The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-14 00:00:00

FASHIONABLE PARTIES.

SHIP CANAL."A. public meeting of landowners
and occupiers of houses at Colyton, Devonshire, was held last
week, to take into consideration the proposed Ship Canal from
Beer Harbour to Bridgewater. The number of persons who
attended was at least 100, a great proportion of whom were evi-
dently persons of the first respectability and consequence in that
part of the country—T. Still, Esq. was called to the Chair.—J.
Kingdon, J. Carslake, U. Corbyn, Gordon, W. Payne,
Head, Esqrs., and Capt. Ule, severally addressed the Meet-
ing in terms of warm commendation of the proposed measure,
and, in the course of their observations, :inverted and replied to
the objections which had been raised against the proposed un-
dertaking, in support of which the unqualified sanction of Lord
Rolle and Sir W. Pole has been obtained.—The decisive ad-
vantages of the Canal, both nationally and provincially, were
strongly insisted on by the respective speal and resolutions
adopted in consequence.—( Hampshire Chrtnicle.)
WiNcnEsTEn, FEB. 12.—The Trustees and
Directors of the Hampshire Friendly Society held their primary
meeting at the Grand Jury Chamber, in this city, on Monday
last, at which JOHN FLEMING, Esq. M.P. presided, to whose
strenuous and indefatigable exertions this excellent institution
owes its establishment. The Secretary laid before the Board
several applications from persons to be admitted members, and
also proposals from the Union Hand in Hand Club, of 108
individuals, who held their meetings at the Black Dog, Gos-
port, to assure the whole of their members with the societ: .
The President informed the Directors, that having received
notice of this application, he had forwarded a statement of the
respective ages, payments, and assurances, of the members to
Mr. Morgan, Actuary of the Equitable Insurance Company,
who had certified that they might be admitted with security
and advantage to the Institution : indeed, their object beingg,
purely benevolent, he was confident the Board would, at all
times, be most ready to make a sacrifice to secure to such clubs
the advantages they look forward to in affliction and old age,
but which, from erroneous calculations in their articles, and
misapplications of their funds, are seldom realised. Many
proposals having also been received from mariners trading
' coastways, a resolution was passed to admit them to the bene-
fits of the united assurances, with only this restriction—that
they are not to be entitled to the payments in sickness, unless
confined by illness within the county. Many other propositions
were agreed to, and from the number of applications aheady
received, a considerable addition of members is anticipated
previous to their next meeting.
At the CATHOLIC MEETINGS held yesterday
evening, at the city and west end of the town, it was unani-
mously resolved, in deference to the expressed wishes of many
friends to Catholic emancipation, that no more money should
be collected under the designation of the Catholic Rent ; but
that the different Committees should be still authorised to re-
ceive such contributions as might be voluntarily offered under
the name of the " British Catholic Free Gift ;" such contribu-
tions being applied to the following purposes :-Ist. To vindi-
cate, by means of a liberal press, the principles, civil and reli-
gious, of the Catholics of these realms; and expose the at-
tempts of self-interested writers to confirm the prejudices which
well-meaning Protestants entertain against their Catholic fellow
subjects. 2d, To defray the expellees of the preparation of peti-
tions to Parliament, anti attending the collection of signatures in
every part of the kingdom. 3d. To furnish pecuniary means for
our learned anti pious clergy to publish works in defence of the
Catholic religion. 4th. To purchase for the use of Catholic
charity schools, cheep books of instruction, that the principles
of our holy religion may be early. impressed on the minds of the
children, to enable them to give a reason of the faith that is
within them, and direct others into the road that leads to
eternal life.
Suici DE.-011 Saturday evening an inquest was
held at the Edinburgh Castle Tavern, Sweeting's-rents, Royal
Exchange, before Mr. Shelton, the Coroner, on the body of
James Owen, aged Sd, who shot himself with a pistol loaded
with three balls, which literally blew off' his head, and scat-
tered it in pieces about the room. It appeared that the de-
ceased,who was an eminent violin player, went into Mr. Betts's
shop, at the back of the Royal Exchange, and asked leave to
go up stairs, beine, a friend of Mr. Betts. His request was com-
plied with,. when he immediately put a period to his existence
by shooting himself through the head with a pistol. Several
witnesses were examined respecting the deceased's state of
mind, and they proved, that since his return from China, to
which place he went in the capacity of master of the band, in
Lord Amherst's embassy, he had been particularly wild and pe-
culiar in hismaimerand behaviour, and which they attributed to a
fall he received from a horse in China. Some of his friends described
his insanity to have been occasioned by professional disappoint-
ment. He had performed with great eclat at the Opera.house,
and was a member of the Philharmonic Society ; but for the
approe:thing season his services had been dispensed with at
the Opera-house, and he was determined to offer his services
to Mr. Thomas Cooke for the Oratorios. The witnesses were
questioned by the Coroner and .Jury respecting the deceased's
circumstances. They said he was possessed of independent
property ; had, at the least 4001. in Lubbock's Bank ; and, in
fact, when he purchased the pistols, he gave a check on that
firm for the price—viz. 23 guineas. The only cause that could,
therefore, be assigned to induce him to commit suicide, was the
acute manner in which he felt the rejection of his services, and
which produced a temporary derangement of mind.—The jury
returned a verdict of insanity.
THOMAS WENTWORTH BEAumoNT, Esq. M.P.
has presented the Northumberland Horticul-
tural Society with twenty pounds. The same
gentleman has also given ten pounds to the Me-
chanics' Institute at Alnwick. The Bishop of
DURHAM iS also a contributor to the said Insti-
tute, having presented the Committee with ten
guineas.

