Star.
London, England, 1831-05-28 00:00:00

HIS MAJESTY'S BIRTH-DAY.

This twenty-eighth of May is appointed by authority for
the celebration of his MAJESTY'S birth-day. In London it
commenced with lively peals on the church bells, and with
extensive preparations among his MAJESTY'S tradesmen,
and many large establishments, for a splendid illumination
in the evening. Rumours have been spread, that it
will be more general than usual: and there is evi-
dently no lukewarmness to repeat tokens of loyalty to
a Sovereign, who hitherto has deserved so well of his peo-
ple. At St. James's, preparations are making for the,
largest assemblage at the Drawing Room, ever recorded in
the history of the British Court—the numbers announced
being full FOUR THOUSAN D. Thank GOD, it is more than
mere form—hundreds will be present who have not been at
Court these many years, and they go to testify their grati-
tude to a PATRIOT KING ; and to celebrate, in that way at
least, the glorious victory gained by KING and PEOPLE over
the Boroughmongers.

In fact, their MAJESTIES are just objects of general
idolatry ; and we are not so strait-laced as not to feel sin-
cere pleasure in those displays of parental affection, which
his MAJESTY has recently bestowed on his family by a
lady, as pre-eminent for talents and accomplishments,asfor the
qualities of her heart and mind. A bad father could not be
a good KING; and we view these marks of parental af-
fection as proofs, that the Royal virtues of WILLIAM THE
FOURTH are deep seated in the inmost soul of the man.
—lt is an earnest to all his people, that he will be
their common father, and extend to them the affec
tiona which he has as wisely, as kindly exerted,
towards his own meritorious and amiable offspring. Nor is
less praise due to Her MAJESTY, for the female liberality
with which she participates in these gratifications of a
husband—who, though wearing a crown, never forgets that
he is a man.

We are persuaded, therefore, that in the best senses, this
is a day of real rejoicing to the whole of his MAJESTY'S
subjects; who pray, not only in words, but with sincerity of
soul, for the continuance of his health and life, and his
personal enjoyment in the love of his Family, and the
blessings of his subjects. All his people will pray,
also, that he may live to perfect the great work of poli-
tical reform and regeneration, which he has so happily com-
menced ; and the consummation of which, will render his
reign the most glorious and envied of any in the long line
of our past sovereigns.

Nothing can more fully demonstrate the unchangeable
hauteur of the Dutch Court, than its refusal to recognize
the fair and liberal overture of M. Lumen, the Belgic
Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Our readers cannot have for-
gotten the agreeable feelings with which they lately per-
used that beautiful specimen of frank diplomacy, written at
once in the spirit of philosophy and christianity. Till then,
we feared that the pride of principle had unduly prevailed in
the cabinet of SURLET DE CAOKIER; and we congratulated
the world on the prospect, that common sense and urbanity
would at length be allowed to have their fair weight, in the
adjustment of public disputes. But the Dutch Ministers
advise their Sovereign not to treat with revolted subjects ;
but to refer all points to those five powers, of whose
impartiality the Knio of HOLLAND has already had such
satisfactory proofs. Of their last decision we spoke yester-
day ; and really, if this affair do not prove an apple of bloody
discord, the world will be obliged to the active real and good
spirit of Lord PONSONBY.

It will be Aserved, with satisfaction, that his MAJESTY,
as a further pledge of his attachment to Lord Gage. Re-
form Bill, and, doubtless, with a view to silence the authors
of all sinister reports, has bestowed the highest distinction
of his Court on his Lordship, by creating for the purpose an
EXTRA Knight of the Garter, and duly installing his
Approved Minister. Be it observed, that there is no
precedent in the history of the Order for such an

extra creation, except in the instance of his Grace
the Duke of WELLINGTON, after the battle of Waterloo.
Then, as Lord GREY is to be regarded as the original author
of the Bill, and it is the Waterloo of his public character,
his MAJESTY could not, in a more signal manner, have
testified to the world his decided approbation of his Minis-
ter's measure, than by conferring this high distinction,which
is always regarded as personal, between the Sovereign and
the personage thus distinguished. We are persuaded there
is no act which the KING could have performed, which will,
in all respects, be more grateful to tho nation. Lord
GREY has, for many years, been regarded as the ablest
and most eloquent Member of the House of Lords ;
and as he has never sacrificed his principles, to ob-
tain Place, or the favour of the Court, so he is generally
esteemed as one of the honestest Statesmen, that has
enjoyed the powers of a Minister, since the reign of
ELIZABETH.

ROYAL EXCHANGE, ONE O'CLOCK.
We have no arrivals as yet of consequence, and this being
the King's Birth-day, no business is at present doing in the
funds. The Bank is shut, and the Stock Exchange will
he closed at one o'clock. Consols, which left off yesterday
83ii, are at present 83ii, and 8341 for Money.
Charlestown Papers to the 19th April have been received
at the North and South American Coffee-house from Colom-
bia.—Extract of a letter from Curragoa, March 18 :—" On
the main they are fighting; I received a letter to-day from
Puerto Cabello, mentioning that at Carraccas the foreigners
were obliged to take up arms to guard and protect their pro-
perty, authorised by the Government, as said city was up-
side down, the enemy being very near, and the country
being plundered.

In
the foreign exchanges yesterday afternoon there was
another improvement in the rates. The demand for bills
was not so great. The rates on Paris advanced to 25 421
to 45 ; that on Hamburgh to 12 11 ; and the exchange
on Amsterdam to 13 111 1.
The Philadelphia packet is arrived ; the letters are re-
ceived, but no papers; left 20th April.
HA LF.PAST ONE O'CLOCK.
Consols were 831 j for the account ; and for money 83j.
At present there are no political news or reports ; and in
the Foreign Market nothing is doing.
Bolanos, 1501, paid, at 167 j 165. Brazilian Company, 5, at 501
ez div. Colombian, 45, at 51 6. Alliance British and Foreign, 10,
at 71. Ditto Marine, 5, at 31. West India Docks, 124. General
Steam Navigation, 13, at 51 51.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent, 621. Danish Bonds, 3 per Cent, 631.
Meetcan Bonds, 6 per Ct, 39. Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent, 151 16.
TWO O'CLOCK.
We have this moment received Le Temps Frence paper
of Thursday, by Express ; but it does not contain any
news of importance ; and there are no fresh accounts from
Poland.