The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-04 00:00:00

THE FALCON STEAM-PACKET COMPANY.

Yesterday a .Meeting of the Shareholders in the
above Company took place at the office of the Association in
Nicholas-lane; Lombard-street. J. W. Esq. in the
chair. _ _ .

CILAIRNAN stated, the Meeting was convened by pub-
lic advertisement, at the instance of Mr. Edwards, one of the
Directors of the Company; and that he (Mr. Curtis) felt great
regret at the absence of that gentle Man, who, if present, would
have been able to state his motives for having done so. He
had received a letter from Mr. Edwards that morning, stating
that he could not attend; but assigned his reason for absent-
ing himself at a time when it was his 'duty to come forward,
to give an explanation to the shareholders of what had been
dope to carry into effect the views held out in the prospee:
tus. For his part he was quite ignorant of what had been
done. Mr. A% infield had the arrangement of every thing :
he understood that more money was required to finish a
steamer; but that until he could satisfy ins own mind that
there was a Company really in existence, and that the share-
holders had approved of the expences already incurred, he
never would consent to a further call. He had seen the
boat alleged to be the property, and believed all that was
required to render her complete was a steam-engine. Ile con.
eluded by soliciting tint shareholders to ask Mr. Winfield,
who was present, for any information upon the affairs of the
Company.
Shareholder—l am very glad to find that we have a boat—l
was afraid that all the money wits gone ; 'the directors have been
very neglectful in the affairs of this company ; the responsibi.
lity attached to the situation of director now is much more
important than it was three months ago—a recent decision of
the Lord Mayor ought to make directors to look more into the
affairs of the Association to which they belong, and how many
shares have been Tait{ up.
Mr. HENRY Wirer:l:Ln, a director—Six hundred shares
have been paid upon, and the money has been expended in
building a steam-boat' The other expences attending the
formation of the Company, house-rent, &c, have been very
trifling.
Shareholder—How do we know that the boat is ours? has
there been a bill of sale from the boat-builder?
Mr. Sowznnir—There has been a bill of sale, and the boat
is made over to trustees for the benefit of the shareholders. It
does not require much money to finish her. The vessel may be
spoiled, and have the dry rot, if not at once finished. Sir J.
M. Doyle would give :1,600/. for the boat, if it was finished.
I will undertake to finish the vessel for a stipulated sum, and
the Directors may have the power of paying the workmen
themselves.
• Mr. WINE lELD —A friend of mine to me this day, that
if the boat was finished, he could get 4,000/. for her abroad.
Shareholder—l think it better to have the boat sold at
home : " a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.".(A
laugh.)
Cellitrostmr—l really wish the shareholders would go and
sec the boat, and that every thing is fair. I think a friend of
mine would advance as much money as would finish bee, and
then it would be for the shareholders' consideration whether it
would be more prudent to sell her, or to carry the original in-
tention of the directors into effect.

Shareholder.—l consider the directors have flinched from their
duty, but they are liable to all the debts. I wish the meeting
would come to a decision to appoint trustees over them, for I
should be very sorry if they were exonerated from their liabilities.
Mr. W. NifiwrlELD-1 have no doubt but that if the boat
was finished, the directors would be able to pay 20 per cent. on
the deposits. lam quite satisfied they would be able to do so,
from the profits the General Steam Company make.
Shareholder—Are the directors qualified by the number of
shares they hold ?
CHAIRMAN-All the directors are qualified bilt Mr. Thos.
Curtis; and Air. Anstice, another director, is very anxious to
resign.
Mr. MACKENZIE-1 think it better to appoint trustees, and
make a call of 11. pet share, and that the money he laid out
under their own eyes, and let them have a lien on the vessel.
Shareholder—Mr. Chairman, I am sorry your nanie is not in
the trust.deed in which the vessel is made over to. the Company.
I would rather sea it in.
Dl r. SOWEItIIIi—I will make an assignment of the Vessel over
to new trustees.
Shareholder—l come here in despair. I thought the cash
wax all gone. I move that three shareholders be appointed to
wait upon the directors, and inquire into the state of the Com-
pany's affitirs.—Carried unanimously.
Chairman-.I know a bad feeling exists abroad respecting this
Company, but I wish to impr6is upon the meeting that I and
quite ignorant of what has been done. I have been very anxious
to see the Directors, hut never could; however, I think by
adopting a proper course, the Directors may get safe out of the
speculation.
Thanks were then moved to the Chairman, and the meeting
adjourned.

