Star.
London, England, 1830-04-01 00:00:00

The Rob of his pen is regulated by the fashion of the
Horse Guards ; his ink flows from the Treasury fountain;
and his comments are the written inanities of the copying
clerks, the underlings, and hacks of the Public Offices,
whose only chance of continued employment consists in
their impudent but inefficient defence of the most self-
willed—but the most incapable—Ministry that ever yet
swayed the destinies of England. We wish we could ex-
empt from this catalogue the once liberal, and spirited, and
—even in its occasional backslidings—the clever Globe.
But we fear the magic influence of official patronage has
transformed the once bold assertor of popular right, into
the compromising advocate of unpopular, unconstitutional,
and arbitrary measures. The " catechism" has not es-
caped the penetration of the Honourable Secretary for the
Home Department; but its uses are supplied by the pro-
fitable pages of a " Bow-street Hue-and-Cry." If we
look to the proceedings of the present Session of Parlia-
ment, we shall find the tergiversations of the Times and
Globe—for of the Courier it were futile to say more—
exhibited, without any regard to their former professions
of principle, or respect to those advocacies which raised
them in public estimation. To wade through the lucubm-
dons of the " TA underer," for the purpose of detecting or
exposing the glaring inconsistencies of that " awful"
Journal, were a work of supererogation:—the mere perusal
of any three consecutive " broadsheets" would suffice to
convince even the most incredulous, that as regularly as
the sea obeys the changes of the moon, or the weather-
cock veers to the varying wind—so does the Times yield
to the conflicting impulses of public duty—and private
interest. The struggles of the Globe—not yet inured
to these alternations—and labouring to maintain the sem-
blance of consistency, and yet to " do its spiriting deftly,"
—would be amusing, if they were not also calculated to
excite painful reflections upon the insincerity of those,
whose strength and power—derived from the generous
confidence and favour of the people—can thus be con-
verted into the insidious instruments of the oppression and
injury of that people.—The Times, in commenting upon
Mr. HARVEY'S motion for an inquiry into the state and
management of the Land Revenue of the Crown, repro-
bates the abuses of the system, but praises the very man
under whose management some of these abuses have been
perpetrated :
" Sure we are that annual reports, combined with annual
estimates of every penny required or proposed for outlay
within the ensuing year, would long ago have checked
that course of mingled barbarism and prodigality which
has cost the nation so many hundreds of thousand
pounds beyond the original announcements to the public.
in the article of Palaces alone. We are pleased to find '1
that Lord LowTuua is a friend to this proposal of fre-
quent inquiring and reporting; and though aware of
some things which might have been executed by his Lord-
ship with more graciousness to the community, and at a
less sacrifice of the public money, we confess that, as
regards his connexion with the Board of Woods and
Forests, he appears to be, upon the whole, a most dill.-
gent, exact, and active man of business."
But be it remembered, that this " diligent, exact, and
active man of business," is the very individual to whom
we are indebted for the prolongation of that " course of
mingled barbarism and prodigality which has cost the na-
tion so many hundreds of thousand pounds beyond the
original announcements to the public, in the article of pa-
laces alone !"—The Globe, following at humble and cau-
tious distance, asserts that, the only advantage that has
been gained in the management of the Crown Lands, has
been a change in the direction; and illustrates that ad-
vantage by stating that formerly no profits at all were
realized from letting these lands ; whilst, under the pre-
sent system, profits are realized, but squandered as soon
:n realized:—

" Mr. D. W. HARVEY made out a very strong case at
least for enquiry, even as far as the letting of the Crown
Lends was concerned—and though there is no doubt that
this port of the management has improved,all that appears
to have been gained is a change in the direction of the
mismanagement. Anciently, profits were not obtained
from the Crown Lands—now they are obtained, and, when
obtained, are wasted."—This is an improvement with a
vengeance !

