Star.
London, England, 1822-04-12 00:00:00

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.

Gibraltar Papers to the 18th tilt. have been re-
ccived, which contain the following instrument, issued
by Sir THOMAS MAITLAND:

" PROCLAMATION.

" His Excellency the Governor having maturely and delibe-
rately considered the important question, how far the corn mono-
poly, which has existed for centuries In those Islands, shall be
done away with, and having called to his aid the opinions of such
persons in these Islands who thought themselves competent to
give any opinion on the subject, he feels himself disposed, though
with considerable doubt and difficulty on his part, to try the
experiment of throwing open the commerce of this most impor-
tant article of necessity. His Excellency does it with doubt and
difficulty, because be is convinced, generally speaking, that the
wisest system of Government is to adhere to what has been prac-
tically ascertained to be beneficial to the people, in lieu of set-
ting up novel theoretical speculations. Anxious, however, as his
Excellency is to give a fair trial to what is thought will prove
ultimately beneficial to these Islands, and equally alive to the
necessity at the present moment of stretching any point that
even bears the appearance of increasing either the commerce, or
of giving employment to the lower classes of the people here, he
is pleased to proclaim for general Information, that, on the Ist of
July next, the commerce of grain of every kind shall be thrown
open in these Islands.
" Having come to this determination, his Excellency deems it
to be his duty to state, that it is not his intention that Govern-
ment should interfere in any manner (beyond what is hereafter
mentioned) with the commerce of grain when once thrown open,
so long as the poorer classes of the inhabitants be supplied with
bread at a fair and moderate rate ; but as the Government must
keep a stock on hand Co prevent any scarcity, or any sudden or
excessive rise in the price of corn, and as it must continue its as-
sistance in providing for the inhabitants, should such high price
be of any continuation, he deems it absolutely necessary, to se-
cure the interests of Government on one hand, and to protect the
agricultural interests on the other, to adopt the following reguLs-
tions and restrictions on this head: _ _ _

" 1. That, upon aU wheat imported into these Islands, for con.
stimption, a duty of four scudi per salm shall be levied, if im-
ported in vessels under the British or lonian flag, and five scudl
per salm, if imported in foreign vessels.
" 2. That, upon Indian corn imported into these Islands, for
consumption, a duty of three scudi per salm shall be levied, if
imported in British or lonian vessels, and three and a half if im-
ported in foreign vessels.
" 3. That, upon all barley, rye, or other kinds used in making
bread, a duty of two and a halt scudi, in British or lonian; and
three in foreign.
" 4. All paste flour, semolla, or farsa, four scudi.
(The remainder of the Proclamation relates entirely to the
details of carrying this important measure into execution).
By command of his Excellency,
(Signed) " RICHARD PL:ISKET.
" Dated l'alace, Valetta, Jan. 24, 1822."

Wednesday, the Princess Aucusra dined with the
Duke and Duchess of GLOUCESTER, where there was
a select party to meet the Princess.
Wednesday, the Princess SOPHIA visited the Prin-
cess AUGUSTA.
Wednesday and yesterday, the Princess AUGUSTA
rode out with the Duchess of GLOUCESTER.
The Hon. Lady SMITH is much indisposed at her
house in Piccadilly, in consequence of a fall in alight-1
ing from her carriage.
Mr. MAITLAND, of Norbury Palk, Surrey, is the
purchaser of the reversion of the fine Hestercombe
estate, in Somersetshite, for the sum of £3BOO.
The plantation on the south side of the road be-
tween Bothwell-bridge and Hamilton, belonging to
the Duke of HAMILTON, has lately been disposed of
by his Grace's factor, Mr. BROWN, for L:2000. A belt-
ing is reserved to factthe road.
The number of works of art that were sent in on
Monday and Tuesday last to the Royal Academy,
fur the coming Exhibition, are said to exceed those of
any former year.
ADELPHI THEATRE.—Last night a crowded au-
dience were assembled at this Theatre to witness Mr.
ALEXANDRE'S ventriloquial talents. It is not, how-
ever, merely as a ventriloquist that Mr. ALEXANDRI
is to be considered, although in that he is unrivalled;
but there is really a great deal of dramatic talent
about him, which, with the astonishing powers of il-
lusion that he possesses, produces the wonderful effect
of half a dozen actors by his own single exertions—
He assumes successively the appearance of a gallant
young soldier, a love-sick maiden, a gouty Alderman'
and his spouse, and a roguish servant ; and appears
to hold commune with a number of invisible agents,
by the mere transitions of his voice. The Piece in
which he exhibits all this is a slight dramatic sketch',
enlivened by puns, jokes, and other slight sparklings
of wit and humour. His exertions were honoured
with the mast unqualified applause.
ARGYLE-Rooms.--Mr..PurNata's Readings and
Recitations last night attracted a very crowded and
elegant audience at these Rooms. His selection
of Readings was much diversified, passing from
grave to gay, from lively to severe ; and in all
these he displayed very superior talents. Mr. PUT-
NAM possesses a fine voice, a correct enunciation,
which, combined with pleasing manners and graceful
action, give great effect to his powers of declamation.

