The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-28 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE,

Yesterday evening Venice Preserved was performed at
this theatre, for the purpose of introducing Mr. Warde,
for :he first time, as Pierre, and Mr. Serle, as Jaffier.
The style of these gentlemen is now known to the public,
and it will, perhaps, be sufficient on this occasion to say,
that each of them acquitted himself as every one who had
seen their former displays on the London boards would
have expected. We cannot congratulate either on any
signal success in the personation of his part, though we
readily admit that they both manifested considerable talent
in the characters they had chosen. Warde's representation
of the reckless soldier was manly and spirited, and more
equally sustained than some of his other parts. His death
was striking and impressive. Serle's J:7 flier was to the full
as whining as it ought to have been. His action was grace-
ful and almost redundant. The attention of the house was
intently fixed on the performance; and, at the close, the
applause was warm and general.

RoYat. DONATION.—His Majesty, with that sponta-
neous beneficence by which he has been always distin-
guished, no sooner heard of the situation of Mr. O'Keefe,
than he ordered a donation of one hundred guineas to he
immediately forwarded to him, and was at the same time
most graciously pleased to direct a similar sum to be an-
nually paid during the remainder of the dramatic veteran's
life.

The serious dramas L'Eroe di Lancastro and Fedra,
from which a Selection will be performed for the first time
in this country on Monday next, at the King's Theatre,
are, it is reported, the productions of a noble diplomatic
character.

The public will have an opportunity of hearing, on Mon-
day next, at the Opera (louse (besides the phalanx of
vocal talent assembled on the occasion), the most beautiful
hand in Europe, consisting of about :-200 professional men
of the first talent.

Madame Bonini has consented to sing at the Choral
Fund Concert. _

It is stated that the American Tragedian (Mr. Pelby)
was not permitted to appear at all, to play fir nothing, be-
fore the British public, till he had actually deposited loot.
for a guarantee to the house!
The library of the Marquis of Sligo, lately burned, was
a saloon, on which nearly 20,0001. was expended within
the last few years, and was certainly one of the most per-
fectly chaste specimens of architectural beauty in the king-
dom. Nearly the whole of the valuable collection of books,
shells, and minerals, that it contained, are destroyed.
Henry Cowper, Esq., the reiative of the celebrated
poet (formerly also in the office), after having held the of-
fice for about forty-five years, is mentioned as about to
retire from the situation of Assistant-Clerk of Parliament
to the Howie of Lords, at the commencement of the ap-
proaching Session. It was, amongst other things, his duty
to announce the Royal Assent to the Bills in the old Nor-
man French of " Le Roy/ le veld," fir.
It is rumoured that the heir-apparent of an ancient and
most respectable Roman Catholic family, whose mansion
is in the immediate vicinity of a neighbouring watering
place, has recently become a member of the Established
Church.—Preston Pih.l._ _

ANOTHER CHIMNEY-SWEEPER SUFFOCATEM—On
Sa-
turday morning last, two boys, chimney-sweepers, were
engaged, in the absence of their master, to sweep the flues
in the Turkey Paper NHII, near Keighley. One of the
boys, named Henry. Johnson, proceeded to clear them of
their contents, but after staying a considerable time longer
than was necessary, and, after being repeatedly called on,
the other boy went in search of him, but hail not proceeded
far before he was obliged to retire with nearly the loss of
his life. After being three hours in the flue, the unfortu-
nate boy was extricated a corpse, from suffocation. A Jury
is summoned to investigate the case. The little sufferer
was fourteen years of age, and came from the Fensrin
Lincolnshire. He related • few days before his death, to
a gentleman in lieighley, a most affecting narrative of his
adventures; lie gave his name as above, and said bis father
was a stone-mason, and in comfortable circumstances, but
apprenticed him to a chimm y-swceper, in his own neigh-
' bourhooil, a few years ago. His mato not having sufficient
employment for him, made him over (as he expressed it)
to one of the profession in Leeds. The latter, after employ-
ing him some time, disposed of him to Peter Hall, of
licightey, who, he said, used him most inhumanly, often
heating hint, and allowing him nothing but soot bags to lie
upon !. Ile further stated, that as soon as the weather was
warmer (for he had scarce any clothes to cover him) he
would beg a few halfpence, and contrive to visit his father,
and once more solicit him to take him under his protection.
If the above narrative he true (and he related it with tears
in his eyes), the conduct of the parent is atrocious in the
extreme.—Leeds Inteillgencer.
THE LUCKY BROTHERS.—Mr. David Jones, of York-
street, Westminster, having rather a dirty bank note,
which a shopkeeper refused to change, sent his wife to try
if she could purchase a share of the number of the note,
8,t31, in the Lottery, which she did, and it was drawn a
few days after a prize of 20,000/. His brother, John
Jones, who kept a public-house in the same street, being
determined to try his fortune in the like way, he laid by
all the dirty or soiled notes he took in trade, and before
the next lottery he selected the worst in appearance and
purchased with it a share of the No. 4,107, which was also
drawn a Prize of 20,0001., and thus they acquired in the
neighbourhood the appellation of the Lucky Brothers.

