The National Register.
London, England, 1818-03-16 00:00:00

DIZCRY-1. 4NE FLA\ D M EETING.

On Wednesday a numerous and most reepe7ta"e
company of Gentlemen met at the City of Loud% a Ta-
veni, and dined together. his Royal Ilighness the
Duke of York. iss the Chair ; supported by the-Earl of
Essex, lead Holland, &c. The object of the
Meeting was to coutitettanee.and support the:Theatrical
Fund of Drury Lane Theatre, originally instituted by
.14r. Garrick, and the Members of which were incer-
porated by Act of Parliament. We are prevented iy
the overflew of important matter, from .entering into a
aetail of the proceedings, which were most gratifyi::g
from the generous spirit of benevolence that was ren.:-
fested, and most delightful from the speeches that 'wee
delivered, as well as from the excellence of the musical
:treat. Mr. Kean, as Master and Treasurer of the
Fund, explained its nature and its present state.. lle
did this in an Address of the most gracefitl und persua-
sive eloquence. Indeed we do not rememter to 'have
heard a speech more apt to the purpose, or more taste-
ful, both in the composition and delivery. It was
eftdently drawn from bim also on the instant, as tl.e
Royal Duke coupled his name unexpectedly with that.
of the Fund they were assembled to support. Mr. Kean
paid elegant and respectful compliments to his Royal
Highness—and to the numerous company who had ho-
noured the Corporation with their presence; and lie
concluded with bearit,g his warm testimony of praise to
the admirable manner in which his excellent friend and
predecessor, Mr. Bannister, 83 Muter and Treasurer If
the Fund, had exerted his high talents in its support.
Mr. Bannister's health was drank with acclaniaticev,
and in a short speech be returned thanks. He had
spent the pleasantest years of his life on the stage., and
in quitting it, he had felt sincere pleasure in resigning
into the hands of Mr. Kean the place which he had so
long held in the conduct of the Fund. lie admired
the talents .of'l%fr..Kean, which were truly original ;
und though that Gentleman had with reason deplored
the Wien condition of the Fund, he was sure he might
now, from time experience of that day, exclaim with
his usual emphasis—
•, Now is the winter of our discontents
•• Mad* ious summer by the Sue of York."
The 1 spent with the utmost cenviitiality,, and
the subs . anatunted to 16001. ,

•
IMPROMPTU,
On hearing that tie Admisaion ors cohobrated C►itic, named
" Pares," was stopped at Drury Lane, by Order of Mr.
P. MUOHIi.

" Have they," cried Tent„4lJith some malaise)
Thrall' Peter from tho door t
Frans Drury's Scenes, If :hey are wise,
thrust one Peter Aare."

One change in the ,Admiralty has, we believe, been
long settled, and .report now speaks of another. It is
rumoured that -high Vice Admirals Sir Joseph .Yorko
and Sir George Hope are to retire ; and that Rear Ade
miral.Sir George Cockburn and Sir Henry.flotbarn are
to be their successors. The appointment of Sir George
Cockburn to the Admiralty is an appointment that
meets with universal approbation.
Friday, the 6th inst. Mr. SL George. was dispatched
to Sweden, with the Prince Regent's answer to the
letters notifying the death of King Charles XIII., as
also with new credentials for Lord Strangford, as Mi-
nister to the present King, Charles John. Mr. Eng-
strom, the Swedish Charge d'Affaires, has taken the
oath of allegiance to the new King of all the Swedes
and Norwegians at present in London.
Near 20,0001. has been subscribed in aid of the views
of the Society for prompting the enlargement and
• building of Churches. and Chapel:, ; among the sub-
scribers are, the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church,
Oxford, for 10001. ; the Bishop of Durham 5001. ;
Rev. C. Dawbeny, Arel.a.eacon .of Sarum, 5001. ; 11.
Hoare, Esq. 5001. ; Duke of,..Northumberland, 5001;
and the Countess.Dowaget,o: Rosie, 5001.
The Bishop of ,OxfUrd will held, in the course of
the. ensuing, summer, the Visitations and Confirmations
in the Diocese of.llerham, fot the Prelate of that Sec.
His Lordship-will, also consecrate the new churches
and chapels areeted by the Governors -f Greenwt.4
Hospital, in. nothientr-riand, under ti,,; Act of Par-
liament ftir the divisien of the Rectory of Simonbarn.
A nuiuier of the French speciise.es of Vienna por-
cchrua
have lately been receiwi by the Ambassador,
us' tiesents front the Emperen to the Queen and the
Prince Regent, which have. been exhibited to a select
few of the fashionable woul!, ut the house of Prince
Estee.azy. They will .I,teei a splendid addition to
the Royal China lie,nioi.,,rics at Froginnre and Bribh-
!nil. Some of thq..epeiniens were intended for t'te
- late Princess ql,ftr.ottc. ; and, we undeostand, some
rliiiicu!tj !:4: foctirrod in point of Coare..e.tiqudie, how
the; are tta'.v to bc'=uirposed of.
Keeeedy.,Graufiird, or
acean,. M D. doted ith April, 184,4,, and proved at
•Doctors' Coin:ions on the sth inat. is contained a le-
gacy in .the fallowing words
I give to the Chenedlor. of the blxcl)eqprri in treat, frr the n;,-
tion. the slm of our hundred potmds; hope ever ma
eantribe:e in proportion to tas.iieeperty."
The eillects arc sworn under 14,0001. John now.•
son, merchant, of,Bristol, is
.the exci:u!or.

