The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-15 00:00:00

MERCHANT SEAMEN'S SOCIETY.

Yesterday a special meeting of the Governors
and Members of this incorporated Institution for the relief of
Merchant Seamen, was held fur the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the numerous applications for relief which were likely
to be made in consequence of the late storms. A number of
respectable Merchants and Ship-owners attended.
Mr: .POWELL, on taking the Chair, stated, that in conse-
quence of the late disastrous gales, a great number of additional
applications were likely to be made to them, which the funds of
the Instition were not in a condition to ni,e4and the question
ion, what course was the. rnott *OW to' be twits sad with re-
spect to the applicants. This Institution bad been long esta-
blished, and diffused very extensive benefits amongst the great
and important class whose welfare it made its object. The
welfare of their sailors was, indeed, whether we looked to their
services in war, or their industry in commerce, an object of the
very highest national importance. Seamen were proverbially
improvident, and it was incumbent upon thOse who benefited
by their services (and who did not ?) to watch over and pro-
mote their interests. This Institution was supported by a
contribution of Bd. per month from the wages of seamen who
were in service, and though its funds had increased in propor-
tion to the increase of trade, yet that inetease was riot propor- i
donate to the increased demands which were made upon them.
lie suggested, that efforts should be made to render the Insti-
tution more extensively known, and to procure a greater number
of active members. The present qualifications of a kwernor
for life was foO guineas. lie submitted to the Meeting the pro-
priety of making a qualification upon a smaller sum. it had
been hinted, that an application to Parliament would be ad-
visable, and likely to be attended with considerable advantage.
He expressed his hopes that the Merchants and Ship-owners,
and those who more immediately profited by the exertions of
this class, would take some immediate steps for the relief of the
great number of cases of destitution and misery which might
soon be expected to pour In upon them. The Chairman con-
cluded by moving, that books should be opened to receive sub-
scriptions for the relief of those cases of distress which had arisen
during the late storms.
Mr. MARSHALL, in support of the motion, made some ob-
servations which we could not distinctly hear. IVe understood
him to say, that he considered that the evil could not be met
by individual subscriptions alone, but that they ought to go
further, and apply to public bodies. The motion was agreed
to nem. eon. _ .

:11r. 31Axamto, MP., thought, that as gentlemen and Incr.
chants, they were bound to come forward in behalf of this in-
valuable class of men, who were entitled also, in his opinion,
to the aid of Government. Ile was not aware that the Insti-
tution received only 6d. per month front the wages of seamen,
and thought that an appeal to Government for aid would be
most liberally answered. Several charities had applied for as-
sistance to that source, and the applications were always re-
ceived, as he had reason to suppose a similar one from this in-
stitution would. The institution of the Refuge for the Des-
titute, for Instance, had applied, and were received with
lie concluded by moving, that a Committee should
be formed to consider the best means of increasing the funds
of the Institution.

Mr. IlLawcilann said, that an institution upon principles
similar to those of the Merchant Seamen's Society had been
formed recently, the members of which exerted themselves by
going round from house to house, requesting contributions with
success. Similar exertions would, on the part of this instita.
tion, no doubt be crowned with similar success.
Mr. URQUITART said, that when he recollected that an in-
stitution was formed for the purpose of relieving this meritori-
ous class of men, and that that institution had means adequate
to the object, though they were not made use of, he could not
help differing from the respectable
.gentlemen who had preceded
him. lie felt no hesitation in saying that he considered these
little temporary exertions of no avail. He had thought long
and deeply upon the welfare of this class of men, and he wits
of opinion that there were great abuses with respect to them to
he rectified. lie considered that all the laws as applicable to
seamen ought to be revised. With respect to the remark about
the improvidence of the sailors, there were, he apprehended,
but few who had the means, even if they had the inclination to
accumulate. He enforced the necessity of a general change of
system with respect to those men.
Mr. Ikawoitaun said, he by no means agreed with his
friend, Mr. Urquhart, in the view that gentleman had taken of
the question. Immediate relief was needed, and the ques-
tion was, whether those poor men were to be relieved at all by
means of individual exertions ; for no relief could they obtain,
If they were to wait the accomplishment of the general plan
alluded to.

