Star.
London, England, 1830-10-13 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETING AT DEPTFORD.

Monday a very numerous and respectable Meeting of the frseholdets
and inhabitants of Deptford was held at the Swan Inn, fat the purpose
of taking into consideration and adopting an address to the Throne,
relative to the present state of the parishes of St. Nicholas and St.
Paul in reference to the removal of all Government work from the Royal
Dock.yark at Deptford. In consequence of the present &premed state
lot the town, the object-of the Meeting appeased to excite salvaged in-
Wrest among all classes of the inhabitants.
Anent GORDON, Req. a Magistrate, having been unanimously railed
to the Chair, stated that the meeting was cenvened in pursuance of re.
solutions passed in both parishes expressive of the lamentable state to
which the town was reduced in consequence of the total removal of the
Dock-yard establishment. During the time the Dock-yard was in ope-
ration, although a numerous pauper population was collected, the in-
habitants had cheerfully paid their rates and maintained the riot an.
avoidably thrown upon them by so large a number of theVorking
classes being collected in the town, and although the Deck-yard itself
paid no rates whatever—but now the most dreadful desolation stared
them in the face, being left with an immense increase of poor without
any means of supporting them. Ile adverted to the observations so
frequently made se to the difficulty of navigating large ships up the river,
and stated that his extensive experience enabled him to say that the ob-
servation was without foundation, be being in the habit of having large
vessels brought up considerably higher than the Dock-yard without any
difficulty. After some further observations on the many advantages the
town had derived from the Dock-yard establishment, he celled upon the
Secretary to read the address to his Majesty, which it was agreed, by a
Committee of the united parishes, should be submitted to the Meeting
for their approval.

The Address was then read. It commenced by stating that, " amidst
the fulness of that joy which the accession of your Majesty and Royal
Consort to the throne of this kingdom has everywhere diffused, nothing
has more contributed to the general satisfaedon of your Majesty's faith-
ful !people of England, than the paternal and considerate attention
Majesty has uniformly shewn to their addresses." They proceed to
express their hope that his Majesty will deign to listen to their respectful
sprain a recent order of the (Jovernment. for the reduction of the
social Royal Dock. and of Deptford. They appeal to the:services the
Royal Dock-yard of Deptford has rendered England in former wars,
peetindady in fitting out a fleet of Ire ships, and enumerate the peat
eaphilides of the Deptford Dock-yard for building and equipping far
sea, mods of all classes, more especially Ilm-vblitn, Sun-bantir and
nesiners. They state that previous to the late reduction there were
2,1100 artisans employed ; that by the extinction of that employment
the whole town is reduced to the greatest distress. Depopulation has
mdmilled all their resources, nearly whole streets of houses standing
MSy ad both parishes been. down by the numerous poor. They
hewslb Meech his Ma to be graciously pleesed to avert the fur.
ther Amen of the loyallnhabitants of Deptford, by restoring to the
lt_Dself-yard such proportion oldie works needful for repairing and
upmileig the Royal Navy, as to his Majesty shall seem meet. f
Mr. Pram mid he felt happy to witeess numerous and re-
spestsb a mesdng of the Itants of D an this important
emition.k He had been an of the Committee to prepare the
adieu. Much care had jest besimrsi on it, and he trusted it would
helpmeet of by the parklisma g awl, as far as possible, attended to
by OM His palm hawker of the various departments
ef tbe enabiedlint to bear tanimony to the excellent and
judidens ananismenes of its docks, Irises, slips, manse, storehouses,
and buildings Sr every demotion of naval work an a large scale. Ships
of the largest sin had keen built at Dmilsed, and navigated down the
river with the greatest sokey. It was an entrandinary fact, that at this
time of declared retramimmt of public amputee, there should be erecting
and forming at a nefshbesdag %ek-yard tbe like description ot pre-
mises which are shorty honed at Deptford. The immense expense
incurred at Sheerness- was regarded by scientific men as Mtre;
to answer the intended purpose. In consequence of the reduction of the
govrenment establishment at Deptford freehold property near the Dock-
yar had been deteriorated in value 50 per cent. and in some instances 78
per cent. in fact the whole town was impoverished. Ile concluded by
moving that the address be adopted.
Mr. Gairrreu, In seconding the motion, observed that the removal
of the Dock-yard establishment, by throwing many hundreds of poor
men out of employ, and forcing them on the poor rates, bore very heavily
an the tradesmen by diminishing their business and increasing their
rates ; and that unless some alleviation were afforded, the most respect.
able part of the inhabitants would be driven away by the parochial bur.
thens—a consequence most momentous to the owners of property.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. Point' In moving that the address be sired by the Chairman
on the part of the meeting, observed. that at the close of the war reduc-
tions in the naval establishments became necessary, and the inhabi.
tants of Deptford slid not complain of them' neither did they complain
of economy in the public expenditure ; but they complained that a ca-
pacious and useful Dock-yard should be totally reduced, anti
thought themselves entitled to claim a fair proportion of the public
work necessary for upholding the Navy, on which, has a maritime as.
tion, we so much depend. (Cheers.) Where wu the necessity of lay.
ing out large sums of money at Woolwich and Sheerness, to obtain ad-
vantages already possessed at Deptford? The only objection ever made
to Deptford Dock-yard, was the delay of getting ships down the
river, which was now completely removed by the introduction of steam
vessels, that could in a few hours tow the largest ship to the Non, or
round to Portsmouth. It was the opinion of some of the best judges
that the foundation of the wharfs at Sheerness would not stand, and that
the enormous expenses incurred in their formation would in effect be
lost to the public.
Mr. Waive, in seconding the resolution, said they all knew what
Deptford Dock-yard was--what was its present state ? No longer did
the ponderous hammer of the anchor.smith ring upon the anvil—no
longer did they hear the grating of innumerable saws—the cheerful
ticking of the shipwright's adore, or the busy hum of many voices. All
was now silent, save a few groups of miserable convicts employed in
rooting up the grass which, untrodden by the foot of man, had grown
in rank luxuriance in the interstices of the pavement. If they should Le I
successful in the application to his Majesty, the proceedings of that day
would form an epoch in the history of Deptford which would be remelt).
bared with pride and satisfaction, and the rising generation would bless
the anniversary of that day, when many then present would be laid in
their peaceful graves. He concluded by recommending a practical ap-
plicauon of the dying injunction of the immortal Nelson—" England
expects every man to do his duty." (Applause.)
The Resolution was unanimously agreed to.
Several other gentlemen addressed the Meting in support of the
object foe which they were assembled.
Thanks were voted to the Chairman and Secretary, and the Meeting
adjourned, with the innwession that the address was to be prevented to
his Majesty in person, if possible.

