The National Register.
London, England, 1809-01-01 00:00:00

JAN. 1.

Friday a Court of Directors was held at the East India
House, when the undermentioned Commanders took leave
previous to departinc, for their respective destinations, viz.
Capt. A. F. W. Swinton, Carnatic, Madeira, Madras, and
Bengal. Capt. J. Tweedale, Perseverance ; Capt. W .
Campbell, Nottingham ; and J. Birch, Britannia, Madras,
and China. The Court adjourned at six o'clock till Wed-

nesday next.
Tuesday the Lord Mayor after examining the returns of
the Mealweighers, ordered the price of Bread to remain as
last week.
SINGULARITY IN MGR LIFX.—The
.mistress of an ample
domain and family mansion, in the neighbourhood of
:Blackheath, is considered a most eccentric character. Her
benevolence is unbounded, and she possesses an amiable
disposition ; but she imbibes the most whimsical ideas. A
few days since, she imagined that the Prince of Darkness
had taken his abode in the backs of certain ancient fatuity
chairs, and, in order to serve Satan with an action 01
ejectment, she sent for a carpenter, and compelled him in
her presence, to reduce the chairs to stools. The backs of
course were condemned to that element where the Satanic
enemy is supposed to reside. This Lady, on a former oc-
casion, received, as a present, a most beautiful animal of
the horned species, brought from Peru. She was extreme-
ly partial to it, and the little favourite was placed on the
awn before the house, where its tricks and appearance de-
ighted the family. The fond mistress having one day
eft a rose which she had plucked in the garden, on the
- steps of the hall, the favourite not only breathed the fra-
grance of the flower, but ate the damask buds. Before he
_had finished his repast the Lady noticed the act, and she
immediately turned away from her favourite, and would
never see it again. She 'entertained an idea that the animal
had violated her hospitality, by destroying her favourite
flower. Many other instances of refined singularity have
• distinguished this Lady among her neighbours.
Mr. Horne Tooke is so much recovered as to be declared
by his physicians able to weather the winter in point of
physical strength, provided his mind can be kept riding
quietly at anchor, and not suffered to adventure any more
on the political ocean I
A new plan has been recently suggested for enlarging
Smithfield Market, or rather for rendering the present
space adequate to the transaction of the increased business
of the market. It is proposed to remove the sheep market
to an upper story, to he constructed of cast iron, over the
present space, with inclined planes, for the ascent of the
sheep, and that the whole of the' space beneath should be
used as a market for horned cattle.
A shrewish wife pressing her husband to partake of some
mock turtle soup, he peevishly replied : " No, my Dear 1
thank yon ; 1 have had a surfeit of mock turtle since 1
married."
An ingenious correspondent, who has taken some pains
to form a probable estimate of the produce of the different
crossings in the metropolis and its vicinity, conceives the
gross amount to be no !ess than 60001. for one year.

CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE
OF COVENT•GARDEN THEATRE.
The following Ceremony was observed yesterday on the
occasion of laying the Foundation Stone of the New Theatre
Royal in Covent Garden
The Grand L.)dge was opened at twelve o'clock by the S. W.
or .1. W. or Seni:)r G. 0. present.
At half past 12, proceeded to the place assigned and waited
be arrival of the G M.
The arrival of the O. M. announced by the air of " God save
the King."
The G. M. followed by the Grand OfficerA, proceeded from the
covered place assi toed to receive them, to the place prepared
for the ceremony, through an arch raised for the purpose.
The upper part of the stone being raised, the G. T. deposited
in it the Coins arri Medals.
The cement bein prepared; the G.. M. olosted tbe saute with

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his tr•-mel, ;tad the stow was let down whilst a marital air was
played.
The G. M. then tried the work by the plumb, the leiel and
the square, which were severally presented to him by the J. W
the S. W. and the deputy G. M. and having found it correct. he
layed the stone by giving three knocks with his mallet.
The corn, wine, and oil, were then presented to the M. he
scattered, and poured them on the stone, and immediately after-
wards delivered to the Architect the plan ofthe building, desir-
ing him to complete the structure according to that plan; wish-
ing success and prosperity to the work, and the general object of it.
A feu de joye was then tired, and the G.ll. retired.
The Brothers returned to the Hall in Procession, and the
Grand Lodge was.closed.