The Sun.
London, England, 1833-04-15 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.-("1 HIS DAY.)

A special general Court of the Proprietors of East India
Stock was this morning held by adjournment, for the purpose
of taking into consideration the papers relative to the renewal
of the Company's charter, which were laid before the general
Court at their meeting on the 25th ult.
The attendance of Proprietors long before the hour appointed
for the commencement of business was very numerous.
C. MAJORIBANKS, Esq., took the Chair at twelve o'clock pre-
cisely. The Clerk having read the minutes of the last Court,
The CHAI RMAN stated the object of the present meeting, and
observed that as the documents which the Court would have to
consider and ciscuss were extremely voluminous and referred to
a subject of equally extensive and vital importance, the Board
of Directors were anxious that their conduct should meet with
the sanction and. approbation of their constituency on the pre-
sent occasion-

Sir J. MALCOLM then rose to address the Court; but was
interrupted by
Mr. WEEDON, who begged to ask whether there were
any recorded opinions of the Board of Directors which
had not been read to the Court at their former meeting.
If so it would be extremely desirable he thought, as they
bore immediately on the question,that they should be now read.
The CHAIRMAN said there was a paper of a very valu-
able character in the shape of a protest, signed by Mr.
Tucker, one of the Board ; he (the Chairman) would be most
happy to have that paper produced in the reading room, or, if
it was proposed to have it printed, he should not object to it ;
but he confessed his opinion was it would be better, without
now reading it, to proceed without delay to the business of the
Court.

An HON. PROPRIETOR asked whether any answer had been
received from Government relative to the proposal by the Com-
pany in opposition to its demand to have the Company's assets,
commercial and territorial, assigned to the Crown, on behalf of
the Territorial Government of India?
The Cus_tp_mAN said the question was really one of general
principle, and he could not venture to give any satisfactory
answer to it at present.

Another Hos. DIRECTOR, whose name we could not learn,
begged to know whether the Board of Directors were now of
the same opinion as when they wrote to the Board of Con-
troul, that they could never sanction the proposi.ion of Go-
vernment, nor recommend it to the general body of proprie.
tors.—(Hear.)

The CHAIRMAN said there had been no alteration as far as
he knew, in the opinions of those who constituted the Court
of Directors.

Mr. CARRUTHERS thought those discussions only tended to
forestall, and at the same time, to retard the progress of the
business which the Court had to discuss, and he hoped that no
such other interruption would take place.

Mr. WEEDON was exceedingly anxious that the Court should
be in full possession of all the information which related to
the important question, and in order to come to a just judg-
ment on the matters before it he considered it would be highly
proper to have the paper to which he had before referred, now
read.

The CHAIRMAN said he had no objection to the reading of the
paper in question.
Tne CLEitl: then proceeded to read the paper which embo-
died the reasons for dissent of Mr. Tucker, one of the Directors,
and which might be considered as the general recorded opinion
of the Board. The paper set out with characterising the com-
munications of Mr. Grant as specious and imposing documents,
but most fallacious and inconclusive in their principles and
results. The Company was called on in one brief line to con.
sent to the absolute surrender of the Tea Trade, which had
hitherto constituted the only certain source for the pay-
ment of the dividends, and which, conducted as at
present, sent into the British Exchequer an annual revenue
of three millions and a-half, free of collection expenses.—
(Hear, hear.) The company's assets, commercial and territo-
rial, with all their possessions and rights, were to be assigned to
the corm, and an annuity of 630,000/., was to be granted to
the proprietors, charged upon the territorial revenues of India
exclusively, and to be paid in England by half yearly instal-
ments. Now it was to be considered in the first place that
this annuity charged on the territorial revenues of India ex-
clusively, withcut a collateral security in the country, could
not be an adequate satisiactlon to the annuitants; in the
Second place two millions was not sufficient for that purprse,
and, therefore, there was no adequate provision for the pay.
ment of the ;;npuitants. The paper went on to show that
the East India Company had a clear and incontrovertible right
to their comm•rcial assets, and that MI% Grant's menace of
confiscation or destruction by legal or Parliamentary process
was evidently addressed to their fears.—(Hear, hear.) No
British Minister could ever sincerely contemplate such a pro-
ceeding.—(Hear, hear.) Nor could any statesman in the
country be found bold enough or wicked enough to carry
such a threat into execution.—(Hear. hear.) The paper
then insisted on the Company having time to discuss couces
sions which should be made by Government for the realization
of those assets. It was proposed that the trade between
England and China, and between England and India, should be
exclusively possessed by the Company till 1834, that
then it should cease, with the exception of the silk and
saltpetre trade, which should extend to MI6. That the
company should discontinue the importation of tea after 1834;
they being allowed time for dispoLing of their stock in hand
till 1830, that no private traders should import tea before July
1835, or proceed to sell it before July, 1836; that the company
should exercise a consulate authority over private traders—to
have the power of sending away any European subject from
China—that all traders should sell and have licences of the
Company, or under engagements, with penalties attached—
to observe the laws and usages of China, and that the establish-
ment of officers and servants should be reduced as much as pos-
sible. The paper went at some length into the present
political and financial state of the country to
shew from the deteriorated and insecure state of
the landed and other revenues, that an annuity charged
exclusively pp India could not adequately guarantee the di-
vidends to the annuitants, as the Government proposed
He for ole was quite willing that the Company should give up
their Ira Le with India as soon as they should wind up their
concerns and get their factories sold without such a loss as a
compelled sale would subject them to. Having admitted

