The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-29 00:00:00

GRAND MASONIC FESTIVAL.

On Tuesday, being the Anniversary of the
Birth-day of his Royal Highness the Duke of Suss;x, a
moat numerous and respectable portion of the fraternity of the
ancient body of free and accepted Masons assembled at the Free-
masons"favern, for the purpose of celebrating the Birth-day
of the Grand Master of England.

The company assembled at five o'clock were about three
hundred. A very considerable curiosity was evinced to witness
the entrance of expected strangers. General Mina, it was *aid,
was expected, and that opinion gained ground when General
Quiroga, accompanied by Lord Mountford, Count Zulenski,
Don Moro and Same, entered the room. These gallant, but
unfortunate strangers, attracted the sincere respect of every
man, who felt at the same moment the glorious cause for which
they struggled, and the temporary failure that has marked its
issue ; but to the noble mind, in a struggle for freedom,
though unsuccessful, " distress is virtue."
Having surveyed the room these illustrious Strangers retired,
and were, we understand, introduced to his Royal Highness
in the Secretary's room.
The galleries were crowded with an assemblage of beautiful
women. This commemoration has been conspicuous for such
display, but the number who complimented the Royal Duke
by their presence on the present occasion was beyond all pre-
cedent. Amongst the fascinating group was the lady of Gen.
Quiroga.
the Chair. It was arranged, he said, that
the Provincial
About half-past five Mr. Sistox M‘GietavnAy addressed
he l‘i e
ingf oromrand Master for Somerset should take the
that Right Worshipful Brother he arrived in
t
theii sudden indisposition of a parent had deprived
etasure. Under such circumstances and placed
himton, Chair,
of
butt ahnad t
ph
so unexpectedly
in such a dilemma, the Royal Duke and the
the public officers had expressed their wishes
supply the vacancy.—(Hear, hear, hear !)—He
greatthathie body
yioull
was fully sensible of his own inadequacy, but he knew it was
his duty to obey such an unanimous call. He had therefore to
support of the Meetince, and to exact from the circum-
stances the
claimanapology for any deficiency in supporting the ho-
nour and the duties of the Chair.—(Cheers.)
His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, attended by the
officers of the Grand Lodge, and by the stewards, then entered
the room, amidst the general greetings of the meeting. The
procession moved from left to right throughout the interme-
diate spaces of the tables, which enabled every individual as-
sembled to pay his personal respects to the Grand Master.
The dinner and wines were most excellent, and fully sup-
ported the character Brother Cuffe has established for meeting
the expectation of
convivial
Denies.
Sir beorge Smart • a preside at the Piano, and was most ably
supported by the vocal talents of MesSrs. Leete, Pyne, Broad-
hurst, Jolly, and Master suiith.
We must not forget our old favourite and that of the public,
Charles Taylor, who though last, was not least, and who en-
livened the meeting with some of those comic songs which
are of his own school.
The healths of the King, the Duke of York, and the rest of
the Royal Family, were drank with three times three.
Mr. SIMON APGILLIVRAY then rose to propose a health,
which he knew he had only to mention in order to ensure the
general approbation of the Meeting. That day they were as-
sembled to commemorate another anniversary of the birth-day
of their Grand Master,- and he was persuaded, the more fre-
quently they enioyed that proud gratification, the more they
appreciated the honour. In being called unexpectedly to the
Chair he had told them how ill-qualified he was to the duties;
but in an earnest and merited expression of the claims of their
Illustrious Grand Master he was as anxious as any other Bro-
ther to express his feelings. Were the moment seasonable, he
could dilate on the benefits lie had extended to the fraternity.
He could sheer the difficulties that had been surmounted—dif-
ficulties which could have been alone surmounted by his com-
prehensive mind, his personal influence, and his kindly feelings.
—(Cheers.)--That was a subject on which it would be ill-timed
to say more. It therefore only remained to him to give the
opportunity to the company to indulge their feelings. He
should therefore propose—" Their Illustrious Grand Master,
and health and long life."—(Continued cheers.)—The greetings
that followed the toast lasted many minutes ; the Ladies from
the Galleries waved their handkerchiefs.
The Duke of SUSSEX then rose. Another year, said he,
has now elapsed since me brethren have done me the honour
of meeting me here on the Anniversary of my Birth-day. To
a man who has passed his fiftieth year, such a contemplation
must be accompanied with reflections of a grave character.
—No year of human existence can terminate without bring-
ing to our memory the recollection of losses and afflic-
tions which, more or less, it is the lot of survivors to
feel. We have all, perhaps, had them, and it is not an
inopportune occasion to mix the pleasing and serious
together. The shadows that the latter throw upon the back
ground tend, by the contrast, to give a greater brilliancy
to the perspective ; and his brethren might feel assured, that
the solace of the great meeting was felt by him as a cheering
gratification for the natural ills of humanity. What his ser-
vices were for the benefit of the craft, he did not feel the pre-
sent an occasion for discussing—as union was the good prin.
ciple—and as that had happily been accomplished, he was anxi-
ous that upon all retrospective considerations an extinguisher
should be put. The great object of the society had been
considerably advanced—the natural objects of charity and
kind affection, in place of losing ground, were making consi-
derable way. In that very room they saw assembled men of
all colours, and all descriptions, collected from every region of
the world—all meeting there, actuated by the ennobling prin-
ciple of extending peace and charity to all mankind.—(Cheers). I
He should act trespass on their time longer, but limit himself
to the expression of thanks ; assuring thei, that under every
vicissitude of human circumstances, he should feel the value of
their confidence. In the descent of life, and as he before said,
lie who had passed the 50th year, must prepare himself for that
view, such confidence must give warmth and exhiliration to a
man thus honoured. He felt it ; and at his latest hour, the
honest expression of such men's approbation would afford the
best consolation that humanity afforded. Again he thanked I
them.

