The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-15 00:00:00

THE SIR EDWARD BANKS STEAM-PACKET.

Considerable apprehensions have been entertained, dur-
ing the last few days, for the safety of this vessel, which
left London for Ilamburgh with a bag of letters and pas-
sengers, on Saturday sZnniglit, the 2d inst. There is no
doubt whatever that she reached her destination in safety,
but in the ordinary course she should have returned to
London on Monday last. Her non-arrival excited consider-
able fears, particularly as she was supposed to have several
'palestrigers on board, and policies of' insui wee, from 15 to
20 per cent. were yesterday offered at Lloyd's, but refused.
In the course of the day we made inquiries respecting her
at the Company's Office, Crutelied-friars, but no intelli-
gence had been received up to that time. The supposition
is, that the Sir Edward Banks bad put out from Hambitrgh
a short time previous to the late gales which have been ex-
perienced on that coast, and probably, from some derange-
ment of her machinery, had been compelled to put into
Cuxlieven to refit. The following letter on this subject
has been forwarded to Francis Freeling, Eq. Secretary to
the General Post-office :

Stn,—ln consequence of the non-arrival of the Sir Edward
Banks, due on Monday, 1 am directed to inform you that the
Superb has been got in readiness to proceed to ilsmburgh, on
Saturday morning next, the 16th instant, when she will leave the
Custom-housell'harf, at seven o'clock in the morning.

(Signed by order ) CHARLES BESSELL,
Secretary to the General Steam Navigation Company,
To F. Freeling, Esq. General Post.office.

The Sir Edward Banks is said to be the finest and most
complete vessel of the kind ever built, both as to her ma-
chinery and general appointments. Hitherto she has never
met with any accident.

The following is given in a new publication, called
Rescued Fragments, as part of a sermon preached by a
travelling Dissenting Minister in Devonshire:—" You
zee, my friends (speaking of Dives and Lazarus), this here
Dives was a rich man, and I dare zay had s-got every thing
comfortable about un—and why shouldn't he? He had a
right to enjoy himself. He wore vine clothes every day.
Well, there was no harm in that, if' he could pay for um ;
that there was no crime in him, you know—only he should
ha' minded Lazarus. IVell, you zee he died, and was
buried; well, and I dare say had got a very vine viineral,
a power of yolks attending; and why shouldn't he? He
was a rich man, you know. IVell, you zee, Lazarus died
too, and lie was very poor. We've no authority about his
burying—we don't know what was done wi' he ; but tes
my belief, as tes zed the dogs were so vontl of un when he
was alive, that they eat un all up when a teas dead. I've
heard zay, my friends, that Hell was paved with good in-
tentions; we've no authority for that, you know, but I
think as how tes no such thing, because we are told tea a
bottomless pit, zo where can the pavement be?"
Tile IVEAVERS. IVitoes.—A statement has been pub-
lished within the last week, of the prices paid by dif-
ferent manufacturers in this town to their weavers;
and when these are contrasted with the prices paid twenty,
or even ten years ago, we cease to wonder at the stator of
destitution to which the weavers are reduced. By this
statement it appears that some manufacturers in this town
are, to their infinite credit, but we fear to their certain
lose, paying twice as much as others for some parti-
cular kinds of cloth; and generally speaking the varia-
tions between the different prices paid for weaving
the same kind of cloth is very great, and renders it
apparent that there is any thing but fairness, ho-
nour' or honesty, in out present systetn:of manufacturing.
We do not wish at present to discuss the question as to
the propriety of legislative interference between master
and servant with respect to wages ; but we must say that
something is absolutely necessary to be done to put a stop
to the nefarious "grinding" system. It has introduced
weakness into the land, and will, if not checked, ultimately
ruin it, and therefore ought to be discouraged and pre-
vented in every possible way; and as one great means to
this end, we would urge upon all who are in the habit of
purchasing manufactured goods to abstain from dealing with
the unfair trader, and not to be seduced by low prices to
deprive a fellow-creature of bread; and the weavers we
would recommend to refuse at all hazards to work for those
who are ao unprincipled as to keep back part of their hire.—
Blackbura Mail.
The bailiff of a gentleman at Worth, near Crawley, was
making preparations with a friend to partake of the sports
of the field, when, as they were leaving the house with the
pieces loaded, his wife called him back to make arrange-
ments for a harvest-supper, which was to be held in the
evening: while conversing, the trigger was accidentally
touched, and the gun unfortunately went off,. when
the contents penetrated the calf of her leg, and drove the
flesh front the bone against the door. She died in a few
hourso—Birotioghaat Gazette.

