Star.
London, England, 1831-03-18 00:00:00

PANORAMA OF THE BRITISH
EMPIRE.

CHELTENHAM JOURNAL, MARcn 14.

Mr. W. Payne, of Rodney Lodge, advertises a committee of twenty
respectable names, to assist his return for Cheltenham, under the new
bill. Col. Berkeley and Mr. Trye are the other candidates.
Derthunt, Hon. Mrs. Wallis Grieve, Hon. Miss
Burton. Sir Lewin Glynn, Sir Gilbert Sterling, Col. Enke, Col. May
nerd, Col. Powell, Major Bayley, Captain Tonikinson R.N. Captain
Dundee, Capt. Coulthard, Capt. Inglefield, Rev. F. Thackeray, Rev
Mr. Knight, Rev. Mr. Masters.
Long and frequent as it has been our gratifying duty to notice the
animated gaiety which Cheltenham now displays from year's end to
year's end, without distinction of seasons, we own it would be no easy
matter adequately to describe the enlivening bustle which pervades
every quarter of the town, where the electioneering spirit is as actively
engaged in anticipation of our new representative functions, as in the
most crowded city that ever enjoyed the proud privilege of the elective
franchise. But whilst the " busy stir" from east to west, from north
to south, denotes the progress of the respective candidates and their
friends in the anxious pursuit of the general canvass, the amusements
of the fashionable world seem to derive additional attraction from the,
novel incitement. The quadrille ball on Monday evening afforded the
most satisfactory evidence of the " impetus" that has thus been given
to the refined amusements of the beau monde ; and we are assured that
the assembly of this evening will be still more numerously attended,
although it so immediately precedes the great fancy dress bail on Saint
Patrick's Eve.
There are at present in Ilchester gaol 94 prisoners, besides 54 in thei
two other prisons for the county, making a total pf 148 for the next as.
sizes, 68 of whom stand committed for capital offences, and several of
an aggravated nature.
A garrison court martial was held at Devonport last week, for the
trial of a private of the 98th depot, for being absent from his quarters
at tattoo-roll.call, on the evening of the 25th February, and not re-
turning until brought back by au escort on the following evening ;
and for outrageous and insubordinate conduct. He was found guilty
of both charges, and sentenced to receive 500 lashes, which horrible
punishment was inflicted.

PAaLtAstanTo--Since the close of debate on Reform, the following
is a brief analysis of the Members who spoke for and against Parlia-
mentary Reform :

Representing—
Freeholders of Counties
Open and extended Constit
Individual { PCeersommoners

For it. Against it.
.. 13 ... 2

ies ... 17 ... 6
... ... 4 ... 19
...

Total .. 37 36
CHELTENHAM, Thursday, March 10.—Wheat, 'per bushel, 8a 3d
to 9s ; Barley, 4s to 5s 6tl ; Oats, 2s 6d to 4s ; Beans, 41 9d to 5s
6d ; Peas, 5s to 8a : Beef per pound, 5d to 6d ; Mutton, 5d to 6d;
Veal, 541 to 6d ; Lamb, Od to 0d; Pork, 5d to W.—Hay, 3110 s to 31
15s per Ton.— Priee of Bread—Wheaten, lld ; Standard Wheaten,
10d ; Best Butter, 17d ; Eggs, 12 for ls; Potatoes, 10d per peck ;
Fowls, per Couple, 3s 6d to 41 ; Chickens, do 3s to 4s ; Ducks, 3s 6d
to 43 6d ' • Rabbits per couple, Is 6d to 2s ; Pigeons each, 6d to 9d;
Geese do 4. to 5s 6d.
MARRIED.—At Bristol, Thomas Baghott Baghott, Esq. to Mar-
garet, daughter of Mr. Thomas, of Rodborough.—.Lately, at Bath,
Mr. Davis, draper, to Mrs. Elston, of that city, and daughter of Mr.
Holdship, of the Royal Well, in this town.—At Frampton Connell,
Mr. William Slat, woolstapler, of Hambrooke, to Miss Jane
Buroombe.

TaiED.—Richard Philip Scudamore, Esq. of the ancient family of
Scudsmore, of Kentchurch, Herefordshire. He represented the city
of Hereford in several Parliaments, after the decease of his lamented
brother : and like him, he never gave a vote in opposition to the rights
of the people of England, or to the progress of liberal opinion.—At
Montpelier Retreat, Mrs. Bradshaw.—Park.place, near Suffolk-square,
Catherine Williams, daughter of Mr. ProssereLJessamine Cottage,
Mr. John Dodwell, .