A variety of toasts were then drank.
The NOBLE DUKE then gave " The Duke of Argyle and
the Grand Lodge of Scotland."—(Drank with applause.)
The NOBLE DUKE next said that the toast he was about
to propose required some consideration. As to Ireland, it was
the opii:ion of the learned in law, that recent Acts of Parlia-
ment affected the meeting of Lodges in that country. The
Lodges there had not since met, and to guard against miscon-
ception he should not drink the health of the Grand Master
and Grand Lodge of Ireland, but satisfied himself with giving
" The Duke of Leinster and the Masons of Ireland."—(Cheers.)
The Illustrious ClTAntstAx next proposed the health of
those who possessed the strongest intered in the affections of
Masons [looking at the gallery where the Ladies were sta-
tioned]. Gentlemen, said he, what a debt of gratitude we owe
them.--(Cheers.)--It is to the pericd when their influence be-
came active we owe the civilization of mankind. In this room
ant obliged to say, that we must consider the bright and fas-
cinating group before us as a picture ; but when artificially we
cell it a picture, we feel, at the same time, that as to our hearts,

our afrcctions, and our interests, it is a most ennobling reality.
(Cheers.)— It is from them that civilization has re-
ceived its powerful impulse—it was their beauty—their ac-
complishments—their virtue—for without that virtue beauty
has no fascination, no ornament—(Cheers)—that men advanced
in the great progression of improvement. Look • back to his-
tory, and you will identify with the influence of woman, vir-
tuous woman in society, the progress of man in all those arts
and institutions which gave a character to our intellectual
n at u re.—( C h eers. )
The health of the Ladies was then drank, with three times
three ; and was followed by the appropriate glee of " Merrily
fill your glasses."
The healths of the various absent Offiters and the Stewards
were then drank.
Sir 'Wm. de CIIESPIGNY returned thanks fur the Stewards
in a very animated speech. He concluded with observing, that
there could be no exertion more gratifying than to serve is
giving the public expression to that sense of respect and regard
which was so universally felt for their Illustrious Chairman
in the character of a Prince—a Mason—and an Englishman.—
(Cheers.)
The Noble Chairman left the room at half-past ten, .accom-
panied by the heartfelt regards of those who met with pleasure
to commemorate his natal day. He :tatNl his intention to pre-
side for the Female Charity on the 30tti of March next, and six
weeks after for the Boys' School..

KING GEORGE ACCESSION.—LIoIicIay at the Exchc-
quex, Batik, East India and South Sea Houses.

PRICE OF FOREIGN STOCKS IN LONDON, JAN.2`2.

AT ONE O'CLOCK.
French J Five per Cents. 9C.
I. Scrip, 7i. pm.
i Six per Cents. 00.
Russian -: Five per Cents. (Metallic) 00.
( Ditto New 90.
Neapolitan Five per Cent. Bonds, 81i.
Austrian Scrip, tog prem.
Five per Cent. Bonds, 1820, 00.
Spanish j Ditto 1821, 2V.
Ditto 1823, 14.
Prussian
S _ Five per Cent. Bonds, 91,x,.-
l Ditto New, 89i.
Danish Five per Cent. Bonds., 96i.
Portucaese 87.
Peruvian New Loan, 00.
Chili 77. i.
Colombian Six per Cent. Bonds, G. 5.
Mexican Loan, 41. prem.
Poyais 5 (X).
( New, 38.
f Bank Shares .£22 105.—X23.
1 Seven per Cent. 000.
American -, Six per Cont. 00-000.
LFive per Cent. 00-000.
Three per Cent. 711.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW:
norning, 43 minutes after 1. 1 Evening, 6 minutes after 2.,
•

THE SUN.

