The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-21 00:00:00

PARIS.

Ott CORIES:'OICDEN T.l
FARIS, FEP. IG.
The weather here continues fine, and we go joyously on,
throwing the cares of the world behind us, as during the
season of the Carnival we arc bound to do. It is well,
even for a single month in the year, that the populace
should dress their faces in smiles. Sufficient for the clay
is the evil thereof : between ourselves it is very oftcn
rne.e4 mon. than sufficient; but we must float with the
stream ; if we are carried away with the flood, we shall be
brought back by the ebb. A Frenchman always confidtc
in this sort of good fortune, and there is no precept which
he obeys more conscientiously than that which enjoins him
to " take no heal for to-morrow."

At present we collect the materials of amusement from
all quarters. The Carnival of this year lasts for a month,
but this honey-moon is already on the wane ; pleasure,
however, is a commodity which may be comprssed into a
small space. " The pomps and vanities of this wicked
world, and all the sinful' —et eel ern, present here a very
pretty epitome of their empire. Every thing, however, .
evinces the air and aspect of hospitality, which, ender all
circumstances, is impressive and captivating, and covers
multitude of sins ; and there are many persons irlso consider
virtue, whether that of charity or any other, es of no
further value than u it may serve as a set-Iron the g're2f
day of account against the sins which a long IM may score
up against its postessor. There are innumerable instances
in proof of this. Henry IV. of France staked the Spanish
Ambassador, had his King no mistress? "Igo,' says the
Ambassador, "he is a religious men, anti loves only his
Queen." " What !" answered Henry, " bas not your
master virtues enough to. ezecie one vier?" This senti-
ment, however, variously modified, is very ptersient every
where ; it is by no means a new theory of morals ; it is ita
the rudiments of our every-day philosophy, both in Church
snd State.

The aspect of public affairs at pres"nt is promising anti
peaceable • but the absence of the French soldiery from
Spain would be the signal, I suspect, of very convulsive
moments. Were they once more on this side the Pyrennees,
the Bourbon dynasty in that kingdom would be dear at
three months' purchase. Pacific policy is the wisest for
England, both as it respects Spain or anv other of the
continental nations. Peace ought to be at all times the ob.-
ject of a wise and enlightened government : it is the laws,
the industry, the commerce, and, above all, tha national
spirit, thatconstitute the true strength and greatness of a
people. What can war gain towards these? What arc
troops, and armies, and contracts, and commissariats, and
all the retinue which ride in the train of blood and Waugh,
ter—what are they tit for but to slake the Thirst of ambi-
tion, and to multiply throughout the world the miseries of
life and death ? The olive branch of peace, anti
" The halo-crown of silver light."
that encircles the throne of mercy, are a orth all the spears
that ever glittered in the sun, and all the victories for which
the dupes of tyranny have sung Te Deism, from the be-
ginning of the world to this day. Believe me, if there
were to be another deluge, and the wise amongst us only
were to be saved, the ark would have an uncommonly light
freight.

Among the novelties of Paris may be reckoned the re:
opening of the celebrated Cafe Mile Colonnes, in the Pa-
leis Royal, which was opened to the public en Sunday last.
This establishment has been closed for some months,
having undergone very considerable alterations ; and the
public waited with the utmost impatience to behold a spec.
tack, which had been privately announced as uniting all that
original genius. corrected by true taste, could offer to the
admiration of the eleganles of Paris. On Sunday even-
ing Fens-d'armes were stationed at the doors (nothing of
pubhc curiosity here is complete without these guar-
dians of good order), and at an early hour the staircase
was crowded ; it was equal to the rush which takes place
when Telma plays his 7'ancred. At the entrance, the first
object that arrests admiration is a grand geometries! stair-
case, leading to two billiard-rooms over the coffie-room ; this
staircase is light, elegant, and unique of its kind. On
'entering the coffee-room—which is composed in two pieces,
divided by three arches, and surrounded by columns
Fainted to imitate white marble, fluted half.ray, ter-
minating in a light capital, the flut.ui and capital richly
gilt„—the effect is inconceivable; from each pillar projects
a gilt scroll, terminating in a swan, front the crane of
which issues a brilliant gas flame, which reflect in endless
miroirs, artfully arranged round the walls. The nicht:
are filled with classical %rives ; the decorations are white
and gold, with curtains of green and orange silk, tastily
festooned below the cornice, and hoidered with rich fringe.
The throne, pr eumploire, is particularly magnificent,
though rather too massive; and therefore not in good taste.
It is in opposition to that of the iirchiteet, Monsieur Le
!',run. In the front of the throne is a counter, composed
entirely of looking-glais, richly ornamented in gilt
bronze; the chair is very hand.,ogne ; the covering is of
mazarine blue velvet, richly embroidered, surnionntei
with a rich festoon of the same material, lined with silk.
and splendidly friiit,msl. The tables are round slabs of
dark marble, on mahogany pillars ; the seats green plush.
.1 he whole of the service of the coffee-room is silver ; the
drinking glasses are of elegantly cut crystal; the billiard
tables above are superb. and of an extra size. The eafei-
house is distinguished from the garden of the Palate Royal,
by six antique lanterns, the pattern of the lamp or
dat-
genes ; the pillars are of cut cryetal, the dome richly gilt.
The lout ensemble is indescribable ; though areiertotned
to grand :preludes, I have never seen an- •`-- -
it might compare.
in beauty to the cc
c

