The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-30 00:00:00

MEETING Al' THE MANSION-HOUSE.

Yesterday' a ninneroin Meeting took place at
the Egyptian Hall, Mansion-house, for the "ma-
pose of forming a Society for the distlibtition of
Bibles amongst Merchants' Seam'en. The Loan
MAYOR in .the Chair; who stated the purpose_ for
which they were assembled.

Adiniral.Lord GAMBLER _addressed the Meetin
upOn the Resolution for forming tile Society.

Mr. JOHN MORNTON liVcouded the Resobition,
the object of viltich was to serve 120,000 .•Pt our
uninstructed countrymen. It was admitted by
the Committee, who met every day to remedy
the grievances existing among beamen, that the
present state of poverty to which they were I,e-
-dueed teas the result of that system or protligirey
which invariably was consequent upon a neglected
moral education.

111 r. J. STEPHEN congratulated the Lord Mayor
upon being in a manner the patron of this Insti-
tution, originating as it did in the present May-
oralty. Never was there a nation more indebted
to her seamen than this, and never was there IA
generation of Englishmen more indebted to them
than .the present. There was nothing, he con-
tended, in the character of the sailor, opposite to
religious feeling. 1-le constantly saw the wonders
of the deep, where danger was the most itroni,
neat, and deliverance the most miraculous,. Infi-
delity was not a part of his character : he was
more liable to-superstition ; and from the neglect.
of his mind,, was in the habit of calling that fate
which was the effect of .direction.
Mr. WILBERFORCE said, that if the eyes of the
nation were turned from the sea to the land ser-
vice, it. was because the members of the former
had already cleared the ocean of the enemies of
their country, and had of course left oppartuni-
ties to the army of sheaving similar prowess upon
their element. lie described the seamen as thrown
'llion' the wide world with Proridence for thcii-
guide, and with their country for a debtor for its
glory and .existence. They were exposed to all
manner of vice in distant countries, and associat-
ed With the common refuse of mankind ;, lint' if
they were to be exposed to foreign venom, they
should be furnished with an antidote within, by
which its influence-might be counteracted. 'Chat
man was little acquainted with. human life who
supposed that the careless spirit of a seaman
should be preserved in order to make hint fight.
True courage Was not built upon so dirasy a foun-

dation.
The resolutions were carried unanimously, at•sr
which the meeting separated. .

'

[LETTErt Vld

dna' be a matter of doubt.

liable to dispute.

eweas I This is the advice of

ably deferred.

• -

•I

i.~ .r

E 0 It TIl E SU N.

ON LEGITIMACY.

Mr. Enn-or;,—l have ‘varned you of the rest-
'less and versevering spirit of Republicanism, al-
ivay3 ‘vork to undermine our Constitution,

under pretence of innp6wing it ; or under tine
roil; more impudently false pretence of restoring
it tfr its original purity. This is the real object
of the mast a,ctive of those men who clamour
for a Return?. elPorliament. A few, perhaps, are

took enough to believe, that a system 'which has
such unparalleled blessings for so long a
period, stands in need of retorming ;. but they,
whose tools these are, know better ; and are well
aware that the attempt to reform the Parliament
would di:s(l.°y its balance, and, with it, the Mo-
narchical Constitution. I pay little regard to the
chalk scribb:ings upon our walls, well knowing
that two or three mischievous hands may do all that
iedone in that line of business. But I regard them
as indications of what the agitators of the people
mean who. cause them to be written ;. and for that
purpose I advert to them at present. The whole
wall of Hyde-p,irk, and other convenient places,
is now ornamented in alternate quarters with the
words " a lievalatio-n," and those of " No King;"

that is, these nieu wish to make the people rep--
Illtionary and disloyal, by irnitiug them to it in
these inscriptions. How many a-re the dupes of
this trick, I know not; but doubtless in:l-:1 are ;

as many are dopes in a more innocent way, to
more outrageous puffing.
These agitators have gerieratty some cant word
suited to• their purposes. The word now is Le-
gitimacy; held op by them as an object of oditrn
and contempt. The word is foolishly Chosen,.
because it seems rather to recommend. bastardy
than any thing the. But object of attack- is
HEREDITARY RIGIIT ;,which they would persuade-;
its is at once absurd and unjust. But the fact
is quite the contrary. Claims f►om 'heredittrry
right have been wi.sety preferred to art others,
which Are less dear and unequivocal., as best ex-
cluding contentions and disputes-. On th-e per-

sonal merits of men, compered with each other,.
endless contentions, miy arise, which partizans

Indy always kindle' into fury; hut whether 13 is
the son of A, in a regal point of view, can gel-

It is a fact, usn ally

notariosiv and acknowledged, and therefore not

It is true, that it may bring in.

occasionally a Weak or unworthy individual ;. bu

the weak may he advised, •or the tmwsrtliy re
claimed and if not, the evil• is merely tent

parary, aocl of much less- pernicioul effect thal

the contest of 111741, an zrearlyegiat, cfaitnr.

is a wise ►nvention, and by tl►e wise has been ap
}Moved; but it never will be approved by Jaco.
bins, because it ie a bar placed between -the ambi.

tion Demagogue sen:t his fondest hopes. (fence

the pi e•ent c►y against. LEGITIMACY, and the en

deavoillt matte to render it napopolar. Monitus

SONIERS,

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
LANFRANC Tu-morrow.—Other Favours hare been unnvoid.

TIIEATItICAi, It EG}STE R.
Perim-wit Aust
TITEATRT; noyst., DROP.I,I,AN.--.TOWO' and Country': Reu-
ben Gleuroy, -Mr. Kean: Rosalie Sonters Mrs. Robinson.
After which (2d tittle.), The Turret Clock.
TIJEATIIE ROYAL, CovFAT-GAROE:sl.—Tlie Point of Honour :
Chevalier de-St.l7,:inc, Mr. Yount!: Bertha, Miii,"O'Neilt.
After which, Three Miles irons Paris. To which was ailtled,
Harlequin Gulliver.