Star.
London, England, 1830-08-25 00:00:00

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

We have been rather later in the month than usual in perusing the
United Service Journal ; but find in it much important information.—
We are confident this publication must be of great advantage to the two
professions for which it is intended. It will make many a young man
acquainted with a proper sense of duty, and think a little on Ilia pro-
fession, who probably would not think at aU, had they not received the
impetus from its pages. The general reader will find curious informa-
tion in several of the papers : " Service afloat during the war," he will
perceive is not feather-bed service ; and the account of the Russian
Revolution, which placed Nicholas on the throne of the Czars, con-
tinues to be interesting. We recommend, however, particularly to pub-
lic attention, " A Proposal for Manning the Fleet without General Im-
pressment," which is written by an Officer in the Navy, and we trust'
will meet the consideration of Government. We have great hopes that
his present Majesty will exert himself to abolish impressment, a dis.
graceful and unnecessary anomaly in British policy ; and likewise, what
is equally disgraceful, the use of the cat-enine-tails in the military and
naval service. On this latter subject, or connected with it, we shall
give an extract from the paper entitled "Service afloat during the iVar,"
which is highly creditable to this author and Journal. It occurs in-s
note :

" At this period a very general notion prevailed among the younger
officers of the profession, and which is doubtless still entertained by the
inexperienced and unreflecting, that the salutary discipline so indis-
pensable in the service, cannot be preserved but by a system of tenor
and coercion. Whereas multiplied and fatal instances, many of which
I have myself witnessed, might .be brought forward to illustrate the
fact, that in those ships in which the cat and ropes' end were in constant
requisition, and which shone most in paint sal in polish, were by no
means the most brilliant in essentials. That, however, the crew might
be made to fly aloft to reef top-sails by the second, or run the anchor
up to the bows in a given time, in the hour of battle, or in cases of
emergency, they did not always exhibit a corresponding seal and energy.
Having served with men as conspicuous for their enlightened minds,
their professional knowledge, moderation, and urbanity, as with others
as remarkably characterized by the deficiency of these qualities, sew
have had a fairer opportunity of essaying the two systems, and of com-
ing to:sound conclusions or ;the subject. Among the rest it was my lot,
at different periods of my professional career, to be placed with three
officers proverbi.d, on the station to which they belonged, for their se-
verity. This subsequently led to the dismissal front their ships of two
of these individuals. One has since anticipated the natural term of his
existence by suicide ; the other has never since been employed ; the
system of the third very narrowly involved him in a catastrophe, that
might have vied with certain other fatal effects of the ultra system of
the • good old times.'

" In a ship commanded by one of these officers, it was customary to
polish the shot round the comings of the hatchways, all the iron and
copper work, the belaying pins, &c. and even the iron stanchions sup-
porting the decks, with numerous other similar items. The anchor, or
woe to those who laboured at the purchase, although an operation in a
great measure depending on the state of the weather, and on local con-
tingencies, was expected to be hove up in a given time ; this and an
endless variety of similar exactions, with the frequency and severity of
corporal punishments, created a dissatisfaction so general among the men
that they took every opportunity of deserting. Nothing further may be
necessary to illustrate the strength and prevalence to which this iu a
very short time reached thon the fact, that in spite of guara- boats row-
ing round the ship, in addition to the sentries in harbour, and marines
in the boats on duty, attempts at evasion still continued with a reckless
determination that set all r isk at defiance, and placed life on the die.
This at length broke out into open mutiny, and an attempt, which from
the subsequent investigation of a court-martial, seems to have been long
premeditated, was made to overpower the officers and get possession of
the ship, but which at the moment of showing itself, was defeated by
the promptitude of the former. For this affair, which was got over
without much Celat, only the ringleader suffered death."

The office of King's Advocate-General of Ireland, vacant
by the appointment of Mr. Leslie Foster to a seat on the Exchequer
Bench, has been conferred upon Sir Henry Meredyth, Bart. L.L.D.
Lord and Lady Teynham and the Dowager Lady Braba-
zon arc at present on a visit at Brabason Park, the st.st of Sir Wm.
Brabazon, Ban.

Edward J. Cooper, Esq. M.P. for Sligo, has succeeded
to the estates of his late father, Edward Synge Cooper, Esq.
We regret extremely to hear that Mr. Ffrencia, M. P.
for Roscommon, has been taken suddenly ill, and is in a very danger-
ous state.—Norning Register.

FETE AT TIIE PHENIX PARK. —Saturday, a fete, to ce-
lebrate the King's Birth Day, was given by the Duke and Duchess of
Northumberland, with a magnificence corresponding with the high
station and vast wealth of that nobleman. There was a very numerous
assemblage of the gentry in Dublin and its vicinity, and many indi.
viduals of rank gathered from a distanc to celebrate his Majesty's Birth
Day under the Viceregal auspices.