c;F.XF.RAL JOINT-STOCK COMPANY
-oil THE PROMOTION OF FRENCH INDUtATRY.

N. hsfitte, by his relations with England, and an
~,,..tive observation of what passes there, hail conceived a
vitt :des. the results of which might be immense. He had
frwol the project of an Association of capitalists, who
paui,t wt apart a sum of a hundred millions of franca, to
branch_of industry. - This Association, uce-
. .

p.-.)cr.ete every brancn
f,l,,,rishere, would have been of incalculable advantage
to Frarce, where capitalists are over cautious, and do not,
as to England, embark their money in every new invention
in which it may be required. Dawning enterprises would
rot hare feared perishing for want of being supported, but
might aiways have reckoned upon a powerful society, con-
ststalv disposed by its institution to aid them. This society,
connected at the same time with all branches of industry,
bad nothing to fear upon the question of its funds, because
the success of one enterprise wouldn recompense them for
the failure of another. A capitalist may fear to embark in
an sittetprise because it may fail 31 well as succeed ; but if
he shares with all he can have nothing to fear, because the
labours of a whole country must be productive of a favour-
able result. Because one manufacturer becomes a bank-
rupt, all the others will not do so also at the same time.
The idea then of M. Lafitte had this advantage—of
making each branch of industry surety for another,
so that the capital embarked in any one was, as it were,
insured by all the rest. From that instant capitalists would
-have dismisied all their fears ; and with the credit of the
state esotbsr credit much more vast and useful would have
been raised; v s. the credit of industry, which can never
be employed fur evil, nor serve any purpose but that of

pr.aluction.
The funds, the regulations, every thing was prepared for
this great Institution. M. Lafitte had been chosen as
President. and Messrs. Casimir Perrier and Ternaux
as
Vice-Presidents. The most honourable names had come
creed to be added to the list with those we have own-
tweed, and mode a party it. so fine a project ; but they had
reckoned without their host, and M. Corbiere had yet to be
prevailed upon to approve the plan which had been formed.
it was a national plan; that was no reason why it should
b.• ministerial : it was, however, hoped that an idea with
which every body was taken, and which appeared so use-
ful to induatty, would not be repelled by the ministry, and
that it would not venture to oppose the opinion already
universally pronounced. Such, however, has not been the
fact; and they have sent, it iv said, the authors of the
plan who prayed the authority of the Council of State, the
following ohjactions.
In the first piece the Ministry, aided by the Council of State,
have thought that commercial enterprises offer so many
chances of failure, that their importance cannot be too much
diminished, and that the capital of each must be reduced
as much as possible, in order that the failures may be less
considerable. How much ought we not to fear for an
undertaking whose funds amount to a hundred mil-
lions?
The whole of this objection amounts to this—that, for
fear we should not succeed, we should not even try to
work ; that for fear of shipwreck, we should not go to sea ;
that tor fear of no harvest, we ought not to sow : in a word,
that we must remain immovable, in order not to expose
ourselves to danger. Such a doctrine does not surprise us
from the present Administration : but that Administration,
whose principles we do not hope to enlarge, ought to have
perceived that the object of the Joint-Stock Company was
to provide against the fears they express. The Joint-
Stock Company, by employing its capital in all branches
of industry at ot.ce, escaped the peril which threatens each
individual enterprise. The Ministry, even with their
present principles, ought to have rested in safety upon the
organization of the Company.
In consequence of their mode of viewing the dangers of
enterprise, the Ministry, it is said, propose the reduction
of the capital from a hundred millions to twenty-five mil-
lions, and also to prohibit their engaging in any commer-
cial enterprise. The Ministry have besides proposed a
precaution ; anti this was to throw the weight of every en-
terprize upon the public funds ; a piece of advice which
the Joint-Stock Company stood in no need of, and
which would have been well if kept to themselves. The
Ministry, who have shown a great esteem for the system
of tutelary administrations, who have a great affection for
Communes obedient to the Sous-prefers in the administra-
tion of all their affairs, besides wished that the Company
should be organised like one of our municipalities,
It wished the Government Commissioners, appointed for
the Company, should not only have the power to watch
over the regulations, but also to oppose such enter-
pri,e as should nut please them. So that nothing would
be done in this council of industry but what pleased
the Ministry, just as in the Councils of the departments.
They say, there is a hundred millions to be employed,
but don't employ more than twenty-five. You are about
to employ your capital, but first consult us ; and if the use
yeti want to put it to displease us, abstain from so using it.
Trade as little as possible, and let that be when anti how
we shall please. Such is the language of Ministers, and
such thtir objections. But since they wish to interfere in
alt the operations of commerce, they ought also to share in
the proceeds--and, if there is loss, make it up.
We will not push further the examination of the objec-
tions addressed by ministers to a great and benevolent en-
terprise. If it becomes impossible to execute it at present,
it will be an additional obligation France will owe the pre-
sent ministers. M. Laffitte, and the gentlemen who joined
with him, will always have the merit of having started a
fine idea with the noblest intentions, and they will gain
credit fur the good which it will not have been permitted to
them to disseminate.—Constitutioanel.