SOLE.II CHI'S DIOERE FAISUM AuxE.ir

LONDON,
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1824.

THE NIGER.—The course and termination of
this mysterious river is on.the eve of being finally
settled. Private letters have been received from
the African travellers, Dr. OUDNEY, Lieutenant
CLAPPERTON, and Major DENHAM, so late as the
middle of July last, from Bornou, where they
still remained under the protection of the Sheik,
waiting their further proceeding to the Eastward
until the rainy season shall have ceased. In the
mean time they have not been idle, having, traced
back the stream of the Niger from the great lake
of Tsad, into which it falls, full 200 miles. to the
Westward, and within one hundred miles of
the lake Nyffe, into which IfottNetstAxx had
traced its course. Its name, it seems, be-
tween the lake Nyffe and the great lake Tsad
is lava, and on its banks are many pleas-
ing villages and several large cities in ruins,
particularly that of Old Birnie, which is stated
to be nine miles in circumference and the
houses mostly of brick. It was pillaged and
laid waste by the Fellatas, a most powerful
tribe of blacks of Soudan, about fifteen
years ago, when those large cities of Kouka,
Engornou and Birnie, near the Great Lake, were
fOonded by- the present Sheik of I3ortNov.—•
We have seen a letter from Lieutenant CLAr-
PERTON, in which he &scribes in raptures
the beauties of the Tsad, and its numerous
islands, clothed with verdure, and the tall and
elegant Papyrus waving its plumy head high
above the rest. The natives navigate ,the lake
in large boats, fifty or sixty feet long, sewed
together like those of Masuliratam, and they
have others with square sterns on which
sheers are erected for managing their fishing
nets. How far this inland sea extends to
the eastward had not been ascertained ; but in
an interesting account, in the last number of the
Quarterly Review, of the progress of these tra-
vellers, it is conjectured that its waters • may be
discharged into the Nile of Egypt. CLAeree-
TON mentions the height of the Lake to be
feet above the level of the sea, which is about,
that of the source of the Mississippi—the lengllr.
of this River is 3,000 miles ; the distance ffor3
the Lake to the Mediterranean, is little more
than 2,000 ; the fall, therefore, is more than ne-
cessary for the purpose.

We have in a preceding column inserted an
able letter from a well informed and valuable
Correspondent at Paris. Though we differ from -
him as to the policy which, under the'cirgum''
stances he has supposed, he recommends-for the
adoption of this country, yet we are sensible
that his opinions are entitled to much weight,
and we are satisfied that his expression 01
them is sincere. Cuba is doubtless the ke3r
of the Gulf of Mexico; and, as he justly ob'
serves, commands the trade of South America•
Its possession, therefore, could not be otherwise,
than highly advantageous to this country. 111'

dependently, however, of every consideration as
to the means by which that possession is to be
obtained, our Correspondent seems to have over-
looked, the. obstacle to its accomplOiment which
Great Britain herself has. voluntarily created, by
a solemn declaration (See the last of Mr. CAN-
NlNG'sDispatches'in the diplomatic correspondence
relative to the invasion of Spain, as laid before Par-
liament in the last Session), that England, whilst
the protested against the cession of any portion of
Spanish territory to any foreign power, disclaimed
all intention'.of making. territorial acquisitions of
the same kind for herself. After this renuncia-
tion of every view of aggrandizement on her
Own part, and the very intelligible intimation
by whigh it was accompanied of her resolution
to resist any such views on the part of other
Powers, it is evident that England could not
accept of Cuba, without the consent not only of
Spain but of all the great Continental Powers, and
of the United States of America, whose general
concurrence for such a purpose no one can for a
moment contemplate as within the range of .pro-
"'ability. But it is the less necessary to ex-
amine the reasoning of our Correspondent
Upon the South American question, as, from
the important information given in the Sun
or yesterday, it appears that the South American
Governments are about to be acknowledged, not
by this country, but by France and
Russia, and as their independence will thus be
established, and our commercial interests secured,
without the necessity being incurred for our en-
taging in a Quixotic war on their behalf, and
With Out exposing the barrier against Russia in
The East of Europe to any further dangers than
those by which it has been for some years, and is
Still, perhaps, menaced. One word, however, as
to the supposed possibility that Congress may
have somewhat coldly received Mr. MONROE'S
seutt •
ments as to the policy which ought to be
Pursued by the United States in the event of a
hostile attempt upon South America from Europe,
and as to the necessity of feeling the national
Pulse before the adoption of warlike dispositions
by North America. Though this is the first ses-
sion of a new Congress, and though its Mem-
bers, at the time when the President's Mes-

The former must be in some shape assured of the
ultimate possession of goods, before he pays for
them, and, under our warehousing system, we
know of no party by,whom he can he guaranteed
but the wharfinger or warehouse-keeper.

