The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISII PRESS.

Si tt—ln your paper of this day it is stated that the Public Meet.
ing of the Proprietors of this Company, held yesterday at the London
Tavern, consisted of only about a dosen persons. I beg to inform
you that the number of Proprietors present was fifty-men, pee-
messing one thousand seven hundred and forty-six shares. Your
Reporter may, perhaps, have mistaken the anti-room, into which
he looked for the place of meeting. L trust to your impartiality to
correct his error.
I am, Sir, your Moat obedient Servant.
JAMES MITCHELL, .
Secretary to the British Annuity Company,
36, New Broad-street, June 2, 11126.
(In ref.rence to the above statement, our Reporter observes, that
he went to the London Tavern on Wednesday, at the hour of one
o'clock. He inquired for hie room where the British Annuity
Meeting was to be held, end was directed to a room on the first
floor, before which two men, apparently 'miter', were standing.
On repeating the inquiry for the British Annuity illeeting,.one of
them opened the door of a room.. in which ten or twelve gentlemen
were walking_ about. An indirkluel among them, who seemed to
be a Scotchnin by his accent, asked the Reporter to insert his name,
and the number of shares which be possessed, in a book lying on •
table, etc. Whether there was an Inside roam did not appear, but
the persons present seemed to have no emutuunication with any
other apartment.—Lo. Bit. Pa.)

REPOItT
Or THE COMMITTEE OF MEOCIIAIITS.
UNDERWISITERS or LONDON. AND or THE UEPIITIEN-
TATIVES OP TYE PUIXCIPAL OUT-POUTS MUSCAT
DRITAIN. SIIIPOWNEUS,