LIST OF PASSENGERS IN THE CORINTHIAN FROM
New Yottx.—Mr. Peterson, Danish Minister, and family; Madam
Morrison and servant; Messrs. Moore, Oakley, Boyd, Smith, and
Johnson.

The City of Edinburgh steam-packet, on her way from London to
Edinburgh, put into Shields harbour on Friday afternoon, in conse-
quence of the wind being strong against her. The pilot who conducted
her, instead of bringing her to anchor where he had ample room, con.
trived to let her swing foul of the Chance of Dover, by which that ves-
sel was considerably damaged, and a carriage on board the steamer was
injured to the value of nearly 401. besides the damage sustained by the
packet itself.
Michael Coy, sentenced to death at the county of Galway
Assizee, for the murder of his wife, underwent, on Tuesday, the extreme
penalty of the law, in front of the prison.
William Bissett Cornish, an old man aged sixty-five years,
on Friday last paid the forfeit of a most detestible crime, of which he
was convicted on the closest evidence at the last Assizes for Exeter.

FETE .IT TWICKENHAM, IN HONOUR OF HIS
MAJESTY.

A rustic fete, in celebration of his Majesty's birth-day and accession
to the throne, took place at Twickenham on Monday evening. The
expense of the entertainments was defrayed by a subscription among the
inhabitants—the Marquis Wellesley and Mr. Briscoe, the new Member
for Surrey, being contributors. The place selected for the fete, which
partook in part of a naval character, was Twickenham sit, better
known to his Cockney visitors under the name of Eel-pie-island. Ar-
rangements had been made for Illuminating the gardens attached to the
Inn (the only habitation on the islet) with lanterns, coloured lamps,
&c. At one extremity of the gardens was exhibited the model of
a ship in full dress,—flags of all nations ornamented the masts and
rigging, and the entire was prettily illuminated. The walls and win-
dows of the Eel-pie-house were decorated with stars and crosses ;
and there was no lack of triumphal arches, to furnish which the neigh-
bouring plantations had been robbed of their flowering shrubs. A num-
ber of appropriate mottos and devices were scattered through the
grounds ; and the scene was enlivened by transparencies, a few of them
better executed than such things generally are, and others even still
more amusing, in consequence of their grotesque appearance and de-
fects._ A floating car nail been provided, in which Neptune, pee.
sonated by an honest tar, in a Welch wig, circumnavigated the island,
drawn by dolphins and river horses, and attended by a respectable cor-
tege of Naiads and Tritons. His marine Majesty was towed along by
the King's watermen, wearing new badges and uniforms : and an
excellent band of instrumentalists accompanied, and imparted an
additional charm to the watery triumph. On the procession ar-
riving in front of the gardens, Bengal lights were kindled, which
illuminated it so as to render crery portion of the splendid show
distinctly visible, both to the numerous spectators in the grounds and
to those standing on the Richmond side of the river. The number of
persons admitted by tickets, and who viewed the spectacle from the
island, amounted to 500 or 600; and at least an equal number was
collected on the opposite bank. The effect of the Bengal lights
shining upon the masses of well-dressed spectators stationed on
either aide of the river was extremely pleasing. The night was fine,
and the picture was heightened by the dark rich frame of forest scenery
in which it was enclosed. Neptune having been greeted with a loyal
and dutiful address in verse (which, like most other loyal and duti-
ful addresses, whether in verse or prose. was intolerably stupid),
joined with his attendant deities in " Rule Britannia:. The fire-works,
excellent in point of quality and quantity, were got up, we understand,
by Mr. Winterbourne. They comprised fire-balloons, water-rockets, and
pieces of pyrotechnical mechanism out of number. An accident, which
might have been attended with unfortunate circumstances, occurred
towards the close of the performance. A Bengal-light of very great
power having been incautiously ignited on the roof of the inn, a part
of the leads melted, and the flame communicated with the rafters. Fear%
were entertained for the safety of the building, but, owing to the presence
of mind and active exertions of a gentleman named Litchfield, (one of
' the stewards who happened to be on the spot,) the conflagration was not
only extinguished, but its existence concealed from the visitors. It was
extremely fortunate that it was, for, hail an alarm of fire been given, so
crowded were the grounds and house at the time, that it is scarcely
possible but that some accidents must have occurred to mar the
festivities of the evening. The out-of-door amusements commenced at
eight, and continued till eleven o'clock. Among the persons present
were the Earl and Countess of Waldegrave, Lady Elizabeth Cole, Mr.
Briscoe, M.P. and .Ir. Jones Burdett, and his family. The entertain.
ments concluded with a ball and supper. which detained the party till an
advanced hour in the morning.