TYNE MERCURY, MARcit 15.
The question now every where asked is, will the Reform Bill be
carried ? We would gladly answer that question, and we hope in a few
days to be able to do so with truth; but it does not become us to shut
our eyes to the gloomy probability of a negative, and its results—at the
very least, a stormy election, and an empire in confusion. We would
gladly congratulate the country on the passing of the measure, if, foe
no other reason, on account or the inutility—the worse than folly, of a
mere momentary triumph on the part of the bovough-mongers—
on account of the great interruption to all public and
private business, which must necessarily take place after a
dissolution of Parliament under such circumstances, and the violent
popular irritation which may ensue,--the extent, continuance, and
consequences of which it is altogether impossible to conjecture.—
The borough.mongera must be fully aware that they can do nothing of
permanent advantage to their cans,. They must be certain that their
rottenness is now fast descending to the tomb. If they succeed in
throwing out the bill this session, they must be conscious that it will
be carried in another Parliament, or the peace of the country cannot re-
main secure. The enlightened public of the British empire will not
quietly stand by, and see a protracted contest between their represen-
tatives and a set of persons who represent only themselves or their pa-
trons. If another Parliament should carry the measure, it will be
well; but if the present should do so, it would be infinitely better;
for even this postponement may be attended with dangerous con.

sequences.
SOCIETY FOR TEE RELIEF OF WIDOW. AND ORPHAN, OF
SHIPWRECKED 11ARINERL—We are rejoiced to Lear that this society,
which was established tat a public meeting held in Newcastle on the
24th of last month, has met with the most liberal support. Among the
donors to this institution we are happy to notice His Grace the Doke
of Northumberland, for 100 L Duchess of Northumberland, 201. Bishop

of Durham, 621. 10. Lord Prudhoe, 1001. Corporadon of Newcastle,
621. 10e. Rev. H. Branding, 231. John BrandUng, Esq. 201. R. B.
Sanderson, Faq.2ll. &c.
Mr. Martin's justly celebrated picture of " The Fall of Nineveh,"
is expected to arrive in Newcastle in the early part of this week, to re-
main a few days for exhibition.
On Monday the 7th instant, the annual meeting of the Literary,
Scientific, and Mechanical Institutien of this town was held in their
hall in Blackett-street, James Losh, FN. In the chair. The thanks
of the members were voted to Mr. Abbatt for his interesting lectures
on Chemistry, and to Mr. J. Wright, of the Close, for supplying
the Society with fuel.
THE PITNEY or THZ TTIEZ AND WEAII.--For the last few weeks
the pitmen or colliers of the Tyne and Wear have evinced a dis.
position to desert their work, unless they can obtain an advance of
wages. They have held several meetings with this object in view,
and on Saturday last assembled together in immense numbers, we
believe, to the extent of 10 or 12,000, on Black Fell, in the county
of Durham. The resolutions they agreed upon are not known,
but we take It for granted they would embody the claims they in-
tend to make on their employers. They demand, we under-
stand, in the first place, a direct increase of wages. This in-
crease is not uniform ; indeed, the present wages are not uniform,
but vary at different collieries, and in different parts of the same
colliery, according to the kind of work to be done. The miners
now demand an increase of from sixpence to fifteen pence a.
store for the coals wrought. This refers to the hewing of the coal. A
corresponding advance in the wages for other kinds of work in the mine
Is likewiserequired. Another demand, we believe, is that the men shall
be henceforth employed constantly, or paid so much a day for every day
they are not set to work, and this claim is made with a view of placing the
servant and the master on a similar footing. At present, it appears
that, for every day the workmen absents himself, he is obliged to
pay a fine : whereas he is to remain idle three days before the em-
ployer pays him any thing ; the pay begins now on the fourth day,'
supposing the coal owner does not require the pitman's services ; but
the men require dust henceforth they be paid for the first and every suc-
ceeding day they are obliged to remain idle, as they are fined on the first
and every succeeding day when they do not chuse to work. According
to the present system, the men say they are only employed five or six
days in the fortnight, but at many collieries, we are informed, they are
employed nine or to days a fortnight. In consequence of these meet.
ings of the pitmen, and of the petitions they have sent to their employ-
ers, the coal owners in the district have come to the determination of
ascertaining the amount of the averabe rate of the weekly earnings of
pitmen at each colliery for the last year, and of publishing a list, with'
a view of contrasting them with the wages of other workmen. The
number of resident freemen (who alone of the burgesses will be allowed
to vote) is, we believe, about 2500 ; if to this we are to add 2000, the
greatest number of householders, we have only 4600 voters : if we
are to add to the 2500 only 1300, the smaller number of householders,
there will be only 3800 voters in Newcastle.
We are glad to learn that the large steam-packet, which has been
so great an accommodation to the inhabitants of this town for the con•
veyanee of both goods and passengers, is to continue to run between
Newcastle and the metropolis.
Tax Paws or Costs.—lt is a remarkable fact that the coals were
sold higher in London a hundred years ago than they are selling now.
In the course of the year 1731 the price of Newcastle coals was hem
25. to 28a, averaging 26s lid, a London chaldrun : on Friday the llth
March. 1831, the price was from 20s id to 26e, averaging about 234 a
London children. The price of the best coals here a hundred years ago
was from 9s to 13s a Newcastle ehaldron, the price of the best coals
here now is 32s per chaldron, (which is about equal to two London
chaldrons.) In a word, Newcastle coals, which are now nearly
three hundred per cent. dearer than they were a century ago on the
spot where they are produced, now sell in London for less money than
they did then.
Durres ox Coo.. lx LowDox...-It is understood that by the but
about to be brought into parliament the meting system and the tax by
measure will be whoUy abolished, and that a new duty of one shilling'
portion will be imposed, of which eight pence is to be applied towards
the expense of erecting London Bridge, threepence as an indemnity to,
the Corporation, and the remaining penny to for a fund, out of which