The Limonad;er

Comptalre some ti

wirers by a pleasing
a pair of fine ey,
and mildest manner

Cafi• Turk opened

temple is a tine 9
send you a descripti

e to indescribable ; th4E4 :terns-toured
,1 have never sawn any thilig with which k
The Lieionadiere, thoogh nat equal .
ekbrated fair one who presided at the
time since, does not fad t., attract ad-
1g unaffected mile, whi:7l pl ty: beneath
yes, and adds grace to her obitging
rs, which render her fr,'":..iirwhic. The
a few weeks ago on the Bou!evarts: the 41
1
;reinsert of uchitectursl taste. 1 shall
lion, in detail, in ray

A DIANA.
Br LORI) BYRON.

Berth:. (tut, hunchback!
A r•tatd. I was born o, mother !
Bertha. Out!
Thou Incubus ! Thou Nightmare ! Of seven sons
The sole abortion !
Arnold. Would that I hail been so,
And never seen the light !
Bergen. I would •o ton!
But 111 thou ha,t—hence, hence—and do thy beat.
That hack of thine may bear its burthen; *tis
More high, if not so broad as that of others.
Arnold. It /wars its burthen ; —but, my heart! Will it
Sustain that which you lay upon it, mother?
I love, or at the least, I loved you ; nothing,

~i~

den !

THE DEFORMED TRANSFORMED:

Mr. t Ins just published a drama, by Lord Byron,
bearing the above somewhat whimsical title. There is a
daring originality in the plan of it, ■nd in the incidents
there is much that is improbable, irrelevant, and eccentric.
However, it mho Is in pieties of fine poets y ; there arc to
be found in it the outpourings of a mighty mind, and it
bears the stamp and impress of the genius of its noble
author. The present poem, indeed, quite compensates for
some doggrel verses that his Lordship has been lately
writing. We hail this new expansion of our great poet's
powers as it were in a second spring; and feel that, touch
as he has written, his genius has not been fostered into a
luxuriance by which it has overrun its strength. Whilst
Lord Byron writes such poetry as is to be found in the
present production, his name, if we are not mistaken, has
not " gathered all its fame," but will bloom afresh in a
renewed amid augmented reputation. Let him only con-
tinue to write thus: the Constitutional Association may
institute idle and ostentatious prosecutions, and Mr. Adol-
phus may quote Milton to a common jury of Westmin-
ster; but neither the pious zeal of the Association, nor the
assumed sublimity of their advocate, will be available to
remove Lord Byron from that summit of poetic excellence
to which his own genius and the conspiring opinions of the
country have ra:scd him. Amidst all his carelessness and
eccentricity, the spontaneous soaring and conscious inspira-
tion of the poet are forcibly discernible in the present
poem. Whenever he shows a determination to be impres-
sive, he shows also that he has the power of executing it.
It cannot lie sMI of Lord Byron's efforts to create effect,
what Bunts som :where finely (hut too modestly) says of
his first aspirations, " that they were the blind gropings of
flower's Clee/op round the walls of his cave." This is the
prerogative of genius, which Nature bestows but which
Art cannot attain.
Lord Byron informs us, in a brief preface, that the pre-
sent drama is " founded partly on the story of a novel
called The 7/seer Brothers, from which Mr. G. Lewis's
Wood Ikmorr was also taken, and partly on the Faust of
Goethe." The noble author adds, that the present work
ceasing the two first parts only, and that the rest may
perhaps appear hereafter. The title of 7'he Dli,rosert
Trartsliwrord is so curious, that it requires, we think, ex-
planation, before we proceed further. Our readers, then,
must know, that Jerold, a dwarf, who is upbraided by
his motile? /hellos for his ugliness, is anxious to lay aside,
his deformity and u,sume a more personable form. In
despair, however, of such a metamorphosis, he determines
to destroy himself, and restore to earth such " a hateful
compound of her atoms." The opening scene of the
drama, which is written in a bold and vigorous strain of
poetry. greatly assists in explaining the import of the title
and plan of the poem. Some of the very stepmother-like
speeches of Berth„ arc in Lord Ityron's best style.
PAST I. SC ENE I.—.t Fewest.
Enter 4,,m/4,1 and his mother Bertha.

