The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-03-19 00:00:00

The nervy()hint Society. of St. Patrick ;

The CIIAININ•N addressed the Meeting, said he
felt himself bound to call their attention to his seem-
ing presumption in attempting to fill the office which
Was to have been occupied bya Nobleman deservedly
deur to that Society, and to all who knew him, on ac-
count of his numerous and transcendent virtues. If
time had permitted, he would have endeavoured to
have a person chosen to the office he then held, whose
higher rank and superior talents should have given
it more respell than he could pretend to. Pru-
deree would certainly have &Elated to Lim to de-
cline the task, but prudence, he was sorry to say,
was not an Irish virtue ; and it was his misfortune
tot to have at the moment the advice and assistance
of one discreet Irishman. He paid a very high
compliment to the virtues and talents of the Earl of
Moira, who, he seemed to think, teas thereby peculi-
arly fitted to serve and support the best interests of
the Society. He then read Earl Moira's letter, in
which he expressed "great regret at not being able
to be With t'c Sxiety. He had received no re-
two al of hi, leave of absence, and was, therefore,
bnli. absent on sufferance, till the Countess of Loudon
t'•ixtild be somewhat better. He could not, therefore,
rake on himself to come so far as London, on his own
responsibility, or the distance he should personally
cansider as nothing. Ile hoped, therefore, the st,.
eietr, seeing his situation, would be pleased to ac-
cept the will for the deed. His Lordship concluded
by saying, the Duke of Sussex had empowered him
to name His Royal Highness as President for, the
next year." The Chairman, having read the let-
ter, conelnded by expressing hia regret that the
Noble Earl should have been so hardly circumstan-
ced. He then proposed
The Health of Earl Moira.

Mr. StIF COLN rote and said, that he had, in ad-
dition to the letter just read by the worthy Chair-
man, a kind of commission from Earl Moira, to
state to the Society the same fans which were there-
in ro,nained. He had the honour to leave his
L sip nn Friday last with His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales, whom he humbly accompanied
in a visit to that Nobleman, and he was desired by
his Lordship to assure the Society, that nothing
could possibly give him more regret or uneasiness,
than the rafts he had stated in his letter. Ile paid a
very high compliment to the moileAy of the Chair.
many alluded to the national predilelion which
Scotchmen feel towards each other, and ex-
pressed a wish that Irishtnea would imbibe and
r V-nre the same principle. lie had therefore no
e .at but that the Noble Earl would be drank with
b.c greatest pleasure by every one present.—( Loud
Lid Moira was then thank with enthusiastic applause.
CHAISMAN then said, that while he felt
Xr fit pride in having by accident obtained the ho-
of presiding in an assembly, the institution of
reflefted so muds honour on his country, he
could not but lament that there was so thin an at- ,

tendance of many persOns who had a great stake in
the country, and whom he could have wished most
devoutly to have been then present. Ile hoped,
however, the Society would proceed ; and he hope:,
on their next meeting, when the Royal Personage
who was to preside should be present, that those
Irishmen now absent would not fail to give their
attendance. (Applause.)
Song—Mr. TURN A Rai. LI, very highly applauded.
Mr. PUGET then stated the accounts of the So-
ciety, in which he showed that they had .5,0001. in
the 3 per Cents. 7,0001. in the South Sea Annuities,
and 3,0001. for new building. In addition to this,
the Prince of Wales had sent, in addition to his for-
mer donations, the sum of too guineas, and a long
train of others who had done the same, as to their
annual donations. The colleCtion, he said, was up-
wards of 5001. which was above 2001. more than
last year.
he CHAIRMAN said, that as he was one who
loved extremely a military charafter, he thought he
could not more amply gratify the feelings of the
company present, as well as his own, than by pro-
posing to drink the healths of the re-conquerors of
Egypt. They had then the honour to have in their
company—Sir Sidney Smith, Sir John Douglas,
and General Doyle, who had each of them borne a
distinguished part in that memorable and truly im-
portant transaCtion.
The healths of these three Gentlemen were then
drank with loud and most enthusiastic applause.
Sir S. Seems then rose and said, that having
been first named in the presence of two more Gen-
tlemen, who were, in his mind, more entitled to
praise than himself, he would trespass on the com-
pany so far as to return them the thanks of these
Gentlemen, as well as his own. it had, he said,
been customary, time out of mind, to return thanks
to officers, who, whatever might be their merits,
could do nothing but by means of the brave men
who fought under them—he wished, therefore, that
their deserts should not be forgotten ; andwhen he
said this, he returned his thanks for the honour done
him in now drinking his health.
Sir JOHN Doutixas and General 11 isrxe made
each a very neat and appropriate speech, which we
are sorry the lateness of the hour will not permit us
to insert.

Mr SHERIDAN, after a short preface, gave, as a
toast,

The Chairman of the evening,

which was drank with unbounded applause ; and
after him,
Th:. Vice President, Stewards, &c.
The CitAIRMAN then retired, amidst universal ap-
plause, when Mr. Hoare being called to the Chair,
the evening concluded with the greatest harmony.
Among the company present were:
Tne Marquis of Headfort ; thr. Earls of Besborough and
Barrymore; Lord Lec.ile ; Sir Sidney Smith; Sir John
Dingle.; Sir Edward O'Brien; Generals Doyle and England;
the Kee. 1),. Glasse ; Dr. Hume; IL IS. Sherictin, E.q.;
O. B Daly, Esq.; C. Totteahein, Erg ; Anacreon ‘l,.ore;
John Latuuche, Esq.; Attersall, Esq. Portland place;
John Bacon, Esq.; John E.q. Banker of Do.thia ;
Eau; and i'ighe, Esq.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex is to be
President for the ensuing year.

INDIA.

CHINA FLEET.

An American ship has brought to Cowes an
account of the arrival of the following ships at
Canton, upon the I lth of October hut ; viz.—

Glatton, Captain Drummond ; Cirencester, Captain Ro-
bertson ; Winclorlsea, Captain Campbell; Walmer Ca tie,
Captain Bond ; Thames Captain Skottowe ; Br UlliWielt, Cap.
taln Grant; Marquis of Ely, Hannay; and Canton, Lush-
in/ton ; .tko the Coromandel, from Port Jackson.
His Majesty's ships—Gra,npn., Caroline, Dcdaigneuse, and
Dasher.

Bombay ships—Anna, S. 112 by Castle, Lord Castlereagh, Sha
Kai Ku.ron, SArah, Ardrseer, Cr,ntwal Nem., Mincr.a,
General Wised, and Imes Ormitnsond.
Wellesley, (runt Msdr...t.--twu Swedes, sad 30 Americans.