Star.
London, England, 1825-03-17 00:00:00

Whateer is virtuous. brave, and free !

We know not if thy doom is cast,
O'er faded hopes and chains to weep;
If smiles and frowns have power at last,
To lull all former thoughts to sleep,
We ask not now—our home is here—
Land of oar choice, our lime, our pride;
Where we may boast, through sorrow's tear,
How Erin's sons have lived and died !

Tho' we are wanderers in thy sight.
And bound elsewhere by sacred ties;
If Freedom guide our steps. then !light

~"

Tv holy even in Honour'. eyes.
And still we hail with joy the day,
When old affections fiyto meet .
Old scenes, old friends, try: far away,
But once enjoyed for ever sweet !

GREAT' SHIP CANAL.

.~~;

We are glad to infer, from the Resolutions which
were adopted by a very numerous Meeting held' at
Taunton, and which we have inserted in this day's
Paper, that this grand national work, bas at length
excited that attention in the parts of the country im-
mediately bordering on it, which its vast importance
seems to demand. The capital and enterprise of the
nation chiefly centre in London; and it is here that such
undertakings as this great Canal, fur uniting the Eng-
lish and Brisol Channels, must be supported, if not
originated. Still, inferences in some way unfavourable
to the measure have probably heretofore been drawn,
from the circumstance that but few of the persons who
resided in the neighbourhood of the propOsed Canal,
and whose property it must be presumed would be
greatly benefitted by its formation, had, up to a certain
period, come forward in support of it.
This supposed backwardness on the part of tbe in-
habitants of Somerset and Devon, if it ever did exist,
exists no longer, as the numerous petitions to the Le-
gislature from these counties in favour of the Canal
testify ; and as the proceedings of two very large and
highly respectable Meetings of the Gentry, Land-
owners, and others, held severally at Colyton and at
Chard, sufficiently demonstrate.
The meeting at Taunton, however, as affecting the
proposed Canal, appears to as to be more important in
its consequences than any preceding one, inasmuch as
we are informed that it originated with individuals,who.
if not unfavourable to the measure, were at least not
prepared to support it; but who, in the course of the
discussions which then took place, with great candoart,
and much to their credit, submitted to the force of truth
as there developed, and most cordially united with the,
rest of the meeting in a Resolution to support the un-
dertaking to the utmost. As expressing the feelings'
and opinions of that part of the country, and of those
persons whom it may be presumed are best informed
as to the general bearings and effects of the measure,
this decision of the Taunton Meeting is highly valuable.
Another important fact, as it was stated by Sir Tho..
mas Lethbridge in the House of Commons is, that out
of more than nine hundred landed proprietors, not fifty
had objected to the passage of the Canal through their
property. This is a sufficient pledge of the approbation
with which this great undertaking is viewed by all that
part of the country ; as is another fact, that the inhabi-
tants of Taunton have resolved to form a collateral cut
from the Canal, uniting it to that town, of their sense
of its utility.
This great work, as contrasted with the numerous
other schemes now agitating the public mind, appears
to us to be especially •deserving of support, both from
Government and the Nation generally—the first, we
believe, it cordially has, as we have reason to know that
the several members of Administration have indivi-
dually expressed themselves most strongly in its favour;
and the latter, we apprehend, has been effectually se-
cured to it by the candid and minutely elaborate state-
ments which have been put forth under the best audio-
rity, shewing the cost of its fonnation, and the revenue
that wile be derived from it—which statements have
never yet been controverted.
The Bill for this great undertaking is now before Par-
liament. It was read a second time last Friday, and re-
ceived with acclamations; for, as to the playful observa-
tions made by Sir Joseph Yorke, about providing a fund,'
to cover the expense of" again filling up this great ditch,"
coupled, as they were, with assurances of his approial
of the' measure, they merely excited in the House (as
they were intended to excite) n general smile. Indeed,
there has not been any opposition to the scheme, ex-
cepting from a few individuals 'who are personally in-
terested in maintaining a son of monopoly, which will
now be raid open to public competition. The money
too we find is all subscribed for; so that nothing seems,
likely to retard the actual commencement of the un-
dertaking, sOsoon as the Legislature shall have given
its sanction.
We heartily wish the, spirited promoters of this great Canal every
success; and viewing it as a measure calculated to preserve the
irli iv ofto proprt,andtope shalt alromotetwys be heacot.
I merdoal prosperityrsailors,of the countryert
generally, we
ready to give it our humble support.
.he I

A Company is forming to acquire Land in the parts
of South America best adapted for the growth of Corn, and to esta-
bilsh Agricultural settlements there. . It is called the " Rio de M
Plats ASSlCietiet, fur Landed and etgriceilistrel•Purpoes." if thic
concern be well conducted, it promises to be more beneficial then
many which have lately engaged public. attention. The natives will
not work. Agriculture is not at all understood amongst them, lo:
somuch, that it is stated, while Meat has been selling at Buenos
Ayres at a penny a pound, bread has reached three shillings the
quartern loaf. Mr. lifiaaaa Summon; we recollect, protected the
formation of an Agricultural Settlement similar to this last year,
atztl we understand he has lately sent out between two and three
hundred persons to cultivate' his Land there. • • Tlsts Company is
siad to be an extension of his Om, to meet the mid ilact/Mof the
population and commerce of flat country. sp'

Or


1r

THE ARMY. - •

•
. ,
Most of the Cavalry Regiments that ere stationed at present in
Ireland, will he relieved in the course of the ensuing summeeklty a
pro_portionare number of Cavalry Corps from Great Britain.
The 18th Lancers, now on duty at Brighton, will, on being re-
lieved by the 17th lancers, be ordered to march to Coventry, to
replace the 3d (the King's Owil) Iletiment of Light Dragoons,
which is at present doing duty at that station.
The 32d Foot. front Corfu the 63d, front Ceylon ; and the
57th, from Quebec, are ordered home.
The 16th Foot, at Ceylon; the 49th and 55th, at the Cape;
together with the 62d, at the Mauritius, are ordered ro India.
• The 2d Battalion of the 60th FoOt is ordered from Berbice to
Barbadoes.

COLONEL BERKELEY.

-"'..0.."=••.

• The article which had drawn upon the head of the
unfortunate Editor the personal chastisement of the
Colonel, was inserted in thelast Number of the Chd•
tenhant Journal as follows :