mat, ne must totally dissent from the view taken by 11. e
Government as to the China Trade, In that trade the Com-
pany had no political character at all to interfere with
their commercial one. Mr. Grant had correctly stated
that it was the duty of Government in the contemplated
change, to take care of the revenues of his Majesty's Exche_
ger ; but still he was of opinion that it was a most serious
change, and one that required great consideration, for it would
open a door for the encouragement of smug3ling, which led
to the great demoralization of the people, and frequently
to the most serious of crimes. He would ask, was it nothing
to shut up the whole warehouses and docks belonging to the
Company in that metropolis ? The political economists might
here say that that would find its level. No doubt Glasgow and
Liverpool might be benefited, but he would again ask, what was
to become of the three or four thousand who were employed as
servants of the Company ? Was it nothing that they should
be thrown out upon the world as :paupers ? Surely that was a
subject that required serious consideration. Then he came to
the diminution of the number of Directors. No doubt
twenty or even sixteen Directors would be enough to conduct
the territorial business, but he could see no reason why there
should be any change. Their power and independence would
be diminished by a reduction of their numbers. No doubt
the business might be better got through by dividing the Court
into various committees, as suggested by Mr. Grant, but that was
a matter of internal arrangement, which did not require any
legislative enactment to carry into effect. The plan proposed
by Mr. Grant would make the Court look like a mere steam_
engine to be put into motion, or stopt at the will, and by the
hand of the engineer, which in this case would be the Board of
Control. He conceived it to be legislating in the wrong
mode to give nominal or apparent power to everybody, and at
the same time to keep from them the substance whilst they
only enjoyed the shadow. Should it be found necessary here-
after to reduce the- number of Directors, he would object
to there being a less number than twenty, including the
four who went out by rotation. He would also suggest that the
power of recalling the Governor-General, or other Governors of
India, should remain with the Court of Directors,—that that
Court should also have the control of the Army, as at
present. The paper then went into a long detail of
the manner in which despatches should be seist out
to India, and the manner of settlement with respect to them
between the Court of Directors and the Board of Controol.
It concluded by stating that the writer could not at all re-
concile it to himself to advise the Court of Proprietors to as-
sent to the Government plan.

