The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-23 00:00:00

THE BACHELOR IN QUEST OF 4 WIFE.

An eccentric announcement appeared in the Irish papers of las
week, proclaiming the intention of a "young man" to walk, for
the second time, on Sunday last, for an hour, round Stephen's-
green, 't no exception to be made on account of the rain or bad
weather," when if one of the " fair sex, aged about twenty years,
and, like himself, of respectability and address, middle-sized, of
a good constitution, fair complexion, good looking, of a good tem-
per." and possessed of many moral and mental perfections, as
enumerated by the advertiser, " should feel herself inclined to
emery and to be happy with such a man" as this candidate for
wedlock, " he would be found to walk a little faster than the rest
of the people, dressed in black, wearing a pair of silver spectacles,
to carry a brown silk umbrella, with a straight handle, in
his left hand, and his yellow leather glove off his right hand,
between his thumb and fingers, loose enough to be in-
tended to receive a note in it, in which time and place was
to be mentioned for a happy meeting with the lady." In con-
sequence of this announcement, at an early hour on Sunday
numerous groups were seen to crowd the avenues leading tothe
rendezvous, and amongst them many persons of fashion, all ani-
mated with amusing anticipations . At three o'clock precisely the
anxious expectant° were gratified by the sudden appearance of the
hymeneal candidate, exactenn at en costume ; but soon delight gave
place to rage—for scarcely had the gentleman put himself in a pro.
menading position, than the peace-officers accosted hint. and stated
that an information had been sworn to before the Magistrates,
charging him with exciting a breach of the peace, and a viola-
tion of the sabbath, and after a little explanation, he without any
hesitation accompanied the officers to the Mansion House, and
thence in a carriapiewarege-strest Police-office, followed by a
tremendous etch. and throwing stones at the Police. Ile-
ing questioned by C for Gabbett, the gentleman stated him. '
pelf to he a German, named Anthony Franc, and that he arrived
in Dubl n on the fi.s: of the present month. He contradicted the
report that his proceedings were for a wager ; assured the Magi-
etrnte that he was really serious in his professions and inten.
dons to procure a wife—but regretted exceedingly that his ig-
cantles of the laws, habits, and manners of this country had
led him to adopt a measure occasioning any infraction of the peace,
Mr. Franc's manner and explanation appeared to the Magistrate
so candid, that he said he should be satisfied with his own recog-
nizance in twenty pounds, to appear when called on to answer the
complaint of the persons who lodged the information. Mr. Franc
conceiving that he was required to lodge twenty pounds, was about
handing to the Magistrate • most splendid gold watch and ap-
pendages, but was immediately informed of die nature of the re.
cognisance. Mr. Franc's appearance and manner fully justified
his own description of himself, he spoke English with great
fluency, and gave his nildress No. 3, Duke-street. Ile sated that
ha had no acquaintance in Dublin, and had been in the habit of
coming to England occasionally for fifteen years past. In reply to
a question from some one present, lie said be had received a few
letters in answer to his advertisement.

I)EsTßucTivr Ft Re.--Aiout ten minutes to ono o'clock
thin morning a fire broke nut in the dwelling-house of Mr. Starkes,
ml and colour man, of Drury.lane, tour doors from the Cool-yard,
which, for some time, threatened destruction to the whole neigh.
bumhood. The St. Giles's parish engine, under the care of Furs-
man,. was on the spot in less than five minutes, and rendered the
titc,t effective aid, as there was a very plentiful supply of water.
The next engine that arrived was the one belonging to the upper
part of the parish, which was followed by the Pisani: sod that
belonging to Coombe and Delageld's brewery. The devouring
element, however, bid defiance to all exertion for sometime. and a
quantity of gunpowder exploding added to the general terror; but
happily however this did not cause the loam of life. The fire was
first discovered in the shop by the watchman, who gave the alarm,
but Ito suddenly did the flames spread, that the only inmate in the
house narrowly escaped with his life by jumping out of window.
Not a vestige of property was saved. The *Mk boy of the Bow.

POLICE.
MANsioN4IOUSE.
Yesterday a case relative to the application of the funds of a Be-
nefit Society came on before the Lord Mayor and Mr. Alderman
Cox, which, as the decision was influenced by the fact that one of
the items objected to was for the support a the "Bradford Union,"
was of considerable interest. The Justice Room was crowded
with operatives.
The Stewards of the Society, which is called " The Friendly
Society of Carpenters and Joiners," were attended by a solicitor.
—The complainant's cue was stated by Mr. HARMER, who
said his client's name had been scratched off the books, and
all the money he had paid into the Society forfeited, in con.
sequence of alleged non-compliance with a demand which he
considered they were by no means entitled to make. There was a
regulation, which enabled the society to make an increased demand
upon the Members, in the event of the funds not being adequate to
defray the inevitable expenses ; and the stewards had proceeded to
the extremity in this case—the complainant having questioned the
propriety of the application of the funds, and acted upon that
t:oubt by refusing to subscribe at a higher rate than sixpence per
month. But there was another article amongst the rules and re-
gulations of the Society, whicb directed that the funds should be
applied to the service of the widows of members, or to :superan-
nuated members, and no other persons. Ile (Mr. Harmer) would
show, that if the application of the funds had been confined to that
object, it would have been quite unnecessary to increase the de-
mand upon the members. He then produced a report of the Audit
Committee, and pointed out, on the expenditure aide, the follow-
ing items :