,
Save you, in nature, can love aught like me.
You nursed me—do not kill me !
Bertha. Yes, I in t-ctl thee,
Because thou west my tint-horn, and I knew not
If there would be another unlike thee,
That monstrous sport of nature. But get hence,
And gather wood !
A ',told. I will but when I bring it,
Speak to me kindly. Though my brothers are
So beautiful and lusty, and as free
As the free chase they follow, do not spurn me:
Our milk has been the same.
B:rtlaa. A 4 is the hedgehog's,
Which sucks at midnight from the wholesome dam
Of the young bull, until the milkmaid finds
The nipple next day sore and udder dry.
Call not thy brothers brethren ! Call me not
Mother; for if I brought thee forth, it was
As foolish hens at times hatch vipers, by
Sitting upon strange eggs. Out, urchin, out !
[Exit Bertha.
IA cloud comes from the fountain. Arnold stands gazing upon
it : it is dispelled, and a tall black man comes towards hint.]
The tall black man is the Spirit of Evil, who appears u
e fri?tully stranger to aid Arnold in his misery and despair,
..nti offers to divest him of his defonnity, and clothe hint
beauty. Arnold, of course, consents. The Stronger.
:lien invokes " the spirits of the mighty dead," and de-
tires Arnad to select amongst them whichever shape he
may deem it most eligible to assume. The following is the
ittnintation of the Stranger, in which there is a lightness,
buoyancy, and poetic vigour, in every respect worthy the
;:enies of Lord Byron :
Steasger. Shadows of beauty !
Shsdows of power !
Rise to your duty—
This mu the hour !
Walk lovely and pliant
Front the depth of this fountain,
As the cloud-shapen giant
Bestrides the Hartz mountain.
Come as ye were,
That our eyes may behold
The model in air
Of the form I will mould,
Bright as the Iris
When ether is spanned ;
Such his desire is, ]Pointing to A rnull
Such my cannntand !
Demons heroic—
Demons who wort
The form of the Stoic
lr Sophist of rife—
Or the shape of each victor,
From 3lacedon's boy
To each high Roman's picture,
ho breathed to destroy—
Shadows of beauty !
sha.lows of power !
to your duty—
This is the hour!

IVarious plinntojt;saiiaeiitiM the waters, and pus in sac.
cession before the Strawerr and dfritold.l
The spirits thus invoked "from the vasty deep" obey the
call. They arise from the waters, and Cesar, Alcibiades,
Socrates, M. Anthony, Ihmetrins Polioteetts, and others,
Are successively marshalled In review before Arnold and
die Stranger. The idea of this convocation isoriginal and
pleasing. The remarks of the Demon and of Araold upon
them as they pass are not characterized, however, by that
Byronic fervour which we should have expected such illus.
thous names, and the classical recollections associated with
thrum, to have kindled in the breast of the noble author.
.11tildailes, whom ('ornelioe Nepos paints as the Admirable
Crichtim of antiquity. is disposed of in a few • preiative
sentitices. Socrates is more fairly ti ali with, iu two terse,
and energetic lima, Ile is described as—
The Kardes perfection of all mental beauty,
And pervonification of an vimic."_ _ _ _

I)enietri us Poliorectes seems the favourite, of these mighty
sinus ; and the poet describes him in teems of eulogy be-
,. and his more illustrious associates. Arnold is inspired
w loch the following sentillltilts of admiration, as his phantoms
iss.% in review:—
...hi.

Who is this?
ike a demigod.
, with golden hair, and stature,
mortal, i ttttt tort 11
boning of his
to San bis rays--a something
in, 111111 yet is but the flushing
more glui huts still.
iia
:ession ; anti of his shape tlx am-
lection. The demon thus cum-

Place are of the same light and sparkling beauty as those
in which the incantation is conveyed. We unwillingly
pass over these and some other beautiful verses, in order to
continue our outline of the narrative. Arnold is accom-
panied on all occasions by the Stranger. At his suggestion
he takes the title of Count, and joins the army of Constable
Bosebos, then about to besiege Rome. The Stranger an-
stunt's the title of ('Tsar, and afterwards enacts the Thyr-
sites of Homer. The first part closes with a preparation
for the attack of Rome at day-break. The assault takes
place on Rome—Mao/sot is killed, and Arnold leads the
troops to the sacking of the city. The battle is described
with all the characteristic fire, vigour, and rapidity of the
noble author. A skirmish takes place between Arnold
and Ilenvenntollini. St. Peter's is invaded ;—the Pope
appears at the altar. The Cardinals are somewhat disre-
spectfully introducill into the scene. The new Caesar's
remark upon them is—
. Bow the mil shanks scamper !"
Lord Byron is safe, we presume, in alluding thus to
Popish Cardinals; but were he to say half as much about
those whom Cubism, with corresponding elegance of ex-
pression, calls " the fire-shovel hats,' Mr. hunt would
no doubt he prosecuted by the Constitutional Association ;
and Mr. Adolphus, thinking Milton too sublime for a
common jury of Westminster, would call Virgil to
his aid in eulogy of the " losignes pistols, graves, &c.
At the close of the fray, the incident of a Roman lady,
()Utopia Caonna, rushing into the church to save herself
from the licentiousness of time soldiery, is introduced. Ar-
nold interposes for her protection, but she does not confide
in his assurances of assistance and safety : she springs upon
the sitar, from which she afterwards dashes herself in dis-
dainful indignation, and is borne out of the church in a
state of insensibility. This incident closes the second part.
The third commences with a chorus of peasantry, which
breaks off abruptly. In this unfinished state the poem
ends, but Lord Byron has in a manner pledged himself to
its continuance. As a drama, it is more unfitted for repre-
sentation than any of his compositions which have assumed
a dramatic form : as a poem, it possesses beauties almost
equal to any of them. There is a chorus in the opening
of the second part, of great beauty and sustained energy. It
reminds one of some of the most spirited of the choruses
of Euripides. We conclude our extr.rts and present no-
tice with one or two stanzas front it, which we think full
of that " strong divinity of soul" which characterises the
inspirations of a great poet :

