The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-04-16 00:00:00

TIIE NORTH POLE.

%IR rDITIIII-0 Seeing is lwlieving," la 111 old adage and
• 1'•vostillcalali1111 of mine, lii which my curiosity has long
~ien a art rani. Aly first attendance was In witnesa the
gaups two the quart bottle, many years since, at Ilse
Ibecire Stir flat-market, since winch I have been: coo-
••••iisly on the alert s and, though now an old fellow, I ;pi
fur the Polar Expedition, which sets sal this
I .••.e A. Ido not mean to gss loses so bare a. some fra-
u u do, who • ly take • towel with them, lam pro.
cs• As all exp. itenerd voyager, for I am delighted with
,lea of "tire. rOl4ll Baelle," which, I calculate, will
'a
-come • fashionable watering.place. I hoer a large
r' .rtahla boast snaking, which can be erected in • few
boot, I shall Pistruund it with vilieyardos,. I propose spend-
itit a atason tor two there at least. The spot I shall fix on
'sill Ire Ilse Pole itself, provided it is land at that point. I
bare Isesooke light &eases of my tailor, who, by the toy,
sireopils to he a philosopher: but who, instead of sending
ale clothe. home at She tone ordered, called on me mid
gan ass argument as mop! tas provoking. As he
was not • man of equal judgment with me, I could
not lain his meaning for a long time, fur he proteetkel
in this way :—" tier," said he, s how it possible that there
ran be a I'nlar Nock, when, by the laws of nattier, the fur-
ther you proceed North the colder it is, the beat of ~clim-
ates depending enlist ly on their situation ? About the
Equator, I lie son passing vertical, the perpendicular refrac-
tion of the rays of beat produces the homing effects expe-
rienced in the Torrid Zone; but as you proceed towards the
Poles, the figure of the Earth preseots a surface ecentieuaily
heruntioc More oblique to the son ; this position, between
70 soil BO degrees of latitude, views the sun at so low an
altitude, that the sea presents an impassable barrier of ice,
being the margin of the polar cake, and every mile beyond
this the cold mast increase. At Li degrees, water could
ors re he s apecti-d to be seen as a liquid ; and, at Ilse Pole
ilia If, early thing must he as solid sr—your head." At this

rniontlii I di•rurrrr.l his meaning, but was so overcome
with irritaiwiii, that I had not power to answer him its
stuy s•ther way slims by turning him mot of my lo.u►e. I
no MI ill give it tom as /1311111lii, as he .1 ; hat in the
swim time I rio m•stly tequrst the a ' fusee of some of my
1'..1e hunters —I um, yours,
CREDII.I(I.
it,irtittlia: to Mr. Sleeveboartl's sr:morns, hr would
drily the CNiailillele of ier.lierzl in the Bay of Bengal

;VFW CATIMLIC CHAPEL.

MOO It PI I•: L DS.

Yeserri the lestirfactors and friends of the N. w
C.►tln.hr Gulped, to Mi►orlirldt, dined together st
Inv I.o..ttois Tave►n. Rishopsgate-street, to t•rle-
b►ate the progress mode in that building, Hod to
obtain such further Subscriptions as were rendered
urrwr►ary to make the Chapel complete.
At six o'clock his (;race the Duke ofNorfolk en-
terrd the t , accomp•u►ied by the Right Rev.
De. Poynter, 4r. Jr • gleam, and a moodier of
the rein...rotative, of the most distinguished Ca-
tholic families. Among the distinguished visitors
who were invited was the Archbishop ofJerusidem,
who took his seat at the table. attended by two
getillrin. ts who travel in his suite.
his fierier the Duke of NORFOLK took the
Choir, and the company sat down to u suniptuout
dinner.