VIVO BAY UNDERTAKING.

[From the 36-rwiNg Nereid.]

TO TILE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.
bia--llartng learned on my return to London from Vigo that
the operations carrying on in the Bay of that City under my direc-
tion, and pursuant to a contract entered into by me with the Spanish
Uovernment, have been made the subject of various misrepresent-
ations, I consider it a duty to truth and to my own character, to
stare • few facts. To these facts 1 shall strictly confine myself,
without directly exposing, and, after the explanations which I have
received, without characterising a single one of these misrepresent.
The Vigo Bay unde,rtaking was commenced, and is carried on,
not by a Joint-Stock Public Subscription, but out of the private
funds of a few persons who associated themselves in a partnership
for that nutmeat.
It wits never expected or intended to make any material progress
in the work during the last year. but the contract rendered it obli.
gantry to commence operations within the year ; and so far are the
partly engaged from being disappointed or discouraged, that they
are providing additional machinery on a scale of unsparing expense,
to be sent out—not because the machinery already tried had ptoved
inadequate, but for the purpose of expediting and concluding the
work, the number of vessels discovered and to be worked on exceed.
tog expectation.
1 shall enter into no statement of the grounds of success upon
which the parties to this undertaking are proceeding, that being
the cone.rn of those only who are immediately interested; but I
think tt tight to submit the following letter received by me, from
my friend Mr. Menendez, British Vice-Consul at Vigo. to show
that the accounts which have reached London by private letters, or
through some of the Paris Papers. of a correspondence between the
A yuntamiento or Corporation of Vigo and the Spanish 31inister at
)Madrid, are mere fabrications.
In justice to 31r. .Menendez it should be observed that his letter
was nut intended for publication.

" Vigo, Dec. 28, 1825.
"My dear Friend—l had this pleasure on the 17th and 21st in.
slant, and have now very little to add, but of some consequence to
you. I have seen a letter from Madrid to a person that you know
here, stating that he heard from sonic person about the Secretary of
Slate. that the Ayuntansiento (('orporation) of this city had re.
toned officially to the Minister of State, that it appeared on refer-
ence to the papers the Corporation is in possession of, little or no
money ceuld be expected to be left in the galleons when burnt and
sunk at Ramie. As soon as I kernel this sews I waited upon
some of the members of A yuntamiento to make an inquiry about
the business, and they assured me that the Corporation had never
received any communication on this point floor the Minister of
State, and that they never wrote to him any thing privately or offi-
cially to this erect, with which news I was very much pleased, as
you may consider. We know how some people work against
the er.terprise. Tha post starts, and on gives me time ton-
sure you, I am your r.ast airectionate friend;
" I. Dickson, Esq. London. L. Al EMENDS:Z."
In conclusion, I repent that I will not notice any of the mis.
representations an3l absurdities which have been industriously
forth respecting this undertaking ; but confine myself to
these facts. 1. DICKSON,
January 24, Cooper's-rnw, Trinity-square.
lln reference to a pernicrsph of our Stock Exchange correspond-
ence, we disclaim imputing any delusive or disreputable tnoucsa
or purposes, or meaning atiy thing injurious or disrespectful to the
'character of the contractor of the Vigo Bay undertaking.l