MOVEMENTS.
The Duke of Rutland arrived on Wednesday, at his house in
Arlington.street, from Brighton.
The Dowager 3larchioness of Salisbury arrived on Wednese
sy
at Hatfield. from a tour in lien's.
The Earl and the Ladies Talbot have arrived at their seat,
gestrie Park, near Litchfield. from Cheltenham.
The Earl and Countess of Leitrim and family have left t e
town
Ireland.
Lord and Lady Barnard have left Greta Bridge, nn their Way
the teat of the Earl of Darlington, Raby Castle, Durham.
Lord Stowell has left town for his seat in Berks.
Sir Henry and Lady Fitzherbert and family have arrived at their
house in Henrietta-street, Cavendish-square, from their seat, Ti,.
sington, Derbyshire.
Colonel and Airs. Metcalf have arrived at Ramsgate, from Tun.
bridge Wells.
Colonel and Mrs. Parker have arrived at Ramsgate, frcrn
Brighton.
The Rev. Mr. flawing has arrived at Eton, from 1115:ings,
Sussex.
Arrival at Fladong's Hotel, Oxford-aireet :_Thos. Swim:mon,
Esq. from a tour. Departures : Greenaway, Esq. and ?1:3
Greenaway, for Gloucestershire; Mrs. Meux, tor Surrey; a,;(1
Carleton, Esq. on a tour.
Arrivals at Fenton's Hotel, St. Jamea's.strect I:dnutid
Carrington, Bart, from a tour; A. F. Nuney, Esq. 1,4 sat
in Hants; and Captain Rivers, from Westmorland. Dqurtute:—
Monsieur Le Baron Duptaytren. for Paris.
Departures from Jordan's Hotel, St. James's-street:—C4F4M
and Miss Eccles, for Paris.
Departures from the British Hotel :—Captain and 31n. Gondar,
for their seat in Norfolk ; and Wm. Hughes Dm. for lingleon.
Departures from the Brunswick Hotel Clete Blake's)Jenntn.
street :—Captain and Mrs. Beauchamp Procter and family, for ito
Continent; and Monsieur and Madame Crebau, on a tour.

BRIGH7'ON, Si PT. 12.

The Duke of Rutland, accompanied by Mrs. Besuclerk,
and Colonel French, M.P., arrived at the Royal Hotel
yesterday, where they dined: but set off in the evening,
taking with them the young Marquis of Granby, who was
at school here, to return to St. Leonard's Lodge, near
Horsham. -

