The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-01-21 00:00:00

CHILD STEALING.

Several children have been stolen lately about the Regent's
Palk fur the sake of the clothes. A fine girl, three yenta
old, daughter of Mrs. Megoe, of Nottingham-place, was gut
away from a credulous nursery-maid in Alphavroad, on 31on-
day, by a theently-dressed woussii, who called her by name,
and pretended to have nursed her. She affected much kind-
ness, and begged to take the child for her daughter to
see, whit lived close by, pointing to • neighbouring cot-
Lige. The girl, who had two other children, consented, and
the child was found stripped in the fields an hour after.
A child of Mr. Bullock's, in Marshall-street, St. Anne's,
was decoyed away the same day in a similar mambas% Tha
eiimplaiuts are uumerims.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

UN. IP.

Sailed the Tiber and Prometheus, ou cruises; the Isabella,
Main, for Hamburg ; and Alston*, Main, fur Demerara.
The Cornwallis, -- coining into harbour, got on
shore near the hai boor Cuoy but •4 it ta a calm she will be
got off anal brought into harbour before high water, without
damage. The particulars she brings are of old date, and ao
importuner.

MARGATT, JAN. 19.

Sailed this morning from Panned Hole, the Isabella,
Holmes; and Providence, Mitchell, fur the River, and
from these Ruads, the Vuopturodel, Warr, fur Lisboa.
flumes.. JAN. 19.
Arrived off this port the brig Fame, Moore, (rota Alicaot,
for Loudon, out six was.

RANI6GATZ, JAN. 19.
Soiled most of the vessels put iu Isere fur shelter.
DEAL, JAN. 19.
Came down from the River,' the Iphigenia, Unglue%
fur Ha. bailout.
The wind this morning got well to the northward, and
most of the outward•huuud got under way, and proceeded
down Ow noel.

&rived and sailed for the River, the Mayflower, -,
Gum St. Thumaiv; Grow, Nayes, from New York; and
Ri hard mud Alto, Marlin, from Altea.

. -
The Itunicwastl-boutid chips that arrived yesterday still

The wind is harking again to the S. W., and the outward.
L I air coming kick.
Sailed the Florida, for Sint/on:as.

GRAVVIEND, JAY. 19,

Sailed the Actron, Fulton, for Bellaire ; Elisabeth, Swia-
burn, fur Buenos Ayres sod Success, Mercer, fur Situ&
Leisue.

We are concerned to learn that the Right lion.
J. FL A DDI GTON is still detained at his seat in
Sainersetpline, by Mrs. ADDINGTON'S continued
illness, which occasioned his sudden deinuttne front
London some weeks ago. She is, ere understand,
under the care of Dr. CARRICK, an eminent l'hy.
sician of Clifton.

Custurao, whose various works have now esti..
Wished his claim to rank as one of the first sculp-
tors of the age, has neatly titiislied an admirable
bust in marble of the late 4I r. lIURNER, fur the
Advocates Library at Edit.burgh. The model
was formed from an excellent portrait by RAE:-
nu urn, assisted by Mr. Iltourneit's brother, who sat
to the artist. Ile has now I itishtd the timilel for
the host of the late Professor Pustsurn. It i► to Le
placed in the Chapel of Triality Vollrgs, Cam-
bridge, and is a striking likeness of that eminent
scholar.
We have seen a letter from a Gentleman sent on
purpose to ascertain the state of the /action. lost olf
Itasca; mid are inGtruted by it, that the bodies of
143 of the norm-tint tie sufferers have been found
MA buried ; the crew owl passengers amounted to
193. and not to -2 in, as was reported. The only
son riving bons this melancholy shipwreck are two
pigs, that came too shore in one of the boats without
:duiliag-. The vessel is scarcely to be seen ut low
water. She has been sold i`or 2,000 !lyres.

IF, TUrbDAY. JANUARY 20.
I Venire hal I iv 23

Maim 49
Naple+. 431
ralersow lllO.l. per OS.
1.1.111111 tIS
tlin.rto
Ii 111 Junen...
1►1111110........t0 lice Vt.
Agito 4if the Batik oo Iltillatid
2 !fir
et Li
Portilzal 1;..1,1 los € • d
Colts, re 1.7 .... 4 1 0
Receipt C.. 1,1 iu
1111113 .....4. 1
New Ditool>llinms ..4 o
New DI/11Sr% , II 0
Silver in Bill'', 0 3 3!
New LeiliCeatii'd..ll 0 0

PRESENTATION If a PIECE qf PLATE,

AND TIIE
SUBSCRIPTION TO MR. G. STEPHENSON.

