Star.
London, England, 1814-07-08 00:00:00

Dividends wW be paid to the Public Towsenver.

We bare received Halifax papers to the Sth of
3une. They contain no news but shipping. The
slates from New York are not so recent as our last
itrtivals.

The American frigate Essex, previous to her cap.
tune, took upwards of SO British vessels, among them
South-Sea whalers.
Commodore DECATUR, it is said, is to take the
Command of the President frigate, now at New York.
Commodore Rocots is to have the command of the
rriere. The brig Caruvaz, with dry goods, coals,
&c. has arrived .at Camden Maine, prize to the Ame-
rican pritateer Invincible.
A letter, dated April 11th, has been received at
Newbury Port (Massachusetts) from Portsmouth,
(New Hampshire), stating, that an armament of
three 74's and a number of frigates were preparing
at Halifax to attack Portsmouth, and destroy the 74
building there. The letter adds, that every thing
Was in motion at Portsmouth, and that an express.
tots baaa-setlt to his Excellency Governor GILMAN.

in some farther extracts from Preeeh Papers which

tre have given in our columns of tosday, an interest.
' ing speech will be found from the Emperor of Avs-
- MA, at first appearing in public among his subjects.
It is a beautiful composition, and the sentiments
which it contains are those of a Patriarch of the age
of innocence and peace. It exhibits not the slightest
grounds for suspecting that "Austtia is not satisfied
With the Treaty of Peace.
The laws in contemplation for securing the Liberty'
of the Press in France, are daily topics of discourf
and speculation. A writer in a French Paper judi-
ciously ternarkst that as during the reign of BONA.
PARTE all persons were at liberty to declaim against
religion and morality, but prohibited from speaking
Or writing on politics, it would be no bad measure to
reverse this doctrine, and permit free discussion on
political subjects, while religion and morality are
, placed under the safeguard of the Law. This might
and does succeed in an enlightened country like
England, it is true ; bUt we apprehend that the
French character, at all tidies volatile, and perhaps
Intemperate, has been too much demoralized by the
unnatural system of BONAPARTE to be entrusted with
the Freedom of the Press to the extent which Eng-
lishmen enjoy:
In the affair OF CAULTNCOURT and MEHtE ISE LA
TOUCHE for Instance, to which we alluded yesterday,
would not an English Judge and Jury burn with in-
dignation at any claim for damages for a libel set up
by such men i—We suspect strongly that the case
will be different in France if the cause comes before
_ the French tribunals. There is something, we fear,
in the French character which is di a little more than
kin and less tl.an kind," with such personages. The
atrocities of BONAPARTE and his miiiions were too
long endured by Frenchmen to entitle us to hope that
any thing like a generous public spirit will arise in
that country for years to come.

The situation of Lord CocuttaN'e excites very ges'
sera' interest, especially since his case came before
the House of Commons. The circumstance of forty.
four Members of the House (nearly one-fourth of all
.vho voted on this occasion) being convinced of his innoe
wee, furnishes a strong presumption that he may have
been toiled by the machinations of others; and though
to appearance an accessary, yet possibly entirely halo-
cent. This has nothing to do with the verdict of the
Jury—a Jury can only decide upon evidence; but if,
by any accident or neglect, facts which should have
been stated were withheld, the facts still remain nor
- can that which is false be made true by any techni-
cal inaccuracy, whatever may be its legal effect.—
We confess that the complexion of the general evi-
dence in this case, as brought before the Public, did
produce an impression on our minds unfavourable to
Lord COCHRANE ; but we should feel that we failed
in our public duty should we neglect to state that in
consequence of the aspect which the facts have Once
assumed, we are new among tby number of thosq

wild mkt-Lain strong slo4to respecting his Lordship's
guilt. His conduct front first to last has been diffe-
rent from what he might hare belts expected En have ,
pursued had he been a party to the nefarions views
of those with whom he has been implicated. Eves
his intemperate etpressiohs before the House may be
accounted for on the principles of human feeling ;
nor will they,. however reprehensible they may have
been, be allowed to mix, in honourable minds,
with the question of his guilt or innocence.—
We need hardly add, that had the House of COm-
mons been acting in the capacity of Jurors do Tues-
day night, his Lordship must have been acquitted.
,Where a fourth part of a Jury are persuaded of a de-
Andant's innocence, acqUittal must follow as a mat-
ter al course ; for no Consideration can ipduce an
honest Juryman to join in a verdict of guilty. when
convinced of the innocence of the accused, and in
such a case the majority must yield. This very cir-
cumstance ought, and we doubt not will operate
powerfully in mitigating the sentence, so far as to
cause an exception of the standing in the pillory.

in the list of Members who voted against the ex.
pulsion of Lord COMBAS', in yesterday's Paper, the
name of H. Witcrrrester appeared : we are maim-
rised to say that he was not in that division.
The High Bailiff of Westminster has called a
Meeting of the Electors, to nominate a proper person
to fill the present vacancy in the Representation of
that City.
During the time of Divine Service at St. Paul's,
yesterday, the Lord Chief Justice Sir VICARY GIBBS
was taken suddenly ill. He was carried into the
fresh air, and by proper application& soon recovered.