Charm, of Spirits in Me air.
the morn, but dim and dark.
. _

1% hither flies the silent lark ?
M'hither shrinks the clouded sun ?
I. the day indeed begun ?
Nature's eye is melancholy
O'er the city high and holy :
Bat without there is a din
Should arouse the Saints within,
And revive the heroic ashes
Round which yellow Tiber dashes.
Oh ye sever, hills ! awaken,
Ere your very haat be shaken !
Harken to the steady stamp!
Mars is in their every tramp!
Not a step is out of tune,
As the tides obey the moon !
On they march, though to se`-slaughter,
Regular as rolling watt?.
Whose high waves o'ersweep the bonier
Or huge moles, but keep their order,
Breaking only rank by. rank.
Harken to the armour a clank !
Look down o'er each frowning warrior,
?low he glares upon the barrier:
Look on each step °fetich ladder,
As the stripes that streak an adder.
• • • • •
Onward sweep the varied nations !
nunine long hash dealt their rations.
To the wall, with !late and hunger,
NUUKTOWI as wolves, and stronger,
On they sweep. Ol! glorious City,
Must thou be a theme for pity !
Fight, like your tirst sire, each Roman!
Marie was a gentle iceman,
Matched with Bourbon's black banditti !
Rouse thee, thou eternal City !
Rouse thee ! Rather give the torch
NV WI thy own hand to thy porch,
Than behold such hosts pollute
Your worst dwelling with their foot.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The lovers of the Drama enjed a treat last evening, in the re
vital of Shakspeare's comedy tithe " Merry Wives qf Windsor.'
it is well known tint Shakspeare forced his " fat hero" into love
at the command of Queen Elizabeth, who certainly displayed a
greater liking for the humour of the Knight, than sympathy with
the tender passion. Shakespeare had more taste than her Majesty.
Ile knew that " Foistsfrcould nut be in love without ceasing to be
Fulsk re' and he sketched the character as one in which avarice
was the haling passion ; but into the composition of which love
could never enter. Ilia genius was fettered ; and he commenced
his work, as it were, with a rule and compass : therefore, ,1
the Falstolf of the Afrery Wives of Windsor is not the
merry, laughter-loving Knight of /Miry li'. The outlines are
the same, but the filling up of the picture is very different. flow.
ever, there is much in the character to amuse, and a considetable
portion of the drama, not only of the incidents but of the dialogue,
depends on the effective acting of the trpresentative of the old
fat man. For this reason the play has been seldom metal, because it
is difficult to procure an actor capable of sustaining the arduous
part. Mr. Dowton sustained it last night; and, we think, disap-
pointed the audience, or, at least, those who had formed an idea
of the character from than which Shakepeare drew. Mr. Donlon,
however, conceived the part well, but his powers are certainly stn.
espial to the task allotted hint. In one or two scenes he was excel-
lent, particularly in the interview between hint and Ford, under
the name of Broad: ; but even here, itis acting was unnatural.
When he tells the disguised Ford, how he will behave towards him
should they meet ; he stares at him, and lays his stick upon his fore-
head precisely as he would have done had he knot' n who was before
him. Nte do not think all the Wier characters even so well cast. Mr.
Varnohlar is a wretched Phtol,4l/1.4 Mr. ;Browne very feeble support-
ml the pallid' the Welsh parson..Sie Hugh Proms. Ile hail little or no
idea of the Welsh pronunciation, and we greatly suspect he has
never tasted a morsel of the toasted cheese he lauded. We thank,
ton, we have nett Mr. (lattie perform better than he did as /deice
('alas; and Mr. I kberry to greater advantage than as Justhr Shol-
kw. Mr. 11"allack was excellent as the jealous Ford; and Mr.
Penley sustained very ably the part of Page. Mr. liarley's per.
sonification of the simple .%krnirr was an exquisite piece of acting,
and the character lost nothing of its original perfection. The
female parts were ably sustained by Miss Povcy, its Anne
Pare ; 11 ism Stephens, as Mrs. Ford ; Miss ('ubitt, as
mfrs. Pox( ; not Mrs ilarlowe, as Airs. Qni,•kly. The
latter lady whined a little more than was necessary even for the
wheedling dame. The chief attraction, however, was the singing.
Several of the matt beautiful of Shakspestre's lyric pieces had been
selected foe the occasion, the music to whirl; had been composed
and adapted by 31r. Horn and Mr. Parry. Mr. Benham, who in,
tallied the part of the successful lover of " sweet .lone Page,"
Rung in delightful style the stanzas from Love's Lnhour lost, " A
horn's eyes will strike an eagle blind;" the lines front As
Yoe fikr it, " Blow, blow, thou wintry wind ;" aid a beau-
tiful supposed to have been written by Marlowe. In the
latter he was enthusiastically and deservedly coeored. Miss
Stephens gave moat exquisitely the words from Sluskapeare's
Passionate l'ilgrim," and " l'rabbed Age and Youth," and a
sweet passage from one of the Bard's sonnets ; as did Min Enbitt
the song from A Midsummer Night's prearn..._•• 'When it is
the tine of night."
On the whole, the drama was successful and well received ; but
It did not, either during the performance, or at its temairation, call
rush any strong ohderided nuuks of approbation.
The farce of .Iforisiear Turmoil folloned. The house was
crowded.