IContimied from our Paper of yeaterday.l
From this evidence it appear% to your Committee:—
First—That the whole of the merchant shipping of this sountry
in at present classed in hooks, printed for the avowed use of the
Underwriters of Lloyd's, but supported by the general subscrip-
tions of Merchants. Underwriters, Shipowners. and others.
Secondly—'that m these hooks, in addition to a concise record n'
facts, as to age, port of building, ,&. the mark ne character. A. E. I.
or 0. is assigned to each ship. which mark is *opposed to designate
her real quality, and from withal die degree of her competency at
inefficiency is assumed ; the letter A indicating the first or superior
class, in which all ship*, when new, are placed, end in which they
are continued foe a fixed terns of years, dependent on the place at
which they are built; and tit: remind'', vowel' marking their pro-
iressivc descent in the scale of supposed quality, terminating in 0,
which mark is affixed to tome that are considered unseaworthy.
Thirdly—That the circulation of these books. Is not confined to
the port of London, nor even to (heat Britain • but is extended
over every part of the globe, and that they have become the almost
universal standard by which the merchant is guided in his ship.
ments, the underwriter in his insurance, and the passenger in un-
dertaking his voyage; in short, that the character they affix stamps
value on the ship, and abwrist exclusively regulates the confidence
reposed in her safety and sufficiency.
Such being the purposes for which these books are published,
and such the effects resulting from their contents, it is obviously of
the last importance that the principles on which character is as-
signed in thent should be just and sound ; and that the course pur-
sued, and the means employed for acquiring the information Pro-
lesszd to be conveyed in them, should be fully adequate to its
correct attainment. At an early stage, however, of their invemigs-
tion. it became apparent to your Committee, that the principles
adopted under the present system were most fallacious and aro-
neoui ; and equally so, that the funds at the disposal of the Com_. mittee by, whom the books are superintended were wholly issue%
icient for its effectual improvement. In place of • vigilant system
or actual survey, as the Means of ascertaining intrimilc qoality.
which min alone yonstitute the basis of correct choialficattoss, that
quality has been misused frau, general mleo, arbitrarily substituted,
and not only unsupgeeted, as your Committee conceive, by mason
and experience, but directly contradicted by the almost universal
tenorof the evidence submitted to their consideration.
From such a system, if applied on existing tonnage, manifest
injustice and extensive evil must ensue; but when constituting the
principle' adopted in the classification of ships constructed under
the knowledge of its application, and free from all cheek while
building, its consequences hezome more deeply prejudicial. The
indiscriminate catenation of' the ..ighest character to all new ships,
without effectual inquiry into the merits of their coostructioo, must
at once destroy all motive for excellent, and consequently expensive
building, and afford induaentent for that which la cheap and infe-
rior. The continuance on that character for a fixed period, deter.
mined by the absurd and erroneous principle of the port of build-
ing, must have a direct tendency to degrade the quality of all the
shipping built in those ports which rank law in the scale, and inter-
pose an effectual bar to improvement in practices assumed to be
defective.' The refusal to restore to the first character, when for-
feited by lapse of time, even under almost any circumstances of
excellence of condition or extent of repair, cannot fail to contribute
a further inducement for building originally, and repairing subse-
quently, at no more cost than is deemed necessary fur maintaining
the ship in ostensible condition during the fixed period of her
imaginary 'perfection ; while, to complete the catalogue of errors,
the partial degree of actual survey required by the system, is ren-
dered
practically nugatory, by the Inadequacy of the salaries paid
to the surveyors, and their allowed dependence for the principal
portion of their emoluments on the very parties whose conduct they
are designed to control.
Previous to detailing the evils proved in evidence to have arisen
out of the system thus described, your Committee feel it but right
to declare their conviction, that thane evils have been chiefly pro.
duced by the want of an enlarged and well-organized system of
survey, which has been rendered impracticable by the inadequacy
of the means existing for the proper remuneration of independent
and competent surveyors ; but while they disclaim all imputation
on the Committees, by whom the present registry books are con-
ducted ; while they are willing and desirous to pay the just tribute
of individual respect due to the gentlemen composing these Com-
mittee*.; they would not discharge their duty, if they did not point
the attention of ail persons connected with it, to the fact, that these
Committees exercise, without any legitimately derived authority, a
prodigious Influence over the shipping property of the country ;
and your Committee are impelled, by a sense of the obligation de.
volved on them by the inquiry they have undertaken, forcibly to
invite attention to the fatally incorrect manner in which, under the
palpably absurd system pursued, the mercantile shipping of the
country is actually classed.
From the absence of all control on the original construction of '