Sir JOHN MALCOLM had heard with great satisfaction the
minute which had just been read. He would have
been glad at that momentous crisis to hear the sentiments of
any one connected with them, but he was the more so
when he heard the sentiments of an officer who had for so
long a time been employed in places of great trust. He would
only now state in answer to some of the questions which had
been formerly put to the Chairman, that he considered
that meeting called on purpose to enable the directors
to know how far their past conduct had givcu
satisfaction to the proprietors and what confidence
they were prepared to repose in them for the future. It
was impossible for the Government or the country; or for any
man, to expect that a question of such great magnittide and
importance could be considered in such a short time as between
the last meeting and the present. He would say that the
proprietors were not at the end of the question, but merely at
the beginning. The question that was to be decided that day
by them, was one of greater magnitude than had at any former
period come before the Court of Proprietors. If it was impor-
tant (which he did not doubt), in 1813, he would ask
what was it now, when twenty years had added so largely to
the territory possessed by the Company, and as a natural cc.n-
sequence, to the difficulties in managing and governing it? It
was now composed of all nations, and of men of all reli-
gions, which must naturally have added to those
difficulties. He spoke to them not as one who had formed a
theory of his own, but from recent experience, and from a
long experience, as he had been in their service from a boy.
Before entering into the great question that was for discussion
that day he trusted the Proprietors would excuse him for stiY-
ing a few words upon other subjects, which must enter into
their consideration of the subject. He would ask whether any
one would say that the strength of this kingdom had
not been supported in a very great degree by the
possession of India. However that possession might be
appreciated by ourselves; he knew that in every country
on the Continent England woo envied for the possession of
India, for the opinion there was that we had been most
materially benefitted by it, not only in a commercial point
of view, but in importance in the scale of nations. He
might be speaking for the last time before that
Court as it was then constituted, so that he did not think
he could be doing justice either to the nation or himself.
did he not give them his opinion upon the subject of how
we stood with regard to matters in the East. They
were now in greater danger than they had ever yet had
to encounter. They had to save them from them-
selves. He did not now speak of the proposition of
Ministers, but of the dangers they ran from measures
instituted by themselves. From the whole circum-
stances of his past life, he would never be accused of wanting
a good feeling towards the promotion of religion, but he must
call upon that Court to repress that zeal, which, he had
no douLt, was sincere, because it would lead not only to the
loss of the country, but to the dissappointment of all the
hopes of those who were most anxious for the institution
of those measures he was now speaking of. - India stood
alone—there was no history to which they could turn in order
to find out the proper mode of governing that country.
It was not only held by opinion, but it had been taken
possession of through the quarrels of the natives, and there
were now millions in that country who were most anxious
for any pretence by which to drive the conquerors
from the country, and they would be only strong according
to the means given them by their Court. Was he to be
accused of a want of love of liberty because he wished
to keep from India a free press ? He was speaking to them
from recent experience. Urider the existing laws he had at-
tempted to stop a person from publishing a paper in which had
appeared many articles complaining much of the Government
He had seen the person, and he had very honestly and justly
said that he made money by it He professed a great respect
for him (Sir John), and said that if he would give him as much
money as he made otherwise, he would support them.
He would now offer a few observations on the question imme-
diately before them, The first conference of the Chairs with
the Duke of Wellington and Lord Ellenborough, he considered
as merely preliminary, pledging neither party to any point
whatever. In the document dated October 12, 1830, he found
a paragraph, stating tne opinion of the Directors as to the
principles on which they would undertake the government of
India, and he concurred in the principles there laid
down. The Court of Drect irs ought to continue.
a strong intermediate body between the Government and
India. If that principle were granted by his Majesty's
Ministers all other matters might be easily arranged. It would
he right in the Court of Directors to refute the fallacies in Mr.
Grant's letter, but at the same time it would be their duty to
give up points which can be contested.—(Hear, hear.) Now
with respect to the CLina monopoly, he had long thought
it would be poltic to place British subjects oii the same footing
with foreigners, and thus gain many persons as useful allies
of the Company. From all he had ever read or heard
of China, however, before they could make any arrangement
for that purpose, they must get the consent of the Chinese Go-
vernment, which had always very wisely sliewn itself jealous of
us.—(Hear, hear.) Would not the Chinese continue to confine
to their first limits people so ready to convert indulgences into
rights as some of our merchants had lately shewn themselves?
This made him think that great disappointment might be felt by
many who looked upon China as an open market,and were willing
to embark goods for it. Merchants prepared to embark in this
commerce ought, therefore, to look into all the circumstances.
The disputes with the Chinese had been frequent, but looking
to our prosperity to put ourselves above the taxes of the
country, it was a wonder they were not more frequent. (Hear.)
How future disputes would be settled in the event of any
change of system, it was impossible to say ; but supposing
a war was to arise who would have to pay the ex.
p irises ? This was a point which among many others
ci.ight to be settled before any change was made. With
respect to the security proposed by his Majesty's Govern,
ment for the payment of their dividends, he agreed with the
Court of Directors that it ought to better than the territorial
revenues, which were still deficient, notwithstanding
the reductions which had been very properly made. He
approved generally of the conduct of the Court of Directors, but
was surprised, at its moderation in proposing only to add
the 800,000/. stock to the guarantee fund. If the Government
meant that the Court of Directors and the Court of Propri-
etors shOuld be separated, the sooner a new plan was proposed
the better. A thousand recollections must make the present
task of Mr. Grant the most unpleasant he ever undertook, and
he should be sorry to say anything that might be supposed to
reflect unjustly upon him ; but there was one paragraph in his
letter to which he could not help adverting. The gallant liee-
tleman then read that part of Mr. G's letter, in which he made a
distinction between the political trust reposed in the Court of
Directors, and the commercial question of the duration of the
annuity, and expressed himself much dissatisfied with the
severance of the Court of Directors from the Company at
large. Every debt contracted by the Company had been with
the knowledge and approbation of the Government, so that
the Government had no right to take advantage of the
debt due by the Company.—(Hear, hear) He now
wished to say a few words Upon the important subject
of the government of our Indian empire. Our tenure of that
country was daily, nay hourly expesied to danger, and required
constant watching. In national governments a great crisis
sometimes occurred which was marked by the historian as one
of danger, but in India every event was a crisis. A few men
being killed by robbers required a company to be sent, if they
were defeated, a battalion must be sent, and if that did not
do an army, for you could not stop. A small victory against us
vibrated throughout India for twenty years. In short, nothing
but a strong government, he might say an absolute govern-
ment (desirable as it was to place checks on all power) could
preserve us our empire.—(Hear.) Men were required to
govern that country who were regardless of calumnies, and
determined to do their duty. He would expect that there
must be a strong interrne6iate power between that empire and the
Government at home; which should consider it as the object of
paramount importance for them to attend to. He concurred with
the Court of Pirectors in their view of the Government
plan, for It would leave this Court a denuded body.—
There were many present who knew he, twenty five years
ago, published his sentiments of the Indian Government.
tie thought then that great alterations were marked, but they
were to strengthen the intermediate body wherever the pre-
.ent plan tended to weaken it.--(Cheers.) lie would not
enter into the commercial part of the question, which there
were many here better qualified to speak upon.

.Tv 1)v vutuuluvti 1u uur Secvud Folitiun.)

OLD BAILEY.--(THIS DAV.)

OLD COURT.
ATTEMPT TO MURDER Ma. MELLISH.
_ _

Noah Pease Folger, a tespectahle looking man, aged
37, descr bed as a mariner, was arraigned upon an indict-
ment, charging him with shooting at William Mellish,
Esq., on the 18th of February, with intent to kill and
murder him. There were two other counts charging him
with intent to disable the said 'William Mellish, or to
do him some grevious bodily harm.

The prisoner, in a loud seamanlike tone, pleaded not
guilty.
. .

Mr. Anotritus stated the easy fur the prosecution : Mr.
C. PHILLIPS was on the same side.

Mr. Sergeant ANDREWS and Mr. CLARKsos appeared
for the prioner.