IMPROVEMENTS in the CITIES 11 LONDON and

WESTMINSTER.

Yesterday a Meeting was held at the City of London Tavern,
pursuant to public nonce, for the purpose of " agreeing to such
resolutions, and adopting such measures as shall be deemed most
expedient with a view to the iimietwernenta of the streets and atvc-
noes of the cities of London and il'estnitester, the Dort/ugh of
Southwark, and the adjacent counties."
Soon after one o'clock :1!r. .11dernian Wood, mirminanied by
Mr.:Alt-man Thompson, M.l'.; Mr. W. Williams. M.l'.; Mr.
Mr. Charles Kw.:lay 31r. 'Weathersponn ; Mr. Robert static ;
Mr. S. Dixon; Mr. Jtst. Laing; Mr. Newman ; Mr. Young. and
other respectable gentlemen, entered the room, when the business
of the dap (01111111MMI, by
31r. Alderman Il'tion moving that Mr. Charles Barclay take
the Chair, which being duly seconded, the motion was unanimously
carried.

The ( lIMIIMAW. in addressing the meetirg, acid-1 cannot but
regret, liendenten, both on my own account and that of the naive rOl
I whu•h we ere avertible& that your parti.lity has placed me i 3 the
I 'heir. I ran immure you, that five minutes before I entered this
to m, I find lost anticipated such an honour. Being now, however,
piaced in Cie /'hair, I can .w.ly tell you, that I cordially unite aids
you in the• propositions whieli are litteiy to be submittivi to your ap-
Koval ; and i shall have it to abler hands to otfer you such expla.
nations as may Ire deemed necessary to the full understanding of
what I bi 11...•• to h•• ottr (11111311111t1 ohject, fly ditty now is to pre-
and rot to ntah..• a brig speech. 11,.t a gentleman present.
who i.e fully convenient aith the adi state hv. view., and
submit resolutions to you, which, I have Bo doubt, w ill meet your
%inanition's approval.
31r. Isms:a•r St. Ai/ rise. Sir, to submit train resolu-
tions to title revert:title 'leaving, with a lint, hop; that the import.
at ce of the subject—tla• innemeznitent tit the litvt I,,tropoliv in the
world, nod the :tee 1111 l modal ion thereby to he '4;ai.i• •1 tor it. Mi.
nietise population, troth combined, iii nut only 1.,

' apology for calling this meeting, but that the result of this day will
fully justify toe, secure me your approbation, and lead me to in-
dulge the hope that you all equally feel its importance with myself.
In order to go regularly forward, I stateit as an admitted principle,
that many of the streets sod avenues of this metropolis, and various
pans of the public ways in the adjacent counties, have long been
nadetittate to the public convenience and safety ; an evil progres-
'rely increasing with the population and traffic ; and that it IN
therefore, highly expedient that measures should he taken to re-
medy so great an eviL Then, following up that, Ido not deny that
• tax on coals may be properly imposed for public purposes. On go-
ing back to the period of the great fire in London, I find that a ditty
of one shilling was laid on coals, for the purpose of renovating the
City, which had suffered under that calamitous event. Other duties
were subsequently imposed on coals for local purposes,
and, if there be any one purpose mare useful than the other, it is
that, which brings us here to-day. It is material lyre for site to
observe, that, in the year 17103, an Aet passed the Irish Parlia-
ment, having for its object to lay a tax of one shilling a ton on
coals imported into the City of Dublin. A fund was created by
that tax, and Commissioners were appointed, who were called I 'mn-
miasioners of %Vide Streets. that being ,he object to which the fund
was applied. With that and some other assistance, Dulslin is now
improved beyond any other city, perhaps, in Enna, It has been
my fate to have visited Dublin freqeently in the course of the last
forty years. I have seen it, Sir, sts 011 degratlNl state; and, lately,
I have seen it in its renovated state, presenting a most na4,mificent
spectacle. From that splendid building, the Four (hurts, to the
l'igeon House, a distance of at least four miles, there is now one
wide, straight, and magnificent street; along the once muddy
shorts of the Liffey, there is now one hoe of quay ; and, until that
mprovement took plan, there was presented to the eye 'a scene
of as great disgrace se Field-lane and its neighbottrhooll does
now. From this lade, I consider that a passage should be opened
to the great North Road, let the expense be what it may. The
duty upon coals, I should observe, was first granted for ten years,
'for the purpose of improving the streets, the rebuilding of St.
Paul's, and the general embellishment of London. At the expira-
tion of that time, about the year 1719, the duty was increased to
three shillings and four pence, and afterwards an additional coast
duty elk, making the duty alargether amount toils. and 411. achal-
dmn. Now what I would propose to the Government is this, that they
should give us back the duty of 11.441.; and if, at the sante time,
they did away with the other tia., I an sure every one here would
be glad to concur with them. In point of candour 1 should state,
that so great is the harmony prevailing amongst the parties who
wish a general repeal of the coal duty, and those who favour our
wishes, that we have mutually signed the petitions of each other. I
would submit it to you, Gentlemen, that it is not for us to point
out any particular impmvement if that were necenaty, I have a
schedule with me; but if we proceeded to particulars, it might pro.
duce a jealousy, as difltrent persons might he inclined to think that
enough is not done for their particular neighbourhoods. IS'e shall
be fully satisfied if we can secure the duty to be applied to its ori-
ginal purpose, and leave the appointment of I konanissioners to the
Legislature--then Commissioners directing the improvements, and
thereby preventing jealousy. If once the machine be put in mo-
tion, I venture to predict it will go oft to an excellent end. (laving
said so much, I shall propoite•seriesof Resolutions thryour adoption ;
and I sin sure that every titan having the welfare of his country at
heart—every man wishing to see the conit»erce of 1.0.n10n protected
Font that greatest of all inconveniencics the loss of time (which
is so observable in Thanes-street, and near Exeter 'Change, in the
Strath)-- I ant sure that any such man will agree with rite in the
views I entertain, and as conveyed in the Resolutions I shall submit
to you. Before I conclude I wish to obviate one objection started
by some Gentlemen, who think that the whole removal of the duty
011 coals WOlllll be attended with a bad effect. It was said by these
Gentlemen that the removal of the duty would soon induce the emi-
gration of the manufacturer of Birmingham, Sheffield, and other
places to London, anti add to the increase of that smoke which we
already feel to be most annoying. Perhaps it might be so ; but if
we succeed in obtaining the 3s. 4d. or a part of it for our object,
Mr. M. A. Taylor will have little more to do as to the consumption
of smoke, and we shall prevent the emigration front which so much
is tinsmith. I shall now, Gentlemen, propose the Resolutions upon
which we intend to found a Petition to Parliament.