New Minatory ROOMS.—The site fixed on for the
erection of a new and complete suit of Assembly Rooms,
which has long been a desideratum here, under the sanction
of the King, and the direct patronage of his Royal High-
ness the Duke of York, is on the east side of the Grand
Parade, nearly facing the King and Queen Inn; a well-
selected spot for it, as:being almost in the centre of the
many fashionable residences in that quarter, with a capital
carriage-road, and plenty of space for all of the orna-
mental and the useful in the building that may be re-
quired. The ground has been taken on lease, at the
annual rent of 2501., with a purchasing clause of 5,000/.
any time within the first seven years.
the affair of Mrs. Forrest, mentioned in yesterday's
letter, has led to a fracas and a hearing before the Magis-
trates this morning. The name of the solicitor by whom
the placard was put up is Barrow, and in the examination
I to-day he stated that last night, or rather this morning, st
an early hour, Mr. Ramsden (an officer of the Guards),
and two other gentlemen (also 1 believe officers), all of
whom were in custody, came to his house, and abused him
with the most opprobrious and offensive epithets, spitting
in his face, and challengirg him to come out and fight.
A watchman happening to pass at the moment, took them
into custody ; and they were bound over by the Magiatrates
in their own recogniaances of 100/. to keep the peace, and
also to appear at the Sessions. Warrants were also issuel
for the apprehension of the two ladies, on charges of keep-
ing a disorderly house ; but as it was understood they were
about to leave the town, it is not unlikely they will take
their departure before the warrant can be served upon
them. It appeared on the examination, that Mrs. Forrest
and her companion returned on Sunday night to the house
on the New Steyne, and this accounts for the exhibition of
the placards yesterday, which at the time caused so much
surprise. Mr. Barrow stated to the Magtstrates that the
house was the resort of men of all ages, from sixteen to
eighty, and that seventy or eighty different gentlemen had
been there; but it does not appear that previously to the
bills being put up any thing was done to annoy or disturb
the neighbourhood. Mrs. Form& who is a pretty woman,
and of fascinating manners, has resided here some weeks,
driving a barouche, and living in very good style. She
was here some years ago with Mr. Faitiitleroy, at which
time they occupied a house on the Old Stcyne.

THE LATE LORD GIFFORD.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sin,—So many inaccuracies have been stated respecting
the family and history of Lord Gifford, that I beg to lay
the following short statement before your readers:—
His father's principal business was that of a hop-
merchant, and since his death the business, until with.
in the last ten years, was carried on by his Lordship's
elder brothers. Mr. 'Weinman and Mr. Charles Gifford,
both of whom are still living at Exeter, having retired
from business. Robert was by many years the youngest of
the family, and was educated at a small school k,-pt Ly a
Dissenting Minister in that city (not under Dr. O'llalleran,
as has been stated). I was his schoolfellow, and at that early
age young Robert Gifford was looked upon as a very supe-
rior boy, botfrby his master and his schoolfellows; and the
old gentleman has since told me that Giftbrd was the cle-
verest boy lie ever had under him. At the age of 17 he
was articled to Mr. Jones, a respectable solicitor, at Exeter,
and there soon showed that he was a young man of very
superior abilities. I remember Mr. Baring, the then Mete-
ber for Exeter, having been at Mr. Jones's office on business,
where lie bad seen young Gifford, saying to a relation of
mine," I have been talking with a young man who will one
day be Lord Chancellor." Little did he then think how
nearly his prophecy would he fulfilled. Mr. Junes had so
high au opinion of Mr. Giffind, that he offered to take him
into partnership, if his nephew, who was then practising in
London, did not wish to return to Exeter. Mr. Jones did,
however, take his nephew into partnership, and Mr. G., by
the advice of his friends, determined on being called to the
Bar. Ile had then no property of his own, and was edu-
cated for the Bar, and maintained for several years, by his
eldest brother, Mr. W. Gifford. On being eallel to the bar,
he immediately got business, and it was soon found that
he was the only man on the circuit who could compete
with Lens and Pell. In 1815, Mr. Abbott, the pre-
sent Lord Chief Justice, and Mr. Dauncey (one of the
most brilliant orators of his day), were brought to Exeter
on special retainers, to' conduct a great lunacy quesiin,
which occupied nine days, and Mr. Gifford was selected,
alone, to conduct the case on the other side. The extra-
ordinary powers that Mr. Gifford then showed are alive in
the recollection of every Barrister on the Western Circuit.
The manner in which he conducted this case, I believe,
first brought him into the notice of Lord Ellenborough, who
recommended him to the Chancellor for a silk gown. The
recommendation was not, however, attended to. The sub-
sequent career of this eminent nobleman is known to every
one. As an advocate, lie was shrewd, powerful, and de-
termined, and never had a client cause to complain of the
manner in which his case was conducted; as a Judge, he
was patient and intelligent, and never has any man ven-
tured to question his judgments. In private life, I may
almost say, he was without a fault ; this, at least, I will
say—never did the grave close over a man more sincerely
beloved, and more deeply lamented by all who knew hie],
than Lord Gifford.

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