The Sun. — London, England, 1832-09-13 00:00:00

re interests of the public ?—As affecting the inte'retts of the Bank ; and I always had doubts with respect to the prudence of the measure as affecting the public. Not withstanding that passage in the answer of the Directors of the Bank to the letter of Lord Liverpool and Mr. Ro binson, in which we acknowledged that there had been some mismanagement on the part of 'certain country bankers, I was always of opinion that the tountry bankers, in the main, had transacted the business with such ad vantage to the public, and such reputation to themselves, that I preferred, with any new regulations that might be thought proper, that the business should be toducted by the country bankers than either by joint stock companies, or by branches of the Bank of England. What are the apprehensions that you entertained, and should entertain, ;n case the limitation of 65 miles from London was removed, and the joint stock banks were al lowed to extend their establishments within thoselimits ? It is a very great experiment, and I am not prepared at this moment to state what my apprehensions are ; they may, perhaps, be more imaginary than real, but I have them. What would be the effect of it as affecting the interest. of the Bank ?—I think it would occasion clashing, and an interference ; if the public are well served by one esta blishment, I do not see the great advantage of increasing the number; to have joint stock companies in addition to the Bank of England, and to the number of bankers in London and in the country, I do not see the occasion for them myself, and I again say, th it it appears to me to be an experiment. _ _ Is your objection to the ircrease of the number tit part ners in the London banks, or to their becoming banks of issue?—To their becoming banks of issue ; and I think we are very well as we are ; I think we have plenty of bankers. Then your objection in to both ?—Yes. Did ►he Bank of England object, in 18213, to the esta blishment of branch banks ?—No; the tank of En' , !and, on the contrary, approved of the measure ; but I bare taken the liberty to give my opinion upon it because I wa. asked it. Then, although it is your opinion indivi&illy, it was not the opinion nt the Court of Directots "as a body?—No. Was it yielded by the Bank at the desire of Govern ment, or did you understand that it originated with the Bank originated with the Bank ; it was suggested in former times by Lord Liverpool, and was objected to; but afterwards the Bank reflected upon the subject, and they were of opinion that, under the circumstances which had recently happened, there might be advantages in it, and that it would be advantageous to the Bank itself. Do you suppose that the motive of the Bank in suggest ing it was for the purpose of satisfying the public, or that they thought it was a good system of banking for the country ?—Both. It was considered that it would afford facilities to the Bank in conducting their business; that it would give them a great insight into the country part of the business, and that there might be other advantages in it, and therefore it was adopted. Was not the state of the case this, that Government in 1826 proposed the abandonment, by the Bank, of their ex clusive privilege as to the number of partners, and that there should be joint stock companies formed in differeo. parts of the country with the consent of the Bank, and the answer the Bank made to that was—" We object to the establishment of joint stock companies, but we an. willing to establish branch banks ;" and the rejoinder of the Government was—" We think the establishment of branch banks a good thing, per se, but not adequate to meet the exigencies of the present time?"—l remember that perfectly ; I was present at the interview upon the occasion. Do you remember, towards the conclusion of the year 3825, very large importations of produce into this coun try ?—I think there were very considerable. In the article of wool, for example, did not those vast importations arise from the duty on wool being taken off? —I cannot state. Was not silk another article that was introduced i❑ im mense quantities at that period ?—Y es. Was not the duty taken off the importation of silk to a very great amount?—l remember perfectly that Mr. Hot.- icisson brought in his new Customs' Bill, I think in tic month of March ; it was some months before it came into operation ; but, in consequence of that, I cannot omit to observe that there were very great speculations, and those speculations were not confined to wool or to silk, but were general. Do not you therefore think that the great fall in the ex changes was, in some degree, produced by these vast im portations?—l have no doubt but the exchanges were influenced thereby. Was there not an improvement in the price of the greater part of the commodities up to the middle of 1825? Will not a large increase of importations l , e tV,e conse quence, generally, of an improvement of price?—Yes, it i, a temptation ; but the question is whether it answered ; the prices fell as much, and a great deal more than they had risen. Do }on connect that improvement in price which took place up to the middle of 1825, in any way with the in• creased quantity of bank issues ?—No, indeed I do not ; 1 believe it was merely owing to the great encouragement that was given by the florid pictures we had of the state of the country ; I do not say that the state of the bank issues had no effect, but very small indeed. You are aware the Back consented to the establishment of joint stock companies under certain restrictions,_ namely, that no joint stock company should he established nearer than sixty-five miles from London, that no joint stock company should be able to make its note, payable in London, and that they should not draw bills at sight tinder 50/. ; do you consider the two last of these restrictions of Any importance to the privileges and advantages of the. Bank of England ?—I can only answer that by saying that it was well considered in the Bank at the time, and it w thought adviseable tli,t those conditions should be made, and they were not objected to. Do you in your own opinion think that it was of any great importance to the Bank that a joint stock company in the country should not he allowed to make its notes pay able in London?—With the permission of the committee, I would beg leave to decline answering that gnestion, be cause it involves that which was fully deliberi.ted at the time. Can you state, whether, as a matter of opinion, you agreed with the Bank Directors at that time upon this subject ?—Ycs, as one of the body, of course I did. It appears by Mr. Sedgwick's tables of the issue of country bank paper, that in 1523 the amount in circula tion was 8,700,0001. ; in 1824, 10,601,000/. ; and in 1825, 14,147,000/ ; are you of opinion ihat the issues Of the Bank of England, in the years 1824 and 1825, had no effect in contributing to those great issues of the country banks do not know any thins of those tables; but I think, if it is assumed that the currency was starved by the Bank withdrawing a part of their circulation, it is very natural to suppose that country banks would supply the vacuum. How could there be any vacuum of that sort to supply in 1824. and 1825, when the Bank of England increased its issues in 1824 , , and continued them at a high scale till November, 1825 ?