Mr. HARVEY'S motion has been lost for the present:
—but the ability, intelligence, and spirit, with which he
brought that motion before the House, will not be lost
upon the country; any more than his galling exposure of{
the existing abuses of the whole system can be forgotten
by Ministers, or so effectual a mode of eventually confer-
ring a double benefit upon the country, by the improve-
went of the Crown Lands, and lessening the burdens of
the people, disregarded by the friends and advocates of
retrenchment.

CITY, Tw EIS Y. O'CLOCK.

The only arrival this morning of consequence is a Malta Mail
by the Duke of York, sailed on the 15th of February, ilksco
Gibraltat 14th of March, and Cadiz 16th of Match. We hays no
whale of ship letters.
The two Battalions of the 28th Regiment of the Line has left
Paris for the expedition to Algiers, amounting to seventeen hunw
dyed men.

Accounts from Lisbon state that Don Miguel will conform ac-
wrding to the wishes of the courts of London and Paris, in granting
as armistice.

On the 20th of ➢larch, arrived at Toulon, two ships laden with
liftets thousand cannon balls for the expedition, and since the Ist of
January arrived there 60 millions of francs for the use of the ex-
proditure.

PUBLIC DISTRESS.

TO ROBERT OWEN, I.:SQ. dr.c. Re. &c.
Uctkenwell-green. 30th Starch,

Si see by the newspapers of this ino.nin;, thlt
it is your intention to convene a public meeting of this
citizens of London, and inhabitants of Middlesex and
Southwark, to take into consideration the important and
all-paramount subject of the far-spread and still-ine-e is-
ing, distress which now universally exists—which affects
every body of men, from the patrician peer to the hum-
ble labourer of agriculture—from the country 'squire to
the industrious manufacturer and ingenious artisan—
which alike pauperises the productive and non-productive
classes of society—which is more deeply-seated and uni-
versally-extended than at any former period within the
recollection of the oldest of the present race of men -
and which, to the eternal shame of truth, justice, phi-
losophy, and general observation, our Ministers declare
to be only partial—nay, to be fast dying away ; and
that the prolific springs of energy, activity, enterprise,
and action—commercial, agricultural, and manufacturing
—are again resuming their accustomed influence, and
pouring forth their genial, invigorating, and fertilisinf,
streams, upon the exhaustless resources and indestructi-
ble magnificence of the country.
As a lover of truth, an admirer of freedom, and a
friend to humanity—as one who wishes to see the greaf
body of the people of this country, now so sunk, fallen,
and degraded, elevated in the social, political, and intel-
lectual scale of being—l rejoice at the convocation of
this well-timed meeting ; and I am pleased to find that
the causes of that heart-sinking and energy-crushiur;
distress are to be probed—that palliatives and remedies
are to be proposed—and that the other important sub-
jects mentioned in your highly-instructive letter—moral,
political, social, and intellectual—are to be discussed,
and that motions and resolutions are to be framed and
moved upon them
I am glad that you have given so long a notice, be-
cause it will enable.all persons to be prepared ; and par-
ticularly as Easter Monday is what is generally called 3
leisure day—a day when persons of every grade are un-
employed, and will be able to attend upon so great, ex-
citing, patriotic, and spirit-stirring an occasion.
It will be necessary, however, in the first place, tj
consider who shall take the chair: I would recommend
Mr. HUME. He is a man of liberal feelings, of extended
knowledge, of high character, of tried virtue, of inflexi-
ble patriotism, and of unflinching moral and political
courage. He is, decidedly, the man whom I should
name. But it is not only on account of these qualifica-
tions—great as they are— that I mention his name ; no,
it is because he can advocate our cause hereafter—be-
cause it will add to his knowledge of the wants and of
the feelings of the middle and lower orders of the peo-
ple—because he will be enabled to represent our opi-
resolutions, and proceedings, to the House of
Commons—and because he will be able, ultimately, to
address those observations to that body which you have
ineffectively addressed, to the Government ; and which
you are now so nobly and so disinterestedly addressing
to the people of England.
But why have the meeting at the London Tavern ?
The place is confined, the civic atmosphere polluted, and
the local position is not central or convenient. I should
say the Mechanics' Institute would be better: but the
best of all would be to have it in the OPEN AIR. 1
would recommend it at Primrose-hill, Hampstead-heat,
,
Copenhagen-fields, the Mermaid-gardens at Hackney
the Horns at Kennington, or the Bowling-green Tavern
in the City-road. However, these you can consider and
resolve on by and bye.
Thanking you for your exertions, and sincerely wish-
ing you success, _