After the. cloth was reMOVPils Non ',obis noming
was snug s ith fide etieCt by Messrs. Dignum,
losity, T. Cooke, Webb, and other professional
gentlemen.
The huPt• from the ('hair nere--
" 9 Ins h mg, Giid blr.a him Air, " Giol save the King."
met Herm.," three times three.—A ir," Glorious
Alwl "
4. The Mike of York and the rest of the Royal rimity;*—
A Marti.il Air.
The text tna•t

"The Corporation of the City of Loadot, and thanks to
thorn-for their treat liberality towards the object of this
hisrtini," three feints three. ..
The l{ glut Rev. Dr. PoYNTIR tlytki rose to call
the attention of the Nlerting to the distinguished
honour conferred upon it by' his Grace the Duke
4,1 Nurfelk in taking the Chair this day. lie wars
rule t ,at all thellriitlrineu who le art, I " would
I. elf-ail-unit-1y grateful for the presence of his Grace.
When easlted tank come among thew to promote
the cause of religion, virtue, and humanity, it
ridded to 114 high Witte. and he wit/41.0re the Marring
would fr.l a, it ought She gratitude doe t 9 his
Croce the Duke of Norfolk, for his in-est-lice tins
illy, nod w4aild think the health of that ilistiti-
giopliert character with the respect which was doe
to Ili. tttition and personal virtue*.—(Airp/unse.)
Ili. Grace's health was drunk with great
siasiii.

The Notift CIIALRMAN, in returning thanks,
declared, that nothisig could be mote flattering to
I • than the Men that, in taking this Chair, he
yowl 'limed in the smallest degree to the wives, of
the lio,iness whirls they bail met to promote. Ile
nin.t heal tily wished well to their abject—he felt au
loftiest ill lii completion, and his efforts, he could
asut e the Meeting, should never be wanting where
oloy thought he coold be of any service in the pro-
motion of their liberal views. Ile cordially tit ink-
ed tie Meeting for the honour they had confeireil
hint, mid in return begged leave to ilriok all
tisrlr gond health', so.ll also the health of their
ein thy l'relsle, the Right Rev. Dr. l'opiter.—
(t:reiri fipilhaNSt.)
The 1601 Rev. Dr. Pol. tiTErt rose and returned
thwks for the h r clout Aim by the Chai) in,
and for the kind and Haltering snootier iii which the
coisitmaiy lied been phased to drink his health. He
It-listed that the Chapel they wire engaged ii. build-
ing in NI fields would, tot its completion, be
4,t the majesty and purity of religion, and
of the rank and character of the City of London,
centre it was raised. —(Appioare.)—The
City of London bail acted in the Must haltalsolne
ntia mauler' on dos otVasimi-51 hail gotell,
so the 11481'1moms-it milliner, the fieelitrid limperty nF
tfe g net toe which the Chapel was erected. It
',foil.' he ungrateful indeed if the fileiols of 11 .•
I'liaise-I clitiiii forget the complusterit paiil to them
Ire 41.tingusislwil characters of the. City mu the day
I ey I sot the foundation stone.—(Applaud.)—lt
%...dil be impossible to menthol all the individuals
solo contributed to their purpose, and to make
selr.clion might appear invidious. Ile should, there-
fore, •liiile, by assuring theirs that lie stissibly
felt she lionoar they had done liim, mid would
always feel proed at receiving this simile of their
dflprohJlion.
Tile Rev. Me. GREEN WAY rose, to develope the
proceedings of the Gristlemea who had taken su
iletlVr. past it the Imilibog of the Moottields
Clivel. He recited die follotsing minute of tile
eioly i•roceedings of this body
Apt it, 1818, s Gesetal Meeting or lite Colonlic (*omega-
"Al, k.rkten at their Chapel in White-streer, Ii take Otto
cossishrai, a the .salti•cl ut Wok present lease, having but
lea )11411. Mies oretl, without ally prospect et rcucual, whew


lON DON,
FP.IL)AY, Arnim 16, Isi9.

