The Sun.
London, England, 1829-06-26 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIA TRADE.

Yesterday evening his Grace the Duke of Wel-
lington and most of the other Members of the Ad-
ministration dined at the City of London Tavern,
by invitation from the Merchants and Planters of the
West Indies. The dinner was given on the occasion
of the Marquis of Chandos being voted to the office
of Chairman of the West India Body.
GEORGE HIBBERT, Esq.. presided. On his right
sat the Marquis of Chandos, and on his left the Duke
of Wellington, Mr. Peel, &c. There were present
also, Lord Wyndford, Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald, Mr.
Horace Iwiss, &c. _ _ _

A most sumptuous dinner was provided. Every
delicacy of the season was served up.
On the removal of the cloth, " The King," was
given, with four times four.—Air, " God, save the
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " the health of the
Duke of Clarence," said his Royal Highness had
always shewn himself the friend of the West India
Interest.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next proposed " His Majesty's
Ministerg."—(Loud cheers.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON, on the part of him-
self and his colleagues, returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN then rose to beg the company to
join with him in drinking the health of the Marquis
of Chandos, who had been unanimously voted to
the Chair of the West India Body. The Chairman
paid a high compliment to the' public-spirited indi-
vidual he was now proposing. The Noble Marquis
had accepted the office when the affiLirs of the Co-
lonies were not in the most prosperous condition.
He (the Chairman), however, felt a confident hope
that, under the administration of their distinguished
guest on his left (the Duke of Wellington), the dif-
ficulties which surrounded the interests
„of the West
Indies would be removed.—(Cheers.)—He con-
cluded by drinking " Loag life and happiness to the
Marquis of Chandos."
The Marquis of CIIANDOS returned thanks, and
expressed the obligations he felt at being elected to
the Chair of the West India Body. He would do
all in his power to promote the interests of the Co-
lonies with which was blended the prosperity of
England. He felt a confidence, that under the Ad-
ministration of the Noble Duke the West India Co-
lonies would prosper. He concluded by proposing
" Prosperity to the West Indies."--(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The Health of
the Duke of Wellington," and paid a high eulogy to
the Hero and Statesman who had that day honoured
them.—(Loud applause.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON returned thanks, and
was assured they could not have made a better
choice than appointing the Marquis of Chandos to
the vacant seat.

Mr. Peel's health, and many other toasts, were
afterwards drank.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ELECTION.

The following is a summary of the votes given at
the last election, collected from the poll-book just
published by authority :
Cavendish. Bankes. Total.
Trinity College.
St. John's College.... 108
Emmanuel College ... 17
Caine College
Jesus College
Queen's College
Christ's College
Clare Hall

King's College
Corpus Christi College 17
Magdalen College
St. Peter's College ... 15
Pembroke College .... 17
Sidney College
Catharine Hall
Trinity Hall
Downing College
Commorantes in Villa 4

1,071

Among the above list, there voted 20 Senior
Wranglers, 40 Smith's Prizemen, 34 Chancellor's
Classical Medallists, 15 University Scholars, 20
Professors, 263 Wranglers, and 12 Heads of Houses.
The following table shows the manner in which
these votes were divided :

Cavendish. Bankes. Total.
Senior Wranglers
Smith's Prizemen
Chancellor's Classical
Medalists
University Scholars... 14
Professors
Wranglers
Head of Houses

THE CROWLAND AND DEBDEN HALL

ESTATES.

IMPORTANT TO THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

Since the memorable sales of the Marquis of
Ormonde, the Auction Mart has not boasted so
large an assembly as were congregated there yester-
day.