Mom:Nest' 'ght a tititiseruus and most respectable
party of Gelitlemen dined together at the Assenshly
Rooms, in Newcastle, on the occasion of presenting
a piece of plate to Mr. G. Stephenson, fir the ser-
vice lie has rendered to science mid humanity, by
the Iliveittiun of his Safety Lamp. About si‘ o'clock
the party sat down to dinner, when the Chair was
taken by Charles John Browning, Esq. of Goa-
Nth ; on his right were seated nits Earl of Strath.
more, 11. G. Liddell, Esq. awl Mr. G. Stephen-
son ; and on his 141, Charles IVsn. Biggs, Rohl.
M. Pearson, and Matthew Bell, I.:stirs. The Vice-
Presidents' Chairs were occupied by Joint Brand-
liug and Richard Lambert, Emirs.
Amongst the company we noticed—
Sir Charles Loraine, Bart., Mr. J. Davidson, Dr. Demlimn,
Mr. Pearson, jou., Mr. Grey, Mr. Coital:ill, Mr. Loraine, Mr.
J. L. Loraine, the Sheelflof Newcastle, Mr It Wm. Bewail-
holt, .I r. Robert J01114)14 Mr. Davidson, jolt., Mr. Richard
Bell, Mr. James Ord, Mr. F. Johnson, Mr. Locgan, Mr. John
Can, 31r. Moore, Mr. S. Reed, Rev. C. Ben,oit, Mr. tt ;two,
Mr. John Watson, Mr. King, Mr. John 11111111411, dc.
After the cloth was withdrawn, mid the Chair-
man had given the toasts of " The piing," The
Prince Regent, and the rest of the Royal Family,"
which were di unk with the customary marks of re-
spect, the piece of plate, consisting of a very large
and massy silver tankard, was placed before the
Chairman ; who, after it had been submitted to a
short inspection of the company, ruse, mid thus ad-
dressed the Aleeting :—He thanked the company
fur the honour they had done him in placing him
in the situation he then occupied, on an occasion
which afforded him the highest pleasure, and met
with his most hearty concurrence. A great deal of
controversy, and, lie was sorry to add, of animosity,
had prevailed upon the subject of the Safety
Lamps; but this, lie trusted, after the example of
moderation that had been set by Mr. Stephensun'a
ftiends, would subside, and all personalities cease to
be remembered. As to the claim of that individual,
to testify their gratitude to whom they were that
day assembled, lie thought every doubt must have
been removed in the minds of unprejudiced persons,
by a perusal of the evidence recently laid before
the public. A. it was not his intention to detain
the company by any lengthened uddress, lie should
only beg Mr. Stephenson'. acceptance or this small
token' of their esteem, wishing loin health long to
enjoy it, and to citable him to employ those talents
with which Providence had blessed him, for the be-
nefit of his fellow creatures. lie then handed the
tankard to Mr. Stephenson, and concluded by giving
his health, with three times three; which was ac-
cordingly drunk with touch applause. After this
had subsided, . . . .

Mr. STEPHENSON, evidently much affected,
rose, and addressed the Chairman iii nearly the
following words :—" Sir, I rise with feelings of the
greatest gratitude, to return you and the Gentle-
men of this !Meeting, my humble thanks for the
valuable present you have made me, for the dis-
covery of a Safety Lamp. And I shall ever re-
flect, with pride and gratitude, that my lahotiis
have been honoured with the approbation of such a
distitiguislied Meeting ; and you may rest assured,
that and any talent I may possess, shall
hereafter be employed in such a manlier as not to
give you, Gentlemen, any cause to regret the
counts/stance and support you have so generously
afforded me." _ . _

This address was received with the warmest plau-
dits by the company.
The Earl of STRATHMORE 80011 after rose, and
proposed the health of their IVortfly Chairman, and
thanks to him for his exertions in favour of the
very worthy and unassuming individual (Jr. Ste-
phenson) on his right hand. This toast was in-
stantly drunk with three times three.
Mr. BRANDLING returned thanks for the honour
done him, of which, he said. he felt himself un-
woithy ; but, he trusted, that no exertions of him- .
self, nor of Huy of Ms family, would ever he found
wanting where merit was to be rewarded or oppre►-
siou resisted.

