The National Register.
London, England, 1822-06-16 00:00:00

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Long Ann. 19f

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

LonUon
SUNDAY, JUNE 16.

The debate on Mr. Western's motion, for a Com-
mittee to inquire into the state of the Currency,
was adjourned from Tuesday to Wednesday, when
on a division, Mr. Huskinson's amendment, declar-
ing that the House would not alter the standard of
gold or silver iu fineness, weight or denomination.
was carried by an immense majority. We very
rarely approve of the votes of the House of Com•
mons, but we never disapprove of them, without
being convinced that they are, as they too often an:.
at variance with justice, honesty, or sound policy—
in the present instance we rejoice at the defeat of
Mr. Western. The distresses that would arise from
a return to a metallic currency were foreseen, and
the anticipations of them did not exceed what has
subsequently been realized; but we hope, and con-
fidently trust, that the worst of the trials are
—we look for a progressive return of happiness and
durable prosperity, and we should blush to learn,
that a British Parliament could be found, waver-
ing between the question of enduring the difficui-
ties of the present moment, or by postponing theta
fur a short period, creating at a distant day a re-
newed, increased, and insupportably accumulated
distress—for ourselves, we cau see no possible end
to be obtained by a risk of the kind, except the
purchase of a short calm at the price of a convul-
sion, that would hurl every thing that is valuable
into a new and irretrievable state of chaos.

With a mixture of ability and humanity highly
honourable to him, the Marquis of Lansdowne, on
Friday evening, brought forward his motion for a
Committee of the Lords to inquire into the dis-
tressed state of Ireland. This motion, so necessary
at this moment—to consolatory to the starving Irish
—was resisted by the Earl of Liverpool, not because
it was introduced with violence, for he complimented
the moderation of the noble Marquis—not because
the ilktress was the creation of the brain, for be ad-
mitted and lamented its verity and extent—not be-
cause he thought it would be unproductive of good,
tin he implied a belief that it might be utile; but,
forsooth, because it would convey a tacit censure
upon Ministers, by intimating that the Government
had not done all that was possible for their relief—
and to the whole length of this sensitive feeling did
the House of Lords go with the First Lord of tke
Treasury—millions of our fellow-subjects had better
be allowed to starve, than a distant hint of a want
of ability or attention be cast upon half a score of
the least competent men that ever formed a Cabinet
in the United Kingdom.
The Alien Bill was read in the House of Com-
mons a second time on Friday evening, after one of
the most luminous speeches ever heard within its
walls, which was delivered in opposition to it by Sir
James Macintosh. We owe to truth, as chroniclers
of the day, what we grieve to record—that Mr.
Plunkett, once the honoured advocate of liberty, was
the upholder, apologist, justifier, and supporter of
his cruel outrage upon the principles that ever
ought to govern British jurisprudence. We did
not believe—we would not have believed from any
other than his own mouth, that he would have ad-
vocated such a measure, because we thought it pos-
sible for him to accept an official legal appointment
in Ireland without apostatizing from the honest
feelings he had so long, so loudly, and so fearlessly
professed.

A meeting of the Freeholders of the County of
Kent, in favour cf reform in Parliament, was held
on Tuesday last, in pursuance of a most numerously
and respectably signed requisition—every thing
went on well—all were of one mind, until some
demon threw down the apple of discord, which
descended in the shape of Mr. Cobbett—that person
applying to public affairs the, dishonest principles
which he has already avowed (in his famous letter
to Sir Francis Burdett) govern him in his private
concerns, moved a rider to the petition, which had
theretofore received unanimous approbation, urging
a reduction of the interest on the public debt —We
dare say Mr. Cobbett has not a pound in the funds,
and we luow he is not particular as to the fairness
of a measure so long as his own pocket is not touched
—but that the collected freeholders of Kent could ac-
cede to so ♦illanous a proposition does astonish us.—
It is due to Earl Darnley and the other requisition-
ists to add, that they all opposed the petition, thus
disgraced by Mr. Cobbett's addition, but the meeting,
in which we believe the majority were not Free-
holders, passed it, and the county is thus disgraced
by the voices of those who had no right to a voice
at all—The presentation of this petition to the
House of Commons on Friday last gave rise to a
warm discussion; but we rejoice to add that, with,
very few exceptions, the swindling proposition it
contained was reprobated on all sides—though we
must confess our risibility was excited by the tena-
city of the Marquis of Londonderry on the score of
the public faith, during the very session in which
himself and his colleagues have juggled and cheated
the poor widow, who had just enough in the Five
per Cents. to exist upon, out of one sixth of her
hard pittance.

THE LATE DUEL IN ScortaND.L.The trial of
Mr. Stuart, for being principal in the duel in which
Sir Alexander Boswell so justly lost his life, in
March last, came on at Edinburgh on Monday last.
We have given a report of the trial in another
.column—it lasted till live o'clock the nett morning,

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

when the Jury, without retiring, pronounced a ver-
dict of " NOT GUILTY," to the satisfaction of a

crowded Court. Mr. Stuart retired from the Court
amid the cheers of the multitude, attended by Lord
Rosalyn, and other Noble and Honourable Friends.