Yesterday was Settling Day, and we love not
heard of any defaulters. During the day Consols
underwent considerable Ructuxtiomm,, and closed
somewhat lower than they opensd. A general de.
pre:will:l seems to prevail iim the minket, which is
lime more worthy of notice, from the circumstance
that, at pitsent, no set want or matey is eXpr-
ritiiced ni the City. Commerce languishes, taw
does thew appear nosy desire in the commercial
world to influe new rigour into its operations. No
confidence is felt in the existing state of affairs;
time absence of every information respecting time real
state of the finances of the country, and the anxious
suspense in which men of bossiness are kept during
the discussions iii the Parliamentary Committees
on the affairs of the Honk, create an unwillingness
to enter into commercial speenlations. The rli'ret
of this suspense will, we doubt not, be seri 4444 sly
felt iu time financial accounts of the current quarter.
'VW CHAN!:EI.I.OR or time EXCHEQUER is lint per-
haps aware of the serious injury lie inflicts on
by postponing the I•4;wilerstion of kir Ws3ls
and Alesesis to so late • period maf the Session.

The Relions of the liool Committees wry, too.

ever, be expected immediately Orr tt.e present
recess, and these will, no donht, he speedily fol-
lowed by the oiifulding of the Budget. Weed
the Sesion has advanced so far, th..t if any time,
however shoot, be now suffered to elapse, it will he
utterly impowlile fur Parliament, within the ordi-
tiory.eatent of its *cosi !!! , to investigate the nu-
Merlins subjects proposed for its consideration with
the attention due to their importance. We yester-
day published • long List of Notices of Motions
rod Orders now shoaling me the Order Book of
the House of Commons, which, without any further
addition to them, would offind sufficient exercise to
the house for at least three months, and yet they
did not embrace a single financial question. nor the
consideration of the Estimates for the Military and
Naval Evtablishments. hi fact, although Perlin-

ment hes been sitting for three months, the business
of the country has not been hitherto seriously under-
takeu.. This has been caused by the necessity of
instituting previous inquiries in Committees ; but
it must have heels well understood by the PRINCE
REGENT'S Ministers that such inquiries would be
found necessary, and if any inconvenience thence
arise to the public service, they are to blame fur
not having advised his Royal Highness to convoke
his Parliament at an earlier period.
Having adverted to inquiries by Committees of
either House of Parliament, we cannot avoid no-
ticing, with feelings of respect and admiration,
the teal, perseverance, and talents, uniformily dis-
played by those Committees in the discharge of
this laborious part of their duty. The public, we
believe, are for the most part very little aware of
hot, touch tiny owe in this respect to their Repre-
sentatives. To give a general idea of it would be
impossible; but let one Committee be selected,
that, for instance, now sitting on the afFitirs,of the
Bank. The subject is one of painfuf interest, re•
pairing the exercise of deep thought, and the up.
plication of extensive learning, and close reasoning.
Witnesses of various characters and conflicting
'Mons must be examined, volumes of palters must
be explored, and from this oppressive miss of oral
and written testimony, in which theory must be re-
cunciled _with pritetice, and opinion weighed against
opittion,a connected and intelligible Report must be
digesteil; and II plan proposed to satisfy the martyr
Who await it isithasixious solicitude, end to obviate
the dangers which most persoqs faucy they can fore-
see front the change which must be prodsiCed by,
the indispensable measure of a resumption of cash
payments. The study of 'this question bas
en-
gaged the Members of the Committee for several
weeks unceasiiiply, without the slightest recom-
pense for.,,tbirir. 'labour, anxiety, or loss of time ;
nor, • maim are performed in private. '
have they even the consolation to think that the
extent of their exertions is understood by their
country. Front this sketch of the labours of one
Committee, some faint idea may be entertained of
the individual services of the Members of Perlis-
ment, and of the immensity of public business
which is transacted, unknown to the great majority
of the nation.

