The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-12-12 00:00:00

BARBICAN.

Yesterday a meeting was held in the long-room
of the Jacob's Well public-house. Barbican, of
the Mechanics and industr'ons Classes, for the
purpose of congratulating her Majesty on her
live triumph.
SOOll after one o'clock the Committee entered
the room, when Mr. JOHN 'GASS was called to the
Chair, and the proceedings commenced.
The CHAIRMAN rose and stated the object of
their ossembling this day, which he observed was
for the purpose of congratulating her Majesty on
her triumph. When they met on a former occasion
it was to address her in the language of condo-
lence on her return to this country. The signa-
tures to the Address ut that time were very nume-
rous, amounting to no less than 29,376, which he
conceived was a greater number than had accompa-
nied any other Address proceeding from one body.
After some remarks on the late Lnrd Mayor's re.
rural to hold the meeting where they bad now
assembled, he concluded by moving the Reaolu-
bons and an Address, which bring reconded were
until i i iii ously carried.
Thanks were voted to the present Lord Mayor
for his independent and noble conduct in coming
forward to protect her Majesty on her proceeding
to and returning from S'. Paul's.
A vote of thanks was given to the independent
part of the Press, for their able conduct in
espousing the cause of the Queen and the people.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Address should
lie at various places for signatures, and it was their
intention to present it and the Resolutions to her
1
Majesty as a New Year's Gift. The Meeting then
broke up. .

A requisition is in circulation for a general meet-
ing of the county of Kent, slid will speedily he
presented to the Sheriff, for the purpose of
Addressing the KING and the QUEEN. In addl.
lid% to these purposes, it is supposed that some
notice will be taken of the extremely distressed
state of the agricultural interest in that fertile and
once Nourishing county. The weight of the bur-
dens of the rates and taxes are felt so severely
during the present low prices of agricultural pro-
duce. th.st nothing can exceed the distress and
alarm► in many parts of the kingdom, as well as in

Kent.
The York Herald, alluding to the requisition for
ti general meeting of the County to Addsess the
QUEEN, so) e, "Our pleasure is. however, in some
degree, rennetd, by the circumstance of there ex-
istmg amongst the Patriots of Yorkshire a differ-
ence of opit i respecting the propriety of bring-
jug fOrward at the said in etunic the great
nattotial question of Putliamerilary Iteform.—
Pow gentlemen of rank and talent, whom we know
wild highly respect. have refused to sign the requi-
!Mimi, unless that subject be introduced ; we, how-
ever, would hope. that the difference sill yet he so
amicably decided. as to preveut the failure of the
projected meeting."
AcciDENT.—Yeeterdav morning a boy shout 13
year. old, son of Mr. PARSONS, of llerniunthoy.
whilst playing with some other boys at a wharf in
Ilanksale, fell iota the water and was drowned.

TIM CORONATION.