. .
r lara kw'
vaimenarria SEB3IONB.—TAIS DAY. _
ONO it. JOHN FLY.
This was Ira indictment agaihst the defendant fat
hating, oh tha 96th of August, with a considerabk
number br other, persons, riotously assembled at
Kpeniiigghtttseb,rldpgeriv,aaNte
in the
emitted an assault MI Francis
s.
This prosecution was inlssttitßimuetegdb
eyntthoef
Lords LifeG uoafrt
the
Treasury, and conducted by Mr. ADOLPHUS and Mi.
WALFORD, the defence by Mr. ALLEY.
Mr. WALPORD briefly stated the case, and called
the following witnesses on behalf' of the prosecution.
Joseph Freck, a trumpeter, of the Ist Regiment of
Life Guards, deposed to his having been at the
B own Bear public-house, at Knightsbridge, on the
day named in the indictment, when the funeral of
Honey and Francis was passing, it was about seven
o'clock ; some of the persons assembled said, " Here
comes one of them!" (meaning witness)—he was in-
stantly attacked, beaten, and had his medal forci-
bly torn from his breast ; some other soldiers coming
up, rescued him, and he was taken into the Barracks.
Deligate, at the time, was in the Brown Bear public-
house, and the first that came out on hearing of the
tumult in the street.

Francis Deligate corroborated the statement of the
last witness, and in addition stated that the windows
of the barracks were broken. After Alderman Waith-
man had ordered the soldiers into their barracks, he
retired towards Hyde Park-corner.
James Hitchman and Thomas Taylor, also belong-
ing to the same Regiment, corroborated the testi-
mony of the last witness, and also that the windows
of the barracks were broken, to the number of 284
squares, by the mob throwing stones and brickbats.
Mr. ALLEY then proceeded at g'reat length to ad-
dress the Court and Jury on behalf of thedofendant.
The CHAIRMAN then summed up the evidence
with his usual impartiality, when the Jury, after con-
sulting for a few minutes, returned a verdict of Not

Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the
East India House, when the new Directors elected

on Wednesday last, viz.
WILLIAM ASTELL, Esq. CHAS. aeon Pancorr, Esq.
CHARLES GRANT, Esq. GEORGE SMITH, Esq.
CAMPBELL M•RPORIBANZS,F.sq. SIVENT TOONE, Esq.
took the oaths and their seats. Jamas PArrisou, Esq. and WIL-
LIAM WIg,AI. Esq. M. P. were elected Chairman and Deputy-
Chairman for the year ensuing.
It is stated in a private Letter from Paris, of Mon-
day last, that an attempt had recently been made to
corrupt a regiment in the garrison at Marseilles, and
to induce them to march upon Toulon, for the pur-
pose of seizing the arsenal, with all its arms, ammu-
, onion, icc. The plot was stifled before it had time
to break out, by the arrest of an Officer, upon whom
was seized the whole correspondence of the conspira-
tors, of whom a Lieutenant-Colonel CA now was the
Chief—he has fled. This affair has not yet been men-
tioned by a single Journal in Paris ; but the parties
arrested have been seat to be tried at the Assizes of
Avignon.
The annual bill of mortality for Liverpool, for the
last year, has just been published. From this docu-
ment we learn the singular fact, that the population
of that town has decreased during the year 1821. It
appears the births have decreased 89, whilst the burials
have increased 340. In the marriages there is also a
decrease of 21.

