The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-15 00:00:00

A SINGULAR CHALLANGE.

Thet ) flowing singular challenge is contained in a letter
from Sir It'llliam Herbert, of St. Julian's, in Monmouth-
shire, father-in-law to the famous Lord Herbert, of Cher-
bury, to a gentleman of the name of Morgan. The origival
is in the British Museum.

" Stec—Peruse this letter in God's name. Be not disquieted. I
reverence your hoary hair. Although in your son I find too much
folly and lewdness, yet in you I expect gravity and wisdom.
It hath pleased your son, late, at Brtstol, to delivers challenge
to a man of mine, on the behalf of a gentleman (as he said) as good
as myself; who he was he named not, neither do I know; but if
be be as good as myself, it must either be for virile, for birth, for
ability, or for calling and dignity. For virtue I think he meant not,
for it is a thing which exceeds his judgment: if for birth, he must be
the heir male of an Bail, the heir in blood of ten Earls; for. in testi-
mony thereof I bear their several coats. Beside*, he must be or the
blood royal, for by my grandmother llevereux I am lineally and lepri.
timately descended out of the body of Edward IV. If for ability
he must hare a thousand pounds a year in possession, a thousand
manila more in expectation, and must have some thousands in sub-
stance besides. If for calling and dignity, he must be knight, or
lord of several seignories in several kingdoms, a lieutenant of his
county, and s counsellor of a province.
" New, to lay all circumstances aside, be it known to your son,
or to any man else, that if there be any one who beareth the name
of gentleman, and whose words are of reputation in his county, that
dot!' say, or dare say, that I have done unjustly, spoken an un-
truth, stained my credit and reputation in this matter, or in any
matter else, wherein your son is exasperated, I say lie limb in his
throat, and my sword shall maintain my word upon him, in any
place or province, wheresoever he dare, and where I stand not
sworn to observe the peace. But if they be such as are within my
governance, and over whom I have authority, I will for their re-
formation chastise them with justice, and fur their malaport mis-
demeanor bind them to their good behaviour. Of this sort 1 ac-
count your son, and his like ; against whom I will shortly issue m
warrant, if this my warning Both not reform them. And so I
thought tit to advertise you hereof, and leave you to God.
" I am, At.. M %VAL HERBERT."

Cattnoxras; Asyttrit.—The Anniversary of this
Charity was celebrated in Freemasons' Hall, on Saturday,
Lord Francis Lereson Gower, second son of the Marquis
of Stafford, and heir to his mother, who is, in her own
right, Countess of Sutherland, the premier Peeress of
Scotland, was in the Chair. His Lordship was supported
on his right by Lord James Stewart, brother to the Marquis
of Bute, on his left by Lord Glenorcby, son of the Earl of
Breudalbane. The subxription amounted to nearly .

THE XENT INDIAMAN.
We have great pleasufe in insertinft the following cor-
respondence, so hononrsble to all the Artie§ mentioned.
His Royal Highness the Duke of York 13 entitled to high
praise for the prompt manner in which he renders the thanks
of the country for the preservation of so many valuable
lives. Captain Cook, for the active humanity displayed in
the rescue, his instant resolution of proceeding to P,ngiand
with the sufferers (taking all responsibility of deviating
front it. valuable voyage), anti the manner in which he car-
ried his wise and energetic measures into effect, is beyond
all commendation:—
" !forte Guards, March 9, 1825.
" Sin—The Commander-in-Chief having received from the
Court of Directors of the East India Company, and from Eictit.-
Colonel beacon of the 31st Regiment, reports of the circumstances
attending the destruction by fire on the Ist instant of the Honour-
able East India Company's ship Kent, I am directed by his Royal
Highness to assure youtof the high sense which his Royal High-
ness will not cease to entertain for the meritorious zeal and promp-
titude with which you came to the assistance of the ship Kent, un-
der circumstances an critical and trying; and of the exemplary
gallant and persevering exertions made by yourself and those act-
ing under your direction, to which, tinder Providence, his Majesty
and the country are indebted fur the preserVation of so many
valuable lives.

" His Royal Highness having understood from the agents of the
ship Cambria that you are about to proceed on your voyage, has
felt anxious not to lose any time in, conveying to you his sincere
thanks for the services which you hate rendered to the officers and
soldiers of his Majesty's 3lst Regiment, and to. their wives and
children upon this melancholy occasion.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your most ohedivit humble Servant.
" HERBERT TAYLOR.
" Captain Cook, ship Cambria."
The following is Captain Cook's answer : •

" Falmouth, March 11, 1825.
" slit —1 have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 9th
instant, conveying to me the sentiments his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief has been ;leased to entertain, in consequence
of the, services I have been enabled to render (by the interposition
of a Divine Providence) to tbtadTerers on board the flonourable
East India Company's ship Kent, at the period of her 'unite-
grrtion.
.i
• Permit me, Sir, respectfully to state, that next to the heartfelt
satisfaction I experience at having had the opportunity of being
useful in the cause of humanity, I value the approbation his Royal
Highness has done me the honour so graciously to e:kpress; and I
beg leave to request that you will have the kindness to Onder to his
Royal Highness my most humble !rut very sincere thanks, for this
distinguished mark of his condescension and goodness—rendered
still more valuable to me in noticing those under my command, by
whom I was so &Sly assisted.
" With the greatest Teepee:, I hare the honour to be, Sir,
" Your very obedient humble servant,
(Signed) " WM. COOK.
" To Sir Herbert Taylor, But. &c. &C."