—I think not till November, 1825 ; I think it began to reduce in February : then I have al ready said that the Bank sold to the amount of, I should think, four millions and a half of their Government se cur i ties. Do you hold to the doctrine, that by diminishing the issues, ur increasing the issues of the Bank of England, without any other circumstance, the exchanges will feel the influence of that increase or diminution?—lt depends upon the extent to which they are increased or diminished; if the Bank of England were to diminish their issues to a very great extent, it would have that sort of effect upon the commercial world, that I think it might operate upon the exchanges. Within what spice of time do you apprehend that operation would be felt ?—I am not prepared to say ; it it was to a very large amount, it would be felt, I should think, soon. Supposing that the issues of the Bank were to be in creased to any great extent, do you believe that the foreign exchanges would immediately feel the influence ?—Th,t involves a question which, if I may be excused, I would rather not enter into Would not the effect upon the exchanges depend very much upon the effect which such an increased issue would have upon the general prices of commodities in thi. country ?—Yes ; and upon the effect it would have upon the ways and means of merchants, and of those who operate. In the management of the affairs of the Bank of Eng land, throughout the long period of more than 30 years, for which you were a director, was not the principle of management, attention to the interests of the proprietors ? —One main principle. In cases which must sometimes occuroA here the interests of the proprietors and, the interests of the public are at variance, the Directors being responsible to the propri etors, what has been the prominent consideration in ti,e management ?—ln very many cases we have sacrificed the interest of our proprietors i❑ order to serve the pub lic, which the Bank has always felt as an incumbent duty ; it is ❑ot impossible that the attention of the Directors may have been more alive to the latter since the Parliamentary inquiries. Do not you consider it is for the interest of the propri etors of Bank stock, that the fair interests of the country should be considered, in the direction of their affairs?—. Inevitably they must be. Do not you consider that, not only in looking at it with a liberal vie v, but considering even te pecuniary in terests of the proprietors of Bank stock, it would not be for their interest to disregard the general public interest ? do not apprehend the Bank could do it if it would. Is it not the fact, that to the proprietors the Directors are responsible, but to the public and the Government they are not responsible ?—lndeed they are ; the Bank Directors will henceforth never make a blot that will but be hit. If the Bank Restriction Act were renewed, might it not be very advantageous to the tank itself, and yet very prejudicial to the public interests ?—Certainly, if it CID be supposed that the B ink are untniniful of their duties to the public, it might ; and if the Legislature were not Watchful, it might be turned to the advantage of the pro prietois of the Bank; but I think it is hardly a supposa ble case ; if the Bank Directors, instead of being right minded men, were disposed to lean to their proprietors at the expcn , e of the public-, to any great extent, I do not be *eve it is possible to do it, _ As a general p 1 position, do not you consider that what ever would be most advantageous to the public interests, would at the same time conduce to the general interests of the Bank of England ?—On the great scale, unquestionably. Did not the Bank of England suggest the renewal of the restriction in 1825 ?-4 have already stated that when we came to the alarming situation in which we were placed, we made several applications to the Ministers. to making those applications, do you suppose that the Bank applied for the restriction with a view to derive profit from that restriction, or Was it from their notion of what was for the general benefit of the circulation of the kingdom ?-.their object was to lay before his Maj,sty's Ministers the state in which the Bank was placed ; whether any blame attached to them is quite a separate consideration, but it was to lay the state of affairs before the Ministers, and to suggest what we considered would avert a most tremendous evil ; because, as to affixing a paper to the Batik of England, while the Bank of Eng land was swarming with all sorts of people, coming with the greatest importunity for tkeir money, for the Directors to stand forward and to say, " We have no more left, but we expect it," it was impossible. Do you net f el confident that it never crossed the minds of the Directors of the Bank of England to reap profit for their proprietors from a renewed restriction of cash pay ments?—li is utterly impossible. Did not the Bank profit considerably by the increased issue of notes between 1822 and 1825, to the amount of 4,000,000/. presume they did, but it was not with a view to undue profit that that was done ; the Bank then possessed large balances, and it would b- unreasonable to expect that they should have remained useless. Did it not afterwards appear that the Bank greatly suf fered in consequence of the increased issue am not aware hew they did. Was not the panic that subsequently ensued, in a great measure the result of that increased issue ?—I think not. In the proceedings of the Court of Directors during the panic, were not they regulated more by a consideration of the manner in which they could stop the general alarm and the threatened ruin, than by considering how they could make a profit to the Bank proprietors ? Certainly. Did not the Bank share amongst the proprietors, is ad dition to the established dividend of 7 per cent. between February, 1787, and March, 1830, nearly 17,000,0001. ? —I cannot charge my memory with what it was, but I only know this, that as we made profits, and as there was a large rest, if the importunity of our proprietors had been witnessed from court day to court day, it could not be wondered at that we should make extra dividends as other corporations were in the habit of doing, but that was not done without communicating with his Majesty's Ministers. When the Bank have found themselves with a large treasure did they not purposely issue notes for the purpose of producing a fall in the exchanges, in order to get rid of the treasure ?—No ; that was never a motive with me when I had to do with the Bank. Would not issuing notes under these circumstances, of having what may be considered an overstock of treasure, be the direct means of relieving the Bank from its treasure, and of proportionably enabling it to make profit ?—I can only repeat that I was never actuated by that motive. Are you aware that in the year 1790 a transaction of that kind took place, when the Bank of Eng'and had 10,000,0001. of treasure, and 10,000,000/. of circulating notes?—No; I was not in the Bank in the year 1790. Keeping in your mind the difficulties that occurred in 1826, and that the panic then mainly arose, as you have stated, from the necessity the country bankers were under of having specie to meet their engagements in the country, do not you think that if by law the Bank of England notes were made a legal tender in the country so long as they should continue to be paid in bullion in London, that wou!d very much tend to relieve the country from panics of that kind ?