The Sun.
London, England, 1832-11-13 00:00:00

ARCTIC EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF

CAPTAIN ROSS.

Yesterday an adjourned general meeting of the friends
and supporters of this expedition was held at the Horti-
cultural Society's Rooms, Regent-street.
Captain BEECHY was called to the Chair.

The CHAIRMAN observed, that it was unnecessary for
him to dilate on the importance of the objects the meeting
was called on to promote : they were identified with the
honour of the country and the credit of the naval service—
with the promotion of science and the general interest of
the empire. They were called on, too, by feelings of hu-
manity and duty, to use every exertion to push forward
the cause briskly and effectually. A brave and experienced
officer, with a few gallant followers, who left our bleak
and desolate shores more than three years ago, with a
view of effecting what several celebrated men had at-
tempted to effect—a north-west passage to the Pacific,
and thus benefiting the commerce and also adding to
the renown and resources of this country—(Hear, hear)
—ought not to be left to perish for want of succour.
He has not been heard of in his perilous and noble en-
terprise. Shall it be said that such a man is to be con-
signed to neglect and oblivion ? No ; he could not be con-
signed to oblivion, for his name will live in the records
of his country.—( Hear, hear.) But something more than
sympathy in his fate is now required. When the present
expedition becomes known, the public, he was sure, will
gladly answer to the call now made on its generosity and
gratitude. If lie escaped the perils of the ocean, there
was still strong hope that he now survived, and may be
extricated from his difficulties. This hope was founded
on the fact that he was supplied with three years' provi-
visions ; and if he reached the Fury, abandoned by Capt.
Parry in 1825, there was every probability that he would
find in the wreck a great accession to his stores. But the
expedition will have a subsidiary object in view—it will
be made also one of discovery. It will endeavour to fill
up the interval between Cape Turn-again (the eastern
limit of Captain Franklin's discoveries) and the Straits
of the Fury and Hce/a, where Captain Parry was stop-
ped by the ice ; or endeavour to determine where else is
situated the north-eastern extremity of the American Con-
tinent. Thus, whether the expedition be considered as
one of humanity and duty to Captain Ross, or as ad-
vancing the interests of science and commerce, it was
one that the country was called on to support.—(Cheers.)
What ! if the expedition bad reached him when his com-
panions had sunk under accumulated suffering and want—
when all his own resources were exhausted, and hope
alone, together with his own intrepid courage, were left
him—if he should return home, how would not the coun-
try be delighted, and what heartfelt emotions of pride and
satisfaction would not those who were instrumental in his
release feel at such an event ? If a rival nation should here-
after send out an expedition, and find but the hilt of Cap-
tain boss's sword, would they not display it as a curious
and precious relic? But if the present expedition should
ring back the man that bravely wielded the sword,
should not that be deemed a proud trophy ?—(Cheers.)
Captain iNl`Coarocinx congratulated the meeting on the
flattering prospects of the expedition. The Lords of the
Treasury granted the sum of 2,0001. ; and of the remain-
der of the expense, which is estimated at 3,0001., 1,400/.,
were already received ; and he was confident, that before
the end of the week, 2,0001. would be collected within
the metropolis alone. (Hear, hear.) He was anxious to
take that public opportunity of rectifying a misapprehen-
sion that was beginning to be entertained, and which may
operate as a stumbling block to the success of the enter-
prise, in consequence of a statement made at the last meet-
ing. Captain Back, who is to conduct the expedition, re-
quired 120 bags of certain provisions called pemican, from
the Hudson's Iday Company. The Company generously
promised every assistance, but said that they could only
furnish him with sixty bags at the outset. Now as Cap-
tain Back was to be more than three years away, the lull
quantity which he required was not absolutely waotti

(PRICE 7g.)

until the article was procured in a good state from the in-
terior of the country. So that, what some may have con-
sidered an impediment, was no impediment whatever,—
(Hear, hear.) There was another error whsch he wished
to notice—it was said that if Captain Ross were alive, he
must have been heard of. Now it was a matter of his-
tory, that for three years some of a ship's erew lived on
Marble Island, a barren rock, in the remotest part of
Hudson's Bay, on train oil, seal's flesh, and whale blubber.
Besides, it does not follow that the Esquimau', if they had
seen Captain Ross, or any of his crew, would announce
the fact. They are notoriously the least communicative
race of Indians. Besides, the tribes of them that haunt
those regions are the enemies of the Indians who trade
with the Hudson Bay Company, and may naturally be un-
willing to be instruments in affording relief the friends
of the Company.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. SrENcE said, that the completion of the expedition
depended mainly on the publicity given to their proceedings
by the Press. It always advocated, in the most generous
manner, every measure that tended to advance science and
humanity. It bad already done this cause great service,
and he trusted it would not now withhold its kind ser-
vices.—(Cheers. )
A Central Committee was then appointed, with power
to appoint Co-operating Committees through the country.
Thanks being voted to the Chairman, the meeting
broke up.

