The National Register.
London, England, 1817-08-18 00:00:00

MEETING AT THE LONDON TAVERN.

Thursday a Meeting was held at the City of London Ta-
vern, ltishotisgate street, to consider" A Plan to relieve the
country from it,, present distress; to re-moralise the lower or.
der s, reduce the Poor's Kates, and abolish Pauperismi with
all its degrading and injntions core.emielices."
About in elve o'clriek the room W. 16 neatly filled with de-
cent people. among those We noticed some highly respectable
thonele comparatively speaking, their number,
,A as very • mall. There were also several respectable females,
chiefly of the Society or Friends.
A ;hut time before one o'clock Mr. Owen, the proposer
of the plan, entered the Itoom, and" (Alai r"%illS called. Upon
this there was some diversity of opinion. One person pro.
posed Major Cartwright. This was received with load hisses
and cries of" No Political Characters." .

. .
Itoweroft was next propowd, and•thongh he begged
several times to be excused, as" it was not fit that he should
preside," the opinion of the. Meeting seeming unanimous in
his favour, he at length took the Chair. He then read the
notice which called the Meeting together, and bogged that
the utmost attention might he given to every gentleman who
should come fm win to. otrer Ids sentiments. .51,r. Owen, he
observed, would speak tot himself, and he had no doubt that
It would meet with attention.

Air. Owen then rose, and in a speech of considerable Ii ngth,
detailed all the .ticsery rowaltinz from the present C St cm;
and urged nearly the sane awtments in favour of his !pro-
posed plan of reform, as have appeared in his various publi-
cations. lie concluded by submitting the following Reso-
lutions to the meeting.
1. That many of the poor and working classes, in Great Britain
anti Irelrmil, cannot now procure employment to enable them to cam
a prop.. ~, it,istence.—t arried unanimously.
2. That m Great nritain and Ireland, the poor, the unemployed,
and the inefficiently employed, are now supported at a ruinous ex-
pence to many parishes, and by emulsive and injurious private cha-
rities.

3. That under these circumstances, the poor and working classes
gencially ..z.perience privations and disi.ress to a greater extent proba-
bly, than they I. ye sittieresi any forme: in the history of
this country.-1 he above two Resolutions earned nearly unanimously.
4. That this arises front manual labour being of less value when
camparesl with the price of provisions, and the habits of the people
ginerally, than it has been at any tinnier period.
5. That it is not probable maned labour cart regain its proper and
necessary value, muter eircum tunas beneficial to the country, unless
other arrangements shall be formed by society, purposely devised to
give productive employntent to all who are nompeteut and willing to
labour.
6 That it is the highest practical point in political economy, as it
most essentially involves the well being arid happiness of all taoks.
to attain the means, by which the labour in any enusitry can be
the roma advantageously employes'.
7. To reduce the Pise's Hates. / illti to graslually abolish Pauperism,
with all its degrading and itijuriotesconseque6ess.
s. 'ilia( as a solemn and grave jad,4ment ought not to ty.rive„
tily, on u !subject in which the vital inn:tens of this Lillian: and other

AUGUST

countries are involved,—the plan now proposed shall be submitted to
the scrutiny and investigation of a Committee, composed of many
of the leading, most intelligent, and best disposed, from among all
ranks, who by their previous acquirements may be competent to give
a useful opinion on the subject. For something must be doue.
9. 'That the Committee of General Investigation be composed of
the foNowing Noblemen and Gentlemen, (winch of them as may be
inclined to perform this high and iinportani duty, for themselves,
their country, and fur posferrty. The Committee to have power to
add from time to time to their number and to be a quorum.-
1. Here Mr.' Owen read the namAt of nearly SOO Noblemen and Gen.
tleinen of the first distinction and character in the country.)
10. That this Committee shall report the result of their investiga-
tions and 'Awaits, to a General Meeting to be called for that purpose,
early in May nextyear, or sooners if they shall so determine.
11. That the Proposer of the Plan shall give from time to time
to the Committee, all the information in his power, that they may
ask or requite.
Here Mr. Owen stated, that it was not his intention to have
proceeded- farther npon this point at present, but a most be-
nevolent and public spit ited gentleman, whose name he was
not at liberty yet to mention, called npon him late last night,
and in the most liberal manner made an unlimited otter of
about 1500 acres of land, proper in all respects to try one ex-
periment upon, and of at least 50,0001. in value, which might
be used for such purpose, at any time after October next.
He could' not therefore refrain from proposing the following
additional resolutions :