—I had rather not answer that question. We learn that the intended editor of the projected lawyers' paper in this county is dead of the chelera.—Boston Gazelle. FRENCH CIVIL LlST.—Those parts of the ancient property of the Kings of France which were struck from the Civil List upon the last discussion li,ve at length been brought to the hammer. One of the inspectors of the moveable property of the Crown left Paris on Saturday last for StritslAug, to take possession of the furni ture of the chateau of that city, which no longer belongs to the Civil List; and the materials of the Hotel de Longue vine, belonging to the Crown, and situated on the Place du Carrousel, were sold yesterday for 60,000 francs. The purchasers are bound to have the place cleared before the Ist of May, 1833. ABDUCTION.—A little stir was created in Tipperary on Saturday afternoon last, by a report having been circulated that an abduction had taken place, the circumstances of which are as follow :—On Saturday af ternoon last, while a young woman named MART CRC MIN, supposed to be worth 3001. or 4001. of the ready cash, and siver to the Rev. Mr. CREMIN, of Athy, was returning home from Tipperary, she was met a short slis tance outside the town by a shoemaker, named 'MICHAEL CROKER, who made many protestations, and swore he was over head and eats in love with her, and that lie had no business in this world unless she consented to make him happy, which only could he accomplished by her con senting to be spliced (married); a party of men, with a postchaise, were in waiting, and contrary to the young woman's consent, they forced her into it, along with her stout-hearted Lothario. They then drove at a rapid rate until they arrived at Bansha, four miles from Tipperary, when, melancholy to relate, the cobbler's wax-end had unfortunately ran out, for the police (while he was devising tome other mode of conveyance) and some of the young woman's friends, on good steeds, overtook and arrested the shoemaker, who reluctantly was obliged to surrender himself to the police, and he has since been committed to durance vile until informations could he taken against him, and the young fair one was restored to her friends.— Limerick Chronicle. PARIS, SEPT. 9.—Some ridiculous disclo sures have been n.ade in one of our courts of law at the expense of his Serene Highness Duke CHARLES of Bruns wick. It seems that since his Highness's abdication, the Duke of WELLINGTON took the trouble to secure for him the services of a certain M. Kurrnwonrir, who had for merly been one of his Highness's privy councillors, and who had found it convenient to withdraw himself to Eng land at the period of the Brunswick revolution of 1830. As a specimen of the good faith of this protege of the Duke of WELLINGTON, I may mention that he has placed the private autograph letters of the Kings of England and Prussia in the hands of his counsel, to be exhibited, for no justifiable purpose, in the course of this trial. These let ters were addressed to this foolish Duke, who, foolish though Le be, was still M. KLlNDworyrn's master. This worthy individual now tells the world, through the medium of this process, that the Duke's whole desire is now confined to two objects, the one being the recovery of private property in his duchy, amounting, it is said, in value to 60,000,000 francs ; the other to the promotion of an ar rangement by which his personal descendants may be de clared the successors of the present Duke in the sovereignty of the duchy, to the exclusion of his brother's desocendants. These details, however, are foreign to the immediate ob ject of the Duke's application to the Court of First In stance, which was rendered necessary by the measures which M. KLINDWORTH had adopted for the purpose, as he said, iif securing the ultimate payment of a sum of 60,000 francs, which be claims as due to him by Duke CHARLES. The French civil code, although it does not authorise the arrest of a defendant on mesne process, af fords an individnal who claims the rights of a creditor the means of harassing his party by other proceedings, scarcely less vexatious, pendente lite. M. KLINDWORTII has, it seems, obtained an attachment against the whole of the Duke's funds in the hands of his banker, and has also pro visionally se;zed his horses, carriages, and effects at the furnished hotel in which his Highness resides. It was to remove these attachments that the present application was presented. A judicial referee had previously allowed hint the use of his carriage, with a single pair of horses, on condition that they should be returned to the hotel at a fixed hour every evening. 'lle Court, however, has now consented to remove the attachments altogether, on the deposit of a sum of 15,000 francs in the Caisse de Con signation. COURT CIRCULAR. Their MAJESTIES arrived at the Palace of St. James's about 6 minutes past 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, in a chariot and four, escorted bY a party of Light Dragoons, from the P.3lace at Windsor. The Duke of CUMBERLAND visited the KING and QUEEN soon afte r their arrival. The KING gave audiences during the day to B iron D'OMPTE DA, the Hanoverian Minister, Viscount PAL • E ASTON, Sir J. GRAHAM, Sir J. KEMPT, the Earl of A LBEMA RLE, Lord FARNBOROUGH, and Lord BYRON. The Princess SOPHIA visited the QUEEN. Their MAJESTIES left town soon after 6 o'clock, on their return to the Palace at Windsor. The Duke :ind Duchess of CUMBERLAND entertained a select party at dinner on Tuesday, at their residence at Kew. The Brazilian Minister, and th.. Marquis de PA LM ELLA , transacted business yesterday at the Foreign.office. Viscount PALMERSTON has arrived from Pansbanger ; Sir J. GRAHAM and Captain SYMONDS (Surveyor of the Navy), from a tour of inspection. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS. The Earl of Listowel, at Kingston House, Knightsbridge, from a tour; the Hon. Colonel and Mrs. Grant, at Hadley Grove, from Worthing; Captain and Mrs. Paget, in Brook street, from Cheltenham ; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, in Dover_ street, from Ramsgate ; Mr. and Mrs. Mason, in Regent-street, from the Continent; the Count Androssy, Count Screhenige, and suite, from Brussels, at Mivart's Hotel, Lower Brook and Davies streets ; Kelly, Esq. from Paris, at ditto ; Countess of Waldegrave, from Strawberry Hill, at ditto; Madame and Miss Callaghan, from Paris, at ditto; Colonel Wall, from Worthy, Hants, at the Burlington Hotel ; Mr. Wall, Scotch Fusileer Guards, from ditto, at ditto; Brandling, Esq. and family, from Durham, at ditto ; H. Goring, Esq. from Twyneham, Sussex, at ditto ; Rev. Charles Goring from ditto, at ditto. DEPARTURES. Sir Alexander and Lady Campbell, from Raggett's Hotel, Dover.street, for Richmond; Mr. and Mrs. Slane, from Coul son's Hotel, Lower Brook-street, for Ramsgate; W. Brown, Esq. from ditto, for Brighton ; W. Wilson, from ditto, for the North ; J. Hudson, Esq. from ditto, for Dover ; Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, from the British Hotel, Jermyn-street, for their seat in Herts ; Captain Moore, from ditto, for Brighton. We understand their MAJESTIES purpose returning to St. James's Palace the latter end of the pre sent or