The motion which stands first for discussion after
the recess, is that of Mr. Wm. PA RN ELL. respecting
the Act 54 G. 111. c. 151, imposing a fine on town-
lands iii Ireland in which unlicensed stills have been
discovered. We are glad that this question is not
fixed for a Saturd:►y evening, near the close of the
Session, as it was last year ; and it is to be hoped
it will meet with that degree of full and impartial
examination and debate which it merits, but which
it could scarcely be said to have then received.—
The law we speak of is so severe in its enactments,
that it requires a case of very strong necessity to be
made out to justify its continuance. It makes the
whole inhabitants of a townland, which is equal in
extent to the fourth part of a parish in England,
and sometimes more, responsible to the revenue
for the offence of one individual, who, it may be,
never lived in it a month together—nay the sole
puui•hmeut may ultimately fall on a single indi-
vidual, who neither was, nor, tinder the circum-
stances, could be aware of the guilty transaction ;
for if the inhabitants of the towitland, in which any
of the articles used it► illicit distillation bus been
proved to be found, fail to applot among them-
selves. within the space of thirty days, the fine in
consequence imposed, the excise officer is empow-
ered to levy it off any person possessing property
within the district. Another extreme hardship iu
the statute is, that it does not enable a person
against whom an information is lodged to recover
costs of the informant, should he succeed in de-
feating it ; so that a poor man who may have been
subjected to the charge of engaging in illicit
distillation, through mere malice, is ruined if
the revenue officer thinks proi•er to prosecute it :
taking defence to establish his iitisocenste will tx-
liaust his little all, as wt II as being declared guilty.
That this law, if carried into execution, mu►t be
detrimental to the character of the people fur
whom it is intended, cannot be denied by any who
call to mind that it is founded on the principle of
compelling the whole popelatioo of a country to
become spies and informers against each—a prin-
ciple, it has been truly observed, equally opposite
to the spirit of the British Cunstitutiot►, and un-
suited to the character amid habits of the Irish na-
tion. Iu addition to the innate severity and int-
'Whey of the law, its ttiects are described by a
telitlvarim, a clergyinais°, alio had the lest
• The Rev. Edward Clichesicr.

opportuity of observing them, to have been
most appalling end calantitoot. Its execution to
represented as rddi g the horrors of innerly sod
famine to those of contagious disease, among
the peasantry in a certain part of the North of
Ireland ; as begetting a spirit of inosiliosiliinsiimi
tool autarchy, and a system of Idwlrmi 4:i/deriving). ;
ita cau►iug the loss of property to Ike proprietors of
the soil—of property, Kifety, and life, to thug
who attempted, in self-ilefetice, lo olwy tit. law.
lii aiwver to these various objection., Mr.
the debate of hat `Session, contented I t 000 pelt %sits
imitating on the adequacy of the measure to its riot ;
with talon% (with a awing appearance of reason,
it most be coofessed) that it was soccespliil in the
repression of illicit distillation. This, however, is
by no means sufficient fur the advocates of uphold-
ing the law. A wise and humane lei.lator will
address his laws, as far as possible, to the moon')
mod feelings of the governed ; he will not use means
disproportimistely Severe to attain a given object ;
he will avoid, as much as may be, drul+oolii7g •the
people, like brutes devoid of iiitelleco, by the mere
force of fear roil violent penalties, into compliance
with his will.

'Elias%lt every illegal will may have et this
momeut disappeateil in Ireland, circtirostances•
might soon occur to tempt the malty peasant to
resume a trade so profitable, if it can be carried on
in secrecy, and iii that event it is painful to think
on the hardships and opprebions which might he
exercised under colour of this law. Whether, and
how far the meoriure of licensing small stills lately
introduced into Scotland, is applicable 'Maud,
is a serious question for the consideratiim of the
Legislature. But if one hull of the grievances
alleged to. have been practised under the Act we
are considering have a foundatiori 'in troth, ig;
should not be suffered to remain uu the istointo,4
book.

