The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-05 00:00:00

AT a MEETING of the CLERGY, MERCHANTS,
BANKERS, TRADERS, and other FRIENDS to the
IMPROVEMENT of the METROPOLIS, held at the London
Tavern, Bishopegate.street, on Tuesday, the 4th instant,
The Right Hon. the LORD MAYOR in the Chair t
It was moved by Thomas Wilson, Esq. M.P., and seconded by
Andrew Spottiswood, Esq.,
That one of the strongest proofs of the high degree of advance-
ment in a taste for the tine arts, which the people of England have
attained, is to be found in that desire for the improvement and em-
bellishment of the Metropolis, which so honourably distinguishes
the present age.
It was moved by William Williams, Esq. M.P., and seconded
by M. Cutler, Esq.,
That the view recently opened of the tower and spire of St.
Bride's Church, by the demolition of several houses in Fleet.street,
which had obscured it front the public sight, for upwards of a cen-
tury, having clearly shown that this building may be made highly
conducive to the beauty and ornament of the Metropolis, and par-
ticularly when the adjoining buildings are made to enter into archi-
tectural combination with it, as shown in the plan, it appears to
this Meeting very desirable, that the view thus obtained should be
preserved.
It was moved by John Blades, Esq., and seconded by R. Ob-
bard, Esq.,
That this annicture, which, for proportion, symmetry, and gran-
deur of effect, is not surpashed, if equalled, by any spire in this
country, also possesses this strong claim upon the public attention,
that it was designed by oue of the most eminent architects England
ever produced, Sir Christopher Wren.
It was moved by Robert Slade, Esq. and seconded by J. Smith,
Esq.,
That the carrying into effect the plan now proposed, will, in one
instance at least, rescue the national taste from the reflection so
often cast on it by foreigner+, that while the Metropolis of the Bri-
tish Empire contains public edifices which would not have been un-
worthy the proudest era of the arts, they are so compietely con-
cealed by the surrounding buildings that a view of them can scarcely
be obtained.
' It was moved by Sir Peter Laurie, and seconded by H. Butter-
worth, Esq.
That relying upon the encouragement usually given by the pub.
lie to works of national ornament and utility, a subscription be now
opened, to which the public be respectfully invited to contribute.
It was moved by J. Poynder, Esq., and seconded by Mr. Cham-
berlain Clarke,
That the following Gentlemen be a Committee, with power to
add to their number, and to apply the subscriptions in carrying into
effect the plan now product r such other plans as they may think
ad v liable :
The Right Hooble. the Lord John Blades, Esq.
Mayor Andrew Spottiswood, Esq.
Mr. Alderman Waithman William Brooks, Esq.
Thomas Wilson, Esq M.P. Mr. Churchwarden 51•Dowall
W. Williams, Esq. M.P. John Poynder, Esq.
Mr. Alderman Wood, M.P. M. Cutler. Esq.
Mr. Alderman Thompson, 61. P. J. Burbidge, Esq.
Mr. Chamberlain Clarke H.3lanintt, Esq.
Rev. Thomas Clare R. Obbard, Esq.
And that John Blades, Esq. be requested to act as Treasurer.
It was moved by Andrew Spottiswood, Esq , and seconded by
H. lilarrintt, Esq.,
That Mr. Atwood Smith be appointed Honorary Secretary to the
Committee.
JOHN GARRATT, Chairman.
The Lord Mayor having left the Chair, it was moved by Win.
Wilson, Esq. 31. P. and seconded by John Blades, Esq.
That the thanks Of this Meeting be given to the Right lion, the
LOrd Mayor, for his urbanity and able conduct in the Chair.
The following Subscriptions were then entered into:
a. .E e.
Andrew Strahsn, Esq. 50 0 Henry Burnell, Esq. - 5
Phillip Rundell, Esq. 50 0 Walter 6l'Dowall, Esq. 6
John Blades, Esq. -50 0 Henry Marriott, Esq. - 5 6
A. and R. Spoinawood 10 10 Sir Peter Laurie - - 5 5
Benjamin Rouse, Esq. 10 10 P. J. Alnutt, Esq. - 6 5
Robert Obbard, Esq. -10 10 Samuel Sangster, Esq. 5 0
J. B. Papworth, Esq. 10 10 Basil Montagu, Esq. 2 2
Martin Cutler, Esq. - 10 10 Rev. Dr. Rudge - 1 1
William Brooks, Esq. 10 10 John Warren, Esq. - 6 6
George Cooke, Esq. - 10 U William Daykes, Esq. 1 1
Henry Butterworth, Esq. 10 0 G. Woodfall Esq. - 2 2
Thos. Wilson, Esq. 111. P. 21 0 T. and G. Baker - 2 2
J. and A. Smith - - 10 10 Henry Burn, Esq. - 11 6
William Williams, Esq. James Elmer", Esq. - 1 I
M.P. . - 10 10 Subscriptions received by the
The Right Hon. the Lord Editor of the New Times :
Mayor - - 21 0 R. P. Hope, Esq. 0
J. Pensam, Esq. - - 10 10 F. L. H. Esq. - . 10 10
Alexander Galloway, Esq. 5 0 Cruse Pelham, Esq. 10 0
Richard Thornes, Esq. 5 5 Lieutenant Johnson, R.N. 5 0
R. H. Stilly, Esq. - 5 5 H. 11. S. Esq. - - 6 0
Simpson and Graham - 10 10 R. Hopkinson, Esq. - 6 0
Subscriptions will be received at the Banking-houses of Messrs.
Williams and Co. Birchin-lane ; Messrs. Hoare, Fleet-street ; Sir
Clodde Scott, Williams, and Co. Ilolles.street ; and by the Tres-
surer, John Blades, Esq. Ludgate-hill, where the plan may be
seen.