commencement of next month, and will stay in town for about a fortnight, and then proceed to Brighton. The Duke of BEDFORD has left Woburn Abbey for the Highlands of Scotland. The Duchess of ANGOULEME arrived in town on Saturday last, and on Sunday attended the church service at the Spanish Chapel in King-street, Portman- square.. The Marquis of HERTFORD, and his numer ous retinue, are expected to depart fot Italy, about the middle of November. The Prince DE MASSA, a Peer of France, with his son, have arrived in town from the continent. The Earl and Countess of MANSFIELD are entertaining a party of nobility at their seat, Scone, North Britain. The Earl of BELMORE has brought to this country a small hut valuable collection of curiosities in natural history, selected during his Lordship's Government in Jamaica. The LORD MAYOR has been called upon by a respectable portion of the inhabitants of Southwark to offer himself as a candidate to succeed the late Mr. CAL VERT, as representative for that borough, with which be has complied. We have the pleasure of being able to state that steps are about to be taken towards the erection of a monument to the memory of the late Dr. Auaat CLARKE. Christian Advocate. •At last the long-talked-of marriage of the young and rich Marquis of ABERCORN is likely to take place in Scotland, and to the Lady LOUISA RUSSELL, daughter of the Duchess of BEDFORD. The Marquis of ABERCORN is in his 22d year, with a clear income from landed estates in England, Scotland, and Ireland, exceeding eighty thousand per annum, also a considerable property in the Funds. The nuptials, it is said, will take place early in October. The wedding dress for the Lady has been ordered, and is in progress at a celebrated magaz;ne of fashion at the west end of the town ; and a travellieg post-chariot of singular elegance is building at Messrs. HossoN's, in Long acre. The Duchess D'ANGOULEME, during her sojourn in the metropolis, resides at apartments which have been taken for her in the neighbourhood of Montagu square. Part of the Duchess's suite ate dotniciliated at the Coburg Hotel in Charles-street, Grosvenor-square. Count DUMAS, brotl er to the preceptor of the Duke de BOR DEAUX, and another French Nobleman of the Duchess's retinue, are staying at CRAWLEY'S Hotel, in Albemarle street. Her Royal Highness, we hear, contemplates a speedy departure to Austria. According to her arrange ments, as at present fixed, she will proceed by the steam boat to Hamburg, and travel to Gratz, in Styria, through the dominions of the King of SAXON Y. The ex-King, the Duke D'ANGOULEME, and the young Duke de BORDEAUx, are also on the eve of departure for Austria, but it does not appear that they will visit London on their route. The Duke de POLIGNA c, elder brother to Prince PoLIGNAc, has, we are informed, been residing some time in London, at lodgings in the vicinity of Regent's Fans. The mo ther of this Nobleman was the bosom fiiend of MARIA ANTOINETTE, Queen of France, and governess to the Duchess D'ANGOULEME. Gratz, where it is said the exiled Royal Family are about to fix their residence, is it fortified town of Germany, capital of Lower Styria, and a Bishop's see. The castle stands on a rock, and is a strong place. The town is seate lo❑ the west side of the Muer, and the inhabitants are estimated at 35,0)0. An East Indiaman, of 1,200 tons, was bought yesterday for the service of Don PEDRO, and will car ry 62 guns. She will leave the river in a few days. LYNN, SEPT. 10.—On Monday last the Rev. THomAs IvEsoN was removed from our gaol, where he had been confined since his trial, to the Lunatic Asy lum of St. Lawrence, Norwich. Mr. 1., we understand, still continues in the most low and desponding way. ALEXANDER AND BONAPARTE.—ALEX ANDER'S admiration of NAPOLEON was, as is well known, unbounded, and he manifested it in every waYt A line in a play before them was, " The friendship of a great man is a present from the gods." ALEXANDER. bowed to NAPOLEON and said, " that line was written for inc." lie even carried his respect for NAPOLEON so far as to rise when he entered the theiare. NAPOLEON knew how to flatter his brother Emperor, and sent Colonel HENRI to him one morning to give the sign and countersign for the day. "My brother NAPOLEON i 9 too confident, too amiable—it is impossible to be more gallant ; but I am not at home, I am his guest ; it is for him to give the word. Go, I pray you, and tell him so." " Sire, I have orders not to return without obtaining it from your MA JESTY." " Well, as he insists on it, I will give it— Erfurth and confidence." Upwards of 2,000 men, including several hun dred Poles, will, we understand, soon leave France for Oporto ; and in about three weeks a similar force, from another point, will be on its way to that city. Among those who have already been sent out, are some excellent cavalry soldiers, for whom horses have been provided, and in less than a fortnight Don PEDRO will rssess the cavalry force which he considered necessary for immediate opera tion.. The Constitutional Guerillas are in the neighbour hood SOO strong. Between Oporto and Lisbon small b inds of Constitutionalists had shown themselves on seve ral points, and had occasioned great inconvenience to the authorities of Lisbon, by int'rcepting the correspondence between the army and the capital.—Morning Paper. TILE BOROUGH OF GREENWICII.—A pro ject, emanating from Greenwich Hospital, for the improve ment of this town, is proceeding upon a scale which justly entitles it to be considered a bold and splendid undertak ing. The design consists in the removal of the old and very low property near the great National Institution. The unsightly buildings have been partly purchased, arid handsome houses erected. Taverns and respectable pro perty will be raised upon the river frontage, the want of which has been long felt, and complained of as injurious to the interest of the town, by preventing the more fre quent resort of the wealthier classes of society, for whom the present accommodation is too limited. They have lately built a general market, by which the inhabitants will have the advantage of a seasonable supply of all the necessaries of life, at a moderate price. A street has been formed equal in appe trance to any of the fashionable parts of the metropolis. Ile sho p s for inusic, jewellery, dress, and other articles of luxury are of the first class, and the display of capital conveys an idea of great op u l ence . In the pursuit of an object so beneficial to th e di s t r i c t the Royal Hospital i nc urred, in 1830, an expenditure of nearly 140,000/. That sum has been considerably in creased. More than 100,0001. has been applied to tire purchase of the interests in the inferior property, which is annihilated, and good property substituted. It is now obvious that tire scheme, independent of advantages which may arise from the ultimate completion of the plans, has already beeu attended with positive benefit. The borough of Greenwich in a few years will assume more importance than ever. The highly and justly estimated attractions of Cr. enwich, with its proximity to the metropolis, must continue to increase the wealth and importance of this new borough. Workmen arc now employed in repairing the centre arch in the east wing of Tynemouth Priory.