The following liest were then read through:—
" That it appears to this Meeting, that many of the streets and
avenues of this metropolis, and various parts oldie public ways in
the adjacent counties, have long been wholly inadequate to the
public convenience and safety, an evil progressive) y increasing with
the population and traffic, and that it is therefore highly expedient
that measures should be taken to remedy an great an evil.
" That this Meeting feels great satisfaction in being able to
suggest an equitable mode whert by the various improvements may
he effected, and the magnificence of the metropolis placed on a
footing corresponding with its:importance, without increasing the
taxation or burthens of the inhabitants.

" That shortly after the fire of London, a duty of one shilling
per chaldmn on coals brought into the port of London and the
river Thames, was imposed for a period of ten years, to be applied
towards the enlargement of streets and other public improvements
in London.

.....
" That such duty, varying in amount, war subsequently conti-
nued by (101i:rent .lcts of Parliament, and applied to the widening
of streets, rebuilding St. Paul's Cathedral repairing and re-
building parish churches, and repairing Westminster Abbey. until
the year 1718, when the duty (then amounting to three shillings
per ehaldron) war placed at the disposal of the Lords Commissioners
of his 3lajesty'sTreaaury, to be applied towards the building of new
churches, and the fund for the discharge of lottery prizes: and
the surplus to be held at the disposal of Parliament: and in the
following year the duty war made perpetual, and applicable to the
public ICTTICIMI of the country.
" That this ditty has since been increased to three shillings and
fourpence per ehaldron, making, together with the general coasting
duty of six shillings, the whole amount of duty now payable on
male brought coastwise.to London, nine shillings and fourpeitce per
chaidron.
" That this Meeting entirely concurs in the principle upon which
local duties on awls are raised in various parts of the kingdom for
effecting local improvements, a striking inetance of which, in the
present age, is that of the city of Dublin, where a duty upon coals
imported into the harbour of Dublin war imposed in the year 1732,
and placed at the disposal of Commissioners, whereby that city has
undergone improvereents. which have raiseu her to a conspicuous
rank among the cities of Europe.
" That under these crecurnstances, this Meeting is of opinion,
that it would be highly beneficial that the London duty on coals of
three shillings and Inurpence per chaldron, or some part thereof,
should be henceforward applied to its original purposes.
That this Meeting disci:int* the idea of suggesting any par-
ticular improvements, and declares ire sole object to be the esta-
blialiment of such fund, as, under the Ismael of Commissioners
to be appointed by Parliament, may effect those objects which shall
appear to them matt conducive to the improvement of hellion and
the adjoining counties, the conithet and cony.mience of the public,
and the general prosperity and ornament of this.: great metropolis.
" That a Petition founded upon the precalin.: Resolutions be
forthwith prepared and presented to the COMMOesS(louse of l'ar-
!lament, and that a Petition he also prepared and presented to the
Court of Common Council of the ,City of London, praying their
concurrence in tlitt proposed measure."
Mr. Alderman It" suggested that it would be better to put
the Resolutions separately, u some other Gentlemen might be in-
clined to offer their Ann tuna.
Mr. SLADE then proposed the first Resolution.
AI r. Alderman TH(Oxrsox, In rilliag to second the Resolution,
said, after the able and eloquent speech of the mover oCthia Ileeolu.
lion,' shall content ru) self by very briefly seconding it. There is not,
I ant persuaded, an MAI eidual in this assembly who must not have
felt the inconvenience of ;arrow streets, and who must not alias be
aware that the trade of the rot:ill dealer has, in consequence of that,
been very much on the deelbte. The gentlemen who live in the'
neighbourhood of London and the west end of the town feel conai-
derahle inconvenience when busint-ss calls them to the City. In
tact, the inconvenience of narrow streets is felt by every description
of pen*, a having bueinuis in the City, whether at the Bank or any
other public place. It 11011111, I think, be thrrefinta a metier of
great importance if the project stibmittt d to us this de:* Could be
tamed into efect. We could sum raise a large sum if we ''ad a
potion of the tax of 3s. Id., without proving at all onerous to lid
pantie classes of the people. The opulent, the large manufac-
turas, and the brewers, who consume the greatest quantity of torils,l
contribute must to this tax ; and these gentlemen are now ready to 1
' eta us in our' rojeeted itnywneements... There Is scarcely a port in
jhe kinolom in which there is pot such a fund u we now seek tol
establish ; and its creation would he doubly desirable at present,
beesuse.it would bear little if anything upon the par. 'I lie citi.
tens of London paid It.. Jet. a clialdrun duty for their coal., while
' others paid only a duty of Gs Ido not mean to sat that we would
Esquire the 101thlt Of I Oink if we had 1.. bet. of it, that
it would produce more that 100,0018. pee annul». I have every ob.
jection to paying through the means of etch a duty :7.00,0091 a year
' to the public purse, hut I should have none to appropriate a portion
jof it to local circumstances..