W. Mellish, Esq., examined—l know the primer.
In 1826 I had a ship called the Partridge, engaged
in the whale-fi,hery, and the prisoner was the master
of her, and had to account for the proceeds. She
was out on her voyage three and a half years—ex -
ceeiling the usual period ; but it was not uncommon tins
vessels to be out that time. The prisoner and I differed.
and all matters in dispute were submitted to Ma. Rotel),
a countryman of the prisoner (America). I knew Alr.
Botch to be well acquainted with the matters. The pi i-
roner claimed about 1,200/. or 1.3001. of me, and
8481. 16s. sd. was awarded him. I paid him that suns
immediately in Mr. Rotche's presence. That was in Feb.
in the year 1831. From that time until the pre-
sent transaction, I had never spoken to the pri-
soner. I had never interfered in his means of getting
a livelihood. Messrs. Barnard arid Co., of Cornhill, are
my bankers. Mr. Hooper, my clerk, superintends my
business at Poplar, and he frequently sends communica-
tions to me at Messrs Barnard's, and be generally sends
Charles Stowers, my witerman, on those occasions.
About 3 o'clock on the 18th of February I went to the
door of any bankers, and received some letters of Stowers,
who was there. Mr. Patterson, of Broad-street, is my
solicitor. After I had done my business at the banker's, I
went towards Mr. Patterson's office, having previously
given Stowers a letter, and directions to wait for me.
On arriving in Spread Eagle-court, I received, as I
thought, a severe blow on the back of the bead. I was
not aware it was a pistol, I thought it was a bludgeon. I
fell on the pavement instantly. I had no opportunity
of seeing by whom the blow was inflicted, nor did I hear
the report of any fire arms. I was insensible for some
time, and when I c inte to my senses, I was lying down
where 1 fell, and was ❑ot aware of any injury until I felt
blood at the back of my head. I was taken to Mr.
Miles's, a surgeon, in Throgmorton•street, where I was
for some time under the care of Mr. Brodie. I received
every attention from Mr. Miles and Mr Brodie ; I have
been under their care ever since, but I feel very little in-
convenience now, A ball was extracted from my head,
and some swan-shot.

John Furdy, a painter and glazier, on the 18th of last
February was engaged in cleaning the windows of Mr.
Lutty's office, in Spread Eagle-court. He saw the pri-
soner come up the court behind Mr. Mellish, and he came
up as close to him as he possibly could. He pushed the
pistol towards his neck, and indeed touched his neck. It
went off, and Mr. Mellish fell down backwE rds. The
prisoner then threw the pistol gently behind him. O,her
persons came to Mr. Mellish's assistance.

Cross- examined.—No other person hut witness was then
in the court.

George Beal heard the report of a pistol, and SAW the
prisoner throw a pistol away from him. The prisoner
did not appear to be intoxicated.

George -Homes, is shopma❑ to Mr. Stevens; on the day
in question was in Mr. Steven's shop, in Spread Eagle-
court, saw the smoke ascend, and Mr. Mellish fall ; ran
out and asked who shot the gentleman. The prisoner
said, " 1 shot him, and I shall be hinged for it." He ap-
pealed to be sober.

John Carmin—ls a lia;rdresser, and lives opposite
Spread Eage-court ; hearing the report of fi,e-arms. ran
into the court, and saw Mr. Mellish leaning upon a gentle-
:non, and another supporting him ; heard the prisoner say he
had had the pistol loaded for three months, and now that it
had done it's duty he was satisfied and was comfortable.
He said also that Mr. Mellish had robbed him, not only of
his money but of his character, and that his life was ame-
nable to tt,e laws of this country for what he had just done.
Delivered the prisoner into the custody of Rawlins. Fol-
lowed Air. Me lish to the surgeon in Throgroorton-street.
The priettner appealed sober.
John Price—ls street-keeper of Broad-street Ward.
nt to Spread Eagle-c-urt and saw the prisoner in com-
pany with the list witness. Rawlins was in company with
him. Assisted in securing the prisoner. The prisoner
sa;d, " I have followed him for a month and I know I shah
be hanged for it.'' Witness produced the pistol. Found
only a penny upon him. On taking him to the Compter
the prisoner told him the pistol was loaded with two balls,
four slugs, and small shot. He appeared to be in his senses.
Join Rawlins—ls beadle of the parish of Sr. Benedict's.
Hearing the report of a pistol, went to the Court and took
the prisoner into custody. Prisonersaid he had no occasion
to lay hold of him, he had shot Mr. Alehish, and would go
qui -tly. Took him to the watchhouse, and the prisoner
gave up a powder flask.
Jo'.n Miles—ls a surgeon, living in Throgmorton
street. Mr Mellish was brotiglit to him in the first in-
stance. Found two wounds on the right side of his
head; stopped the blond, and accompanied Mr. Mellish to
his own house. Band •ged his head, and the fifth (lay af-
terwards found a half bell. Produced the ball. In his
opinion the pistol was fired slantingly. If it had been
fired herizvally, it world have injured the bone.
Mr. Sergeant ANDREWS, for the prisoner, called
Mr. Andrew Ne. ce H syter, who stated that he was a
shipbroker, and had sailed, in 1826, with the prisoner,
who was the master, in the ship Partridge. Joined the
ship at Gray.send. When at Cape de Vert', the prisoner
sent twelve of his men ashore, and got others in their
stead. Sent also about three or six months' of the ship's
prevision. The men he got in the place of his own men
had never been on board a ship before. Was on a South
Sea voyage, and therefore it was important that the men
should be able, and have good knowledge of their work.
Could not account for these acts of the prisoner. The pri.
soner kept pistols in his berth. One Sunday he called the
third mate below, and fired a pistol at him. The ball grazed
his ear. The prisoner laughed at it, and said it was agent]
joke. The men in the ship thought it was to he attri
buted to drinking. When off the Gallipagoes, sent out
the ship's boat, without a sail or provisions, for a dry and
a half. Suffered extremely from want of water. He
treated it as a joke. lie was always boasting of his " big
ship." On their way from those islands, the Captain
nearly lost the ship, by putting a man totally inefficient at
the helm. There was a Welsh sailor on hoard, whom
the Captain used often to have down into the cabin, and
make him repeat to him the Lora's prayer in Welsh, and
Mink with him. 0 i one ocean on he jumped out of
the boat on the back of a whale. He used often to un-
dress himself, and dance about. He broke about a dozen
windows, and cut his head and hands. There was a
cabin-boy on board, whom he often threatened to flog, if
he did not, after eating his dinner, throw the plate and
knife and folk out of the window. At the Sand-
wich Islands be gave his sopha away, and ordered
the cooper to mike a cradle for him instead. He would
lance naked round the cabin, with a chair. Tie
prisoner kept horse-pistols under his head at night,
When Thompson, one of the mats, psed to Le a-bed and
asleep, the prisoner used tp jeinp upon him, with a pistol
when asleep in both hands. The pistols were sometimes loathed, some-
times not. The prisoner sometimes came and threw cold
water
He was
hs
berthseveral
svheoi
paotuynt authority.
:i
remonstrated
t his
he said tae
pe would
ra
in e of fencing with
he had placed on the deck. The cook died during the
voyage, and the prisoner would not sleep alone in his
cabin for far of his gl Ost. At the Sandwich Islands he
was completely mad, and was attended by two doctors,
who thought he was dying. He had his head shaved.
When he arrived at Blackwall Docks, be appeared much
worse, and was put down below by the pilot. It is his
opinion that, during the time he was under his obserea-
thin, he was of insane mind ; and thinks him so.
(The case was proceeding when our reporter left.)