Description of the Alterations and Improvements
in St. James's Palace, fir holding Courts, and other great state
observances : a particular description of the above will appear
in the Literary Gazette of Saturday the 13th, No. 273.—The
other leading contents will be Reviews of—Lumsden's overland
Journey from India—John Dagley's Life, a Poem, probably not
by Lord Byron—the Biography of John Home, with interest-
ing Correspondence—Conclusion of Burcht Travels in Africa,
and remarkable extracts—Walpole's Memoirs, analysis of the
years 1757 and B—The Renegat, a Romance, from the French
—The Respectable Max, a London Portrait and Sketch of So-
ciety—The Original Correspondence, Dramatic Criticisms on
all Novelties; and varieties of information and entertainment
are as copious as usual. The First Quarterly Part, for 1242,
is just completed, and contains 618 Columns of Information
(closely and handsomely printed) on the Literature, Arts, and
Sciences of the period, so as to form a very full Compendium
of the novelties anti progress in each. The Reviews embrace
Eight Quartos, Thirty-three Octavos, and Twenty-two Duodeci-
mos—in all Sixty-three Volumes, with complete Analyses and
copious Extracts, to enable every Reader to form a correct opi-
nion of the Works.—Every discovery in Science is immediately
recorded; and no Exhibition or remarkable Production of Art,
is passed without due notice.—Literary Gazette Office, 362
Strand.

Monday se'nnight, a flock of about thirty swans
made their appearance, hovering about the river
Southesk, between the bridge of Brechin and the.
Castle-pool. One of them, supposed to have been
wounded in the Back Sands, was unable to wing its
way with the rest of its companions, and alighted on,
the river, where it was shot. This rare and beauti-
ful bird weighed upwards of twenty-four pounds, and
measured seven feet and a half between the tips of
the wings, and four feet ten inches from the bill to
the point of the tail. It was given to Mr. Ross of
the Swan Ina, who is to have it stuffed. The rest of the
flock returned in about two hours, in search of their
wounded (but by that time dead) companion, went
away sorrowful, returned again, and then bade a
final adieu to a place where the imperious lords of
the earth would not allow them to make a passing
visit, without turning the most potent engines of death
and destruction against them.
The old and singular custom of cracking the gad
or whip, in Castor Church, on Palm Sunday, has been,
again performed. An estate at Broughton, near
Brigg, is held by this custom. On the morning of
Palm Sunday, the game-keeper, or some servant on
the estate, brings with him a large gad or whip, with
a long thong : the stock is made of the mountain
ash, or wickin tree, and tied to the end of it is a
leather purse, containing 30 pence (said to have in it
formerly 30 pieces of silver) ; while the Clergyman
is reading the first lesson (Exodus ix.) the man having
the whip cracks it three atnes in the church porch I
and then wraps the thong round the stock, and
brings it on his shoulder through the church, to a seat
in the chancel, where he continues till the second
lesson is read (Matthew xxvi.) he then brings the
gad, and kneeling upon a Eat before the pulpit, he
waves it three times over the Clergyman's head (the
thong is fastened, as before observed), and continues
to hold it till the whole of the lesson is read, when he
again returns to his seat, and remains till the service
is over. He then delivers the gad to the occupier of
a faun. called Huudon, half a mile from Castor.