PRICES Or BIMISM
Bank Stock 2231
Ditto Acct.
3 per Cent. Red. 91 a 1
3 per Cent. Coma.
DStte Acct 1154 I
3:1 per Cent. 101
3 pet Cent. Ited.looj t
hen 4 per Cent.
loan Stock
Ditto Acct.
Ditto Bonds 100 39 pin

PRICES OF FOBERIN
Austrian Bonds 161
Ditto Acct.
Blasilion Bonds 79 1
Ditto Acct. 70) 1
Ditto Scrip 6i 71 pm
Ditto Acct. 7 6107 pm
o, Buenos Arc ods 921 /
Ditto Acct. 92)
Bonds 861
Ditto Acct. 80 61
(ioloorb. Bonds 901 90 C9i 901
Ditto Acct.
1)it•co Bonds (1824)93 2. /
Ditto Acct. 931 4 21 3 21 32/
3)
Danish Bonds
Ditto Marks Banco 100
Dutsh Cnm. 4i per Coot.
French newts 102 f. 60c.
Exchange 26f. I lit. 71c.
Ditto Scrip 131 1 pm
Ditto Aect.

COURSE OF giCli
Amsterdam C. F. 12 2
Ditto, at sight - 11 19
Rotterdam - 12 3
Antwerp - - 12 3
Haraburgh - 37 0
Alums . 31 1
Paris, 3 day s' sigh t 28 18
Ditto - - 28 45
Hourdesu - 25 48
fkwAn - 7 5
Frankfort-on-the-Main 1114
Petersburgh - V
Vienna . - 10 2
Priette . - 10 2
Madrid -
Oaths -

. 384

IT;eelona 33."
Seville - - 361
Gibraltar - . SI

STOCKS YESTERD.t Y.
Gong Ann. 22i
South Sea Stock
South Sea Old Annuities
South Sea New Annuities
Ditto, 601. 68 pm
Ditto, Small
Ditto, I id. 1,0001. 68 57 69 pro
Ditto, 5001. 57 59 pm
Ditto, Small 67 60 pm
Lottery Tickets