It seems, hoireVer, that-the course pursued by
the London Dock Company has been inconsistent
with the law of.the land,—that they have certi-
fied to the buyers of goods that they were trans-
ferred to them, and were held deliverable to their
order only ; but that the Dock Company,after thus
avowing themselves trustees for the purchasers,
hare nevertheless allowed other parties to stop
the delivery of the goods, on the flimsy plea that
a common law right renders it imperative upon
them so to do.

I They say " the law which allows the stop-
" page of goods in transitu is of no recent date',
" and has 1);-en acted noon to a great extent un-
" der the administration of the highest judicial
" authorities ;—it is the important privilege given
" by this law to parties engaged in trade, which
" the Gentlemen signing the Declaration are de-
" sirous the Dock Company shall disregard." This
is the very pith and marrow of their defence, and
with all due deference to the Directors of this
important Establishment, we humbly con-
ceive that they have blinked the real question.
—The Merchants could neither have wished.
them to disregard the law, nor the interests of
the proprietary, and we much question whether
they have had due regard to either-in the. course
they have adopted. The real point is,
or will they not abide by that to Which thei
stand pledged by the official certificate of their
own officer ; a document heretofore considered
as guaranteeing all purchasers, and upon the faith
of which they have paid their money ?
Simple as the operation of transferring goods
from the vendor to the vendee has been made by
the London Dock Company, it being done as it
were by a stroke of the pen, we are inforMed that
it has been a source of great profit to them, and
whether perfectly or imperfectly effected, legally
or illegally, it is their concern :—they receive an
order to transfer goods, they certify that they have •
done
,so, and receive payment for so doing.—it is
found that they have not done it !—lf they were
shoemakers or tailors, coblers or tinkers, the law
would compel them to fulfil thir engagements.
How, then, can the London Dock Directors say,
" the law prevents us" ?"

Sage was prepared, may have been scat-
sered throughout the extensive territories of
the 'Union, and their sentiments may not, there-
fore, have been then exactly ascertained, yet the
national pulse has been felt since, arid the popular
voice has been expressed in a manner worthy
OF the American people. The PRESIDENT'S
:Message has been everywhere hailed with enthu-
siasm ; arid the call which it makes upon the na-
tion having been answered with one loud and
"equivocal expression of its resolution to make
every sacrifice which the Foreign Policy pointed out
t° them might require, it is difficult to imagine,
bat that Congress has been found to participate
ill the universal excitement, and that if the sacri-
' tce had become really necessary, it has already
ttlanirested a disposition to concur in the views of
the Executive, and to make every effort that
42ight he found requisite for carrying them
igtO
efrect.

.'We shall ,be most happy to give insertion to
any justification of their conduct which the Di-
rectors of the London Dock Company can offer,
but at present they must excuse us for saying,
that they have afforded none.

The following is the Declaration of the Mer.
chants, which has called from us the foregoing

remarks :

GOODS IN THE LONDON DOCKS,

AND THE
LONDON DOCK COMPANY.

The DECLARATION of MERCHANTS and Others,
relating to the TRANSFER NOTES of the COMPANY,
and to the refusal of the Company to deliver Goods which
have been transferred.

The LONDON' Dock COMPANY' having refused to fulfil
their own Specific engagement contained in the TRANSFER
NOTES issued by them in relation to Goods landed at the
London Docks, the undersigned feel it incumbent on them thus
publicly to draw the attention of Merchants, Bankers, and
others, to the risks and inconveniences to which they are ex-
posed,if the line of conduct recently adopted by the London
Dock Company be persisted in.
Hitherto the fullest reliance has been placed on the Transfer
Notes, which have been issued by the London Dock Company,
for Goods warehoused and transferred in the London Docks,
because the Company not only expressly acknowledge the
Goods to be transferred, but state that the Goods will be de-
livered to the party to whom the transfer is made, and to his
order only, as will appear by the following form of the London
Dock Company's Transfer Notes:—

CITE, Tire Ale o'Clock.—Consuls opened this
frn:ring at 90z, and afterwards were done at 91
liftis" Account. There has, however, been but
n
in the Market. Up to this hour Ido
poLlear of any Express having arrived from
Which I suppose is owing to the heavy
wind
ii last night. This day and to-morrow are
°lidaYs at the Bank. No reports of any con-
equence in the City this morning.
til!°lttiarr MARKET.—The only business doing
m's Morning in the above Market was in the
to "ican Bonds, which opened at 3i, and got up
11.' 4i Prem.—There is very little doing in Spa-
lsh Rands, which opened at 24,11, and remain
te44-Y at the above price.