I*, That it is now most desirable one or mete experiment should
be tried with the least possible loss of time.
1.5. That tbr this purpose a subscription be now opened, that when-
ever 1(0,0001. in money or land, shall be Subscribed, one experiment
shall be commenced forthwith, and a second when 300,0001. shall be
subscribed, and so on as each following I 00,0(sil shall be subscribed.
14. That the following Gentlemen, or such of them as may be in-
clined to act, shall be a select acting Committee, to direct and super-
intend such experiments, assisted by the propther of the plan.
15. That the most warm and cordial thanks of the meeting be gi-
yen to the Gentleman who has so nobly stepped forward to offer.his
land to the Country, for the use of an experunent at the moment
.o
was wanted.

After the Resolutions were read, the Chairman said, he-
[ should then road, and put them seputatey.
Mr. Hunt then rose, and was received with the almost
unanimous disapprobation of the meeting.—Loud hisses, and
' cries of" No Politics," were beard thronghont the room.
The Chairman begged silence, and then read extracts of
letters from several magistrates and others to Mr. Owen, ap.
proving of his plan, and expressing their opinion that it was
called for by the situation of the country. He hoped, that
gentlemen would see the propriety, and, indeed, the necessity,
of confining themselves to the subject matter of the meeting,
and not introduce politics, which might be. better discussed
at another time and place.
Major Torrent; rose and observed, that he was one of those
who differed from the worthy and humane proposer of the
present plan. He was disposed to give hint the highest cre.
dit for Ifis intentions, brit tic titonglit he had gone entirely
upon theory, and that his theory was a false one. Mr. Owen
bad taken it for granted, that population increased, not as had
been generally believed, in a geometrical ratio, but in an
arithmetical one. lie took it that one married pair would
only produce one, and two produce two; but he seemed to
have left out of consideration, that two would produce four,
four eight, and eight sixteen. That were there one hundred
married couple, the population still in a space of twenty
yea is be increased to four hundred, and so in proportion.
The omission, or rather this perversion, of principle it was
that caused ie confusion whirl' was apparent in the gentle-
mar* plan.

Tite.secon4 principle upon. which Mr. Owen bad gone,
was, that every man had in himself the powsrof produeing
from the earth ten times as much of the necessaries of Ilk as
he himself could consume. This be should deny. The labour
of one Milli Might produce as notch as would sospport two,
but it by no means went on in a geometrical ratio. The la-
bour of ten might Ire sufficient to support twenty, but the
labour of twenty would not be adegnate to the support of
forty, nor that of forty to the support of eighty. There was
another principle advance) by Mr. Owen vs hi ch was equally
fillacious. It was, that population can never press against
sshsi•lenee, until the a orld becomes cultivated as a garilcu.
This he would deny. The wealth of a country might be di-
vided into three parts—rents, profits, and wages. But the
wages alone could be the price of labour, and therefore the
escrtions of the labouring classes could only be rewarded by
wages, whirls, it not, as now, sufficient to support them,
must disprove, that population could never press against sub•
sistesice

Thee as to the practicability; Mr. Owen says, that a offs
lage, in which are a thousand pertons, with a plantation
aronnd them of one thousand acres, shall produce abundant
meat), of subsistence, !resides paying rent, taxes, mid afford.
in sufficient leisure for the cultivation of the mind ; and
also sufficient time for all the purposes of recreation. If tilt
be trnc, then it intist follow, that being freed from those many
restraints wide!' would be on them in society, there will be
no hindrance to their early marriage, and this will be the more
induced by the eiteninstance that they are not to be troubled
with the care of their children after a .certain atte (three
years). It will follow, then, that they mail increase even in
a greater ratio than they now do, though even that is greater
than what Mr. Owen admits. ,%t such a rate, in twen.y
years, the land which was intended to salmon only 1000 per-
sons will be burthened with 2000, and in forty years, with
4000, and so ou increasing in a gunmen frill retie every twenty
years. Where then, would be the surplus tiw rent, taxes, he.
and where world be the time for all that leisure fur, lott-Ilec-
toal improvement and for that recreation which are now held
out ? The fact was, there would tint be sufficient, nor nearly
sufficient fur the snp port of half the population, and then in-
deed it would be found, that population could press upon
subsistence long before the whole world was cultivate d as a
t:aulrn. The pressure of want and time pinchings of lin:l;er
would ensile, and instead of having men more happy or mole
comfortable in such a situation, it would be found that there
would bra Chligregutioll of misery in those vil:ages, which
could not he well expected to be relieved nom without.—
Mr. Owen had said, that circumstances limn the chai:,eter,
but what would such 61(.11,11st:1nm pi odure ? Instead °fillet&
being 'mited in labouring for the common' interest, they would,
when this surplus of necessities failed, be emleai miring to
defraud each other; and it would be sects that %%hese com-
fort and kippiness were expected to pi evail, the darkest
barbarism would ensue,
lie then proceeded to show many other parts of Mr.
Ow vn's plan were equally defective, and cilicludeill by ex-
expressing his nituisti to oppose the Resolutions.
Sir. H. la next ruse, a thai.der of hisses and alt.
•.lause, but had 'Call rely p rarrviiril a step In fore he began to
mtrodi.ce his piaitical koloinii.as. Ile was •iiiirrowit
!tune, tvho ruse to order.— Mc. Hunt insisted that he vnii.lll
nut be put duh 11, and ateat confusion casuist, %Lich was at