STOCKS YESTERDA I'.
Greek Bonds 56,1
Ditto Acct. 57 6 .1
81exican Bonds 761 I 15j 6f
6 6 I
Diuof Acct. 761 76} } 6 f 6
Neapo itan Bonds
Ditto Bonds (1824)
Ditto Scrip
Ditto Acct. 1} pm
Pentsian Bonds 80f
Ditto Acct. 811 e 1
Portuguese Bonds 871,
I)itto Acct. BEI
Prussian Bonds 1001
Ditto Bonds (1822) 914
Ditto Acct.
Russian Bonds 96 51 f
Ditto Acct. 95j f
Spanish Cons. n 11111
Ditto Aect. 21f f If
Ditto 510 Bonds 211

NUE YESTERDAY.
Leghorn - -48 i
(Jews - . 44
Venice - - 27
Malta - -

Naples . - 311
Palernio - 117
Lisboa al
Oporto - . 51}
Rio Janeiro - 48
Bahia - . so!
Dublin - 91
Cork . - 9

.C. s. d.
Portugal Gold is coin U 0 0
Foreign Gold in bars 3 17 9
New Doubloons U U 0
New Dollars 0 4 10
Silver in bars 0 5 OA

Elm Lt, ritifSit reoo.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
This Evening. WEDNESDAY. Jan. S. will be performed hint time),
altered and adapted for Representation, Bilts3lllgerAi
FATAL DOWRY.
The Prologue to be spoken by Mr. Maeready.
noehfort, Mr. Terry ; Cbaralois, Mr.Viallark ; ttomout, tor. Macready.
Beatunelle, blre.W.H est.
fter which,
HARLIQIAN AND THE TALKING BIRD,
THE SINGING TREES, AND GO) DEN WATERS.
Harlequin, Mr. Howby.
Co lu anell; Ptaloon
bine,, Mr.
Barnett. Blanchard ; Clown, Mr.
Kirm bliss
To-morrow, Der Freleebutz, and the new Pantomime.

THEATRE ROYAL. COVENT-GARDEN.
This Evening, ViF.DNESDAY, Jan. d„ will be performed
DER VREISCHUTZ
Or. THE MACK HUNTSMAN OF 'OREM( 4.
Ottoear, Mr. Baker; Conrad, Mr. Egerton; Caspar, Hr. Bennett;
Wilhelm. Mr. Vearman; the Black Huntsman of Bohemia, Mr. Evans.
leftha, Mies Pawn; Lena, Miss Love.

After which,
HARLEQUIN AND THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY ;
Or, MORE OP MORE HALL.
Harlequin, Mr. Ellar; Pantaloon. Mr. Barnes; Clown, Mr. I. S. Gri-
maldi. Coltunbine, Min Homer.
To-morrow, Clad. Animal ilarnetlsm, and the new Pantomime.

Mr BRITISH Pi sis commenced publishing yesterday morning

at live o'clock.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5,1823.

The project of the French Ministry for indemnifying
the Emigrants, seen' s likely to he fraught with more diffi-
culties than its originators anticipated. According to the
statements in the E:oile, when the subject was first dis-
cussed, it was intended to compensate the old proprietors
by giving them stock to the amount of the sums for which
their estates were sold, deducting the payments made by

, THE BRITISH PRESS.