Pooa RATEs IN Cu Esuritu.-27,105 families
employetrin trade; 18,1.'20 in agriculture ; total
chargp, 217,2121. ; 80,7261. land ; 5;2191. trade.

The rage for projects is extremely, prevalent'
in Paris. It is now said, that on mature exami-
nation many objections to the proposed Ship
Canal, front the sea to the French capital, can,'
be obviated.; it is even asserted that the KING
hits announced his intention of taking shares to
the amount of several millions of francs. Of
course the whole Court must become inore,or less
interested in the enterprize.,—A society, at the
head of which is a young lady, preposes to
raise a fend of two millions, in shares, to;
manufacture church ornaments, which may. be-
come a very profitable branch of industry or
trade, if the Jesuits only get the upper hand
in the government. Another company proposes
to supply the Parisians, when they are ill, with
physicians, surgeons, and medicines, free of all
expence, beyond a certain annual sum to be.
paid by each family in proportion to its rent.—
For instance,---a- person pitying an annual rent of
300 francs should pay 15 francs or 5 per cent, to
this " Curing, Society ;" for which tie might be
ill, as often as Providence should think tit, with-
out having to pay a farthing more.
A posthumous work of RoussEAU, entitled-
-4"I'llooglits of an Honest Mind, and Sentiments
of a Virtuotts Heart," has just been published at
Paris, lied the original of this, in the hand-
writing of Rousseau, not been left for inspection,
internni evidence in the work itself would point
out-the author. /The manuscript, among other
papers left with the Marshal de Luxembourg,
was loSt when the Philosopher made his precipi-
tate flight into Switzerland, and in its present
form is accompanied by what appears to have
been the first sketch of the 46 Confessions."

FRENCH PAPERS.
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, MARCH 31.

M. DUHADIEL had submitted a proposition to the following
effect t—" Except in the general discussions of laws or of pro.
positions, no written discourse can be read in the Chamber, on'
the chapters, titles, or articles, of laws q/...1).110ti0ts votes'
alone may be consulted."

M. Roger, as the Reporter of the Commission which was ap-
pointed to examine this proposition, ascended the Tribune,
and proceeded to argue at some length against Its adoption.—
" In.ihe name of the Commission," said he, " and in a written
discourse, I venture, with all humility to oppose the perilous
honours of extemporaneous: oratory, to which the proposition of
M. Duhamel would consign us."—(Laughter.)—M. Roger
argued that the Chamber ought not to be deprived of the wis.
dom of those members who can express themselves on paper,
though unable to do so orally. M 1 Roger• illustrated the
proposition of M. Duhamel, whose object he contended, was
to make orators of them all, by the lollowing anecdote :
distinguished nobleman, forty years ago, patronised a poet,
whose tragedies always failed. " Do you know," said he,
" the cause of your failure? It is because you do not intro-
duce into your pieces enough of the sublime. As the public
have a taste for. the sublime, what trouble can it be to
you to indulge it? Give them plenty of the sublime."—
" Gentleman, ' added Mons. Roger, " we cannot be su-
While when we choose: we cannot he orators when we
choose. " The example of the English Parliament," said he,
" does not apply to France, where we speak from a tribune
instead of from one's place, and where we do not enter the
C amt er till we are 40 years of age. Is it to be supposed that
every th;ng in the English Parliament is worthy of imitation ?
Is it to be supposed that their discussions, though uniformly
oral, are as frank and sincere as ours ? Do you imagine that
their display, apparently so unpremeditated, is not in fact ar,
ranged: and systematic? From. the Ring's speech down to a
debate on the budget—from elections to the dissolution--every
thing is prepared beforehand. In a word, are not all the scenes
of the Parliamentary drama more artificial than natural ?"
The next argument of M. Roger was, that there would be
no raving of time by the adoption of M. Di:limners proposi-
tion; and here again he appealed to the practice of the British
Parliament. "Who among you gentlemen," said he, " does
not remember that Minister of Great Britain, who upon enter-
ing the House of Commons, found a member speaking, whose
prolixity was so marvellous, that he had time to go to his
country house, six miles from London, and to return to the
house, when lie found the same member still on his legs?"--
(Bursts of laughter.)
The Report of the, Committee was ordered to be printed,
and the discussion upon the proposition was deferred.