" Transfer of Goods
" Deposited at the London Docks.
I have this Day transferred to your
you paying Charges from the
-- by virtue of an Order of Mr. ---
dated which said Goods as per Marks
and Numbers in the margin will be delivered to you or you?
Order ONLY.

" Mr.
" Account,
It

" For the London Dock Company,
"A. B.
" No order in which there is any erasure will be received."
It is hardly possible ti conceive eny form of engagement
more strong or more precise than is conveyed by these words.
And it is further to be observed, that the Company have been
in the habit of making a distinct charge for the Transfers in
their Books, which Transfers are the foundation on which the
Notes here alluded to are issued.

ti've-very lone documents have appeared in
Public: Papers upon a subject of the greatest
P°rtance to all persons in any way engaged in
"le Purchase ttnd sale of property deposited in
Our
warehousing establishments. We do not
peen it necessary to nive more than one of these
pr°teS aP"s to our Readers, viz, the Declaration, or
t'
"it may be considered, of the Merchants
t 6 Course pursued by the London Dock
—"Par'Y' which they assert (and as it seems to
ti"
Of s not
unfair
an confilYs) if persisted in, will be destruc-
,dence. A shallow production, in
tbPly t°. this document, was put forth in the
ape of an "Advertisement," as the copy of a
v:cdut°ll of the Court of Directors of the Lon-
cj.,4
ratl:)°ck Company, 9f the 03d inst. The De-
g•
v4ie I°ll Or the Merchants fully explains the
the
c; and We are really at a loss to conceive how
la
9ncerns
c,
• of
i this great commercial City are to
carried orf doubt a
4e )
-very transaction b ndetw distrust are to per-
een buyer and seller.

But in violation of engagements so precise, the Company
have lately accepted of orders to withhold the delivery of
Goods to the parties named in the Transfer Notes.
These Transfer Notes issued by the London Dock Com-
pany are either correct or not correct. if correct there cannot
of course be the slightest pretence for refusing to comply with
the tenour of them. If not correct, the London Dock Com-
pany ought not to have issued them ; but having issued them,
whether advisedly or not, the Company are equally bound in
law and honour to abide by them. If the company be not so
bound, no person liming bought or sold goods, or advanced
money on soods in the London Docks, upon the faith of the
Transfer Notes, can be considered as safe. And the most ex-
tensive mischief may ensue to individuals by the stoppage of
goods ; on the due delivery of which, in pursuance of the terms
of the Transfer Notes, they may have implicitly relied, as the
means of making their payments.
It was in contemplation of the injurious effects which would
result from invalidating the security of such transfers, that
Lord E t.LENBORou GB decided against the Warehouse-keeper,
in the case of " STONARD against Du snug." His Lordship's
words, as reported, were, " that whatever might he the iule
" between buyer and seller, it was clear that the Warehouse-
" man could not deny the property to belong to the party claim-
" ing it, after the Warehouseman had acknowledged to hold it.
" oa his account, and that he, Lord ELLENBOBO U GU, should
" entirely overset the security of mercantile dealings, were he
" to suffer the Warehouseman to contest the title of the party
" to whom he gave his acknowledgment."
This doctrine of Lord Ellenborough was recently confirmed
by the present Lord Chief Justice ABBOTT, on the trial of a
cause " Hawes against Watson," at Guildhall, on the 22d of
December, 1823 ; and the Warehouse-keeper was accordingly
held liable to the party to whom the Goods had been transferred.
It was to have been expected that the result of the above trial,
and the confirmation given by Lord Chief Justice ABBOTT, of
the doctrine a Lord ELLENBOROUGII, on this point, would
have induced the London Dock Directors to have abandoned