— Tyne Mercury. We rejoice in being enabled to state that the dreadful ravages of the cholera at Bilston have at length abated, and that a decidedly favourable change has taken place.—Birmingham Gazette. The fairs usually held at Denbllty, Honi ton's Ciist, and Sidmouth, will not take place this year, in consequence of the prevalence of the cholera throughout the country.— Western Luminary. We can state with some confidence, that there is a prospect in the city of returning finar reforming mem bers to Parliament,—an example, the importance of which to the whole country cannot be two highly estimated. The Isle of France is, with the exception of the authorities, garrison, and a few English residents, as much a French colony as ever ; all the owners of estates nearly are Frenchmen ; the language spoken is the French, and there is not any English newspaper in the island. EXTRAORDINARY FECUNDITY.—On Mon day last, a ewe of the Dorsetshire breed, belonging to Mr. W. JORDAN, butcher, at Cheltenham, yearned four lambs, making a total of eight she has produced in ten months. Bath Journal. The following item is from a lawyer's bill, supplied by a firm in Red Lion-square :—" For calling on Mr. —, but, unfortunately, did not find him at home, 6s. Sd." The same unfortunate circumstance occurs five times in as many days. FLIES.—A letter from Drogheda mentions that during the ravages of cholera there was not a fly to he seen in that town, but within the last two or three days they have re-appi-ared in gre .t numbers—a circumstance, it adds, which has caused great jey amongst the inha bitants.—Dubliti Morning Register.. We understand that there is no truth in the accounts in the New York Papers of an insurrection having broken out at Pernambuco on the 15th of July. Letters were received hereon Sunday direct from Pernam buco, dated the 15th, at which time that place was per fectly tranquil.—Liverpool Times. In compliance with a most respectably signed requisition, the High Bailiff has convened a meeting of the inhabitants for Friday next, to consider the propriety of instituting an immediate inroiry into the condition of the poor of this town, and of raising funds for distribution of food, clothing, &c. among the necessitous.—Birming ham Gazette. On Friday se'nnight, three men in the em ploy of Mr. HIGHMORE, of Preston, near Yeovil, were suddenly alarmed by an extraordinary and violent rushing of wind, and, in a moment, the greater portion of a field of wheat was seen in the air, scattered in every direction, some of the sheaves having been actually carried the dis tance of several fields.—Bath herald. Died, at Mirfield, lately, in the 92d year of his age, GEORGE PURNISs, a clothier. It is believed be was the oldest member in the Methodist Society in the Dewsbury c;rcuit. The coat made fur him at the expira tion of his apprenticeship was in his possession when he died ; the coat in which be was married was the only one he has had since that time, upwards of 50 years. NATURAL CURIOSITY.—The Wythe (Va.) Argus says, there is now in this place a negro boy, the property of JOSEPH DRAYER, Esq., who is turning en tirely white. His body is nearly white, and his face en tirely so, with the exception of a few spots, the size of a dollar; and what is more remarkable, his skin presents the appearance of a white child, the rose and lily being beautifully combined. MELANCHOLY EFFECTS OF PREJUDICE. —An elderly woman from John's parish was discharged cured, from the Cholera Hospital, on Tuesday last, but would not be allowed by her neighbours to re-occupy her own house. The consequence was, that she had to pro ceed a little wav out of the city, and take up her lodging that night on the brow of a limekiln, where she was found suffocated in the morning.—Manchester Guardian. A more than usual exchange of autograph letters has passed within the last few days between several of the principal Sovereigns of Europe. At the last levee Prince LiEyEN presented to the KING an autograph letter from the Emperor NICHOLAS, and by the last courier for St. Petersburgh, a similar private communication was forwarded from King Louis PHILIP to the Emperor of Russm. Other autograph letters from the King of PRUSSIA, &e. were previously presented to his MAJESTY. The servant of a farmer, in the neighbour , hood of this town (Lewes), who has been in the habit of boiling mangel wurzel as food for his master's pigs, incau dowdy suffered the contents to remain in the copper a considerable time after the process of boiling, which, par taking of the deleterious particles of the copper, it is sup posed, poisoned the pigs, several of them having died, after eating the food thus prepared for them.—Sussez Advertiser. PLURALITIES.---We congratulate the in habitants of the diocese of Hereford on one of the first acts of Bishop GREY. By a reference to our Monmouth news, it will be seen that his Lordship, on hearing of the Rev. J. BULL'S application for the mastership of the free school in that town, wrote to that gentleman, and expressed his disapprobation of Mr. BULL'S holding the two situations. Bishop GREY is, de facto, a new Bishop.—Hereford Times. THE MAGNETIC NEEDLE.—It was some time ago stated, as the result of observations made by tbe Academy of St. Petersburgh, that in that city the mag netic needle exhibited no variation The fact wls doubted, and it was supposed that this reported anomaly arose from the defective mobility of the instruments that had been em ployed. Recent observations prove that such was the case ; and that diurnal variations of the nee dle occur in St. Petersburgh as well as elsewhere. ANT CLOUDS.—About 6 o'clock on Tues day evening, the singular phenomena of ant clouds were observed near the Imperial pump room, and although these appearances are common, they have not been seen for many years in Cheltenham. The columns that were observed extended far above the loftiest trees, and pre sented the appearance of beautiful waving pillars of cloud, to the delight and admiration of several hundred specta tors,—Bath Journal. On Saturday last, four men, NATHANIEL HARRISON, EDWARD WARNER, JOHN HOLBOURN, anti WILLIAM BRICE, were severally convicted before the Reverend C. H. HALLETT and R. HALFORD, Esq., for having eighty•four tubs 'of foreign spirits attached to their boat, about two miles at sea, off the parish of Heine, on the night of the 31st of August last. BRICE and HOLBOURN (being seamen) were sentenced to serve in his Majesty's navy five years each, and HARRISON and WARNER to pay the penalty of 1001. each, and in default of payment were committed to St. Augustine's gaol.— Kentish Gazette. DEATH OF JOHN SAYERS, THE VETE RAN POLICE-orricEa.—On Monday night, the oldest Police-officer of the old school, and the coadjutor of the fir-famed JOHN TOWNSEND for more than 40 years, ex pired suddenly at his residence at Pimlico. SAYERS was at Bow-street on Monday morning, apparently in good health, excepting a slight touch of gout, and something of the feebleness of advanced ate, and he went home, ate his supper with his family, and retired to bed. In an hour after he was found a corpse. SAYERS was much distinguished for his civility and attention as an officer, and was greatly respected in his neighbourhood for his kindness of disposition. BERMUDA.