IRISH ASSIZES.

LONDONDERRY.

rnErmAsows.—TirE RING AGAINST DOHERTY AND

• MILLEII.
Mr. SCEIOALES, on the part of the Crown, said, that as
this was, he believed, the first prosecution that had taken
place under the late 'statute against Unlawful Assemblies
(4th Gen. IV.), it might be necessary to address the Court and
Jury. The traversers were indicted for a misdemeanour, in
acting as members of a society called Freemasons, by appear.
ing in the insignia of the order, and marching in public pro-
cession. Mr. Schoales read some passages from the statute,
which showed that all associations, lodges, &c. bound toge.
titer by secret oaths or ,engagements, were (amongst others)
wisely, ,prohibited by this statute; and that public processions
of any such bodies, having a tendency to produce disturbance,
and to lead to riot, and perhaps to bloodshed, were especially
intended to be prevented. Ile then stated, that on the 27th of
December last, the Mayor of Coleraine having received infor-
xnaticn that. Freemason lodges were assembling in that town,
repaired to the several places where their flags were displayed;
he informed the persons assembled that their purpose was ille-
gal, and advised them to disperse. In general the advice of the
11Iagistrate was followed; but the traversers, with some others,
resisted it, and proceeded through some of the streets of Cole-
raine in procession, with flags, &c., as usual. Another Ma-
gistrate lutviug joined the Mayor, with some constables, they
attempted to take the flags, and a struggle ensued, which con.
stitutcti a riot, and in whichl one of the :Magistrates was nearly
knocked down. But as the traversers had since expressed con-
trition, and declared that they acted in ignorance of the law,
Mr. Schoales said the object of the prosecution would be an-
swered by such moderate punishment as the Court, in discre-
tion, should think sufficient to prevent a repetition of the
offence.
Mr. ROLLESTON, for the traversers, declared, that Freema-
sons would he among the last persons in the community to sum-
mit a wilftil breach of the law. Be admitted that his clients
had acted illegally, but they had not any knowledge of the ex-
isting law at the time. They were sorry to have offended, arid
wished to make amends by withdrawing their traverses and
pleading guilty, not generally to the indictment, but, to the
count the the infringement of the new statute.
111. Sot oai.r.s said, that they had sufficient evidence to
support a riot under the common law.•
Mr. IIot.t.ESTOSI, in reply, said, that now for the first time
he hail heard Freernaaons accused as a riotous mob. lam my-
self, my Lord, a Freemason, and never till this moment in Ire-
land did I hear of their being accused, as a body, of any thing
illegal, immoral, or disloyal.
Mr. SCTIOALES.—MT. Lord, Mr. Rolleaton cannot now be
heard, unless his clients submit to the charges in the indictment.
My Lord, said Mr. Itor.r.trerox, sumbit to the charge of
riot ! Freemasons submit to the charge of riot ! Never l—he
who reveres the order will not advise or suffer the men or the
Society be loves to admit they have polluted themselves by a
base and degrading riot. NO, my Lord, the Freemasons of this
kingdom are men of spirit,virtue, and morality, who have never
been debased even by the imptitation of a breach of the peace.
No; ages have established them pure, virtuous, peaceful,
and loyal. I shall tell your Lordship What they will admit-.:-
that on the day in question they assembled as an ancient arid•
highly respectable lodge of Freemasons, as they and their an-
cestors had done since the erection of the temple. They will
admit, that on the day in question they marched as free and
accepted masons, according to the custom of that ancient and
revered body. They will admit that they were on that day,
for the first time, informed that a meeting of free, independent,
and United Masons, displaying the signals of union and fra-
ternity, were contrary to law. They will admit that, how-
ever anxious they are to hoist the banners of love, friendship,
and loyalty, yet if that is forbidden by the Legislature, they
will no longer unfurl them in public. Let them, my Lord,
with this admissions and with this acknowledgment, depart
peaceably to their hoines. Though I admit they acknowledge
no more, it is impossible to punish men of their purity and
morality for this inadvertent error. No Jury can convict them
—they will not, if informed by your Lordship that the assem-
bling as free-masons is illegal—they will not again publicly
display the sacred efliblems of their order—they will be antis.
fled in secret to press them, inscribed with love, fraternity, and
virtue, to their loyal and generous hearts.
The Learned JUDOT: agreed in every respect, and said, that
as they had thus, in open Court, declared their sentiments, and
that no public parade should again be made, he would permit
them to return to their homes anti to their families without any
imputation, whatever, but that of inadvertent mistake of pre-
sent privilege. They had now acknowledged their offence,
and submitted to the mercy of the Court, and his Lordship
thought public justice would be sufficiently vindicated by a
small fine ; upon payment of which they were discharged.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.--,-0111 Saturday last the
Dorking coach was upset at Ewell. The coach
left the Elephant and Castle at half-past nine
o'clock, full inside and outside, and arrived safe
ut Ewell soon after eleven, when Joseph Walker,
-the driver and proprietor, alighted for the par.
pose of delivering a parcel from the back part of
the coach, givirig the reins to a boy that sat on
the box to hold for him. While delivering the
parcel.to the person who stood near the hind.whael
of the coach, the bey cracked the whip, and the
horses set off at, full speed. All attempts to stop
them were in vain ; in passing Ewell church, they
tore away about IG2 yards of strong paling, wheu
the wheels mounting a small eminence the coach
Overturned, and the whole of the passengers were
in an instant thrown from the roof. Some were
In a s.tate of insensibility, showing no. symptoms
of lifH, One female was thrown upon some
spikes, which entered her breast and neck ; she
was dreadfully mutilated, none of her features
being distinguishable; she lingered until yester-
day, when she expired in the greatest agony.
Two were put into a post-chaise, and went off
for London. Four were put to bed at the King's
Head, where they now lie in a very dangerous
,state.