AITUG ST 18.

length stopped by the Chairman assuring the ineetina, that
whenever they thought Mr. I litnawass wrong he would make
him sit down. Mr. limit then proceeded, but on his men-
tioning the abolition of Sineciirea as a remedy for the evil, he
was interrupted by shouts of " Off, MT' " No politics" " No
public disturbers." During this uproar, lie stood perfectly
calm, and as soon as order was restored, he moved the follow-
ing resolutions.
Resolved—That pauperism has increased in an equal and progres-
sive proportion wits the increase of taxation.
Its-olsed—l'hat extraordinary taxation is the cause of the present
• untsouoded pressure upon all classes.
Resalecila—That to remove this distress it is only necessary to re-
duce taxation.
Mr. Woolf r rose to second the amendment.—He began by
expressing his regret that on such an occavinu as the present
there should be any asperity of political feeling : but it Was
almost impossible to introduce the mention of public distress
vv ithout glancing at its cause. He then tools a review of the
statements of Mr. Owen, to whom he was anxious -to give
every praise for his intentiuus, and contended that the plan
which he had proposed was one wholly impracticable from
the statute of the means to which it would be necessary to
have recourse ; it would destroy those notions of indeptaid.
(mac which were so essential for lb- support of a (*see con-
-atitution, and anuiffilate those speculative views to which
we owed our greatness as a commercial nation. It would be
impossible to snake hansan nature as perfect as Mr. Owe')
proposed. It would be in buy situation liable to the influence
of the paisions, and no wise Legislature would ever attempt
to subdue thesis, though they Might atteceril its controlling
them to a certain extent. The success of the present plan
would, in this view of it, be a uatiorml evil. The inu 1111 l •
able links :,y which society was held together in this country
would be severed by it, and them would nut be, however san-
guinely it might lie anticipated, that union and harmony be-
tween man and limit which now subsisted. The natural ettect
of that state where subsistence could be procured with little
labour would be—lndolence, and that would be productive
of all those vice, which it was now sought to avoid. For these
reasons he should. oppose the plan, and support the amend-
ment'.
Dr. Walker, and Sir Robert Steele severally opposed the
plan, but would not support the amendments.
Mr. %faith:min at peso t length ceuteuded that the proposed
plan was founded in error.
The three Resolutions of Mr. Hunt were then .put, and
negatived by a large majority amidst loud cheers.
'The tour first of of Mr. Owen's Resolutions were then put
and carried ituanintuusly, and the fifth being put, Mr. ()wee
again addressed the meeting. He contended that by his
no possible injury could be dnue to Society: that if
lt succeeded it would be desirable--if it failed it could not
snake the condition of the people worse.
Here Mr. Waitlinian rose to move au amendment. 'There
seemed, he observed, such a difference in the opinions of the
aneeting from those of the Worthy Proposer of the Plait, that
it did nut seem as it his object could be at present attained.
He should theretioe move as all amendment
That these atHicting facts call loudly upon the Legislature for a
seduction of all tutnecessary public expenditure, and such other salu-
tary measures as are best ealiailated to remedy those evils.
All the disoi der which hail previously occurred seemed
harmony, compared with the contnsiun which ensued upon
putting this amendment. 'flue conflicting cries of "Down,
down!" " No Politics, this is a 'nesting for a charitable pur-
pose," " No demagogues," " No puddle disturbers,"—fur
several minutes rung through the room. The fair ladies who
hail not been &lama away by the previous disorder, now
made their escape from a meeting, where all decorum seemed
to he lost on one side.
Alisios Tureens endeavoured to gain a hearing for the pur-
pose sit opposing the amendment, but finding so much con-
fusion he very properly withdrew. About twenty persons
then started up to be heard. One of them, an elderly Mall,
whose name we could not learn, wished that thirteen millions
of acres ufwaste land should lie given to the soldiers and sai-
lors who had fought in the late war. 'rids malt having re-
fused to get up on the table, and some of the mectiug being
anxious to learn what he said,
The Chairman began to repeat it in substance, when lie was
interrupted by Mr. Hunt, who charged him with having made
a grand mis-statement.
The Chairman (addroesing himself to Hunt).—" Take care,
Sir, what you insinuate against me."
air. Sir, I say, that in what you have just now
addressed to the meeting you have made a misstatement; mud
that, as Chairman, you have tio right to snake any observa-
tions upon what has been said by any Gentleman."
The Chairman.—" Sir, I tell you, that out of this room such
an observation would uot escape trout you to me with impu-
nity, and that.l would make you swallow back your false-
hoods."
Mr. Hunt was silent t but that scarcely lessened the con-
fusion, for several voices called to have the Chairman moved
out of the chair, while as many more cued uut, that he should
and others called lon the question.
The Chairman then WAS about to pet the question, which
he was prefacing with some oh,ervations, often he was called
to order by Mr. Watchman who told him it was irregular tbr
to Otter any observatiun cur wikat passed iu dis-
cussion.
The Chairman stood corrected—and then put the question
on Alt. Waithinaies motion. On the shew of hands he de-
clared the majority was against it, which called up all the
tbry of Al r. W. finnan, aho asserted the decision was partial.
sud demanded a division. Loud cries were now raised to
turn out the Chairman, and a scene of anarchy ensued which
lasted nearly hull' an hour 'lilting a Inch time it was almost
impossible to tell what was doing. An attempt was made by'
Bunt to tile off at the head of the Aycs, but it did not succeed.
At lust a parity was sounded, and both parties, the Ayes and
Noes basing assembled in time centre ut' the WWII, Mi. Owen
again addressed th em, and, after rt•gi etting the disorder which
vrevailed, he moved, that the meet 5110111t1 atijiiiirit to that
day week. This, after some difficulty, was carried, and the
-Chairman lull the chair, but not before Some gentlemen
intimated a WWI to take him out ri a gratis. Thanks were
then unived to him, and cat tied, after a slight oppositiou.—
The meeting dam separated.

