & )- Bags ... . Alolasse; - Casks ( l'ns 1 lids (Pns Lids J Pns i lids Casks IPipes lids Trs Bls Bags Cas6 f iksgs Casks 1 Bags 1. Casks Bags J Casks I Bags Bales Bags Gourd, Casks 1 Boxes Pimento Ginges Peppcs Cotton Aloes Arrow Root i Boxes ( Jars {Casks Scrolls Bells Bags Casks I.Casks Bags r Bags 1 Scrons No. ( Casks - 1 Boxes Hemp Tons . . Hides . - N o .. Horns - . No. Indigo . . &rons r Ipecacuqnha , . 1 Casks J alap - - Bales Whale - 1 Galls Castor - C as k s °i ^ l Coco Nut Casks Palm . Casks Pearl Shell . 1 Casks s I Serous Pine Apple . Casks 1 Casks Rice and Paddy 1 Bag. Boxes Bales Balsam Cassia Fistula - Cloves . - Cochineal . - Elephants' Teeth Gum . Sago . - Sarsaparilla - Tallow . Tortoise Shell - Turtle - Casks Casks 1 Boxes Casks WOOD. Logs Mahogany Pieces Plks & Btls i Cedar - .i.0..4 i ''. Pcs Sc Plks African Timber -E L°gs Pieces Santa Maria -{ I4 9P Pieces Ebony - Tons Lig. Vita) - Tons Box Wood . Tons Log Wood Tons Fustic - 'Tons Nicaragua Wood Tons Cam Wood Tons Bar Wood Tons Brazilletto Tons Saunders Wood Pieces Lancewood Spars No. Staves - - No. Bark PRICE OF STOCKS rii is lsaMk Stock I) 5 t Old Aunt,. New Ditto shut Ex. '.ills 10001. 2d. 59 0 , Ditto lid. 5B IL* Ditto 5001.2 d. _.... 59 IP' Ditto lid. Ditto Small tkl. Ditto lid. 4B 0 '" Ditto Advertised. Hank for Act. India for Acct. Cons. for Opening 90 ONE O'CLOCS• iities.. 3 per Cent. 1ted....94i 95 941 3 per Cent. Cons shut 4 per Cent Ditto Red. 101 f 1 11 4 per Cent. Dissd.{ New shut Bank Long Ann. 23 22 15 16th Imp. 3 per Cents. India Stock shut Ditto Bonds loos. South Sea Stock shut PRICES OF FOREION Ft :1 ustrian Bds, 5 per ct....95i 6 Brazilian 791 80a Buenos Ayres Bds 924a Chilian, lids, t per ct 85; Colombian Bcis.6 per ct.... Do. do. 1824 92i 34 Danish, 5 percent. lO2 Greek Bds 56 i Slexican Bds Neapolitan, 5 per cent. ... _—.. Scrip lii pr. NOS, AT ON O'CLOLTIC.., Peruvian Bonds Portuguese Bonds Scrip Prussian, 5 per Ditto New Russian, New, 5 p er ct. 95561 Spanish 1821, 5 per ct. 2l 1823, ditto French Renton - Exchange --- Scrip vracts OF SHARES AT ONE O'CLOCK. Palladium Assurance Company Anglo-Mexican Mines Arigna Iron and Coal ditto 6 71°' Brazilian ditto Hibernian ditto 1! _A I) Real del Monte Rio de la Plata ditto ' '2l 226 United Mexican ditto , Continental Gas Company Provincial Portable Gas Company - ii l' W. United General Gas Company 6l plll' . i . , Kentish Railway Co m p an y - 4 Can:ola Company l4 14 . Equitable Loan Bank Comp an y 3 ii General Steam Navigation Company ' Zh po' Pearl Fishery Company 4l 4 po' Hibernian Joint Stock C om p an y 3 2i Vl'' FOREIGN ►TAILS. ARRIVED. 1 Guernsey and Jersey lilottenburgli if 4mburgli - Holland - Flanders - America - Dwr. -0 111()11 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROO; Morning. 15 minutes after 3. _1 Eveninc7, 34 minutes after TUE SUN. SOLEN QUIS DIOERE FALSUM AUDEAT LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JAN. 5, b 825• 'We have received this morning by Expreo 9 the Conititutionnel of Monday, from which w e extract the following articles : M ADR ID, DEC. 23.—(Private Correspondence.) General Bassecourt, as you have seen, pub' lished a Proclamation at Valencia, in which Ile 2,49:t 226 91 213 11 4 Hum Brandy . - Holland; - - A nail . Wine - - Coffee Cocoa ExPinla tion. Stock i nand 37,23 U 2,846 2t2 24,58 1,361 334 1,465 1,075 9,3C)a 1,639 22,617 1,631 4,431 226 5,34 1. 2,394 2,803 12,440 .57 305 - 20 6,24 a 1,9581 453 t 37#, 6,130 6,528 34,598 12 21 111 2 85 3 245 65 1.5 34i 454 941 6,512 4,324 4,024 17:1 661 3,239 1,126 2U4 20 39 se 212 492 2,411 70 5,330 484 25 34