During the course of last week an actor of the
Pavilion Theatre, formerly attached to Drury-lane, disco-
vered, in the neighbourhood of the B ink, a poc%et-Lcok.
Upon opening it, he fund it containzti bank-note and
checks to the amount of 1,200/. In the treen room of
the thetre be indiscreetly exhibited his trouvaille ; and,
being advised to immediately advertise it, employed the
printer of the establishment to issue bills during the course
of the afternoon, stating into whc,se hands the notes had
tallen, and placard them in the vicinity of his discovery.
This was dune; and after the conclusion of the perform-
ance the actor re!urned to his home, when he found his
next had
iml;eneinr,
g pickedthe m
eandit,h
merchant
tnoo t‘evsh wit ret
they belonged
The
t.lac)telk,ee,raccording to the notice on the handbills, to require
the restor4tion of his pocket-book of Mr. but in-
stead received the narrative of its second loss. Thy mer-
chant behaved with forbearance and liberality, and declared
his belief ot the stat.ment ; but, conscious of the misinter-
pretation to which it might sunj,ct hint, the unlucky actor
Mowed t,itris-lf to b, to preyrd upon by a seositi ye auxiciy,
that at this present moment he lies up6n a bed of sickness,
verhaps of death.-- reu,,,,

COURT OF KING'S BENCH.—(THIs DAY

The Loan CHIEF JUSTICE, Mr. Justice LITTLEDAI.i,
Mr. Justice J. PARKE and Mr. Justice PATTESON, to, k
their seats on the Bench at a quarter to two o'clock.
The LORD CHEF JUSTICE informed the Bar that the
four first days of Term would he wholly appropriated to
taking London new trials, ar.d that the Court would
sit late on those days in ordEr to endeays lir
to get through t' em. Mondays and Wednesday, would
he devoted to other new trial, and on Saturdays only
the Crown paper world he taken.

THE DINNER TO MR. COKE, AT ST

ANDREVS-HALL, APRIL 12.