The Assizes for the city and county of Coventry
proved inaiden; there not being a tingle criminal ; or
.or action at law for trial.

About 300 persons, of both sexes, have been em-
ployed for several months, at the depot, Perth, in
cleaning and re-packing the military stores which it
contains. A seasonoblo employment has thus been af-
forded to a large proacltiou of the labouring classes in
that

:ONAL REGISTER.

TI
REVIEW

41 Historical

T LITERATURE.

of the Battle of Waterloo, by
.Itarci,

Accmott
11....111;d1,
6r"
.L.ted I
portani

Mr. Mudford has Und'Jrtaken a most difficult task,
and he has acquitted himself with honour. • To nar-
rate all the importani events, which occurred .frum the
commencement of Iluonaparte's extraordinary expedi-
tion from Elba, to the dose of the glorious day of ‘Va-
terloo required temper as well as talent, both of these
Mr. Mudford po4se,sta ; and in addition to the general
details of the important events of that important pe-
riod, he has brought a fund of original intinmation be-
fore the public, and a mass of interesting anecdotes
founded upon the must unquestionable authorities; sa
a specimen of which we extract the fullawing account,
of the suffi:rings of Colonel Ponsonby—a narrative full
of the must touching incidents told with the greatest
modesty.
" Among the examples of intense suffering, and mint-
colons escape, which the eventful history of this day
disclosed, there is not une more calculated to excite our
sympathy, than the case of the lion. Colonel Ponsonhy
of the lah dragoons. I have been. favoured with an
account drawn up•by a friend of that gallant officer,
to satisfy the painful curiosity of 'he family, taken al-
most literally from his own words; an account Vitially
remarkable for its affecting simplicity and moral re-
flection. If the reader peruse it with the same emo-
tions I have experienced, he will be thankful for its
introduction, and rejoice with me, that notwithstand-
ing his many perils, Colonel Ponsonby still survives fur
his country and friends."
Dear Lady B , you have often wished fur some wilt-
ten account of the adventures and sufferings of your sun, Cul.
Ponsonby, in the field of Waterloo; the modesty of his nature
is, however no small obstacle in the way. Will the follow-
, Mg imperfect sketch supply its place till it comes? The bat-
tle WV alluded to one enotniug in the library at A , and
his answers to many questions which were put to him are
here thrown together, as Bead) as I could remember in his
own words;—