ships while building. and the impossibility of ascertaining by any in-
spection after completion their real quality, it appears to be indiaput.
ably proved, by an almost uniform coneuiretiee of testimony,that the
Ono character, or A I. is indiscriminately exter.ded to ships differing
widely in strength, durability of materials, and all those qualities on
which character ought to be dependent. That many shims to which
the first Massie assigned are decidedly Inferior in pints whteli are "
placed, from lapse of time alone, in a lower class. That many
beeo ne unfit for the conveyance of dry cargoes, long before the
expiration of the period during which they are entitled, according
to the present system, to remain on the lost letter, in which they
are notwithstanding continued. That instances lire on record of
Ent-class ships, which have been unfit from their origin for the
conveyance of dry cargoes; and some are declared to have been
hardly tit, *hen new, to proceed to sea with safety ; one case is
even adduced, in which, front ill construction, and insufficiency of
listening in a new ship, her insecurity was predicted, and site
actually foundered on her first voyage ; and yet this identical
vessel was ranked, according to the indiscriminate system pursued,
it i the first class.
Such, as respects new ships, appear by the evidence to be the
practical results of a system, which assuming to designate by
'narks their intrinsic quality, provides no means actually lacer-
I taming that quality ; but offers, in effect, a premium for the build-
ing of inferior and insufficient ships, by the inducement it holds
forth to fraudulent construction, and by the equality of character
it indiscriminately extends to the best and the worst ships built at
the same port.
Nor, your Committee regret to have to report, bathe evidence of
the errors, inconsistencies, and evils arising from tfie existing aye-
,
tem, as applied to old ships, by any moans less ctsndusive. By
the refusal to restore character, In consequence of repairs, however
extensive, the inducement to mabitain ships in an efficient state is
removed ; whfi aet from the absens of all regular provision for
I stated or periodical examination, their efficiency or inefficiency Is
rendered dependent upon the varying Mews, the caprices, or the
interests of the proprietors. Hence, though the second character,
or E 1, is declared by the rules of the system to be the designation
of ships which, having lost the first character from age, are " kept
io perfect repair, and appear on survey lobate no defects, and to be
completely calculated to carry dry cargoes with safety," the whole
body of evidence distinctly proves that character to be in very
numerous Instances assigned to ships, which, from original defect
or want of requisite repairs, are utterly unfit and unsafe for dry
cargoes; while others which, from sound constitution or efficient
reparation, are pronounced in the evidence to be superior to many
new ships, are indiscriminately clamed with the actually worthless
and unseaworthy. Hence, too, the employment of ships after they
have passed the period prescribed by a fallacious standard of clas-
sification, becomes uncertain, precarious, and difficult ; the ship.
owner is injured ; the shipper and underwriter misled ; the build-
ing of superior ships. capable of long service, is discouraged ; and
direct inducement is held out to the construction of those of an in-
ferior description. The general character of our mercantile marine
is degraded; and it is to be feared, that could the system be towed
to its ultimate results, It would be found to be productive of a
lamental'a loss of property and of life. From the great length $o
which it would unavoidably swell this Report, your Ccmuaitteere-
train from particularizing the names of the intelligent and ash:off&
individuals on whose evidence they found these conclusions. They
deem it right, however, onequirocally to state, that the testimony
adduced to them coital/es, in a remarkable degree, in all the
-leading and important point'. and fully bears one the *room
whist', in the Reaolutions of General Meeting of the fl2ll
January, 1824, are Mailed to be entertained on thrsubjecO of the
classification of ships in the books at Lloyd's; and from which
opinions their own appointment originated.
The urgent necessity for some amendment of the present mode of
claasification being thus, as they conceive, unanswetahlr=n-
strated, the attention of your Committee was anxiously d to
the formation of a system, which should be practicable in Its de-
tails, effectual in its operation, and reasonably economical in its
application ; and which, while it should allow • liberal latitude
for the fair exercise of opinion, should provide efficient checks
against fraudulent evasion.
To devise the means by which a combination so difBcult could
be obtained, was a task in which they must almost have despaired
of success, hail not the universal interest expressed in the object of
their inquiries prompted the ready communication of the most
eminencevaluable oapnidncionhas,racftrix.
under consideration ; from public bodies, and from private persons
most conversant with the question; constituting a mass of evidence,
ui:lrcopfnemineictonedid winidthivtaiinsimomfliatiteleinhtieresghers
your C minitteea remarkable
rihkeaybi.mdseyg,"ewithounudteracthruep"flie,cptironesenoft wtohiethe
theyhsauvbe.cnoomwmtoitoteeeffer.;bywhwihtnarithgie
dennawhing
contained in them have been most attentively and laboriously
ipabt concurringhiiee Reports the suggestions
successive
the General Committee.
-
in-
vestigated, have subsequently received the revision and approval of
iTo be continued.)