The toasts which followed ware, " Prince Leopold
of Saxe Coburg" (in whose sorrows, observed the
Chairman, every one must sympathise), " The
Duke of York and the Army," and " Lord Mel-
ville and the Navy."
The CHAIRMAN then observed, that the next
toast which he should submit to their notice, wa■
one which he was sure would meet with their most
cordial approbation. It never had been the wish of
those who supported the claims of Mr. Stephenson
to injure the fair Lune of any man, or deprive an
eminent individual of the merit to which lie was
justly entitled. Under this impression, he felt no
he•itatrou in rising to give the health of Sir H.
Davy, for the ready manner in which he come for-
ward to lend his aid to the cause of humanity, end
for the great and disinterested services he had ren-
dered to the coal trade, and to science in general.
Ile felt sincere pleasure in paying this tribute to
that gentleman, but could have wished that a simi-
lar spirit of liberality had influeoced those who had
culled themselves his friends. Ile should propose
the health of Sir liumphry Davy, with time limes
three—which was accoulingly drunk.
Mr. W. BRAN DUNG then ruse and observed,
that as the object of 3lr. Stephenson', friends had
been to testify their gratitude, not only to him, but
to every one to whom they consider themselves in-
debted, which had been sufficiently exemplified by
the manner the former toast had been received, he
begged to propose the health of a gentleman to

• The tankard here presented is of large dimensions,
being capable of holding live pints, and the workmanship is
of a hue hold character ; it was much admired. On the
(runt of it M engraved the following inscription !
" THIS PIECE OF PLATE,
Purchased with a part 4.f the Stint of a Subscription of
raised for the Remuneration of
MR. GEORGE STEPHF.ISSON,
. . .

I'm having discovered the tact, that inflamed fire damp will
mat pass thioutith tulles and aptiturcs of small dimen-
sions; and having liven the first Is apply that principle
in the construction of a Safety Lamp, calculated for the
picservation of Imman life, in situations fur met I) of the
/realist danger, was prestutul to him at al.:curial Mtcting
of the Subscribers,
(.:HARLFS J1)11,1 BRANDI.ING, its the Chair,
January te, HAM"
The present subscription, added to the former donation of
the tool Trade at large, is to nearly 1,0(N0/.
It anti) list he improper is add, that the tankard was Task
by Mr. Robertson, of this town (Nettimtic., 'Juts hint
gitat credit.

hom lie ctins:,dererl tia.r warmed thanks were clue.

Ile ullisiled to Dr. Claimy. That gentleman
was entitled, in his opinion, to the high credit of
having been the liist ho sugoested the idea of
the possibility of constructing a Safety. Lamp. He
had displayed the greatest ingenuity tie the pur.
suit of that object, and lie had to a certain de-
gree ;terms) plisheil it. De cot troettd an instru-
ment 111164011 those I:lllleivivs tvliich the early experi-
ments of Sir 11. Davy, us drtatlyd iii his pamphlet,
merely stibstinitiated. lle had sliewii that if all eau=
plosive mixtule was thrown into an air-tight lantern,
either no explosion at all would take phase, or if it
did, it would be confined to the interior, and no
mischief would ensue. It ought not to lessen our
admiration or our gratitude, that the discovery of
the extraordinary property of small tubes and aper-
tures Ittl to the construction of au inetrumetit of
greater practical utility—hail that not been invent-
id, no doubt his lantern, in many cases, might have
hers beneficially employed; why his claims had
never been regularly brought before the coal owners,
he was at u loss to imagine. The gentlemen of the
Wear, in whose neighbourhood he lived, had wii..
nessed his exertions, and to the Society for prevent.
ing accidents in coal mines, his discoveries, he under-
stood, had been regularly communicated. For
himself lie could only say, that he should eagerly
have embraced any opportunity, had one been given
bin', of testifying his admiration of the abilities,
and in sheoing a proper sense of gratitude for the
services of the gentleman whose health he hail now
the honour of propovitig. lie then proposed the
health of Dr. Clumsy, which wus drunk with every
mask of respect by the Meeting.
Mr. %YAWN ruse and observed, that not fitting
Dr. Clatiny present, and having at an early psriod
taken an interest in his lamp, arid through the Rev.
Mr. Turner been the menus of its introduction to
the. Literary Society here, he would venture to state
that had Dr. C. been present, lie would have grate-
fully acknowledged the honourable advertence thus
made to his scientific exertions. To Dr. C. it had
always appeared to the speaker, belonged the ',unit
of having first called the attention of the public to
the possiFde construction of a Safety Lamp for coal
mines, and of having attracted to it the notice of
other individuals, and among the rest, that of one
of the first philosophers of the age.
Mr. J. lIKANDLING then proposed " The Com-
mittee, and thanks to them for their most impartial
and satisfactory Report;" with three times; three.