Some half-dozen earpenters, and other trades-
men, still continue daily at work in the Great Hall
of Westminster, forwarding the preparations fur
the ceremony of consecrating his Majesty. The
long galleries that run longitudinally at each side
of the Hell, and also the gallery that is immediately
over the grand entrance, and connects the two
others, have been for some time finished. The
galleries are extremely commodious, and are cal-
culated to contain a vast assemblage or persons.
They consist of three tiers, each tier comprit
ing several rows of ice's, and each rising higher
than the other ; but the second and third tiers
are respectively thrown back, so that each suc-
cesaive tier does not, like the tiers of boxes in
the theatres, overshadow tee one it immediately
follows. These galleries communicate by flights
of stairs with the area of the great Hall.—
Two immense tables run longitudinally through
the Hall, from the lower extremity to the platform
that is raised at the upper end of the Hall several
feet fur the King's throne, and the table at which
his Majesty will dine. Recesses are formed at con-
venient distances under the galleries and accommo-
dated with shelves to serve the purposes of side-
boards fur the noble guests who are to fill the long
tables. The King's table is not yet placed on the
platform. The workmanship throughout the Hall
is excellent and substantial, but the arrangements
necessary for the grand festival are as yet very far
from being completed, and the paucity of work-
men employed in forwarding them is so glaring in
comparison with the magnitude of the work to be
accomplished, that one is almost tempted to be-
lieve that these few men are kept there merely for
shew, and to make the public believe that the idea
of the Coronation is not wholly abandoned, al-
though the period for performing the august cere-
mony has not yet been specified. We understand
that when the carpenters' work is finished it is all to
be painted.
The works on the exterior of Weettninster Hall
are advancing slowly ; but they are of such a nature
as must excite feelings of gratification in the mind
of every person who associates the idea of Westmin-
ster Hall with some of the most spirit-stirring events
that have immortalised the rages of British story.
The great esstern window has been handsomely and
tastefully renewed, and is surmounted with an ele-
gant spire chastely ornamented. The whole eastern
front is about to be renewed, and the ancient
designs which were traced upon the mouldering
stones that lately formed that front, have been
carefully and accurately preserved in the new cas.
ing of hewn stone, which is gradually rising in their
place. Westminster Hall thus promises fairly to
he rescued for many ages from the destructive ra-
vages of time. Antiquarians may affect to lament
the mouldering stones, the rust of eges..which are
now removed, but this is • selfish feeling, and if it
were to be indulged much longer would reduce the
whole edifice to a state of ruin alike disgraceful to
national taste and destructive even of the charm
which once gave it value. We have received this
noble edifice, the most ancient (except the Tower)
of the palaces of English Kings, from our duces-
tors, and our posterity would have cause to com-
plain if in admiring its character of antiquity, we
should, in the indulgence of our own caprice, suffer
the venerable pile to moulder into ruins.

MELANCHOLY AN!) DISTRESSING

CIRCUMSTANCE.

Oki villain! villain ! thou bast robbed me of mine office
and my name !"—Daonto or Epsom TO HIS BROTHER
Or SYRACUSE.

The tears live in an onion that 'Wald water this sorrow:'
SHAROPILMILE.

We have this day the painful task of recording
one of those unforeseen fatalities to which the Mo-
narch and the Magistrate, the great and the little
great, are equally liable.
It is in the recollection of our readers, that ocr
late upright and excellent Lord Mayor, in that
happy spirit of loyalty and liberality for which he
has ever been remarkable, shipped off, doping his
Mayoralty, • hogshead of Irish whiskey, as • pre-
sent to his Majesty. The grateful Monarch, in re•
turn, consigned • cask of wine, of rich and delicate
flavour, to " the Lord Mayor of Dublin," giving
orders also, that the wine ►hould pass free of duty.
So far, all was right; but it unfortunately happened
that previous to the arrival of the wine, Michaelmas.
day (which brings a fat goose and a new Lord
Mayor) placed the city collar around the neck of
Aldertnan Bradley King. The new Lord Mayor
had not been long in office, when the " Rich Faler-
nian" arrived, and rumour having wafted to the
worthy Alderman, the Ez-Mayor, the new., he
flew on the wings of impatience, thirsting to press
to his lips the regal present—hut what pen could
pourtray the mortifying disappointment--the
amazement of the worthy Alderman, when he was
told the wine could not 6e give• ap ! The wine
was directed to " the Lord Mayor of Dublin ;" to
" the Lord Mayor of Dublin" it came ; and with
" the Lord Mayor of Dublin" it should remain !! !
The worthy Alderman
" thought it hard
The Mayor should lose his title with his office "'
He had no valid plea to strew cause against this
forcible detention of the King'. present. Ere he re.
tired, however, • compromise was offered, namely,
that the worthy Alderman might " put his legs
under the mahogany at the Mansion-house," and get
his share. Oar emissaries have not yet reported to
us the final determination in this matter—whether
it is to lie decided by gentlemen of the long robe,
or whether • petition and remonstrance shall be for-
warded to London, praying the interference of his
Majesty to give the wine to the right owner, or wise.
their the proposed compromise will he accepted of
by the worthy Alderman, who is so much out of
spirits by this whimsical occurrence. We have a
spy among the corporaturs who will shortly inform
us.—(earrick's Post.)

A duel was fought no Satnrchty, on Blackheath, between
Mr. • Gentleman of furtune, is Kent, and a Mr.
S—y—r, a merchant, in consequence of • dispute at •
coffeehouse in the City, when some blows were exchanged.
Mr. S—y—r was shoot in the shoulder in the first fire ; the
ball was extracted in the evening, and be is doing well.