The motion for forming' the committee was then agreed to
unanimously.—Thanks having been voted to the Chairman,
and the Resolutions ordered to be advertised, the Meeting se-
parated.

SUFFERERS BY THE LATE STORMS.
A Meeting was called at Exeter, on Friday, to
co:lnkier of the. means of relieving the sufferers by the late
storms. It was attended very numerously by County and City
Gentlemen. The MAYOR woodshed to the Chair.
: .The Loup BISISOP rose to move a Resolution, which he said
wis nearly, though not entirely, in conformity with the Requi-
iiitiort. Of the duty of affOrding relief to the sufferers by the
ilieeht Calamity, there: could be ne contrariety of opinion,
thalliel some ,light difference may exist as to the limits of their
bounty. Their natoral boundary certainly appeared to be that
pointed out in the Requisition, " within the Port of Exeter,"
(viz. from Seaton taTeignmouth); but his Lordship moved that
power would be-. given ,to the Committee to extend relief
in extraordinary canes to any places within twenty miles of
the coast—numernus Individuals having suffered severely in-
land by the overflow of rivers. His Lordship moved a Re-
solution accordingly ; and communicated to the Meeting
that he had been requested by Lord Viscount Exmouth to ex-
press his regret that the ill state of his health prevented his at-
tendance.
E. I'. LYON, Esq. seconded the motion.
J. Bo Esq: wished to make the sphere of their bene-
volence co-extensive with the county itself, as by narrowing
their ()Next, they may probably throw some check on the libe-
rality of other parts of the county. He would suggest the pro.
priety of' recommending parochial collections, if it met the ap-
proval of the Right Rev. Diocesan.
The Manor, expressed his ready compliance, but said he
could not encourage them officially by circular, as this would
be an encroachment on his Majesty's prerogative.
Lord ROLLE could not withhold the tribute of his thanks
to the Meeting,
on behalf of his poor neighbours, for the
efforts now nicking to relieve their sufferings and restore their
comfints.
Lord CLIFFORD said, he thought their efforts ought to
embrace a wider field ; and after some judicious observa-
tions in 'support of his opinion, his Lordship moved, as an
amendment, that they should extend as far (but be exclusive of)
Plymouth.
Mr. itoLLEtt seconded the amendment.
_ _

Sir Thomas ACI.ANI) said, the Meeting would readily sup-
pose that the words " co-extensive with the county" would
meet with his cordial support, and he was persuaded, that the
subscription would be far more productive, if the amendment
were adopted.
The I(esolutions was then extended to embrace the whole
county, at which alteration Mr. Bur.LEtt, Lord CLIFFORD,
the llistloF, Lord RoLLE, and Mr. LroN, expressed their
gratilication.—A Committee was then appointed.
Thanks were then moved to the Iltsnor, Mr. Lyox, and
the MAYon., and a subscription immediately commenced.—
( Exeter Gazette.)

EXTENSIVE ROBBERY AT TILE HOUSE Or
MADAMS VESTRIS.—This fair vocalist suffered a
very serious loss on Monday evening by the dar-
ing act of some well-praCtisetriblet. Mine she
was absent at the Theatre, some fellow mounted
the area railings of her house, in Stanhope-street,
Mayfair, and having contrived, with implements
peculiar to his calling, to unfasten the shutters
and sash of the parlour window, he made his
way up stairs to the Lady's dressing room,
and possessed himself of the whole of her
jewellery, . with which he got clear off.—
W hen Madame VESTRIS returned home rather
late, she discovered her loss, and of course made
it known to her friends. About one o'clock in
the morning, a Noble Lord, and Mr.
a Gentleman well known in the highest circles,
drove immediately to Sir RICHARD BIRNI EIS pri-
vate house in Bow-street, for the purpose of giv-
ing information, and of seeking assistance at the
,hands of the worthy Chief Magistrate. Sir
RICHARD, however, had retired to rest, and they
were advised by the servant to seek an officer.
They found one, and exertions are making to
forward the .ends of justice, but nothing decisive
has yet been done. The thief carried off the
entire of Madame V.'s collection of jewels, which
we understand was very valuable.