. -
After this toast had been drunk, the Cu 1111 l littee
severally returned thanks.
The toasts next in succession from the Chair were,
"The Lord Lieutenant of the County," and " The
Members fur the County of Northumbei land."
Mr. LORAINE then proposed the health of " Mr.
H. W. Brandling," which was immediately drunk
with three times three, and much applause. Alter
it had subsided,
Mr. it. W. BRANDLINO returned his sincere
thanks for the honour they bad done him, particu-
holy gratifying at the present moment. Convinced,
from the beginning. that lie advocated the cause
of truth mid justice, he was relieved during the
progress of the discussion from any anxiety, or any
tear, that the result would prove as it had dime,
highly h•imurable to Mr. Stephenson. Lie had
looked fur no other reward ; he had, however,
received one of the highest it was possible to
bestow. The Gentleman had left him nothing
to wish. He was justified in believing that it was
the opinion of those, whose opinion he valued, that
his conduct had been proper, tied his judgment had
been correct. He cordially united with those who
wished all animosity to cease; he had studiously
avoided encouraging any time.; of the kind, and
had never mentioned Sir H. Darn'. name, but with
proper respect. Ile had no intention of troubling
the Meeting with those arguments which the bold,
but unsupported assertion of the indiscreet friends of
-that eminent chemist had made it necessary so fre-
quently to repeat; hut us this was the last time lie
should ever perhaps have an opportunity of deli% er-
ing his sentiments, he could not help maim g one
or two recent, and, as it appeared to I • , very ex-
traordinary transactions. Of all the publican tttt s,
he confessed, to wind, the controversy had given
rise, none surprised him so much as the resolu-
tions signed by the President of the Royal So-
ciety, and four other “entlenten of acknowledged
talent. That they, in common with the rest of
mai.kind, had a right to deliver their sentiments
upon any question of science, he would be the last
man to deny; but that they should erect them-
selves into a tribunal to judge of the comparative
merit of individuals, to pronounce upon conflict-
ing opinions, that they should declare the resulu-
' tions of tither persons to be erroneous, will:tint any
communication, without a posvibilily of keiowing
the evidence that was before them, in the tiain of
Pleas that led to the ccoclusions they coodeunn ;
that they should go forth and pronounce a most in-
genious and modest man, and, from his situation
in life, peculiarly liable to be injured by such an
attack. an unprincipled plagiarist ; Rod that they
should expect the public to receive all this upen
, their bare assertion, is a display of self-importatice,
and an assumption of authority, which neither age
nor rank, nor talent, can justify, and against which
every independent man was bound to ',roust.
The opinion of those (he observed) dew; vedly
eminent in any particular branch of science, ought
never to be given to the world receipt it can be
supported by incontrovertible evidence—and for
this good reason, their names and char:tete's carry
conviction to the minds of those who have neither
the leisure nor inclination to judge fur themselves;
with Mr. Stephenson's founds, stud the general
mass of mankind, it is different ; they can have
credit roily for what they can prove. A clear
proof or the justice of this remark was furnished
by the immediate consequences of the publi-
cation of this fulminating dreier. A meeting of
the coal trade was called fur the osteosible propose
of considriing the resolutions of .11r. Stephenson's
friends. Those Geotlenien, us fronting a consi-
derable poitioo of that body, of course attended.
Certain resolutions were proposed by their oppo-
twills, not roily foinalcil °hum the ol ti tt ion of those •
five Gentlenieu, for no other new document was
produced, but ',dually adopting the very words. of
it. An amendment was proposed, mat a division
was demanded, but the Chairman having decided,
that the cost of the coal trade when considering
their local and 4:0111111erCial interests, namely, that one
partner or agent only should be allowed to vote for
rlich conc.-10, should be adopted in u case where the

lIMMIIIIMINIi