—Captain SCOTT, of the brig Queen of the Isles, from Turk's Island, reports that a vessel had arrived there on the 31st ult. which had lost three of her men by cholera ; that he learned that the dis ease had appeared at Bermuda, and that although its ra vages had not been very extensive, mmy of the inhabi tants were leaving the island. Here again then, this mysterious disorder has shown itself in derision of all theories and speculations concerning it. There is no course of rivers that it could have followed to retch Bermuda, for that island is in the midst of the ocean, and fir removed from any continent. Its climate is so mild and delightful as to have formerly acquired for it tie appellation of Summer's Island, and the fresh water on it is barely sufficient fur the supply of the inhabi tants.—New York Inquirer, Aug. 16. CONVICTION UNDER THE CHOLERA ACT. _On Thursday last, MATHEW CAUSLEY, of Chudleigh, t a llow-chandler, was convicted before the Hon. Captain PELLEW and A. CHICHESTER, Esq., of obstructing and insulting the members of the Board of Health, of Chud leigh, in the execution of their duty; for which offence lie was fined in the mitigated penalty of 1/., with 6s. 6d. costs. At the same time ELIZABETH HOLE was con victed of a similar offence, and on expressing her regret at her improper conduct, with a promise of good beha viour in future, she was admonished and discharged, The worthy Magistrates, after severely reprimanding the parties, expressed their determination to support the Board of Health in the due performance of their duties, and in any future case to inlet the full penalty directed by tLa Act.— Western ,Luminary. PORTUGAL. (From the Times Private Correspondent.) OPORTO, SEPT. 4. The state and condition of this town at present fully tally with the accounts which have already reached Eng lan I. The most perfect order and most profound tran quillity prevail, nor could any one, since I have been here, imagine that there was any thing like war in the vicinity, except for the dropping of a few shots occasionally at a distance, called for merely to show the guerillas of Don Miguel that the troops of Donna Maria are on the alert. The shops are all open, the mai kets are well supplied, and all the ordinary business of buying and selling, as far as relates to the necessaries and luxuries of life, does not ex perience the least intermission. Mills and ovens are now established in the town so as to render it independent of external supply, and there can be no danger of a scarcity of material while the sea is open. Indeed, already a vessel has arrived laden with flour and biscuit from Eng land, another with 800 barrels of flour is hourly expected, and I have no doubt that in a short period there will ar• rive from England a supply equal to a year's consumption. The general interests of this town and its trade are of n-cessity injured by the insecurity of the present state of affairs, and, of course, the wish of all engaged in mercantile concerns is peace. There does not, however, prevail such alarm amongst the merchants as to induce them to ship off their wine to England. On the contrary, they seem dispose I to run all hazards, and allow it to remain, rather than render it a drug in the English market. The com ing vintage is . expected to be most abundant ; but if the present state of things continues, the greater proportion of it must go to waste. The communication with the Upper Douro is cut off, the usual supply of casks cannot he sent up, and the farmers, in consequence, cannot save their wine. Even should this be the case, it would not much interfere with the prices of port in England, as there is, if I am correctly informed, a three years' stock in store here, exclusive of last year's wine not yet come down from the country. The Portuguese are, if we look to all history, naturally prone to exaggeration, and they believe themselves still in dividually equal to their heroes of other days, their Al buquerques and Alenezes. " Fame," however, " That last infirmity of noble minds, To scorn delights, and live laborious days," does not now lead them. They are, however, capable of great exertions, and most certainly there never was any man of any nation who set a greater example of indefa tigable indn,try than the Emperor. His labours are almost incredible, and he has had more done since he came than would have keen performed in any ordinary twenty years of this country. His force, of all arms, may be estimated without exaggeration at 14,000 men. Of these 8,000 are old soldiers, and good ones ; the remainder consist of the militia and volunteers raised in the town since his ar rival. The people are naturally quick to learn, and some of these new troops now perform their evolutions in a man ner highly creditable. Their appearance is not of comae imposing, and some of them are rather like Falstaff's friends, with whom a Guardsman would not like to " march through Coventry." Nevertheless, being incor porated as they now are with the regular regiments, their appearance every day improves, and they rapidly approach perfection in discipline. The town has been fortified as well as the nature of the ground would admit, and all the small eminences around, from the Torre de Maria, on the side of the sea, to the Seminario, higher up on the right bank of the Douro, are planted with cannon. They are now also erecting some mortar bat teries, and 1 saw one last night, just completed, at the Mirante. The Seminario, it will be recollected, was the first point gained by our troops under General Paget and Lord Hill, on the celebrated surprise of Oporto by the Duke of Wellington, the 12th of May, 1809. About 50 pieces of artillery are thus disposed ; beside which there is a light train in the town, ready to move from a centre, in a few minutes upon any point; and barricades are erected at the entrance of every leading street, each of which is defended by a trench externally, with aplAtform for a gun on the inner side, and a breast- work for infantry. Care has been taken to confine the line of defence within as narrow a circuit as the nature of the ground would admit; and if well defended, the forti• fications now thrown up would offer the most serious im pediment to any army, and are considered here quite im pregnable by Don Miguel's troops. The conduct of his Generals seems unaccountable in permitting, without even the shadow of an interruption, the erection of these works. Every day Don Pedro coutinles to strengthen them, and all the gallegos are put in requisition for this labour. At the other side of the river works have also been constructed. The convent of Serra is not abandoned, as has been stated in some of the London papers; o❑ the contrary, it has been put in a good state of defence, and guns mounted there. Videttes are also thrown out to St. Ovidio : beyond it is a very high hill, which commands an extensive pro spect over the road leading to Santo Redondo and Ovar. Some of the regiments of the line are fine-looking bodies of men, and I was present at the parade of the sth Caca dores, on Suday evening, and I never saw a more soldierly appearance than they presented. The piquette from the town patrole to about the distance of two miles, and be- yond these are to be seen the fires of the Miguelites at dif ferent points in the valleys. Nothing can be more beau tiful than the view from the Convent of Born Fin, one of the largest fortified points on the Valongo-road. It corn mands an extensive sweep of the most varied scenery, and in the evening, when the watch fires are begun to be lighted, the