DON PEDRO'S FORCE.

(From the Morning Chronicle.)

By the Soho steam-packet, which left Oporto
on the sth November, we have received the
following important communication. The cor-
rectness of the statements may be relied on,
our correspondent is himself a good judge of
such matters, and he had access to the very best
sources of information :

OPORTO, Nov. 5, 1832.—The following is an account of Don
Pedro's army on November 3, 1832:
Infantry Regiments, Nos. 3,6, and 10, 600 each ...1,800 men.
No. 18, three battalions ...1,80)
Cagadores, Nos. 2,3, 5, and 12-600, 600, 700, 600 2,500
Donna Maria 2d Old Volunteers 7OO
English and French Brigade 1,600
Guides and Artillery 5OO
Disposable men on board men of war
Academicians and Volunteers of Fafe 3OO
New Volunteers, enrolled—seven batallions 4,200
Volunteers who assemble on days of attack, not
enrolled 2,000
In Hospital, and will return to duty 5OO

16,300
Cavalry—English and Portuguese l2O
Do. Volunteers 3O
Do. just landed from ship Wellington, all fine
English horses 94-244

16,544

Don Pedro, therefore, has 16,300 infantry
and 244 horse now in the field. Don Pedro
himself is the very life and soul of this army ;
and were he by any chance removed, it would
crumble to pieces in a week. Unfortunately fog
his cause, he has ►to master-spirits about him.
All his Ministers—the Marquis Palmella,
Count Villa Flor, the Minister of Marine—are
totally unfit for the situations they hold in such
eventful times. Colonel Hodges is said to pos-
sess some talent and energy of character. This
feature of his character is, however, somewhat
shaded by a restless ambition and jealousy of
the Portuguese officers, who naturally wish to
surround Don Pedro, and by a tyrannical dis-
position, but too much manifested in his general
conduct and behaviour to the army.

FLEET OF DON PEDRO, Nov. 3.
Guns. Men.
Frigates—Reinha de Portugal 46
Donna Maria
Sloops—Portuana 2O
Villa de Praya lB
Twenty-third of July
Regency
Mendallo
_.... _.. 14

Villa Flor 2B
Liberal
Fayal l 3
Constitution l5 .... .... 90

1,460
This fleet are at anchor off the bar of Oporto
and in the Douro, repairing the damage sus-
tained in the last action ; I counted eighty-two
shot holes in the sides of the Donna Maria, but
the other ships, keeping at a very respectable
distance, had little damage done them. Indeed,
actual cowardice is imputed to some of the prin-
pal officers. Admiral Sartorius is perfectly re-
covered of his wounds, hut he appears to have
sad elements to work with. However, it is
roundly asserted in every company that he is
not the man required. His want of energy and
decision, even in common transactions, but
more especially in the face of an enemy, has
subjected him, if not to contempt among his
officers and crew, at least to their ridicule. The
fortifications extend round Oporto from the Fon-
tainhas by Born Fim, Agradendente, Lapa, Car-
valhido, Born Successo, and Vlllar, defended
by 60 guns, and with ditches, stockades, &c.,
which, it is said by military men of experience,
could not be taken without a certain loss of
10,000 men. It is asserted that Don Miguel's
artny does not exceed 25,000 men, 20,000 of
whom are on the north side, and 5,000 on the
south side of the Douro. His fleet consists of
the following ships, viz. :

.
Guns. Men.
Don John IV B2
Princess Royal
Sybille
-- sloop . 22
two brigs each 20
20 2OO

230 2,117
This squadron is now in Lisbon, repairing
the trifling damage sustained in the last action,
and intend putting to sea immediately. Ad-
miral Felix is acknowledged, by the officers in
Admiral Sartorius's fleet, to have behaved, in the
last action, in the most admirable way possible.
WINE NOW IN VILLA NOVA.
Factory Wine, British 2.0,000 Pipet.
, National 13,000
Royal Wine Company lO,OOO
Consumption, do 17,000
Brandy ..