In the neighbourhood of Battersea a circumstance has
occurred to which rumour has attached some mystery. It appeal*
that in a ditch, or water course. in the fields between the fled
House and Battersea, a bundle was lately found, containing clothes,
much stained with blood t among them was a pair of trosmets, ap-
parently belonging to a gro- - in which were cuts down the
thigh, am if occasioned h circumstance,
-e hear,

REPO'
FROM THE SELECT COMM I 117
TTIfE ON PROMISSORY
NOTZ* IN SCOTLAND AND IRELAND.

(Continued from our Paper of Wednesday lost.)
IRELAND.
With respect to the circulation of Ireland, the inquiries of er'r
Committee have been lean extensive than those whitb they bole
instituted with respect to Scotland.
The first is in Inland which restrained the acclaied's' of
prornissoey nom*, was an Act passed in the Irish Parliarnillt I. air
year 1797.
The preamble recites, that various notes, bills of es
drafts fur money, have been for mime time past circuital:Mt
of cash, to the great prejudice.of trade and public credit; estop
mane of such notes are made payable under certain ,tow whit
which the mime classes of manufseturers and others e
ply, unlses by submitting to great extortion and : busen=•`
that the issue of such notes has very much tended to iteseenestlan.
pernicious crime of forgery ; and the Act peocestde to applitle micie
between the value of fir; pounds and twenty shillings, sailkat
strictions to those which had been applied to such noteobeaNd
England, by the Act which passed its the year 1777. It tersitge
however, during the suspension of cash payments by tho auk ,
Ireland, the issue of bank poat-bills, bills of exchange, and drafhtc
under certain regulations, for any sums not leas than three inbelgess:•,
This Act did not extend to the Bank of Ireland.
In 1805 this and some other Acts which had passed in the laiggeo
relating to the issue of small notes were repealed, and notestuithe
twenty shillings. which had beets previously permitted undermilltdo
regulations by the Act of 1799, were declared void.
There is at present no law in force imposing any lintitarion to dig',
period for which notes for a sum not less than twenty 'Minicar may
be issued in Ireland.
A tolerably correct estimate of the amount of istatnissory norm
above and below five pounds, circulating in Ireland, may be firmest
from the subjoined returns nude by ttlic Rank of Ireland, mad by
other bank* at present estahliehed in that country.
BANK OF IRELAND NOTES.
I. An account of the average amount of the Bonk of beim*
notes of five pounds and upwards (Including bank post bills), het
the years 11310, 21, 22. 23, 2diand 25—Notes andt bins of NM
pounds and sprat& (Irish pagmacy) - • £.3.p05648.610 49, 4e.s'
1. As acemint of the *venlig amount of the Rank of Treuogrir
notes under the value of live IVAN/do (including batik pun bill.);1111C••
the yews 1620, 21, 22, 23, 24; and 25—Notes and post bills ueabC;
the value of live pounds (Irish currency) - £1,643.829 S.
An Account of the Amount of Hankers' Notes eircalated ii kreloo4A,"
exclusive of those of the Bank of Ireland, ',hewing tb•
and Lowest Amount in the Years 1215, /811, 1323, 1624, imht
1825 ; and also of the Amount its Circulation at the latest NAM"
in 111226, to which the Amount can'be mule up; distingoishinc.
the Amount of Notes under 5/. from those of 51. and upwards.
1015. —II ig hest A muupt-4/. and upwards, 44.652 ; under 55.
298.330; until. 343,182. Lowest Amount-54 and upwards, 33,161;
under 61., 198.433; total, 231.615.
1831.—Highest Amount-51. and upwards, 58,719: under 51,
874.763; total, 233.512. Lowest Amount-51. and cpwseue.,:.
45 494; under 51., 582,198; total, 1327.690.
18:U.—Highest Amount--5/. and upwards, 56,396; under al,
1,023.201; total. 1.079.507. Lowest Amount-_5l. and upwards,
44,910; under 688 410; total. 733.32.1.
16'24.—Highest Amount -51. and upwards, 75.247; node 84
1.110.170; total, 1,185.417. Lowest Amount-44. arit Noripip,
57.035; under 51., 718.084; total, 775.119. . .
1825 —Highest Ainnunt.-51. and upwards, 1125.6054
1,359 054; total. 1.4.35.659. lowest Amount—W. and
85,987; under 51., 854.1277; total, 920.113.
1826.—Amount at present its Circulation-41. and urvellifill;
74,658; under 51., 683,900; total, 730,818.
The amounts stated in-this account are made up from an the
returns that have been yet received front bankers in Ireland, nine/
In number, of which sfi only issue notes.
The amount of each description of notes in circulstion, by four
of these banks, is calculated according to the proportions which are
stated by each bank to be usually in circulation; two banks only
giving the exact amount of each description of mites
It will appear from the evidence, that a practice prevails in Ire-
land of hewing notes her the payment of sums between one and two
pounds, for three guineas, and other fractional sums.
Yew Committee see on public advantage arising out of this prac-
tice, and they are of opinion that it ought to be discontinued. as It
tends to dispense with the necessity of silver coin, and practimdly
to exclude it from circulation.
Your Committee hesitate, in the prevent imperfect sate of their
information, to pronounce a decisive opinion upon the general area.
purrs which it may be fitting to adopt with respect to the paper
currency of Ireland.
Although they are inclined to think that it would not be advisa-
ble to take any immediate step for the purpose of preventing the
issue of small notes in Ireland, their impression undoubtedly is,
that a metallic currency ought, ultimately, to ha the bails of lb;
circtilation in that country.
It will probably be deemed advisable to fix a definite, though net
an early period, at which the circulation in Ireland of ali notes bs-
low live pounds shall cease; and it is deserving of consideration
whether measures might not be adopted in the interim for theism.-
pose of insuring such a final result, by gradual, though =Wool,
advances towards it.