•
Any farther attempt at..resisting.theltilin:ent of their engage-
ments; but unfertunifelY thig is 'n
Vie CRS; for the Company
still refuse to deliver the Goods which have been stopped, and
threaten to bring the Parties Who calm the Goods under the
_Transfer ICotels and who intend commencing Actions against
_the Company into the Court of Chancery.
The undersigned have no he,itatiofi to DECLARE their clis-.
approbation of this conduct of the Company as being subversive
or all that is fair and honourable in met'cantile dealings ; and
they FURTHER DECLARE, that if the Company persist in the
attempt to invalidate their.
.present written acknowledgments,
no confidence whatever can be placed in any forin of engage-
ment which the Directors may hereafter think proper to issue,
because none can be more solemn or precise than that which
they nowrefuse to fulfil.
J. Thornpson, T. Boner, and Co., Thomas 'Wilson and C 0.,.
Baring, Brotheri, and Co., W. Astell, C. G. Thornton,
Thomas Tooke, John Mitchell and:Co., Garry and Curtis,
Paris . McCausland and arclay, Brothers, and Co.,
Eaviard Parser's. and Co., Co.,iwart Taylor and Co., Dawson,
Boyle, and Co.. Cattley's and Estbko, John Hubbard and
Co.' Douglas, Anderson, and 'CO.:, Jacob H. Busk, Cattley
and Stephenson, Thos. and 13enj. flawes, John Schneider
and Co., T. B, and L. Rowe, W. M. Simonds, George
Morewood, Skey, Lodge, and Co., L. M. Hilbers„Jr. Stuart,
John Ord, Frederick Scheer, and for John Milford, John
Anderson and Sors, Thomas From, Featherstone and Ne.
vill, James Turpin, 'William Neal, B. F. Hopkins, Joseph
Harris, James Henry Le7in, William Charles Levin, Geo..
Weitherstone, William JaMes King,lWilkie and Soames's,
John Smith, Charles Field, Win Syyrnotkr; J. S. Greenwood,
Truman and Cook, Heale, 'and Co., ThOrtias
Kemble, Son, and Co., Roebucks, sAow, and Co., James and
W. Field, Kymer, Petry and Co., Wm. Mitchell, John Fred.
Amy; John and Joseph Crisp and Co., R. Wood, Edward
and James Mall, Joseph
_Hetiley And Son, Dubuisson and
Rougernent, Paltrier and King,. Kilby and Carrol, C. H.
Stavanbagen, Tetleys and Richards, Robert Day, Arthur
Ryder, Holden and Vanhouse; David Morgan, James Hill
• and Sons;,J,
.Henm:Schroder antfi3o. B. A. Ooldschmidt
and Co.' Edward Lee and Son, J. B. Suwerk-
rop, John' Rew, Georp Houghton and. Co.
The following Letter, from ttghlp respectable
mercantile firm at Gibraltar, gray not prove un- •
ittthrfltiog to a portion of our Readers. It is
dated the 18th December

In the well-informed circles it is stated, that
Major-General MuNao, Governor of Madras, has
expressed a wish to retire from that situation, at
the close of • the present year, and that he will
be succeeded by the Hon. M OUNTSTUA RT ELPRIN-
STONE, the present Governor of Bombay, by
which a vacancy will be created in that Pre-
sidency. His successor has not yet been defi-
nitively named, but it is reported that either Mr.
CROKE': or Sir Join. MALCOLM will be appointed
to that Government.
Private letters from Rome, of the 10th Ja-
nuary, state that the Jesuits have been re-esta-
blished in possession of the Collegio Romaizo (the
second of the Universities of Rome), of the Ora-
torio del Catabita (the church where the noctur-
nal exercises take place), and of the Gregorian
Observatory ; these three establishments were
founded by the Company of Jesus. In virtue of
these arrangements, the Roman Seminary, which
was attached to the Collegio Romano, will be re-
moved to S. Andrea de la Valle, and be directed
by secular clergy and the former professors.
Yesterday, at two o'clock, a Cabinet Council
was held at the Foreign Office, which sat up-
wards of three hours, the Council not breaking
up till past five o'clock. The lengthened deli-
berations of the Cabinet were supposed to be :c-
-lothe to the state of the West India Islands.
Yesterday Mr. WYNN gave the annual great
Cabinet Dinner, so called, as, in addition to the
Cabinet Ministers, the Great Officers of State
and other official gentlemen are invited for the
purpose of arranging the Roll of Sheriff's for Eng-
land for the present year. This annual meeting
and entertainment is generally given by the
Lord President of the Council : the reason sup-
posed why the Earl of HAartownr does not give
the dinner upon this.occasion is, that the Noble
Earl's family and household are not arrived in
London yet from his Lordship's country seat.
It is said, that in the House of Peers the Ad-
dress will be moved by Lord Soatuas and se-
conded by Viscount LoRTON, brother of the
Earl of KisosroN.

. "-drain has been flowing in from ail quarters, and in im-
'ziiense quantities—which, combined :with a total absence of
tik.mail.d.;, exorbitant duty in Spain, 26 Ron. per tamp, or ES
shillings per quarter, which is, equal to a prohibition ;
;and the panic struck into our corn-dealers by the intelli-
gence of upwards of 130 cargoes iow waiting admission
into the Tagus (thrse by tbe bye, it is since known, were all
driven away under the threat of a..lpeavy mulct by the Por-
tuguese Government of the 12th of OecetuOder), and likely to
come round, here,--hare depressed Ns i't4Le lower than we
have ever; known it. The prices cgtited for Baltic Soft are
Whit we sold a cargo at about 10 daysince, but we cannot now
obtain A bidder for others in the Bay to,our address. Last week
we placed about 17,000 fanegas of hard:)si!-leat, from 29.5. to 325.
per quarter, according to quality. lagantelc hard, which
is held in such high estimation -in thiii-place, alone maintains
its price, and may be quoted at 405.;!. This description is al-
ways sure of immediate sale. The trench Commissary at
Cadiz
has supplied his wants principallt from this point."