GENERAL ELECTION.

CITY REPRESENTATION.

Yesterday a Meeting of the friendt of Mr.
Alderman WAITUMAII was held at,the Horns Taluri,
Copinpns, pursuant to a circular letter, for the pUriese-of
.0-Asigern the at means of securing ,his.retorti to Vadiament-
rtt dif net ElectiA,for a ItepretehiAve of tha City allondon.
Mr. FAVELL took the Chair.
There were about 40 persons present, who were chiefly those
known in the city as the public supporters of the principles
which Mr. Alderman Waithman advocates.
The CHAIRMAN addressed the Meeting, and stated, that this
was to be considered rather of a preliminary nature, being
composed of those personal and political friends of the Alder-
man, who were ready to come forward and devote their time,.
or their pecuniary aid, in order to secure his return as one of
their representatives. Mr. Favell then took a view of the po-
litical career of the Alderman during the last twenty-five years.
He stated, that several of the principles which he had, during
that time, advocated with undeviating firmness, and at a great
loss, were now recognized as well founded. Ile spoke of the
good effects which his exertions had often produced in the city,;
and of his firmness on the most arduous occasions. His con-
duct, however, was before his fellow citizens, and when their
opinion was fairly taken, it could not fail to be one of general
approbation. The cause,, however, which they came to sup-
port was not the cause of Mr. Alderman Waithman, but the
cause of the independence and freedom of the city, of which
they were to appoint him the advocate.. Mr. Favell, in conclu-
sion, declared, that he was too old to do much mischief, but
his utmost exertions should be used for the cause which he had
uniformly supported by aiding his friend.
Mr. Deputy REE V ZS, after a short speech, in which he stated
from the experience during a personal acquaintance of 30
years which lie had had of the abilities, the energy, and the
highintegrity of his friend the Alderman, moved a resolution
expressive of the opinion of the Meeting, that Mr: Alderman
Waithman, from his long connection with the Corporation, his
intimate acquaintance with its privileges and best interests, was
highly qualified to be chosen one of their representatives.
The motion was seconded by Mr. PAYNE, and carried una-
nimously.
Ou the motion of Mr. FENTON, it was resolved, that the
persons composing the present Meeting should form them-'
selves into a committee, for the purpose of conducting his
election.
A deputation from the Meeting then waited upon Mr. Alder-
man Waitlunan, who returned with them to the room, and
was warmly cheered. Mr. Favell informed him of the manner
in which the resolution had been passed by the meeting.