REPORT.
• By the Lords' Committee. appointed a Select Committee to inquire
I Into the. State of Circulation of Promissory Notes soder the
value of U. in Scotland and Ireland, and to report to the House;
and to whom were referred the several Petitions and the several
Papers and Accounts relating to the Banking System, and the
Circulation of Promissory Notes in Ireland and Scotland, which
have been presented to the House this Session,
REPOR T,
That the Committee have proceeded to the conerderstion of thit
subject referred to them by the Heels, and have collected from the
examination of witnesses, and of the amounts laid brim thews, the
information which will be found in the IlismemorEvidence., sod
in the Appendix.
They do not think it necessary to enter into a detailed saialysir
'of this mass of information, because dm result of it would net lead,
in their opinion, to the proposal to Psrliament, during the protest
Session, of any measure affecting the circulating medium either of
Scotland or of Ireland.
They entertain no dodbt that, upon general principles, it would be
desirable that the same system of currency should prevail through.:
out Great Britain and Ireland. At the same time they am fully'
sensible, that to such an uniformity of system there may be ob-
stacles which may render the attempt to establish it at any pant.
cular period, if not impzacticable, yet liable to inconveniences which
might more than counterbalance the ultimate advantage to be
derived from it.

With respect to S'..3tland, to which the Committee wish, in the
lint place, to call the attention of the House, it is to be remarked,
that during the period from 1766 to 1797, when no smell seem were
by 'law iaauable in England, the portion of the caerompendeer.
land, in which payments under St weremstle continued... alt
almost entirely of notes ofll. and IL Is., and that no inconagissee is
known to have resulted from this difference in the curratcystibeehe
countries. This circumstance. amougst others, tends to prim ilwe
uniformity, however desirable, is not indispensably secearry, fie
is also proved by the evidence, and by the demands, dies the
banks of Scotland, whether chartered or joint.etock coispssies, or
priva e establishments, have, for more than a century, exhibited
stability, which the Committee believe to be unexampled in the
history of banking ; that they supported themselves, from 1797 te
1812, without any protection from the restricting by which A.
Bank of England and that of Ireland was relieved hem cask pop
ments ; that there was little domain far mid tisrist the lanne..
barraesenents in the circulation ; sad that. is the period ed
their establishment, there are am more than twe or three inek
of bankruptcy. As, during the abide of this pesied,• 214
ties of their Genes consisted anew entirely of mks test
IL or 11. Is., there is the strongssamiess kolembedkene. as 64
as respects the hooka Sestkodaihniesso of paper et eigetrip-
fies has ban rend empreible the highest demo of Malty
sad that thank ont.therethre; they are anhased their
meant sperm, eallicient mind fm pregemine any era
esethliebed
the vise of slaw to a ma." whin km so long hen
Talk solidity Intheers to Mita .4
great support be. the ens.
seems tattimp elf ease ititesWilms different Make,. by whisk
theft limas diedie spewmak Mltheembitreshiduto oratithm_
eabithe to hesodielethomesloo atadmoreeties.
Tine le also one pen of their system, which le stated by all
the wk land thethe opinion sit the Cuomistn , very_ rthstl
stated) to have had the best Abet' open the kot Boatload,
aid particularly upon the asiddithized poet of society,
mis producing and ature/nag of fragelity iod,:stry.
The practice referred to is that each credits. Amy mama who
applies to a Bank fora cask agile. it galled open to poodnon two
or mere competent securities. eh, ere jointly Mad, and alter a
thll Inquiry into the character of she applScam, the mann ef be
Wien, and the sufficiency of hie be In allowed to opts
ersdit, and to draw upon the Beak fee the whole of its eggegs,
or for such part es his daily neemieticee ay require. To the
credit of this account he pays is mob sums as he may sot has.
occasion to nee; and interest Is cheqpid a mai* open the
balance, as the nee easy be. Frarnehe WNW width shoe
audits give tool/ the Mall stemming at the end
the opportunities which they third to pewees. Moe kn.
nesa with little or no capital. but their danger. m asap* pen.
&ably the minuet prdmo ot their iedionry, the 41111•11 he
dashed that die sheet Ampere* adrenkW ceded to the
wholi community. TIN advantage to the Bab who gltte then
each credits, arises free the call *high dam endomMp_modreen
for the issue of their , and hen die elPieeleak ill(alt0411
abed for the bicthis
The t of
that, pow thsk depeir..
The Banks era Wood seall=l:lha tit mho- is
part of their nelson othwomposs and sem% it la assmaegy elog
their nth esediashseld los they gamma it) be knonnly smoked
upes.'tbst they rethee Wonting thew within eie imegeope.
dition be fulfilled. The total ommot of 'Mr malt mike imams' .
by one witness es be Ise talltione. Mellish the pimp arses -
wog bribe Bess eeey be imeelid..
Thamees Wahl& the possieeef *oda tsevins loo•
ducted. thicanso. , Mail& Seem to as
• gilleeilagt. Iferree) are nisei
Able Om es demad.
isoar men below the
a~w
tali }eel le
whew smelt *IP
ghelabe ems
•to labwartog aed
• momma

