The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-29 00:00:00

MR. AIATIIEMS.

A sketch of Mr. Mathews's plan of entertahiment has
been already presented to our readers; we will nut do this
gentleman the injustice of further enumerating in detail
the items of his catalogue of the peculiarities and manners
if our American brethren, for his voice and action impart
a comic fascination to his description of them, which we
own our pen is not sufficiently contagious to catch or to
convey. leaved, the principal and peculiar merit of his
performance is, that it can be felt aml appreciated only by
I those who are eye-witnesses to the versatility of talent it
displays. Criticism cars only convey a vague and unsatis-
factory idea, where the subject for its comment is a person,
not a play, and where " nods and becks," not words anti
sentiNienta, furnish leading matter for observation. Al-
though the lecture of Mr. Mathews own its principal at-
trr'ction to the ever-varying and comic • countenance of the
lecturer, yet it also communicates some very useful know-
ledge, conveyed in a very pleasing and popular way.
Much, however, as we admire the ingenuity with which
Mr. Mathews has collected his observations, and the dis-
crimination with which he has arranged them, yet do we
more admire the sentiments favourable to the American
character which Mr. Mathews has imbibed, and which he
eudcavours to inculcate on the minds of his countrymen.
No vulgar prejudice—no national antipathy—no scornful
sarcasm, disfigures the talent with which be represents the
' peculiarities of " Jonathan." This is not only good
acting—it is more :it is good feeling. And the present
surely is a titne'when a kindly disposition betwten .linerica
add this country cannot be too earnestly. recommended and
encouraged. An American might espy a laugh at his
eccentricities, as Mr. Mathews " Mews em up," as heartily
as we laughed ourselves last season at our own peculiarities
and ,grange vagaries at Epsom and other places of public
resort. The weapon of his wit is a sword of brightness,
thit •" never camel a heart-stain away on ha blade. ' His
imitations' are so perfectly humorous and inoffenaive, that
Mr. Mathews might fairly be permitted in this way to
share with poets and painters the
• Equs petrels* quidlibet audendi."
The village of Natchitotches, of the inhabitants of
which the third part consists, besides the objection we have
already made of being introduced merely fur the purpose
of showing the rapidity with which Mr. Mathews can
change his dresses, is liable to the still greater one of pour-
fraying a Frenchman, an Irishman, and a Dutch heiress.
If we adopt the legal rule of determining the construction
of an Act of Parliament from the preamble to it, how are
we to account fur the prominent intrusion of tloec fo-
reigners in a lecture oil American peculiarities? The sketch
of the American Judge is admirable; that of Pennington,
who imitates Curran, is not quite so touch to our taste.
'fliere is something so painfully interesting iu the history
of the period in which that extraordinary man flourished,
that we could wish his name were spared the ridicule even
of Mr. Mathews. The puns are somewhat too numerous;
many of them might be advaniageously omitted in the next
lecture. If it he true that " the liminess of a pun is a test
of its merit," Mr. Mathews is fully en.itlesl to the benefit of
the paradox.

A Sunday paper has the following announcement:—
" Newman Knowles, Esq., the Recorder of London, died
on Friday night. Ile had been load indiapoaed."—Ano-
tber Sunday journal contradicts the ie in the following
manner:—" The Rteariler, who bat bees very unwell,
was yesterday sulleiendy recovered to moo down into his
tirawing-recut."

INEETINC of Me WOOL aid WOOLLEN TRADES.
• .
lbstottrib it general 3leeting of personb intertwiled in the above
trades, took Owe, at the Guildludl Coffee-hoiae, for the porpoise •C
receiving • report of the proceedings of the Committee appointed at
the Omen! Mogiaor held on the 17th ult. James Bischoff, Phq.
was called to the chair, elated that it was his duty, as Chair-
man of the Commit:en, appointed at the late Ueneral :Meeting, to
report the proceedings which hat bean adopted by the Cunimittee,
and by the Deputation, Which had had an interview with the
Chancellor of the );:chequer on the subject of reducing the Tax
on foreign wool. lie, with them arrence of the Committee, had
reduced to writing a statement which embraced the Mein facts af-
fecting t'ae general interoas of the different briinchre bf the wool
and woollen trades, which he submitted, in the shape of a Report,
to the consideration of the present meeting. The follbwing lie.
port was then read :
_ . . . .

