The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-29 00:00:00

CAPE TOWN.

Gripe Torch Gazette's have been received to the
of February, from which we have taken the
subjoined extracts :--
" Accounts of the Siam Mission under Mr. CRAWFORD',
dated Siam, 10th June, have been received in town by the way
of Penang. The business of the Mission was considered at an
end, nor were the results so satisfactory as could be wished.
The Siamese are so jealous, cautious, and unaccommodating,
that it must take some time before negociation can effect much
with them, either politically or commercially. They have, we
understand, singular prejudices, which it is not easy to con-
quer. It may be hoped, however, that the dignified, generous,
and just conduct of our Indian Government, of which the
Siamese have shewn themselves not unconscious, will, ere
long, produce the most desirable consequences.

" The King of SIAM is described as a man about sixty years
of age, of bloated appearance, and of no very dignified habits.
He gives himself, it IS supposed, but very little concern about
the affairs of State, or the cares of Government ; the different
departments of which he has divided among his children, who,
together with some of the principal aristocrats of the country,
manage the affairs of the kingdom. Prince Cuaosza-CniT,
the fourth in point of rank, is the Commercial Director-General
of the nation, and officially takes cognizance of every thing
relative to commerce. He and his party, it is understood,
would willingly abate soniethine of the restrictive system in
favour of a more liberal and extended system of trade. The
party opposed to Prince Cu ROMA-CHIT, and which is consi-
dered the most respectable? stand up for ancient rules ; all,
however, are disposed to receive European ships into their
ports. Properly speaking, the KING is the only merchant in
Siam, for no subject dares offer to purchase any thing until
his MAJESTY has made his bargain, from the retail of which
he of course derives a handsome profit. His agents have by
this arrangement a great deal of power in their hands, and
are very hard to deal with.
" The Mission was to reMain at Slam until the month of
September, nor was it, we believe, the intention of Mr. Craw-
ford to visit the Eastern Islands of the Archipelago.
" The scientific department of the Mission, we learn, has
been conducted with the utmost assiduity and zeal. There
is no finer field in the world, perhaps, for the botanists than
the peninsula of Malacca and the neighbouring islands,
where the wonderful' luxuriance of the vegetable kingdom is
said to be beyond the power of imagination to pre-conceive or
of language to describe. Notwithstanding various difficulties
which stood in the way of the scientific inquirer, some of which
are obvious to all who recollect the inconveniences of a sea-
faring life, and some of which were particular to the ex.
pedition, many rare and several new plants were collected ;
the zoological collection was daily on the increase, and in-
cluded complete specimens, being mostly different species of
mainmalia, of birds, a few curious fishes, and a few of the am-
phibia. Two of the quadrupeds are undescribed by any author.
A tolerably good specimen of that singular animsl, the Triche-
cus Dugong, had been preserved, and particular attention had
been paid to its internal structure, of which we may expect a
full and accurate description. We have not heard whether
any valuable mineralogical specimens were procured, but anti-
cipate no great addition to this division of the scientific depart-
ment, from the peculiar circumstances under which the move.
ments of the Mission were made."

On Tuesday evening Sir FRANCIS BURDETT
brought forward his motion, to institute an inquiry into the
conduct of the High Sheriff, (TitoRPE,) respecting the pro-
ceedings that had taken place on the trial of FonßEs, &c.,
proceeding from the statement made by Mr. PLUNKE TT, in his
place in Parliament, the night of Mr. BR OWNLOW'S motion. A
long discussion arose on this motion,in which the individuals who
compose the leading parties in Parliament, took different sides.
—lt certainly appears that Mr. CANN !NO, and others of the
Ministry, wished to avoid the agitation of the question at the
Bar of the House. But is there not one cardinal fact in this
business that remained out of sight and cannot be got rid of,
and that is, that an insult had been committed on the per-
son of the first Magistrate in this country, and as yet the
persons implicated have not been brought to justice. Does
not an inquiry into the causes that have produced this
anomalous feature in the juridical proceedings of this coun-
try demand an investigation? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL
intimated that he could explain the principal cause in the
conduct of the High sheriff,- and a great portion of the public
think with him. On the other hand, Air. Sheriff THORPE courts
the investigation, and is no doubt anxious to shew he had not
adopted any course different from what his predecessors in
office pursued. The inquiry will be one of the first import-
ance to the future due administration of the laws in this coun-
try. All appear anxious to enter upon the investigation—and
it is a pity but to indulge them ; yet, unless we are much mis.
taken, the issue will turn out to the general advantage of Ire-
land.—(Dublin Correspondent, April 20.)

THE KlNG.—Notwithstanding the greatly im-
proved state of his MAJESTY'S health, the en-
quirers at Carlton Palace continue to be very
numerous. The general reply of yesterday was
as follows :—" The symptoms of his MAJEsry's

disorder have almost disappeared; and his M.A.
J ESTY gains strength, and improves in his health
daily."---The Drawing Room is intended to take
place to-morrow se'nnight ; by which time, it is
confidently hoped, his MAJESTY'S health will be
completely reinstated.
On Sunday, at two o'clock, a Cabinet Council
was held at the Foreign Office, which sat till
about half-past three o'clock.
Viscount ST. VINCENT returned to the KING
on Saturday, the Order, Ribbon, and Badge
worn by the late Earl ST. VINCENT.

ARGYLL-Roofs.—The annual Concert for Miss
SHARP took place last night in these Rooms, and
as she is generally and justly admired for her
skill on the harp, and as generally and justly
esteemed for her character in private life,
the appearance of a crowded and brilliant
audience was highly gratifying as a due tri-
bute to personal and professional merit. We
regret that we have not room for detail, but our
Readers may conclude that there was a rich
harmonic treat, as the vocal department was
supported by BELLA MY, VAUGUAN, HAWES,
TER RAIL, J. B. SALE, Mrs. SALMON, Miss PATON,
and Miss VENES. SPAGNOLETTI led, and Sir GEO.
SMART was the conductor. The orchestra was
well supplied. There was an agreeable alterna-
tion of vocal and instrumental' music, and the
instrumental pieces were well selected. Motor.-
sores concerto on the flute was deservedly ap-
plauded, and a Quintet by several instruments
admirably performed. Miss SHARP gave a volun-
tary on the Harp in the first act, and a fantasia
in the second, and while she took occasion to
shew the precision and rapidity of her execution,
she rendered it subservient to sentiment, and
powerfully operated upon the feelings, the best
effect of all musical expression.

KING'S THEATRE.—Notwithstanding the re-
cency of a Masquerade in the Argyll-Rooms, the
same species of entertainment took place at this
Theatre last night, and was not the less attended.
There was a great variety ofcharacters, and the
general efforts of their supporters were rewarded
by a good supper and excellent wines. National
Dances were introduced, and the whole went off
with gaiety, and without any interruption of the
general pleasure.

_ .
Roy At. COBURG TiIEATRE.—A new piece was,
exhibited here last night upon a subject that will
always be interesting in the history of this
country, viz. the Signing of Magna Charta by
King Jmot. The piece is obviously prepared
with a due reference to all that can illustrate
and give effect to this important event, and was
received with decided and warm applause.