Yesterday tnorniag the .PittectstßECENT gave
audience! to Prince •EIIT6RHAZY, the :puke of
WEJ.I.D4GTON, and the Earl of Lteeitroni., at
'Carlton House. At, half-past three o'clock his
Rota! Highness Jeft Carlton 1-louselin his travelling
carriage, for Brighton.
Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the
'Test India House, wheutlte new Directors elected
on. Wednesday last, vie...-.
Alexander Allan, Sateen Campbell, Samuel Davi., E.gra.
Hoe. Hugh Lindiony, Joba Aloud', and David stun, Esjs.
took the oaths and their seats. La.
staii 000 • 11/14 GEORGIE, ABERCIOSInt P., Estire,
meme':climeti Chairman and Deputy-Chairman for
the year ensuing.
The first loin of an expedition, under Colonel
EYRE, and deetilied to join Sir Cite:Goa Nl`Ciiti:Giin
in South America, sailed on Friday from the pnrt
of Dublin. Vessels are slow oil thrir way Isom
England to Galway, to receive another portion of
Colonel EYRE'S corps, ready to embark at that purr,
awl another vessel will he ttamediattiy taken up at
Dublin for a similar purpose.

The following is an extract of ■ letter from the
Agent of the Rus►isn Compatty Ni Loudon, by
which it will he seen that the import:tat retitle of
10 per yew. on all goods imported and exported
from Russia has taken place. It will also be ob-
served, that rout is allowed entry on the same terms
u other spirits:—

PeTtRIBUAGII, itIIRVARY 23.
" An Ukase has been issued, directing, that in she levying
of duties in the different Custom-house■, fur the year 1619,
the silver rouble .ball be taken at three roubles and dU
copiqueswhich make a reduction of 10 per cent.
on the duties of all imports and exports, excepting ou those
that pay ad valorem.
as Some persons having claimed the right to pay duties
on goods impinged last year, and stall is. 11w Ciistuag-tionse,
at the new rase of 3 roubles and 60 copiques, is has brew de-
cided ghat the old duty shall be charged um' all goods which
shall have been received at any Custum•lwuse previous. to
the receipt of the present order.
" 1 have further to aminunce, that the order from the
Department of Foreign Commerce to the Petersburgli Cus.
gum-house, dated 6th Februaty, has berm' made public, au.
thronging the importation of rum at the same duty as is
Irvied mg brandy and wrack, vit. 10 roubles per auker (sil-
ver), and l hope to be enabled to send a copy and translation
of 11w Ukase by as early conveyance.

" In the mean time a is necessary to understand, that the
duty on all spirits is levied according to their strength, that
the lowest duly is 10 rumbles per suker, and if below', sod
not ahuve what is here denominated ten degrees.
" if above 10, and nut above 15 degrees, in considered
pure spirit, and pays 30 silver roubles per sinker."

Some discredit has been attempted to be thrown
upon the copy of an agreement entered olio by
the Viceroy ILA Bghti, and Captain StilltUlFF, of
the Aadromoche frigate, for opening Lima to
British vessels and their cargoes, which we pub-
lished on Tuesday last. If any confirmation were
warding of the authenticity of this instrument, it
would be supplied by the arrival of the Healer,
from Rio Janeiro, the accounts by which me
of the begintsiog of Mardi, where, it seems,
in pursuance of the arrangement just referred
to, a con►iderable trade was cairod on with
Valparaiso its g Is, which were from the. ce
forwarded to Lima, ►rod there was not the least
doubt e otertained but that ships belonging to
the British had aeersa in the place. There had
beets u most abundant *apply tit ►pecie in the Bra..
ails from Chili and Buenos Ape*, hist considera-
ble quantity of is had liven expuilril to the East
Indies from Rio Jaiielia. With regard to the sub-
ject of the diminution of the duties tin British ships,
the Portuguese l:overnn►rnt had not crime to any
determination. The captures by Insurgent privy.
leers were su frequent, that r slumber of trading
vessels were detuiwal at Itin Janeiro, Pernambuco,
and other ports. The squadron in search of them,
which had been out cruising in January and
February, had clewed the ►ees of truly a few of
those which sailed badly,
An invention hr. ri (*ally been brought to pe►-
fectiou, for impelling vessels, of every site and de-
scription, by *term, m u airliner not before conceived.
The Allruil e let tints at Cambridge, which soon
conies on. is expected to be more strongly contested
this year than ever. Fur the fourteen sucatieles
ready declared, there are, it serum, no lei* than
for tj -seven caudidatt •.

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