(From the second edition of the Norwich Mercitry.)
Five tables were laid in the hall, handsomely decorated.
Mr. Coke arrived about 4 o'clock. and was loudly greeted.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex came soon aft. r.
and was received with the loudest plaudits. His Royal
Highness took the chair, and nearly 500 sat down to
dinner at about 5 o'clock. After the usual routine toasts,
His ROYAL HIGHNESS gave " The health of T. W
Coke, Esq , the long-tried and consistent advocate of the
people's rights, and the active and uniform promoter of
the public good, with three times three."
Mr. COKE sa:d, " When I first off red myself for the
county, I did so with great reluctance, for I had no wish
to come into Parliament. I was no orator, no politician,
I was young, and just returnsd from abroad, and my pur-
suits (if I could appeal to the I 'dies) were much more
congenial to my feelings. But I was much solicited by
Sir Harbord Harbord, Sir E. Astley, and Mr. Fellowes,
of Shottisham, who said, and said truly, I owed it to R y
father's memory, to Sir E. Astley, who had :ust stood a
severe contest, and that if I would not, a Tory would
come in. At the mention of a Tory smiling in,
gentlemen, my blood chilled all over me from head to
foot, and I came forward. Educated as I had
been in the belief that a Tory was not rt friend to
liberty and to the revolution—a friend to passive
obedience and nonresistance—a supporter of bribery
and corruption—(Hear, hear, hear)—and to all the
evils of oligarchy, I could not resist, and I have lived to
see this country brought to the state it is now in by that
very system. When I first went into Parliament there
were no taxes—no poor rates.--(Hear.) Who broueht
in the system and reduced the country to this state ? The
Tories and their system, and they alone.—(Cheers.) I
was desired to write one letter to George Earl of Orford,
which I did, and I well remember the answer ; it was
thus—" Houghton and Holkhatn have always been united
in the bonds of friendship—let it ever be so." Soon after
I met the Noble Earl, who said, " I can never support
you again ; you always clog the wheels of Government."
This was not very pie isant. I had not been in the House
of Commons more than two months when Charles Thorny).
son said to roe one day, " If Mr. Coke is incined for a
peerage, I will mention it." Soon after this the Duke
of Portland wrote to me, anti said that the King
allowed them to make three Peers, and I should be
the first if I liked. 1 immediately went to Lon-
don to Burlington-house, and called on the Noble
Duke, and told him I was astonished that he should
think I would desert Mr. Fox ; that I had never de
sorted that great statesman, and never would ; that so great
was toy regard for him, that so long as I lived I would
ever support him. At that period Mr. Pitt had promised
to carry the greit questions—trial by jury, the repeal of
the Test and Corporation Acts, Catholic emancipation
(exactly half a century afterwards it was carried), and Re-
form. This, it is well known, he never performed. The
Dissenters believed Mr. Pitt, and relied upon him. Mt.
Hurry, of Yarmouth, and Mr. Kerridge, of Harleston,
waited on me, and asked me to pledge myself to the sup-
port of the repeal of the Test Acts. I refused to give any
pledge, as I have always done, for it is a demand which
ought never to be required....-(Cheer-.) I told him Mr.
Pitt would not fulfill his word, and that I had no reliance
on him, for he came into power by the back stairs. They
replied Mr. Pitt was a young man, and would fulfil his
word. But he never did, gentlemen. All these three
great questions are now, however, carried. A Noble
Lord, who I never thought would act unkindly towards
me, alluded to a word which dropped hastily from
me. The Royal Duke has said Ministers are generally
considered responsible for the acts of the Sovereign, and
therefore to them the hasty and inconsid are expression
I used could alone have been intended.—(Hear, hear.)
It is impossible alter the favours I have received from his
M 'jetty, and the obligations and kindness I have expe-
riencett at the hands of the illustrious Duke, it is impos-
sible to suppose that such an expression could he other-
wise than a dropped expres.ion, and his Royal Highness,
knowing the love and esteem I bear him, will believe that
it was a hastily and inconsiderately dropped expression.—
( Hear, hear.) There is one point inure to which I wish
to allude. I have never received a farthing of the public
money ; my hands are clean. About two years ago a per-
son of the name of Newton charged me with receiving
large sums for Dringeness lighthouse ; this I scorned to
notice ; but the other night, to the House of Com-
mons, Mr. Hume alluded to that lighthouse. Now,
Dungeness is my own private property, quite as
much as that of any other person. In the year 1828,
the lease expired ; the Trinity-house wished to have it,
hut the Government renewed the lease to me, and I aver
to you it was the better for the public that they should do
so. The offer was made by Government to me—l did
not seek it—l made no conditions, and Mr. Peel the other
night did me the justice to say in the House that Govern-
ment offered it to me on condition that I would give up
the property in twenty years ; I did so, and it was a good
b again for Government. Mr. Hume, on the evening
alluded to, said that I received 8.0001. from Dungeness
ard 4,000/. from Harwich, wherers the real tact is, that
all I receive is 2,0001. from Dungeness. Therefore you
see how correct this modals-headed fellow is in his calcu-
litions that he is always making, and I can but be glad of
t'lis opportunity of stating the truth of this matter. Once
again accept ten thousand thanks for this treat compli-
ment you have paid me, which, believe, I shall feel to the
last hour of my existence."—(Loud cheering.)
Soon afterwards Mr. COKE again rose and said—The
toast I am about to give I propose from the bottom of my
heart. It is the health of the illustrious Prince, the
Duke of Sussex, who has done us the honour to preside at
the dinner this day,—(Enthusiastic cheers.)
His ROYAL HIGHNEss rose and said—Gentlemen, you
have heat d the speech of my Hon, Friend, which I have
also listened to with considerable attention ; the more so,
because he has taken the opportunity to allude to a cir-
cumstance which took place some time ago at Lynn, anti
which I knew, from my own personal knowledge of my
Hon. Friend, was never meant. By the account which I
saw of i t, and which was sent me, I was quite certain it
was a mere lapsus linytte of the moment, which some of
a dirty factious pusillanimous party had ma le use of for his
wretched objects. I saw it in letters half a font in length,
which was sent me in an anonym us letter. His Roy..
Highness then alluded to a letter which he had received
of this kind with reference to his presiding at the dinner,
and assured the comprny aefitre he read it that Mr. Coke
was totally ignorant of its contents. His Royal Highness,
a•ter a few strung remarks, read a letter, of which we
believe the following is nearly, if not quite, a copy :
" Sir,—A committee of gentlemen were appointed on
S tturday last at Norwich, to address your Royal High
ness, and to request you to preside at a dinner about to he
given to T. W. Coke, Esq. In the propriety of the county
of Not folk paying such a compliment, there cannot b.
two opinions—(So far, said his Roy .1 Highness, all is
right. It then goes on)—but for your Royal Highness
to come forward so prominently to show this distinguished
compliment to a man who, for years past, has taken every
opportunity in public to vilify each branch of the Royal
family, excepting yourself, more particularly George 111
and George IV., cannot appear so neceseary. Such con•
duct would, he assured, lessen you it the opinion of ever)
good and loyal subject, however much you may be flatterer
to your face, in the heat of party seal, by those whom
you wonld meat at such an assembly—(This person
acknowledges himself to be a party man, after all)—
and such conduct could not fail to wound the feelings
of his Mijesty._.(So this fellow not only undertakts
to re id me a lesson, but pretend 4 to know the feeling-
of his Majesty.) Take a'ais hint as intended ; think
for yourself, and act as you think necessary.'—(And
then this person has subscribed himself by a flue
Greek name, signifying he is a laver of truth.)
Gentlemen, I do think for myself anti knowing that
tosaYgirv'eg,
rly
ati,yiyn
thingeraniltds
cC
here ttiofiuk
lep
oafyi stnt uri
family
nitaectleopnfatbir'leenspaleoleYft to Mil-
d my having received this letter, and I
kwnhei,e his vi
knew nothing'
nothinrgtues merit. I assure you that Mr. Cok.
should not have mentioned it had he not alluded to th.
occur rence which took placa at Lynn. If the it party
so low as to lie obliged to descend to misrepresentation, 1
for one do not wish to have any thing to de, with them ; I
never had, and I hope I never shall so long as 1
Gentlemen, I have to Apologise for the manner in which
I have reiti the latter, but my sight fads me greatly, an
I faired It difficult to decipher it. I say this, because
amongst the lest of their unsretaresentations, to-morrow
mornings perhaps, they will say I was drunk;
thus-
who are here will he ready to contradict it. I lens
my character in your bands, because I know the val..
nt your good opi.eion. ;Lying the pleasure of chit
company of the Wise of Norfolk, I take the oppor- j