Pants, Jima B.—On Thursday, after the sitting
of the Chamber of Deputies, M. Benjamin Constant
demanded satisfaction of Mons. F. des hauls, for a
letter inserted by the latter in the Quolulienne of the
sth, in answer to one of M. B. Constant, inserted in
the Coasiiiulionisc/ and the Courier of the 4th.
Without any other explanation, the Honourable Des
puties proceedett yesterday morning to the ground.
M. Benjamin Constant was accompanied by Gen.
Sebastiani and M. Girardin, Members of the Cham-
ber of Deputies ; and M Forbin des Issarts by Gen.
the Count de Bethisy, Member of the Chamber, and
Colonel Chamoin, Lieutenant in the King's Gravies
du Corps, Company of Luxemburg... M. Benjamin
Constant being lame, he and his adversary were
placed at ten paces distance on chairs. They fired
together by signal, neither was hurt, and M. Ben-
jamin Constant appearing satisfied, the seconds de-
cided that the combat ought to terminate. It is
impossible to shew more sangilivid than was mani-
fested by the honourable Deputies.
TILE KING'S DRAWING•hOOM.—His Majesty held
a drawing-room on Thursday last, at Buckingham-
house, which it is understood will be the last this
season. We scarcely ever remember to have seen
one so thinly attended as this, but various causes
operated to make it so—among which the disgust
excited by the late proscription of the amiable
Duchess of Gloucester, held no doubt a prominent
situation. The King left Carlton house at half-past
twelve, in a plain carriage, attended by the Duke
of Dorset, and proceeded to Buckingham house.—
His Majesty wore the IVindsor unifinTa. His Ma-
jesty took refreshment with his royal sister, the
Princess Augusta, previous to attiring for the draw.
in;-room. The company began to arrive a little
before two o'clock, but very slowly, and from that
time until soon after three, when the last equipage
drove up, there was not what is called a line of car-
riages once formed ; they came straggling by twos
and threes, and once or twice as many as half a
dozen were observed in a line. The Lord Mayor
went in state, accompanied by the Lady Mayoress,
and attended by the City Marshals, Marshalmen,
&c, a very unusual circumstance, we believe. It is
many years since a Lord Mayor appeared in state
upon a similar occasion. The Sheriff's accompanied
his lordship in their carriages. The Prince and
Princess Esterhazy, and nearly all the Foreign Am-
bassadors, were present. The drawing-aunt termi-
nated by four o'clock.
On Wednesday last, his Royal Highness the Duke
of Gloucester inspected the battalion of his regiment,
the 3d Foot Guards stationed at the Tower. They
went through the manteuvres with great correctness,
and seemed to give entire satisfaction to the colonel.
—His royal highness afterwards inspected the bar-
racks. He then visited the various armouries, de-
pots of arms, and ordnance map-room, attended by a
numerous company of the officers of the Guards, and
a party of the Yeomen of the Guards, and subse-
quently partook of a (Wine a la 14urclietle in the
officers' mess-room. His royal highness looked very
well, and took his leave apparently much delighted
with the business of the day.. His royal highness
on his way home viewed the Middle Temple Hall,
and also the church of the Inner Temple.
The occasion of the ease of the individual calling
herself the Princess Olive against the King's Proc-
tor; being postponed on Wednesday last, was as fol-
lowt:—A gentleman of the name of Tucker came
into court whilst Dr. Lushington was speaking, and
stated to the Proctor of the party proponent, that he
Came direct from& noble Lord whom he named, and
the Attorney and Solicitor-General, to request that
the case might stand over to the next court, to afford
the opportunity of arranging the matter in the mean
time with the party: and. the note which he pro-
duced from the lady, signifying her acquiescence,
was written in consequence of a similar representa-
tion made by him to her.

D'ESPRIT.—Two Englishmen were recently
standing at the door of an hotel in Boulogne, when
a boor-like looking fellow passed by, driving an ass
—one of the gentlemen observed to the other,
" There is a pair of asses;' on which the boor, who,
from having been a prisoner of war in England, un-
derstood the observation, replied,
Nun. Momieur,
Je ne suit pea ce que je euis,
Car si letaas ct que je suis,
Je ne serail} pas Ce que je suit."
—We need not remind our readers that the verbs
etre and suivre are precisely the same in the first
person singular of the present teusc of the indicative
mood.

An official return to an order of the House of
Commons, states the amount of the bslance in the
hands of the Treasurer of the county of Middlesex,
at the 15th Apr 11,1822, at 16,9741. 16s. 6d.