re dosed, It la generally for the purpose of enabling the depositors
6lther to purchase a house, or to engage in business.
It is c intended by ail the persons engaged in banking in Scot-
la td. that the issue of one-pound notes to essential to the con.
tipuance both ot their cosh credits, and of the branch banks CP!a.
iiiiP4,ll in the poorest RO4I most remote districts. Whether the dis-
entainuance of one-pound oases would necessarily operate to the
lull event which they apprehend, in either of these respects, may,
erhaps, admit of doubt ; but the apprehensions entertained en
this head, by the Persons most immechatdy concerned, might. for
a hate at least, have neatly the saint effect to the actual necessity,
and there is strong reason to believe that if the prohibition of one-
pound notes should nut ultimately overturn the ;elude system, it
it ust for a considerable time mewl illy affect it.
The Directors of the Hank of England, who have been catt-
y Med before the Committee, have given it as their opinion, that a
et.culation Of notes of one pound in Scotland or in Ireland, would
not produce any effects injurious to the metallic circulation of Eng-
land, provided such notes be respectively confined within the bolt:l-
-oafs, of their own country.
Nocwitratanding the ouitiona which have been here detailed, the
l'innn.ittee are, on the whole, so deeply i.'..prestied with the int-
! otta. ce of a metallic circulation below 5L in Ergland, not only
for the benefit of England, but likewise for that of all the other
p. r s of the empire, that It they were reduced to make an option
h,oween the establishment of such a metallic circulation in Scot-
land. or the abandon/mint of it In England, they would recommend
the prohibition ot mall notes in Scotland. But they entertain a
reasonable expectation that legislative measures may be devised,
which will he effectual In preventing the introduction of Sewell
paper into England ; and onless such measures should in practice
prove ineffectual, or unless come new circumstance should arise to
derange the operations of the existing system in Scotland itself, or
niateriaily to street the relations of traoe and intercourse between
Scotland and England, they are not disposed to recommend that
Cite *misting system of banking and currency in Scotland should be
disturbed.