I remain,
Your very obedient Servant,
EDWD. B. SINGLEY.

THE WEATHER.—The month of March, contrary to
the proverb, has " gone out like a lion," after coming in and con-
tinuing " like a lamb." About ten o'clock last night, showery
began to fall, and at seven o'clock this morning there was snow of
considerable depth on all the roods in the vicinity of town. The
weather still continues chilly, with showers of sleet and rain at in.
tervals.

FROM A CORRESPONDENT.—The revolving change
of the seasons furnishes a beautiful subject for contemplation. Ths
month of 31arch, generally notorious for its bleak and piercing
winds, has nearly at its termination assumed not only a mild and
gentle, but a delightful pleasing appearance. The God of Day has
appeared in unclouded splendour. The winter is over and gone,
and the vernal beauties of spring lavish the eye of the spectator.
As the solar beam is at this early period injurious to the complexion
of our fair countrywomen, it is requisite to observe, there is
only one guardian to protect it from such injt.ries, and that is
OWLAND'a
A Board of General Officers has been engaged, for
some time put, in the investigation of a charge made by the widow
of an officer against a friend of her husband (an officer in the same
corps,) for having retained to his own use two sums of money with
which he was intrusted by the husband of the complainant 20 years
ago, to pay over to an agent in Dublin. The result of the inquiry
ihas been most satisfactory to the character of the accused, the charge
having been negatived by the clearest evidence. The expenses of
this investigation, it is said, amount to 1,2001.
An ordnance has been issued in Paris by the Prefect
of Police, relative to hackney-coachmen, and it would be desirable
if a measure of a similar nature were to be adopted in London. The.
o:dnsnce directs that, fmm the 16th of April next, every coachman
e:nployed in the interior of Paris shall give to • person who gets
into his coach a card indicating its number and the name and ad-
dress of the proprietor of it. When several persons, however, gu
into a coach, he is only obliged to give a card to one of them.
A frightful crime was perpetrated in the village of
Bourigmes, near Douai, on the 223 ult. Between 7 and 8 o'clock
in the evening, several individuals presented themselves at the back
of the house of a woman named Bisiauz, whose husband had been alt.
sent for several days. Thiuking 'hat she recognised the voice of one or
them, she opened the door without hesitation; when the wretches pre-
cipitated themselves upon her, and striking her several blows with
mallet, laid her at their feet. They then cut her throat, and placing
a ham, which they found in the roam, on her head, they covered her
corpse with linen, with which they wiped their bloody hands. They
then stole all the plate and valuables, and connived to get dear oft.
The police are of course making diligent search after the auutems.

NEW FARRINGDON MARKET, Aram 1.
Price. per RN
Geer—Fintit Roatting, 611 Ditto Boiling, 410. Fquh! quan-
tity ut. rub, s;d. Rump Steaks, 94. Herr Snubs, 94. Rump of
Bed, 64, Written Murton—Leg, 74. and 74. !launch, 6j4.
and 74. Shoulder, 64. Stddle, 614. Nrck, 514 Ilre.st, 40.
Veal.—Leg, 644 and Td Loin, 84. Pro.o.t. 94. !Met, 94.
Shoulder, 54. PORN, 50. to 7J. Lana, 9,4. and 10d.

c-U