Yesterday his Eminence Cardinal PONIIALVI. Se-
cretary of State to the POPE, and spite, embarked at
Dover, on his return to Rome from his mission to

the Piumat Raour.

The Archbishop of CANTBRIWRY entertained a
party to dinner yesterday, at Lambeth Palace.
The Countess of Euzx's root last night, in Stan-
hope-street, MAyfair, was very numerously and
fashionably attended.

The Earl and Countess of CHATHAM had a select
dinner party yesterday, at their house, in Hill-street,
Berkeley-square.
The Countess of CLERMONT had a card party yes-
terday evening, at her house, in Berlceley-square.

Lord and Lady GRANTHAM entertained a large
party to dinner yesterday, at their house, in St.
James's-square, among whom was Field• Marshal
Prince &out
Mrs. WYNDHAM had a fasionable party yesterday
evening, at her house, in Spring Gardens-terrace.
Viscountess ASHBROOK has a grand musical party
nn the 15th instant, at her house in Mansfield-street,
Cavettdish•square.
The Countess of Jtruszr had a brilliant assembly
on. Wednesday evening, at her house, in Berkeley-
square.

Wednesday the magnificent dinner, so long in pre-
paration, was given by White's Club to the Illustrious
WILLINGTOW :aid the Arse,. All the arrangements
were admirable The room selected for this enter-
tainment was the temporary one in Burlington-gar-
dens, lately appropriated for dancing in. The room,
when lighted up by a multitude of wax candles
(placed in chandeliers of diamond cot-glass of match.
less beauty) had an indescribable effect, particularly
when the company were seated. At eight o'clock
500 ; ersonapes took their seats, with the Duke of
YORK in the Chair, having on his right the Duke of
WELLINGTON, on his left the Duke of RICHMOND.—
The banquet was truly sumptuous.
The Marchioness of DOWNSHIRB gave a grand fete
at her house iii Hanover-square, on Tuesday night.—
The dancing commenced, at eleven o'clock, with
" The White Cockade," led off by Lady C. Hui..
the hostess's fair daughter. The Doke of WF.LLING-
TON arrived about half past eleven, and staid until
two o'clock ; his Grace retired before supper. The
banquet was soon after served np ; it consisted of
every delicacy, and the most choice wines. Dancing
was resumed at three in the morning, and kept up
till half-past six. Among the company were—
The Foreign Ministers Prince of Wlrtemburgh, Duchess of
Richmond, and the Ladies Lennox • Duchess of Wellington,
Duke and Dockets of Beaufort, and the Ladles Somerset; Mar-
-1 chiontss of Salisbury, arid the Ladies Cecil ; Marchioness of
Camden, and the Ladles Pratt; Marquis of Worcester, Earl
and Camden of Sefton, Lord and Lady Foley, Countess of Asb-
but nham and the Ladies, Viscountess Castlereagh,
The LORD MAYOR gives a grand entertainment to.
morrow at the Mansion House.
Mr. Juices Wean, the well known philanthropist)
has been very recently traversing the Counties of
Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Middlesex, as well as
many of the more remote parts of England, indiscri-
minately relieving the distresses of both young and
old. In every place that he visited, the widow
and the orphan partook of his bounty.—Such in.
stat,ces If benevolence diffused by an individual are
,not upon record. In the course of the last severe
winter he distributed upwards of £'2),000 to the wi.
dows and orphans of our brave soldiers and sailors
who had fell in the cause of their country. Within
the last three sears he has educated, clothed and ap-
prenticed upwards of 600 poor children, both male
and female, most of them orphans, and in the course
of the last month he has relieved upwards of three
thousand distressed persons who followed him frem
town to town.
The Parishioners of the Rev. Joint Wianroto
Minister of Itirkmahoe, in Dumfries-shire) have pre-
sented their worthy Pastor with an elegant silver and
china tea equipage. The deputation who waited on
Mr. Wtorrseart with the present, in an appropriate
address, expressed their high sense not only of the
mai, talents, and industry which he bad displayed in
the exercise of his clerical functions, but of the viral
which adorned his private character,. •
Last night the Royalty Theatre drew a crowded
assemblage to witness Sinauis beautiful musical
Farce of Retina. Mr. Karr played Be/vile with his
accustomed ease and spirit, and was loudly applaud.
ed in all his songs. Mtn. 831 ts was-the Retsina of the
evening .and jar Whilst withlrdlageMaide with
effect.