415177.7.nrr....„.
•
'unity of proposing his Cislige's isealtis;,‘lneiitts it telth
the aristocracy of this country ; and beelto, remark,
rt at one of the first uses made by his Grace of the liberty
long and so unjustly withheld from him, .wats to give
support to the great measure of reform.
The Duke of NORFOLK returned thanks.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS said—On the demise of that
illustrious statesman, Mr. Fox, Mr. Coke had attachel
himself to Earl Grey. His Royal Highness had followed
in the same track; and he believed, if Ministers had fair
play, and a little time were given them, they would do
more for the country than was expected from them ; too
many irons in the fire did not do good, they tended to im-
pede their efforts; he believe] their intentions were pure
and upright, and that they meant to deal honestly t y the
people.

" Earl G and his Majesty's Ministers—may they
witness the fkasperity of a grateful nation, whose tights
they have restored."
His ROYAL HIGHNESS next said, I give you
" Lady Ann Coke and the c; ildren of Holkham."
Three-times-three.—(Long, loud, and continued cheers.)
Lady Ann C,ke, who was seated in the centre of t' •
gallery, with two of her children, and who soeme i qui e
to enter into the spirit of the scene, rose and curtsied her
acknowledgments.

Mr. COKE—Gentlemen, I beg to thank you sincerely
for the honour you have done Lady Ann Coke. I wish
she could return thanks for herself, fur no one is more
ready to acknowledge a kindness than she is, and she pos-
-eßses much greater powers to thank you than I do. In
speaking of that blessed woman, no one who knows her
but would concur in every expression of praise which I
could utter ; but if I were to enlarge upon her virtues,
as my heart would lead me to do, I should occupy
too much of your time and your attention. We have
now been married ten years, and so happily have we
lived, that I believe we might lay claim to the flitch of
baiin.—(Cheers.) I may say, that during the whole ten
)ears we have scarcely had a difference ; and this reminds
me of an anecdote respecting connubial happiness which
o •currn d at a table where the late Bishop of LoNnox was
present. A lady said—" Go, my Lord, Icm assure you
I have been married two or three-and-twenty years, and
we have never had a difference." " Then, Millam," rep iel
the Bishop, you must have been a very dull couple in-
deed." I trust in God th rt those children whom you see
before you will follow the principles we have so long
advocated.

After some other toasts his Highness, ac( ompa-
nied by the Doke of Norfolk. Mr. Coke, and other noble_
men and gentlemen, then left the hall, about half-past 11.

RELISH FOR NEWSPAPERS.—An old pen-
si ned marine—one who was present at the battle of
Bunker's Hill, a second Corp Tel Trim. and who is no v in
the enjoyment of good health—is very fond of read.ng
newspapers when he can get them. When repute fly an-
noyed by inquiries as to his appetite on this subject, he
lately replied—" Why, to tell you the truth, when I was
in the corps, a goat was kept in the barracks which n•,14
in the habit of eating the papers, and being killed. I was
asked to partake of it—l can give no other reason."

We learn from Berlin that the representation
of AUBER'S opera of Gustave, ou le Bal ILL:nue, has
been prohibited in that city, on the ground that the event
is too recent, and that several members of the family of
that Prince are k till living.— Galignuni's Messenger.

SIGNS OF WAR.—A recruiting party com-
menced work at Gainshorough mart last Tuesday : such
has not been seen there since the peace. The mart is much
infested with rogues and vagabonds, and the prison gets
pretty well ft led in the course of the day, through the vi-
gilance of the burgess-constable and police-officer.
C/ESARIAN OPERATION—On the 26th Feb.
last ELIZABETH SAVOYARD DITE BERTHELICT, wife of M.
JEREMIE TROTTIER, aged 40 years, died suddenly at St.
Laurent, where she resided. She was near her confine-
ment. Dr. AIOREAU called 20 minutes after her death,
and effected upon her the Caesarian operation. The re-
suit was, three living infan.a, two boys and a girl—two of
these died immediately, the third lived four days by arti-
ficial respiration.—Montreal Spectator.