the Government in satisfaction of their debts, the charges
for land-tax, and such other burthens as they will be re-
lieved from by the conversion of their property into a net
annuity from the public funds. But the Emigrants ob-
ject, and we think justly object, to the calculation by which
the value of their estates is estimated. The Ministerial
project takes, as its basis of indemnity, the amount for
which the revolutionists sold the estates in assignats, re-
duced into money at their lowest value; but it is well
known, not only that the asaignats were in a constant and
rapid course of depreciation from day to day, but that the
sales were made, under the best circumstances, far below
what the estates would have produced, if they had been
fairly sold at a season of general safety and tranquillity. A
pamphlet lately published at Paris, entitled, Observations
au sujet des Indernnites, remarks, truly, that " an estate
which in 1789 was worth 40,000 francs, would not have
sold in 1793 for 23,000 francs in assignats ; and reducing
this revolutionary paper money to its lowest value in coin,
the indemnity ins this estate would not he adjudged at a
higher sum than 2,500 francs. Can such a grant," the
writer asks, " be considered a real indemnity to the old
proprietor ?" He contends, therefore, and, admitting the
principle of indemnity, we do not see how he can be re-
futed, that " it is the actual value of the property sold
which o➢ght now to be paid to the proprietors revolu-
tionarily dispossessed, and not the value of the assignees
for which it was unfairly sold." It was said, when this
project was broached, that it would be a measure of recon-
ciliation and peace between the old and new proprietors;
but the extravagant pretensions of the former, and the in-
numerable host of claimants who have raised their voices
for compensation on account of revolutionary violence,
have already scattered the seeds of diasention and alarm
through every circle of the French people. " Our
property was not sold, we admit," says one class,
" but it was utterly destroyed : are we not also to be
indemnified ? Are we to be denied the benefit of the
principle of indemnity, because we suffered for our loyalty
at home ?" " IVe," say other classes, " were imprisoned
and persecuted for our attachment to the monarchy. We
were reduced to beggary by the ruinous paper money of the
Revolution. Are we to have no compensation ?" There
is yet another question more embarrassing, perhaps, than
any other: who shall decide, in the last resort, what indem-
nity is due to each claimant ? Shall it be a board of emi-
grants themselves, judging in their own cause what they
are entitled to receive? When all the wealth of France
is declared liable to these awards of indemnity, who can
guess where they may terminate ? Is it to be supposed
that when in fact the property is again vested de
jure in the ancient Noblesse, they will ever rest
satisfied till they have de ficto recovered possession of
the estates from which they have been ejected ? The
title of the present holders is not strengthened, but, on
the contrary, virtually destroyed by recognising the right
of the emigrants in particular to be indemnified for the
losses they sustained, in common with all other proprie-
tors, by the fury and excesses of the revolutionary storm.
If Crt•at.sa X. be sincerely desirous of promoting the
welfare and happiness of all his subjects, and if he be
sufficiently enlightened to understand their true interests,
he will abandon this dangerous and mischievous project for
unsettling half the property of his kingdom, and he will
not carry his benevolence to the emigrants further than
continuing in their favour that preference to all places of
honour and profit which they have enjoyed since the
•estorstion.

It was stated yesterday, and we hope and believe on
good authority, that the French Government has resolved
to follow the course of the British in recognising the inde-
pendence of such of the new American States as have
clearly shown their title to he considered firmly established.
This act, which must be strongly obnoxious to the feelings
of the Royalist party in power, has, we have no doubt,
been forced upon the French Cabinet by the commercial
interest. France is again becoming a great mercantile
power, and, under a sound system of government, she
may reasonably expect to enjoy a very high degree of pros-
perity in her trade and manufactures. The Ministers
cannot be indifferent to the growth of the public revenue,
especially at this moment, when they are about to burthen
the country with an indemnity to the emigrants, amounting
to 600 millions of franca at the lowest computation. While,
therefore, they cement the edifice of ultra-royalism in
France, by " closing the last wounds of the Revolution,"
they may well consent, for the sake of accomplishing so de-
sirable a result, to sanction the triumph of revolutionary
principles in Amet in. From what fell from his MAJ Erre'
Ministers in Parliament last Session, the public knew that
it was their impression that the policy of France, with
respect to South America, agreed substantially with that of
England, though the unfortunate connexion with Spain and
the Holy Alliance necessarily fettered the French Govern-
ment in its decisions, and disabled it from taking those
frank and open measures by which we have preceded her in
the formal admission of the New States to the rights and
advantages of an acknowledged political existence. The
Government of the Netherlands vill be the next, and
we may be sure, at no great distance of time, to recognize
the independence of the American Republics. They may
then wait with temper and patience for the approbation of
the Holy Alliance, and the rejected Mother Country ; and
it will probably neither grieve nor injure them much, if''
those Powers should, in their wisdom, resolve never to
sanction the legitimacy of the American States. We fore-
see, however, that the certain and absolute loss of her
colonies must lead to some great and salutary changes in
the political and social condition of the Peninsula. With-
out them, and under a rational system of government, Spain
may yet again become, as her position would seem of
necessity calculated to render her, a powerful and flourishing
kingdom.