iVith respect to Ireland, the situation of that country,. as to its
circulation, and as to its system of banking, is materially different
from that of Scotland. In Scotland there are three banks, of which
the proprietors are protected by Act of Parliament or Charter, from
personal responsibility beyond the amount of their respective shares.
and there are many other banks, consisting of a large and unlimited
number of partners, persohally responsible to the whole extent of
their property, of which the aggregate amount is very considerable.
There are also branches or agencies of most of the banks very
widely established throughout the country.
In•lrelatid, the only Bank possessing the advantage of a Ihni-
tattoo of personal responsibility, is the Bank of Ireland, which,
till a late alteration in the law, was the only establishment which
was permitted to have more than six partners. The circulating
medium consists, indeed, in both cruntriea, to a great extent,
et notes under live pounds ; but the system of banking in
Ireland, instead of remaining unshaken for a long period, as that
of Seodand, has experienced so many shocks, that its banking
establishments are now nearly confined to the chartered Bank
of Ireland and its local ngencies, the branches of the Provincial
flank which is established in London. one Joint-Stock Company
is Dublin, and another at Belisle, the latter of which has Incal
ages cies, ands few private Banks in Dublin sod Belfast. The
taste of Dotes under five pounds has been at different periods per-
mitted tibited in Ireland; there is therefore no prescription
to pleadZreZilr continuance, Ind there is no experience of any such
system as that of cash credits in Scotland, which is stated to rest
rnainly upon their issue. There is not at present in Ireland the same
'meek upon orer.insues which is derived in Scotland from the eon-
lien .1 exchanges of notes between the different Banks ; and the
tanuras o private Banks have frequently spread the greatest distress
over large portions of the country. Previously to the Bank Restric-
TAM Act, there appears, by the evidence taken before the Committee
or the (louse of Commons, in 1804, to have existed in Ireland a
considerable metallic circulation, of the existence of which in
Scotland the Committee are not informed.

_ .._..-.-..--.
Many of the reasons, therefore, upon which the Committee
have grounded their opinion against any present provision for a
:11tUT4 alteration in the currency of Scotland, do not apply to
Irela^d, and the introduction of a larger proportion of metallic
contort, into the latter country appears liable to less difficulty
tilos the application of the same principle to the former. There
is. however, a considerable difference in the opinions of the wit.
Pauses whom the Committee have hitherto had the opportunity
ofelemining. While all agree in the necessity of allowing the issue
paper halo, W., on account of the small value of the articles
which compose the daily transactions of the country, there are
some who think that the inconvenience to be apprehended from
any coange in the present circulation would be only temporary, and
would he materially mitigated by allowing the issue of notes of
2/. or 3!. There are others who state that any alteration by which
the issue of one-pound notes should be prohibited, would cause the
cessation, or at least the contraction, to a most inconvenient de.
grew. of the accommodation now afforded to the country ; that it
would involve the discontinuance of many of the branches both) of
toe Bank of Ireland, and of the Provincial Bank ; and that it
-would put an end to the prospect of establishing the Scotch system
of cash credits, into which system the Provincial Bank was begin-
ning to enter.
Tim Committee cannot but admit it to be doubtful, whether,
coder the peculiar circumstances of Ireland, the Scotch system is
capable of being transferred in all i a parts. and with all Its ad-
Vantages to that country ; but they abstain front recommending, at
the present moment, the adoption of any measure for assimilating
by stow gradations the circulating medium of Ireland to that which
will becime, at an early period, the circulating medium of Eng-
land. only under the expectation, that further information and
more experience, as to the effects and operation of the changes
which have lately taken place in the banking system of Ireland,
may lead to the formation of a derided opinion upon grounds
more completely satisfactory than those upon which they could at
present rest it.

DISTRESS IN THE MANUFACTURING

DISTRICTS.