_ •

--117-v- • .
1 NEWMARKWI' CRAVEVMEETING.
4, . . fillialliatf, APRIL 11.
des of 1100 gs. each, h.ft. for Sides, Ili. Sib. each. T.T.C.
I). :71 Sarafieses ch. Whizgitt - - i
lA. G. Caventildes, by Bourbon • II -
IL It. H. the Duke of York's, by Whalebone a
Six to 4 On Whisgig—.2 to 1 nu. lA. O. Cavendish's.
Sweepstakes of 200 gs. each, h. fc, for fillies, Bst. 51b. D. M.
D. of Grafton 's b. 1. Pastille - - -1
141. G. Cavendish's' by Bourbon - - g
Seven to 4 on Pastille.
Sweepstakes of 200 gs. each, h. ft. colts, tist. 81b. fillies, itst. 41b.
then rising 3 yn. old. It. M.
D. of Rutland's f. by Ruben. -
Mr. Wyndham's c. by Frolic - _ _
D. of Grafton's e. by Vandyke Junior - 3
Even betting on D. of Rutland's f.—After the dead heat, the
D. of Rutland's f. walked over, and the 1). of RutLud and Mr.
Wyndham agreed to divide the stake.
The Claret States of 200 gs. each, h. ft. for colts, Bst. 71b. and
' fillies, 851. 21b. rising 4 yrs. old. 1). I.
Mr. Hunter's gr. c. Gustavus - - 1
Mr. Wilson named e. Carbonaro, by Woeful - 2
Mr. Udny's Ibla - - - 3
Ld. Exeter's b. f. Augusta - - - 4
Three to 1 agst. Gustavus—C to lon Augusta.
' Sweepstakes of 100 gs. each, h. ft. colts, fist. 71b. fillies, Sat. 21b
D. M.
lA. Verubm's e. Vapour

Sweepstakes of 200 gs. each, b. ft. SW. 71b. B. M.
Id. Exeter's b. e. Ho!twin

rte.

MEYNELL HUNT SPRING RACES, APRIL 9.
The Meynell Hunt Stakes of five guineas each, by Members of
the Club, for horses not thorough-bred, that never won any
Match, Plate, or Sweepstake', &c. prior to the day of naming.
Two-mile beau. Gentlemen riders. Twelve Subscribers.

Mr. llristuwe's b. g. Cumberland, by Skiddaw, 5 yrs old 1 I
lion. li. Cavendish's gr. r. Dealer, by Grimaldi, 6 yrs old 4 2
Mr. Chamberlin's bl. g. Smolensko, 6 yrs old, Mt. 3 3
Mr. Charlton's b. g. by Julius Cesar, .5 yrs old, ;Ist. itlb. 2 4

The Ten Guinea Stakes did nct kn.

Captain Ifeathcote's ch. g. Doubtful, by St. Domingo, 5 yrs
old, beat Major !tile's b. g. Chance, by Patriot, aged, Bst.
each, 50gs. One two-mile heat.
A Silver Cup, of twenty guineas value, with 30 guineas added,
and ten guineas to the second horse, given by the Gentlemen
of the Meynell Hunt, for horses not thorough-bred, that never
started, paid, or received forfeit prior to the day of naming.
Two-mile heats. Rode by Farmers.
Mr. IL Stratham's ch. g. Tally-ho, 5 yrs old 2 1 1
Mr. Riley'. b. g. Farmer, by Orlando, 4 yrs old 3 2 2
111 r. T. Snare's b. g. by Walnut, 5 yrs. old, 1 Ist. 121 b. 1 3 dr
The lion. Captain Curzon's b. g. Coriolanus beat Mr. Thos.
Walker's b. m. Jewess, 50gs. 12st. each. Mile and a half heat.

The Race and Hunt Ball was attended by nearly all the rank,
fashion, and beauty of Derbyshire. Amon get the distinguished
company present were the Duke of DEVONSHIRE, the Karl of
Cur:4llmmLo, Lord Vaiswoo and family, Lady SCAIISDALL and
family, Lord KIKILWALL, Su. &c.