Their Majesties maintain the same domestic arrange-
ments as existed when they were Duke and Duchess of Clarence. The
King rises frequently at six or seven o'clock, and writes, tor two or
three hours, answers to the communications which arrived on the pre-
ceding day. After breakfast the accounts are submitted to the Queen and
one of the King's daughters, and the bill of fare for the day is present-
ed to his Majesty, who orders a certain number of dishes, and
gives instructions for the invitation of persons whom he wishes to re-
ceive at dinner, and who had not hoes previously invited. Al-
most every article is contracted for at fixed prices, and no waste or
extravagance isallowed- In more important matters the Kingobserves the
same busineesslike habits. Ile does not aster anything in which be ought
to interfere to be done without his knowledge and concurrence; but he
never Interferes improperly.—Court Jambs!.
TUE INVISIBLE MAIL COACII.—A gentleman of Our
acquaintance, who is a good theoretical mechanic, and who has seen the
model of Mr. Dick's suspension railway and carriage., &elates, that If
light carriages were made expressly for conveying the mails, they weld
not be robbed, because they might move at such a speed as to be kiwi.
sible. Our friend is prepared to be laughed at for this remark, but be
gravely maintains the possibility of attaining this speed en a suspension
milway.—Liesepoot Mercury.

Mr. NORWOOD begged to reter the honourable Court to paragrapii
in the newspapen in confirmation of the opinion that the stLam.vemeli
continued to pass along with unabated velocity. He had outsid: the
owner of a coal-barge which was stated in that paragraph to has.: I.(cti
clink in the Thames, and there were other evidences of the awful danger
to which the public were thus subjected. But he was convinced that
the Court would take the important question into their nio,t b‘rious de-
liberation.

The Court then referred the petition to a committee, and we were
given to understand that most decisive measures will be taken by the
honourable members of it.