3lr. l'oc au —Udine Mow Resolutions are put to the vote, I
must be allowed to any, they contain *nth truisms as cannot lead to
any (balcony in voting for their adoption. I assure the meeting
that I only came here Ca the purpose of obtaining inlOrmation as
to the means of r.ecompliabing the desirable object which we all
have in view. I think, however., that your Rreolutiona are nt wa.
',lance with the general petition for the total repeal of the aunts. on
coal—a petition which I !above to contain the expression of the
general it lain% of all classes of the people. I beg leave again to
state, that I have taken the laxity of addressing, you toady with
the view to obtain information.

'J'he ' ..Nin :1.‘";--The tact is sinTly iv; feel that the we.
sent duty of :17. Jd. is not icily partial, lint oppressive, sled has
b..en altogether tlivertol front its original intention. IVe also con.
%Wet. 1n the event Of ns repeal. or iltlestl or not. that we
are entitled to a portion of th:: :Is. 4d. foe the purnoc of waking
loci! introveinctits:..

Mr. 'Alike:ton %num—This duty of 9s. 11. origiunta4 in the
time of Queen .Inhe, and was hittes.,l ter the pnr:iese of building
churches, of repairing St. Peter's, Westminster. aril of allowing
0.11101. a year ter the retina., of Reftwe the
year 1;111 the line,-rome-3 mum: that its grettninfoi.-ns were illore
thm, fol. its Or‘ginal 111111..ne. rand the% paid el' 5011.;1011:.
,rtl: of lottery tickets ; and thus destined to a most immoral ot.c,
a. I think, that w!iteli was intraded thru very moral tale. I admit,
with the worthy I knewittai (11r. Young), that there dues appear
• one little inconsistency 4,etween the petition to repeal the a-hole
duly, and ll'in elwititim: a portion of the omy of I. bu: I am
much afr.tid deft unless the l'hatteeil,r of the Exeholuer ha, a
large balance lie sei!l rot take of; any p..rtion of the tax. .41!:t1 in
that t vent we put in our claim tor a portioa of th.! 3s. .1,1. it' wo
arc ullolW eti Is. or Is. 4A. out ill it, WhiCil it Olthl 1,,7 split. CN.llgli
for our purpose, we could ele.ily mortgage it, am! littwoolsiome-
th.it we obtained the money. .1:111 3;:0111. if .111OklerS till
not take or the 'boy, tip. Mon 01 say, but the: the
ut I,otulon and Westminster, al,tl the people of Essex, netts, tu-..1
many of those of surrey, would he moot sou t pleased to see
I,ottilon anti the at emit, to it improved, for the get,crrirtmventerce,
thin xc the amount ui the duty thy:rutt thnu It. do•gintt-