s. d.
Balance due to Agent on Combination Laws - 816 0
Paid to Committee on ditto - - 4 7 3
Ditto for Malcolm, Herring, and Jenkins, attending to
establish Newspapers with General Committee . 8 4 3
Gift to Bradford and other Weaven . - 120 0 0
Shareholders of Trades' Newspapers attending General
Meetings . - 413 6
Fifteen Shares in Trades' Newspaper - 75 0 0
Thaw were expenses the members bad no right to pity, Inas-
much as they were excluded by the 22d Article.
The Solicitor for the Society said that the Society was at liberty
to alter its own laws, upon emergencies, according to the pro-
visions.
Mr. Hanel/La replied, that the regulations were enrolled at the
Quarter Sessions, and if such a thing was contemplated as an ap-
plication of the funds of the Society to such purposes as they had
been applied' to, the enrolment never would have been permitted.
It was not to be supposed that a regulation would have been sanc-
tioned which pledged the Society to the support of an unlawful
combination, as ,well by a subscription for the relief of those who
turned out, as by lending aid to a newspaper which advocated the
cause of the men against the masters.
Ilere there was a general cry of '• No, no ! the Trades' News-
par,, has nothing to do of the kind."
the Solicitor of the Society said, that whether the Bradford
Union was or was not worthy of support, was matter of question
which they could not dispute there. He, however, was convinced
that the Society had a right to vote a sum of money to the Brad-
ford Union, if they thought proper.
Mr. H•astrit—The rules and regulations never could have
been enrolled at the Quarter Sessions, if such an application of
the funds was ter a moment contemplated.
The Lonn 31aTort was decidedly of the same opinion. The
funds were intended to be applied to a specific purpose, and could
not properly be-diverted from that purpose by any subsequent re.
gulations. If they were, those who authorised the inieapplication
would be guilty of imposing on the Quarter Sessions.
The Solicitor of the Society begged the hoed Mayor would refer
to the Act, which gave them the power to alter their laws.
Toe Loan MAYOR said, that the carpenters and joiners might,
if they pleased, subscribe their sixpences or shillings to assist others
of their trade, but they certainly could not appropriate the money
of the Society to any other than the specific purposes mentioned in
the 22t1 article.

Mr, HARMER Maid. that if that had not been the case, it would
be absurd to enrol the rules and regulations. Ilia elitnt objected
to pay the additional demand, particularly on account of the grant
to the Bradford Union, and of the misappropriation of the money
as regarded the Trades' Newspaper.
The Solicitor for the Society said, they had a right to invest their
money either in public or private securities.
Mr. HARMER said there was no security at all. The paper was
falling daily, as the men were returning to their work. It bad
dropped 22l papers within the last quarter.
The operatives here cried out that this was not the fact.
The LORD 31aTott said, he certainty thought it of no impor-
tance, whether it was or was not the case.

Mr. HARDIER—This paper has been set, up merely to enable
the men to abuse their masters ; this principle is not endurable.
The Lotto Mayon said, that as the Act cf Parliament privi.
leged the Society to invest their funds in private as well as public
security, he saw no objection to making an investment in a news-
paper concern.
Mr. HARMER—The shares cost 51. each ; are they marketable
at that price now ? (A laugh.)
The LORD Al axo• would not give an opinion as to whether
the investment was a provident one or not, but he decidedly thought
the complainant not justified in his refusal upon that ground, al.
though he was upon the other.
The Solicitor to the Society—This is • captious and vexatious
opposition, as the complainant is the only person who makes it in
the teeth of all the other members, and there are 1200 or 1300 of
them.
The complainant said, there had been a meeting, at which the
items alluded to had been opposed.
The LORD MAYOR and Alderman Cox then decided that the
complainant's name should resume its place on the list, and that
he was entitled to all the privileges of the Society.

ntree pollee were promptly 011 thespet, and rends reci the most et_
feetive aid, though we regret to elate. that some unfeeling'
monster contrived to steal upwards of fonds in cash from
one of the adjoining houses. The heck well In about two
o'clock with a tremendous crash. It is but justice to sly, that but
for the osettione of the neighbours, who, half naked, assisted at the
engines, nothing could hive prevented the devouring demist from
spreading routvl the whole of *seed...yard, where seedy of
the builgs are coast of woos.