"The weather cleared up at noon, and the sun shone out a
littfe, just as the battle began. The armies were within 800
yards of each other, the videttes, before they were withdrawn,
being so near as to be able to converse. At one moment
imagined that I saw Buonaparte, a considerable stet inuring
rapidly along the front of our line.
" was stationed with any regiment (about 300 strong) at
the extreme of theleft wing, and directed to act discretion-
ally ; each of the armies was drawn up on a gentle declevity, a
small valley lying between them.
" At one o'clock, observing, as I thought, unsteadiness in
a column of French infantry (50 by 20, [l,ooo] or thereabouts)
which were advancing with an irregular tire I resolved to
charge them. As we were descending in a gallop, we receiv-
ed from our own troops on the right a tire much more destruc-
tive than theirs, they having began long before it could take
effect, and slackening as we drew nearer: when we were
within t,O paces of them, they turned, and much execution
was done among them, us we werefullowed by some Belgians,
who hail remarked our success.
But we had no sooner missed through them, than we
were attacked in our turn, before we could form, by about
300 Polish lancers, who had conic down to their relief: the
French artillery pouring in amongst us a heavy fire of grape
shot, which, however, for one of our men, killed three of their
own: in the melee, 1 was disabled almost instantly in both of
my arms, and followed by a few of my men, who were cut
down (no quarter being asked or given), I was carried on by
my horse, till receiving a blow on my head from a sabre, I
was thrown senseless on my face to the ground. Recover-
ing, I raised myself a little to look round, (being, 1 believe,
at that time in a condition to get up and run away,) when a
hinter passing byes:claimed,' I'u n'es pasmortcoquin; and struck
his lance through my hack ; my head dropped, the blood
gushed into my mouth, a difficulty of breathing came on, and
I thought all was over.
" Not long afterwards (it was thettimpossible to measure
time, but I mast have fallen in less than ten minutes after the
charge), a tirailleur, came up to plunder me, threatening to
take my life. I told him he might search me, directing him
to a small side-pocket, in which he found three dollars, being
all :I bad ; lie unloosed my atoc k, and tore open my waist-
coat, then leaving me in a very uneasy posture, and was no
sooner gone, when another came up fur the same purpose,
but asstuing hint I had been plundered already, lie left me
is lien au Officer bringing up sonic troops ( to which probably
the tirulleurs belonged;) and halting where I lay, stooped
down and addressed me, saying. lie feared '1 was badly
wounded : I replied that I was, and expressed a wish, to be
removed into the rear: he said, it was against the order
to remove even their own Men ; but if they gained the day,
as they probably would (fur he males tood that the Duke of
Weliingion was killed, and that six of our battallions had
siirrendered,).every possible attention in his power should be
shown me. 1 complained of thirst, and he held his brandy-
bottle so my lips directing one of them to lay uie straight on
my side, and place a knapsack tinder my head: be then
passed on into the attitin, and I shall never know to whose
generosity I was indebted, as 1 conceive for any life; of what
rank he was I cannot say, he wore a blue great coat. By-and
bye another thailleur came .amt knelt and fired over me,
loading and tiring over me several times, and conversing
with great gaiety ail the while ; at last he tall off saying
Votti sire; bus disc dendendre ruse 41110145 retire ; bun Ain.,
mull Gila.'
%I bile the battle continued in that part, several of the,
wounded loci) and dead bodies near me were hit wipt the
balls, which came very thick in that place. Towards evuing,
when the Prussians came, the eoutinued roar of the cannon
along theirs and the liiihols line, louder-and louder us they
drew near, was the tine t thing 1 ever heard. It was dusk
when two squadrons of Prossian cavalry, both of them two
deep, passed over me in full trot, lifting ate from the ground,
and tumbling me about cruelly ; the clatter of their approach,
and the apprehensions it excited, may easily be conceived.
Had a gun come that way it would have done for me. The
battle was then nearly over, or removed to a distance—the
cries and groans ten' the wounded allj around me became
every instant more and more audible, succeeding to the
shoutor imprecations, outcries of Fire Emyeaur 1' the