sensation produced by the prospect would make war delightful even to a lady—particularly as it is of so peact able a description, that her nerves would not be shocked half as much as those of English fenialeit fro quently are by their friends returning from the slaughter of partridges. Some firing there is every day, and yester day there was a skirmish in the Carvalliito-road, be tween Agua Ardente and Jirelada, about half a league from the town. Three companies of Chasseurs, belong in to Don Miguel's force, attacked one of the outposts which was defended by about 50 of the 2d Cacadores and piquette of Volunteers. The Miguelites were, as usual, accompanied with a considerable guerilla, hut Were re pulsed, with the loss of four killed and some wounded. There were two wounded on this side. This, perhaps, may be the best place to give you such accounts of Don Miguel's force as I have been able to col lect ; they can, of course, be bit meagre and imperfect ; such as they are, however, they are better not withheld. The head-quarters of the Commander-in-Chief on the north side (the Visconde de Pezo da Regoa, better known as Gaspar Teixeira) are alterivitely at Valongo and San Cosme. His second in command is the Visconde de Santa Martha. The force with them is estimated at from 16,000 to 18,000 men. Of these, 6,000 are of the line, the re mainder militia and ordenanzas. On the south side the force is about 4,000, at the outside, inclusive of a rein forcement arrived within a few days from Lisbon, under the command of Augusto Pinto. This reinforcement amounted to 2,000 men, and consisted of the sth regi ment of infantry, 700 strong ; and one battalion of the 4th regiment, 300 in number. The other thousand are made up of militia. They have also got up some heavy artillery, 21-pounders, in the whole, as I understand, not more than six, and two mortars. The nature of the roads made their transport extremely difficult, and at all events it is very likely they have come too late. Every spot within the range of the town, where a battery could be advantageously placed, is occupied and fortified by I)on Pedro, and there appears, to my unmilitary eye, but one place open to attack—namely, the ground about the Carvalhito-road, which is, comparatively speaking, open and level. Guns are also in position there, and the two crack regiments, the sth and 2d Cacadores, are s'ationed on that spot. Miguel's troops are well fed, and have plentiful supplies, so far as eatables and am munition are concerned. They are, I am told, at the same time, in a very ragged condition, and most deplorably in want of shoes. They are too now rather discontented, as they have done nothing in their two months' campaign but watch the progress of the hostile works without any . attempt to interrupt them. Whatever be the number of the reinforcements arrived from Lisbon, they cannot make up for the counterbalancing impediments of the fortifica tions here ; and if they could not force the tow n when it lay open before them, the chances in their favour are any thing but increased. There are symptoms even now of the weather breaking up, and the equinoctial rains here are of an overwhelming description. They usually set in about a fortnight from this time . When these set in, Don Miguel's army must suffer greatly, as they , are gum tered i the open country, while Don Rqlro s troops have the advantage of excellent barracks and perfect shelter from the weather. I cannot, therefore, but think that if they mean an attack at all, they must make it speedily. Should it fail, as for the reasons I have just given I think pruba. ble, there is no saying what the moral effect of such an event upon the country may b. , . The militia must be anxious to get home and attend to their harvests, the wine harvest especially, now about to commence. The people of Tras os Montes have been ineffectually invited to take up arms and expel the invaders. They and the entire P oP u lation of the wine countries are d epen d ent upon Oporto for supplies, even of necessaries. Communication is now cut off, as I have observed before, and their harvest will be totally lost if relations be:ween those districts and Oporto are not speedily restored. Don Pedro has with him here the heads of sonic of the noblest and most re spected families in Portugal, and should lie gain a decided advantage, it is more than probable that the former influ ence of these Nobles would instantly revive. The people generally cannot continue to believe the fabrications of th. Lisbon Gazette, and their disappointment at the failur of the magnificent promise held out, both with respect t. army and fleet, cannot but be shown. Whatever be tb result, it is almost impossible for any one, not an into rested enemy of Don Pedro, not to sympathize with him The boldness of his attempt alone must secure him eh admiration of every ardent mind, and the energy, the p' tience, and the industry he displays, cannot, I think, h to win the respect of persons Of cooler temperament. Il is every where almost in a moment, and the instant a sin is fired he is on horseback, and oft to the point of attacl To him, as even those opposed to him admit, is to be 3 , tributed the salvation of this expedition, after the con mission, by others, of very considerable errors. 'I . l captain, whose treachery or cowardice occasioned the a" hap at Santo Redondo, is not to be shot, but degrade ) and banished for 10 years. Letters from Lisbon state that the masts now puttin into the Don John and a frigate are of heavy Brazil wool which must impede their sailing very much, and therefor give Sartorius the long wished-for opportunity of gettin within arm's length of them. Another topic which has caused conversation, del created 3. good deal of interest here, has been the allege conduct of the Spanish acting consul : lie, it is said, del vered despatches for his Government openly to a galleg and sent him off with them. Some of the outposts, 6 ° pectins something, seized this man, anal broke his sticl within this was a private letter to General Santa Martb describing the state of this town. What the exact col tents of the letter were I know not, but I am inform' that this gentleman is no longer to be seen here. While canning on shore, I had a conversation with 11 fishermen that brought me, and they and all of their cla are well pleased at the new regime. Self-interest, tl great - ruling principle, guides them. Formerly they h' to give up four fish out of every ten they caught, o ne the priest as tithe, another was called the Count's due and two were reserved for Caesar. From my imperfe knowledge of the language, I could not comprehend the explanations, but t.he•ir pleasure at being relieved le ) these imposts could not be mistaken. The Miguelite commander on the south side is the Pe gadier Nicholas d'Abreu, General Povoas having ask leave to go to the Caldas da Rainha for the benefit of 1 , 1 , health. The hardest service here is that of Captain K e who commands three gun•hoats up the Douro. His hoe are open, and he is constantly annoyed by guerillas fr° the banks, but he puts them to flight in the most gall+ manner. LISBON, SEPT. PI% I mentioned in my last, that the squadron of Don i guel bad returned to the Tagus, one of the vessels havil received some damage in her hull, and had her fore' o nearly cut in two, and a few men killed and wounded board. Six