We.' have been favoured Atli the following
valuable suggestions, by their ‘llant author, and
we submit them to our Readers under the lin-
pression that they deserve the serious and favour-
able consideration of the Shipping Interest and of
Government
BY ADMIRAL SIR CHARLES HENRY KNOWLES,
BA RT.; -
Since the 'discovery of America a variety of
ships and vessels have traversed the, ocean,
whether fit for the voyage Dr otherwise. Success
was object; its attainment sufficed, and led to
the error
rorthat floating bodies were enough, without
attention to their properties of stability, safety
(being good sea boats), fast sailing, and stowage,
which two latter are not incompatible with each
other. The errors of construction are increased
by the endeavour to avoid the Port Duties, by
the evasion of the Act for finding the tonnage.
Happily for the merchants, another Act for find-
jog the tonnage on a better plan was passed last
year. The present time is, therefore,
a New
Era in the merchant shipping, because open to
every possible improvement. If the following is
adopted, much valuable property and many lives
will hereafter be saved. It may here be asked,
whether ship building has attained its ne plus
ultra of perfection : In the exterior formation
of ships of war, it has ; in the interior, nearly.—
If Sir ROBERT SEPPING'S plan of interior con-
struction be pursued in the merchant shipping,
ships cannot easily spring a leak without its being
locally perceived at the moment, and their dura-
bility will be insured fur years.
Let there be eight classes of merchant ships
and vessels. The packets, pilot and fishing boats,
are not included. Let men of science, skilled in
ship building, draw plans, and have models
or blocks made of the several classes of ships
and vessels, to be examined by •nantical Officers
acquainted with this science, and, if approved of,
let one of each class be built. Their tonnage, at
a small expence, can be ascertained by a quantity
of iron ballast, whose weight is known ; and
these ships and vessels are to be. loaded with this
ballast to their load water line.. •Their draft of
water, taken forward and aft, to be inserted in
the Register with their tonnage. Let these ships
and vessels be tried in the Channel of England, if
found to answer. The Committee of Ship-OWners
can then petition Parliament for an Act to have
all merchant ships and vessels built in future ac-
cording to the models of those approved, which
would become general in the course of twenty-
five or thirty years.
1. The first Class are the East India ships. They now sail
very fast, but have the reputation of being crank, owing to some
fault in their construction. However their line of greatest
breadth should be in the lower cills of their deck ports. But in
all other Merchant ships and vessels at the gunwale.
2. The second Class of Ships MO tons burthen at least) for
voyages to the West Indies, the Free Traders to the East Indies
and New South Wales.

The rumours which have been circulated of a
defalcation to a large amount, in a certain quarter,
we are assured are devoid of truth ; and it is to

be lamented that reports so injurious to the cha-
racters of individuals in official situations should
be propagated Without having the slightest foun-
dation for them.

Earl Segscua arrived yesterday morning at
his house in St• James's Place, from the Duke of
BEDFORD'S, Woburn Abbe^. ) In the afternoon,
his Lordship left town for Cheltenham, to meet
his son, the Hon. Captain FREDERICL SPENCER,
lately arrived from South America, after an ab-
sence of nearly firt• years.
The
yesterday, from his seat at Bagshot.
A privateu ke
GLOUCESTER arrived in town
of
letter from Frankfort, dated the
17th instant, SaYs—" It is generally reported
that %%hen Messrs. RoTHSCHI BARING, andilit-
S
were lately in
France, they made a great
speculation in colonial produce at Havre. They
bought coffee and sugars to the amount of 17 mil-
lions of francs, between SIX AND SEVEN HUN-
DRED THOUSAND FOUNDS STERLING."

The Commission of three officers, viz. Sir JAMES
SMYTH (King's ide-de-Camp,) Sir JoHN OLDFIELD, and
Major FRANSHAWE, that left England in October, safely
landed from the packet on the 26th November last at Barbadoes.
On the Gth Dec. they were about commencing their labours, by
first visiting Jamaica ; they will go through the West-India
Islands, and probably the Bahamas, and Bermuda, and re-
turn to this country in April. The object of the Commission
is, to ascertain the state of the fortress and barracks; but more
particularly to report on the various annual estimates, re-
cently laid before the Master General of the Ordnance, for re-
Pair and additional barracks, for which enormous sums
are yearly voted by Parliament.
JOHN DOHERTY, Esq. our justly respected
Recorder, has, it is said, resigned his seat at the
Board of Inquiry, finding (as we understand)
that, consistently with his other pursuits, he could
no longer continue to devote to it as much time
and attention as he considered requisite for the
faithful and efficient discharge of the important
duties of that office. The salary of a Commis-
sioner is, we believe, 1,3001. per annum.—
( 07(1E6v:ford Chronicle.)
THOMAS THURTELL, it seems, means to spew
cause against the rule for a new trial obtained by
the County Fire Office last Term, in regard to
the fire in Watling-street. Affidavits in reply,
froM himself, JOHN THUItTELL, ENNIsoN (who,
it is said, was sleeping in the same room with
John when he was taken into custody), 'l'. B.
SNOWDEN, and from a number of others, are filed.
The consideration of these affidavits, it is ex-
pected, will come on on Friday or Saturday in
the Common Pleas.