• •• 'I hat In pursuance of the Resolutions of the General Meeting,
they have used their utmost encleavouts, bout by representations to
his 51ajesty's Government aoti by interviews with the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, to obtain a return of duty of all wools, duty
paid, remaining in title original packages.
•• They adopted that COURe p.inly from the declaration of his
Majesty's Govetoment, that it any return was made h trou:d not
extend beyond that line, and partly from the difficulty, if nut ab.
solute intpossibility, to define the proportions ot foreign woad,
either hi pmeess of manufacture or maaufactured, and from the full
conviction th.tt in order to get any return it was necessary to con:
fine that return to Wool in the bags as imparted.
" Finding at an it ICS' which a deputation of the Committee had
with the Chancellor of the Exchequer oh the 25th inst., at which
they were aceoinw.tried by Lord Edward Somerset, the Hou. W.
La;,eellew, Sir W. Guise, Ban., Sir J. Lethbridge, Bert., J. S.
Wortley, Esq" 51. P.. Thomas Wilson, Esq. 111.1'...• G. Brydges,'
Esq. M.P., R. 11. alVieS, Esq. M.P., and Cul. Irebb, that the
Chancellor of the Exchogur: had received memorials front the ma-
nufacturing districts, praying • that the holders of manufactured
goods might be put upon the sante footing as the holden of wool,'
he hal deterinitted not to glee a return to one branch which could
not be extended to all ; and seeing that all hope of obtaining back
was at an end, the Committee esrnestly requested the Chanc;llor
of the Exchequer to let his intentions as to die reduction of the
tax be made public sx sown as possible, and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer consequently stater) in the House of Commons lest
night, that he should recommend the tax to be reduced from 6d. to
on the IVO' of ritliterubet next, and Insult 3d. to ld. on the
Ilth of December."

Mr. RIL/Y proposed, and Mr. HAZARD seconded, a resedu-
don "That the report be now read and adopted," which was ear.
dad unaoiinowsly.
. . . . . _

Mr. Mout.uex said, that he hoped printed copies of the re-
port would be cuter.sivtly enrol itcd throughout the manufacturing
districts; and expressed his apprehensions that the tax would be
again imposed a. no very distant period.
The (:tint lima,: amid, fur his own part he thoug'•: the fears of
the gentleman were groundless. lie hoped the tax was now en-
tirelyset at rest.

A Gentleman stated that he did not believe the tax was act at
rest, particularly the tax upon long wool.
It was then moved, and seconded, •• That the Report be print-
ed, and circulated throughout the utanul•xturing districts."--Car-
tied unanimously.
It was then propo.ed, •• That the thanks of the meeting be
given to the Chaucellor of the Exchequer for granting the inter-
view, and to die different Members of Parliament who attended
on the occasion;" and carried unanimoubly.
It was next resolved, " That the Comnottee be requested to at-
tend the of the Bill through the House."
The fo lowing Resolution was then proposed :—" That the thanks
of this Meeting be given to John Maitland, Esq who, fur the space
of forty years, has, with great honour to himself, and with as much
advantage to the trade, been the Chairman of the Wool and Wool-
len Trades, and during that long period has devoted his time and
active exertions to measures which have greatly contributed to
increase and prosperity, and whose ...buena from indisposition this
meeting deeply laments."
The Cam 'mac begged to offer a few words before he put the
motion. For the last seven yeses he had witnessed the unremitting
exertions of his absent friend, to the interests of the Wool and
Woollen Trades in all their branches; and, in all their fluctuations,
he had proved himself the steady friend of that branch of industry.
The trades were chiefly Indebted to him for the reduction of the
present tax. Ile therefore cordially supported the motion.
It was carried unanimously.
It was resolved, that the Resolutions be inserted in the different
Journals.

The Chairman having left the Chair, a very complimentary vote
of thanks liras passed to James Bischoff; Esq. for his conduct in
,he Chair, and ilia ;.aloes excrtians un behalf of the Wuol and
‘Voollen Trades on all occasions.

The Meeting then adjourned.