of the vessels have since been repaired, 1° are now below Belem, and are to sail in a day or t o against their opponents, who appear off the bar every Admiral Sartorius has in this neighbourhood 2 frigate* corvettes, 2 brigs, 2 schooners, and 2 steam vessels ; a‘ Miguel's fleet consists of the Don John, a frigate, 2 0 , vettes, 2 brigs, and a steamer (that which has been P': ing between this pin:a and Oporto), and its Admiral, J° l Felix, boasts that now that he has better crews, and I fast sailing vessels (the heavy sailing ones are left hind), he will capture and bring to Lisbon the whole of the enemy. A p ior blacksmith was strangled at s Castle on the 22d ult., and his head and hands were al! wards severed from his body, and stuck up i n f ro nt of la :use at Janelles 'Verdes. He was denounced, it sel l by a police soldier, as having got several of Don Pd'" ~ lriends on board the Vip er , t o b e conveye d to OP, His wife was sentenced t o t r a ns p or t a ti on t o Af r i ca for ,' ° but she has since died mad in the prison of Limoei r This horrid act has struck terror into the oppos er of Miguel, and I fear that not the sightest °PI ing movement can be counted on, unless Don comes thundering at the gates of Lisbon. Government is in great difficulties for money, an hear that the army up the country is miserably and clothed, and that the officers find it a most arch l i ° task to keep the soldiers in a state of any thing like au, dioation. Three engineer officers have gone from b e to fortify Santarem, which, being the key of Lisboa , course implies that the usurper by no means feels secu re SEPTEMBER 4.—We have nothing new to-day. 'Vig i l fleet has nut yet put to sea. The Board of Health ordered that the Viper shall henceforth be kept in qu 3 : o , tine, evidently with the view of preventing too free a nt, naunication.—Exchange, 471 to ; agio, 25 per ce (From the Morning Herald Private Corresponden t ' ) OPORTO, AU a , • 5 --• Don Pedro has acted with extraordinary activitie putting the city in a state of defenc e , a n d his plans f ' t founded on good judgment and military skill. He avoided the error which was committed when the pdi guese forfeited the town against Soult, that of eite a , their works fir into the country, and which that Ge t c ; forced, though they were defended with 200 pieces of tJ nom The present garrison has contracted the line' half circle, resting on the river en the left and righ t, I , touching the heads of the principal streets in the ' l n f Those who know Oporto will understand that the ' r j te commence at the Terre de Marca, where a strong l' a c , cdrnminds the river and the opposite bank ; thee b i tinned to the heights of Villar and Born Success°, ' l e command the read from Mattasinhos ; thence to C o r hada, which acts on the line from Villa de Conde; r to Da Lapa and the Lerio, which comm a nd the f i o road to Agoardente and Monte Pedral, which inveeP i .;l from Guirnsrens to Born Fin and Mirante, which eo ve ,; , l , Valongo road, and to th e S e m inano , whi c h a gain f a ' ci ' d the river, where the Duke of Wellington made ltts orated passage. erec t On all these points th ere are su b stan ti a l b a tt er ies J which sweep every road b ear i ng on t h e town , an" A ~,ot their fires ova r the int erven i ng country. The slial:tse tween the batteries most exposed are defended by itt ales, and the pine woods have all been cut down e r 1 their range, to deprive the assailants of cover in th ej o r roaches. This is the first line on which the safety town depends, but, should they be f o rc e d a t any r l ir; the streets to which they lead are secured by a end' forts or stout barricades of stone, six feet deep, feet high, with a parapet for musketry, and embra s % guns : and the heart of the city, and th e retreat 1 ' e river, are seem ed by a similar chain of works, structed on scientifiic principles, and in a substaotterl nee ; so that there are three lines defended by ba e oct ruounting sixty pieces of artillery ; th e n by forts, t r and mines, within a circle of about three or fi' ur i jo within which a garriso n o f 15,000, an d a s mall t' so artillery, can act in any dir ec ti on w i t h great eas e ea sf parative safety; and if that garrison stand to thei r btl like men, an enemy will have a tough job to get th e of them. But they must re l y on themselves el°°,6,o' the inhabitants are not a fighting people, and they expect the formidable aid which the people gave ern: and Brussels from th e ho uses . All th a t I have: " -ft.& has been done within thr ee w ee ks, and though l 4 lll guel's Generals must have known what was going " J.: out their firing a shot to prevent it. The defence!..ol)! south side of the river are not so good, but s od f `' has been done there also to secure the small s'reets bA Nova. The Serra convent, perched on the top of :40 1 rock, commands the river and the whole of Vtl l Ji t and until that is forced an enemy can do nothing ",,so' the town from that si de. But if that be carried theoto if e rdwe s i t s r e u , enco t : O :nli v r o pn e aa v ,it e af n ititilvi o eer h im ,tss yeeee to devise i :dit n eyv: c ii a stwy s e e i ot o tif f ihtet h hi i iem s e k u er l aii t nyn i g m esrd a 00 1: : : : :! : 1 00 1 ; l t i h a e n k t ,civfn he has theia i a m hisean means afndd doing n a g nd so l:e o C r 3r f h h e ° n is on its destruction—On alternative to which M' a t rlc`,) is not likely to resort as long as he has hopes 01 o th th e e i iapa, and aie m icne a nd t te t o e i great shou d importanc e . even his ing a country which is avowedly not friendly to 'jos question is therefore to him daily resolving itself of finance, and here lie may stay as long as he ba%rol i h ° , and it vitas. Of course I have no means of ,s( '' I his actual expeediture, hut I think a calculati on sup D p o li n es P b e y dr l o ind i s, be t :::: 'C !, I ,!atle Will exhibit a large portion of it. 809 English seamen, at 40s per month ................. ' „ 401 PortugueSe ditto ...• .. .. .. ......... ........ 100 Officers, not includiWg — the Admiral , but incluaL"„.; allowance, per week, for mess, '2Ol. per merit° ';pa 2 steamers, hired at 401. each per day with steam IP' e acl' '2O/. per day with steam down, average ..... •• lr Per day. ........................................................ Ration s and wine for 1,200 men, at Is. per day ......... ' .. For the Navy per month .............................. litre of transports, per month ................................ r lai d' I) , 13 ; ,c i i tti 12,000 soldiers, at is. per day pe , Rations and wine, at rid. per man per day Pe r , 00' Rations for 3,000 National Guards, who receive ..... r, rid. per day ................ . ............. ....................... 1,000 Officers, at 4s. per day, average ...................... $4; ... " / Sundries ...................................................... .......... po, Total per month ................ns...ld ..er .. .;;; I f From this rough c tleulation, which is co der the fact, an idea of Don Pedro's expense' form d. His current charges to be met are aboatt;,:i' l a day, and he has further to provide for the Wh" 1e ,1 01 0 of G . overnment, the cost of his estahl shm entt csl Staff, Generals, Ministers, &s., and the diplonisitlfroot,, ses, of which you can form as good an idea as , le° which require altogether a very, expensive