discharges of musketry and cannon : now and then thein-
tervals of perfect silence, which were worse than the noise
—I thought the night would never end. Much about this
time, I found a soldier of the Royals lying across my legs,
who had probably crawled thither in his agony ; his weight,
convulsive motions, his noises, and the air issuing through
wound in his side distressed me greatly, the latter circumstance
most of all, as the case was my own. It was not a dark night,
and the Prussians were wandering about to plunder, and the
scene in Ferdinand Count Fathom came into my mind, though
no women, I believe, were there : several of them came and
looked at use, and passed on; at length one stopped to ex-
amine me. I told him, as well as I could, (for I could say but
little in German) that I was a British Officer, and had been
plundered already; he did not desist, bower, er, and
pulled me about roughly before he left me. About an hour
before midnight I saw a soldier in a British uniform coining
towards me ; he was I suspect, on the same errand. tle came
and looked in my face ; I spoke instantly, telling him who I
was, and assuring him of a reward if he would remain by ire.
He said he belonged to the Wits regiment, but had missed
it. He released me from the dying man ; being Huai:mai. he
took up a sword from the ground, and stood over we, g
backwards and forwards.—At eight o'clock iu the mot iiieg,
some English were seen at a distance lie ran to them, and a
messenger was sent off to Hervey. A cart came for me. I
was placed in it, and carried to a farm-house, about a mile
and a half distance, and laid in the bed from Whiell porn Gar-
don, as I understood afterwards, had been just carried out;
the jolting of the cart, and the difficulty of breathing, were
very painful. I had received seven wounds ; a surgeon
slept in my room, and I was saved by continual bleeding, lad
ounces in two days, besides the great loss of blood sou the,
field.

.......
"The lances, from their great length and weight would
have struck down my sword long before I lost it, it it had not
been bound to my hand. What became of my horse 1 know•
not ; it was the best 1 ever had.
"Thee map from the Royals was still breathing when I was
removed in the morning, and was soon atter taken to the
hospital.
" Sir Denis Pack said, the greatest risk he run the whole
day, was in stopping his men, who were tiling on me and my
regiment, when we began to charge. The French make a
great clamour in the action, the English only shout.
" Much confusion arose, and many mistakes, from simi-
larity of dress. The Belgians, io particular, suffered greatly
front their resemblance to the French, being still in the very
write clothes they had served in under Buonapatte.

.—....aw.
ICELAND FISHERIES.

There has been so much said and written upon the
extension of British fisheries, so many plans proposed,
and all attempted with so little success, that we almost
despair, at least under the existing operation of the
dillies on salt, of England ever being greatly benefited
by Fisheries. We think, however, from the statements
made in a pamphlet which has recently appeared from
the peu of Mr. S. Phelps, under the title of " Obser.
vations on the Importance of extending the British
Fisheries, and of forming an Iceland fishing Society," See_
that an opportunity now offers for an experiment likely
to be crowned with success. It should seem, as well
from what Mr. Phelps says, as from the testimony of
others, that the supply of cod, and other fish in the
deep waters, and the bays around Iceland, is inexhausti.
ble ; that its rivers also swarm with fish of various
kinds, salmon particularly, which may be caught to al.
most any extent. The trade with this islyad• is now -
free, and Government allows a bounty of 314ei.r ton on
the produce of the Iceland fishery : Mr. Phlips there-
fore proposes the establishing of an Iceland fishing Coin-
pany under these and the following peculiar advan-
tages

'I he supply of fish is inexhanstible!
The fishing grounds round Iceland are at no greater dig.
taIICC from the shores of Scotland and Ireland than the s6utli
banks of NewfoundLiad are frian-St. John's, whine the fish is
cured. _ _ _ _

"The plan of this Society should-therefore be to.catch th•
fish on the coasts of Iceland, and bring it to the Orkeneys, or
other stations, to be cured ; which could easily be elected
with infaliable success, by salting the fish on board in bulk as
fast as it is caught and cleaned, and when a full cargo is oh.
tained, by proceeding to the Os keucys, or other places, as th•
wind may best serve, where the fish would he found in.aa
excellent state, fit for curing dry, or for barrelling.
" Cargoes of seimon, forrellers, ewe. could also be krotighi
fresh in ice, or io pickle, to the Loudon, Liverpool, Scotch.
or Irish markets.