Hunt was, at an early hour yoterday morning,
removed from Hertford jail in the custody of
Mr. WILLsoN, and carried to Woolwich, where
he was consigned to the officer in charge of the
hulks.

3. The third Class of Ships to be formed 'for the Whale

Fishery.

4. The fourth Class of Ships (smaller size) for the trade to
Portugal, Spain, and Mediterranean, or the Coasting Trade.
5 and 6. Two Classes of Brigs, a larger and a smaller sort
for the Coasting Trade.
7 and 3. Two Classes of Sloops, a larger and a smaller sort
for the Coasting Trade.

Mr. PATRICK CONNOLIIT, and MoRAN his ser-
vant. who are confined in Hertford .gaol, on the charge of
shooting Grange, at Rabley-house, at Ridge, in Hertfordshire,
have been divested of their irons. Mr. Connolly frequently ad-
verts to the transaction, and appears satisfied that the result of
the trial will be favourable to him. His brother has been fre-
quently to see him.

CONSUMPTION OF BUTCHER'S MEAT IN LARGE
TOWNS.-A'comparative statement of the quan-
tity of Meat consumed in a Scotch and an Eng-
lish town : •

1823.
Glasgow
Liverpool

Bullocks. Calves. Sheep & Lambs. Total.
- 16,840 9.337 124,979 151,156
- 15,217 19,876 85,993 121,088

1 Difference - 1,623 10,539 38,986 30,070
The advantages of having but eight classes of The population in Glasgow, in 1823, was 150,000
-
almost everlasting ships and vessels are great--
And in Liverpool - - - - 120,000
because the anchors, cables, rigging, masts, and It is understood that a considerable part of the shipping is sup-
plied with fresh meat from the Liverpool market, while the
yards, of each class are the same; so that if a shipping belonging to Glasgow is supplied with fresh meat
ship or vessel in distress want any of these, she from the Greenock and Port Glasgow market, excepting a few
bullocks for one ship in the Greenland trade, which was sup-
can be properly supplied immediately, which is plied from the Glasgow market.

not. the case at present in Great Britain. It is
needless to add, that the timber. plank, &c., of
each class of ships and vessels are to be of the
same size, which will prevent either ignorance
or fraud injuring the Shipping Interests.
The above ideas have occupied the leisure of
the Author for 40 years past ; and the present
time is the only one during that period in which
they are likely to be usefully attended to ;
which is the occasion of their being published.
if the Editors of the different -Newspapers'
think the above worthy of insertion, they will be
pleased to give it publicity.

,V , -) if•X!6".)
-- 'i•--.4 '?-;%1,'", •
• ('• ~
' ,t441,1-'+'—'''''' (7
%
~ ''''''''''''''N•'.--
,:,-,---rr‘, (e144{.Y1-•vEr74) Cz lO
,ocni •
ik.••••• ''..-k-5,,, :c....,. •'; ,
t;>: ';'",•''''';''l"--;.1 Ve:, ''.:',4:"---6;.:4:::t."? `--PW•
,: ", <
t,:',
kt,r,2,,i k'7,-.'""t,-. •-r. ~-i4_....17.ir: ~..I's 44)." ,i,.......„>7",,; (,) ;if fr.,,,e.",, '''
{44;• ,-:-:'-'s ' 4,-• ';',c-,71,.".:•Zit ..k.',,,,
__, __•- -'•'''_,,...-'..:<\ ~,,,,,fr‘i;.;-.i-, ii...., t
Ncf,,,..,9 '' '1,'.,'1i"'•,..,' -,(*:1--"-",..
,7:..7.7"--•':,C-0.-`'
';''''..4s*,;'!,-,•:?-,ZY::R OF
ei
...,.....1..
„.... tt,•..,
~..1,„5„, .
4, ~..t.„,,,i, ~.,„.,
0; ~, .„
~

TETE KING.
BRIGUTON, JAN. 28.—1 am truly happy to inform you,
that the answer to inquiries to-day at the Palace, respectingthe
health of our good and beloved Sovereign, is very satisfactory.
It is as under :—" The King has had a favourable night, and
is considered better to-day."