MEETING OF THE COUNTY OF LANARK.
On the 29th ult., pursuant to advertisement, a numerous and
unmestable Meeting of the Freeholders, Justkes of the Peace,
Commaloom of Supply, and Heritots, of the County of Lanark,
was hdd 611 an County Hall; Damilton, in order to take measures
fee atheist's; die existing distress. His Grace the Duke of He-
althful, it was gratifying to observe,
_was in excellent health and
mints. His Grace left London on Friday forenoon at II o'clock,
and arrived in Hamilton Palace on Sabbath afternoon at half-past
tour o'clock, bawlsg travelled at this quick rate in order to be pre-
sent and give his ameari to the object of the Meeting.
tiossitissi of Left BELHAVEN. his Grace the Duke of Ha-
milton was usanitesseisly called to the Chair.
The Duke of HAMILTON rose. He was stray to begin by say.
leg that it was on a melancholy occasion they were at present
assembled ;
_but be was highly pleased, at the same time, to find
so respectable. Meeting had collected for the benevolent object of
alleviating thooafferior of the unemployed population. The hu-
manity OM-Mod bees displayed by all classes in Scotland at
tbla Sastreiwing pinked was most honourable to the national cha-
rmer. Evert tint of charity had been resorted to, and ever,-
them/ done to Whin the severe distress. Whatever might be the
wawa that distress, the operative classes were at least not to
Name for it I they had no share in producing It, and having no
Ishilweettaelowl en them, it became doubly imperious on those has-
Made. mom se dome forward and assist them. He would not
Stae der ono w.—amt might lead to a difference of opinion ; but
slaw Abe Seallea area urgent, and that it was a duty imposed on
eh. lb men thownews is the agreeable task of lessening the pri-
valliaas of oafs tenew.asatures, there could be no difference of
*Otis& • Helateeedithe Hunkitioos, and approved of them. It
i==Wat ilea gentlemen connected with the different
ineetbeir koowle undertake the manage.
ensiabefibeir ewe die Mets. This was isiwd an optional measure;
kAtienwla awe that all the gendeinetb scent irk desirous to do
Wag so mitigate the esbnlai dlsiass by any personal ascii.
limb..Laisge subscriptions had boa wend into in England to aid
thehliwesand manufacturers of de ; but It gave him sm-
=eodeisalos to Warne downbileyst wet wad sleety
Hit smgundeesin elkeilind. without any 0111111111.1111 With
liegletek btu wider dwinspouleentelsok owe Moan and honour.
stOuleinp, had en amid raising a subseripdom Se relieve the
dieters of Weir wiannyinao. He thought i foe the
Comusitteit of onsipsid withanother
places whet. logoli is- silos MS.
searestiop *S d tits 'heritable
foods. His disbelbei la•Wdell. be endeavoured
se int out windier weennisejt indoemea mold be grantalairlikothind,
bot,en application to Ide gattef Lileiespeol, he ant ielbreoee that
seirelacr world he gifts loradoesninmen4 bin that eke "lank of
*.tegfootd world adroeree mom, Ow slat eeessoity of,alas works, &e.
Taw vendee in which the Mud was both distressing and
ainedog--it called into exercise do warmest feelings of hunuinity
and of charity. Excellent hitherto had been the conduct of the
onomployed population yet, unless week was proviled for them,
habits of idleness would engender vice, and those disorders and ex-
cesses two which a wretched and starving population are ever apt to
he plunged. He had come down from the metropolis to do every
Ming In his power to soften the present calamity, and he was cen-
trism that he should be cordially seconded by all the gentlemen
preserve, in a work so congenial to their own teelings, and Bose of
merry bosom that felt interested in the welfare of its mimics, or
wee possessed of the ordinary, feelings of humanity. (Applause.)
He would leave It to his Noble Fr:end (Lord Relhaven}to propose
the Resolutions.
Lord BetHAvrx would not detain the Meeting after the feel.
lag adhere of his Noble Friend, but would propose the adoption
of tie Resolutions.
The Resolutions were then read.
Mr. MICHAEL LIMNING said there could be but one feeling as
to (ingratitude due to the Noble Duke Inc the personal sacrifice he
had made, in performing a journey of 4141 miles, in order to nutlet
iardiering the distress. He then, after a suitable speech, moral
tie Refolutlea.

The Duke of HAMILTON said It was for the Meeting to decide
here far the glen was feasible. Its essence and character was 111)
dasibt highly honourable and beneficial. If it could be carried into
effect. lie had no objection to the Resolution being remitted to
thcoonsethose, though he had doubts of its practicability. No
cisfeetion biting made, his Glace said he considered the Hesolu-
clews, be eerreied.
Utter from Mr. Hamilton, of Dalai'', was real, stating that
ir.weulti net be convoisionriUr him to attend the Meeting, but pmts.
air winger with "back the operatives had borne their sof.
IMoge. and tavaimitirg to subscribe 504 for their relief.. .
Jinni crowoissue being then appointed to wry into Aka die ob.
Jame are llimingh_thanka were voted with oechantailairmi him
H More Das et uai's, fur his conduct in the Choirr:ind the
Maim. diepeeeeL