Alderman SVAITIIMAN assured the Meeting that it was
with doubt and hesitation he had• suffered his name to be
brought forward as a candidate. It was ahazardous and litho-
rious thing to serve as a representative of a body of 13,000 or
14,000 individuals, possessing :many interests and privileges,
besides those which were common to them all, for the preserva-
tion or advancement of which it would be his duty to labour.
His health had suffered much, but he was thankful, that it was
now so far restored as to enable him to execute those duties,
and to attend to the solicitations which had been made to him
by a large body of his fellow citizens, and by numbers with
whom he was personally acquainted, that he would come for-
ward, and give them an opportunity of giving an independent,
vote, and exercising their right of election. The call which had
been made upon him, arose not from any influence of situation
or connexion, but solely front a consideration of his conduct
and principles as they appeared before them all. If his election
was to depend on personal influence, not a doubt would arise as
to the result. He then adverted to the particular responsibility
attached to the character of a representative of the city of Lon-
don in particular, and to the Important nature of the duties of
a Member of Parliament in general ; and he said, experience
must have taught them to confide on no promises of service,
unless they were supported by something more than promises—
! the experience of past services.—(Loud cheering.)—Was it ex-
traordinary that men who put themselves to vast expence in
procuring. a peat in Parliament,- should, after such a sacrifice,
prefer their own interests to those of the public ? NVere pro-
mises to be relied upon, when they saw men of the highest
rank engaged in, and profiting by, the most despi-
cable and scandalous jobs that had ever disgraced any time or
place ?—( Hear, hear o—He then said, that whomever they
might choose to support their interests, they should require
no sacrifices of property, if they wished to obtain the benefi-
cial use of his time and services.—(Cheers.)—'they had hap.
pily arrived at a period in which they might somewhat ap.
proximate in public sentiments—yet they had passed through
times in, which it was dangerous to utter their sentiments
freely. lie had encountered them, and hail often sufferedin
consequence. •He might have formed erroneous opinions, but
lie had never swerved from principle.—(Cheers.)—Principles
were, MlcOangeable, :and circumstances had moved from him
rather than him from circumstances. . With respect to pro-
fessions,'he had none to ofir,• for unless his past exertions
'formed sufficient security for his future conduct, lie had no se-
curity to .offer.—(Cheers.)—He could only say in conclusion,
that success would depend entirely on the exertions of the
friends to the principles which he had advocated, and, from
all his information, it appeared those exertions would be con-
siderable, and his success certain.—(Cheers.)
• Mr. OALLOWAY said, that it was injurious to the freedom
hicgoluarsy
of election, and that it was contrary to principle, to put a can.
shoulde pr important
pob proposed
se thatee
tthaian
the city.of London to the country at large. an
didate to any expellee in obtaining an office, in which he was
expected to give up his time and services gratuitously for the
Heoarer,,
phueraer 1
and )-.-It
rationalw a
s
pexuabinliaplgeoo:f.--(ina
a subscription should be entered into, for the purpose of de.
fraying the expence of their election. Some might give their,
time_to others it would be more convenient if they gave their
money. It would, however, be expedient to calla more pub-
lic general meeting of The friends of the Alderman, for the
purpose of' considering the propriety of adopting this and other
measures which might be thought expedient by the Committee
now chosen.
After sonic further discussions as to the means to be adopted.
in which much zeal was manifested, thanks were voted to the
Chairman, and the Meeting separated.