Total 63,000 Pipes.
This wine is at present entirely in the hands
of Don Miguel, wbo, I am informed, would
part with it by paying him at the rate of 51. per
pipe. Five thousand men would liberate this
wine, and three thousand would keep possession,
but Don Pedro is not as yet in a position to
spare this number from his army defending
Oporto ; though, it is confidently asserted, he
will hazard an attack very shortly, by which, it
successful, he will gain a revenue of 50s. per
pipe, or 157,5001. At present Don Pedro has
no other revenue than that drawn by the Cus-
tom-house, which, from the present stagnation
of business, though there are now upwards of
four hundred sail of shipping in the Douro,
is very inconsiderable. Don Pedro has
many friends in Portugal ; at present the)
are doubtful who will succeed, and are rfraid
to declare in his favour. He has also St ny
enemies ; the most powerful undoubte( ly is
the Church ; but could Don Pedro, who is ex-
tremely popular with the troops, and who i•
seldom absent from them, only once succeed in
defeating his brother, all are ready to come for-
ward and declare for the Constitution. While,
therefore, he is able to pay his army and fleet
regularly, and he continues to receive reinforce
tnents from England as hitherto, there can be no

doubt as to the ultimate issue of this unnatural
contest. But should England, or rather the men
of loan contracts, fail to enable him to do this, ,77:11-1-
his cause must be hopeless. Up to t141024e not ton
more than 600 men have come °vet'
Pedro's army, and about 100 men have ",s.
over from Pedro to Don Miguel's. I hax;e-
Don Miguel's army amounts to about 25,000
men, at least so it is reported. I have, however,
great reason to believe that 10,000 of this num-
ber are paid and kept together by the :arbitrary
despotism of the Priests, and only wait for an
opportunity to return to their homes.

ROLLS COURT, Nov. 12.

PIERCY V. ROBERTS.

This case came on again this morning for the pur-
pose of stating to the Court the conflicting autho-
rities, on the point suggested at the hearing, as to
the power of an assignee in whom a bankrupt's
estate was vested, to institute and conduct a suit in
equity without the consent in writing of a majority
of the creditors of the estate, required by the e,tatitte
7 Geo. IV. c. 57, sec. 32. The question that ativm
was, whether the words of the Act were imperative
so as to compel a Court, on the suggestion of a de-
fendant, the party charged, to stop the proceedings
in the cause, on its not appearing, although it was
alleged, that the consent of the creditors bad been
obtained.

Mr. BICKERSTETH cited a variety of cases on the
point, and submitted that the Act had not been in-
tended in any way for the benefit of defendants, but
only for the relief of creditors as against assignee,
if they had improperly conducted the suit. The
reason of the thing seemed to be against the objec-
tion suggested by the defendant.

• -
His HONOUR was very much inclined against the
objection. He considered that the debtor against
whom a suit was instituted by the assignees was
discharged by that proceeding, and the creditors
could not again resort to him. The defendant, there-
fore, being discharged, and not being liable to any
subsequent proceedings, there was no ground of
complaint with him; while the creditors, if the pro-
ceeding by the assignee was successful, had the be-
nefit of it, and if unsuccessful through the fault of
the plaintiff, they had their remedy against him for
having misconducted it. Upon the whole it was
to be considered that the notice required by the Act
was simply with a view to the benefit of creditors,
and that being the only consideration that was to
govern the construction of the Act, the objection of
the defendant could not be available. As it was
material, however, that some uniform rule should be
adopted, his Honour stated that he would commu-
nicate with the other Judges upon the point.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Nov. 12.

EARL OF FALMOUTH V. THOMAS.

This was a demurrer to the pleadings in an ac-
tion against the tenant of the plaintiff for not culti-
vating his farm in a workmanlike manner, arid ac<
cording to the custom of the country. Mr. Ad.
(lison was heard in support of the demurrer, afro-
which, it being the morrow of Sr. Martin, rile
Court adjourned for the purpose of pricking Sheriffs.
At two o'clock the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
the Lord High Chancellor, the Duke of Richmond,
Lord Goderich, Lord Melbourne, the Lord Chief
Baron, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas,
:he Vice-Chancellor, the Chirf Justice of the King's
Bertch, and Sir James Graham, entered the Court,
and took their seats on the bench as Lords of the
Council. The puisne Judges followed, and took
their seats round the table, when the oath was ad-
ministered in old Norman French, and the Clerk of
the Privy Council read the names, and the Sheriffs
were appointed in the usual manner; after which
the Lords of the Council and the Judges retired.