" lu order to make the most of the seasona,. on number
of vessels, with tishei met), should winter in Iceland, to take
advantage of the early fulling season in February, and to pre.
pare cargoes for the spring ;—or the trade may be carried on
precisely the same us with Newroundtand, which would em-
ployA colony of people to an immense extent, and relieve
thousands of families, particularly ifs the north of Scotland
and Ireland.

" This fishery would be the finest nurser• in the %solid for
seamen, ;IS was proved by the Dutch, u11(1 formerly carried
on a very extensive and lucrative fishing trade with the coasts.
of Iceland.

" In the year 180.;, eleven hundred and thirty three Duteis
vessels were fishing at one time off the bays of Fear-fiord and
Bradetiord ;—each vessel had front twelve to sis teen hands uD
board. Their fish was salted on board in barrels, the Mem,_
vertiency and expense of which most be evident, compared
with the mode now proposed. Batt els take up a great deal
of room in the vessels, and lessen the cargoes, besdes beim,
expensive and cumbersome; neither will The fish be so guZi.
as if first salted in bulk, whereat* it remained at lea.st Oren
weeks, it would be of benefit rather than injury to its quality.
Besides it by chance some tish ere nut pi °perky cleaned, and
thd-back bone not windy taken ant, a single fish of this
kind will spoil the flavour and quality of a whole barrel,
which. cannot :iappeitA.y the to&oputied method, as they may
be separated or Mil...rived in C.e second curing. It is aisu
necessary in the process of curing bill, that it should undergo
a certain degree 44 fermentation and pressure.
" The advantage of rimming to the Orkneys, or other con.
tiguous plates, to discharge the cargoes as fast as they ark
procured, will enable the vessels to make several voyages igt.
a WOOD) ‘llletcaa UmDutili eau only wake oat, a sd CQUip.

TH E NATIONAL REGISTER.

LONDON :

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1817.

THE most remarkable feature in the foreign papers,
received during the week, is the announcement of the
intended trial of the Editor of a Flemish paper, for a li-
bel on the Duke of Wellington. We know that some
of our English Journalists vill think this a proceeding,
beneath the dignity of his Gruc, but for our parts we
arc glad to sec a probability of an end being put to that
spirit of hostility towards this country, which has ion g
distinguished the Flemish Journalists. Were the Jour-
nals of the Netherlands, in the hands of the natives we
might accuse thetu of ingratitude, but we could not de-
ny them the praise of being truly national in their views;
but knowing as we do, that the press of that country
is in the hands of a set of wretches, who for the last fif-
teen year's have crawled about the ('a fl of Paris,
debauching to the utmost of their power, the minds of
their countrymen, and who, expelled for their crimes,
have settled in the neighbouring states, and continue to
vent their venom against us wh.s have smote the Da-
g,in of their idolatry, we cannot but rejoice in every ef-
fort avat may be made to crush thou.

TTIE NATTONAL RE
The libel for which his Grace mites th. Editor of
the Journal of " East and West Landers" is not of
private nature ;it accuses M. Du e. governor of Mar-
tinique, of having administered theattairs of that colony
in favour of " a Fore4.,rn Govermaent," and that Lord
Wellington has desired to see him retained in that of-
fice. "No more," says the Journalist, "is wanting to
perpetuate him in his honourable functions." Here is
one of those covert attempts, a thoastind of which have
been made by these writers, to persuade their country-
men that France is under the domination of English
Counsels, and that Lord Wellington is the instrument
by which they are controuled. We hope and trust that
exemplary punishment awaits those fomenters of Na-
tional antipathies.

awrllt.

A report was very generally Circulated on Saturday,.
that a congress was immediately to be held at Carlsbad,
composed of the ministers of the four great Powers,
principally for the purpose of adjusting the differences
between Spain and her American colonies. The state-
ment, ridiculous anti fantastictil as it is, was marked
with all his affected minuteness of genuine information.
Russia is to be represented by Count Capo d'lstria
Austria by Prince do Metternich ; England by Mr.
Lamb; Prussia by the Prince de Hardenberg; and
France by Count de earaman ; and should any of these
statesmen be prevented from attending the conferences,
the inL.enuity of the filaiNtor.smpplics their places by
naming other celebrated diplomatists as substitutes.