A most diabolical attempt was made upon
the life of the Rev. Mr. LYONS, a Roman Catholic Cler.
gyman, on the night of Monday. As the Rev. Gentle-
man was retiring to rest in his house, near iMmullet, a
shot was discharged through the window of hie bed-room,
and several slugs lodged in the opposite wall and various
p trts of the room. Mr. LYONS providentially eacaped un-
injured, and it is probable the perpetrators will be brought
to justice, as we understatri such information has been ob-
tained as is likely to ensure their speedy discovery and
apprehension.—Mayo Constitution.
We understand that two sergeants and five
police-constables of the metropolitan police establishment
have been sent to Liverpool to join Mr. DOWLING, late
superintendent of the Lambeth division of metropolitan
police, who resigned for the appointment of superintendent
of the duck police at that town. The inspector and other
officers have been selected to assist Mr. DOWLING in im-
proving the police of the Liverpool Docks, and introducing
the system which is pursued in the management of the
metropolitan police force.

The question of the Lesseeship of Drury-
lane Theatre was to have been settled on Thursday last,
hut, for some reason or ether the matter was postponed
until next week. The Sub-Committee affect a monstrous
mystery, and if one of the body meet another in the street
t ey only deal in awful whisperings; but the fact is, that
t ere is nothing to conceal, unless it be the few offers that
have ben made. The choice lay, only a few days ago,
between LAPORTE (of Covent-garden) anti BONN, the
p.esent Stage-manager of Drury-lane, under Captain Pot-
HILL. The tender of the latter was considerably above
that of the former; and consequently LAPORTE, unless we
a'e misinformed, has retired from the competition, and
t,e Sub-Committee are thus left with only the other offr
before them. LAPORTE'S intention was to combine the
oat rations of the two Theatres; and should BONN he_
come the Lessee of Drury-lane, which is more than pro-
wn
och
t).l
oe
f,
especially
en pinee
.b in ivnyoeonnrtteuhd.
shepiaatrrtrdttrmopa
nfreezntteltitasc,
e;te
willar
performersa tbusulutticmh ianwt
ultimately
now
lhwethweeirhgh:ateog
ut
ploy
in-
starlet., the joint lessees (for such in effect they must he)
will be careful in this respect not to give too strong
claim for the opening of a third theatre. We therefore
take it for granted that their dismissals will be gradual,—
Observer.

It is rumoured about the Foreign-office th.it
it is in contemplation to effect the general reduction of
salaries througnout that establishment. It is also proposed
will further to reduce the allowance, to some of our Am-
bassadors ; and Paris is motioned as one of the Maces at
which a reduction is to take place.—Court Jou►nal.
Although most of his Majesty's Ministers
have been enjoying a relaxation from their public duties
:luring the past week, there has been considerable activity
amongst the whole foreign diplomatic body, scarcely a day
.earring during the first five days of the week without
con-crences being held at one or other of the embassies.

It is rumoured, but we do not believe it, that
thelten'iarn is to change Members, for the purpuie of
giving he new Lord of the Admiralty a seat.
Lord GRANVILLE may be expected in London
in the c ,urse of a day or two. The quidnuncs are draw-
in all sorts of inferences hum this simple fact as to the
probability or not of his Lordship's return to Paris. N,w,
to set them quite at rest on the subject, it may be as well
to inform them that the Noble Lord comes to England
s .lely that he may be enabled, by taking the oaths and
his seat this Parliament, to leave his proxy with his N ble
Friend Lord GREY. His return ni P iris will: take p see
towards the cod of next week —New Court Journal.

The Harvey cleared out this day for Canada,
vith entie,rant lati,iltes ; upwards of 150 of the tenantry
•f 'he Earl of Dxsas, from the borders of the county of
rippetary and Limerick, whom his Lordship is sending
for settlers in a new colony. The Thetis, of thi. port,
.ituatnasastaiannteixopeyoryitangeen,t,arti.udrpohed
oiss‘essiwngiti all n
tiho.eoesrties,ar
utter
rie f s or a
requisites
e'eared out yesterday at the Cistona-house, with 170 emi-
grants for Quebec.—Limerick Chronicle of Wedlieseay.
THE INFLUENZA.--.The cause of the dis-
order is generally attributed to the influence of the north-
,isterly winds, which are at present armed with a mala-
rious property exceedingly injurious to most constitutions.
It is, therefore, necessary to guard against its effects in
-,.-ery possible manner. Exposure to cold draughts, night
iir, or damp, are almost sure to produce ir, and, although
he malady is scarcely ever attended with a fatal result,
is con-equences may be rendered so by negligence. Ire
ytnptonas are those of a violent cold, attended wi'l) Pain!
n the head and the limbs, inflammation in the eyes i
d withan
rile mucus membrane of the nostril, accompanied k,,,
(tough and sore throat. The best preventive i
open air as little as possible, and guarding the
tog the person warm and comfortable'Peri:ranee, to be fotlowed-
and damp. As re-
reast from the influence of the cold
t medicines imme
,
g'ingistoburtoaint and
feast
orany t
1 4 at bett.time. The ..trotigest man
:ieattleielysDtti.ho,ee.smkty,ssonappt,:ewiffid,eseernti:vaie
jartAeb:e::;.:i
I, ,
otter
ier
• as 1.k..1y to feel ,his malady as the most
~,,i,," female; therefore every one should be equally
erudot. ttaltkeeiunfluence of .
,t3pltoretie, to be