We may expect soon, we suppose, to hear that some ar-
rangements have been concluded with Portugal for the
recognition of the independence of Brazil. In the state in
which the two nations stand with regard to each other at
present, the British Government will of coarse refrain from
interfering, except with a view to the amicable adjustment
of their differences. The recognition of the late Spanish
colonies will in all probability quicken Portugal in her
tardy and reluctant movements towards an acknowledg-
ment of the fact that her colony has at last outgrown the
system to which it was formerly subjected. Whether this
acknowledgment be made or not, Brazil is actually free,
and will remain so, in spite of all that Portugal can do to
prevent it. She had better therefore, to use a homely
phrase, make the best of a bad bargain, and submit with a
good grace to what will happen without her consent, if she
be silly enough to refuse it.

The Grand Jury have thrown out the bill preferred
against Mr. O'Co xi:►.l. for sedition—and they have done
wisely. On every recognisal principle of constitutional
freedom, and of public law, tl.e prosecution deserved to fa!l

to the ground, and we thit.k it infinitely better that all
the chances of evil to which it led, should be thus early
cut off, than that Dublin should have been kept in a state
of irritation and ferment for weeks, during a trial which
could only have ended—if even it ended without insurrec-
tion and bloodshed—in his more solemn and deliberate

acquittal. We trust that, as a trial of strength with the
Catholics, such a proceeding as this will never be again
repeated. It tends, in its consequences, to enfeeble the
authority of Government, as all strong public acts must
do, which have no hold on moral approbation. As
far as an♦ feats are entertained of the Catholics,
we have no hesitation in saying, that such al attack
is more dangerous than conceuivn. Whenever a Go-

vernment establishes differences among men, or grants
privileges to one class of subjects which it withholds
from another, it departs from its true principles. The
class of subjects so exiled from the Neal protection of
the parent State will complain and remonstrate—it is in the
course of nature and human feeling that they should do so—
and if their grievances are inveterate and of long standing,
it is not just to ascribe to the language of their wounded feel-
ings the character of sedilicn, and to charge them with wish-
ing to tear up the institutions of society, and to introduce
havoc and anarchy into the bcsom of civil order. How is it
possible to cleanse the channels of corrupt authority if every
effort to purify them is to be thus put down ? What would
have become, long since, of all those privileges sacred in the
code of British law, if our forefathers had forborne
to assert them ? How, as Englishmen, can we con-
tend—or how could we ever have contended—for those

civil rights which we declare to be interwoven with
the frame of our constitutional independence ; and yet
withhold the enjoyment of those rights from our bre-
thren of the Sister Kingdom, and punish in them, as
the effusions of sedition, what in ourselves we should de-
scribe as a generous hatred of oppression, and the result of
a manly and enlightened attachment to the principles of
British freedom 9 That Ireland has suffered long under
the most galling disabilities—that she has suffered for ages
—and with a spirit of exemplary endurance—almost every
species of abuse under which political authority could press
her down, is a truth familiar to all who know any thing of
her history : it is a truth which every page of that history
attests ; and whatever sophistry may plead in its defence,
. . .

it lus led to a state of things which no honest man
can applaud, and no conscientious man can justify. We
sincerely hope that another Session of Parliament will not
pus away without placing the rights of the people of Ire-
land upon a solid foundation. The critical situation of her
affairs will not admit of delays and palliatives: half-measures
of this kind must and will lead to great and immediate
evil. Give the ptople of Ireland the full benefits of that
Constitution into whose obedience they were born, and you
will soon have no associations to fear, and no disloyalty to
punish. Ministers will come to the discussion of Irish
affairs with the great advantage of retrospective wisdom.
The finger-post points to the right road, in language so
plain, that it can only be wilfully mistaken.