It was also stated that France had intimated a wish
to unite herself to England against the increasing
power of Russia; that 100,000 En:nehmen would be
placed under the command of the Duke of IVellington,
and that with these, and our own power, we would
be able to dictate to Russia such terms as we might
think fit ! Here is fooling with a vengeance ! and
pct such nonsense finds belief with some of those who
set up for directors of public opinion.

Yesterday Paris Papers to the 15th inst. gad Mane
front Holland and Hamburg arrived. A Royal Ordi-
nance, signed at the Tuileries last Wednesday, and
published-. in the Moniker of Thursday, grunts a full
and complete .uannesty to all persons either under pro.
mention or convicted of crimes and offence!' committed
in consequence of the late scarcity and high price of
provisions, from the Ist of September, 1816, to the
date of the Ordinance.—This official act may be consi-
dered as a new pledge to Europe of the re-establishment
of order and tranquility in Prance, and is perhaps offered
at this moment to the Allied Powers as an additional
proof of the justice and propriety of consatting to en-
other reduction in the Army of Occupation.
The Morning Chronicle and Courier have been at
daggers-drawing during the last week, upon a quest-
ion respecting which, we believe them both to be as
ill-informed as ourselves. The circumstance of the
Emperor Alexander having conferred the honour of
un Order upon the Minister of Spain, is quite sufficient
to assure the Chronicle that a union is about to take
place between Spain and Russia, which bald ill luck
to us. That such an union has ever been contemplated
the Courier denies with the utmost scorn, but appears
to know little more about it than his antagonist. And
thus have these two prints been annoying their readers
day after day with their unprofitable squabbles.
There is something extremely silly in the course which
the Morning Chronicle has been pursuing for some time
past, respecting our foreign relations. The fic/ing
Editor of that paper has long been out of temper
with the peace, for he deems it in all respects a bad one ;
yet is he so tremblingly alive to any circumstances
which may endanger its duration, that the most trifling
events arc to him causes of the most serious alarm,
and staightway he falls to his old practice of proplwsy-
ing. lie has for a long time fan( that he could—
look into the seeds of time.
And tell chid, grain will grow, and which wal not;"
unr have all the disappointments which be has experi-
enced Leen able to cure him of his prophetic mania.
He can see the beginnings of wars, pestilence, and
famine, in the return of a rneral ; in the change of
an amlaessador, or even in the transit ofa Courier. The
visit of a few people of distinction to the waters of
Carlsbad overwhelms hint with dismay, and the grant-
ingot' a Russian Order to a Spanish Grandee absoltitely
disonler his understiuuling. He cannot sec the pro-
liability of M. Da CDEVALIVR PrZARIIO, being the
putli:r of his own honours in the foreign journals,
but sits doggedly down to calculate on all the misery,
which a coalition between Russia and Spain would
entail on us. It is an old saying amongst us, " that
grey hairs give wisdom," but really it doe' not ap-
pear to apply to the Editor of the Morning Chronicle;
with the experience of half' a century he is still su-
perficial, and under repeated correction, he still perse-
veres iu error.

ArG/YST

THE I'RINCE REGENT'S COURT.

Wednesday the Prince Regent held a Court at Carl.
t3n House.

Lord Viscount Castlereagh came to town from root's
Cray, for the first time since his accident, and had an
audience of the Prince Regent. The Noble Lord car-
ries his right hand in a large silk handkerchief, slung.
Count Munster had also an audience of the Prince.

Afterwards his loyal Highness held a Privy Coati..
cil, which was attended by

The Lord Chancellor, the Lord Privy Seal, the First Lord of tho
Trcaoury, the Secretaries of State l'or the llome and Colonial Do.
partments, the President of the Board of CoturoL—N'iseount Chet:,
wynd attended as Clerk of the Council.

At the close of the Council, the Recorder of Lon.
don was admitted into the presence of the Regent, and
made a report of the convicts capitally convicted at the
last Sessions ut Justice-hall in the Old Bailey.
His Royal Highness gave audiences to the Lord
Chancellor, Viscount Sidunith, the Earl of Liver..
pool, and Mr. Canning.