_ --- -,

189

COURT QF COMMON-PLEAS.—(YESTEFDAY.)
CERLINO V. HA TDOCK.
This was sit action for assault, which wag tried in the sitting
after last term, in which the Jury gave 7401. damages. A rule
to chew cause why a new trial should not be granted was this
day moved for, on the ground of es.cessive damages. -The son
of the plaintiff( Dr. Curling, a gentleman of very great celebrity
in the medical profession,) a Loy of 18 years of age, was riding
out of Hyde Park, when the defendant, fancying he meant to
insult him by petting aside the flaps of his coat, fo!lneveit
horse-whipped VIM on horseback, and after pulling hint i if his
horse repeated- his linnishment very brutally—the defendant
was a tall athletic man in the prime of life—the victim of his
rage a puny boy. The Court refused the application—the de-
fendant's conduct had been gross in the extreme.—he was a
mall recently come to a large ((inane, and the verdict was not
too Leary—it would teach hint to master Lis !wakes in route.
—Rule refused.

The 'hatpin?, Observer of the 3d inst. contains
paragraph, confirmatory of the pacific termination of
the negotiations in the East. On the 6th of May,
this paper observes, it was announced in the Divan,
at which the Chiefs of the Janissaries were present,
that the evaouation of the principalities was deeidA
on, and that hencethrth the places of the FlOspixla,s
would be filled with natives. • This determination,
it is added, was beard with unanlotous satisfaction.

Five of the soldiers • belonging to the cavalry
depot, at Maidstone, have, with a generosity whic!i
does them• credit, voluntarily subscribed the sum of
601. towards the fund now raising for the distressed
Irish—being their-share of a seizure of contraband
spirits, made by them, a short time since at Coxiteath.
A new dial has been affixed to the clock on the

west entrance of St. Paul's. It may be amusing to
many persona to know, that the minute strokes are
eight inches in length—the hone figures two feet
two inches ; the minute hand, eight feet two inches
in length ; the hour hand five feet fan. inches ; the
weight of the minute hand, 7.51 b. the hour hand 441 b.
The Lersthm, Capt. Rosen, of 300 tons burden,
arrived in the river on Thursday, and is now un-
loading her cargo of ice, at Cox Quay, London
Bridge. The-wholesof the freight is consigned to
Mr. Rhodes, of Islington, and conveyed from the
wharf to his ice house on the Edgware-road. ' Trpon
the average it is sold at 301. pi.; ton.- • On Thursday .
evening 40. tons were conveyed to Carlton Palace.-
The above vessel began to load on the Ist of May,
completed her lading on the 14th, and arrived in
the river June 13. Two more ships of the same
size were left employed in procuring the smile
article, and may be daily expected to arrive in
England.
On Monday last the venerable Earl of St. Vincent
came to town, and took his seat for the firsr time
this Parliament, for the purpose of giving his proxy
in support of the Catholic Bill. When it is uutii-
dered that his Lordship, now in his 88th year, and
feeble in bodily strength, undertook the journey for '
the sole purpose of giving in aid his last efforts flr -
the Catholic cause, it strongly marks the interest lit
takes upon it. Nay, so much does he feel, rharbe-
fore he left his house, he declared that .he would go,
although, like his old friend Grattan, he should pe- -
fish in the attempt. .
Ireland at this moment presents a frightful piz-
ture of pestilence and famine. The accounts rt.
ceived on Wednesday from that unfortuate countr.
are still more heart-rending and more appalling than •
any that.previously reached us. Instead of a robii•t
and sturdy peasantry, none are now to be seen in
the exhausted districts but pallid, weak, and slowly
moving specters—mothers weeping over their stay.. •-
ing children, and thousandslying bed cf death
and sickness. The Dublin Eueuntg Past gives a 1
feeling and melancholy account of the general -
tress, which, it is feared has not yet- reached i:3
height. The west and south of Ireland., it sayc,
present a dense population. in a state of famine,
on the brink of pestilence;—a. million of mea, wo- --
men, and children, are starving—are actually.tlying;
of hunger—and this in one of the finest se.a,ms- •
ever remembered. In the western part of Galway,
the mortality is so great, that every person who •
could quit were flying in all directions, as from •
plague. Sligo is similarly circumstanced, wiiera
the fever has already made frightful ravages4and ill"' •
the county of Cork a typhus fever of a inalfgnaat
kind has made its appearance.
The concert fur the benefit of the Irish poor was
•

given on Wednesday night last at the ilansici:-
house, when the Egyptian-hall was fitted up
expectation of a numerous company. All the lead-
ing members of the musical world, foreign as we:l
as British (with one or two exceptions), came ;_-
nerously forward to support the cause of charity.—
The music in general was well self:clad, from Ch. 2-.
rubini, Rossini, Mozart, and others, The audien::.e,
however, was by no means crowded, notwithstandia4
the distinguished names of the Patronesses ; thou4l
there is reason to believe that at the West-endolthca

town a considerable number of tickets were pall for,
by families who found it inconvenient to attend.—
Refreshments for the company were liberally pro-
vided in an adjoining apartment; and those of thi
Lady Patronesses, end their friends who were pee-
sent, were ,invited to supper with the Lord and
Lady Mayoress..

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