We have given a full report of the interesting Meeting
yesterday, respecting the spire of St. Bride's Church,
Fleet-street. Our readers will see, with pleasure, that
there was the most perfect unanimity as to the desirable.
ness of effecting this great public improvement. The
Loan Msvoa opened the proceedings with some very
sensible observations, and the speakers who followed his
Lordship justified the opinion we had formed of the libe-
rality and good taste of the Citizens of London. A Com-
mittee was appointed to carry the resolutions into effect, by
public subscription, and a considerable sum was raised
before the Meeting separated.

Mr. Secretary Canning left Gloucester Lodge on Mon-
day morning, for Bath.
A King's Messenger was sent off unexpectedly yesterday
afternoon, from the Secretary of State's Office for the Home
Department, by Mr. Fed, to the King, at Windsor.
The report of the landing of the French troops in St.
Domingo is not credited. Two vessels have arrived, which
sailed about the middle of November.
New Brunswick Papers to the Bth of December have
reached us. Accounts from St. John's mention the arrival
there of the Baltic transport from England, with thirteen
officers, and 32l rank and file, of the veteran battalion,
commanded by Colonel Burke, to relieve the detachment
of the Slat regiment, which was to embark for Halifax,
upon the arrival of another transport, momentarily ex-
pected.
The Sandwich packet, which arrived at Falmouth on
Monday, brought the ultimatum of the Portuguese Go-
vernment to the demands which our Ambassador was in-
structed to make on the part of the Government of this
country. It has for some time been clearly understood,
that the paramount influence which the Portuguese Minis-
ter, Pamplona, had obtained in the Government, had
been regarded with much suspicion by our Ministers.
Pamplura is known to be wholly in the French interest,
and his object is to give tit:. French Government as decided
a control over the councils of Portugal, as they possess over
Spain. To defeat this design is the object of the British
Government, and a negotiation for this purpose had been
for some time carried on at Lisbon. The result has now
reached this country, and we believe it is of a favourable
nature, from the circumstance of the King and his daughters
having dined on board the Ocean, the flag-ship of Vice-
Admiral Lord Beattelerk, in the Tagus, on the 16th of
last month. At one time, however, the negociations did
not wear a very favourable aspect, as the whole of the
British ships in the 'l'agus had been kept in a state of
readiness to mil at an hour's notice, it being the determi-
nation of Ministers that this country should no longer in-
cur the expense of keeping a squadron on a foreign station, '
to secure to France the full and uncontrolled dominion
of the Peninsula.— West Briton.
Monday his Excellency Baron Maltzahn, Envoy Extra-
ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the
King of Prussia to his Britannic Majesty, jointly with
Mr. N. M. Rothschild, and accompanied by Mr. Green,
notary public, deposited in the Bank of England, the sum
of 18,850/. in special bonds of the Prussian Loan of 1522,
being the mocity of the sum fixed for the redemption of
bonds in the third year, and also the saving of the in-
terest on the .53,8001., redeemed to the Ist of July last
inclusive.

IV OM:ASTER AND GLOUCESTER UNION C•NAL.—
Amongst the numerous speculations which have been set
on foot in the present day for the employment of capital,
there is none which is calculated to do more real service to
this district than the formation of a canal from this city to
Worcester. The public will at once perceive that as an
adjunct to the Glouecster and Berkeley Canal, this is a
::14.4;,:e of the very first importance, as it will be the 'mans
of supplying the only link which was wanting to complete
the chain of water communication, for heavy goods and
merchandize, between the Western, Northern, and Eastern
parts of the kingdom. From the state of the navigation of
the ricer Severn, between this and Worcester, which is
alike impracticable in dry seasons, and in times of flood,
the establishment of such a canal has long been deem& a
desideratum, and, as might be expected, when the plan
was once suggested it received the most strenuous support.
The shares appropriated to this city were filled up in a very
few hours, and we understand that they were subscribed
for with the same readiness at Birmingham and Worcester.
We are happy to find that, as a preliminary step, not a
moment will be lost in applying to the very first quarter for
estimates, plans, &c. a proceeding which canna fail to be
highly satisfactory to the public, and give additional confi-
dence to all who are disposed to embark property in this
speculation —Gloucester Journal.