don. We are not asking the Government for the arrears of
19,000,01)01., which they owe us, but merely to let us haves portion
of the 3a. 4d. duty. lately stated, very stronglyt to the First
Lord of the Treasury, upon the advance of 156,0001. being made
to us for the new botidon.bridge, that we were only getting laeortion
of our own. But he said, " How can you expect me to give you
the public money for local rurposes ?" My answer was, "We
don't want you to do that ; all we ask you is, to give us back a
portion of what you took from local and applied to general pur-
poses :" and to that, I need scarcely say, I had no reply. We
have a right, however, to go to the altitude= and say, give us the
trifle we ask for the improvement of the city of London, from which
object you violently wrested it. I say more too, for I say this, that
we have, or ought to have, a right of free passage over whatever
bridges may be built across the 'I haloes. In fine, I say we should
call upon the tiovermient to give us up the tax we ask, in order to
the general improvement of this vast metropolia.
Mr. You N (I— I hope I am perfectly understood as offering no
opposition whatever to your riveted plan ; but at the same time I
would suggest the propriety of delay until the larger question is
disposed of. If you wait, I have no doubt but you will have the
public unanimously with you.
Mr. Alderman 'room esoe--The reason why I thought it
would be impolitic to watt is this, that the Chancellor of the Ex.
chequer brings forward the budget on Monday next, and he wished
to have our views communicated to him before that period.
Mr. W. W 1.1.1 A MS —lf I thought that the object for which we
are assembled here to.eay, would weaken in the least degree the
weal petition for the repeal of the duty upon coals, I would not
be here to lend it the %Import of my concurrence. But I consider
I it as an indisputable puaituin that local taxes should be expended
for local purposes, and general taxes for the good of the community ,
at large. lam also bound to add, that in common with you all, I ,
feel for the comfort and convenience of the people of the metropolis,
and that a City so famed for talent, wealth, and, knowledge should
!not be longer disgraced by such places as the passage at Exeter
Change, and above Lin other passes equally scandalous to the taste
and convenience of the people. It may be objected to me that I
have some selfish or partial views to gratify : but those who know
me in private life usti deny the charge, anti those who hare watched
me in public life, can bear witness to my unceasing anxiety for the
general good. 1 ant marry that any allusion has been made to the
emigration of manufacturers from Binningham or Sheffield, be-
cause I believe it to be at best but a mere chimera. I think that I
many of our new improvetnents, such as that of the Dover road ,
' and Highgate-hill, Amid have been paid nut of sonic such fund I
as the coal tax, and that the people should not be, as they now are,
subjected to a heavy yearly tax in the shape of turnpike duty. I
need not say that I ant. and always have been, friendly to every
• improvement, and in this use I would leave it to Parliament to
appoint Commissioners, who, by their assiduity and attention, will
be likely to make this metropolis as famed for its public streets as
, it now is for its patriotism and its wealth.
The resolutions were then put atri,tlisa, and unanimously agreed
!to; 1114 was a petition founded on them to the House of Comm ms,
' which was requested to be supported by the Members for the City,
and the comma' of heels, Essex, and Surrey.
Mr. S. Diane—lf I understand these resolutions properly, they
pray for the continuance of the duty of Ss. 4d.
The (.111A111.111 kW—The worthy Gentleman must then have mis-
landerstotel them. If, the duty he continued, we pray to have a
'portion of the 3a. 4d. for the purpose of local improvement.
Mr. S. Thews—Well be that the ease or not, I ant afraid
there is a great incongruity in this petition.
The CHAIRMAN—If the whole tax should be taken off, it is our
intention to apply for al Act of Parliament, to enable us to con-
tinue a duty of Is. or Is. 6d. a chaldron on coals, for the purpose
of !as I improvement.
The petition was then read and agreed to.
Mr. Alderntan NVotin said he held in his hand a list of the
names or several Gentlemen to fomi a cornniittee, and with the
liberty of the meeting he proposed reading them. Ile then men-
tioned, amongst others, the names of the following gentlemen :
Messer. Charles Barclay, Heron. ben, Mr. P. Lucas,
Aldenuan Magnay, Mr. Robert Slade, Mr. Spouiswoode, Mr.
Sutton (High Sheriff of Hertfordshire), 11r. Alderman Thomp.
son, Mr. Walker, Mr. Florence Young, Mr. G. Woodfall, Mr.
Sateskell, Mr. Gray, Mr. Shouter, Mr. Timothy Curtis, Mr. Key,
sad Mr. S. Dixon.
Thanks were then voted to Mr. Robert Slade and the worthy
Chairman, and the meeting separated.
The pf ition lies for signatures at the City of London Tavern.

Who truly looked' like a detitigod,
Blooming and bright, with golden hair, and stature,
II not more high than mortal, y:t i ttttt writ
In all that nameless brining of his limbs,
Which he *cant as the San his ray.:—a smnething
Which shines from hint, and yet is but the Hashing
1. .-.'
Emanation of a thing more gloYious still.
Was he et'? /11/ Me/ /I 00.0
ACIIIIII.II cloaca the procession ; and of his shape tlx
~, ious Arn,,h/ makes election. The demon thus c
io,•111.: ma his choices—
t
\.7;.v a
ie, "• (nions ambitlen!
.l, 1 I I lore thee mast in dwarfs! A mortal of
. I"tilicitte stature would hare gladly pared
1 1 ll'. own I toliah down to a slight florid ;
Iftst thou, my manikin, would's; soar a show
Rather than lien.. Thou shalt he indulged,
l t slit h be thy t!,..;re: a... 1 yet, by being
.k little less relary.,sl to.'.. preset t men
, it In Mmre, thou cans! sway them tuner; tur all
i IVoalal rise a -.limo threw.... as if to Ittim
, . A new 1.0111111 11,111111111e11: and 111.11 ell/11,d engino,
Ttic,r culyeritt—wil .... forth, would Ii iii lay
Thmugh our friend'. armour dire% with greater case
Tll,lll the adulterer's arrow through his birth
I,Vitich Thetis bad forgotten to hamise
In :••41s.
The verses by which the trathiformatiott of Arnold t