~I

REVIEW OF LITER.ITURE.
.-.=.-

Considerations on the linpolicy and Pernicious Tendency
of the Poor I,ntrs, frith Remarks on the Report of the
Select Committee of the House of Common:, 4'c.
Di CHARLES JERRAIL A. M. VICAR o► CRORRAII•

, Tris: subject of the Poor I.aws has received such
ample discussion in all classes, and occupied the attention
of so many experienced and benevolent men, that it
is a matter of no small difficulty to elicit any thing new
eoneerning it. In this respect, we certainly cannot con-
gratulate Mr. .Terram, for it appears to us, that there
are few suggestions in his book, with which we were
not perfectly familiar, and which we have not had re-
peatedly pressed upon our notice by numerous writers.
Before we proceed to the more agreeable task of com-
mending the Author for what he has done, we must
observe that he does not display any very extensive re-
search into the theory, nor communicate many results of
experience in the paritical part. Indeed with all respect
for the Magistracy generally, we think there arc few
individuals in that body who can from mere local ex-
porienee,• throw that light on the question at large,
which its importance demands. The Committee of the
House ofCommons have here undoubtedly been °lessen-
teal service in accumuluting andeomparing individual tes- '
tinamies—and such communications, as far as facts and.
auxiliary suggestions go, add greatly to oar knowledge
of the subject.
In the limited scope which Mr. Jerram allows him-
self,
he directs our attention to some very important
truths and sonic salivary and efficacious rent._Nlies for
ckisting evils. His views arc mostly correct, and his
arrangement perspicuous and logical. With his leading
position, that the Poor Laws as they stand, have a most
injurious tendency, and do produce most pernicious ef-
fects. we decidedly agree, and we believe it is a fact, so
generally admitted, that it is wholly unnecessary to
dwell on the proofs of it. To those who are yet uneern-
vinced, we can only recommend a perusal of the Re-
port of the Committee above alluded to, which is illus-
trated by a mass of evidence of the most striking and
decisive description. Mr. Jerram lays down the fol-
lowing principles.—First, That all hopes isientirely re-
'moving the cells of poverty are vain ; which• in imagine
l
does not require much argument to prirevai th, for
whatever expectations sanguine philosopher, , y enter-
tain as to the amelioration of the condition of mankind,
he must indeed be an enthusiast, to say theleast,who can
dream that all evils shall be eradicated from the earth ;
and of these, poverty is, undoubtedly, one of the most
extensive and inherent in the constitution of society.
The Author then shows, that the administration al the
present system of the Poor Lams tends greatly to aggra-
vate these evils, explaining very satisfactorily " that it
creates the very mil it professes to remedy, and that it
holds out a premium to idleness, improvidence and pro-
fligacy, by securing all the advantages which would
be derived from sobriety, prudence and industry."—(p.
41.) We have not space, nor is it necessary to enter
into the arguments adduced in support of this conclu-
sion, obvious as they must be to every one who has had
any acquaintance with the subject at all, But INC think
rat neither the Committee of the House of Commons,
nor Mr. Arrant, have probed the wound sufficiently—
they have not gone far enough into the causes of this ins
creasing state malady, they have not traced.the evil to its
source, and as regards the Committee, it was scarcely to be
expected they should.' in our opinion, one of the prin-
cipal causes of the increase of pauperism, is the extra-
ordinary weight of taxation the people have been obliged
to bear. This country has been called upon to support
a most expensive and protracted war ; to carry on
which, the public debt was most fearfully augmented,;
and various heavy taxes became requisite. At tie same
time, the nation bad advanced to a high state of pros-
perity—the sails of commerce were spread in all parts
of the world—innumerable wheels were in motion
throughout the kingdom—speculation extended every
where, and in proportitm, as we acquired riches, we
became lavish. What wss the comequenee ?—The
time arrived, when a re-action took place—p ditical
oecurrtmee?changed the face o? afftiirs—eurnius rev in
griespitw too much, over-reached herself, and fell. the
public burthens could not be suddenly retuoved, and
in the stagnation of trade, they could not be borne-.
The middling class of society were thrown into em-
barrassment, and the pour into distress. To remedy
this is extremely difficult, but we have uo hesitation in
saying, that the remedy must bear relation to these pri-
mary causes. It must be the gradual and silent opera-
tiou of wisdom by preserving the country in a state of
peace, and by enabling the middle ranks to reap the
profits of their industry, without having an overweening
desire for the accumulation of wettish. On this head
we iould say wish more, but we must restrain onr-
s..lves. Mr. derram (p. Is.) seems to entertain similar
views of the itupoli y of the rich, aide respect to their
.poorer brethren, anti we agree smith him in thinking
•that much blame attaitios to those men who have sof-
fssed things to come to this extremity, when they bad
it in their power, by proper can:luta—to mitioute its
ovals. . .

tusconitaitter, as wc11..a3 our wAthor,havingeuunued