The great magnet which Lad caused this excite-
ment, was the Crowland Estate, in Lincolnshire, of
Thomas Orby Hunter, Esq., and Debden Hall, in
Essex, the seat of Sir Francis Vincent, Bart. It is
known that since the origin of the Auction Bill, up
to this period, two sales of such vast importance
had not antecedently occurred. The Marquis of
Ormonde's, it is true, exceeded 500,0001., but the
largest portion, which was sold in one lot in London
(Sutton Hall), produced 216,000 guineas, and it will
be seen presently that the result of yesterday far ex-
ceeded it. At one o'clock the large room was lite-
rally crowded, and from the intense heat of the day
it might be added, almost to suffocation. Mr.
George Robins (who was the principal actor in the
interesting Play) was very punctual, and at one
o'clock he commenced an Exordium which occupied
full one hour, the greater portion of which was con-
sumed in the just panegyric he passed upon this
unique property. This Gentleman appears to pos-
sess the tact of keeping his auditory in good hu-
mour, and he certainly never exerted it more suc-
cessfully than yesterday. Our limits forbid our at-
tempting to follow him in the variety of his observa-
tions; it was evident, however, he had carefully
surveyed the property, and by this means made
himself a thorough master of all the prominent fea-
tures. n adverting to the real annual value and
the clear receipts of last year, it showed a difference
exceeding 2,000/. a-year. This Mr. Robins very
ingeniously explained, paying at the same time a
well-turned compliment to the liberality and good
feeling of his respected client, Mr. Orby Hunter
(who, by the way, had sufficient nerve to sit very
near to Mr. Robins throughout the sale.)
In order to arrive at a true knowledge of the value
of this little territory, which Mr. Robins said was'.
infinitely more valuable in a pecuniary point of view
than half the princely territories abroad, he would
show by figures and demonstrate by facts his mode
of valuation; and first, he said, he should not take
the higher value and rental, but would confine him-
self to the clear actual receipts of last year:—

These he estimated at 11,0001. a year, and
upon the Three per Cent. Tables these would
produce £363,000
. _

Prospective Improved Rent from two Farms
shortly expiring (in three and four years),

550/. a year, upon the Three per Cent.
Tables 15,075

Increased Rental on the determination of the

seven years' Leases, say 1,2601. a year....... 32,400
The Manors and Manorial Rights . 3,000

£413,475

Now he would challenge any gentleman conver-
sant in figures, or correctly versed in the value of
land, to point out a single item in this statement
that could not be justified; for he would ask, could
any one be so unreasonable as to require from land
more than 3 per cent. on a clear receipt, and at a
time when money went about begging in the City at
2 per cent.; besides, he would ask those who sur-
rounded him (and he was not a little flattered by
seeing so much of wealth and respectability congre-
gated there), if they could justify it to themselves,
or those who were to succeed them, the risk of
leaving their capital in the Funds, exposed to the
hazard and probability of being liminished one-fifth.
I put not a case altogether suppositious, (argued
Mr. Robins) ; we all of us remember the 3 per
Cents, at 471, they are now 87k. Suppose an
angry message to arrive from any one of the
great Potentates (and such a circumstance is
not improbable), that alone would reduce their
Stock 10 per cent. ; and if unfortunately it
terminated in hostilities, then another diminu-
tion of 10 per cent. It may be argued that
still the same interest is payable. This shall be
conceded, but " is it nothing to run the risk of
losing a fifth part of the principal ?" But look at
this case, and see how it will apply to the Crowland
Estate. Why the very cause that will diminish
the Funds must improve on the exact same propor-
tion the annual value of this Estate. He rejoined
emphatically, "who then can hesitate ?"—" For my
part (said Mr. Robins) if I were a large stockholder,
I should go to rest in fear and trembling, if I re-
fused such an opportunity as the present to transfer
a large portion of stock into the staple commodity
of land." He"then went on to compliment the
tenantry, who, he said, had never asked for an abate-
ment beyond eight 'per cent., whilst other Proprie-
tors had to return 20 and 25 per cent., and this con-
tinued only for two years; and he added, in order
to show the value of such tenants, as, in contradis-
tinction to most of their fellow-labourers in the
vineyard, they actually on the third year (and of
their own accord) volunteered to give up the little
deduction the adverse times had induced them to
ask. An allusion was next made to the Repre-
sentative of the County. Mr. Robins said he did
not intend it to be believed that it would neces-
sarily give one seat; but lie added, " If he be
a rich, intelligent, and honourable man, the
possession of the Crowland Estate must and will be
very influential." Who would have greater pre-
tensions or stronger claims, he would ask, than a
spirited high-minded man, with an estate in their
county worth near a million of money ? These and
a hundred other observations followed, and in quick
succession ; at length, after Mr. Robins had in vai►t
entreated them to begin with an offer of 400,000
guineas, a Gentleman said 250,000; a spirited
competition then ensued, and it soon arrived at
300,000 guineas : a little hesitation then prevailed,
but by persuasion and good humour, mixed up with
no ordinary tact, Mr. R. prevailed on them to pro-
ceed until it reached 332,000 guineas, at which it
was ultimately knocked down. The purchaser is
said to be Sir John Paul, Bart. Sir Thomas Far-
quhar, Mr. Dick, and many other affluent Gentle-
men, were competitors beyond 300,000 guineas.
It was whispered in the room that it had been pur-
chased for Mr. Arkwright (who bought the Mar-
quis of Ormonde's), but we believe this to be in-
correct.—Then followed