Earl Bathurst entertained a distinguished party to dinner on
Saturday at his residence in Stanhope-street.
Mrs. Frecmantle entertained a select circle of fashionables on
Saturday evening at her house in Stanhope-street.
Lord King gave a grand dinner on Saturday to the Marquis
and Marchioness of Lansdown, Lord Ebrington, Lord Al-
tllorp, the HonourablT. Mr. and 31rs. Agar Ellis, Mr. and
Mrs.. Thomas Hope, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Heathcote, &c. at his
house in Dover-street.
James Scarlett, Esq. M.P. had a dinner party on Saturday,
at his house in New-street, Spring-gardens.
The Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury had a dinner party
yesterday at her house in Arlington-street.
J. C. Lambton, Esq. M.P. entertained his Royal Highness
the Duke of Sussex and a distinguished party to dinner) ester-
pay at his villa at Wimbledon.
A splendid Ball was given, on the 11th Feb., by the Gentle-
men of the Northamptonshire Fox Club. The Committee con-
sisted of Sir Robt. Gunning Mr. Mustin, Mr. Payne, Mr. Ben-
field, and Mr.Hungerford, the whole furnished by and under the
direction of Mr. Jarrin, of Bond-street, London. The gentlemen
Inv: dressed in scarlet coats and white trowsers, and the ladies
in white, with a profusion of pearls, diamonds, &c. The ball-
room was ninety feet long, ornamented with garlands in all
directions. At the top was dituated a table for tea, coffee,
ice, punch a la Romaine, sorbet, a la Torque, attended to by
Mrs. Jarrin. The company began to arrive at nine o'clock,
and quadrilles commenced, and continued till one, when the
supper-room was thrown open. The company entered, the mili-
tary band playing a favourite Scotch air. The quadrille band
was from Weippart's Soho-square. After supper the company
commenced dancing, which was kept up till seven o'clock.—
Many Noblemen were present.

111AnnLicEs IN HIGH LIFE.--The following are expect-
ed shortly to take place ;--Lord Henry Cholruondeley, to 3liss
Arbuthnot ; Colonel Ponsonby, to Lady E. Bathurst; Daniel
Tighe, Esq. to Miss Crofon.