SCOTCH PRESBYTERY IN LONDON.

This Presbytery held a public meeting at the Scotch Churn., Ci.ad-
weU-street. Pentonville. ern the 12th Mat. when, on a discussion as to
whether the case of the Rev. Mr. Scott, lately presented with a hall to
the Scotch church, Woolwich, or that of the Rev. Edward Irvii:g, et,
involving a charge of heresy as to Christ's humanity, should first Iv!
disposed of by the Presbytery.
Mr. Scott anticipated and eluded the decision of the court, by tian•-
mhting to Mr. Irving a note, in which he stated he had a commuit it
don to make, which would supersede any motion on the subject.
The Presbytery allowing him to speak, he assigned at some 1t....,;th
his objections to the Confession of Faith, on which be avowed his de.
termination once and for ever to disconnect himself with the chutelt of
Scotland. He stated that though these objections had occuptA bi
thoughts foe the last three years, he had Dot been able to come to a d.?.
chive resolution tin within a few hours previous to the meeting, a-A
that in taking this step, he only did voluntarily what he must his .•
been •mad to do in persisting in a demand for ordisation. As h;•6
rions were on more points than one opposed to the Confession
ith, be studiously observed silence on the sinfulness of Coats I -
humanity, no doubt front deference to Mr. Irving, with v. i•Jit,
he is supposed by many 'to concur in this particular.
the Presbytery expressed their admiration of the candour of .11:.
Scott, on whose talents, character, and acquirements, they bestowed 1;:••
highest raise. they regretted the step be bad taken, and appoint••,t
a committee to confer with him, in the view of inducing him to r-•-
consider his resolution, and of retaining him in the bosom of the eltur:.:.
Mr. Scott declaring his intention to be immutable and irrevocAbi,
having no doubt in his mind on the subject, while he wu gratetl•l to
the Presbytery for their kind feelings, and willing to listen to adviv., he
would not for a moment, on any account, lend himself to any eonfo
which should have for its object the retracting of the opinions wide; 1...
had just advanced. A motion being carried for returning the call to •
Presbytery, with which Mr. Scott complied, a committee sat appoint d
to confer with him.

The day being far advanced, the cue of Mr. Irving was postponed
Tuesday next, at the same hour and plate.—Tines.

HOAX IN TILE NAME OF THE EX.KINO OF FRANC:•:.

On Saturday a hoax was playa! off on several credulous tradesmen of
Maidstone, which has caused a good deal of amusement in that town.—
Tat morning a fellow rode into the town, and represented himself to
be an weasel valet of the ex-King of France, who, he stated, had take's
Leeds Castle, in the vicinage of that place—that he had been sent before,
1 to provide every thing necessary for the accommodation of his illustrious
I master. He set up at the New lan, where, of course, he announced
himself, and requested the names of such tradesmen, butchers, bakers,
wine-merchants, lee. as were remarkable in their respective ways, lie
was literally besieged by applicants, who thronged to what might
be called his levee at the inn. He was introduced to a respect.
able coach-builder, from whom he hired • coach to convey him to
Leeds Castle, to inspect the apartments, and arrange other matters tor
the ex-Royal occupant, and thence he was to proceed to Arundel Castle.
where Charles the Tenth was. A butcher, in Week-street, thought
himself the happiest man alive to get a preference over all of his trade
in supplying thepin 's table. He gave several (Wets throughout the
town, to be corn the next and following days. Alter enjoy lug
himself at the ,he set off in the hired chaise to Leeds Castle,
accompanied by two of the " select" tradesmen. Here he was met
by en innkeeper from Rochester, from whom he had obtained some-
thing by a similar story there, but who, suspecting that all wus not
right, followed him thither. On questioning the fellow, finding hoot
his ambiguous answers that his surmises were too well founded, they
Imes him a good horsewhipping, and left him to find his way to his
3E-master as well as he could. The inhabitants of Maidstone con-
jecture this to be the same impostor who, during the summer, repre.
Dented himself, at Broadstairs, to be the butler of her Royal igiorzas
the Duchess of Kent, who was, he said, coming to reside there. At
all events, the rumour relative to the Ex-Monarch's taking Leeds Castle
foe a future residence, gave the appearance of probability to this tel.
low's story.