Star.
London, England, 1825-03-07 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETIA'G 42' TAUNTO.V.

In consequence of a requisition signed by eleven of
the most respectable inhabitants of the Borough of
Taunton, reque,ting the Bailiffs to call a Meeting. for
the purpose of taking into consideration the effect
which the proposed Canal from Stolford Et) Beer is likely
to have upon the trade and interests of the town of
Taunton, a Meeting was convened, and held at the
Town Hall, on Tuesday, the Bailiffs in the Chair.
Mr. imin YOUNG proposed a seties of Resolutions,
declaratory of the opinion of the Meeting, that the
proposed Canal from the Bristol to the English Chan-
nel will be of great advantage to the tow n of Taunton,
provided there be a direct communication from the
same. These'Resolutions were unanimously adopted.
Dr. KINGSLAK V, Dr. BLAKE, the Rev. HENRY CRESS•
WELL, Mr. HUNTER, H. J. !mon, Esq. and several other
Gentlemen addressed the Meeting in praise of the pro-
posed Canal. Of all the speakers on the occasion, there
was not one who had a single word to say against the
measure. All look upon it as a great good, and their
only apprehension seems to be, that they shall not have
their full share of it. Indeed, although selfish motives may
create a trivial opposition to the Canal, yet its value and
importance is too obvious not to be carried into effect.

By a Flanders Paper we learn, that the vote of credi
of 8,000 000 of florins, demanded by the message of
the king of the NETHERLANDS, to repair the disasters
ccasicned by the inundations in Holland, had passed
the Assembly of the States-Genet al unanimously.
The sum expended under the bead of Civil Contin-
gencies for the year 1824, amounted to 224,4711.75. Sid.
This includes Extraordinary Disbursements of Ministers
at Foreign Courts and Consuls. presents to Persons of
Distinction, and Ministers of Foreign Courts, Expenses
of conveying Ambassadors, Governors, &c. to their
respective places of destination; Expenses defrayed by
'Officers of the Household, not paid part of the Civil
List, and various public services.
The sum t equired to defray the expense under the
head of Civil Contingencies for the year 1825, is esti-
mated at 260,0001.
The extraordinary expenses cf the Army for the
year ending the 2401 December, 1824, amounted to
855,8501. 101 d.
The gross receipt of the Land Tax unredeemed in
England and Wales, in the year 1822, was 1,191,4221.
7s. 5#.1. in 18'23, 1,211,917/. I Is. H 0 d. and in 1824,
1,251,657/. 16,:. 21.1. the receipt of the Land Tax un-
redeemed in Scotland, in 1822, was 36,0341. 7e. 6d. ;
in 1823, 31,0431.125. Bd. ; and in 1824, 37,8031.195. 90.
REFUGE FOR THE DESTITOTR.—Thursday the An
niversary Dinner of this invaluable Society, took place
at the City of London Tavern, the Right Hon. the
LORD MAYOR in the Chair, in the absence of his Royal
Highness the Duke of YORK, whose presence was re-
quired in the House of Peers. The statements and
speeches made in the course of the evening, shewed
clearly the extensively beneficial effects of the Institu-
tion, but it appeared at the same time, that further
contributions from the public are necessary, in order to
enable it to carry its benevolent objects fully into exe-
cution. A collection of between three and four hun-
dred pounds was made, and the evening passed in un.
interrupted harmony.
FIRES.—The cooperage of Mr. Fenwick, of Chelsea,
was burnt to the ground on Saturday evening, which
was occasioned by the boiling over of a pitch kettle.
The dwelling-house was saved, but the damage is very
considerable.—Yesterday morning, about half-past one
o'clock, the neighbourhood of Battle Bridge was thrown
into a state cf considerable alarm, by the discovery of
a fire in the cow-house of Mr. Burgin, a dairy-man. In
little more than an hour, the entire building was re-
duced to a heap of ruins ; but by the timely arrival of
the engines, and a plentiful supply of water, the sur-
rounding buildings were saved, and the flameeconfined
to the cow-house. Four cows, a horse, and a dog, were
burnt, and the cries of the poor animals were truly
distressing. We are happy to hear that no further
'damage was sustained, and that the premises and the
cattle were insured.
Saturday morning, at two o'clock, the inhabitants of
Carshalton were thrown into a state of confusic a by the
alarm of fire, on the oil-mills of Mr. Ross, used for the
preparation of leather, which are situate on the estate
of Mr. Sibley, near that place. Flom the extreme'
brightness of the atmosphere, the conflagration was not
perceptible at a distance, which prevented that prompt
assistance usually given, and nearly the whole of the
premises and stock were rapidly consumed, but hap-
pily no lives were lost. On the first intimation arriving
in town by a market gardener, Brookson, of the Norwich
Union Office, was sent down with an engine, and suc-
ceeded in securing the remains of the property, and
stopping the further progress of the fire, which it was
feared, from certain combustible articles, would burst
forth again from the ruins. The loss is estimated at
about 40,0001. of which about one-fifth part is stated
to be insured in the Imperial, Alliance, and Protector
Companies.

Ohm Coffin' or itlsriCIARY.

r►=

• EDINBURGH, MAttCH
Robert Murray, who stood accused of being et 1114
cerned in the robbery of the Stirling mail coach, of
three parcels of Bank notes, on the 10th of DeceMbet
last, while the horses were changing at Kirklinton;
was put on his trial and acquitted, there being no evi,
dence to prove his participation in the crime. On his
being discharged from the bar, he was immediately Ap,
prehended on a charge of returning from aansportatiott,
and a warrant granted to convey him to England. It
appears, that when a boy he was transported for life,
under the name of Heron! he returned from transport
ation, and was taken into the setvice of Mr. Hookham;
a bookseller, in Bond-street, where he managed to :teal
a ticket w the fete given by the Prince Regent in 1813;
which he attended, and was caught stealing ago
snuffbox from the Marquis of Normanton, for which
he was sent to the hulks, from whence he escaped. He
was soon after taken, and again sent to Botany Bayl
from which he a second time returned to his country;
and, it is supposed, has continued to support himself al
the expense of various Bankers. •